by David Scott Robertson
(Mark 1:23 NIV) Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
(Mark 1:24 NIV) "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
(Mark 1:39 NIV) So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
The devil goes to church.
Demons go to church.
The scriptures prove that.
Hiding behind a human host,
Tucked away in the crevices of a tormented man or woman’s soul,
Demons do their wicked master’s bidding
Enslaving the lives of human beings.
Whatever the root cause –
The lust of the flesh,
The lust of the eyes,
The pride of life –
Some human decision of the will has given the underworld the legal right
To encroach upon forbidden territory;
To inhabit a domain designed for the Holy Spirit of God.
Nonetheless,
By invitation
Through passive indifference,
Willful disobedience,
Or just plain careless abandon to the paranormal and esoteric as a thrill-seeker,
The demons come.
They camp, crouch, confuse, and control an unwitting victim
Who has been foolish enough to lower the barrier of the free will
And cross boundaries that God firmly established that they should not.
I’m not sure how the demonic hierarchy functions,
But I imagine it is more prestigious
To occupy a man than a pig:
(Mat 8:31 NIV) The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
I also imagine the more powerful and influential the human host the better.
I wonder if one of the high points of a demonic career
Is not so much “GOING” to a church service in a human host
But “LEAVING” a church service STILL in the human host.
This may be a high water mark for a demon
But it is a sad commentary on the powerlessness of a community of believers.
But such was not the case when Jesus went to church.
(Mark 1:25 NIV) "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
(Mark 1:26 NIV) The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
(Mark 1:27 NIV) The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."
When Jesus came, demons left.
When He showed up, they shoved off.
As a matter of fact,
Jesus was so full of the anointing of the Holy Spirit
That when He merely set foot on the shore of “occupied territory”
Deliverances began to take place!
(Mat 8:28 NIV) When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
(Mat 8:29 NIV) "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
One word (what authority!) sent a legion of demons scurrying: “Go!” (Matthew 8:32).
That’s where this awesome power of God in us leads to…
His very presence, get this, IN US, generates results.
(1 John 3:8 KJV) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
(Luke 10:17 NIV) The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
(Luke 10:19 NIV) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
(Mark 16:17 NIV) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
(John 14:12 NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
So the next time you go to church,
Don’t make a beeline for your normal pew.
Ask the Holy Spirit who you should sit next to.
You just never know how many may be occupying the seat next to you.
DSR
4/1/02