Sermon: A demon's confession (Luke 4:33-37)

TENTATIVE ADMISSIONS AND TRUE CONFESSIONS:
By a Demon (Luke 4:33-37)

pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2004

(This is the third in a series of four sermons)

The apostle Paul says that, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but...against the spiritual forces of evil" (Eph 6:12). If that is true—and we believe it is—how then should we conduct ourselves?

A parish priest was administering the last rites to a critically ill man. Before anointing him, the priest asked, "Do you renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil?" The man paused for a moment, then said, "I think in my condition, this is no time to offend anyone." (Adapted from Streiker 1998:91)

Is that the approach we should take in "our struggle... against the spiritual forces of evil," or should we adopt the stance of Bud Robinson, the Nazarene evangelist, who prayed?

Lord, help me to fight the devil as long as I've got teeth—and then gum him 'til I die. (Adapted from Hodgin 1994:148-149)

Whichever approach have you taken in your "struggle," the passage this morning is a reminder that you are on the winning side, because even "the spiritual forces of evil" must make True Confessions about Jesus, as we see in this one By a Demon.

However many times we read the gospel accounts, there will always be some things in them that are familiar to us and some things that remain unfamiliar. On the one hand...

• We can appreciate Jesus' teaching, and
• We can empathize with the needy in his audience.

On the other hand...

• We wonder at Jesus' many miracles, and
• We are glad that demon possession is not common in our society today.

In Jesus' day, that last item, though unfamiliar to us, was unfortunately quite familiar to the people then, probably because Satan's minions increased their efforts in an attempt to counter the messiah's first advent, just as demonic activity will increase again in the future to counter the messiah's second advent. That being so, it behooves us to know how that initial confrontation turned out, for the next confrontation will be have a similar outcome.¹ Please turn to...

Luke 4:33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" 35 "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

Luke does not explain how this man came to be "possessed by a demon," and Jesus does not ask—at least, he does not get a chance to ask, because the evil spirit initiates the conversation, and not at all subtly. The Greek text is quite emphatic, and the New International Version translation captures the essence of...

I. The demon's apprehension (Luke 4:33-34)

..."He cried out at the top of his voice." In the next verse, the demon's panic is even greater, and the first word, which occurs only here in the New Testament, could be rendered variously, "Alas! Leave us alone! Go away!" It is obvious that...

A. He is resentful of Jesus.

...not wanting him to interfere with whatever malevolent plan the demon has for this man. In addition...

B. He is fearful of Jesus.

...knowing quite well that the Son of God could immediately execute the wrath of God against his evil design.² This is apparently not an unusual reaction. Later, when Jesus confronts the Gadarene demoniac, who had a horde of evil spirits,³ the response is much the same.

Matt 8:29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

There are important differences in how an unclean spirit and God's Spirit operate. Both can dwell in a person, but both do not take control of a person to the same extent or to the same end.

• An unclean spirit may come uninvited.

Whereas some people ask for a spirit to possess them, thinking it will give them power⁴—and I have known those who attempted this—more often, people expose themselves to demonic oppression or possession by dabbling in the occult, opening the door of their soul enough for an unclean spirit to enter uninvited and gain a foothold. In contrast...

• God's spirit is always invited.

He will never force himself or insinuate himself into a person's life. He is the perfect gentleman, going only where he is wanted and exercising only what influence he is afforded.

Another difference is that...

• An unclean spirit is ultimately destructive.

Satan's minions are bent on wreaking whatever havoc and harm they can. When the New Testament authors describe demonic activity, it is always detrimental,⁵ causing physical as well as mental disorders.⁶ In contrast...

• God's Spirit is always constructive.

In fact, the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the Christian's life from his initial regeneration to empowering him for service to guiding him each day to his final resurrection.⁷

So, what makes this demon both resentful and fearful of Jesus? It is...

II. The demon's recognition (Luke 4:34)

...of Jesus. At this time, people are wondering, "Is Jesus more than a good teacher? Is he a prophet? Could he even be the messiah?" This demon asks no such questions, because...

A. He knows who Jesus is.

As a member of the spirit realm, he is aware of the deliberations in the heavenly court.⁸ He saw Jesus before the incarnation, before Jesus was "made in human likeness" (Phil 2:7). This demon has probably seen the power Jesus commands. Whatever people may think, there is no doubt in this demon's mind. He knows who Jesus is, and...

B. He names who Jesus is.

"You are—the Holy One of God."⁹ This is information Jesus does not want to publicize, not yet, and certainly not from the mouth of a demon. He would rather have people come to that realization gradually, as they hear his instruction and witness his miracles. He does not want to speed the process up artificially or prematurely.

You probably have friends or relatives who are not Christians. You wish they were, and you see what they are missing:

• The joy of knowing God,
• The comfort of His presence,
• The wisdom of His guidance,
• The support of His strength.

All this and more they could have if only they would recognize who Jesus is and turn over their lives to him. You speak to them...carefully, knowing that saying too much might drive them away. You pray for them, but wonder at the delay, wonder if you should say more.

While it is possible that you have not done everything you should, it is also possible that you must give them the time they need to come to the same conclusions you have. Making your approach to people more directive may not make the outcome more effective. Most need to reach a certain stage before they are ready to surrender their life to Jesus.

• They may not be intellectually ready, because they are not even sure that God exists.
• They may not be emotionally ready, because they want to control their own fate...and think they can.
• They may not be physically ready, because their health or their relationships or their finances are doing fine without God.

Nothing you say, however true it may be, will accelerate the process. Something needs to change in the condition of their life, perhaps something radical, before they will change the course of their life by turning to God.

Change is not an option for evil spirits. They have chosen to oppose God, knowing full well the consequences of such actions, some of which we see here in...

III. The demon's submission (Luke4:35)

...to Jesus. This is not a willing compliance but a grudging one...

A. He is reluctant to obey Jesus.

...as is evident in his resistance. Mark, in his account of this incident, says,

Mark 1:26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Luke states that "the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him" (Luke 4:35). Jesus and this malevolent creature are on opposite sides in a spiritual battle, but the forces are not evenly matched. There is conflict, but there is no contest. The demon has chosen the losing side, and...

B. He is required to obey Jesus.

Paul writes to the Philippian church...

Phil 2:10 ...at the name of Jesus every knee [shall] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

In his Revelation, John records the outcome of the final confrontation, when Satan gathers his forces to meet the returning Christ and his forces. We might expect a great and terrible struggle, with each side trying to gain advantage over the other side and where the outcome is uncertain until the very end. That is not the case. In fact, the description of that confrontation is decidedly anticlimactic.

Rev 19:19 ...the beast [= Antichrist] and [his] armies gathered...to make war against the rider on the horse [= Christ] and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf.... The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest...were killed....

That does not sound as if the forces of evil are able to put up much of a fight. As for Satan, a fellow angel, not Jesus, deals with him.

Rev 20:1 ...an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss.... 2 seized...the devil... 3a ...threw him into the Abyss...and sealed it over him....

As I said, there is conflict, but there is no contest.

Could what this evil spirit did to this man happen to you? How vulnerable are you to demonic attack?¹⁰ The answer, in part, depends on you, on how well you follow God's instructions and on how much you utilize God's provisions. New Testament authors offer three principles for combating the forces of evil.

• Peter says, "Be wary."

1 Pet 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

The apostle Paul issues a similar warning and mentions an emotional condition that can make you especially vulnerable.¹¹

Eph 4:26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.

Do not let your emotions, especially your anger, cloud your judgment, or you might "give the devil a foothold" in your life, something he could use against you. Paul says be wary. Furthermore...

• Paul says, "Be ready."

Eph 6:11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Paul then lists specific elements, such as "truth...righteousness...faith...salvation.., the word of God,"¹² all of which are important in your struggle against "the spiritual forces of evil" (Eph 6:12). Paul says be ready.

• James says, "Be steady."

Jms 4:7b Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

You are already on the winning side. Use that assurance to your advantage, and do not let the enemy convince you otherwise. James says be steady.

The Bible has more to say on this matter, but these three principles will enable you to face whatever Satan and his minions might throw at you.

This evil spirit does not want a confrontation with Jesus. Apparently, there is nothing he can do to avoid it. Whether he is trying to upset Jesus by blurting out his identity or he simply panics, it is one of the True Confessions in the gospels about who Jesus is, even if it is By a Demon.

For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.