Let’s read Mark 5:2-8, Matthew 16:13-17 & John 6:68, 69 in tandem
“When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
In the first scripture portion above (Mark 5:2-8), we see the impure spirit’s confession of the divine Sonship of Jesus – the CHRIST. Till the possessed man saw Jesus, he was a slave to the impure, strong and self-destructive spirit. This evil spirit made him lonely, wounded and pathetic. This evil spirit did recognise the true identity of Jesus and thus knelt down before the Holy Spirit of God. The coming of Jesus to him was a torturous experience, because of his evil nature. The evil spirit worshipped Jesus (bowed down and obeyed His command) only to repel from the vicinity of the Holiest of all beings…!!
Anything revealed by flesh and blood is mere INFORMATION, but that which is revealed by the Spirit is REVELATION. The evil spirit did not have mere information on who Jesus really was, he had a revelation, but alas it wasn’t a divine one.
In the second and third scripture portions above (Matthew 16:13-17 & John 6:68, 69) we see the propelling effect of the revelation of Christ. This revelation draws the seeker closer and closer to the Lord. Out of this very revelation did Peter not only recognise the true identity of Jesus, but also live as His witnessing apostle till the very last moments of his earthly life.
Today, there are many fake-christians who find the Word of God boring, torturous and instinctively repelling. This natural reaction is a clear sign that the in-dwelling spirit in such hypocrites is NOT the Holy Spirit…!
If you are one among the repelling/counterfeit christians – empty yourself of sin, repent and seek for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit whose divine revelation will always propel you towards your Heavenly Father, His Son, His Word and His Holiness and will never ever repel you away from Him..!!
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