My, Devotion to Him #44
VERSE PASSAGE: Mark 1:23 “Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out” – NIV
Today this was the verse I was going to be giving a message on. I was going to talk to you today about the impure spirits that cry out in church. However, by a feeling in my spirit I went ahead and read verses before and after. I soon came to realizes the bigger picture, I also seen a crisis that has arose in the church today.
Many people don’t associate demon possessed people with places of worship. Yet most of the demons that Jesus cast out were encountered in the church. Why would demon possessed people be in church? In some cases, the people were there because they were seeking help. The church, like a hospital, offers people the cure and therefore, attracts those who are sick. However, this is not the type we are talking about today. Before I go any further let’s look at another passage.
VERSE PASSAGE: Mark 1:21-22 “They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” – NIV
Lets stop for a moment and look. Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. As we’ve seen before this was customary. Jesus taught that day and people were amazed. Why? Because he taught as one who had authority as not as the teachers of the law.
Do you see this? It is not a coincidence that this was said before the event that took place in Mark 1:23 because after Jesus had spoken His message which He did so with authority it not only amazed the church people but it made the unclean spirit cry out. Now, let’s break down Mark 1:23.
“Just then”
Some may think this doesn’t matter. Well it’s very important only if you read Mark 1:21-22 first. In which states that Jesus taught (preached) in the church and people were amazed by Him because He taught (preached) with authority unlike the teachers of the law. The “then” part is showing us another result of Jesus preaching in a church with authority. Because we know it amazed the congregation however there was another thing that happened.
“a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out”
There was a man who was in the church. This part does not say that a man came walking into the church and cried out for help. It was a man who was already in the church and he was possessed by an impure spirit.
Once Jesus was done preaching with authority it amazed everyone and then it made a man who was there in the church who was possessed with a unclean spirit cry out.
Are you getting this?
Jesus preached with power! Something that these people had not seen. Why? Because the authority ceased.
VERSE PASSAGE: Mark 1:24 “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!” – NIV
The unclean spirit or demon is speaking through the man now. The demon is asking Jesus “what does he want with them” this is interesting because Mark 1:23 states that the man had “a unclean spirit” however, the demon has said “what do you want with us”. So, the demon has automatically stated that it speaks on behalf of more than just itself. The demon continue “have you come to destroy us” once again it is the spokesperson for more than one spirit and now had stated that whatever happens here with not only hurt itself but with harm others who are with it. The demon goes on to say “I know who you are, the Holy One of God” the demon has identified who Jesus is. And has stated Jesus was the Holy One of God. The demon clearly knew who it was talking to. That is why it asked “what do you want with us” and “have you come to destroy us”. The demon knew the people in which Jesus had. When Jesus preached with authority it was unsettling to the unclean spirit who was in the church and forced the spirit to make itself known and to speak out.
VERSE PASSAGE: Mark 1:25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” – NIV
Very important here. Jesus did not ask the demon any questions nor did He answer the questions that was asked. Jesus automatically replied with a command “be quiet!” then with another “come out of him!”. Jesus does not entertain a demonic presence nor does He sit idly and have a Q&A session. He speaks with authority and commanded the demon to be quite and to come out of the man.
VERSE PASSAGE: Mark 1:26 “The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.” – NIV
Shriek is a word defined as a loud pitch, scream, or words in which are of terror or pain.
The demon could not speak so it would’ve been a loud pitched scream of terror and pain as it was forcefully removed from the mans body.
VEREE PASSAGE: Mark 1:27 “The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” – NIV
Once again the people who were at the church were amazed. It doesn’t say some were amazed, it says all were amazed. They were so amazed that they asked “what is this? A new teaching? And with authority!”
Now, let’s talk about another reason why an unclean spirit may be in the church. The devil sows these types of people in the church to spread spiritual disease. A church that is teaching the true Word of God, should cast the unclean spirit out and evangelize to these individuals
However, in today’s world church’s have ceased speaking with authority. Churches are afraid to even think about having a demon possessed person in service and having to deal with it. Churches are afraid to speak the true Word of God because it convicts people. They teach the word but they don’t preach the Word of God with authority. In which today we have a churches that have unclean spirits in their service thriving. Churches have people in leadership positions with unclean spirits in them and they are thriving.
A person with an unclean spirit should not feel at home in a church. And when a person like this does, we know that church has ceased preaching with the authority of God.
Let the Spirit of God live through you as He did through Jesus. We need to cleanse churches of unclean spirits. We need to preach with the authority that God has given us. We have the authority to cast out demons! Get in His Holy written Word. Find out who you are in Him. I do caution the Christian who knows that his/her church has let the authority of God cease. Gods authority is not limited to what we say it is. However, if churches are not preaching the true Word of God with the authority God has given to them, then a spiritual disease of an unclean spirit will spread throughout that church.
Copyright © 2017 by Jacob D. Olinger
Spirit Warrior Ministry 