Jesus’ First Deliverance

JESUS’ FIRST DELIVERANCE – 1

(The following article is word-for-word what I teach pastors in India.  Reading it will give you exactly what I teach in my conferences.)

Jesus is our example in everything we do.  He came to show us how to live and serve God.  That is especially necessary in the battle with Satan and demons.  The battle between Jesus and Satan began in Genesis and continues throughout the Bible.  When Jesus was born Satan had Herod kill the babies in Bethlehem.  After He was baptized, Jesus went into the wilderness where He was tempted.  Throughout His ministry, He cast demons out of many people.  In the Gadarenes, He cast demons out of two men.  He cast them out of the daughter of a Canaanite woman.  He cured a boy of seizures.  He cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene.

The first time that He cast demons out of people is a very important time.  The first of anything in the Bible sets the pattern or the example for others that come.   Let’s look at Mark 1:21-28 and see the first time Jesus cast out demons (see also Mark 9:14-29; Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 4:31-37).  Please read Mark 1:21-28 before continuing.

DEMONS ENTER (Mark 1:21-24)  Usually when we think of somebody who is demonized we think they are wild and out of control.  We think they are doing evil things and hurting everyone.  That is how the demonized man in Mark 5 acted (Gadarenes).  But the man in the Mark 1 story wasn’t like that at all.  He was in the synagogue at the Jewish worship service.  No one there had any idea that demons were living inside him.  He probably didn’t know it until then either.

He was a religious Jew who was a part of the congregation, yet he was demonized (influenced by demons either within or without).  Christians can be demonized.  When we become a Christian we get a new nature.  But we still have our old nature – we can still sin the same as we did before.  We don’t have to sin like we did before salvation but we can still choose to.  The sin part won’t be gone until we get to heaven.  Paul had a thorn in the flesh that was a demon (2 Corinthians 12:7).  King Saul was a believer (1 Samuel 11:6) and he was obviously demonized (1 Samuel 16:14-23).  David was motivated by Satan to take a census of the people (1 Chronicles 21; 2 Samuel 24).  Ananias and Saphira were Christians (Acts 4:32-35) but allowed Satan to “fill” them (Acts 5:3).  Paul warns Christians about letting Satan getting a foothold in their lives (Ephesians 4:26-27).

When you become a Christian you belong to God.  Satan can’t control you anymore.  But he can still influence you and work in you as he did before salvation, through your old sin nature (“the flesh”).

How can we tell if there is a demon in us working against us?  When someone who is a Christian struggles with a certain sin and doesn’t seem to gain victory no matter what they do then perhaps it is because there is a demon behind it.  Do you struggle with sins that you father or grandfather or older brothers struggle with?  Maybe anger or alcohol or greed?  If you cannot gain victory then it could be a demon that keeps working against you.  Perhaps you have a hard time studying God’s word.  Your mind wanders or you fall asleep.  The demons don’t want you to hear God’s word so they put you to sleep.  These things can happen for other reasons but it could be a demon behind it as well.

The man in the synagogue had demons living inside him and working in him.  He didn’t know it and nobody else knew it either.  The demons were keeping it very secret so they could continue to do that work in the man.  So why did the demons all of a sudden speak and reveal they were there?  He was in Jesus’ presence and hearing God’s Word and he couldn’t be silent.  Demons cannot stand when Jesus is lifted up and God’s Word is taught.  They hate it.  It causes them pain and they will do anything to stop it.  And so they speak up.  They want Jesus to stop

“What do you want with us?” they say.  “I know who you are – the Holy One of God.”  Demons know who Jesus is.  And they want nothing to do with Him.  Can you blame them?  He is their master – they have to obey.

Notice what this man says: “What do you want with us?”  There are more than one demon.  But then he says, “I know who you are.”  The leader of the group is talking.  Demons are organized like the military  — they have a chain of command.  There will be one demon that has the authority over that person.  And then he will invite others to come help in that work.  Maybe this man has a lot of fear in him.  Perhaps there was pain or jealousy or greed.  These could be demons by those names that were called into that man.  But Jesus is greater than any demons and the demons know it.  “Have you come to destroy us?” the ruling demon asks.  They know destruction is coming.  It’s not will it happen but when it will happen.  They want to destroy Jesus first but they cannot do that.  (To be continued in the next blog.)

Mark 1:23–26 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “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!”  25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

How much confidence do you put in your church membership or attendance to give you proof that your live is totally dedicated only to God?  Put your faith in Him, not in your church, pastor or own good works.

(For more information in Spiritual Warfare see my books, “Spiritual Warfare Handbook” and “Spiritual Warfare in the Bible” on the CTO web site: https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/our-ministries/spiritual-warfare/learning-more/ or email me at jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org and I will send you a PDF copy.  If you have any questions about spiritual warfare write to me.)

 

cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER

Christian Training Organization 

Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org

ChristianTrainingOnline.org

(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)

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