Basic Questions

1. Identify as completely as possible the person in need (e.g., age, ethnic origin, religion, gender, social status).
   A man in the synagogue was possessed by an evil spirit.

2. What was the immediate, obvious need?
   For the evil spirit to come out.

3. Who took the initiative in effecting the healing?
   The person in need? Others? Jesus?
   How was it expressed?
   Jesus ordered the spirit out.

4. Describe the actions or process leading to the healing; that is, what was said (e.g., questions, requests, commands) and what was done (e.g., approaching, following, touching, publicly/privately), and by whom?
   Jesus taught with authority.
   The spirit spoke challenging Jesus.
   Jesus saw the evil spirit and ordered it out.

5. Did the person in need or someone else verbally express faith? Non-verbally? Describe how and by whom faith was in involved in this healing.
   Jesus had faith.

6. What were the evidences that the person was healed?
   The crowd saw the evil spirit come out - the man was uninjured.
   People heard the shriek and must have been able to observe the spirit leave.

7. What were the reactions to the healing?
   People were wondering with what authority Jesus commanded the evil spirit out.
   People were amazed at Jesus' authority.

8. What in this narrative led Jesus to minister healing to the person in need?
   The evil spirit was challenging Jesus trying to cause confusion. Jesus saw the need and acted.

Digging Deeper

1. Why were the people in the synagogue so impressed with Jesus?
   They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.

2. Why would an evil spirit come into a house of worship?
   To cause confusion and keep people from seeing who Jesus really is.

3. What are some other Biblical names for evil spirits?
   Demons, unclean spirit, evil spirit, devil, satan, serpent, great lion, wolf, beelzebub.

   Psalm 91:13     You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
   John 10:11-13     I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

4. What did the evil spirit know about Jesus?
   The evil spirit recognized Jesus as the Son of God - the Holy One of God.

5. How did the evil spirit respond to Jesus?
   It accuses Jesus of coming to destroy.
   It challenges Jesus' authority.

6. How did Jesus deal with the evil spirit? What does this tell us about the power of Jesus' spoken word? Why do you think Jesus told the evil spirit to "be quiet"? Why do you think Jesus spoke sternly to the evil spirit?
   Jesus ordered the spirit out - Jesus' spoken word has power over evil.
   Jesus may have told the spirit to be quiet so it wouldn't cause anymore confusion. Jesus spoke sternly with authority - it wasn't a request.
   The evil spirit tried to cause confusion by linking the idea of destruction with God.

7. Why do you think in today's world so many people do not accept the fact of the existence and power of unclean spirits?
   It's supernatural. It's deceptive.
   People don't like to accept the idea that there are "powers" beyond them.
   There are some believers that don't believe this could happen today.

8. What behavior or social trends in recent decades might lead us to suspect demonic activity?
   "Business" seems to be on the rise. This takes away from time with God.
   Violence, witchcraft are more acceptable today.
   The bible has specific warnings about witchcraft and mediums.
   Duet 18:9-13
   Detestable Practices 9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [1] the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord , and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

   Gal 5:16-26
   Life by the Spirit
   16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

9. What terms has the Church used for the casting out of evil spirits?
   Exorcism, deliver.

10. How well equipped do you think the Church today is to deal with the problem of evil spirits? How does the baptismal service of your denomination address this issue? What can we do to be better equipped to deal with this problem?
    Read the Renewal of Baptismal Vows.
    They renounce evil and reaffirm our belief in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

    Ephesians 6     The Armor of God
    10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
    19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

    • Belt of truth. Truth is hard to find these days, but if you base your life and your lifestyle on the truth of God's Word, you have the best weapon available.

    • Breastplate of righteousness. You are protected from all kinds of problems when you choose to do what's right. Stand your moral ground. Footguards of preparation. Be ready at any moment to follow your Savior. Shield of faith. Continue to trust God in the same way you took Him at His word to save you.

    • Helmet of salvation. Protection comes from knowing your destiny as a believer in Christ.

    • Sword of the Spirit. As Jesus did ( Matthew 4:1-11 ), use the truths of the Bible to silence the lies of the tempter

11. What lesson(s) have you learned about healing from this account?
    Jesus has authority over evil spirits.
    Matthew 10:1     He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
    James 4:7     Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

    God has control over all things. God has a good plan for our lives.
    Romans 8:28     And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
    Jere 29:11     For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
    Romans 12:2     Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

    Jesus sometimes heals without anyone asking or expressing faith.