What Was He Doing There?

Mark 1:23-25 - Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!" 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"   NASU
 

• Man With An Unclean Spirit 

I have seen that man in quite a few congregations. When non-Christians state that the church is filled with a bunch of hypocrites. They are talking about this fellow, the one with an unclean spirit.
 
Everyone in town knows he attends there and many of the congregants wish he didn't, but the devil uses this guy to besmirch the church and the name of Jesus. So he has planted him there to do as much harm as possible.
 
This unclean spirit was there for a lot of reasons but certainly one at the top of the list was to make the life of this man miserable. A man or woman with an unclean spirit is capable of all types of evil.
 
When I hear of a person killing other people whether it is 1 or 100 and I get asked, "How could this happen?" My answer is always the same, the person that has committed this heinous act is being controlled by an unclean spirit. Another way of saying this is this person was demon possessed.
 
For some reason a demon possessed person is out to inflict harm upon people who have been created in the "image of God". 
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• What Are We To Do? 

I have heard it said, "Just because it is in the garage doesn't make it a car." Likewise, just because someone is attending the church service doesn't make them a Christian. We are to take care of our own lives and the best way I know to do that is follow Paul's exhortation in the book of Romans 12:1-2 -
 
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  NASU
 
We also have the book of Ephesians 4:20-24 -  But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
 
We are to be the real deal. We are to become more like Jesus everyday and less like our old selves.
 
I say this next statement with a lot of fear and trepidation. The only way we want to be like this unclean spirit is to Know Who Jesus Is. The demon possessed man said, "I know who You are - The Holy One Of God!"

Yes, Jesus is the Holy One of God and we don't ever want to forget that fact. This is why we worship Him because He is the Holy One of God. He is God.
 
Do yourself a favor and stay away from evil people. "Bad company corrupts good morals", the apostle Paul said. But on the flip side of that hang around as many Christians as you can for they will help you to be a blessing to yourself and others.
 
Think About These:
 
When we die we leave behind all we have and take with us all we are.
 
This will be a better world when the power of love replaces the love of power.
 
Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

​Minister of God's Word