1 Corinthians 2:10b-16 Luke Luke 4:31-37
My dear friends in Christ, in the gospels, there are three categories of beings that bore witness to the identity of Jesus. These include: God the Father who confirmed him as His Beloved Son, humans (Peter) and demons.
In the gospel reading of today, it is the demon that speaks of him. It speaks of Jesus as one with authority. This authority is rooted in his being as the Son of God. The demon said “I know you, you’re the Son of God, what have you come to do to me?” But what happened, Jesus does not allow this mere massage of ego. Jesus does not spare the demon because it recognizes him. He rather exerted his authority and rebuked him. He shuts him up and asked him to get out of the person whom he has possessed.
We have a lot of lessons to learn here dear friends. First, we must acknowledge the fact that we all who are in Christ have been given authority. It is the authority over the devil. Jesus does not spare the demons, not even when they massage his ego. We too must understand that we have authority in Jesus. This authority is to set people free. Many people are under the siege of the power of the evil one. We must be the hands of Jesus to reach out to them and set them free. Many people are in the chains of wrong doctrines. We have the authority in Jesus to liberate them.
Secondly, we must learn from Jesus how to be firm and just even in the face of inauthentic praise. That people are massaging our egos with praises must not stop us from saying the truth and saying it the way they should be said. Many people’s lives depend on the truth we are to say. If we do not speak up, they may remain in bondage forever.
Thirdly, we must not beg the devil. We are not to have a romance with the devil. We, like Jesus are to command him and put him in his position. Several times, the devil brings up his ugly head in our families and we seem to be helpless and we begin to complain and give him reasons to feel victorious. Our victory is in the authority of Christ which he has given us and we must use this authority as children of God.
Let us ask the mighty God to give us the faith to believe in what we are in God and to always act accordingly.
The Lord be with you.
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