"And the evil spirit answered and said to them, 'I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?'"(Acts 19:15)

When we read this passage and the response of the evil spirits to the sons of Sceva, we often get a little chuckle out of their presumption. Who would think, we say laughing, that the demons would come out at such a request? And the ignominy at being talked down to and then humiliated by an evil spirit gives us some pause, as it did the Ephesians: "fear fell upon them all"(Acts 19:17). Yet the sobering truth about this story is that the voice of that evil spirit echoes through the halls of history and asks us in the present time: who are you?

At its core this questions asks where the authority in spiritual matters resides. Does it reside in mere men, or does it stem from the God of heaven? Consider the words of Jesus, Himself God, on the matter: "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me"(Jn 5:30). Even the Son of God felt the need to assure His disciples that His message did not have its origin with man. Further Jesus tells His disciples "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth"(Mt 28:18). Authority stems from heaven, and it was given to Jesus by God the Father. Thus well might the evil spirit say "I recognize Jesus," for He held authority over all the earth.

Paul also took great pains to assure the churches of Galatia that his authority came from God: "For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ"(Gal 1:11-12). Paul was not a mere man in terms of spiritual authority because he had received and preached accurately the gospel of Jesus Christ. No wonder the evil spirit could say "I know about Paul."

Yet there are many today who claim authority in religion without sanction from God, Jesus, or apostles like Paul. Tell me, you who teach that man is saved by a prayer, where do you get your authority for such a statement? I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you? Where, friend, do the Scriptures give us authority to turn the Lord's church into a welfare society? By what power do you tell me to abandon the New Testament pattern for the work of God's church? Who are you to boast such things? The list is seemingly endless of advocates of certain doctrines and religions not found in the Book of God. John Wesley, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Joseph Smith. I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you? Of the Pharisees, who considered their own authority in making laws equal to God's, Jesus said "Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind"(Mt 15:14). Blind guide, who are you to substitute your will for God's?

But in truth the question comes to each one of us. We will not be judged based on other people's misdeeds, but our own (2 Cor 5:10). Even those of us who reject the creeds and ideas of men must carefully guard ourselves against the tendency to glorify men and elevate their ideas to be equal with God's. Paul told the Ephesian elders, "and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert…"(Acts 20:30-31). We seem to have a natural tendency to think highly of certain men and put their opinions above others, so we must be careful not to take their words above God's. Many a church has split, many a heart has broken, and many a faith has spoiled because brethren held allegiance to a certain man even when he was living in or teaching error.

Also, those who are in positions of leadership in the Lord's church must take care to exercise what limited authority they have without desiring be more than they are. Notice how Paul the apostle spoke of this responsibility: "nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority"(1 Thess 2:6). As pleasant as it is to hear words of praise from our fellowmen, leaders in the Lord's church must strive for praise from God. If we allow friendships, affections, family ties, and employment concerns come before preaching the truth in love, we are placing our souls in jeopardy.

The sons of Sceva taught us long ago that authority comes from God and cannot be faked. Although their exchange with the demons causes us some laughter, our amusement dies down at the sobering thought that the demon's question is directed at us. How chilling to think that because of our refusal to follow Jesus and Jesus alone, we may hear in the judgment day "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness"(Matt 7:23). ___Jacob Hudgins