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Introduction:
Mark
5:1-20 tells the story of the Gerasene demoniac. An
unclean spirit had possessed a young man. He could not be bound.
He could not be subdued. He spent his time among the tombs, crying
out and cutting himself. When Jesus arrived, He cleansed the man
of the spirit. We can learn many things from the text, but in this
lesson we simply want to ask the question—does this still
happen? Do demons and unclean spirits continue to possess people?
Is it possible we are possessed and don’t know it? Discussion: I.
The demons recognized a time was coming when something
would change. A.
In Matthew
8:29, the demons say, “Have you come here to torment us
before the time?” In Luke
8:28-29, the demons asked Jesus not to torment them.
Interestingly, the basis for that was that He had commanded them
to leave the man. B.
The text doesn’t tell us exactly what “the time”
refers to. We must speculate. However, clearly the demons
themselves recognized there would be a time when Jesus was to
torment them. That torment does not seem to be merely some kind of
disciplinary punishment but rather the removal from man and,
seemingly, the inability to possess man. II.
Jesus claimed there was a time coming when the strong man
of the world would be bound. A.
In Mark
3:27, Jesus was defending Himself against the accusation
of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. He said, “No
one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless
he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his
house” (ESV). B.
Jesus’ point is that He had entered the house of the
strong man, that is, Satan. He planned to plunder this house. To
do that, He had to bind the strong man. Binding the strong man
referred to removing demons and their possession of men. Thus,
Jesus’ plan was to bind Satan and his demons from having that
ability. Then Jesus would plunder the house, that is steal men and
women from the traps of Satan because Satan could not control
them. III.
The Old Testament prophesied that possession by unclean
spirits would stop. A.
In Zechariah
13:2, Zechariah prophesied there would be a day coming
when the prophets and the unclean spirits would be removed from
the land. As we read the entire chapter, we see this day is tied
in with the age of Christ’s sacrifice and covenant. In other
words, the period of our covenant is marked by the lack of
prophets and unclean spirits. B.
Of course, we know that I
Corinthians 13:8-13 demonstrates prophecy would end along
with all the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. This would happen
when that which was perfect had come. Some believe “the
perfect” means Jesus in His second coming. While Jesus was
perfect, He is not the subject of these verses. Rather, in this
context, the perfect is contrasted with the partial. You have
something that is partial and something that is perfect or whole
and complete. C.
If I brought you part of an apple pie, what is the whole?
Apple pie. If I brought you part of a cheesecake, what is the
whole? Cheesecake. In this context, instead of just assuming
something to be perfect, we need to consider what is the partial.
The partial is the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. According
to Hebrews
2:3-4, we learn the miraculous gifts of the Spirit were
given to reveal and confirm the will of God. Thus, the partial is
a partial revelation and confirmation of God’s will. The perfect
then is the complete or whole revelation and confirmation of
God’s word. Thus, according to I
Corinthians 13:8-13, the perfect refers to the complete
and finalized revelation and confirmation of God’s will. It
refers to the completed Scriptures. Conclusion: Therefore, we conclude quite correctly that once the will of God had been finally and completely revealed, there was no more need for the partial and God quit using it. As was prophesied in Zechariah 13:2, the prophets ceased from the land as did the unclean spirits. Now that we have the completed Scripture which can make us complete in every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17) we see there is no more demon or unclean spirit possession.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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