Daily Bread 2010 - Luke 4
Daily Bread 2010 – Luke 4
Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit
31Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil[g]spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34"Ha! 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.
36All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Right after the temptation of Jesus in the desert, he is begins his ministry, ‘full of the Spirit”. The focus on the Holy Spirit is something unique in Luke’s gospel. In the synagogue in Capernaum there was a man possessed by an evil spirit, and we see a scene that looks as if it is out of the movie, “The Exorcist”.
The demon recognizes Jesus and the true nature of who he is as the “Holy One of Israel”. Jesus, who is trying to keep his identity from being known before the right time, orders the demon out of the man. The demon listens and comes out of the man without injuring him.
What the people recognize is the authority that Jesus exercises. Even the spiritual world recognizes His authority and must obey. Jesus’ authority comes from being God’s Son and also His use of the authoritative Word of God. In the temptation He uses God’s Word to keep from falling to devil’s temptations and schemes. The authority of God’s Word keeps Jesus in power and also helps to remove the demonic power from the man in the synagogue.
As sons and daughters of God, we too have authority as we act in obedience to God’s Word. The nature of temptation is that the evil one is trying to get use to use our authority (or power to act) in disobedience to God’s Word rather than obedience. As we see in the temptation of Jesus, the devil tries to distort God’s Word and get Jesus to use it wrongfully.
As you are tempted, you can also take up your authority as a son or daughter of God and rather than giving up your power, stand firm in who you are and on God’s Word. In this way you can truly handle the authority God has given you, and live in the power of the Holy Spirit, which resides in You because you are a Son or Daughter of God.
Prayer: Gracious God thank you for calling us to be your sons and daughters. Help us to live in obedience to your Word and not give up our authority by giving into temptation. Give us strength knowing that You live in us through the power of the Holy Spirit, so we can always be in control and exert our authority over the evil one who would try to deceive us. In Jesus name and authority we pray, Amen.
Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit
31Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. 32They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil[g]spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34"Ha! 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.
36All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
Right after the temptation of Jesus in the desert, he is begins his ministry, ‘full of the Spirit”. The focus on the Holy Spirit is something unique in Luke’s gospel. In the synagogue in Capernaum there was a man possessed by an evil spirit, and we see a scene that looks as if it is out of the movie, “The Exorcist”.
The demon recognizes Jesus and the true nature of who he is as the “Holy One of Israel”. Jesus, who is trying to keep his identity from being known before the right time, orders the demon out of the man. The demon listens and comes out of the man without injuring him.
What the people recognize is the authority that Jesus exercises. Even the spiritual world recognizes His authority and must obey. Jesus’ authority comes from being God’s Son and also His use of the authoritative Word of God. In the temptation He uses God’s Word to keep from falling to devil’s temptations and schemes. The authority of God’s Word keeps Jesus in power and also helps to remove the demonic power from the man in the synagogue.
As sons and daughters of God, we too have authority as we act in obedience to God’s Word. The nature of temptation is that the evil one is trying to get use to use our authority (or power to act) in disobedience to God’s Word rather than obedience. As we see in the temptation of Jesus, the devil tries to distort God’s Word and get Jesus to use it wrongfully.
As you are tempted, you can also take up your authority as a son or daughter of God and rather than giving up your power, stand firm in who you are and on God’s Word. In this way you can truly handle the authority God has given you, and live in the power of the Holy Spirit, which resides in You because you are a Son or Daughter of God.
Prayer: Gracious God thank you for calling us to be your sons and daughters. Help us to live in obedience to your Word and not give up our authority by giving into temptation. Give us strength knowing that You live in us through the power of the Holy Spirit, so we can always be in control and exert our authority over the evil one who would try to deceive us. In Jesus name and authority we pray, Amen.
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