SCRIPTURE:
"Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they
fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." But he
gave them strict orders not to tell who he was.” (Mark 3:11-12, NIV)
Observations:
I asked myself what can I learn about the
evil spirits!
Evil
spirits were not just one but many and
-
Whenever the evil
spirits saw Jesus, they fell down before Jesus.
-
Whenever the evil
spirits saw Jesus, they cried out to Jesus saying, “You are the Son
of God.”
Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what is significant about them not being one?
It
emphasized to me that evil comes in many forms and Satan uses his evil
spirits to do the dirty work. However, evil spirits cannot stand before
Jesus or handle Jesus. They are powerless before Jesus. This is evident
by two points:
Point 1:
Whenever the evil spirits saw Jesus, they fell
down before Jesus!
The
evil spirits could not stand the sight of Jesus. They were so powerless
before Jesus that they fell down before Jesus. This is so amazing. Not
only that but they do something else that is more significant which is
evidenced by point 2.
Point 2:
Whenever the evil spirits saw Jesus, they cried
out to Jesus saying, “You are the Son of God!
The
evil spirits who were sent to do Satan’s dirty work fell down before
Jesus and cried out to Jesus saying, “You are the
Son of God.” This is amazing and radical. I say that because
right now lots
of human beings even do not fall down and cry acknowledging Jesus to be
the Son of God. They go on living their own lives how they wish. But a
day will come when all humanity will bow down before the Son of God.
The
evil spirits whatever their power was in the realm of evil, they could
not stand before the presence of Jesus but had to acknowledge who Jesus
is!
Observation/Interpretations:
I asked myself how Jesus responds and the significance of that?
“But he gave them strict orders not to
tell who he was.”
I
found it very significant what Jesus did when He gave them strict orders
not to tell who he was. First, of all it tells us that Jesus can order
and command evil spirits and they become powerless before Him. This is
awesome and great!
Also, I believe Jesus did not want the evil spirits to testify on his
behalf letting people know who he was. First of all the personification
of evil in a person’s life will never be a good testimony when they talk
about Jesus. If a person’s life is filled with evil then they definitely
cannot be a good testimony when they talk about Jesus. It is good to
know that Jesus can order evil spirits too and they have to listen to
Him. Also, Jesus had His timing for everything. He did not want evil to
let people know who He was but wanted to reveal it in His timing and not
let the people hear it from the evil spirits.
Application:
I
saw important implications for my own life. Evil spirits no matter what
form they take, cannot stand Jesus. Instead, they fall down before Jesus
and cry acknowledging Jesus and His power. This means when I have the
power of the Lord residing in my heart and life, evil spirits cannot
touch me. Instead, they will fall down in the Name of Jesus! With Jesus
on my side, the evil spirits will have to hide. The key is having Jesus
in my life and allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to work in me and
protect me.
I ask you now dear friend, how do you
fight evil in life?
Dear
friend, evil can come in many forms and it can do all kinds of damage.
Satan is an expert at sending his demons and evil spirits to do his dirty
work. They become successful and powerful in people’s lives who are not
covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Blood of Jesus Christ is the
key to battle and overcome evil. Christ's blood can cover over the
vilest sin and give freedom. The Blood of Christ leads us to the cross.
At the cross we find true healing.
When we decide to fight evil on our own
that is when we will falter and fail for evil can pervade our lives in
many forms. So we need Christ to do the battle for us against evil as we
wear the Armor of God. The Good News is Jesus Christ and His finished
work at the Cross of Calvary that we discover in the WORD OF GOD.
Friend, we see in the Word of God that
the evil spirits could not stand the sight of Jesus but fell down and
cried before Jesus. This is so powerful. Jesus even gave them strict
orders and they obey Him.
WORD OF GOD will help us fight evil. We
have to claim the promises of God and use WORD OF GOD against Satan and
the evil spirits.
EPHESIANS 6 lays out the groundwork to
fight evil. No
matter what evil has done to you or you are faced with, you can be
delivered. I know you can! Yes, you can friend! Jesus Christ is His Name
and to save you and me, He came. His blood will cleanse you where you
are and give you the best antidote to protect you from the enemy. Jesus
died for you, was buried, and came back to life to save.
In
Heavenly armor you can enter the land, for the battle belongs to the
Lord. No weapon formed against you will stand, for the battle belongs to
the Lord.
Turn
to Jesus whatever you are faced with and know you can command evil to
get away from you and it will have to because of Jesus who resides in
you as you acknowledge you are a sinner and need the grace of Jesus
Christ to save you and bring you deliverance. When you do that, you will
have a new hope! Yes, you will and you can! Don’t let the enemy steal
your joy for the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus has
come to give life in all its fullness for you!
This election year evil is at work too
trying to steal, kill, and destroy the 'sanctity of life of the unborn'
and 'the sanctity of marriage'. Evil will persuade you to vote more
based on money than morality. You need to fight that urge my friends.
Yes, the economy is bad but the Lord is
still good. His goodness and mercy endures forever. The economy is so
bad that evil will remind you of the badness of the economy that you
will vote for a candidate based on money than morality.
But the Lord Jesus can take care of your
finances no matter how bleak they look as you VOTE THE BIBLE and vote on
MORALITY than MONEY CO. (anagram for ECONOMY).
Evil loves to kill, steal, and destroy
the life of the unborn through ABORTION.
Evil loves to kill, steal, and destroy
monogamy and marriage as God intended to be through the promotion of GAY
MARRIAGE.
Being a follower of Christ and allowing
His blood to cover over us so we can be freed from evil, we should not
give evil prominence by voting for a candidate who supports the culture
of death and destruction. Both ABORTION and GAY MARRIAGE fall into this
category.
Sadly, one prominent candidate who can
persuade people with his great oratory speeches and put them in a trance
like state where their eyes and minds are blinded to the truth is for
ABORTION and GAY MARRIAGE.
His record shows his desire to have
ABORTIONS ON DEMAND even though his words try to make people believe it
is not so. But what are words without actions my friends. Jesus wants
our words to reflect our actions.
This candidate has supported ROE v.s WADE
and voted against the BORN ALIVE INFANT PROTECTION ACT because he
believed voting for it will overturn the EVIL OF ABORTION. Yet, he wants
people to believe he is for reducing abortions. Friend, anyone can say
anything to win your vote but what does their record say my friend.
Friend, he even believes that it is okay
for a man & a man to be married and a woman & woman to be married. He
wants to repeal the DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT which prohibits courts to
force states that do not want to recognize same-sex marriages done in
states like MA, CA, and CT. He thinks the DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT is a
bad idea.
Evil has to be conquered and the evil of
ABORTION and GAY MARRIAGE are important issues we as believers in Christ
should fight with the Lord's help to conquer.
At Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Forum
he questioned both presidential candidates Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama on
the issue of ABORTION, GAY MARRIAGE, and EVIL among other questions.
Only one candidate's responses on these
issues came closer to what Scripture teaches about.
We cannot let anything influence us to
give a hint that we will side with evil. The slaughter of the unborn and
the destruction of the sanctity of marriage is evil and not what God
intended.
We can put a president in office who will
promote the culture of life and fight the evil of ABORTION and GAY
MARRIAGE by his decisions.
Let us not let evil influence us to vote
our pocketbook but VOTE THE BIBLE. Sadly many times money comes into the
picture. Friend, the Bible says that the love of money is the root of
all evil so let us not base our vote on the MONEY CO. (economy) but on
MORALITY (Issues such as ABORTION, GAY MARRIAGE, etc)
“Economic Erosion Causes Citizens Caching Character's Corruption!”
(Oct 11, 08, 9:26
p.m.)
Friend to fight evil, the record will
show one candidate has the CHARACTER and CREDIBILITY over the other
candidate.
One candidate has a 100% Pro-Life record
and is against gay marriage compared to another candidate. One candidate
also emphasizes the importance of CHARACTER and CREDIBILITY while the
other candidate thinks making COMMITMENTS can draw people to him without
having CHARACTER.
Let us handle evil by exposing it with
the help of the Lord. Let us not vote for the evil of ABORTION or GAY
MARRIAGE by voting for a candidate who supports them. Let us fight evil
visiting in land.
May
you know even when evil visits invading land, the battle belongs to the
Lord. We need to depend on our Lord and Personal Savior to fight this
evil. We can with the help of the Holy Spirit who will reside in us and
give us wisdom. One day evil will be
completely vanquished when Jesus Christ comes back to earth!
Until that day we need to be vigilant and
allow the WORD OF GOD to be our Sword of the Spirit to fight evil
whether it is in everyday life or in the election. May we rest in the
arms of our Savior knowing evil's visit invading lands can be conquered.
“Evil Visits Invading Lands! (E.V.I.L)”/"How do
you fight E.V.I.L in life?"
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for your love and for showing us that
evil spirits cannot stand the sight of you. Instead, they fell down and
cried before you acknowledging you are the Son of God. We are so sorry
for our sin! Lord we ask you to please forgive us as we fall down before
you with our heart, mind, soul, and strength. We acknowledge we are
sinners and need your grace to save us and deliver us from the enemy.
Help us please Jesus. Come into our heart and make our heart your home.
Live in us Jesus and help us to live for you and serve you the rest of
the days of our lives. We live in a world of evil and need your
protection to fight evil. We need you Lord and know that there will come
a time when all evil will be vanquished. Until then help us to stand
with you Jesus and remember the battle belongs to you Lord as we enter
the land. Thank you that no weapon formed against us will prosper when
we have you! When we know you, no matter what happens here on earth, we
can be with you! Thank you Jesus. Thank you for your help and that you
have heard our prayer and answered it! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
ANALOGY OF INVITING PEOPLE TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN:
We are like an ambulance taking
sick people to the
hospital. People are dying and there is an emergency because of an
epidemic virus. The ambulance takes the initiative to go to the place
people are dying and bring them to the hospital. They are not dead yet
but there is no time to wait. The ambulance needs to get to the hospital
for that virus to be treated. The virus has infected the mind, body, and
soul spreading rapidly. You and I cannot do anything to heal our friends
of this virus except be the AMBULANCE taking them to the HOSPITAL where
the GREAT PHYSICIAN waits.
Once at the hospital, there is a GREAT PHYSICIAN that waits. The sick
are gathered from all corners of the earth and come to this hospital.
This hospital is called CALVARY OF SALVATION and the EMERGENCY WARD is
called GOLGOTHA.
The GREAT PHYSICIAN is not like other doctors who can only treat
patients with physical ailments but this GREAT PHYSICIAN is much
more and knows He has to stay 72 HOURS for every dying person there to
be healed.
He knows what He has to do! This GREAT PHYSICIAN knew that only His
BLOOD can wipe away this epidemic VIRUS, so for you and me He went to
the blood transfusion room where people were about to die. There He lay
down on the bed made of wood.
The surgeons walk into the room. They turn this GREAT PHYSICIAN on
His back. Instead of using an IV, a WHIP with sharp glass, etc is
used to draw out the BLOOD from the GREAT PHYSICIAN'S back! It does not
stop there but to elevate the head on the bed of wood, a CROWN OF THORNS
is used which draws more BLOOD.
As the head is elevated, the GREAT PHYSICIAN's hands are stretched
wide on the wooden bed. Then the feet are bound together. This is done
for the BLOOD transfusion to begin. Instead of using an IV, NAILS and a
HAMMER is used. The NAILS are pounded through the hands into the wooden
bed with a HAMMER so the BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. The NAILS
are pounded through the feet into the wooden bed with a HAMMER so more
BLOOD flows and that BLOOD is saved. As the BLOOD continues to flow from
the GREAT PHYSICIAN's body, the GREAT PHYSICIAN flat lines. Then the
surgeons insert a SPEAR into the heart to make sure all the BLOOD is
out. All the BLOOD is out!
Now, the GREAT PHYSICIAN is moved into the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA MORGUE
being guarded by security.
Now the CALVARY OF SALVATION hospital has a BLOOD DONOR whose BLOOD
can be used to save everyone there from this EPIDEMIC VIRUS.
Those dying need to be taken there to receive the BLOOD transfusion
that is available. However, the BLOOD will not be forced upon those
dying! THE PUREST RED ANTIDOTE is only given to those that are willing
to receive the BLOOD TRANSFUSION so they could LIVE.
All that accept the BLOOD are being CLEANSED of this EPIDEMIC VIRUS
in their system that is infecting the mind, body, and soul. This
BLOOD goes into the dying person's mind, body, and soul and eats away at
the virus cleaning them and making them pure. This VIRUS is known as
SIN. The BLOOD is the PRECIOUS CLEANSING BLOOD OF THE GREAT PHYSICIAN,
JESUS CHRIST.
The WOODEN BED is the CROSS OF CHRIST where the dying need to be led
too.
72 HOURS LATER, there is a commotion at the JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA
MORGUE. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN is not there anymore and the ANGELS that
visit tell loved ones who came there, that THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS ALIVE
and will save all that come to Him.
It is true even to this day, for all that come to the HOSPITAL OF CALVARY come to realize that His CLEANSING
BLOOD shed on the WOODEN BED (CROSS) will never run out. Anyone infected
who wants to be healed of their sickness can accept what Jesus did for
them and be covered in His precious CLEANSING
BLOOD.
I have done that friend and know that at the foot of the cross where
Jesus died shedding His precious cleansing blood for my sin and the sins
of the world, I can find forgiveness and grace.
Thanks be to God that Christ's death on the cross was temporary to
remove all His precious cleansing blood for our sake but after He was
buried, Jesus came back to life to save.
To this day, all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved when
they acknowledge what Jesus Christ has done for them and what He can do
for them.
Friend, Jesus loves you so much and if you were the only one living
on earth, Jesus would have done the same for you. What I shared with you
was an analogy but in real life it has happened. Jesus went to the cross
for you and me and His precious cleansing blood was shed so you and I
could have life. Jesus came back to life 72 hours later and is alive but
His blood continues to heal people on every corner of the earth to those
that accept Him.
If you 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,
thank you for healing the paralytic after forgiving his sins. You set him
free to go home. 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. 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 so I could be free. 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 Blood to redeem
humanity. Thank you for coming back to life to save us and give 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. 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. 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)
