An Unclean Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Turn to and read Mark 1:21-28.
Is anyone else bothered by vs. 23?
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
Who was this man? Since he was “in” the synagogue, he would have been a Jew? Was he a leader in the synagogue? Was he a priest or a teacher in the synagogue? Was he a “regular attender” or member of this synagogue? Was he a well-known individual in the community? Was he a respected man or someone that was on the fringe of society? Did anyone else know that he had an unclean spirit? Was anyone taken by surprise when he cried out, “...Let us alone…” (vs. 24)? Or, did everyone just shrug their shoulders and say, “Don’t mind him. He some times does that?”
These are all some legitimate questions that, unfortunately, we will, in this life, never know the answers to. All we can definitively know is what vs. 23 records for us...
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
What kind of spirit do you bring into South Charlotte Baptist Church? An unclean spirit or a clean spirit?
Though the data is sparse, what we do know is that the practice of witchcraft has seen major growth in recent decades. As the witch aesthetic has risen, so has the number of people who identify as witches.
...whatever the exact number is, it’s clear that witches are among us—and the current trajectory suggests that their population will continue to grow.
https://qz.com/quartzy/1411909/the-explosive-growth-of-witches-wiccans-and-pagans-in-the-us/
Those who believe in and practice the occult are on the rise. Are there individuals living in our communities that are possessed by unclean spirits. While I hate to think of it, I would have to say, “Yes.”
Now, before going any further, I want to make one thing very clear: Born again believers in Jesus Christ cannot be possessed by demons or unclean spirits. Why? Because they are possessed by the Holy Spirit of God! And the Holy Spirit of God does not accept roommates!
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
For that reason, we, as believers need to stay as far away as possible from the occult and things of the occult. The old saying is true, “He who plays with fire gets burnt!”
However, I do believe that Christians can be influenced by evil spirits. A case in point would be Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5.
Turn to and read Acts 5:1-11.
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Ananias and Sapphira allowed themselves to be influenced by Satan himself who used a lying spirit.
Turn to and read Colossians 3:5-14.
Why did Paul specifically mention what he did in this passage of Scripture? I believe it was because these were the specific “unclean spirits” that these believers still wrestled and struggled with.
The spirit of fornication - the root word is where we get our word pornography from.
The spirit of uncleanness - impure, lustful thinking
The spirit of inordinate affection - in the context of this list this may very well refer to homosexuality
The spirit of evil concupiscence - evil desires
The spirit of covetousness - in context, this is likely referring to self - placing self on the throne
Then, in vs 8-9, Paul refers to the spirit of anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, and lying.
While I don’t know that we have any “demon possessed” individuals who attend our church, it would be good to ask ourselves...
What kind of spirit do you bring into South Charlotte Baptist Church?
Are you being influenced by an unclean spirit of sexual immorality and impurity?
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
The Barna Group has found that...
62% of teenagers (ages 13-17) have received a sexual image via their cell phones
72% of Christian young adults (ages 18-24) actively seek out pornography on the internet
3 out of 5 divorces cite the use of porn as a major factor.
Are you being influenced by an unclean spirit of self? I believe that this was the spirit that Paul knew that the Philippian Christians battled with.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
An unclean spirit of self brings along a whole host of problems; bickering, strife, contentions, gossip, a critical spirit, an unforgiving spirit.
Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: But he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.
An unclean spirit of self will keep a church from “striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” An unclean spirit of self will keep a church so focused on self that they will be unable to serve others. An unclean spirit of self will completely suck the life out of a church because it will no longer be about Christ!
We continue to see this unclean spirit of self in Colossians 3:8-9.
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Colossians 3:8 tells us to put off these things. Ephesians 4:22-24 say it this way:
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:” You see, that is where these unclean spirits are able to get us - our minds!
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
What kind of spirit do you bring with you to South Charlotte Baptist Church?
Back in Mark chapter 1, Jesus cast the unclean spirit out of the man. Jesus Christ does the same today but it is done through a transformed and renewed mind.
Admit that you have been influenced by an unclean spirit and then allow Jesus Christ, through His Word, to transform and renew your mind!