Exorcism and You

Know what early church called ministers who taught children? Exorcists!

Exorcism: the expulsion of a supposed evil spirit from a person or place

Exorcism...scary movies, demon possessions, rituals, and incantations

Seems extreme, irrelevant. How often do you see exorcisms? Demons sneaking around? People who seem possessed?

Make no mistake. Satan & Demons are real

Spiritual warfare is real. Theres a hidden realm where Armageddon is going on

Hidden war: To seduce you into believing in a story, world, life that doesn’t include God

That’s what happened in the Garden of Eden (Gen 3)

Satan fills Eve’s head w/lies, entices her away from trusting in God’s Word

Satan turns order upside-down (God-Adam & Eve-Creation to Satan-Adam & Eve-God)

Adam & Eve eat fruit, lose dependence/relationship on God, all creation is cursed

Problem with a world w/o God’s Word is that it will self-destruct

God’s Word is powerful, what creates & sustain creation. Creation is powered by God’s Word

In absence of God’s Word, creation falls apart

Hell’s attack on Heaven & Earth: deceive w/ lies, silence God’s Word, destroy God’s creation

Satan’s battle plan is to convince world God’s Word is irrelevant, just like he did for Adam & Eve

It’s Satan’s cosmic coup, & prince of darkness considers creation his domain now

Imagine: God shows up in hostile territory

Ever wonder why Jesus had so many encounters w/ demons (compared to today)?

Jesus’s presence on Earth is like D-Day of apocalypse, ground zero for Armageddon

Enemy Commander has entered battlefield & Hell is sending everything they’ve got to take him out!

Jesus comes to Earth to undo what Satan did in Gen 3!

Mark 1:22–24 NLT

22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law. 23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Demon speaks in plural (“...destroy us?”)...claiming everyone in the synagogue as his own, his territory

How the Father of lies works! Wants you to believe he is your master, God has it out for YOU!

Satan seduces you into believing God’s Word first is irrelevant, then threatening

B/c, in absence of God’s Word, life falls apart, families, communities, world. (Have you noticed?)

There’s a reason why the people were surprised that Jesus spoke w/authority! Didn’t believe Word

In absence of God’s Word, creation falls apart

Good news: God & Satan NOT equals! NOT rival deities!

Mark 1:25–27 NLT

25 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. 27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”

Jesus doesn’t need a magical incantation or spell to drive out demons

He is God, Satan is not. Jesus speaks & demons can’t help but obey

Jesus’ mission is exorcism: reclaim His creation from Satan & restore it w/His Word

Church: where demon-destroying Word is proclaimed over us to teach, forgive, re-create

Why we celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week, Trinity School & others

Something to calling people who teach kids about Jesus exorcists!

We take God’s Word seriously, drive Satan away from our kids

See schools as international network of systematic exorcism against Kingdom of Darkness!

Did you know, as of 2018:

Over 17000 teachers at more than 1900 preschool, elementary, & secondary Lutheran schools (US & Asia)

Over 184,000 students & families served

Eight LCMS colleges & universities

More than 2000 schools by other Lutheran denominations throughout US & World

Lutherans may not be known for exorcisms, but it’s actually everything we do

Every religion lesson, sermon, Bible study, baptism, worship service is an exorcism b/c Word changes you:

see world more & more for what it is: God’s

see yourself more & more for you who are: God’s

Forgives you, re-creates you, & changes your allegiance/destiny

Church is a battlefield & gathering around Word is an act of war against Hell

We're in a time where gathering around God’s Word has been critically challenged

If you don’t think Satan isn’t poised to use the fact that you can’t come to church, that focusing on online worship is hard, that your kids aren’t in church or Sunday School...

If you don’t think Satan isn’t using challenges of doing church in Covid to wage spiritual attack, think again!

Satan is having a field day with Covid: God’s creation is groaning all around us & God’s church is pinned down

Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, 2017 Edition The Third Commandment

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

The 3rd Commandment IS exorcism! It’s the front lines of spiritual warfare!

If we can’t gather around God’s Word b/c of Covid, we have to be that much more intentional about holding God’s Word sacred & gladly hearing & learning it

Christ’s Church needs you doing exorcisms, driving Satan back in Jesus’s name w/His powerful Word.

KIDS!

Armageddon is fought

at bedtime when parents & kids read Bible stories & sing hymns

when you open your Bible & learn your catechism

when you forgive your kids & pray blessings over them

when God’s Word is declared over you during worship

As much as Covid is dangerous & we have to continue to take it seriously, as the church we have to remember how much more dangerous it is to starve from not hearing the Word

B/c as much as the church is a force for good & health & well-being in the world, the church has a long history of martyrs who have been eaten alive by lions, burned at the stake, & communed people w/the plague.

The church values safety & peace, but we don’t prioritize safety over the Word.

True safety isn’t found in masks, vaccines, or social-distancing. True safety is found in Jesus and the resurrection.

We as a church must find ways to gather as a community around God’s powerful Word.

God’s Word is the vaccine that destroys Satan & restores creation.

As Christians, we are exorcists who drive out the Father of Lies by gathering around the Word and teaching the faith. Our kids need it. The world needs it.

In Jesus name, amen.

Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with his favor and grant you His peace. Amen.