November 18, 2025 -Unbelief vs Faith

ACTS 18:24-19:20

1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-3:23

Chronological Bible Readings

^{Acts 19:13} A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶ Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and batter.

We know that there is power in the name of Jesus. His name alone will make the evil spirits shutter and flee. But here we see that it is up to Jesus to issue and use that power and our faith is an important part of why or how He uses that power. Looks to me like it's possible that the Seven sons of Sceva were using Jesus' name successfully at some level. But when I reread it, it says that they "tried" to use the name of Jesus. I guess a try does not mean success. I would lean toward it not working more than I would toward it working. We only have the power of Jesus in us when we put our faith in Him and He puts His Holy Spirit in us. Without true faith they did not have the power of Jesus in them so their words were only words. To me it looks like this one time He even allowed this evil spirit to talk and act against these men. He used the words and actions of this demon to speak truth to them and reveal Himself and confront their unbelief.

Corinthians 2:1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. ² For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. ⁴ And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. ⁵ I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

This speaks a lot to how much Paul was changed by Jesus. Paul is a learned and eloquent speaker and teacher. He took great pride in his knowledge and position before he met Jesus. Now he humbles himself and focuses on Christ and Christ alone. "Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified." Instead of using impressive teaching and prideful speech, he comes "in weakness - timid and trembling". Before Jesus he spoke and acted as though his words and teaching were of importance but after Jesus it is not about his knowledge. It is about Jesus and the message of the gospel. The Holy Spirit taught him the importance of humble heart with clear, plain, simple words were what was needed. Now it was more important for the gospel to be understood and received than it was for people to know how smart and powerful a man Paul was. He had no interest in the people trusting in his knowledge. He wanted all focus glory and honor to be on the power of God.

That is a big change. What a big difference between him and the Seven Sons of Sceva. They tried to use Jesus' name like a magic word to drive out evil spirits so that people would be impressed with them. They did not have the Holy Spirit to rely on. Paul relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide him and he did not care how it made him look. He only cared that he responded as the Spirit led because he knew that was what was needed for God's message to be received.

The difference between unbelief and faith.