Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! 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!”
35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. Luke 4:31-35
On this Wonder Wednesday we look at the third miracle of Jesus to consider his words and the response we can have to those influences that are impure and seek to hinder our walk of faith.
The first observation that we can draw from the text is the authority that is recognized by the demon. This is where the light of God comes directly into opposition of evil. This is key for us today to realize that when we seek to come under the authority of Christ, there are influences and forces that are going to cry out. In most of us it is our spiritual condition that is cursed with original sin. Original in the sense that is imparted to us all who are descendants of Adam. Personal sin comes into play as we either reject Christ in our rebellion in doubt. These verses help us to see that there are influences in the world that can be impressed upon us to reject and shriek against the authority and divine rule of God.
I don't know what experiences you have had with the supernatural in this world. I have had a handful and all I will say is that they are in this realm of people who are under the influence of a spiritual presence that is hindering their lives down to basic function. Otherwise, I believe that we all must deal with our own spirit or will that comes into the presence of Jesus, or at least the question "who is Jesus", and we either surrender to his authority or not. It's important to see that even the spirit recognized the authority of Christ and called him "the Holy One of God!". Yet many are not able to come to this place of recognition.
What I love about how God works here is he does two actions to the impure influences in the lives of those who come under his grace and rule. He silences and drives away. He silenced the voice of the spirit from overriding the voice of the man. We often have many thoughts and influences that may or may not be spiritual. At the very least we all deal with an inner voice that can cause havoc to surrendering the authority of Christ in our day to day. Praise God for how he has silenced the voices of hate, judgement, and even violence to our worth in Christ.
Ask God with boldness and humility to silence voices that threaten your outlook and trajectory to live faithfully or rob you of your self worth. Claim authority over such words or influences so that you can stand free to verbalize a new voice, one of praise and thanksgiving.
The second action is that Jesus drives out the presence of such influences. May God be merciful to remove such influences in our lives that hinder, bind, and set us back. It may be a spiritual influence or a set of circumstances. Regardless, we can come to the Lord and seek to have any authority that challenges Gods reign removed through prayer and a commitment to leap from other authorities to him. Will you give God room to silence and drive out such influences in you that challenge Christ complete reign and righteousness within?
This is often the road less traveled but it the one that produces the greater transformation and life of victory. We must stand on the authority of God and encounter the wonder of how he silences the opposition to his love and reign. Celebrate and mark the moments when impurities are driven out as we humble our own spirit before the one who is the Holy One of God.
Keep Looking Up!
