Need to know.
THIS IS NOT A STORY MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT.

Excerpts from Lucas Pitney
But it is a reality many are walking into without knowing.

There is a dangerous assumption in the body of Christ today, that just saying the name Jesus automatically equals authority.

That is not true.

Acts 19:13–16 reveals a shocking moment in scripture. Seven men attempted to cast out a demon.

They spoke the right words.
They used the right name.
They followed a pattern they had seen work before.

But something was missing.

RELATIONSHIP.
AUTHORITY.
PREPARATION.

And the demon responded in a way that should wake up every believer:

Jesus I know,
Paul I know,
But who are you? (Acts 19:15)

And the Bible says the demon-possessed man overpowered them,
beat them,
stripped them,
and sent them running in shame.
(Acts 19:15)

They entered a spiritual battle,
but they were not spiritually prepared.

THE PROBLEM

We learned how to speak like believers,
but not how to live like one.

We know the language,
but we lack the substance.

We shout,
we declare,
we rebuke,

But do you “walk the walk of obedience?
Do you truly carry what you are saying?

1. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS NOT BY ASSOCIATION

(Acts 19:13)
We adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches.

They tried to use Jesus through Paul’s relationship.

But spiritual authority is from a personal relationship with Christ.

(John 15:5)
Abide in Me and I and you, Without Me, you can do nothing.

You cannot borrow another man’s fire.
You must build your own altar.

2. THE SPIRIT REALM DOES NOT RESPOND TO NOISE, IT RESPONDS TO AUTHORITY

(Acts 19:15)
Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you?

In the physical, you can impress people.
In the spirit, identity is everything.

(Luke 4:36)
With authority and power, he commanded unclean spirits.

Demons do not respond to volume.
They respond to authority.

3. ENTERING BATTLE WITHOUT PREPARATION IS SELF-DESTRUCTION

(Acts 19:16)
The possessed man leaped on them and overcame them.

They went in confident,
but came out wounded.

(Ephesians 6:11)
Put on the whole armour of God.

(Matthew 26:41)
Watch and pray.

If you are not prepared spiritually,
you are already vulnerable.

4. RELIGION WITHOUT POWER IS DANGEROUS

(2 Timothy 3:5)
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power.

These men looked spiritual,
but they were empty.

(Titus 1:16)
They profess that they know God, but in works they deny Him.

God is not moved by appearance.
Power flows from authenticity.

5. TRUE AUTHORITY COMES FROM SUBMISSION

(James 4:7)
Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist the devil.

Many want to resist the devil,
but few want to submit to God.

(Acts 1:8)
You shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you.

Power is not claimed.
It is received.

6. INTIMACY WITH GOD IS THE REAL SOURCE OF POWER

(Daniel 11:32)
They that know their God shall be strong.

(Jeremiah 29:13)
You shall seek me and find me.

Power is not in repetition.
Power is in your relationship with Jesus.