Live 4 The LORD

​READ

31  And he went down to Caperna-um, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath; 32  and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”  (Luke 4:31–36, RSV2CE)

REFLECTION

Jesus is teaching. People are astonished because his word is with authority and power even over evil spirits. 

The man with a demon is in church. 

The demon cry’s out to taunt Jesus. “Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 

The demon knows that Jesus can do something with them. The demon knows Jesus can destroy them. The demon knows Jesus is God. Yet the demon still taunts and challenges…Hate, rage, manipulation, etc. 

Jesus rebukes evil, commands to be silent, commands to depart. 

RESOLUTION

I must be careful how I react to things. If I follow Christ I will calmly with authority and the word of power, rebuke and command in Jesus’ name but never use taunting, hate, rage, or manipulation, those are devil tactics. Using devil tactics puts me in the devils camp. Using calm authority and commands of the Word of God, in the Name of Jesus, rebuke evil, it must leave. 

Evil is everywhere including in the church. Do not be scandalized. 

Evil is a privation and defect of the good. Since all are sinners, we all have evil tendencies. We are here to learn to let God recreate us without yielding to our defects by surrendering to grace and listening to Him, not the evil spirits. 

REST

God, help me react in You and Your Word. Help me see that crucifying my flesh of Devil tactics will actually free me instead of being enslaved by the tyrant. I need your Grace to help me live free. Help me see when I am at the cross roads. I have been reacting badly. I am desperate for your help. In Your Name and by the Power of Your Blood I pray, Save Me!!! Amen.