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“C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y is Capturing A Person's Truth Imposing Vicious Ideas That Yammer!”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
"Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "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!" "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 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." News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee." (Mark 1:23-28, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself who are involved in verses 23-28?

1. Man
2. Evil spirit
3. Jesus of Nazareth
4. People

Point 1: Man

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what function does the man play?

1. A man is in their synagogue.

2. The man was possessed by an evil spirit.

3. The man who was possessed questions Jesus 2 times .

4. The man who was possessed makes a declarative statement regarding Jesus.

I asked myself why is it significant that 'a man in their synagogue' is mentioned?
Reading about it really touched me because what came to my mind is that the synagogue was not just populated with people whose lives were going well. This man might have belonged to their synagogue and yet we learn that he was far from well. He was dealing with an evil spirit or demons in his life that were in control of him.

I am reminded that the man only questions Jesus after Jesus teaches with authority in the synagogue and the people are amazed. It is possible that the man was dealing with this CAPTIVITY for a long time but kept attending the synagogue but for the first time, he saw a way out. He did not give up.

Point 2: Evil Spirit

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what function does the evil spirit play?
The man cried out but the evil spirit seems to be doing the talking. There is a battle within the man. An evil spirit possesses the man and talks to Jesus through the man regarding 3 things:

1. What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth?

2. Have you come to destroy us?

3. I know who you are 'the Holy One of God!'

Interpretations:
I asked myself what is significant about these two questions?
I found it very significant that an evil spirit in the man felt that Jesus was interfering in the man's life. The evil spirit wanted to destroy the man but now felt opposition and names the opposition to be Jesus of Nazareth. The evil spirit does not seem to be speaking just on his behalf but on the behalf of all his demons that have invaded the man and seems to be claiming that the man belongs to them. This is evident by the phrases 'with us' and 'destroy us'.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is significant of the declarative statement 'I know who you are 'the Holy One of God!'?

This is such a powerful statement that the evil spirit makes after mentioning the name of Jesus because the evil spirit is admitting to Jesus being 'the Holy One of God'. Let us remember that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan who sends out his evil spirits to do his dirty work but Jesus overcame the temptations of Satan by focusing on God and the Scriptures.

By admitting Jesus to be the 'Holy One of God', I get the feeling the evil spirit was telling Jesus not to bother with the man in their synagogue who is not holy. The evil spirit wants the man to be left to them. Yet, Jesus does not ignore the man's plight. Knowing it is an evil spirit and his demons that is controlling the man and making him CAPTIVE, Jesus intervenes after the teaching.

Point 3: Jesus of Nazareth

Observation:
I asked myself what function does Jesus play?
1. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to 'Be Quiet!'
2. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to 'Come out of him!'

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of these commands?
First, Jesus quiets the evil spirits from revealing more about Jesus. It is interesting how much the evil spirits seemed to know about Jesus but Jesus did not want to reveal His identity yet. Now, Jesus performs a miracle by removing the evil spirit from the man by commanding it to come out of him. The evil spirit had to obey Jesus and came out of the man with hesitation. This is evidenced by the verse, 'The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.'

Whatever the man was facing, Jesus healed him. This man was someone in their synagogue who was possessed and Jesus intervened. This causes a reaction among others in their synagogue which is evidenced by point 4.

Point 4: People

Observations/Interpretation:
I asked myself what happened after the healing took place?

1. The people were all so amazed.
2. They asked each other, 'What is this? A new teaching and with authority!'
3. They announced that Jesus even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.
4. They spread the news about him over the whole region of Galilee.

What stuck out to me from these statements is the phrase 'He even gives orders.' This tells me that they recognized the awesome teaching with authority that Jesus had given before performing the healing. Now they know that Jesus can even heal people possessed with evil spirits.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here. Just because someone is at church or coming to fellowships, etc I should not assume that everything is ok in their lives. I should be involved in their lives to see if they are troubled and need help. I need to make myself available to others who may want to talk and need help. Jesus calls us to be His Ambassadors and His servants to carry out His work here on earth. Not all are given the same gifts but when we are exhibiting FAITH: faithful, available, involved, teachable, and humble having a heart to reach out with the love of Christ, He will use us in mighty ways for His Kingdom.

Five years ago, around this time, I spent 33 days in a row to finish reading through the Bible because of the CAPTIVITY I was facing. One of the verses that stood out for me was in Acts 20:24 which has become my signature verse too!

I ask you now dear friend, what CAPTIVITY are you facing today in life?
Dear friend, I do not know what CAPTIVITY you are facing but Jesus Christ knows. If you are held CAPTIVE to pornography, unforgiving spirit, perfectionism, idolism, bitter spirit, offensive spirit, addictions of whatever they maybe, unhealthy attachments to people, etc, you will never have to face it alone.

The captivities you face are here to destroy you slowly and bring your hopes and dreams down. But, you do not have to face it alone for there is One who wants to deliver you. Yes, friend whatever you face now or you know someone is facing, there is hope and the hope is in Jesus.

Come daily with your captivities and lay it at the foot of the cross and allow Jesus' blood to cleanse you of all your sin and depend on Him to deliver you. He will in His timing just as the demon-possessed man was delivered. Don't give up.

I do not assume anymore that if someone comes to church regularly that everything is okay in their lives and they are walking and growing strong in the Lord. This can be far from the truth. Many of them can be facing silent bondage that only the Master's Hand can heal. But the Master uses His servants lot of times to bring His healing. At times the healing of Jesus comes directly.

Captivities can come in many shapes and forms. They do not just have to be demon possession but they can be a bitter spirit, an offensive spirit, an unforgiving spirit, living in the past, having trouble to move on because of things that have happened, loss of hope and dreams, guilt, shame, broken relationships, unhealthy attachments, being run by feelings alone, etc.

If you dwell in them, they will control you but the Good News is that Jesus wants to reach you where you are friend. Yes, He does! Allow Him to come and work in your life. Allow Him to be the Lord of your life.

Don't give up but keep holding on! When you hold on to Jesus, you will be holding on to faith!

If you know someone who seems to be in CAPTIVITY to something, what they need is your understanding and love. This does not mean the action is condoned but allowing the person to share with you and working with the person to get help.

There are couple of awesome churches I know that have done that very well. I want to invite each and every one of you to Oakland International Fellowship which meets on N. Dithridge Street in Oakland close to the University of Pittsburgh. It is part of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland. Pastor Hugo and Edwin have helped me in different areas of my life to help overcome some of the captivities I have faced. It is amazing most of the time the Lord Jesus uses His church community to help bring hope and healing. He can do that for you too!

I could not be writing this to you if the Lord Jesus did not deliver me from different types of captivities that gave me so much pain. Some pain does not go away overnight but the Lord Jesus in His love, grace, and mercy has given me the strength to endure through it all.

When the pain resurfaces, I take it to the Lord in prayer.  I pray our Lord gives each of you His strength to overcome what you face.

Whatever you are dealing with, allow Jesus to heal you and believe He will. He loves you friend. He will give you the strength and endurance to deal with these captivities and eventually overcome them.

Yes, He will! His Blood was shed for you and can heal you where you are. Yes, He can! Don't give up! Jesus wants to be the Lord of your past, the Lord of your present, and the Lord of your future. As Jesus works in your life, you can be the one to bring light into someone's life with the Light of Jesus.

The people were amazed with Jesus not only because of His teaching but because He personally got involved in people's lives and brought healing to them. The news of what Jesus did started spreading across Galilee. If churches and individuals do that, the news will spread that something is happening there. It is not for our glory but for the glory of Christ.

But the captivities we face here on earth has it's root in the greatest CAPTIVITY mankind has faced. Friend, the entire human race is held CAPTIVE to the bondage of sin as Satan pulls the strings. It does not matter whether we are a church attendee or not. Sin holds all of us in CAPTIVITY and separates us from God and having a relationship with Him. This is what happened to the man who was demon-possessed. He was held as a prisoner but Jesus rescued Him.

Friend, whatever CAPTIVITY we are facing Jesus is here to rescue us. Jesus will address the root cause in all of our lives which is the sin that CAPTIVATES. Sin can come in many forms but still is sin. Know that Jesus loves you so much that Jesus went to the cross to die for your sins to rescue you and ransom you from its deadly destruction. Jesus shed His precious cleansing blood for you to set you free from any bondage. Jesus was buried and came back to life to save you.

His blood becomes the antidote for us to wash us and wipe our slates clean from the sin that CAPTIVATES. So come and receive Christ in your life and His forgiveness. Even when you mess up, take it to Jesus always in prayer remembering the example of the man in the synagogue. He was bold enough to be in the synagogue among other believers even if he was facing CAPTIVITY.

You can do that too! Don't feel you have to have everything together to come to Christ. If you wait for that day, it will never happen because none of us can be good enough ever to receive the grace of Christ. The grace of Christ is given to us while we are yet sinners. That is exciting to know.

"God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!"

Turn your CAPTIVITY over to the Lord no matter what it is and rest in Him. Your regrets, shame, pain, suffering, and everything else let Jesus have it my friend and allow Him to work in you. He will friend, yes He will.

I know I have to work on overcoming  offensive spirit, bitter spirit, unforgiving spirit, etc many times and can only do it by the awesome power of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as I yield my life to Him daily. It is a daily surrender and focusing on Christ! You can do it to friend! Yes, you can!

"Let Him have all your worries and cares for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you!" (1 Peter 5:7, TLB)

May you know the Lord that can heal you and will heal you as you wait upon Him! May you know the strength He gives you as you depend on Him to endure through the CAPTIVITY that you are facing! Amen!

"C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y is Capturing A Person's Truth Imposing Vicious Ideas That Yammer!"/"What CAPTIVITY are you facing today in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank you so much for the healing you performed in the man's life. Even though you are Holy and the man was far from holy, you intervened in his life and healed him. You cared for Him in his weakness. You do that for us too. You have come to seek and save the lost. Thank you so much Jesus. You know the captivities we face and how it hurts us. We need your healing Oh Lord and your deliverance. We wait on you Jesus. Thank you Jesus so much for what you have done and what you still do in our lives. Forgive us when we have hurt others because of our words and actions. I pray now for all those who are in CAPTIVITY to different things in their life. Sometimes they feel they cannot go on and just want to give up but you Oh Lord are a God who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. You meet us where we are and we ask you for your healing in people's lives that need your amazing love. And please help us be the vessels you want us to be to carry out your work in this broken world. May our actions bring your Light into people's dark and aching souls! Please be the Lord of their past, present, and future. Help us to be instruments of love and heal us in our own lives please Jesus. We want you to be lifted higher and higher. Help us to be sensitive to those around us and reach them with your love Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus for your help. Thank you for your healing power, for hearing us, and answering us! I give my life to you to take care of me. Come Lord Jesus and make your home in our hearts today. Help us to live for you and serve you. We thank you that you came to help us overcome the greatest CAPTIVITY which is the sin that binds. Thanks you that you died for our sin shedding your precious cleansing blood to free us. Thanks so much Jesus. I love you Jesus and need you. Thank you for coming back to life to save us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you from your CAPTIVITY to any bondage. Praise the Lord!

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

If you are reading this and do not know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior and would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray this prayer, meaning it in your heart. You can invite the GREAT PHYSICIAN right now as you make this your prayer.

Dear Jesus, I want to be free. I don’t know everything about you. I still have a lot of questions. What I do know is that you died on the cross for my sins. When it comes to sin, I am a paralytic Oh Lord. I am infected with this deadly disease known as sin. I am not perfect but a sinner who needs your cleansing blood to clean me of my sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. I know you have forgiven me when you died on the cross and shed your blood. I want to accept that forgiveness. Thank you for shedding your cleansing precious blood for me. You were nailed to the cross because of me. It is like I actually held the hammer and pounded the nails. Thank you for willingly dying for me Jesus. Thank you for taking the shame and pain for me. Thank you for doing that to set me free. I come to the cross and ask you for your healing in my life. Thank you for the power of your love using your Blood to redeem all humanity that comes to you. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and giving us Eternal Life as we yield to you. Your blood can heal us where we are. I love you Jesus. I want you Jesus. Even with my questions, I come to you now and accept you into my heart. Please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home. Give me a transfusion of change. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus. I acknowledge you now as my Lord and Personal Savior. Please be the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior Jesus and because of what you have done for me when God looks at me, He now sees me covered in Your blood and His judgment passes over me. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being with me Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you for saving me. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus I now belong to you and never need to be alone! You will always be with me and have given me Salvation.  Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help! But beware of churches who do believe in the Word of God completely but there is no freedom in Christ but legalism involved.

As a professional, it is not too late to join a church! As a student, it is not too late to join a fellowship on campus this  new year of 2010! May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.  Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible LIVE Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2010 DEVOTIONALS:

“I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E is 'Immanuel's Nurture Delivering Every Person Experiencing Now Deadly Evil, Nullifying Captivity Everywhere!” (Sun, July 04, 10, 8:13 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

“F.R.E.E.D.O.M is 'Forever Redeemer's Emancipation Everyday Delivering Omnipotent Message!” (Sat,, July 03, 10, 8:57 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

“P.A.S.T is People's Anxious Surrendered Torment!"(Thurs, July 01, 10, 5:03 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What do you do with your L.I.F.E to receive Eternal Life?" (June 15, 10, 6:55 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What is M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L Day to you?" (May 31, 10, 7:21 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"Which commandment does your W.I.L.L break easily?" (May 26, 10, 6:23 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"Why cannot you be G.O.O.D in life?" (May 24, 10, 7:00 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What do you do when you T.H.I.N.K about Jesus?" (May 21, 10, 7:51 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"Whose life do you get I.N.V.O.L.V.E.D in?" (May 20, 10, 7:13 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What is the point of being a C.H.I.L.D?" (May 08, 10, 8:51 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13-16: "Whose T.E.R.M.S do you follow in life?" (May 07, 10, 7:21 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13-16: "What H.I.N.D.E.R.S you from coming to Jesus?" (May 04, 10, 8:23 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13-16: "What does who do you V.A.L.U.E. in life tell about you?" (Mon, April 05, 10, 9:54 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

"What does the C.R.O.S.S mean to you?" (Sat, April 03, 10, 11:49 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12: "Will you be the offspring of the S.E.E.D cultivated?" (Mon, March 29, 10, 10:09 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

John 12:3: "What costly S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E will you make for Jesus remembering His stinky/dirty feet?" (Sat, March 27, 10, 11:06 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Proverbs 23: "What  has  A.L.C.O.H.O.L done to you in life?" (March 20, 10, 9:17 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with an I.N.T.E.R.R.U.P.T.I.O.N in life?" (March 13, 10, 11:40 p.m.)

Mark 10:13: "Why S.H.A.R.E Jesus with others in life?" (March 09, 10, 4:59 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10:13: "Why B.R.I.N.G Doggy Poo to Jesus?" (March 08, 10, 9:01 a.m) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "When have you become an A.D.U.L.T.E.R.E.R in life and what now?" (Feb 24, 10, 9:31 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Why D.I.V.O.R.C.E the one you marry in life?" (Feb 22, 10, 12:15 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "What do you do with what is P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D in your life?" (Feb 20, 10, 10:08 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

1 Corinthians 13: "How will you be someone's V.A.L.E.N.T.I.N.E using 16?" (Feb 13, 10,  12:16 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 10: "Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?" (Feb 05, 10, 9:43 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "How can you be a S.A.L.T in someone's life today?" (Feb 04, 10, 11:27 a.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "What do you help your friends E.S.C.A.P.E from?" (Feb 03, 10, 12:30 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "Why bother with H.E.L.L in life?" (Feb 02, 10, 2:39 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

Mark 9: "When are you planning to cut your hand, foot, or eye to escape Hell?"" (Feb 01, 10, 1:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy

 Mark 9: "Why heed Jesus' W.A.R.N.I.N.G in your life?" (Jan 30, 10, 12:41 p.m.) By Ramesh C. Reddy