Scripture
25But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. 27Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. Mark 1:25-28
Observation
Jesus came out of the wilderness swinging. He knew His identity and security flowed from the love of The Father and His power from the Holy Spirit (vs. 10-11). Therefore, Jesus walked into the towns like a sheriff with his badge and served and eviction notice to every unclean spirit that had set up residence. The people had seen Jewish exorcists before, but they often used elaborate incantations, formula’s and charms with mixed results. This was different. Jesus walked in an authority that sent darkness running for the hills like they had no choice, because they didn’t! Then, Jesus called a few men and women willing to leave everything else and follow Him. He gave them the same identity and security in the Father’s Love, the same power in The Holy Spirit, and told them to walk in the authority of His name. He made it clear that we are at war and every day there’s a spiritual battle going on, but they need not be afraid for He is with them! In Mark 6 we read, “7And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits…So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”
Application
“Without the brilliant planning and heroic sacrifices of the D-Day invasion, the Allies may have never defeated the Nazi forces in Europe. On June 6, 1944, more than 156,000 American, British and Canadian troops stormed 50 miles of Normandy's fiercely defended beaches in northern France in an operation that proved to be a critical turning point in World War II.” Jesus’ victory over the devil was like D-Day to World War 2- the decisive battle that marked the beginning of the war’s end. The devil’s fate was sealed on the first Easter, as Hitler’s was on June 6th 1944. That didn’t mean there was no more work left to do for the Allied forces. The Battle of Normandy was another 12 weeks alone. German surrender wasn’t until almost a year later May 7th, 1945. There were still many miles to cover to reach Berlin. We have the authority, but we still have walk out the victory every single day. Have we bought in to the beautiful lie that there is no war? That what we read about here in the gospel of Mark was just for Jesus and His first disciples, but His 21st century disciples get to just sit back and sip coffee because the battle is over? It was a long road to Berlin between Normandy and Hitlers surrender. In the mean time Hitler ordered all of his troops to scorch the earth in their retreat to destroy as much as possible. John Mark Comer points out his book, “Live No Lies” that, like Hitler, Satan knows his time is numbered , but he’s not in hell… yet. He’s here on earth. There’s a reason we’re told to pray “Your will be done ON earth as it is in heaven” or on earth as it is in hell. CS Lewis wrote in Christian Reflections, “There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan.” Can you imagine the soldiers saying, Hitler isn’t real? I’m not sure he even exists. Let’s just hang out here on the beach and get a tan… Yet, it seems like many of us live our lives like Switzerland in WW 2. There’s no such thing as a spiritual Switzerland on the road to Berlin. We must realize that this beautiful lie that there is no spiritual battle or worse, The Devil doesn’t exist, is just setting us up to cede the very ground Jesus has already won for our us where we wake, work, and worship.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for taking Your sacrifice and victory for granted. You’ve called me to walk in the authority of Your Name in every area of my life. Yet, somehow I act like casting out demons is the exception rather than the rule. I want to see people healed and set free. We are seeing the scorched earth around us and it’s time for Your people to walk in Your authority by walking out Your plan of redemption. Forgive me for buying the beautiful lie and being passive in my prayers. I clothe my self in your armor today as I head out to claim the ground You’ve already won!
