Saturday, October 15, 2011
Mark 1:39
Saturday, October 15, 2011 |
And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
As we come to our devotional reading for today, I selected this portion of Mark because I was just at Capernaum and read from this passage. Our key verse records the Lord's ministry of casting out demons throughout the Galilee region.
Several thoughts come to mind as we read together this scripture. The New Testament Gospel writers reveal to us that "demonic activity" was prevalent during the time of the Lord's ministry on the earth.
This casting out of demons by the Lord was for the benefit of the one demon-possessed, of course, but it also demonstrated the authority of Jesus, verse 22, and that He had power over the "satanic world".
Remember that a "demon" is an "evil angel" that has taken up habitation in the body of a human and through this possession controls the person's every activity.
Jesus did have authority to cast out demons and He gave that authority to the apostles and no one else. The casting out of demons is not a ministry for today. In fact, if you confront someone that is demon-possessed, do not dare demand that the demon do anything. That would be dangerous and it is for the Lord to do that.
What we can do is lead the "demon-possessed” person to the Lord Jesus Christ. Once someone is saved, the Holy Spirit takes up habitation of the newly saved demon-possessed person. A demon and the Holy Spirit both cannot live in the same body and the Holy Spirit will take care of the demon by driving him out.
Another interesting insight from our reading would be included in the thought that the demons would talk to Jesus and the demon recognized who it was that he was dealing with, verse 24. Did you notice, even the demons will confess that Jesus is the "Holy One of God"? Every tongue will confess Him as the One from God.
As at the first coming of Jesus Christ when there was much demonic activity, there will also be an intense struggle between the good angels of God and the evil angels of Satan at the Second Coming of Jesus. In fact, the closer we get to the time of the Lord's return, seven years after the Rapture, demon activity will increase ten fold.
Jesus confirmed this in His Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24, when in response to the questions from the disciples, Jesus said the first, most important sign of His Second Coming will be "signs, wonders and miracles with unhindered demonic activity", Matthew 24:4,5,11 and 24.
These Satanic attacks that happen near the Lord's return are one of the indicators that Jesus will soon shout for us to join Him in the air. In fact, that shout could come today for the Rapture. Keep looking up………….until then.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you for the strength, Lord, to avoid the satanic attacks and in fact the ever increasing attacks, as we draw near to the Rapture of the Church.
For further reading - Mark 1:21-39
As we come to our devotional reading for today, I selected this portion of Mark because I was just at Capernaum and read from this passage. Our key verse records the Lord's ministry of casting out demons throughout the Galilee region.
Several thoughts come to mind as we read together this scripture. The New Testament Gospel writers reveal to us that "demonic activity" was prevalent during the time of the Lord's ministry on the earth.
This casting out of demons by the Lord was for the benefit of the one demon-possessed, of course, but it also demonstrated the authority of Jesus, verse 22, and that He had power over the "satanic world".
Remember that a "demon" is an "evil angel" that has taken up habitation in the body of a human and through this possession controls the person's every activity.
Jesus did have authority to cast out demons and He gave that authority to the apostles and no one else. The casting out of demons is not a ministry for today. In fact, if you confront someone that is demon-possessed, do not dare demand that the demon do anything. That would be dangerous and it is for the Lord to do that.
What we can do is lead the "demon-possessed” person to the Lord Jesus Christ. Once someone is saved, the Holy Spirit takes up habitation of the newly saved demon-possessed person. A demon and the Holy Spirit both cannot live in the same body and the Holy Spirit will take care of the demon by driving him out.
Another interesting insight from our reading would be included in the thought that the demons would talk to Jesus and the demon recognized who it was that he was dealing with, verse 24. Did you notice, even the demons will confess that Jesus is the "Holy One of God"? Every tongue will confess Him as the One from God.
As at the first coming of Jesus Christ when there was much demonic activity, there will also be an intense struggle between the good angels of God and the evil angels of Satan at the Second Coming of Jesus. In fact, the closer we get to the time of the Lord's return, seven years after the Rapture, demon activity will increase ten fold.
Jesus confirmed this in His Olivet Discourse, Matthew 24, when in response to the questions from the disciples, Jesus said the first, most important sign of His Second Coming will be "signs, wonders and miracles with unhindered demonic activity", Matthew 24:4,5,11 and 24.
These Satanic attacks that happen near the Lord's return are one of the indicators that Jesus will soon shout for us to join Him in the air. In fact, that shout could come today for the Rapture. Keep looking up………….until then.
PRAYER THOT: Thank you for the strength, Lord, to avoid the satanic attacks and in fact the ever increasing attacks, as we draw near to the Rapture of the Church.