Fire and Sword (28 page)

“But one thing we have noticed,” Jason continued. “Whereas we are able to remove these spirits through a variety of means, you are able to achieve this with just a few words.”

Silence.

Another man stepped forward. His name was Stephen.

“What my brother is trying to ask is this: by what power do you overcome these spirits? What magic do you use? What god does this?”

Paul shook his head. “We use no magic,” he said. “We simply use the authority given us by our Lord. It is in His name we speak. There is no other.”

“But there
are
others,” Stephen insisted. “We have used them. And the spirits have given way!”

“From what I know of you, there has been an appearance of success. Otherwise, people would not call on you. But if the spirits gave way, I assure you it was not by any other name, nor any other power,” Paul stood and placed a hand on Stephen’s shoulder. “You are deceived, my friends, and I urge you to repent and ask the Lord to have mercy on your lives before something befalls you. You are being toyed with and aiding in the deception of others.”

“We deceive nobody!” snapped Stephen. “We do the work of the Lord. Remember, Paul; we too are Jews. We too have the heritage of Abraham. And since you won’t give us the words you use, we will instead invoke that authority!”

The men turned away from Paul. Jason turned back to thank him, but his brothers urged him away. As they left, a man ran up to them, out of breath. “Please. You are the sons of Sceva?”

“Yes,” said Jason. “That is us.”

“You are the ones with the power to heal?”

“We have had that honor on occasion,” Stephen said.

“My father is in need of your power. Please come with me. I’ll pay you well.”

Stephen looked proudly at Paul.

“We don’t want your money, friend,” Jason said to the man. “We only wish to serve our god by serving you. Lead on!”

The brothers followed the distraught man down the street. Paul looked at Silas and Timothy. Silas shrugged, but Paul was intrigued. He motioned Silas and Timothy to follow him.

“Let’s go see this,” he said. “I’m interested in this deceit.”

“What?” said Silas. “Let’s not dignify such nonsense with our presence.”

Paul laughed. “The best way to defeat an adversary is to gain knowledge of how he works,” he said. “I’m not going to dignify their activity but study it. Remember Silas, we know our enemy’s motives—but we must also learn his tactics.”

Lucifer’s arrival in Ephesus was a great moment for Kara. Ever since Paul’s conversion and great success, Kara’s stature had fallen in Lucifer’s eyes. He hoped that Lucifer, seeing Ephesus so overrun with spiritual deception, would elevate his status with his peers, and bring him back into Lucifer’s inner circle.

“Welcome, great lord!” Kara announced. “All Ephesus is at your feet.”

Lucifer smirked at Kara’s obvious ingratiating demeanor.

“Really?” Lucifer asked. “All of Ephesus?”

“Except for Paul,” admitted Kara. “But he shall leave Ephesus soon.”

“I don’t want Paul leaving,” Lucifer said. “I want him dead. This city is a great haven for deception. Humans here are completely given over to their passions—especially the desire for otherworldly and religious pursuits. Paul must be stopped here.”

“That is the brilliance of these men,” said Kara. “Willing dupes who think they possess the same power as Paul. People see them as mastering the same ministry. In the end, it will compromise Paul’s presence here.” Kara sneered. “He’ll become just another religious healer in a city filled with such men!”

“Let’s hope you’re right, Kara,” said Lucifer. “Before you become just another angel in a world filled with such creatures.”

Meanwhile, Grolus simultaneously focused on the preparations and listened to Kara’s gloating. He seethed inwardly as Kara went on and on. He was glad to get away from him as he followed the sons of Sceva to the sick man’s home. As they neared the house, Grolus knew the spirit who would be in attendance. Jaza had been afflicting this man for years.

Jaza, a spirit who specialized in human illness, saw the men coming. He also saw Grolus. Jaza too knew that Lucifer was in Ephesus. Like Grolus, he, too, was weary of Kara’s continual proud glow. Most of the angels under Kara’s authority were on the brink of rebelling and finding their own domains. As he thought about Kara, Jaza’s anger flared, and as a result the man began seizing violently.

“See?” the son of the possessed man said as he brought the seven healers into the room. “He is doing it again. More and more lately….”

Stephen walked to the bedside. The man was beginning to drool at the corners of his mouth. Jaza decided to make this one especially good—what with Lucifer in attendance. The man began thrashing about in the bed. Stephen called his brothers over.

“It’s an evil spirit,” Stephen said to the son. “Your father is possessed. Please leave the room, and we’ll handle this.”

The man nodded.

Stephen watched the man leave—and saw Paul over his shoulder. He smiled to himself. “Everyone over here. Start the prayers. In a moment we’ll call upon the God of Paul.” He glanced at Paul, standing in the doorway. “The gracious God of this power will help us just as He helps all men who call upon Him.”

Jaza stepped out of the man when he heard that Stephen intended to invoke the Most High in this fight. He looked at Grolus, who stood next to Stephen. “This man is calling on the Most High?”

Grolus smiled.

“He has no authority,” Grolus said. “He isn’t like Paul. Paul knows the Spirit of God. These men only think they know Him. There is nothing as foolish as a human who thinks he is intimate with the Most High. Perhaps, Jaza, it’s time that they met a real spirit of power.”

Jaza nodded. “And perhaps it’s time Kara met a spirit of humility!”

Stephen and his brothers continued in their prayers. One had lit some incense that was filling the room with its smoke and fragrance. Finally Stephen motioned that it was time to take authority over the spirit. He leaned over the man, whose eyes were closed. The old man was breathing heavily.

“In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out!”

The old man remained still. Grolus snickered.

Stephen repeated the words. He turned to look at his brothers. When he turned back, the old man’s eyes were open—black, malevolent, and piercing. Stephen was startled by the glaring visage.

“Who are you?” the old man said in a raspy voice.

“I am a servant of God! And you must leave.”

Jaza persisted. “But who are you? You are calling upon the name of Jesus of Nazareth. I know Jesus. I have seen Jesus. And Paul I have heard of. But who are you to take authority over me?”

With that the man jumped out of bed and shoved Stephen down on the ground. He turned on the other brothers and began beating and tearing and biting and otherwise abusing them in the little room. They finally ran from the room, bleeding, most of their clothes gone, and Grolus howling with laughter! Paul was nearly knocked down as the men poured out of the house. Stephen was the last out, thrown down at Paul’s feet. Paul helped him up.

“How did it go?” Paul could not help but ask.

Stephen brushed himself off and limped away.

Inside, the spirits were still celebrating their victory over both humans and Kara. The sight of Paul, however, sobered them up. “Outside is power I respect,” Jaza said. “Perhaps it’s time we left this region.”

Grolus nodded, and the two vanished.

“Of course, the crowning achievement in Ephesus is the temple to Artemis,” said Kara. “Or Diana. I must admit that I have done well here for our … your kingdom.”

Lucifer was looking past Kara.

“Isn’t that one of your crowning achievements also?” he asked.

Kara turned in horror at the site of a bedraggled Stephen scurrying up the street. He had caught up with his brothers, and word was already spreading about what had happened to these seven men. Lucifer turned to Kara.

“I have been betrayed,” was all Kara could manage. “Grolus betrayed me.”

“Betrayal I respect,” Lucifer said. “But inability is unforgivable. Fix it!”

“Yes, my lord!” Kara stammered as Lucifer vanished angrily.

“Paul! Paul!”

Paul turned to an old man who was a practicing sorcerer.