Understanding The Unclean Spirit
Understanding The Unclean Spirit
(Luke 8:26-39)
Introduction:
We have come to a part in our study where we will look at the unclean spirit
Now, to help us appreciate who this unclean spirit is, I want us to read the narrative
From three of the gospel writers. We will look at Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
I will then summarize what we have been doing from Zechariah 13
But, then we will spend time with our main text, which is Luke 8
Yet, on our way to Luke, we will stop at (Matt. 8, Mark 5)
I am going to read these narratives from all three gospel writers.
It is the same story in all three gospels
But the reason we want to look at all three is gain a complete insight of the event
Illustration: Three people see the same movie (What was it about?)
We might emphasize some things that may differ from the other person
So, we will listen to Matthew tell the story, Then Mark, & ultimately Luke’s account
Read: Matthew 8:28 (Two demon-possessed / But Mark & Luke don’t consider the other man) – That is why is good to read the story in all its occurrences
(V28-29) – So they are aware that they will receive a form of torment from Jesus
(V29-34)
Read: Mark 5: (Mark provides some details that Matthew does not give)
(V1-) (a man with an unclean spirit)
(V1-6) – Something happens when you see Jesus
(V6-20)
Read: Luke 8:26 (…had demons for a long time)
(V26-28) (…What have I to do with you Jesus, Son of the Most High God?)
(V29) (Now in V27 he had demons, but in V29 the demons are called unclean spirit)
The usage of the word demons and unclean spirit are used interchangeably
But this particular unclean spirit is given a name
And the name suggests something about the demons that make up the name
(V29-39)- When God has done something for you, every now and then you should tell it
Body:
Let me share with you why we are talking about demons and the unclean spirit
And how our study has led us to this point about the unclean spirit.
Overview:
Now, as we have been looking in the book of Zechariah we concluded that
We should have a God-given vision and you should be able to read the vision in the Word.
And the vision needs to be a vision that goes beyond Sunday mornings.
For if we don’t have a vision (For where there is no vision, the people perish)
(And this leadership is not interested in seeing the people perish) – So we need a vision
Point:
See, it is no surprise if stagnation occurs in a congregation if the vision is built
Around, (whose going to sing, lead the prayer, communion table, announcements)
But this leadership is looking beyond what happens on Sunday’s
We are interested in what works are happening on Mondays…
And the vision we have place before this congregation comes right out of the bible
Reference: (Luke 4:16; Jesus quoted Isaiah 61; continuation of Isaiah 58)
Point:
That’s how we know it is a God-given vision / That’s how we know He is pleased
(See, man may not always agree with the vision, but if it is a God-given vision)
(And you support the vision without murmuring, we will be able to complete the vision)
But in order to complete the vision, Zechariah let’s us know that we have to do 3 things
(Zechariah came to stir up the people to complete the building of the temple)
If they don’t complete the building of the temple, then the Glory of God won’t return
But because Ferguson Heights has a God-given vision (read it in the bible)
In order to complete the vision, we have to do what Zechariah did
And that is to stir up the people and do three things.
- Get rid of idolatry
- Definition(allow anything or anyone to usurp the position)
- God detests idolatry
- Danger of idolatry (Hosea 9:10) – You look like what you love
- Prophet (Immorality) – Got cut up / wounded (What are these wounds) blaming
- Get the unclean spirit to depart
Point:
If we are going to get the unclean spirit to depart we must have an appreciation
For the reality of the unclean spirit. This unclean spirit is real
And we need to understand how this unclean spirit operates
(If we are going to get him to depart)
Background on the Unclean Spirit
The unclean spirit has a strategy. He has other spirits working for him
Haven’t you heard about seducing spirits and doctrines of devils?
So he has doctrines, spirits, & a strategy
So if we are going to win we need to know his strategy.
Point:
Part of the reason we get knocked down is we haven’t studied his strategy
Let me share with you some things about how he operates.
1st – We need to make sure we recognize that the unclean spirit is real
So, for a few minutes let’s look at how this thing got started.
Point:
There is a creation that is pre-Adam’s creation.
There is a creation that is an invisible creation.
(Reference: Colossians 1:15-16)
There is a creation that is visible (That’s the Adam creation)
But there is a creation before Adam’s creation (Invisible creation)
And it is in the invisible creation that angelic beings were created.
So, we need to know a little about angels
- Angels are created beings
- They don’t procreate
- They don’t die
They don’t procreate (can’t have babies) – There are no baby angels
Now, they can fight, but they can’t kill each other
And there are ranks of angels
(Colossians 1:16 (thrones, dominions, principalities, powers)
And among these ranks of angels are three angels that we know by name
One Rank (archangel) – Chief of the archangel is Michael
Michael is the general of the angelic host / God’s army
And his job is to protect the integrity of the throne of God
Another angel (Gabriel) – Messenger from the throne of God
Gabriel is the angel that stands and looks steadfastly in the face of God
Just waiting for God to give him the command.
Reference: Daniel 9:20-23 (Jeremiah 25) Time for the children of Israel to come from Babylonian captivity had come
Point:
Isn’t it good to know when you surely pray that God will send someone to answer your prayer?
(Distance of heaven / How fast Gabriel can fly)
(When Daniel started praying – Gabriel looking at God)
But before he finished – Gabriel was there to give him the answer)
(Reference: Zechariah with Gabriel) – You don’t know who you are talking to
Another angel (Lucifer) – son of the morning (referred to as stars) – morning star
Point:
Lucifer is not a bad name, but it became something referred to as bad
But when he was created, he was good just like everything else God created
Lucifer was beautiful. Ranked among the most powerful angel
He is the anointed cherub (rank of angel)
(Role of the cherub) – God’s retribution
You didn’t want to mess with a cherub / And Lucifer is the anointed cherub
Read: Ezekiel 28:11-13
The reason you need to know about Lucifer is because that is who you are fighting
You are really not fighting one another, you are fighting Lucifer.
(V13) – workmanship (He has a melodious voice) – Scholar (director of the heavenly choir)
(V13) – Cherub (Lucifer is the anointed cherub) He’s the cherub of the cherub
Lucifer is a bad dude and you cannot win against him by yourself
(V14-16)
(Abundance of your trade)
This is when Lucifer, who had access to the other angels begin to negotiate
He begin to try and create mutiny with the other angels
(Reference: Revelation 12) – There was war that broke out in heaven
And Lucifer had got him some angels & the fought with Michael and his angels
Point:
Now the angels that went with Lucifer are called “fallen angels”
Fallen angels have been caught up in the evil of Lucifer
They are also called demons
Demons are fallen angels
And the word demons is used simultaneously to talk about an unclean spirit
So if you are dealing with an unclean spirit, you are dealing with demons
And demons are fallen angels, caught up in the evil of Lucifer
Point:
So, when you get to our text in Luke 8, Jesus is confronted with a man
Who has an unclean spirit and he has had it for a long time.
In your own life, you can have an unclean spirit for a long time
And there are some of us that have been fighting the same unclean spirit
Most of our lives
Point:
An unclean spirit can also be generational
(You may be fighting the unclean spirit because your father/mother fought it)
Example:
(Pregnancy out of wedlock – become generational /multiple times)
(Young girl – 5 children out of wedlock) – In her family
(Drugs) – can be generational
You can have it a long time
The demons can stay with you for a long time. Influence you to hurt you/loved ones
But if you want to rid yourself of an unclean spirit you will need some help.
Conclusion:
Interestingly enough, the unclean spirit knows who Jesus is.
And the unclean spirit will confess who Jesus is.
Not only will they confess they will pray.
Point:
See, just because you worship, confess, & pray, you can still have an unclean spirit
And they know who God is.
Read: Luke 8:28
Just because you confess that you believe Jesus to be the Son of God
That’s not all that needs to happen. The demons know that!
Not only will the demon in your life affect you. If he affects you, he will affect your family.
Question: How do we get rid of the unclean spirit? How to get him to depart?
Only Jesus!!! Only Jesus!!!
Read: Ephesians 6:10
(Here is how you deal with the unclean spirit) – Put on the whole armor of God)
(V10-17)
And now that you have submitted your life to Jesus
His blood has washed you clean. Your robe is made white in His blood
But life happens and you get stained with an unclean spirit
You got the stained and end up with the
- Unclean Spirit of Fear
- Unclean Spirit of Slumber
- Unclean Spirit of Infirmity
- Unclean Spirit of Lying
- Unclean Spirit of Whoredom
- Unclean Spirit of Haughtiness
And not only will this unclean spirit mess up your life, it will mess up your family
But when Jesus is controlling your life
And understand that the Holy Spirit sanctified you (set you apart)
And when you walk in the light and have no fellowship in darkness
Then the unclean spirit has to depart, because your robe has been cleansed
Let’s get rid of the unclean spirit and complete our God-given vision