"UNEXPECTED GUEST"

I was reading in the book of Mark about the account of Demons. Jesus had just calmed the wind and the sea. Jesus and his disciples were now on the other side of the sea, coming into the country of the Gerasenes. Can you imagine how strong of a man Jesus was? Yes he was God, but he walked this earth as man. Once his public ministry started He was bombarded by every one's wants and needs. He walked in love and compassion, but always about His Fathers business.

This week is about Demons who are unexpected guest to those who are not walking with Christ. When Jesus stepped out of the boat immediately He was approached by a man with an unclean spirit. It's truly important that we are prayed up and that we are able to discern, and to recognize. We should pray for moral discernment so we can maintain our Christians morals and values. We cannot be sure why demon-possession occurs. It's well known that unclean (evil) spirits can use the human body to distort and destroy people's relationship with God and likeness to Him. You need to be aware that even today, demons are dangerous, powerful, and destructive. Friends please understand that Satan is the chief adversary of God and the LORD of demons and evil. It's important to recognize their evil activity so that we can stay away from demons. We should avoid any curiosity about our involvement with demonic forces or the occult
(Deut. 18:10-12). If we resist the devil and his influences, he will flee from us (James 4:7). Have you heard the term "LEGION" in Matthew 26:53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than Twelve Legions of angels"? Which translates into 36,000 to 72,000 plus Angels can come to the aide of Jesus if He calls for them.

Now getting back to Jesus stepping out of the boat on the other side of the sea. My Bible says immediately a man from the tombs with an Unclean Spirit met Him. This man's dwelling was among the tombs. At this time no one was able to restrain him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. We call ourselves Christians, and that means Christ-like. This man seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him. I'm reminded of a few verses in the Bible: Romans 14:11 For it is written, " AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." Philippians 2:10 "So that in the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth. As this man with a unclean Spirit in him shouting with a loud voice, (man tends to shout when we are unsettled, scared,etc.) he said, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me! Did you catch it, He said I beseech you by God, not to torment me. Saints we have Power and Authority through Jesus Christ, all we have to do is recognize what and who we are in Jesus Christ. When this man ran at Jesus, did Jesus run? I wonder what the disciples were thinking, was Peter getting ready for battle? The unclean spirit said it's name was Legion. I mentioned earlier that a legion was the largest unit of the Roman Army Consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. Evidently this man was possessed by demon(s) can be a force to recon with, unless we are in the body of Christ. Are you prayed up, are you praying without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Folks we cannot spend all of our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. I believe that Jesus wants us to acknowledge our dependency on God. When we realize his presence within us no weapon formed against us shall prosper. When the man ran from the tomb towards Jesus and his disciples how did Jesus react, how would you have reacted? Acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing his presence within us, and determining to obey him fully. Then hopefully we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times. So when you're faced with someone who, is a demon fight him with the world of God the demons goal is to control the humans they are able to inhabit. Jesus' goal is to give people freedom from sin and Satan's control. Demons know that they have no power over Jesus; so when they begged Jesus to spare them from the abyss, which is the place of confinement for Satan and his messengers. The demons, of course, knew all about this place of confinement, and they didn't want to go there. The demons implored Him saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter them." With that request Jesus gave them permission. According to Old Testament Law (Lev. 11:7) pigs were "Unclean" animals. This meant that they could not be eaten or even touched by a Jew. This incident took place southeast of the sea of Galilee in the region of the Gerasenes, a Gentile region, which explains how a herd of pigs could be involved. Coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

Friends please understand how important it is for us to watch out for "Unexpected Guest."
have a great evening.