Monday, January 2, 2017

Mark 5:1-20 How Satan Worked THEN And Still Works NOW

Matthew 8 states that two men were demon-possessed and living in the burial caves.  mark focuses on one of them here.  My commentary noted "three forces at work:  Satan, society, and the Savior.  And they are all still at work today, trying to control the lives of people."

We aren't told how the men were taken over by the demons.  My commentary suggests that it was likely the result of their yielding to sin.  "Demons are unclean spirits and can easily get a foothold in the lives of people who cultivate sinful practices."

"Because they yielded to Satan, the thief, these two men lost everything!  ... They lost their homes ... families ... friends ... decency ... self-control ... peace ... their purpose for living ... and they would have remained in that plight had Jesus not come through a storm to rescue them."

Society had tried to do something, but they'd only managed to chain them for a time, put them under guard, and isolated them.  Society couldn't fix the real problem.

But what did Jesus do?  "He graciously came to them in love, and even went through a storm to do it ... Nothing could stop the Lord from coming to that graveyard and bringing deliverance to those men ... He spoke to them and permitted them to speak to him ... Jesus treated them with love and respect."

"It is encouraging to note that the demons did not know what Jesus planned to do.  This suggests that Satan can know God's plans only if God reveals them.  In fact, there is no evidence in Scripture that Satan can read the mind of a believer, let along the mind of God."

"More than anything else, the drowning of the 2,000 swine was a vivid object lesson to this Christ-rejecting crowd that, to Satan, a pig is a good as a man.  In fact, Satan will make a man into a pig!"

Father, I hate seeing those I love tempted by sin.  I hate seeing how Satan deceives, telling them nothing will happen.  I hate how they unknowingly give him power over them and how he makes them believe that life is better under his control, while actually hiding from them the fact that it is costing them everything.  They can't see what they are losing!  Expose him, Father.  Show them the truth.  Reveal the lies.  Bring the light of Your Truth to them.  Restore their hope, Father!

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

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