• His mercy
• His protection
• His provision
• His blessings

• Your health
• Your family
• Your friends
• Your gains

Click on a link to open the page of that song.

This occurred in the place of worship. Just as in the case of this man, today in the places that we sincerely worship Christ, there are those in attendance who are both inhabited and greatly influenced by unclean spirits.

Unclean spirits are those who have no tendency toward promoting right (moral) behavior that honors God. In our worship services today, several of those attending, practice sin to greater a degree than they practice right behavior.

Christian churches then are a place where true seekers of God's will come to serve and worship Him. Yet others come, being deceived by their puppeteering spirit, sincerely believing that they are serving God, but in reality are serving the unclean spirit that drives their thinking and their actions.

This is a major reason there is so much strife in Christian churches. But, if you look at each worshipper in light of Jesus' words . . .

Mt7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
Mt 7:20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.

. . . the end result of one's words and actions will expose the spirit that is puppeteering them.

Due to fear, the managing demon is essentially asking Jesus, "Leave us alone." "Why are you here, having anything to do with this man that we are inhabiting?" ("We normally have no close contact with you.") "Are you here to destroy us?"

"I know that you are the Holy One of God, (who will eventually destroy us)." ^{See Matt 8:29}

Note that Jesus was not introduced to the man (nor introduced to the demons inside the man). Unclean spirits already know Jesus from the time they were in Heaven, before they were cast out by God, the Father. ^{Rev 12:9}

Jesus, who is God ^{John 1:1} takes control and commands the unclean spirit(s) to depart the man.

Though the man has permitted the demon spirit(s) to influence and control him, ^{1Cor 14:32} this day in the place of worship, Jesus will not tolerate it, so He exercises His divine Authority over all life to free the man of his torment.

This departure from the man, was in itself a torment to the demon spirit(s), who need flesh to express their unclean character. This is similar to an artist who is forbidden brushes, paint and a canvas to paint upon.

The man did not ask Jesus for help, perhaps because he did not know he was being controlled by a demon, or perhaps he was comfortable being controlled. Regardless, Jesus took away both the prerogative of the man and the prerogative of the unclean spirit. He overrode both the will of the man and the will of the demon(s), for His own purposes. (This shows that man does not exactly have "freewill", since God can override man's will at His choosing.)

The reason these spirits were (are) on earth was (is) because God cast them down from Heaven, not wanting them in His immediate presence. Thus, it seems that some portion of Jesus' motivation to order those spirits out of the man, was to again get them away from God's immediate presence.

God promises, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." ^{See Matt 18:20} God is in the presence of His worshippers, both then and now.

Jesus really is LORD--these demons obey Him, and they KNOW, they will be tormented in the future. What does that say about how much they FEAR JESUS?