Vessels of ComfortLifeline for Today Tuesday, February 20, 2024

 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”  And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. Mark 1:25-28 (NKJV)

In the passage preceding this scripture, we read that there was a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit. That unclean spirit recognized Jesus of Nazareth and declared who Jesus was – the Holy One of God. The Message Bible says that the man with the unclean spirit was deeply disturbed, but he knew who Jesus was.  That spirit was intent on destroying our Lord. The spirit threw the man into convulsive spasms. At that point, Jesus rebuked the demonic spirit. Those who witnessed this scene noted that Jesus shut up defiling, demonic spirits and told them to get lost. News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee. 

Jesus spoke with authority. Empowered by His Spirit, we can too. In Ephesians 6, we are told to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Verses 11-18 remind us to put on the whole armor of God, so that we are to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. By putting on the whole armor of God, we are enabled to withstand in the evil day. 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for being a faithful God. I need to shut up some things, to tell some things to get lost. Thank you for your armor: the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. I pray in the authority you have given me. In the name of Jesus, I thank you. Amen.

Reprint from week of June 6, 2022