In a stirring message titled “Apostles, Demons, and Your Power Over The Enemy,” New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Cahn draws from Acts 19 to reveal a powerful truth: believers have been given authority over darkness—but only when they are truly walking with God.
Breaking News. Spirit-Filled Stories. Subscribe to Charisma on YouTube now!
The passage recounts a group of Jewish exorcists, including the sons of a chief priest named Sceva, who attempt to cast out demons by invoking “the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” They didn’t know Jesus themselves—they were simply mimicking Paul, using the name of Jesus like a magical incantation. But spiritual authority doesn’t come from formulas; it comes from relationship. When they tried to cast out a demon without true faith, the demon responded chillingly: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The possessed man then attacked and overpowered all seven of them.
To order Jonathan Cahn’s latest book, The Avatar, visit Amazon.com.
Cahn makes it clear: “You don’t mess with the enemy without God.” The power to overcome demonic forces isn’t automatic. It’s not about how loudly we pray or how many Bible verses we quote—it’s about being in alignment with God’s will. Without that alignment, even the name of Jesus won’t protect us from the schemes of the enemy. But with God, we have nothing to fear. “On your own, you cannot win,” Cahn says. “But with God, you cannot lose.”
He also warns against seeking God’s power without seeking His heart. “The occult wants the power without the righteousness. Fortune-telling mimics prophecy. Divination mimics the word of knowledge. Sorcery mimics the power of the Holy Spirit—but it’s all a counterfeit.” Even some Christians fall into the trap of treating prayer like a vending machine: do the right things, say the right words and get results. But Cahn urges believers to focus first on holiness, on relationship with God. “Seek His will, seek His righteousness and the power will follow.”
Cahn emphasizes that God doesn’t want His people to merely react to darkness. We are called to lead. Just as Paul was feared in the spiritual realm because of his authority in Christ, so should we be. “You may not be known in the world, but you can be famous in the realm of the spirit,” Cahn says. That kind of power comes only from intimacy with God. “You are not to be overcome by the situation. You are to lead the situation.”
As a final encouragement, Cahn tells believers to start using their power and authority before the enemy ever attempts to come in their midst. “Why wait?” he asks. “You have the Holy Spirit. You have the name of Jesus. You have the Word of God. You have the power. Use it.”
Join Charisma Magazine Online to follow everything the Holy Spirit is doing around the world!
The key is living in God’s will. When we do, we don’t just survive spiritual warfare—we dominate it. Jesus said, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy” (Lk. 10:19). It’s time to walk in that authority.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
