Whenever Jesus is away from the apostles, they fall apart. This is true of all of us! When were not in daily prayer and reading and submission to God, were hopeless.

"Apart from me, you can do nothing!" - John 15:5

They have no power to resist the devil, to resist the darkness.

Who in the gospel was the furthest from receiving him? The well-pit--together, the successful, the wealthy. Not the destitute. 

The disciples were unable to push back the darkness until he returned to them. 

We're not missionaries of niceness, ministers of happiness. We're to herald the King! Not just making people feel good or providing for their material needs. But, what does it profit a man to gain the world but lose his soul?

We're here to bring Christ to the nations. Against that, the gates of hell cannot prevail!

When demons saw Jesus, they were terrified. There's also something in us that Satan hates, and it sends demons into an irrational rage.

Satan doesn't wait for your child to grow up to attack them. He's after our kids, he's after their kids. It's never too early to teach your child right from wrong! Good from evil! Speak to their minds, their wills. Don't just support them in whatever they want. God gave them YOU as parents, so you would parent them! Don't let someone else do it. 

Satan is using every fiery dart he has to destroy your children! We, the parents and the church, must bring them the light.

"I believe! Help my unbelief!" The prayer for God to strengthen our belief. When dealing with doubt, don't hide from him; bring it to him! 

Jesus rebuked the boy's demon, and the boy initially looked worse than he did before the rebuke; he looked dead. And then Jesus took him by the hand, and he arose!

Through faith in the Lord Jesus we will be raised to new life, forever! When we die, we're immediately in his presence!

When Jesus casts the demon out, it's never allowed to enter the person ever again. 

The disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't cast out the demon themselves. The answer was that it requires prayer. He doesn't rebuke them, just answers gently. They hadn't yet received (permanently) the power of the Holy Spirit. So he answers that they need to come to him! They need to pray.

Apart from the Lord, we can do nothing!

What pushes back the darkness? We must go to the light! Go to Jesus!

That's today's text. Two thoughts...

1. To describe what something is, it's helpful to describe what it isn't...

 - The boy's attacks looked like seizures. Seizures are not demon possession. Your seizures (or any illness) aren't the result of a lack of faith on your part. Christians, as we have the Holy Spirit in us, cannot be demonically possessed!

 - For every believer: you belong to God! So, you do NOT belong to Satan! You are not filled with demons.

2. There are many places in Scripture where Satan enters a person. But never a person who believes.

 - Too many Christians give Satan too much credit, for power he doesn't have.

 - Anxiety, depression... Satan can influence and assault the church from the outside, but he has no power on the inside of a believer's heart and mind!

 - 1 John 5:18

 - Satan didn't make you sin. You sinned because you enjoy sin enough to do it.

 - James 1:13... We are only tempted when we are lured away by our own desires.

 - Spiritual maturity takes time. When we do what we don't want to have done, it's the sin in us, not Satan. 

 - When God calls you to be his own, you are 100% his! Satan can only act with the permission of our loving God!

 - Even if your faith is as tiny as a mustard seed, demons can never come into you! You are the bride of Christ, and he will not allow it. The Holy Spirit in you terrifies demons!

What is today's text telling us? In Jesus alone is there power to defeat the seen and the unseen! Satan is afraid of God. It's not us, but only Christ in us who can conquer darkness. And we can ask God for more of the gift of the Holy Spirit!