Text: Exodus 8:16-19

 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.   17 And they did so;  for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast;  all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.   18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not:  so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.   19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God:  and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them;  as the LORD had said. 

Saturday, 3^rd August 2024

THE HOLY SPIRIT CASTS OUT DEMONS

Text: Exodus 8:16-19

Memory verse: Matthew 12: 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

The Spirit of God, here, means the power of God, Luke 11:20 simply puts it as by the finger of God. Exodus 8:19 compares the demonstration of this finger of God by the declaration for lice to take over Egypt by Aaron and the magicians of Pharaoh. If this work is not by the assistance of Satan, then it is by the assistance of God. Then his kingdom, or reign, is come the reign of Satan over men, and the reign of God, are in opposition. If God expels Satan from his dominion over men, then his reign has come. When the bible says it is, "with or 'by' the finger of God" is a figurative way of representing the power of God, by the living Personal Agent, the Holy Spirit was used by the Lord Jesus in every exercise of that power.

The kingdom of God is come unto you, rather upon you, as the same expression is rendered, that is, If this expulsion of Satan is, and can be, by no other than the Spirit of God, then the end of the manifestation of the powers of darkness, is here already in your midst, and that kingdom which is destined to supplant his is already rising on its ruins.

Jesus exercised this power in unison with the Spirit of God. Jesus here draws a conclusion from the two arguments presented, since he does not cast out by Satan, he must cast out by the power of God, and therefore his actions demonstrated the potential arrival of the kingdom of God. The occasional accidental deliverance of exorcists might be evidence of the flow and decline of a spiritual battle, but the steady, daily conquests of Christ over the powers of evil presented to the people the triumphant progress of an invading kingdom. It is an argument against the idea that there was a collusion between Christ and Satan.

Demons are agents of Satan while the Holy Spirit, the God’s Agent is in constant combat with the demons and the Holy Spirit’s dominion will always override the activities of Satan and the agents.

CGDS HYMN 20; SS&S 134:

JESUS, KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS

1. Jesus, keep me near the cross,

there a precious fountain,

free to all, a healing stream,

flows from Calvary's mountain.

Refrain

In the cross, in the cross,

be my glory ever;

'til my raptured soul shall find,

rest beyond the river.

2. Near the cross, a trembling soul,

love and mercy found me;

there the bright and morning star

sheds its beams around me.

3. Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

bring its scenes before me;

help me walk from day to day,

with its shadows over me.

4. Near the cross I'll watch and wait,

hoping, trusting ever,

'til I reach the golden strand,

just beyond the river.

 Prayers

1. Lord Jesus, empower me to cast out demons by the Holy Spirit.

2.  LORD God Almighty, help me to recognize all unclean spirits and to cast them out always in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.