Every evil spirit is subject to the power and authority of Jesus Christ.

In today’s lesson we see how the kingdom of God and the the kingdom of darkness coexist in conflict. This spiritual warfare is invisible but very real. We will see how that the Apostle Paul encountered evil spirits on three occasions during his missionary journeys to the Island Cyprus, then at Philippi in Macedonia, and finally at Ephesus. In each of these instances Paul was victorious over the forces of evil because, all creatures, weather physical or spiritual, were made by God and are subject to him. The lesson today will prove through the Holy Ghost and our relationship with Christ we also have power over evil.

……We are all in the midst of spiritual warfare. Although we may be all fighting a different battle, we are all in the same war, fighting the same enemy.

Golden Text: Acts 16:18

And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

1. Encounter with A Sorcerer

Acts 13:4-12

A. Evil Influence of a Sorcerer

Acts 13:4-8

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

……Notice the time that Barnabas and Paul spent preparing (fasting and praying) before their journey. Our lesson here is simple, because we don’t know what we will face tomorrow, we better spend time with the Lord preparing today.

B. God’s Power Displayed

Acts 13:9-12

9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.

10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

……We have so many people seeking the Holy Ghost and limiting him to just speaking in tongues. In verse nine Paul demonstrates the POWER that comes from the Holy Ghost.

2. Confrontation with A fortune-teller

Acts16:16-18

A. Unwanted Confession do a Demoniac

Acts 16:16-17

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

……How often do we go to pray, and we are met by the enemy? Do we press through or are we hindered?

B. The Demon Cast Out

Acts 16:18

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

3. Christ Exalted through Supernatural Manifestations

Acts 19:11-20

A. Evil Spirits Cast Out

Acts 19:11-12

11 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.

B. False Exorcists Exposed

Acts 19:13-20

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.

17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.