Luke 4:33-37 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,… I. HIS PREACHING — "He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for His Word was with power." 1. Observe the place — Capernaum. 2. The season — "The Sabbath days." Not that He forebore on other days; His lips always "dropped like an honey-comb." 3. Then the impression. II. LET US PASS FROM HIS TEACHING TO HIS MIRACLE. 1. Let us glance at the subject of this miracle. It was "a man who was possessed of a spirit of an unclean devil." Satan has much to do in the synagogue — much more than in many other places. In Macgowan's "Dialogues of Devils" there is this relation. Two infernal spirits having met, one of them very warm and weary, and the other cool and lively; after a little explanation it was found that he who was cool and lively, had been at the playhouse where he had nothing to do, where they were all with him, where they were all of one mind, all doing his work: whereas the other who was warm and weary, said, "I have been at a place of worship, and I had much to do there; to make some sleep; to induce some to hear for others instead of themselves; to lead the thoughts of some, like the fool's eye, unto the ends of the earth; to pick up as fast as I could the seed which was sown in the heart; and to turn away the point of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, lest it should pierce even to the dividing of soul and body, and of the joints and marrow, and be a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." I hope, none of you employ him thus. (1) First, aversion. "Let us alone" — as it is in the margin, — "away"; be off. Satan wished to have nothing to do with Christ. (2) Then it expressed fear — "Art Thou come to destroy us?"(3) It expressed commendation — " I know Thee, who Thou art, the Holy One of God.Here, you see, the devil not only believed much, but talked well. 2. Let us look at the Author of this miracle, and we shall see how the enemy of souls is under the dominion of the Lord Jesus; that though an adversary, yet he is restrained, he is chained. 3. Then, as to the spectators — " They were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a Word is this l for with authority and power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out." Oh! if they had but improved as well as admired! III. THEN HERE IS HIS FALSE — "And the fame of Him went out into every place of the country round about." Who does not rejoice in this spread of His fame? Who does not wish His fame everywhere spread abroad? Gratitude requires you to be thus employed. For benevolence requires you to be thus employed, Many are perishing; and they are perishing for lack of knowledge, and the knowledge of Him; for "to know Him is eternal life." (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, |
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