Our church held this year’s end time summit in the last weekend of June. Of the many things stressed by our guest speaker, Pastor Oje Ohiwerei, was that we cannot afford to base our relationship with God on second-hand information. My mind immediately raced to a story in Acts Chapter 19. It is about the sons of Sceva. They must have given considerable attention to Paul’s ministry and what he had accomplished using the name of Jesus. They commanded devils out of someone “by the Jesus whom Paul preaches” (vs 13). The outcome was not pleasant to these men, as the man energised by the evil spirit pounced on them and tore their clothes. Even though these men had a priest as their father, that was not enough to save them. They were operating on second-hand information – “Jesus whom Paul preaches”.

Direct encounter with God is the starting point of walking in authority…Believers who traffic with the ways and systems of the world inadvertently bring themselves under the control of the devil. It is futile, if not dangerous, for such people to attempt subduing the devil.

The story of the sons of Sceva shows that not everyone can exercise spiritual authority to good effect. Direct encounter with God is the starting point of walking in authority. As a rule, one has to be born again to enjoy this privilege. Beyond that, one has to be sufficiently consecrated in order not to become a victim of spiritual battles. In our text, admonition is given of the importance of not loving the world. The world simply refers to the maxims and principles that the unbelievers employ to conduct their affairs in life. Believers who traffic with the ways and systems of the world inadvertently bring themselves under the control of the devil. It is futile, if not dangerous, for such people to attempt subduing the devil.