Lately I have been looking a lot at evil spirits (aka demons), and Satan. I believe that often they are, by-in-large, misunderstood, meaning that we always visualize “the Exorcist” or some gross, ugly entity when we think about the words or think about “driving out demons”. The truth is, often, they are wrapped in what looks beautiful and pleasurable to the eye…and yes…..they can be pretty ugly too….especially once these spirits have a foothold in our life and have taken us over the edge of being in control of our own life. This is so often the place we get too and the place they desire to get us…where THEY are in control. Indeed, this is where these people who had evil spirits were when Jesus came into their lives.
Mark 5:9-13 (TNIV)
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. 11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
I have experienced that wherever the Gospel is preached, wherever the Gospel is lived in someone’s heart, these spirits flee and the Kingdom of God, indeed the kingdom of heaven, advances. This, I believe, doesn’t mean that we aren’t tempted….we are always tempted…..however, the light of Jesus in our hearts always pushes against the darkness in the world!
JESUS FED THOUSANDS, SO CAN YOU! When you help others with less, OUT OF YOUR HEART (not necessarily out of duty or obligation….however…this is a good start) you feed others who will feed others who will feed others and on and on. I caution people here that you may not always see the results of your simple acts of kindness or sharing the relationship that you have with Jesus…this is where we trust in the Holy Spirit. I would add that if we have to see the “results” in order to be motivated…..maybe we aren’t really serving with our hearts…..but more for “US”?
JESUS DROVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS AND DEMONS, SO CAN YOU! When you share the testimony of what God is doing in your life, when you introduce someone to Jesus…as they see in their lives …….as the song goes…. “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”…..well…as they develop a relationship with Jesus in their lives and start applying God’s wisdom to their lives…..these spirits can’t stay, they must move on, THEY MUST RETREAT!
Jesus in our hearts (not just belief, although I suppose simple belief helps and is a good first step, LOL), pushes against the darkness in this world! Join Jesus in driving out demons:
— Share the testimony of what Jesus is doing in your life
— give a gift (of your time, talents, love, efforts or even finances) to someone in need
— Offer a helping hand or a word spoken in faith from your heart….indeed…pray with and for others.
Your spiritual gifts used at church, home, and work put God’s enemies into retreat. Indeed, join Jesus in driving out demons…start today!
Hi Jan,
Is there a way to subscribe to this w/o doing it on FB? Can I get it delivered to my email address instead?
Thanks,
Lis
Hi Lisa, yes 🙂 On any of the Facebook Post that say, “Looking for a daily devotional that walks through the Bible verse by verse…..”, if you click on the link it will take you to the post and in the upper Left hand corner will be a button that says, “subscribe to this list”. OR, right here on my website (www.laleocafe.com/wordpress) you can simply click on the menu item, “Coffee With Pastor Jan”.
Jan, I’ve seen for myself how demons change a person, place, and how Satan can grab a hold on you when very hurtful things happen to you. It can become so easy for Satan to move right in to torment you. My sister moved into a very old house built in 1880, before she moved into it, it had been a bed and breakfast. When they first moved there, there were a lot of active noises, doors, foot steps, music, someone running up and down the stairs, growls, etc. Claudia, my sister is a spirit filled Christian and came against each one in the name of Jesus, slowly each one had to leave. It was a lot of work because sometimes in the middle of the night these noises would wake her up, she wouldn’t wait until morning she would go around the house telling they had to leave, today her house is clean, every once in awhile a noise will come back, but she is right on it. I know, I’ve heard these noises myself, many would say they were ghost, we say they were demons and treated them as so. Evil spirits are around us a lot, but we DO have the power to make them leave. I really enjoyed your devotion today. Thanks!