7 Reasons Jesus Cast Out Demons.

To start us off, here's a little humor. A Sunday school teacher asked her class, "Who can tell me what we learn from the story of Jesus casting out demons?" A little boy raised his hand and said, "Even demons know better than to stick around when Jesus tells them to leave!"

Our sermon today is titled, "7 Reasons Jesus Cast Out Demons." The foundational scripture is Luke 11:20, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

Reason 1: To Show His Authority Over Evil Forces

Jesus cast out demons to demonstrate His authority over all creation, including evil forces. As stated in Colossians 2:15, "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

Reason 2: To Fulfill Prophecy

Jesus cast out demons to fulfill the prophecies spoken about Him. In Isaiah 61:1, we read, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

Reason 3: To Manifest His Compassion

Jesus cast out demons out of His deep compassion for suffering humanity. When He met the man possessed by Legion, Mark 5:19 records Jesus' compassionate response, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Reason 4: To Proclaim the Kingdom of God

Each miracle of deliverance was a proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Luke 11:20 again emphasizes this, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."

Reason 5: To Teach Us About Spiritual Warfare

Through His exorcisms, Jesus taught us about spiritual warfare, equipping us to stand against the enemy's schemes, as Ephesians 6:11 instructs us to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."

Reason 6: To Glorify God

Jesus' exorcisms brought glory to God as people recognized His power and praised Him. In Luke 13:13, after Jesus cast out a spirit that had crippled a woman for eighteen years, the people were amazed and glorified God.

Reason 7: To Affirm His Identity as the Messiah

The casting out of demons affirmed Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, who had come to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Let's pray, "Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your power and authority over all evil. Teach us to live in the victory that You've already won on the cross. We ask this in Your mighty name, Amen."

Brothers and sisters, as we go into this week, let us remember the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, His authority over evil, and His compassion towards us. May we also remember our role in the spiritual warfare and stand firm in the truth and authority of Christ.

Remember, "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Live in this truth and walk in the freedom Christ has given you. God bless you all. Amen.