January 30, 2018 Tuesday

“Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.” (Mark 1:23-28 NKJV)

            In this passage did Jesus rebuke and cast out demons or heal someone with a psychiatric problem?  The Bible clearly states many times that Jesus cast our demons, many who publicly declared that Jesus is the Son of God!

            Isn’t it amazing that these people with “psychiatric” problems knew what very few people knew?  They seemed to have a very spiritual understand of not only who Jesus was and the purpose of His coming.

            Our dilemma is if we do not believe the Bible is God’s Word we are led astray by every whim and idea that comes by.  Without the guidance and leading of the Bible and the Holy Spirit we can find ourselves actually believing and teaching against God!  We can even become enemies of the God we think we are serving!

            So many Christians have no idea who God is and the Truth of God and so they are easily led astray.  One way Christians are led astray is the not believe or accept the reality that we are in a world engaged in a spiritual warfare and so fall prey to evil.  A common saying is that if we do not pray then we will become prey to the evil one!

            Evil is real!  Demons are real!  In a world filled with murder, theft, lies, abuse, slavery, pornography, and an inability to know who and even what we are we are prey for the evil one and demons. That is why many Christians are no different than those around them.

            If you want to see the power of the Bible and prayer look around and see the frenzy with which people want to make it harder for Christians to pray publicly and to make the Bible and Bible study available.

            Then realize that these same people call for school and jails to provide prayer rugs for Muslims.  That there is no call for the Qur’an and the writings of other religions and they even push for them to be taught in schools.

            They see the power and the danger of the Bible and prayer much more than we as Christians do.  Discover the power of God in the Bible and prayer to protect you from the power of the evil one!

           

            Today would be defined as a bad day but God redeems the pain and weariness and makes it a good day!  I praise you Lord!