Tag: cast out
Casting out evil spirits!
Scripture reading for November 12: Acts 19-20
The Apostle Paul had begun his third missionary journey to reach those in the province of Asia. (Acts 18:23) He ended up in Ephesus where he found a group of twelve men who had been baptized into John’s baptism of repentance but had never heard about Jesus Christ. Paul gave them the Gospel of Jesus, told them about the Holy Spirit and then laid hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied! Thus the church at Ephesus was born and Paul ministered there for nearly three years. This event took place about 20 years after the first Pentecost!
Paul also spoke in the synagogue, as was his custom. He went to his own brothers, the Jews, first, and sought to win them to Jesus. This caused conflict so he left with the new disciples and went to the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and continued to preach there for two years. His ministry was so effective that all the Jews and Greeks in the whole province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord! (Acts 19:10)
The Lord had promised that signs will follow those who obediently preached the Gospel. (Mark 16:15-20) As Paul preached in Asia, God did extraordinary miracles through him as a help in winning the lost and confirming Jesus as the Christ. These miracles included healing and casting out evil spirits. (Acts 19:11-12) Handkerchiefs and aprons were taken from Paul and sent to the sick who were healed!
Paul’s preaching of Jesus and these extraordinary miracles caused some Jewish exorcists to imitate Paul’s methods. They tried to cast out a demon from a possessed man “in the Name of Jesus, Whom Paul preaches.” The demon spoke to them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:13-15) These seven exorcists were severely beaten by the demon possessed man! The word of this happening brought a revival of holiness. Fear seized the populace and they confessed their evil deeds, sorcery, and witchcraft. They publicly burned their books and charms and the Word of God spread and grew in power!
God’s power is no match against the powers of the Devil! Jesus told us that in His Name, we would cast out devils! We must know Jesus personally or end up like the seven. Demons know both Jesus and those who have Him as Lord! In His name, extraordinary miracles will follow the preaching of the Gospel and the ministry of those who obediently go! Be bold as you enter your mission field today!
Speechless before the King
Scripture reading for July 28th: Matthew 22
Key Scriptures: Matthew 22:8-14 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.'”
Are you clothed in ‘wedding garments’ and ready to attend the King’s wedding feast? Jesus told this parable to speak to the chief priests and Pharisees who were seeking a way to arrest Him and kill Him. He told this parable to challenge each person to examine their own lives and walk with God and relationship with His Son. Many professed to be part of the ‘chosen’ people who would be in the wedding feast of the kingdom. But profession must also be true possession of salvation and the righteousness that comes by true faith in Jesus Christ. All other ‘garments’ will be examined and rejected by the king as illegitimate. When questioned about how the man without the garment got in, he had no answer. The king’s instructions were quick and final: “Bind him hand and foot and cast him out into the outer darkness.” Weeping and gnashing of teeth is the lot of those without excuse. The invitation was sent to everyone and all had opportunity but only a few were humble enough to repent and believe and receive the King’s pure white wedding garment!
Matthew 22:2-3 “”The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.””
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. I am trusting in Him alone for my wedding garment and I have accepted with humble thanks the invitation to come and humbly seek to wear the garment of His righteousness in readiness for the King’s announcement. Let none You invited be speechless when You appear!
Psalm 45:13-15 “All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her. With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.”
Discerning our ‘latter end’!
Scripture reading for March 27th: Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 13, Luke 13
Key Scriptures: Luke 13:26-30 “Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.” But He will say, I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from Me, all you workers of evil.” In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Jesus, in response to the question, “Will those who are saved be few?”, told them that the way of salvation was a narrow door (relationship with Jesus). There would be few to which the door would be opened because those wanting in lacked real relationship with God. Without a relationship, they would be shut out and left in a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (hell). Some who thought they were in would be left out while others that some judged would be left out would be let in. Discernment was required!
Deuteronomy 32:29 “If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I enter into a relationship with You through repentance and faith. You have dealt bountifully with me! Help me to tell others about this narrow way today!
Psalm 13:5-6 “But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”
Embarrassed at the Wedding!
Scripture reading for January 31st: Matthew 22:1-22, Psalms 20, Proverbs 5:21-23
Jesus knew that the religious leaders were plotting to arrest Him. He spoke to them again in a parable that would help them to see their precarious position. This parable had some common elements relating to the culture of that day for all who heard. There was the King who had a son that was getting married and a planned wedding banquet. There were the servants sent out to remind the guests of the banquet and confirm their attendance. There were those invited to this wedding banquet and then there were those who were found on the street and invited to come and fill the banquet hall for the dinner. There was one man who attended the banquet without proper clothes. This cast of characters and the wedding banquet were woven into a simple story that could bring understanding to those with teachable hearts.
The servants were initially sent out to the invited guests with the invitation. These guests either ignored the invitation and often mistreated and killed the servants who were sent to them. This enraged the King and He sent His army to destroy those invited guests and burn their city. Other servants were then sent out to find anyone, good or bad, who would come to the banquet. When the King arrived at the banquet he noticed a man who had no wedding clothes. This man had no excuse and was bound and thrown from the banquet hall. The moral of this parable was, “For many are invited but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
Jesus’ story was directed at the religious leaders of the Jews and they knew it! They were the invited guests who had mistreated the prophets that the King (God) had sent to them. They had killed some of them and were at present plotting to kill the King’s Son! God had judged the nation by sending them into captivity for seventy years and their city was burned. God would now send disciples to gather all who would come to the feast–Jew or Gentile. Those accepting Christ would be clothed with His righteousness! (2nd Corinthians 5:21) Any man who was not properly clothed would be thrown into the darkness (hell). This was and is a warning to all. The proper garments are deeds of righteousness done by faith. (Revelation 19:7-9) Don’t be embarrassed at this wedding!