Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 167

June 16;   Matthew 12:43;   12/260(III);   ‘Fill the Void With Jesus’

 Matthew 12:43 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

As Christians, we have the authority and the power to cast a demon out of someone.  The Lord Jesus gave us that authority.  Demonic spirits are subject to us as we use the Name of Jesus.  The person who is set free from a demonic spirit, must discipline themselves to fill the void with the things of God.  Verses 43-44 tell us that if the demonic spirit returns and finds the person cleaned up from demonic influence, but empty of the provisions of the Lord, that demon will bring additional demonic spirits and the person who was set free, will be in a worse place of bondage.  God’s Word, prayer, worship and attendance in a Bible teaching church protect us from the demonic spirits that desire to destroy our lives.  The Lord Jesus teaches that He came that we would have an abundant life (John 10:10).  That same verse also teaches that the devil wants to destroy us.  If we are serious about the things of God and immerse ourselves in Him, demonic forces have little or no influence on our lives.  If, on the other hand, we spend little or no time in the things of the Lord, we are prime targets for the enemy spirits to harass and hurt us.  This is especially true if we are delivered from demonic torment and do nothing to fill ourselves with God’s protection.  If you were vulnerable in an area and the devil got into your life, his demons will come right back and try to gain access to you again.  If you are full of Jesus they can never come back.