Make sure the Demons know you by name

Think about who you view as important for a second. Why do you view them as important? What makes someone important? How can you be important? 

Acts 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 all1 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."

Let what you read soak in for a second. Seven sons of the High Priest, pastor's kids if you will, more or less seven professional exorcists, are going out and casting out demons by proclaiming "by the name of Jesus whom Paul proclaims." However on this given day instead of casting out a demon  they are given the ultimate put down by this demon possessed man proclaiming "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And if that wasn't enough disrespect this demon possessed man proceeds to single handily lay a MMA style beat down on these seven brothers, so by the time it's all said and done not only did they get the tar knocked out of them but they leave the house butt naked for the whole town to see... 

In the Bible importance isn’t measure by what kind of position you hold, it’s how available you are for deployment in God’s mission. 

We need to be kind of believer in Christ that the demons know by name. Aim your life so that you are the kind of Christian that hell knows about, respects, and fears. 

I don’t want to be the kind of man that hears "Jesus I know, Paul I know... But who are you?” I want to be important, not because of position, popularity, career, worldly esteem, but to be important where it matter the most, in the kingdom of Christ, important where it matters not only for time but also for eternity.

6 things to keep in mind about why believers in the Lord Jesus Christ find importance in Christ. 

How is it that we find the right kind of importance and avoid the wrong kind?  

1.       We are important because we are created in God’s image.

2.       We are important because we are saved by grace.

3.       We are important because we are united in Christ.

4.       We are important because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

5.       We are important because we are deployed for a mission.

6.       We are important because we are destined for glory. 

We are redeemed for something, in order to do something, as well as to be something. 

Notes and thoughts from Dr. Mohler's sermon at the "Give Me an Answer Conference"