(མཛད་པ། 19:11-20)

 

And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily. (Acts 19:11-20)

 

These Jews were not servants of the Lord Jesus, as the evil spirit knew. But they wanted to have the power of the ‘name of Jesus’, using it just like a mantra. That was their first mistake.

There are witchdoctors in Nepal who take care to find out the power of the spirit in a devil-possessed man, which might otherwise tear or kill them. These Jewish sorcerers commanded the demon to leave without first enquiring whether it were stronger than their own spirit. That was their second mistake. Nepalese soldiers have told me that it takes the strength of ten men to hold down one demonised man.

News of the incident led to many believers in Jesus confessing their own secret use of magic and mantras. So they repented wholeheartedly. And consequently the good news spread greatly.

Don’t play with spiritism. Let Jesus cleanse you, and have joy and His strength.