Ecclesiastes 3:1 CSB
[1] There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven:

That’s certainly true of today’s text.  The information shared in today’s text is premature for sure and the source is questionable to say the least.

So far in the book of Mark we’ve seen many attempts to derail the mission of Jesus.  Jesus has been demonstrating who he is through healing and demonic expulsion.  He’s made statements about who He is pointing to the truth that He is God.  There are some in the crowd around Him that have put the pieces together and follow because He is God incarnate and not just because they believe he is the Messiah.  They follow for more than a title.  There are also those who haven’t put it together yet but are still searching for that truth.  We also know that there are those that are following because others are following.  All have likely seen the miraculous acts that have been done by Jesus.  Of course,  it’s the ones in the first group, the ones that know and believe He is God that have it right.  The demons in our story today are working to mislead all of these groups.  Let’s take a look.

Mark 3:11-12 CSB
[11] Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” [12] And he would strongly warn them not to make him known.

First let’s consider the source of the the proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God.

If you were to tell a friend today that Jesus is the Son of God and they were to ask.  How do you know?  How credible do you think your answer would be if it were because a demon told me? 

The second piece of this is timing.  Jesus’ full declaration of Godhood was the cross and the resurrection.  Jesus wants people to believe in Him because of who He is not just because He has a title or power.  He wants you to believe because He brought the Israelites out of Egypt.  Because He gave Grace to King David.  Because of all of the old testament promises kept. Because of all of the promises He has made and will keep.  Because of all of the times that He has acted for you and I.  A premature declaration like what the demons are saying is strictly to get people to believe incorrectly.  To have head knowledge is not necessarily belief and it can deceive you into thinking that you’re good.  Jesus wants your all though.  He wants everything you are and everything you can be in belief.  He deserves no less.  It kind of looks like this…

Revelation 5:13 CSB
[13] I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

Deception like that is one of the key tools that Satan and his minions use to get us to the wrong place in our belief.  He used it in the garden.  He used it on the Pharisees.  He uses it in the church today.  Those quiet whispers that create doubts in all of us.  They can be devastating to anyone’s faith.  Maybe it’s the lie that that sin doesn’t hurt anyone, you can do it just one more time. 

Ok Colby,  I get it.  But what do we do with the knowledge?

Knowledge is key to the victory.  God has supplied it through his word and with the Word. 

John 1:1-2, 14, 17  CSB
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning.

[14] The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

[17] for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The knowledge of Jesus and what belief in Him looks like.  The knowledge of the tools that Satan uses against Jesus.  I say against Jesus even though he’s whispering in your ear for this reason.

Satan is not against you.  He is against Jesus and keeping you in the wrong place or manipulating you to get others to the wrong place keeps you and them from Jesus.  Satan does not care one bit about you.

With the knowledge that Satan and his minions are doing everything they can to keep you from Jesus.  Go to battle with the knowledge that Jesus has been saving, guarding and protecting hearts since before the foundation of the earth.

Ephesians 1:4 CSB
[4] For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

I hope that this helps understand this a bit more.

John 3:16-18 CSB
[16] For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Go to battle against Satan with Jesus.  Pray that Jesus would stand before you and that He would help you know the lies of the evil one.  Pray not only for you but everyone else too.  With Jesus Satan doesn’t stand a chance.

I hope I’ve done this justice today.  To be honest I struggled with how to write this.  But I know the truth.

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Jesus is my savior. 

Jesus is God!

Love in Christ,

Colby