With The Power Of The Spirit!

Hello! and happy 1st day of the month of September; and, just 115 days to go before Christmas, GUYS.  Whatever is the day, first-thing-first:

 

THE GOOD NEWS (01 September 2015)

 "JESUS went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and began teaching the people at the Sabbath meetings.  They were astonished at the way HE taught them, for HIS word was spoken with authority.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by an evil spirit who shouted in a loud voice, 'What do YOU want with us, JESUS of Nazareth?  Have YOU come to destroy us?  I recognize YOU:  YOU are the Holy One of GOD.'  Then JESUS said to him sharply, 'Be silent and leave this man!'  The evil spirit threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him harm. 

Amazement seized all these people and they said to one another, 'What does this mean?  HE commands the evil spirits with authority and power.  HE orders, and you see how they come out!'  And news about JESUS spread throughout the surrounding area." - Luke 4:31-37

(Through JESUS' words and actions a power that impresses every witness becomes manifest.  At the beginning of HIS ministry, JESUS preaches in the synagogues.  The synagogue is the Jewish house of prayer.  People gather each Saturday for the chanting of the Psalms and the reading of the Bible.  The one in charge preaches and invites others to join. This is where JESUS reveals HIMSELF.  HE is not like the teachers of the Law who repeat, interpret, and give others' opinions. JESUS speaks on HIS own and HE speaks with authority, 'In truth, I tell you.'

 

With the same authority, JESUS drives out demons.  This act also contains a message:  JESUS delivers us from the influence of the Devil, who strives to destroy those created in the likeness of GOD.

 

Not that the Devil is the cause of every sin and evil that people do.  There is also the selfishness of our "flesh" and the lure of the false promises of  "the world" but the Devil, as enemy of GOD's kingdom, is never at rest.  He always nurtures our temptations.  With holier persons who are not easy to tempt in a direct way, he goes about deceiving them persuading them to give more importance to their own good purposes than to the advice of others and the teaching of the Church.

 

The Devil notices at once those who are capable of weakening or destroying his empire.  Then he awakens the bad, the mediocre, the foolish and the ill fated against them.  That is why wherever JESUS goes the Devil also appears.)