Is Your Picture In The Devils Post Office? Acts 19:11-16 If you ve ever walked into a local post office and spent very much time you would have

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Leo Reed
5 years ago
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1 Is Your Picture In The Devils Post Office? Acts 19:11-16 If you ve ever walked into a local post office and spent very much time you would have noticed photos of the FBI s most wanted posters in there. The photos are of folks who the FBI knows who they are, what they ve done, and they are on the look out for them. So if you are one of those folks, you better know that other folks know who you are too. In this message today I want you to know that if you are a true believer living your life for Christ, the enemy knows who you are, what you ve done, what you are currently doing and you are a threat to him so he is out to get you. If the enemy, the devil, doesn t bother you, doesn t even know who you are then maybe you better take a close look at your salvation experience. Text: Acts 19: And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. The devil knew exactly who the true believers were that he had to watch out for. The devil still knows who the true believers are and who to watch out for. I want you to know this morning that there are two traits that will bring you to the devils attention. (1) Believe in the Name of Jesus. (2) Live in the Name of Jesus. It is my prayer today that each of every one of you do have and demonstrate the traits of a life that ensures your name is known by the devil, kind of like

2 having your photo and name in his post office. So then first we must Believe: Believing is and Inside Job. Believing is the difference between just knowing a lot of facts about Jesus the Son of God and having real faith in Him as your personal Savior. Believing is the difference between just having knowledge of Him in your head and truly having Him in your heart. 2ndly, we must Live: Living out our faith is an Outside Job. A real genuine personal relationship with Jesus is one that translates into a public lifestyle. In other words, other people see regularly your faith lived out in front of them. What are you doing to ensure that your face is on the walls of Hell s post office? The devil will know your name if 1) YOU BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Paul was doing great & extraordinary miracles by the power of Jesus name. (People with all kinds of illnesses were being cured, leprosy, blood disease, mental disorders, blindness, crippled, deaf, mute, and the lame. Paul believed in Jesus and others could see it. Paul demonstrated so much more than simple belief in facts about Jesus. He said in James 2:19, You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. Paul believed in Jesus so much that others noticed his life had changed, because he had a life changing faith in Jesus. Jesus name meant something to Paul the believer. The Seven Sons of Sceva tried doing great & extraordinary miracles by the power of Jesus name too. What happened when they did? vv:13b "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." NOTICE what they did not say: "In the name of Jesus, whom we preach/believe..." The name of Jesus meant something to Paul. It meant very little to the 7 Sons of Sceva. If Jesus name meant something to these seven guys, they

3 could have cast demons like Paul did but their motives were selfish. They didn t even know this man Jesus whose named they used. How many people have you heard use the phrase "In Jesus Name" like it was some kind of Christian Abracadabra? They claim things in Jesus name but... they don t get any better, they are not healed, they still get divorced, they stay miserable. Sometimes God s answer is simply "No." Other times I think folks just do not get the concept behind the whole "In Jesus Name" thing! To the believer. Jesus is the sweetest name they know!! lyrics "Jesus Is The Sweetest Name I Know" Not only that, but to the believer there is: Power in Jesus name Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. Majesty in His name. Jude 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Not only that but to the believer to the believer the name of Jesus is the: Name above all names Ephesians 1:19-21 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. The only name by which we are saved!! Not Buddha, Allah, not by any special works, nor your Church Membership, not even by your Religious activities, rather it is in a relationship with Jesus!

4 Jesus names means something to those who believe, who truly trust in Him. Jesus names means very little to those who do not believe, nor trust in Him. Ill: A Basketball in my hands is worth around $6 to 10, in the hands of Tim Duncan $70.9 Million. A football in my hands is worth $10 to 20, in the hands of Tom Braddy it is worth about $ Millions. A baseball bat in my hands is worth $10-25, in the hands of Chipper Jones when he was the top of his game, $ Millions. A steering wheel in my hands is worth about $175, in the hands of Jeff Gordon $ Millions. A golf club in my hands is worth $50, in the hands of Tiger Woods $150 + Million. A set of nails in my hands and feet are worth about.40 cents, but in the hands of Jesus. Priceless. The worth of the name of Jesus on the lips of a person who doesn t truly believe, doesn t truly have faith. Nothing. The name of Jesus from the lips of a believer who has sold out to Jesus... Mountains will bow down, Seas will roar, marriages will be restored, illnesses healed, comfort to the hurting, strength to the weak, riches are given to the poor, fractured relationships are mended, churches are grown, people are saved, nations are awakened spiritually, real lasting revival happens!!! The devil knows those by name who believe in the name of Jesus. The devil will know your name if. 2) YOU LIVE IN THE NAME OF JESUS. The devil probably did not always know Paul. Remember that at one time in Paul s life he was killing Christians and closing churches for a living. ZERO Threat to the devil. He wasn t even a blip on the Hell s Radar. Something Happened!

5 Acts 9:3-5 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Paul was NEVER the same again after he had a real encounter with Jesus. He was taken out the Lion s book of death and put in the Lamb s book of life. He went from being an enemy of Gods to a friend of Gods. He never had to be coerced to attend church or Bible study or a men s breakfast. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Vs 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? The devil was aware, he knew what happened to Paul. The radar Blip showed up! Paul was a Threat now, a Clear and Present Danger to Hell and the devils plan! The Seven Sons of Sceva were living for $, Power, Prestige, Titles... NO Blip, No Threat, The devil didn t even know them! The moment you have a real life changing encounter with Jesus the devil is aware of it. I Cor. 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. The six-year-old boy told his mother that he had been baptized. Mom knew he hadn t been formally baptized, so she probed further into the issue. She asked him to explain what he meant by "baptized." The little boy then

6 enlightened his mom, "Last night in the bathtub I put my face under the water and thought about Jesus." Listen folks, living for Jesus is more than "believing" or "thinking" about Jesus. It means you are LIVING for Jesus. Those living for Jesus are no longer living for... Pleasure, Power, Greed, Money, Pride, Popularity or Lust, they are really LIVING FOR JESUS. The devil knows who is living for Jesus! Since the devil can no longer take your soul to hell he (the devil) will try his level best to make your life hell on earth. The devil knew exactly who the true believers were that he had to watch out for. The devil still knows who the true believers are. We ve looked at two traits that will bring you to the devils attention. (1) Believe in the Name of Jesus. (2) Live in the Name of Jesus I hope you have both the traits of a life that ensures your name is known by the devil. Believe: (Inside Job) Believing is the difference between facts/faith, head/heart. Live: (Outside Job) A personal relationship with Jesus that translates into a public lifestyle. The Bible says that faith without works is dead. People should see that you are saved. What are you doing to ensure that your face is on the walls of Hell s post office? Apparently it ticks the devil off if a person who has no business using the name of Jesus uses the name of Jesus. What happened in v:16 was bad, but it gets worse. MT 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23

7 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Guess who else gets mad if people use Jesus name who have no business using His name? God will tell those folks, "I don t know you. Away from me." Satan will say to those folks, "I don t know you. But you can stay." What are you doing to ensure that your face is on the walls of Hell s post office? Some of you need to have a life changing encounter with Jesus today. Believe. Live. Give your heart, your Sin, your Life to him today!

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL ACTS 9:1-16

THE CONVERSION OF SAUL ACTS 9:1-16 Text: Introduction: In the story of the conversation of the Apostle Paul, we see the true power of the Lord. His power is demonstrated in the way He changes lives. Saul