When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.
~Matthew 12: 43-45
Someone has commented on my recent post and has deleted the comment. Substack very helpfully sent the comment to me by email. So I am able to write about the ideas mentioned in that comment.
Since the comment was deleted, I don't believe it would be respectful to post it here. Nor to tag the author. So I am obeying the Holy Spirit in composing this post by way of reply. And then I will send the result to the person who commented. My goal is to follow the path Jesus Christ teaches, to show mercy and not to ask for sacrifices.
You should probably read Hosea chapter 6 to understand why God stopped accepting the burnt offerings at the Temple. You should understand that the outward appearance of obedience is not pleasing to God. God wants you to love God devotedly, with your whole heart and soul and mind and spirit, and to love your neighbour and love yourself. It's not any good to burn offerings to God and ignore all the other commandments and treat your fellow man like garbage. God had the Temple destroyed by the Romans because the men of Judea kept offering sacrifices and not love. God prefers you love God and receive and accept God's love. And the meat offerings you can feed to the poor instead.
So what is the voice within you guiding you to be fair and honest and respectful and good? It is called your conscience. It is your divine nature in concert with the will of God. That tingling sensation you get that seeks that you not write something which ignores the experiences of another person is your guardian angel reminding you of the good way to be.
There Was a Man
There was a man in Las Vegas. He was possessed by a demon. He was overwhelmed by the demon. For a while the demon wore his body and fed it. The man’s soul was still found in that body but it could do nothing. Eventually the soul withdrew and ceased to animate that body.
The demon didn't mind that the soul was no longer with the body. But the body began to decay. It was dead meat. It began to stink. So the demon replaced the body with the appearance of a body. It continued to live as that person had, show up to his work, get paid, boss people around, treat them unfairly. It looked like a man and it talked like a man. And then it walked into a room where I was standing. And God had me cast it out.
God didn't ask anyone to sacrifice to God to be saved from this demon. God asked no sacrifice of me. I had been taught the words and I said them. The demon was cast out of the earthly realm forever. And I went on with my other activities.
Why did God have me do this thing? Because God has mercy on those who are treated unfairly as God wills. In that day, God answered their prayers. I never knew who was being treated unfairly and I didn't need to know of the prayers of the suffering in this situation.
A Woman in Dayton
Some years ago I sold a house and moved to Ohio. It was my home in the town where I had grown up and where I lived while caring for my parents. In the fullness of time my parents passed away, and I was no longer needed in that place. So I was led to move to Ohio.
I had funds to rent a house and be charitable. So I always carried some cash in my suit jacket pocket. And I would walk around town.
One day I was asked by a friend from the Quaker meeting to have lunch together at a restaurant in the bus depot building downtown. I drove us there, found parking, and we walked to the restaurant.
It was a cold day in early 2018. The sky was clear. It had been about 35F the night before. A woman was living on the sidewalk on some flattened cardboard shipping boxes under a blanket. She was praying aloud. She wanted enough money to get to the homeless shelter some miles away. But she had nothing. I didn't hear the words of her prayer, but God heard.
As my friend and I came around the corner, I felt the presence of God. The money in my pocket was for her. So I took it out and handed it to her where she lay and said, “God wants you to have this.” And we walked to the restaurant.
She got up and put her things together. A few days later I was one of the volunteers our meeting for worship sent to the homeless shelter to volunteer. She was there. She thanked me and blessed me. In the years since, I have learned to say, “You're welcome. All the glory to God.”
God wants mercy, not sacrifice. Amen.
This is the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is hearing the words of Jesus and doing them. Amen.
What to study
God asked me to read all of Matthew chapters 11 and 12 in preparation for this post. I am to encourage you to do that reading. All of you.
Jesus also teaches in Matthew 7 to know what is good and what is bad. The good tree brings forth good fruit. The corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
A demon will bring sickness, death, and decay. Demons bring disorder because they are evil. So it is well to be rid of them.
Often it is good if the person who seeks healing is prepared to make a wholehearted change. So if you are able, by the power of God, to cast out a demon from someone, you should ask if they wish to be baptised in water and in the Holy Spirit. Doing so will protect them from evil and empower them to defeat evil.
Jesus was in heaven ten days and the Holy Spirit was sent by the power of God to be our comfort. Find the truth in Acts chapter 2. God loves you and wants you to be happy. Amen.
You cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit and be possessed of a demon at the same time. You can't have a house divided against itself. Nor a temple. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit you are the temple of the living God. Amen.
Does it matter if you are doing good what you call the spirit that motivates you? Yes. It matters to God. It matters to the Holy Spirit. Do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Please read and reflect on Matthew 12 for greater understanding.
Know what is good by looking at the results. Evil begets evil. Good produces good. Seek the good.
Jesus Christ is building His church. Jesus empowers you to do good. All of you. You can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you. You can baptise anyone in water - all you need is water and the words of baptism “I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
If you have received the Holy Spirit you can baptise anyone in the Holy Spirit which will guide you. If you have money you can give charity. If you seek guidance, ask and God will guide you.
You don't need to wait for a priest or for a church committee. Doing good is easy. And it shouldn't be a sacrifice at all. Don't “give until it hurts” and don't hurt yourself nor any other.
God bless you. Amen.
Thank you for your response.
I was curious what people who talk of demons and angels mean however and your article gives insight into that.
I deleted my comment because I felt I should perhaps have not been so eager to be curious in such matters though. Also I felt I could appear disingenuous having implied some aspect of my conscience could be a demon, when I knew I could have phrased it in a way that wasn’t so controversial.
Wonderful post! God bless you.