Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Mark 1:23-24 NIV
As Mark 1 unfolds, we continue to see the ministry of Jesus and the authority with which He executed His assignment. Jesus entered into the synagogue, and as He taught, He spoke with authority. People were amazed by the level at which Jesus altered His teaching. Unlike every other teacher of the law, Jesus spoke with an authority they could not match. This is because the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and He had a unique relationship with God.
Now, as Jesus was teaching, a man cried out. The man cried out because he was filled with an unclean spirit. In response to the authority in the teaching, the man with the unclean spirit cried out and said, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth”? The people in that vicinity didn’t recognise the power that Jesus carried. They just knew that He spoke with authority. However, this man with the unclean spirit knew that He was Jesus of Nazareth. He recognized Him as the Holy One of God and knew that He had the power to destroy them. This recognition demonstrates the power and capacity within Jesus.
When the spirit of darkness sees you and recognises that you carry something, that you have the power of the Holy Spirit inside of you, they know you are living a life empowered by the Spirit of God. This authority in your relationship with God brings judgment to the kingdom of darkness. The kingdom of darkness has no power when a believer is in correct standing with God. The forces of darkness tremble when they see that a child of God is exemplifying His authority.
Do you belong to the Kingdom of God? If so, know that you carry the power of the Holy Spirit. This means that even in the workplace, a believer can demonstrate the authority of Christ, leading people to be born again. A child of God can enter any space and take authority over it because the Holy Spirit resides within him or her. There is no need for delay; the power of the Holy Spirit is present when a believer is in a relationship with Him. This power manifests when allowed to do so.
We see this man crying out in a loud voice because he was impure and possessed by demons. The authority with which Jesus spoke reached him, causing him to cry out and ultimately bringing deliverance. Do you believe in the Spirit of God inside of you? Are you in the right standing with God?
