SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR TODAY

 

Passage: Luke 11:14-16 NKJV

A House Divided Cannot Stand
“And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.”

Memory Verse: Matthew 28:18b (NIV)

“WATCH ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN UNTO ME.”

In a previous edition of Spiritual Nourishment for Today, we looked at Jesus’ teaching on perseverance in prayers. We came to the understanding that prayer should be offered to God persistently in faith. By so doing, we are more likely to have our requests granted. In this edition we want to look at Jesus’ demonstration of power over demons and how the people reacted to it.

According to Luke’s account, Jesus met a man who could not speak, implying he was dumb (mute). According to Matthew’s account, this man was brought to Jesus. They had heard and seen what he was doing throughout Palestine, had come to believe in him, and took a decision to bring their dumb relative to him for healing.

This is something we should all take a cue from. We should never forget who Jesus is and what he is capable of doing. In our moments of difficulties we should look nowhere else but unto Jesus. He is the only one capable and willing to help us anytime we call upon him. He is loving and kind that he never rejects anyone who comes to him in faith.

I do not know what you may be going through at the moment. It may be a health condition, financial challenges, and ministerial challenges among others. It may be even be spiritual challenges. All I know is that there is nothing too hard for Jesus. If you will take a step of faith and ask Jesus to touch you today, your life will never be the same.

The man had been suffering from the inability to speak for unknown number of years. His family might have tried several means to ensure he got well but to no avail. His condition might have been a source of worry to his family for a long time until they met Jesus. It looks as if his healing was instant.

Jesus immediately knew the cause of the man’s condition. He knew it was not an ordinary health condition; rather, he was possessed by a demon that caused him to be mute. Immediately Jesus cast out the demon, the man regained his ability to speak. Praise be to the name of the Living God!

By this miracle Jesus demonstrated his power over demons once again. He showed that demons and all evil spirits panic and flee at the hearing of his voice. Indeed it shows that he is God and is of God. No human or demon can stand before him without surrendering to His authority.

The demon who was controlling this man never uttered a word to show his willingness to challenge the power and authority of Yeshua Ha’Mashiack. He trembled and fled to where he was sent from.

It is my prayer that Jesus will enter into your house, family, ministry, office, work place, relationship, health condition etc. and drive out every demon operating in any area of your life in Jesus’ mighty name!

One thing we need to take a closer look at in this story, is that not every sickness or problem we are faced with is an ordinary one. Many, if not most of the challenges we face, have their spiritual dimensions. It is very important therefore to ask God to help us discern into the challenges and know how to go about them properly.

If we approach physical challenges with spiritual methods, we may be wasting our time. In the same way, if we approach spiritual challenges with physical methods they shall continue to exist. When we understand the real causes of our problems and approach them using the right methods, the solution will not be far-fetched.

Even where we are not sure, it is important for us to approach every challenge we face from both the physical and the spiritual angles. In that way we can be sure of the way out. Jesus cast out the demon because he knew he was the cause. May the LORD God Almighty help us to discern the elements drawing us back and grant us victory over them!

Jesus’ healing of the demon-possessed man was met with mixed reactions from those present. One group knew Jesus was from God and praised God for the miracle. Another group also taught that Jesus was from Satan and that he was in league with the prince of demons, Beelzebul.

According to such people, Jesus drew his power and authority from Satan to perform the miracle. They could not imagine how any other power could overpower Satan’s. They certainly did not believe that God could use Jesus to perform such a powerful miracle.

There was yet another group of people which was skeptical about what Jesus did and asked for more signs to prove the authenticity of Jesus’ power and authority. I do not know how you respond to miracles which happen in churches today. It is not wrong to be skeptical as 1 John 4:1 cautions.

It is however, dangerous to connect a miracle to demonic powers when we are not very sure. In all these I pray for the spirit of discernment to help us make sound judgments on spiritual matters.

In the next edition we shall look at how Jesus responded to his accusers. May the LORD continue to grant us insight into His word!

THE WORD OF THE LORD!

 

---

Pastor Nana Kobina Baisie
Teacher/Pastor at Nadrim Mission International School, Busan, Korea.