Name-Droppers

Name-droppers are known for annoying those who overhear their outrageous claims. Casually sprinkling their conversations with the names of famous people, they aim to impress their listeners. Some imply a familiarity with illustrious people, as if they are on a first-name basis.
In Acts 19, we meet the seven sons of Sceva, who employed name-dropping in their profession as exorcists. They incorporated the name of Jesus into their effort to drive out demons. But if backfired. The would-be exorcists were pummeled as the demon-possessed man overpowered them. The question is, if the disciples were able to cast out demons in Jesus' name, why couldn't the sons of Sceva? It was largely because they profaned God's name by taking it in vain. They knew the name of the Lord, but not the Lord of the name.
The demoniac's reply, "Who are you?" revealed that these men didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus nor did they believe Paul's teachings. Jesus had promised, "Signs will accompany those who believe:In my name they will drive out demons" (Mark 16:17). Tragically, these imposters thought they could use Jesus' name to work some magic.
The sons of Sceva presumptuously took Christ's name in vain. But there are other ways to take God's name in vain. Other forms of dropping God's name in a negative way:
-Repeating the Lord name as a part of rote or routine.
Matthew 6:7~“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

-Professing to be a Christian without obeying God's commands. Matthew 7:21-23~21“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

-Praising God with the lips but not from the heart.
Matthew 15:7-9~7You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,
8‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9Their worship is a farce,
for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”

There is power in God's name, but we can learn from this story to be careful not to drop God's name unless we have a personal relationship with him. The sons of Sceva were punished, beaten by the very demon they were trying to cast out. When we honor the Lord's name, we are honoring our Lord. -Woman's Devotional Bible

{Matthew 12:22-32}
22Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see.
23The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”
24But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”
25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.
27And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.
28But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.
29For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
30“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
31“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.
32Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.

{Mark 16:15-18}
15And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
16Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
17These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.
18They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

{Luke 10:18-20}
18“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!
19Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
20But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”