Mensa Otabil - Freedom Has Come
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Mark chapter 5, verses 12-13: So all the demons begged Him, saying, «Send us to the swine that we may enter them.» And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine. There were about two thousand, and a herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea and drowned in the sea.
Um, so in this verse we see a transition from one unclean spirit speaking to many demons speaking at the same time. At first, you get the impression that there is probably a chief unclean spirit or demon that has possessed a man, but in addition to that spirit, others have joined with that spirit. So now those spirits are the ones begging Jesus for permission to go and enter the pigs that are feeding nearby. That shows you the dynamics of spiritual warfare; sometimes it may seem like it’s just one spirit in oppression, but there could be many others lurking down there and hiding behind the one.
Three important lessons we learn here: First, demons seek to destroy those they possess. What happened to the two thousand pigs is what the demons wanted to happen to the man; they wanted to drive him to his destruction. So every demonic activity has one end, and that end is to drive you to a point of destruction. In a moment, it may seem like pleasure, but over time it’s going to end up destroying you. So, demons seek to totally destroy.
Secondly, we learn that Jesus has rule over all demonic spirits because the spirits were begging Him; they were pleading with Him. You don’t plead with somebody who doesn’t have power over you. So Jesus has power over all demonic entities. They knew He could cast them out, and they knew He had power over them. That same power of Jesus has not diminished; He still has power over all demons, whether it’s one unclean spirit or two thousand legions of demons. It doesn’t matter; the name of Jesus is above all, above one and above ten thousand. He doesn’t have to make His name many to have power over demons; His name has power over all forms of demonic activities.
And thirdly, Jesus is the one who will determine the final end of all demonic activities. You remember the demon said, «The time for our judgment is not now, so you can’t really take us out of this region.» They were referring to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ because when Jesus died and resurrected, He paid the total price for our redemption. So the demons are saying that time has not come; in the meantime, we have to let us stay in this area. But in this time, after Jesus has died and resurrected, demons do not negotiate with us because we have total victory over them, and their end is total destruction. So instead of them destroying you, they will be destroyed by the authority of the name of Jesus.
That’s what you have to understand: that in the name of Jesus, you have power. The authority that Jesus gave His disciples over demons did not end with Him; that power is still available to us. Because we belong to Christ, we have the authority of His name, and at the mention of His name, every knee bows. If you’re a Christian, you have to be bold and know that in Christ Jesus, demons, principalities, and powers are under your feet just as they were at the command of the name of Jesus.
Let us pray. " Heavenly Father, You are above all powers. Drive out every unclean spirit operating around me, in Jesus' name. Amen and amen.» Well, I’ll catch you again tomorrow. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.