Focus: A Christian Nobody Knows...

Text: Act.19:15

"And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"

The seven sons of Sceva practiced exorcism on a demon-possessed man, using the name of Jesus Christ whom Paul preached. The demon in the man said, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but as for you, who are you?" The sons of Sceva were practically not known as Christians by a demon. They could not be identified.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ declared, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Mt.7:22,23). These were people or ministers claiming to have been followers of Christ, and having done mighty works in Christ's name. But Christ's response to them was, "I never knew you." In other words, 'I share nothing in common with you.' 

The sons of Sceva were unrecognized by a demon, and these false claimers of the Christian faith were unknown to Christ. I love the way Eugene H. Peterson paraphrased it in the Message Bible. Jesus Christ says, "'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'" A lot of ministers are just using Christ to their own benefit. They have turned ministry into an enterprise. There is a lot of falsehood all around us in the name of ministry. What a shame! What a sad situation!

Let me ask you: Who knows you to be a child of God? Apart from being known as a church-goer, what else are you known for in relation to Christ? What impact are you making in the kingdom of God? What difference are you making in Christ's church and with His name? What influence are you exerting on others for Christ's sake? Or are you just a Christian for mouth? Are you salting the earth and shining as light for the world to see? Or are you a Christian only by nomenclature, and not in reality? Who knows you as a Christian in truth and in spirit? Is the fruit of the Spirit traceable to you? Has your language and behavior changed since you believed in Christ? Are you just a pew-warmer in the church or a change agent for Christ?

Luke writes concerning Peter and John, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Act.4:13). The people saw the quality of Christ in them. In Act.11:26, we read that the "disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Certain characteristics marked them out as Christians. If they were called Christians as a way of despising them, it still did not cancel the fact that they were genuinely Christians, resembling the Christ of God.

Get up and be counted! Stop masquerading! Put that mask away! Be the Christian you say that you are! Let everyone around you notice you for who you are - a Christian! Stop being worldly in your thinking, talking, living, and acting! Let hell, heaven and earth know that you are a Christian! Let the Spirit of God bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God! If indeed you are a Christian, be known for it!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter