Demons Are Powerful; But God is Omnipotent
When He arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met Him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before our appointed time?"
Some distance from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon possessed men.
Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region. Matthew 8:28-34
Some distance from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon possessed men.
Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region. Matthew 8:28-34
The Spirit realm is very real. The forces of darkness are very real. Demons are powerful, but God is Omnipotent -- all powerful. Satan is mighty, but our God is ALMIGHTY. We should never be ignorant of the spiritual warfare we are engaged in as Christians, but we should also never be afraid because the word assures us that we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. The Scripture is clear: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). The Bible further assures us that Jesus has already made a public spectacle of the Enemy by defeating him on the Cross. Isaiah 54:17 also tells us that none of the enemy's weapons formed against us shall prosper. The message is clear: The forces of darkness are real and powerful but they are no match to the power of our Omnipotent God!
Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men in the tombs and set them free. He broke the hold of the demons over the lives of those two men.
I want to point out a few lessons about that demonic encounter Jesus had.
First: Demons are powerful and destructive. Not only did they take total possession of the two men but they were so powerful and violent that they seized an entire area so that no one could pass there. They blocked access to that particular area. Satan and his demons can block access to our blessings just as the demons blocked access to the area.
In fact, the story of Daniel is an illustration of how demons can block the answers to our prayers. The Bible makes it clear that we are in a spiritual wrestle with wicked and evil spirits in the heavenly realms so we should be sure to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand when the Enemy attacks (Ephesians 6). Jesus overpowered the demons because He was full of the Spirit.
Second: The demons recognized that Jesus is the Son of God and so they started pleading with Him. If you are a child of God, filled with the Spirit of God, the demons know who you are and so you have nothing to be afraid of! Continue to put on the full armor of God -- Faith, the Word, the Gospel of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, prayer -- and you will never have to be afraid. You will overcome every demonic attack against you.
Third: Demons are fearful of a Spirit-filled child of God living in holiness and righteousness and using the mighty weapons of our warfare as Jesus did. The demons were afraid and asked not to be tortured before their time when they would all be thrown into the everlasting fire of hell. You must not be afraid of demons. They must rather be afraid of you.
Finally: Remember that as a true child of God filled with the power of the Most High God, you have power over every demonic spirit. Jesus commanded the demons to leave and they left the man. Jesus gives us this assurance in Luke 10:19, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." In fact, in Mark 16, Jesus specifically gave us power to drive out demons.
So be mindful that demons are real and powerful but our God is omnipotent. We must use the powerful spiritual weapons of our warfare to demolish every demonic activity against our lives, our families, our Church and the nations. Don't be afraid; you are more than a conqueror!
Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men in the tombs and set them free. He broke the hold of the demons over the lives of those two men.
I want to point out a few lessons about that demonic encounter Jesus had.
First: Demons are powerful and destructive. Not only did they take total possession of the two men but they were so powerful and violent that they seized an entire area so that no one could pass there. They blocked access to that particular area. Satan and his demons can block access to our blessings just as the demons blocked access to the area.
In fact, the story of Daniel is an illustration of how demons can block the answers to our prayers. The Bible makes it clear that we are in a spiritual wrestle with wicked and evil spirits in the heavenly realms so we should be sure to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand when the Enemy attacks (Ephesians 6). Jesus overpowered the demons because He was full of the Spirit.
Second: The demons recognized that Jesus is the Son of God and so they started pleading with Him. If you are a child of God, filled with the Spirit of God, the demons know who you are and so you have nothing to be afraid of! Continue to put on the full armor of God -- Faith, the Word, the Gospel of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, prayer -- and you will never have to be afraid. You will overcome every demonic attack against you.
Third: Demons are fearful of a Spirit-filled child of God living in holiness and righteousness and using the mighty weapons of our warfare as Jesus did. The demons were afraid and asked not to be tortured before their time when they would all be thrown into the everlasting fire of hell. You must not be afraid of demons. They must rather be afraid of you.
Finally: Remember that as a true child of God filled with the power of the Most High God, you have power over every demonic spirit. Jesus commanded the demons to leave and they left the man. Jesus gives us this assurance in Luke 10:19, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." In fact, in Mark 16, Jesus specifically gave us power to drive out demons.
So be mindful that demons are real and powerful but our God is omnipotent. We must use the powerful spiritual weapons of our warfare to demolish every demonic activity against our lives, our families, our Church and the nations. Don't be afraid; you are more than a conqueror!
Prayer: Father, I thank you for the assurance that your power at work in me is greater than the power of any demon that I will ever encounter in life. Please help me to put on your full armor so that I can stand in the day of evil. Amen.