Whatever became of the demons mentioned repeatedly in the Bible? Have they just disappeared? Or do they still exist? If so, is there any reason that a believer in Jesus Christ should be fearful about becoming “possessed”? What is an appropriate reaction when the LORD by His grace releases us from the tyranny of our sins? Well listen in as Pastor: Landis continues in our on-going study in the gospel of Saint Mark in his message called: “Sharing The Blessing”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 6:1 – 8 (KJV)
Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Isa 6:2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Isa 6:3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isa 6:4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Isa 6:6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Isa 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 5:1 – 20 (KJV)
Mark 5:1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. Mark 5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Mark 5:3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Mark 5:4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. Mark 5:5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. Mark 5:6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, Mark 5:7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. Mark 5:8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. Mark 5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. Mark 5:10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Mark 5:11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. Mark 5:12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. Mark 5:13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. Mark 5:14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. Mark 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Mark 5:16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. Mark 5:17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. Mark 5:18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. Mark 5:20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) Man has devised a variety of names for “diseases” that people have that I believe in many cases are spiritual disorders being in people because of demon possession. Most of the “diseases” they profess are supposedly treatable with medication or so they say. Some are classified as “ mental illness”; (Some are mental illnesses, but I believe some are spiritual illness brought on by demons. #2) Demons in our culture exist in more seemingly “normal” societal roles in unbelievers who are an open door for satan and his hosts due to an untruthful position taken regarding Christ and the Bible. #3) True believers cannot be possessed by demons, because they are already possessed by God the Holy Spirit, and there is a thin line between spiritual depression over commission of sin and seeming insanity in the mind of the true believer.
