Good Morning Friends,
I have a confession. You know those people who call on the phone to sell you something you really do not need nor want. Honestly, I have had some bad thoughts about how eternity should take care of their behavior. But then a friend pointed out another approach and once I had read today’s lectionary scripture and how even demons know Jesus and that we are to be children of light in the darkness, I have rethought my approach. You see, those unexpected and often annoying calls and texts might be a great way to engage people who need to know more about Jesus. And if they are as dark as I might expect then Jesus will deal with them. Now the problem is that so many of the calls and texts these days are robots and computers, but if you get a real person, and maybe even if you don’t, we need to be encouraging in the way of Christ if by example and nothing more. You see there is a little bit of good in the worst of us and a little bit of bad in the best of us. So, Will We Be Filled Up Or Fed Up…Building Up Or Burning Up?
Scripture: Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 (NRSV)
He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue, there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, “What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!” And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.
Luke 4:31-37 (NRSV)
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalms 121:4 (NRSV)
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
Psalm 19:1-6 (NRSV)
Message: Well, I would like to think we are in a season of joy but for some of us we are in the hurricane season. And with that thought in mind I would say that today’s question is not just about whether we are building up but whether we are doing it in the right places. The power of Hurricane Ida has gotten people to rethink if they should rebuild in flood zones. And so too with evangelism, for sometimes we should dust off our shoes and move on and sometimes we need to persevere in a place long enough to make an impact before Jesus returns to finish what we could not. Over the weekend, we were tracking Hurricane Ida and it missed us but still the weather changed in Southwest Florida too. We all remember Irma and Wilma. The vigilance of the concern is to be real. But I will tell you there is peace in knowing that we are as ready for a storm as we can be and so too there is comfort in knowing we are as prepared as we can be for the coming of Jesus. There is a peace knowing that Jesus can still drive the demons out of our life. But unlike the demons in today’s text, we have nothing to fear if we are prepared. And perhaps we do not need to fear the storms of life if we prepare for them putting on the full armor of God. Oh, we should be a little bit anxious with keen awareness as to our situations, but we should also be encouraging one another. You see, Jesus has control over those things in the spiritual world and yes, the physical world too. Therefore, we should continue to build up the Kingdom of God and prepare for life’s storms even while we look for the coming of Jesus with excitement and expectancy. Instead of fear and dread, we need to be awake to see Jesus. There is great comfort in knowing that we will be saved but it is not the kind of comfort that puts one to sleep. So, friends, acknowledge that it is all too easy to be focused on things of this world. It is all too easy to not make time for worship. It is all too easy to never pick up a Bible and read it. It is all too easy to get so wrapped up in worldly things that we do not realize we have become intoxicated by the dark side. Friends, we are to care about spiritual things as well as physical things. We are to be ready and watching for the return of Jesus much like we do for a hurricane. So, will you be ready and watching? Will you be building up or burning up?
And So, the work of the Holy Spirit occurs repeatedly in one’s life and the life of the church dealing with evil. For confronting evil is not a task for humans to face alone. It requires supernatural intervention for those cut off from communications with God. It requires a little search and rescue for those clinging to hope. And we need help and we need to help, not so much in understanding the problem, but to act effectively in resolving it. So too with life’s storms. What causes the problem is not acting in unity and awareness. This same situation faces the church. The thing is that light and dark cannot coexist and the church has some very dark demons that need to come out of its body much like the evil spirit in today’s text. Submission to God’s power is the goal but it is not always easy. Sometimes we must confront evil. And it is naïve to think that evil cannot come into a church or invade our home to keep us from what God would have us to do. It is naïve to think that any of us are immune from evil. In today’s Gospel reading we see an example of Jesus’ power to heal the spiritual afflictions that possessed a human soul. By God’s power we can experience freedom from our demons too. Friends, we are all to be filled up with the Spirit but sometimes it is all right to be fed up too. A collective transformation is needed. The goal is not to destroy but to silence the demon and remove the offence. When we are filled up in the Spirit there is no room for demons.
Pray we realize that fear is contagious, worry is contagious, and negativity is contagious. Pray we realize that faith is contagious, victory is contagious, and joy is contagious. Pray we are sealed in the growing power of the Holy Spirit. Pray for a supernatural resolution to the demons in the church. Pray we glean understanding about real-life problems from reading today’s Gospel. Pray we realize that Jesus provides real answers for real problems. Pray for those facing the storms of life. Pray we be prepared for the storms of life with the solid foundation of the Gospel of peace. Pray the God of peace, sanctify us through and through so we might collectively respond to those in need, discovering generosity is one of our needs as well. Pray we realize the need for grace and forgiveness…the need for help… but never forget the need to truly repent and be transformed. Pray we be ready and watching for Jesus. Pray we encourage one another in the faith and be prepared for the return of the King.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 