Luke – Doors Wide Open
When life is going the way we want it to go, doing things our way, being totally self absorbed in work with enjoying recreation to our liking, we are thrown completely off balance when interference in our “norm” happens. We like being in control no matter who says what. Our focus is on what makes us happy. We will do anything to stay “happy” and in control of our destination. That is today’s worldview.
Sometimes I wonder if this is the new “demon possession” in lives of our current world who cannot think of anyone but themselves. We need Jesus. We need Jesus to “interfere”, come into lives and cast out the demons bent on destroying people God has created to love Him and worship Him alone.
Luke 4, NLT
Jesus Casts Out a Demon
31 Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. 32 There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.33 Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—cried out, shouting, 34 “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.
36 Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” 37 The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region.GOING DEEPER…
Jesus left Nazareth and set up His headquarters in Capernaum (Matt. 4:13–16), the home of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. He taught regularly in the synagogue and astonished the people by the authority of His message (see Matt. 7:28–29). He further astonished them by His authority over the demons.
Why would a demonized man attend the synagogue? Did he know Jesus would be there? Our Lord did not want the demons to bear witness to Him, so He told them to be still and He cast them out. Of course, the demons know that Jesus is the Son of God (Luke 4:34, 41), and knowing this, they tremble (James 2:19). Jesus has obvious power over evil.
We don’t know why the possessed man came to church but we know he came to the right place…to Jesus. The demons might have sent him there to taunt Jesus, but Jesus “interferes” in this man’s life of demon control with “Come out!” The demons fled from the man and from the church gathered there. The demons know Jesus well. Jesus interferes with their work and sends them packing.Friends, demons still try to do their best work through the lives of others. Be alert. Pray for your church. The demons might be more subtle these days, but they are there seeking lives to destroy. They also seek to destroy pastors and their families so that God’s church is weakened. The demons seek to work through busy people who do church but for all the wrong reasons, only for self gratification. BE the church. BE praying, in Jesus Name, for it is in Jesus Name and by His power, the demons will flee. Jesus said, “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” Jesus wins!
Demons have no real power over us…unless we let them. They cannot know our hearts. They cannot make us do anything we do not want to do. They only have one trick–lies. They tell us what is not true but so close that you might think it is true.
“When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The first time Satan appears in the Bible in Genesis 3, the first words on his lips are suspicious of the truth (“Did God say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”). And the second words on his lips were a subtle falsehood (“You will not die”). John says that Satan “has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). We are dealing with the essence of falsehood and deception.“The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). So he not only speaks what is false. He hides what is true. He keeps us from seeing the treasure of the gospel. He lets us see facts, even proofs, but not preciousness.
In 2 Corinthians 11:13–15, Paul says that some people are posing as apostles who are not. He explains like this: “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.”In other words, Satan has servants who profess enough truth to join the church, and from inside teach what Paul calls “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). Jesus says they will be like wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). Acts 20:30 says they will not spare the flock, but will draw people away to destruction. Without God’s gift of discernment (Philippians 1:9), our love will be suckered into stupidity.
“God intends that part of our preparation for heaven be a life of warfare with hell,” John Piper relates. The path to victory in this warfare is to hold fast to Christ who has already dealt the decisive blow.So allow Jesus interfere in your life. Allow Jesus to give you a new life led by His Holy Spirit. Don’t be pushed around by thoughts and behavior driven by demon suggestions. That only leads to regret, humiliation and eventually death.
Let Jesus…bring life transformation with unconditional love and relentless joy…through good times and bad, through every storm and in every celebration.
“Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!”
“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 The key to this daily battle is humility that takes the place of selfishness. Bow before God. Turn our eyes on Jesus. Pray in Jesus Name always.
Do not be outwitted by Satan. God sees behind enemy lines and tells us all we need to know to not be ignorant of Satan’s designs.
Dear Heavenly Father, Interfere in our lives always! The evil one works on the all of us in times when we least expect it. We do not have to be demon possessed to be led by evil’s schemes with thoughts that are not pleasing to You. We want what you want for us and that is life abundant here and forever there with you! We want to be led by you. We want to follow your guidance and teaching. We ask for your wisdom, insight and understanding in all life situations. We want to love like you love. We want to glorify you…only you. Help us, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen
