Sunday, April 22, 2012

Mark 1:25-26 commentary: Jesus rebukes an unclean spirit


25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

There are unclean spirits in this assembly. Don’t be so arrogant to assume that they aren’t in your assembly. How many people in your church are oppressed or possessed by devils? Much of the spirit of division and apathy in our church bodies are the result of the activities of devils working with natural human rebellion. When the congregation seems lackadaisical about God’s word and you hear many people say, “I don’t read the Bible because I don’t like to read” and “I don’t listen to the Bible because I don’t have time” then you can be sure that there are spirits of lethargy and apathy working with the natural rebellious and lazy nature of the Christians.

If you hear a Preacher discount the word of God as being not as important as his ministry and your adoration of the preacher and his ministry you can be sure that the congregation is being held fast by devils and that the much needed revival is not possible.

Until a Preacher deals with the activities of devils in the assembly God won’t use that assembly. They’ll just go through the motions. Look at the charges given to the churches in Revelation’s first three chapters carefully.

If you don’t believe in evil spirits or possession and oppression by devils then you don’t believe the Bible which clearly says such things are so. People say I want to quit smoking or I want to quit drinking or that drugs or pornography have a hold on them. They insist that they really do want to be free of it but they also admit that they have failed so far, made many unkept promises to God and to themselves, and just can’t seem to shake the beast that has sunk its talons into their spiritual heart. In these verses in Mark the Word of God rebukes the unclean spirit and it leaves.

God sanctifies His people through His words.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The Word of God is not physically here walking around in the flesh to speak to unclean spirits but through His words He can and will drive those unclean spirits from you. It is through the words of God and prayer that we can triumph over sin and the unseen world.

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

It is by the words of God, the word of God, that we will triumph over Satan.

1John 2:14b …….I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

The word of God is quick and powerful and you must come to it expecting something to happen. Surrender what is oppressing you to its control.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

There is nothing that God cannot do that is within His will. No evil force or spirit can stand against Him. Believe that, expecting God to work in your life and in your heart. Swim in His words. Devour them. Trust in them. You can’t do it yourself. Be sure that thing will tear you when it leaves. There is always a consequence for entertaining sin. The scars will remind you of what you've been grappling with for the rest of your life.

No comments: