The spiritual battle is real which may surprise some people. As I have grown in faith and personal experience, I can testify the battle is quite real and ongoing. What does the Lord teach us about this spiritual battle? Corinthians 4:4Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.[1]
As people on this earth, we are caught up in this cosmic battle that began when Adam and Eve fell into sin when they were tempted by satan. Satan can never defeat God but works to hurt God by hurting people. John 10:10The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My (Jesus) purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. [2]
A Man with an Evil Spirit Confronts Jesus
Jesus and the disciples sailed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to minister to a Gentile. Mark 5:1So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. 4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. [3]
Jesus Comes to Set People Free
The enemy knows that when Jesus sets foot in the region of the Gerasenes they are going to lose territory. Jesus comes to set people free, and He is going to free a man who is possessed by many demons. Therefore, He is opposed!
Paul describes this spiritual battle in Ephesians and how we can overcome the enemy with the Lord’s help. Ephesians 6:10.A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.[4] There is a spiritual war ongoing for the hearts of man. The forces of evil want to turn us away from God and separate us from Him. We overcome evil through faith in Jesus as our Savior and with His full armor of God. To hear how the spiritual battle is real, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-demons-tolerated-jesus-rejected
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.