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Updated on Sept 15, 07 at  9:13 a.m. EST

 

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"Christ's Awesome Power Truly Invokes Valid Inspiration To You!"(C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y)

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard


September 15, 2007

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

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what function do each play?

Point 1: Man

  1. A man is in their synagogue.

  2. The man was possessed by an evil spirit.

  3. The man questions Jesus 2 times.

  4. The man makes a declarative statement regarding Jesus.

I asked myself why it’s 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 may 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

The man cried out but the evil spirits seem 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!

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 and seems to be claiming that the man belongs to them. This is evident by the phrases ‘with us’ and ‘destroy us’.

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 that is controlling the man and making him captive, Jesus intervenes after the teaching.

Point 3: Jesus of Nazareth

I asked myself what Jesus does?

1. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to ‘Be Quiet’!

2. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to ‘Come out of him’!

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. 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

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 faithful, available, and teachable having a heart to reach out with the love of Christ, He will use us in mighty ways for His Kingdom.

At one time,  it took me 33 days in a row to finish reading through the Bible as I spent a lot of time after and before work. One of the verses that stood out for me was in Acts 20:24 which has become my signature verse too!

"But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus --- the work of telling others the Good News about God's mighty kindness and love." (Acts 20:24, TLB)

I ask you now dear friend, what captivity are you facing today?
Dear friend, I do not know what captivity you are facing but Jesus Christ knows. The captivities we face are here to destroy us and to bring our hopes and dreams down. We do not have to allow them to take control of our lives. Yes, friend whatever you face or you know someone is facing, there is hope and the hope is in Jesus.

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’ lots of time 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 an unforgiving spirit, living in the past, having trouble to move on because of things that have happened, loss of hope and dreams, guilt, etc. If we dwell in them, they will control us 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! 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.

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. A particular situation in my life, that couple of my close church cell group members know, is what prompted me to read through the Word in 33 days. 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. 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.

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 issues that you are facing! Amen!

“Christ's Awesome Power Truly Invokes Valid Inspiration To You!"(C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y)/"What captivity are you facing today?"

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. Thank you Jesus so much for what you have done and what you still do in our lives. 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. 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 and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

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 the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! Thank you Lord for answering my prayer. 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!

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God!" (John 1:12, NIV)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7, NIV)

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9, NIV)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, NIV)

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 will 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 412-720-4579! You can also text message me!

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

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

Express Your View

Previous Devotionals:

SEPT 2007:

CHAPTER 1: Gospel of Mark

Mark 1:1-4: "How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophesy?" (Sept 05, 07, 8:35 a.m.)

Mark 1:5-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to?" (Sept 06, 07, 8:13 a.m.)

Mark 1:9: "Will you take a S.T.A.N.D?" (Sept 07, 07, 7:57 a.m.)

Mark 1:10-11: "How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E?" (Sept 08, 07, 9:02 a.m.)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Sept 10, 07, 8:56 a.m.)

Mark 1:14-15: "Who controls your T.I.M.E?" (Sept 11, 07, 8:56 a.m.)


Mark 1:16-18: "What do you do with your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N?" (Sept 12, 07, 8:58 a.m.)

Mark 1:19-22: "Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to? (Sept 13, 07, 8:00 a.m.)
 


 

 

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