First Baptist Church Litchfield
November 17, 2024

      • Psalm 110:1–7ESV

  • O Worship The King
  • A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein Feste Burg)

      • Luke 11:14–23ESV

  • Build Your Kingdom Here
  • Let Your Kingdom Come
  • Our God

  • Medicine, Magic, or Demonic Menace

    In April of 1978, the Washington Post ran a story on the trial of four German priests who were accused of the negligent homicide of Anneliese Michel, a German student-teacher. The article states,
    “Anneliese Michel, a former student-teacher at nearby Wuertzburg University, was, by all accounts, a deeply religious person raised by deeply religious parents in the small Bavarian town of Klingenberg, where her father operates a sawmill.
    As a teen-ager, she had occasional psychiatric care, and later developed a history of epilepsy, for which she was treated.
    When, after four years of medical treatment, her condition and mental depression worsened, she and her parents apparently became convinced that demons or the devil had possessed her, and the family turned to the local church for the cure.
    The diagnosis that she was possessed was first made by a local parish priest, Father Ernst Alt, 40, who sits in the defendant's box today. Next to him sits 67-year-old Father Arnold Renz, who was appointed by the bishop of Wuertzburg to carry out the 364-year-old formal rites of exorcism - the "Ritual Romanum" - with the help of Alt.
    Eleven months before she died, all medical treatment of Anneliese stopped, and the rites of exorcism were carried out secretly in the bedroom of her parent's home during one-hour sessions.
    When she died, Anneliese weighed 68 pounds. The autopsy report said that her death was caused by the malnutrition and dehydration that resulted from almost a year of semi-starvation during the rites.”
    The article goes on to say,
    “A series of doctors who have testified at the trial have all basically told the court that the woman died of a combination of epilepsy, mental disorders and an extreme religious environment which, in the words of Professor Hans Sattes of Wuertzburg University, added up to "a spiritual sickness and heavy psychic disturbance.”
    Anneliese Michel was a tormented young woman. The lingering question is, “Troubled by what?” Medical professionals believe it stemmed from a mix of epilepsy, mental health issues, and a psychologically damaging religious upbringing. Yet, the medical community was the family’s first avenue for assistance, and their medical interventions did not provide relief for the young woman. Only after these unsuccessful treatments did they explore alternative options, such as turning to the church. Why were the religious convictions of the parents ignored by the medical community?
    The the parents and the priests examined the girl from a different lens. While some doctors adhered strictly to materialism, the priests delved into metaphysics, exploring the unseen realm. Some in the medical and psychiatric fields believe that this unseen realm does not exist and regard those who perceive the world through that lens as mere illusionists or magicians. They struggle to understand how this young woman could be afflicted by anything other than a physical ailment. Jesus cautions us against limiting our experiences to just the visible world. There are evil forces at play, causing spiritual ailments affecting all of creation, particularly God’s image bearers. Malevolent entities can inflict torment and suffering on individuals. Kevin DeYoung wisely exhorts us,
    Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology Day 67: Demons

    If we are to take God at his word and take the Bible seriously, we must not only conclude that there is real evil in the world; there is also a devil and demonic beings hell-bent on promoting evil in the world.

    What are demons?

    The Bible portrays the world as being spiritually dark. Paul mentions a kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1). In this kingdom, formidable spiritual entities wield considerable authority and power. He refers to these entities as evil rulers and authorities with cosmic influence in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12). These malevolent rulers are governed by the “Prince of the power of the Air," who is Satan (Eph 2:13).
    Although we do not know exactly where they came from, the prevailing thought is demons are evil angels who sinned against God and who now continually work evil in the world (Wayne Grudem).
    In Genesis 1, God created all the heavens and the earth. When he finished, he said it was all very good.
    Genesis 1:31 ESV
    31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
    By the time we read Genesis 3, Satan is using a serpent to deceive Adam and Eve and the world falls to the curse of sin. So, between Genesis 1:31 and Genesis 3:1, there must have been a rebellion in heaven where angels sinned against God.
    Peter and Jude affirm this in the New Testament. Peter says,
    2 Peter 2:4 ESV
    4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
    Jude affirms this when he says,
    Jude 6 ESV
    6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
    I’m not entirely sure why they rebelled, but pride seems to be the culprit. As Jude notes, the angels did not accept their position of authority. They rejected God’s position and role for them, and he judged them for it Isaiah 14, possibly alludes to the same thing.
    Isaiah is describing the judgement of God on the king of Babylon. Then, he begins using language that seems provokes the reader to thing that he is referring to a higher rebellious being. Possibly referring to Satan, Isaiah says,
    Isaiah 14:12–15 ESV
    12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.
    If this is a reference to Satan, then arrogant pride led him to believe he could be like God, the same sin Adam and Eve fell too.
    Satan is known by various names that reflect his mission. He is referred to as “the devil” which means liar or slanderer (found in the New Testament: Matt. 4:1; 13:39; 25:41; Rev. 12:9; 20:2; and others), “the serpent” (Gen. 3:1, 14; 2 Cor. 11:3; Rev. 12:9; 20:2), “Be-elzebul” (Matt. 10:25; 12:24, 27; Luke 11:15), “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), and “the evil one” (Matt. 13:19; 1 John 2:13). The Bible does not claim that Satan rules over the entire world; instead, he governs the system of sinful opposition to God, which includes demonic beings under his authority. Satan aims to use his wicked minions to resist God and anyone loyal to the Lord.
    Satan is the source of sin and tempted Eve to disobey God (Gen. 3:1–6). He tried to lead Jesus astray from his mission as the Messiah (Matt. 4:1–11). Satan and his demons employ lies (John 8:44), deception (Rev. 12:9), and murder (Ps. 106:37; John 8:44) to divert people from God. Demons work to blind individuals to the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4) and keep them in bondage (Gal. 4:8), ensnaring them in feelings of doubt, guilt, fear, confusion, sickness, envy, and pride. They also have the capacity to torment individuals through physical demonic possession, such as the case of Anneliese Michel.
    In this mornings text, Jesus comes across two men afflicted by demonic forces. Jesus arrives at the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Gadara. Mark’s narrative mentions only one man, but it is common in Jewish literature to have double characters in a story, which explains why Matthew has two men. Mark indicates that the demon's name is a number, Legion—hinting at 6,000 soldiers. If taken literally, this suggests 6,000 demons possessed the man. Even if one does not interpret this literally, Mark implies there were many demons, indicating a very powerful evil force within the man. The demons gave the individual extraordinary strength, making it difficult for anyone to pass by him. However, regardless of the strength of the evil within man or in the world overall, Jesus is about to demonstrate that even the mightiest evil must submit to his command with a single word. In other words,

    Jesus is Lord over the spiritual realm.

    Last week, Jesus revealed is he is the Lord over all creation by commanding the wind the and sea to be calm. When the disciples witnessed Jesus make the winds cease and the sea become like a plate of glass, in awe, they asked a question:
    Matthew 8:27 ESV
    27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
    Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth. But how far does the authority and power of his Lordship reach? Is he the Lord of the unseen realm, over the kingdom of darkness as well? Yes, Jesus is Lord over the spiritual realm, and he will prove by his interaction with a demonic possessed man. There are four qualities to Jesus’ Lordship over the spiritual realm.

    Jesus is the Lord who brings light to darkness (Matthew 8:28)

    The reason Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee was to share the gospel with a predominantly Gentile region. Gadara and Gerasa (Mk 5:1) were mainly Gentile cities in the Decapolis; however, Gadara was much closer to the Sea of Galilee, while Gerasa, an impressive city, was over thirty miles to the southeast. Despite some Jews being present, the large herd of pigs indicates it was primarily a Gentile area.
    Upon entering the area of Gadarenes, Jesus encounters a man living in a cemetery (Matthew 8:28-29). Burial caves were located on the hillside, and he likely resided in the antechamber where bodies were laid. In Jesus’ time, tombs were considered a playground for demons.
    For the demonic possessed man, Matthew depicts a harrowing existence engulfed in darkness. Death and despair were the only companions. He lived among tombs day and night, rendering him unclean in Jewish law (Num. 19:11–16; Ezek. 39:11–15) and he was ostracized from society. He was Feared by all (5:3) and was uncontrollable, breaking chains and shackles. He screamed and self-harmed with stones (5:5), showing his irrational and self-destructive tendencies. There was no regard for his wellbeing. Living alone among the dead (5:5), he had no home and wore no clothes (Luke 8:27).
    This is life under the rule of Satan. Life in the kingdom of darkness offers no life at all. It lacks light, vitality, health, and well-being. Satan and his followers expend great effort trying to persuade many of us to remain in darkness, deceiving us into thinking we are better off without light. He seeks to keep us isolated and in despair, whispering deceitful thoughts in the shadows. He seduces you with entertainment and comfort in this world, while afflicting you with despair and hopelessness.
    However, when Jesus arrives, His light illuminates our path to freedom. Just as a shadow cannot defeat light, Jesus liberates us from the darkness that binds us to death.
    At the moment Jesus enters the land, demons recognize him as the Messiah, the Son of God, the Light of the World. Jesus intentionally traveled across the Sea of Galilee to rid the darkness in this man’s life with the good news of the gospel, and he commands his church to do likewise!
    We are sent as the Light of Christ to shine in a dark world. We must carry the Light of Jesus Christ within us and share Jesus to those trapped in the bondage of the darkness. Jesus says,
    John 8:12 ESV
    12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
    FBCL exists to joyfully advance the kingdom of God, that is bring the light of Jesus, by making much of Jesus in the darkest parts of our community. LCS empowers children with a Christian education, the light of Jesus, so they can flourish the darkest parts of the community and home. We do biblical counseling to bring the light of Jesus to the darkest parts of depression, despair, anxiety, loss, grief, and all the effects of living in a Genesis 3 world.

    Jesus is the Lord whom the demons acknowledge as the Son of God. (Matthew 8:29)

    Matthew 8:29 ESV
    29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
    In verse 29, those addressing Jesus are the legion of demons within the man. The irony in this verse lies in what the disciples were still trying to ascertain: “Who is this man?” The demons were aware of his identity and promptly replied to the disciples, saying, “This man is Jesus, the Son of God.”
    Both Mark and Luke emphasize his exact title as “Jesus, Son of the Most High God” (Mark 5:7; Luke 8:28). This title originates from the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary regarding the child she would bear (Luke 1:32). The phrase “Son of God” appears fourteen times in the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew's account, it carries multiple meanings. Initially, it refers to Israel as God’s son in the Old Testament, as noted in Exodus 4:22. However, Matthew quickly associates it with Jesus, the one who fulfills Israel’s role as the better son, one who perfectly obeys the Father.
    Moreover, the title “Son of God” implies royalty, connecting it to the kingdom of God and the Son of David.
    Lastly, it signifies Jesus’ divinity. This title underscores Jesus’ intimate relationship with God the father. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus refers to “his father in heaven” nine times. Matthew records one occasion where Jesus reveals the depths of his relationship with the Father:
    Matthew 11:25–27 ESV
    25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
    Jesus, the Son of God and King of Kings, shared a deep and equal relationship with God the Father. If He is God’s Son then he is divine, and as the rest of the New testament teaches, Jesus is fully man and fully God.
    But how do demons know this about Jesus? They are aware because they existed alongside Him before the creation of the world. Keep in mind that demons are fallen angels. They were there when God made the decision to create the universe in seven days and to make humanity in His own image. They observed the moment God decided the Lamb of God to be sacrificed for Hie elect and realized that Jesus would ultimately judge them to an eternal abyss of fire.
    This notion is hinted at in Matthew's account, where demons question Jesus in verse 29, asking, "Have you come here to torment us?" The question, "here," does not refer to the graveyard but to the earth. Why have you come to our world? Are you going to judge us before the appointed time? The demons knew about the appointed of judgement time beforehand. They knew the preexistent Christ and his mission to redeem God’s people and when Jesus showed up, they thought he had come to fulfill his appointed judgement.

    Jesus is the Lord who will judge demons in the Day of Judgement (Matthew 8:29).

    God has appointed a time for his judgement. The Bible refers to this as the Day of the Lord, or the Final Judgement. Gregg Allison notes that the the final judgment is the future, universal, public verdict rendered by Christ in which he will judge all human beings and angelic beings, including demons.
    The Old Testament speaks of the final judgement as the Day of the Lord. It is a day of reckoning and justice (Joel 2:1, 11, 31; Zeph. 1:14). It involves both divine destruction (Isa. 13:6, 9; Ezek. 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:31) and divine vengeance (Jer. 46:10; Obad. 15). The New Testament picks up on the final judgement beginning with Christ’s first coming, the “last/latter days” have begun (Heb. 1:1–2). When Jesus ascended and poured out his Spirit, the last days were initiated (Acts 2:17–21; Joel 2:28–32). The last days will be full full of trouble and destruction(1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1), as it climaxes to the appointed time when Jesus will judge the living and the dead (1 Cor. 5:5; 1 Thess. 5:1–11; 2 Thess. 2:1–12).
    The Father has delegated authority to his Son to execute judgment (John 5:22, 27). Indeed, the Lord “has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed” (Acts 17:31).
    John records the final judgement in Revelation 20:11-15
    Revelation 20:11–15 ESV
    11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
    Those who are not in the Book of Life are those whom John describes in Revelation 21:8
    Revelation 21:8 ESV
    8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
    This will include both those who reject Jesus and the devil and all his demonic cronies. Revelation 20:10
    Revelation 20:10 ESV
    10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
    This torment is what the demons referred to when they questioned Jesus about his presence on earth. Did he come to judge and condemn them to hell? It’s a sobering inquiry.
    In verse 29, we see the disturbing spiritual essence of a demon. They are so lost that mercy is absent from their nature. When they ask Jesus, “What have you to do with us?” they're effectively telling him to leave; it’s a plea to "stay away" from them. Their request to be sent into the pigs shows no sign of repentance or desire for mercy. Instead, as noted by Doriani, it reflects a wish for a delay. For Satan and the demons, judgment is unavoidable, but that does not apply to you, Friend.
    If you haven’t surrendered to Jesus as Lord, you still have grace to repent. Turn away from your sin and ask Jesus for forgiveness through confession. By faith, trust in his atonement for you and accept his promise of eternal life. Jesus took God’s judgment on the cross in your place so that you can live. Confess with your mouth what you believe in your heart: that God raised Jesus from the dead for the forgiveness of sins, and you will be saved. Only those who believe in Jesus will have their names written in the Book of Life. Surrendering your life to Jesus requires you to submit to Him as Lord, just as the demons do in this text.

    Jesus is the Lord by whom all demonic powers must submit (Matthew 8:30-32)

    Just as the demons are hell-bent on destroying the work of God, Jesus is heaven-bent on saving this man, delivering him from the powers of darkness and transferring him into the kingdom of light.
    ​
    The demons knew Jesus was going to remove them from the man. Jesus had come to set the captives free and save the lost. His light was going to conquer their darkness; that was a fact the demons could not ignore. Now, where Jesus would send them was up for grabs.
    ​
    Luke 8:31 tells us the demons asked not to be sent into the abyss. The abyss is the final place of Satan’s punishment (Rev. 20:3; 9:2; 2 Peter 2:4; Matt. 25:41). The demons prefer the pigs to the abyss, but when the pigs rush into the lake, it becomes their abyss. Daniel Doriani wisely points out, “The death of the pigs shows that the men are free. But we do not know what happened to the demons.” (Doriani)
    ​
    I find it fitting they end up in an unclean animal. What is even more fitting is that by entering the pigs, the pigs go mad and kill themselves. It exposes the real endgame of Satan. With all the glitz and glamour he showcases to the world through the promise of power, wealth, and prosperity, ultimately, it's all a façade. He’s an unclean animal who goes mad and drives himself and all who follow him, to senseless destruction. Nevertheless, Jesus commands the legion of demons to leave the man and only enter the pigs. Jesus is Lord of the spiritual realm, and every demonic being will submit to his command.

    How will you respond to the Lord Jesus?

    What kind of man is Jesus? He is the Son of God, the Lord of heaven and earth, including visible and invisible realms. He brings light to darkness. Even demons recognize Him as the preexistent Son of God. He is the one who will judge all beings at the Great White Throne of Judgment, condemning those whose names are not found in the Book of Life to the lake of fire alongside Satan, the antichrist, and all demons who followed Satan. Even now, Jesus is the Lord who commands the obedience of demons, granting authority to the church. Jesus empowers all who have placed their faith in Him to resist the forces of darkness. Jesus is the Lord. Knowing this, how will you respond to Him?
    There are only two ways to respond to Jesus’ Lordship. You can be like the people of the region.
    Matthew 8:33–34 ESV
    33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
    In a weird turn of events, all the city respond to Jesus’ power and authority over evil in the same way the demons respond to Jesus; “leave us alone,” “Get away from us.” They reject Jesus. They prefer the darkness over the light. This is not surprising considering darkness is he natural bent of the world. John says
    John 3:19–20 ESV
    19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
    The consequences of Jesus is his light exposes sin and evil works. People who walk in the broadway do not want to see their sin for what it is. They do not want their evil deeds exposed. They just assume Jesus leave them alone. They are happily deceived by Satan as he drives them into the eternal lake of fire where they will perish. God forbid.
    The other option is to respond the way the man who was freed by the legion of demons responds.
    Mark 5:18–19 ESV
    18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
    The man’s heart was free to love Christ, and loving Christ is what he did. He begged Jesus to go with him. Jesus, still having compassion on the region, even in their unbelief, sent this man as a missionary to share the light of Christ. You could respond to Jesus by following him. Go to the darkness and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.
    I don’t know exactly what happened to Anneliese Michel. I’m sure it was a combination of medicine and demonic menace. We cannot dismiss the unseen realm of the forces of evil and it’s affect on our lives. Satan is a strong thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Do not under estimate his power and influence. Peter warns us,
    1 Peter 5:8–9 ESV
    8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
    At the same time, do not be let the fear of him keep you from joyfully advancing the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus.
    As the days grow evil, people are going to either dismiss the spiritual realm or be obsessed with it. Keep a healthy balance in your life regarding the spiritual realm. In his book, “The Screw-tape Letters,” C. S. Lewis said:
    “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” C.S. Lewis
    This is good wisdom. Satan is alive and well. He wreaks havoc on our life for now. At the same time, do not become obsessed with what he is doing, and do not go looking for a fight. Simply do and Paul says,
    Ephesians 6:10–11 ESV
    10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
    As you go, be mindful that the forces of evil will rise to challenge you. Demons will employ temptation, doubt, guilt, fear, confusion, sickness, envy, pride, and slander to weaken your testimony and effectiveness. It is essential to remember deep within that Jesus promised to always be by your side and reign over heaven, earth, and hell. Recall that the most significant victory Jesus achieved over Satan was through His resurrection. The risen Christ has stripped Satan of his authority over the dead because God will resurrect the dead with the same power used to raise Christ. This power resides within you through the Holy Spirit, whom He bestowed after His ascension to heaven as the resurrected King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is Lord over the spiritual realm. So follow Him.

      • Matthew 8:28–34ESV

      • Matthew 8:28–34ESV

      • Genesis 1:31ESV

      • 2 Peter 2:4ESV

      • Jude 6ESV

      • Isaiah 14:12–15ESV

      • Matthew 8:27ESV

      • John 8:12ESV

      • Matthew 8:29ESV

      • Matthew 8:29ESV

      • Matthew 11:25–27ESV

      • Matthew 8:29ESV

      • Revelation 20:11–15ESV

      • Revelation 21:8ESV

      • Revelation 20:10ESV

      • Matthew 8:30–32ESV

      • Matthew 8:33–34ESV

      • John 3:19–20ESV

      • Mark 5:18–19ESV

      • 1 Peter 5:8–9ESV

      • Ephesians 6:10–11ESV

      • Ephesians 6:12–17ESV

  • O Church Arise (Arise Shine)
First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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