Rescue from an Unclean Spirit

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
Print, Study and Apply

Title: Rescue from an Unclean Spirit ------------------- Date: 9/14/2002
Keywords: "unclean spirit"
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: Mark 1:21-28*

21. They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach.

22. They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

24. saying, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!"

25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"

26. Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.

27. They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with Authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

28. Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

Questions

1. Who do you most identify with in the story? Are you the one with the unclean spirit? Are you the skeptical people in verse 27? Are you one the disciples watching from the side-lines?

 

2. What do you think about people who interrupt meetings or gatherings like this man in the story did? If you had been the teacher, what might you have done?

 

Practical help

Pornography is unclean. It entices us to open ourselves up to it. Before long, it has a grip on us. Although we chose to enter those sites, and we chose to return to them, over and over, it seems at times the drive is something much stronger than our will-power is. Perhaps you don’t believe in unclean spirits, but that really doesn’t change your situation does it?

Note in the story above that the man with the unclean spirit did not ask for deliverance. Perhaps he no longer had the ability to speak for himself. But that didn’t seem to stop Jesus, did it? This is fantastic news if you think about it. If you think you are too far gone to receive help from God and are ready to give up asking, please reconsider. It seems to be His nature to rescue those who don’t deserve it the most, but have finally reached rock bottom.

It’s interesting that the ones in the story who were not helped at all were the doubters and critics. I hope this helps you understand how you must come to God if you truly seek His help. Hang in there, friend. You are not beyond God’s ability or desire to forgive you and give you a new and abundant life free of unclean urges.

eXXit homepage
Index of three-minute studies
Copyright 2002 by eXXit
*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."