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Editors note: These devotionals are taken from the PS archives and are based on the time I spent with the Lord in His Word. I wanted to share them with you this new school year from the Gospel of Mark! Revisions have been made!

May the Lord Jesus Christ bring your captivity to an end and help you help others held captive in their lives! Amen!

.“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.” (Mark 1:21-22)

“Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "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!" "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 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 evil spirits and they obey him." News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” (Mark 1:23-28, NIV)

Observations:

I asked myself who are all involved in verses 23-28:

1. Man

2. Evil spirit

3. Jesus of Nazareth

4. People

Observations/Interpretations:

I asked myself what function do each play?

Point 1: Man

A man is in their synagogue.
The man was possessed by an evil spirit.
The man questions Jesus 2 times.
The man makes a declarative statement regarding Jesus.

I asked myself why it’s significant that ‘a man in their synagogue’ is mentioned.

Reading about it really touched me because what came to my mind is that the synagogue was not just populated with people whose lives were going well. This man belonged to their synagogue and yet we learn that he was far from well. He was dealing with an evil spirit or demons in his life that were in control of him.

I am reminded that the man only questions Jesus after Jesus teaches with authority in the synagogue and the people are amazed. It is possible that the man was dealing with this captivity for a long time but kept attending the synagogue but for the first time, he saw a way out. He did not give up.

Point 2: Evil Spirit

The man cried out but the evil spirits seem to be doing the talking. There is a battle within the man. An evil spirit possesses the man and talks to Jesus through the man regarding 3 things:

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!

I asked myself what is significant about these two questions!

I found it very significant that an evil spirit in the man felt that Jesus was interfering in the man’s life. The evil spirit wanted to destroy the man but now felt opposition and names the opposition to be Jesus of Nazareth. The evil spirit does not seem to be speaking just on his behalf but on the behalf of all his demons. This is evident by the phrases ‘with us’ and ‘destroy us’.

I asked myself what is significant of the declarative statement ‘I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’

This is such a powerful statement that the evil spirit makes after mentioning the name of Jesus because the evil spirit is admitting to Jesus being ‘the Holy One of God’. Let us remember that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan who sends out his evil spirits to do his dirty work but Jesus overcame the temptations of Satan by focusing on God and the Scriptures.

By admitting Jesus to be the ‘Holy One of God’, I get the feeling the evil spirit was telling Jesus not to bother with the man in their synagogue who is not holy. The evil spirit wants the man to be left to them. Yet, Jesus does not ignore the man’s plight. Knowing it is an evil spirit that is controlling the man and making him captive, Jesus intervenes after the teaching.

Point 3: Jesus of Nazareth

I asked myself what Jesus does?

1. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to ‘Be Quiet’!

2. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to ‘Come out of him’!

I asked myself the significance of these commands!

First, Jesus quiets the evil spirits from revealing more about Jesus. It is interesting how much the evil spirits seemed to know about Jesus. Now, Jesus performs a miracle by removing the evil spirit from the man by commanding it to come out of him. The evil spirit had to obey Jesus and came out of the man with hesitation. This is evidenced by the verse, ‘The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.’

Whatever the man was facing, Jesus healed him. This man was someone in their synagogue who was possessed and Jesus intervened. This causes a reaction among others in their synagogue which is evidenced by point 4.

Point 4: People

I asked myself what happened after the healing took place!

1. The people were all so amazed.

2. They asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority!”

3. They announced that Jesus even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.

4. They spread the news about him over the whole region of Galilee.

What stuck out to me from these statements is the phrase ‘He even gives orders’. This tells me that they recognized the awesome teaching with authority that Jesus had given before performing the healing. Now they know that Jesus can even heal people possessed with evil spirits.

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life here. Just because someone is at church or coming to fellowships, etc I should not assume that everything is ok in their lives. I should be involved in their lives to see if they are troubled and need help. I need to make myself available to others who may want to talk and need help. Jesus calls us to be His Ambassadors and His servants to carry out His work here on earth. Not all are given the same gifts but when we are faithful, available, and teachable having a heart to reach out with the love of Christ, He will use us in mighty ways for His Kingdom.

I ask you now dear friend, what captivity are you facing today?

Dear friend, I do not know what captivity you are facing but Jesus Christ knows. The captivities we face are here to destroy us and to bring our hopes and dreams down. We do not have to allow them to take control of our lives. Yes, friend whatever you face or you know someone is facing, there is hope and the hope is in Jesus.

I do not assume anymore that if someone comes to church regularly that everything is okay in their lives and they are walking and growing strong in the Lord. This can be far from the truth. Many of them can be facing silent bondage that only the Master’s Hand can heal. But the Master uses His servants’ lots of time to bring His healing. At times the healing of Jesus comes directly.

Captivities can come in many shapes and forms. They do not just have to be demon possession but they can be an unforgiving spirit, living in the past, having trouble to move on because of things that have happened, loss of hope and dreams, guilt, etc. If we dwell in them, they will control us but the Good News is that Jesus wants to reach you where you are friend. Yes, He does! Allow Him to come and work in your life. Allow Him to be the Lord of your life.

Don’t give up but keep holding on! If you know someone who seems to be in captivity to something, what they need is your understanding and love. This does not mean the action is condoned but allowing the person to share with you and working with the person to get help. There are couple of awesome churches I know that have done that very well. I mention these because I have seen people’s lives changed through these three churches ministries: Allegheny Center Alliance Church, Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, and New Hope Christian Community. This does not mean other churches do not have healing ministries. I am speaking from people who have shared with me.

Whatever you are dealing with, allow Jesus to heal you and believe He will. He loves you friend. He will give you the strength and endurance to deal with these captivities. Yes, He will! His Blood was shed for you and can heal you where you are. Yes, He can! Don’t give up! Jesus wants to be the Lord of your past, the Lord of your present, and the Lord of your future. As Jesus works in your life, you can be the one to bring light into someone’s life with the Light of Jesus.

The people were amazed with Jesus not only because of His teaching but because He personally got involved in people’s lives and brought healing to them. The news of what Jesus did started spreading across Galilee. If churches and individuals do that, the news will spread that something is happening there. It is not for our glory but for the glory of Christ.

May you know the Lord that can heal you and will heal you as you wait upon Him! May you know the strength He gives you as you depend on Him to endure through the issues that you are facing! Amen!

“Christ's Awesome Power Truly Invokes Valid Inspiration To You!"(C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y)/"What captivity are you facing today?"

May the background song to this message also uplift you!

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, I want to thank you so much for the healing you performed in the man’s life. Even though you are Holy and the man was far from holy, you intervened in his life and healed him. You cared for Him in his weakness. You do that for us too. Thank you Jesus so much for what you have done and what you still do in our lives. I pray now for all those who are in captivity to different things in their life. Sometimes they feel they cannot go on and just want to give up but you Oh Lord are a God who heals the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. You meet us where we are and we ask you for your healing in people’s lives that need your amazing love. Help us be the vessels you want us to be to carry out your work in this broken world. May our actions bring your Light into people’s dark and aching souls! Please be the Lord of their past, present, and future. Help us to be instruments of love and heal us in our own lives please Jesus. We want you to be lifted higher and higher. Help us to be sensitive to those around us and reach them with your love Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus for your help. Thank you for your healing and you hear and answer us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!