When I was in high school, the movie ‘The Exorcist’ came out. It was a bizarre fictional account of a young girl who was possessed by the devil and the exploits of an ‘exorcist’ to cast out the demon that controlled her. Though I never saw it (even the previews scared me), many of my friends did. Some laughed and thought it was funny. Others had uncontrolled bizarre behavior they blamed on demons.
Even now movies and TV shows depict demonic activity as either extremely frightening or part of a comedy. The result has been that many in our society understand Satan and demonic activity as either all-powerful and unstoppable or a fairy tale.
Mark’s Gospel tells the story of a man who was demon possessed. You can read the story in Mark 5:1-20.
It is a sad, hopeless story of what sin and Satan does to a person who runs from God. He was an extreme case, but many are today trapped by sin and decisions they have made.
I believe a true believer cannot be ‘possessed by demons’ because ‘greater is he (Jesus) that is in us than he (Satan) that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4). However, even believers can allow Satan and sin to dictate their decisions. Believers can yield to sin traps. I have met many true believers who are controlled by habits, thoughts, and actions from which they want to experience freedom. What do you do?
We discover three ways to deal with personal demons.
1. Do Nothing – Satan wants to steal and destroy.
This man was possessed by evil spirits who were trying to kill him. (They did kill the pigs) They had already robbed him of sanity and self-control. He was filled with fear and confusion. He was isolated and alone, robbed of the joy of home and friends. Had he continued much longer, he would have been killed or killed himself, then condemned to an eternity of judgment.
Satan and demons are real and want nothing better than to destroy everything you love, through force or deception. To do nothing is to continue down the same road.
2. Turn to Other People – Society wants to isolate and control.
This incident reveals the inadequacy of people’s help in our problems. This man had extreme evil problems and about all society could do was isolate him, put him under guard with chains, but finally give up.
Now don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with going to others in time of need. The Bible encourages us to allow others the opportunity to help. But you need to know that society has its limits. If people have a spiritual problem there is no earthly cure.
A further understanding of society’s attitude toward this man is revealed after Jesus healed him. After Jesus permitted the demons to enter a herd of pigs, the citizens were angry. They cared more for their personal property than a man’s soul. In God’s scale of proportions, there is nothing so important as a human soul.
They pleaded for Jesus to go away. Unfortunately for them, Jesus did. There is no biblical record that He ever returned. Sometimes the worst possible thing that can happen is for Jesus to answer one of our requests. This appears to be what is happening to our modern society.
3. Turn to Jesus – The Savior wants to deliver and restore.
This man ran to Jesus, fell down, and worshiped Him. Jesus delivered him and restored him to sanity, society and service.
Instead of roaming among the tombs, he sits at the feet of Jesus. He was ‘dressed’ instead of naked. Instead of acting crazy, he was ‘in his right mind.’ What a testimony to the power of Jesus Christ!
Not only did Jesus save his soul and mind, He gave him purpose. The man begged Jesus to let him go with Him. But Jesus told him to stay. Jesus knew that the man’s place was in his own home, with his loved ones, where he could bear witness to the Savior. After all, effective Christian living must begin at home where people know us the best.
I hope you will choose to allow Jesus to rescue from the chains of sin and set you free to be the person He wants your to be.