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MOTIVATED WITH POWER
Spirit Fearlessness

A Commentary by Constance Vanides

"Oh oh! Here comes Kutzie crossing our front yard again!" Kutzie, our neighbor's cat, was unsuccessfully stalking the wild birds of the neighborhood. Crouched low, he hastily made his way across our driveway while the mockingbird, protecting her nest, dive-bombed him again and again, taking shots with her beak at the tale-tucked-under feline. The prey became the aggressor.

Similarly, when we face the wiles of the devil, scripture tells us to aggressively resist him (1 Peter 5:9), stand against his threats (Ephesians 6:11), and cover ourselves with the whole armor of God. Again and again, it is God who gives us the power to become the aggressor. Like Jesus, we are to use the Word of God as a sword to attack Satan. What else does the bible say about demons and unclean spirits?

Much of Jesus'ministry included the casting out of demons:

"But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, and come out of him!' And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him." (Mark 1:23-26)

"Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him." (Mark 1:34)

"For He said to him, 'Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" (Mark 5:8)

After seeing Jesus cast out demons, or unclean spirits, and heal diseases, the twelve Apostles were commissioned to do the same.

"Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1, 2)

"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)

Demons haven't gone away today. Casting out demons didn't stop with the Apostles. With the coming of the Holy Spirit in power at Pentecost, Jesus made sure His body, the church, was equipped with spiritual gifts to minister with power. Discerning of spirits and healings, together with other gifts to the church, need to continue today for the church to be effective as His working body. With the leading of the Holy Spirit, we become the aggressor and make the enemy the "fraidy-cat"!

NEW WORD OF EXHORTATION Click to read "Recovery In My Name", an exhortation to the Church to move ahead in the power of the Spirit, and with the authority of Jesus, to cast out the evil one who slyly tries to keep the children of God from living abundant lives.

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