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Cows, Pigs, and Demons
We know that God speaks to us through such things as impressions, a still small voice, His audible voice, dreams, visions, donkeys, pastors, prophets, and evangelists.
We should also remember Proverbs 1:20–21, “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:” In other words, we can find God revealing something to us from everywhere, including cows, pigs, and demons.
Cows
There are some churches where the people get very excited—do a lot of shouting, amen-ing, and jumping—but the teaching is simply a pep-rally. There are no practical teachings, no opening-up of God’s Word, not even milk much less meat being taught (1 Corinthians 3:2). It’s exciting, but it’s junk food—it feels good but there’s nothing to grow on.
There are churches that are as dry as a bone. Some people are falling asleep, others are watching their watches. The people are told that they do not need try to understand God’s Word because they will be told what it means. These people are spiritually weak and it’s nearly impossible for the Lord to accomplish anything through them.
There are churches where the same stuff is preached week after week, year after year. There no interest in increasing their current revelation of God. These stuck-in-a-rut churches received a revelation from God at one time but don’t realize that there are many more revelations that God wants to give them.
We all need to discern teachings, ministers, and churches and hold fast only to that which is holy and after God’s own heart (1 Thessalonians
Pigs
When we think about pigs, our thoughts can range from dirty, lazy, mud-covered farm animals to bacon and pork chops. But they are actually very clean animals and their desire to be clean is greater than many of us realize.
Jesus encountered a man that looked and acted like someone that we would lock up in a mental hospital. He lived in the cemetery, constantly screamed, had supernatural strength (enough to break iron chains!), and was a “cutter” (he would cut himself). The man was possessed with thousands of demons.
Whenever a demon acted up in Jesus’ presence, He’d cast them out. Of all the recorded incidences where Jesus cast out devils, He did something unique with the devils that that possessed this particular man. When Jesus cast them out, He gave them permission to enter a group of about 2,000 pigs.
But, immediately after the pigs became possessed, they ran into the nearby lake and drowned. Pigs are able to swim, so they intentionally killed themselves. Why?
The demons wanted to possess a host. Jesus would not allow them to stay in the man, so they settled for the pigs. The pigs were so repulsed from being possessed that they would rather die than to live within demons inside of them.
Our heart-cry should be, “Lord, I would rather die than to be given over to evil.”
Demons
I’ve heard many Christians say that the devil and his demons are stupid. For the most part, yes, they are. But there is one area where demons are smarter than not only the unsaved, but also the Christians that are currently focused on the things of this life.
The following is the story of Jesus encountering the man mentioned previously who was packed to the hilt with thousands of demons and the short conversation that they had:
Mark 5:2-13
And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."
For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" Then He asked him, "What is your name?"
And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.
Notice four things we can learn:
:6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.
The “he” in this verse refers to “Legion”—the collective group of thousands of demons. They ran to Jesus and worshipped Him. The Greek word here for worship means to do homage by kneeling or laying prostrate in order to express respect or supplication. They knew Who is to receive worship, the knew Who has all power and all authority. They stopped their destructive behavior and gave Jesus all of their attention.
:7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me."
The demons acknowledged who Jesus was, that He was the Son of God, and that all things are subject to Him.
:10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.
The demons knew to beg Jesus for mercy.
:12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." :13 And at once Jesus gave them permission.
The demons knew that they were totally subject to the Lordship of Jesus and that their desire is subject to Jesus’ approval.
Demons hear God’s voice. Demons obey God’s voice.
The Apostle James revealed that even demons are smarter than some people, when he wrote to Christians: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (
The Amplified version of this verse gives a more powerful illustration of this point: “You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!”
Have you noticed that of all of God’s creation, that only man has difficulty hearing His voice? And we are the only creation made in His own image!
Wind can hear His voice. Waves can hear His voice.[1] Trees can hear His voice.[2] Even rocks and stones are aware of His presence.[3]
If all of creation, including cows, pigs, demons, wind, waves, trees, and stones, can hear His voice, we can too!
It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.
With God’s grace and in His peace,
Gary
[1] Mark 4:39 says, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
[2] Matthew 21:19 says, “Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.”
[3] Luke 19:39–40 says, “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" “I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
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Gary (gary@ears-2-hear.com), Author, Web Designer, www.ears-2-hear.com.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
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