2 minute read.
Daily Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:39 ESV, Luke 4:31-5:11 ESV, Psalm 64:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 11:22 ESV
Daily Verse: “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice” (Luke 4:33 ESV)
PNEUMA (4151): “A current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze. I.e., (human) the rational soul, or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy Spirit. Syn: This word is rarely used of wind, but when so used it is known for its strength, vigor and force.”[I]
Spirits exist.
Understanding the spiritual side to life means accepting the unknown. The battle between light and dark takes place outside our field of vision, making it hard to comprehend. In the pages of scripture, Jesus gives us a glimpse of the fight. The man in today’s verse had an unclean spirit within him who confronted Jesus.
“But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.” (Luke 4:35 ESV)
Jesus prevails.
Jesus didn’t let the unclean spirit bother Him; instead, He shut the demon up. Accepting Jesus into our lives means the Holy Spirit becomes our protector, living within us, giving us its power. Nothing can take His place. Grounding our identity in Christ means accessing His power.
So far in my journey, I have never encountered a demon-possessed man like the one in today’s verse. But I have dealt with wayward thoughts, lies I’ve believed which stop me from living life to the fullest in Christ. Jesus has an answer:
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Cor. 10:5 ESV)
Tap into God’s Spirit. Capture thoughts, silence demons and expose lies with Jesus’s power. Live life to the fullest with Christ.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 205) Thomas Nelson
