You know Beloved, there are portions of the old Wilburn I donât miss and donât have intentions of reliving. Iâve had my share of struggles, like anyone in life, and I still have struggles.
Beloved, there are parts of all our lives we want to be lifeless and remain lifeless. Sure, we could sidestep certain circles, so the past doesnât reappear.
Maybe youâve dodged a family reunion or high school reunion because of this. Maybe you dodge certain towns or shopping centers because of whom you might bump into. Maybe one of these situation has recently happened to you. Maybe you found yourself in a circumstance that causes you to shield the new you because of the old you. Beloved, this is terrible and not the way God wants us to live!!!.
As I was reading Luke chapter 8, verses 1-3, caught my attention.
It said: Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, (2) and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, (3) and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Those 3 verses hopped right into my spirit.
Beloved, Mary Magdalene was once demon possessed!!!. Sure, we’ve all read it, its been taught to us, and I’ve taught about her being demon possessed. But, as I looked closer at this verse, I feel that one of the reasons her demonic characteristic really doesnât stand out with us is because she was never treated as one who had been demon controlled.
For many of us when it comes to our old life, it wasnât just one demon, but several!!! None of us want to be the poster child of one being demon controlled. But if there was ever one back in Jesus’ day, it was Mary Magdalene!!!
Demon possession is something we donât see much of in America, well, we donât pay it much attention many donât recognize it. But it’s real!! There maybe someone you know that youâve stopped hanging with that are fighting real demons. Beloved, Iâm very serious here about peopled being controlled by real demons. And Itâs something you shouldnât take too lightly either.
Now, allow me to ask you a couple of questions right here: *Are you praying for people in the battles they are fighting? **Are you willing to extend to people the gift of the 2 Rs repair or reconstruct to bring them into your circle with full trust?â
Many donât focus on how severely demon-controlled Mary Magdalene was because she was never again treated as one who was demon controlled.
You see, if thatâs how people REALLY saw her, why would God make her one of the first (THE FIRST) eyewitness of the empty tomb? In the Bible we see her running saying, âthe tomb is empty!!!â That would be crazy!!! LOL!!! To treat her as old demon-controlled Mary would have led to saying, there goes crazy Mary again.â To run and say to people, âHey you guys, I talked to an angel, a real angel, JESUS IS ALIVE!!!!â People would have easily said âYeah, right Mary!!! An angel or is it one of your demons again? Come on Mary come back to reality.â
But instead, she was treated as someone that was made new by Jesus. Beloved, no human can be alive and dead at the same time. NO ONE!!! Youâre one or the other.
I read Romans 6:4-11 when people ask me to baptize them:
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
(7) For one who has died has been set free from sin. (8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (9) We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (10) For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (11) So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Beloved, if you said yes to a relationship with Jesus, then let the past be dead. Live the new (different) life that Christ offers. The past life only brought death, so why go back? Youâve been made new, youâre now living, so LIVE Your Life!!!
Beloved, do you know someone with a past? Remember, you have a past also? Do you treat them as you hope others would treat you? Or, are you someone that certain people want to avoid because you might bring up the past? Or because you might treat them as if the past is still the present? Can you see, how Christ is treating them regardless of their past?
Beloved, complete forgiveness, full fellowship and relationship with God will help repair or rebuild a demon-controlled brother or sister who wants to get rid of their old sin nature. We should act like Jesus.
Mary didnât have to live spooked by her past. God put her in leadership positions. She was a vital part of what God was doing. She was the first woman to the tomb, she was at the cross, she was with Jesus as He was proclaiming the gospel. Jesus didnât see her as a black sheep or hindrance to His message. In fact, she was made for the message because we serve a God of life change.
Have a blessed week Everyone. đ
