DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT THURSDAY - Demonic Actions in This Hour. The Conclusion.

A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have. - Dwight L. Moody

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. - Mark 1:23-26.

The trouble with some of us is that we have been inoculated with small doses of Christianity which keep us from catching the real thing. - Leslie Weatherhead.

Yesterday in Part 2, we discussed how ‘Demonic Manifestation Occurs In Three Different Ways,’ and emphasised Ephesians 6:12… For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Today, we conclude with…

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS

Jesus has all authority over the enemy! The battle is ultimately the Lord’s, Satan is not God, and cannot be like God. He is only a created being, an angel that through pride, sinned against Almighty God. Demons recognise the full authority and deity of Christ Jesus, they see Him as Lord and Master, and they tremble at His presence... And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. - Luke 4:41.

D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of
emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example.

Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!" - Source Unknown.

Demonised People Have A Hatred Of Jesus
And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden." - Isa 29:13-15.

I love what Matthew Henry says about this in his commentaries...

The security of sinners in sinful ways, is cause for lamentation and wonder. The learned men, through prejudice, said that the Divine prophecies were obscure; and the poor urged their want of learning. The Bible is a sealed book to every man, learned or unlearned, till he begins to study it with a simple heart and a teachable spirit, that he may thence learn the truth and the will of God.

To worship God, is to approach him. And if the heart be full of his love and fear, out of the abundance of it the mouth will speak; but there are many whose religion is lip-labour only. When they pretend to be speaking to God, they are thinking of a thousand foolish things. They worship the God of Israel according to their own devices.

Numbers are only formal in worship. And their religion is only to comply with custom, and to serve their own interest. But the wanderings of mind, and defects in devotion, which are the believer's burden, are very different from the withdrawing of the heart from God, so severely blamed. And those who make religion no more than a pretence, to serve a turn, deceive themselves. And as those that quarrel with God, so those that think to conceal themselves from him, in effect charge him with folly. But all their perverse conduct shall be entirely done away.

They do not want to hear the truth of the gospel, they do not want to be exposed to the light, because they prefer the darkness of sin and death. They have a fear of Jesus! They cringe beforeJesus. We remember what scripture says, “greater is he that is in you, than he who is in the world.”

We do not need to fear Satan, as children of God. We should be aware that he exists, “prowling about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” We should be vigilant and sober, but we must not be afraid, especially when you recognise who you are in the Lord Jesus.

Theologians tell a story to illustrate how Christ's triumph presently benefits our lives: Imagine a city under siege. The enemy that surrounds they city will not let anyone or anything leave. Supplies are running low, and the citizens are fearful. But in the dark of the night, a spy sneaks through the enemy lines. He has rushed to the city to tell the people that in another place the main enemy force has been defeated; the leaders have already surrendered. The people do not need to be afraid. It is only a matter of time until the besieging troops receive the news and lay down their weapons.

Similarly, we may seem now to be surrounded by the forces of evil -- disease, injustice, oppression, death. But the enemy has actually been defeated at Calvary. Things are not the way they seem to be. It is only a matter of time until it becomes clear to all that the battle is really over. - Richard J. Mouw.

Demons must always yield to His Authority; although the future may look bleak...

We must remember who is in charge – JESUS!
We must remember who is in charge of our lives – JESUS!
We must remember… Who won the victory - JESUS!

Loving Father, I thank you that we have been given authority to trample over the enemy! By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me to realise that the weapons of my warfare are not of this world, but are mighty to pulling down demonic strongholds. Help me Lord to step up my prayer life, in Jesus powerful name, I pray, amen!

GBYAY