I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me
and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do
nothing. – John 15:5
Luke 4:31-44
Pray
for God to speak to you through the reading of His word.
Read
the passage.
-
Are
Demons Real?
o
We
see Jesus casting our demons, so we know they existed. And yet, our modern way of thinking often
causes us to wonder if they still exist.
Some even suggest that the Bible referred to things we call disease
(epilepsy, etc.) as demons.
o
Some
look for demons around every corner, others think they don’t exist at all. Perhaps a better way of thinking about demons
and the demonic is to realize that demons and the demonic are things that
serve, or are of Satan.
o
While
is some cases a demon might manifest itself in a personal way, as they did with
Jesus, most of the time the demonic presents itself it subtler ways. Can anyone deny that the Swastika of Nazi
Germany or the black flag of ISIS is a symbol of evil in our world? Can anyone deny that demonic forces are still
at work in world where millions of Jews can be murdered in gas chambers,
Christians can be beheaded, and babies can be taken apart and sold in their
mothers’ wombs?
-
A
Broader Definition of Evil
o
Jesus
rebukes the illness of Simon’s mother-in-law in the same way that he rebukes
the demon in the synagogue.
o
Could
it be that Jesus sees illness and demon-possession in the same terms?
o
For
Jesus, evil is not only that which is personified, such as a demon, but also
anything that is contrary to the good intentions of God for his creation. The fall brought illness, pain, and a host of
others things, all of which are evil.
Jesus rebukes them in the same way he rebukes demons, because they all
come from the same source, the devil.
-
Preaching
the Good News
o
Jesus
preaching invoked a response from the demon possessing the man in
Capernaum. Even in our day, telling
others of the good news of Jesus Christ can bring out evil.
o
Are
you prepared to confront evil around you by proclaiming the truth and goodness
that is found in Jesus Christ?
Praise God for the courage to
confront the evil around you by preaching Jesus Christ!
Consider this verses:
“But someone will
say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your
works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one;
you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:18-19 ESV)
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