February 9th Devotion

Mark 1:21-28 (NIV)
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 "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!" 25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 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." 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

There are things that you and I simply do not know. There are things that only God knows. Today’s passage is a good example. It seems straightforward enough. Jesus went into a synagogue on the Sabbath. It might have been his first visit since his baptism. Certainly the people there didn’t expect him. In fact they were amazed by him and the authority with which he taught. But be sure to notice the man possessed by an evil spirit. The evil spirit knew Jesus and yet did not know that Jesus would be there that day. Out of the entire group in the synagogue, he was probably the only one who knew the significance of that day. “Have you come to destroy us?”

Christians have no reason to fear evil spirits. Jesus came to destroy them. They have to answer to and obey him, and the battle has begun. There is such an interest in spiritual things today. Many people claim to be very spiritual, and yet admit they are not Christians. If they are spiritual and not Christians, what does that mean?

1 John 4:1-3 (NIV)
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Every spirit knows and recognizes Jesus for who he is. Those who deny the truth, come from the antichrist.

Love, Pastor Don