PAUSING
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe slowly, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Here I am Lord, fill me with your Spirit and send me.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
"Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!”"
- Luke 4:31-36
Jesus is preaching powerfully when a heckler interrupts the meeting. He wants nothing to do with Jesus and disrupts His ministry from proceeding forward. I'm reminded of Paul's warning to the church in Ephesians 6:12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." If you've ever experienced setback or resistance when trying to live as an agent of God's grace, it might be because there is a counter-kingdom that's trying to resist the reign of Jesus in you and in this world. Satan is real. And he continues his resistance through spiritual warfare even today.
Nevertheless, Jesus is prepared for this conflict. With just one command, he drives out the demon. And with an empty tomb, we know that the decisive victory belongs to Him.
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:14-18
GODS PROMISE
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" - James 4:7
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe slowly, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Here I am Lord, fill me with your Spirit and send me.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
"Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!”"
- Luke 4:31-36
Jesus is preaching powerfully when a heckler interrupts the meeting. He wants nothing to do with Jesus and disrupts His ministry from proceeding forward. I'm reminded of Paul's warning to the church in Ephesians 6:12: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." If you've ever experienced setback or resistance when trying to live as an agent of God's grace, it might be because there is a counter-kingdom that's trying to resist the reign of Jesus in you and in this world. Satan is real. And he continues his resistance through spiritual warfare even today.
Nevertheless, Jesus is prepared for this conflict. With just one command, he drives out the demon. And with an empty tomb, we know that the decisive victory belongs to Him.
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:14-18
- With the "belt of truth", ask that God would show you if there's anything you've believed that is untrue.
- With the "breastplate of righteousness", ask Jesus to cover your heart with His righteousness, repenting of the many ways we all fall short of His glory.
- When the enemy sends doubts, lies, or other arrows aimed to wound you, ask God for a "shield of faith" to continue trusting in God.
- Pray that God's Word would be front and center of your mind for every challenge you face.
GODS PROMISE
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" - James 4:7