(Audio)
Those who have the spirit of the world use words taught by human wisdom. Even when these words seem eminently plausible they can be the source of deception. Even when by all accounts they are true it does not mean that their intent is to convey the truth.
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!
This demon spoke something true about Jesus. But his intent was not to worship him or to make him known. Rather he used words as a means to exert his power. He thought by defining Jesus he could circumscribe him, that he could impose limits upon him. This is a risk for anyone who does not rely on the Spirit who is from God.
We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.
To use words according to the spirit of the world is often to use them aggressively, even violently. But we, like possessed man, find that such words enslave us rather than giving us victory. The first step to freedom from the spirit of the world is therefore silence.
Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”
We need to learn to put our own words aside so that we have room to listen to the one who speaks with authority. In his words we find freedom from the traps that we unwittingly create for ourselves when we reason and speak only from our own limited perspectives.
Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,
for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,
because it is judged spiritually.
We can have some legitimate philosophical and scientific knowledge even without supernatural help. But the point is that such knowledge is not saving knowledge. Darkened minds are more than able to twist true things into harmful, immoral, and destructive conclusions. Only minds enlightened by the Spirit are able to learn the things which allow us to direct our lives according to the purpose for which we were made.
May Jesus silence the voice of demons who speak only according to the wisdom of this world. May he speak with authority and give us freedom, because the one whom the Son sets free will be free indeed (see John 8:36). He gives the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (see Second Corinthians 3:17).
Our own words will not become powerless as a consequence of this silence and listening. Rather we will learn to speak with authority of Christ, since Christ himself lives in us. Our words will no longer be violent or aggressive. They will no longer seek to dominate. But for all that they can be more bold than ever.
The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything
but is not subject to judgment by anyone.
Imagine being free from the fear that so often surrounds things we've said, free from the other people judging our words. If the Spirit directs our words, this freedom can be ours.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
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