During Jesus’ time on earth He did lots of amazing things.  One thing He did quite a few times was to drive demons out of people.  He did it simply by speaking and telling them to leave.  This is a huge contrast to the Hollywood “exorcism” process that some people may think of when it comes to this.  I remember being afraid as I thought about this as a teenager.  Spiritual forces are real and can be frightening. I was watching the Chosen last night and one such occasion occurred.  Jesus simple said, “Leave him”.  Let’s look at one of these encounters in Luke 11 together today. 

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

There are lots of things in this life that we can find that might bring us fear.  Certainly spiritual forces are real and should be taken seriously.  We can rest comfortably however knowing how much more powerful Jesus is.  He simply overcomes these forces with a single word.  To me that is extremely comforting.  No matter what scary things we face in this life, spiritual forces or emotional stress or even anything physical, Jesus is with us and is far more powerful.  He can overcome any obstacles in front of us.  Rest in His loving and protecting arms today.  Knowing that He can take care of any problem with a single word.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave