Are You Known?

Have you ever been in a fight? It doesn't necessarily need to be a physical altercation in which there is harm desired, but any form of fight? Wrestling, horseplay, sparring, debating? In most cases, a good match has solid moves from both sides. Sometimes, in organized matches, it might go to the judges. Usually, even if there is a declared winner, the losing side might come out of it feeling like they made some solid impact in a couple of areas. 

There is a story in the book of Acts in which we see an altercation, but it is clearly obvious who won the fight. Paul has been going around preaching the name of Jesus, and it has come to the point that even handkerchiefs and aprons that touched Paul's skin were taken to the sick, and their ailments were healed! 

Hearing about this, some of the Jews wanted this same power, and so they found this man demon possessed.There were seven of these men, all trying to cast out the demon. They invoked the name of Jesus, and even of Paul. This didn't phase the demon possessed man, and instead he leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that  they fled out of that house naked and wounded (Acts 19:16). Is there any doubt who won and lost that fight? I don't know of anyone who leaves a fight with all their clothes gone, and feels like they won. 

But there is a moment in this story that I want to highlight and focus in on. The 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" (Acts 19:13). Look next at the response of the demons. Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you? (Acts 19:15). 

These demons didn't know who these guys were. They wanted the power that Paul was using, but they didn't have the power within them. So here's the point, are you known by the enemy? Usually those who are most known are most dangerous. I desire that the enemy knows my name, and cowards in fear because of the advancement that is being made for the Kingdom of Heaven. But it's not about who I truly am, but rather Who is in me. 

May the enemy say of you, I know Jesus, and I recognize YOU! This is done by not sitting back and taking a hands-off approach, but by viciously going on the offensive. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a kingdom that sits idly by, but one that is constantly on the move, advancing to Jerusalem, Judea, and all nations. 

You may not be called to all nations, but you are called to your neighborhood, your workplace, your school, your community. Let's make our names known to the enemy, but only because of THE NAME that we proclaim, the name of Jesus!