Showing Others Our Faith

Showing Others Our Faith

Scripture Reading: Matthew 8:28-34

Focus Verse: Matthew 8:28 “When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.”

It may surprise you but Satan and his demons know more about God than many people do.  An atheist is someone who doesn’t believe in the existence of God.  Satan is not an atheist, he knows very well in the existence of God.  The two men in the scripture were possessed by demons and were so violent that no one could go through that area.  Their actions showed what was on the inside.

 

I can understand how violent a demon possessed person can be.  On my last trip to Kenya I had just preached a message in a church when a woman began acting very violent because of a demon inside her.  It took three men to control her, to keep her from injuring someone in the church.  We prayed that she would be delivered from this evil spirit.

 

The demons in our scripture reading also recognize that  Jesus is the Son of God in verse 29.  Satan and his demons do not trust in God, but they hate God and people created in God’s image.  James 2:19 says “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”  The demons acknowledge this is true, but don’t believe in it.  In a similar way, people can believe that God exists and that Jesus is the Son of God, but it has no effect on the way they live.  Why? Because they have never surrendered to receive Christ into their lives.  

 

James 2 also says in verses 20 and 26  “Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”  Our actions show what is on the inside.  If we are going to tell everyone we have faith in God, then let our lives show it by the way we live.  A believer's life, surrendered, will be empowered by faith to live for Christ through good works.

Bobby Johnson

Interlocking Ministries