He was there when it happened...!

Following the message I brought yesterday, entitled, "Dealing with the Demonic, Part II," I had lunch with Bob and Gay Thurman. Reflecting on the morning service, she shared a wonderful insight that grew out of a comment I had made while preaching: The demons Jesus dealt with already knew who He was because they had known Him in His glory before they were led astray by Satan prior to the Lord's incarnation.

The Lord referenced that reality in response to His disciple's joyful report that they now had power to minister deliverance to needy people:

"17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”" (Luke 10:17-20, NIV)

While I would never counsel anyone to seek out confrontations with evil spirits, it is a wonderful, wonderful thing to realize that demons already know that the Jesus who lives in our hearts when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior is infinitely more powerful than them!

Here is another great verse to hide in your heart:

"...the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world." (1 Jn 4:4, The Message)