Two Errors Set Straight

In Ephesus Paul found a group of men
Who were disciples; they truly believed
In Jesus; they sought for others to win,
But the Holy Spirit they’d not received!
John had baptized them, not in Jesus’ name;
Paul taught and baptized them in the right way;
Laid on them his hands; and the Spirit came;
These rwelve bore much fruit for God from that day!
Some lost Jews tried to use the name of Paul
To cast demons out, but did not succeed;
The demon said, “I don’t know you at all!”
Refused the expulsion order to heed!
The fallen angels are evil spirits;
A false Spirit they know, and don’t fear it!

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, called on the men of Israel to repent from sinning, and many did; he baptized them for repentance in the Jordon River. His baptism was a symbol of their commitment to turn from sin, but it was not in the name of Jesus; therefore it was not a symbol of being born again to new life by belief in Jesus. John urged them to believe in Jesus, whom he also baptized. Many did believe in Jesus, but they did not receive the gift of the Holy Spirit until they were baptized by a disciple in the name of the Lord. John baptized by immersion, which is adhered to today by Baptists and some other denominations; however, Catholics and some other groups baptize by sprinkling. Baptism by immersion is also a symbol of the burial of Christ and His resurrection; a believer is called “born-again” by undergoing baptism as a symbol of the death of his old sinful life (going underwater) and re-birth (emerging from water) to a new sinless or “sanctified” life.

“Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, ‘In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I order you to come out.’ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day, the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (Acts 19:13-16)

Demon possession is not recognized by modern science as the cause of people with schizophrenia and other types of mental disease, but many persons did and still do believe it to be genuine. Evil spirits, or “demons” can enter a person and take possession of his mental faculties. Exorcism is a real therapy that can be invoked by the power of God. It would be well for a would-be practicer of exorcism that is not a believer and does not possess the Holy Spirit indwelling to not attempt to cast out an evil spirit for several reasons. First, all demons are fallen angels, meaning that once they lived in heaven, and they know whether the therapist possesses the Holy Spirit or not. Second, fallen angels have the same power and strength they had in heaven, which means that a non-believer cannot possibly defend himself from him. The name of Jesus cannot be bought, stolen, or borrowed; the only way to receive His Spirit's power is to truly believe.