October 8th 2017
Good Will Always Overcomes Evil, Even In This Cursed World.
Matthew 8:27-28 (NIV)
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no-one could pass that way.
In the selected verses, Jesus has just amazed the disciples by stilling a storm, by just commanding it to stop! Then when they reach shore, they are confronted by “two demon-possessed men.” Why were these men believed to be possessed by demons? These men were living in a graveyard! Then notice it says, “They were so violent that no-one could pass that way.” We see an increase in violence around the world today, could we be seeing this increase based on “demon possession?” The recent incident where a man laid in wait at a music performance, so he could open fire on hundreds of people from a vantage point in a hotel. Why would anyone decide to try to kill hundreds of people that he did not even know?
Are we looking for a sane answer to an insane response? No one could possibly hate other members of mankind enough to just randomly decide to kill as many as possible, before they would be killed in retaliation, could they? What possible purpose could such an event be planned? From later news reports, this man also reserved hotel rooms near other such events, apparently planning to open fire at one of those events! We cannot apply logic to try and understand what would prompt such a crazy escapade as this. The man who did this was wealthy, so his motives could not have been based on hatred on mankind, because they held him back in some ways. The only sensible answer is that this planning was not being done by a human being, but instead of by some demonic presence that was directing this man’s actions and planning!
When Jesus walked this earth, He recognized that evil spirits did exist, and He often drove them out. Some Jews knowing this tried their hand at driving of evil spirits by using the name of Jesus. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (Acts 19:13-16). In the above account the evil spirit prevailed over the humans who tried to cast it out. Do evil spirits actual exist, it seems that Jesus believed they did, and He often cast them out of people to cure them.
Jesus told his disciples about how He was sent to this earth as the perfect sacrifice, and that it may appear that evil had triumphed, but that was only because they were viewing this by human standards, not by the control of God over all of mankind, and yes, even the evil spirits too! From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus said, “you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Whenever it seems, evil has triumphed, do not lose sight of how the good comes forth to try to preserve the safety of those in peril. When the possessed man started firing his stock pile of weapons, there were those who came forth to cover strangers with their bodies so they would not be shot. There were those who ran out of the area of attack, but then quickly returned, so they could help those who have been shot. They did not know that the shooting had actually stopped, but they returned to help those they could. Some of them were trained as nurses or doctors, but some just came back to help, as best they could. Again, not knowing for sure that the gunman had been stopped. They first thought was to flee for their own safety, but then they overcame their fear and returned to help. Thank God for such loving people who will always overcome the evil of this world.
Paul summed it up well in his letter to the Romans. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21). Paul wrote, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Evil is defeated by love, not by returning violence. There was one villain, but out popped many heroes, who had just come to a concert and were innocent of any wrong doing, at least at that moment. Good will always overcomes evil, even in this cursed world.
Some very confused people live in this cursed world, and they may seem to win some of the battles. But you should know that Jesus already won the war that is waged on this earth, between the members of mankind. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Remember, this world is not “the end!” It serves only as “In the beginning God Created!” Jesus tells us who have chosen to follow Him, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” Peace is available only through the Prince of Peace!”
What a friend we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 8:27-28 (NIV)
The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no-one could pass that way.
In the selected verses, Jesus has just amazed the disciples by stilling a storm, by just commanding it to stop! Then when they reach shore, they are confronted by “two demon-possessed men.” Why were these men believed to be possessed by demons? These men were living in a graveyard! Then notice it says, “They were so violent that no-one could pass that way.” We see an increase in violence around the world today, could we be seeing this increase based on “demon possession?” The recent incident where a man laid in wait at a music performance, so he could open fire on hundreds of people from a vantage point in a hotel. Why would anyone decide to try to kill hundreds of people that he did not even know?
Are we looking for a sane answer to an insane response? No one could possibly hate other members of mankind enough to just randomly decide to kill as many as possible, before they would be killed in retaliation, could they? What possible purpose could such an event be planned? From later news reports, this man also reserved hotel rooms near other such events, apparently planning to open fire at one of those events! We cannot apply logic to try and understand what would prompt such a crazy escapade as this. The man who did this was wealthy, so his motives could not have been based on hatred on mankind, because they held him back in some ways. The only sensible answer is that this planning was not being done by a human being, but instead of by some demonic presence that was directing this man’s actions and planning!
When Jesus walked this earth, He recognized that evil spirits did exist, and He often drove them out. Some Jews knowing this tried their hand at driving of evil spirits by using the name of Jesus. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (Acts 19:13-16). In the above account the evil spirit prevailed over the humans who tried to cast it out. Do evil spirits actual exist, it seems that Jesus believed they did, and He often cast them out of people to cure them.
Jesus told his disciples about how He was sent to this earth as the perfect sacrifice, and that it may appear that evil had triumphed, but that was only because they were viewing this by human standards, not by the control of God over all of mankind, and yes, even the evil spirits too! From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (Matthew 16:21-23). Jesus said, “you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Whenever it seems, evil has triumphed, do not lose sight of how the good comes forth to try to preserve the safety of those in peril. When the possessed man started firing his stock pile of weapons, there were those who came forth to cover strangers with their bodies so they would not be shot. There were those who ran out of the area of attack, but then quickly returned, so they could help those who have been shot. They did not know that the shooting had actually stopped, but they returned to help those they could. Some of them were trained as nurses or doctors, but some just came back to help, as best they could. Again, not knowing for sure that the gunman had been stopped. They first thought was to flee for their own safety, but then they overcame their fear and returned to help. Thank God for such loving people who will always overcome the evil of this world.
Paul summed it up well in his letter to the Romans. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21). Paul wrote, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Evil is defeated by love, not by returning violence. There was one villain, but out popped many heroes, who had just come to a concert and were innocent of any wrong doing, at least at that moment. Good will always overcomes evil, even in this cursed world.
Some very confused people live in this cursed world, and they may seem to win some of the battles. But you should know that Jesus already won the war that is waged on this earth, between the members of mankind. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Remember, this world is not “the end!” It serves only as “In the beginning God Created!” Jesus tells us who have chosen to follow Him, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” Peace is available only through the Prince of Peace!”
What a friend we have in Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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