We have been hearing a lot of gloom and doom these days and while this is somewhat true, I want to bring you a message of victory and hope this morning. I am using our gospel reading for today which goes like this:
"Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “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.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee."
As you can see, the setting of this story was in a Synagogue at Capernaum where Jesus was teaching the congregation. Today, that would be similar to a Church like ours. Guess who the attendees were? ……. Yes, you guessed right, intermingled with the people was an evil spirit!! In case you didn’t know, the devil often visits churches too and has no problem participating in worship. He will come but never surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ!
I shared this illustration with you long time ago ….
It is about a time when Satan barged into Church while the service was going on. The terrified congregants ran out along with the Priest but one brave man stood his ground. This baffled the devil so he asked, “aren’t you not afraid of me; don’t you know who I am?” Sure “I do” said the man, “I have been married to your sister for 20 years!”
Anyways, you get my point. Satan also comes to Church. There are two things I want to highlight from our gospel reading and the first one is:
1)Jesus has ultimate authority
Friends, the closer you get to God, the more certain it is that the evil spirit will seek to get you. Long before any of us walked into Church this morning, the evil one was already here waiting for us. He knows this is the place to find us. So while we are worshipping God, he will get busy doing what he does best. He will distract your mind so that he takes you away from worship. You may be singing a hymn or looking at the Preacher but miles away in thought. Some go through worship as a ritual rather than using it as an opportunity to surrender to our Lord, fill our hearts with his presence, feed on his word and break bread together in gratitude of what he has done for us. Church should be a place where we drop off our sorrows and grief and pick up grace and mercy. But, Satan will do his best to see that it never happens. If you drop your guard he might even jump in the car and go home with you. He has only one goal and the bible puts it this way: “the thief only comes to steal to kill and to destroy but I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly”
I am sure all of you will easily identify with me about using nick names for people. We have real names but we give names to those around us and most of the time it is not to insult someone but it is more as a means of affection and describes who they are. Some are called “pork chops” “long legs” “butter beans” or even flat butt (which was the nickname for my dad).
In like manner, the Canaanites had many names for their Gods. But the name “The Most High God” was the God who was above all others. The Israelites loved that name so much that they adopted it for themselves and chose to affectionately refer to the Father as the “Most High God” aka Elyon.
Likewise when we are affectionate to our God and put him first and above all things, be assured that he will always have your back and fight for you. We have no need to fear the evil one because greater is the one that is within you that the one who is in the world. Just like Jesus sent away the evil spirit at the Synagogue that day, he will send him far away from you. Not only that in the coming days he will send him away forever to the bottomless pit. Friends when you are a child of the Most High God, no weapon formed against you will prosper and no one can pluck you from the palm of Gods hands. Psalm 20 says “some put their trust in Chariots and some in horses but we put our trust the name of our God.” Whom do you trust my friends? Have you been leaning on his everlasting arms?
God has all authority over evil and death and when he is for you, no one can be against you. The good news is as his child you also have that authority. That is my 2nd point.
2)Jesus gives his Children authority over all evil.
Truth be said, we live in a very evil world. We see it everywhere. Children murdering parents, parents murdering their children, wars everywhere, lawlessness and moral depravity everywhere, sin that is so rampant and all this points to how active Satan has become and how he has gotten the stronghold of many people and nations. Bottom line, we need help!
Going back to our gospel reading, not only did the evil spirit have the guts to come to the Synagogue I must add he had the gall to come there knowing Jesus was there. Could you imagine that? How brazen and relentless he is! It doesn’t say but I have to assume that the man was a faithful member of the synagogue. He probably went there every week and yet he was possessed by the evil spirit. In other words, left to himself, he had no power at all over Satan. No one is off limits for Satan!
But don’t be disappointed my friends because God’s children will always be victorious. Weeping might endure for the night but joy comes in the morning. One of my most loved verses in the bible is where Jesus says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Speaking about his departure from his disciples, Jesus went on to say “I will not leave you as orphans (meaning I will not leave you vulnerable) but you will receive the promise of the Father which is his blessed Holy Spirit. On our own we are defenseless against Satan but when we are clothed in the blood of the lamb and filled with his Holy Spirit we become a formidable force. As children of the Most High God, we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us and the one who lives in us.
Unfortunately like that man in the Synagogue many Christians are complicit and satisfied in mere Church attendance and all the rituals and rights that come with it. They get stuck in the cul-de-sac of religion and never really become a child of the Most High God. I read something the other day that goes like this:
“Temples and churches are free to enter but still remain relatively empty. Clubs and bars take your money to be there but there are always full. It is amazing how people ignore the freeway to heaven but choose to pay for their journey to hell!”
Friends, don’t be discouraged that this sanctuary is more empty than full. Many are called but only few are chosen. This is a place where you are taught the pure word of God. Make the best use of your time here my friends (there isn't much time left). It is a place where you can surrender to the Lordship of the Most High God and ask him to be your Lord and Savior.
As a child of the living God we don’t have to fear what comes against us because our arch enemy was defeated at the cross. When you become a child of God, your problem becomes God’s problem. Jesus empowers us when he lives in us. He does not give us a spirit of fear; but one of power, of love, and of a sound mind. Satan is no match for the one who lives in you. Jesus said these signs will accompany those who believe:
“In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Summing it all up - what did we learn today? We know that Satan is real and that he can be found even in the most holiest of places and even amongst godly people. And even when we can’t see him, he cannot escape the eyes of our God who will fight him on our behalf. We also know that as Children of the Most High God his power resides in us because he lives in us. There may be times when you begin to realize that Jesus is all you have but know this, that is all you will ever need in this life and the life to come. So have no fear my friends of what might come to you because we are more than conquerors through our Lord and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I hope all of you have him in your corner. Amen
