Read To Me DAILYনমুনা

GENESIS 27:
Yesterday in Genesis 26, we read the history of Isaac and Rebecca's family before the narrative focuses on their dissimilar twin sons— and especially Jacob.

JOB 15:
God has revealed so much more to us in our day than what Job could know in his day. One thing was shown yesterday. Job asked,

14:14 GNT If a man dies, can he come back to life? …

MARK 9b:
Remembering what we heard in the first half of Mark 9: Immediately after Jesus came down the mountain with three of his disciples, He met the other disciples who were having two difficulties simultaneously. They had failed to heal a boy possessed by an evil spirit, and people arguing with them about that.

In Greek, ‘demon’ is daimonia, and the other term in Greek, ‘evil spirit’, is more literally ‘unclean spirit’. As someone who has worked in another culture and seen what has happened over my lifetime in the USA, I hope it will be helpful to some listeners if I share about this topic. Some of you— particularly those of the older generation in the USA, will say, “What people called demons in Jesus’ day were just what we call mental illness.” While, paradoxically, it is the younger generation in the USA who more readily believe that demons actually exist. I think the younger generation has it right this time. Demons do exist. 

Here’s what I have observed: Where demons are not believed in, they are happy to stay in the background— where they are very adept at promoting falsehood and sin. Where demons are feared, worshipped, where people listen to satanic music and take part in occult rituals, demons come out more openly— to increase people’s fear of them and to manipulate people. 

As believers in Jesus, remember that Jesus has complete power over Satan and all demons. We who belong to Jesus should not fear them. Nor should we seek communication with such beings. Remember two things from yesterday’s story: The father wisely cried out, “Help my unbelief!” So the first thing to remember is to fully believe in Christ Jesus. The second is the answer Jesus gave to the disciples question: Prayer is of vital importance in this area of spiritual warfare.

Let’s pray.
Our Heavenly Father and our Lord Christ Jesus, I thank you that now in this age we have greater assurance and knowledge that what Job had. He asked, “If a man dies, can he come back to life?” And he was hoping that his ‘time of trouble’ would pass, so that— as he said, “Then you will call and I will answer, and you will be pleased with me, your creature.” How thankful we are now, Lord, that we have the firm assurance that You want us to come to You in prayer. We know now, Heavenly Father, that You accept our prayers through Christ Jesus. According to the story in Mark 9, Lord, we see that certain things are possible for us only if we pray. Lord, teach us how to pray! We also ask you, Jesus, to transform our unbelief into solid trust and believing in You.