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The Unclean Spirit
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And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the
tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Mark 5:2
Unclean spirits were one of the most common problems that
Jesus and the encountered. They are still one of the most common problems we
have to deal with today. Unclean spirits are the seedbed of most of the
other problems in the church and in our sin-sick world.
An unclean spirit is simply what the word says, “unclean.” The word means
foul, dirty, filthy, defiled. It also means morally lewd and filthy. Someone
with an unclean spirit is someone who is morally lewd and filthy. They may
be spewing forth filth and lewdness with their mouth, or they may appear to
be clean on the outside but fowl and dirty on the inside. It is someone who
is unclean in their thoughts and language. It has become such a part of
their life and personality that they seemingly can’t help it. They can’t
talk without using filth. They can’t think without thinking filthy thoughts.
No matter the topic they always end up in lewdness and foul, dirty
conversation, and they enjoy and prefer the company of unclean people.
The churches are full of people with unclean spirits. Many preachers have an
unclean spirit themselves. A lot of unclean conversation goes on at church
and among those who are called Christian people. That is a shame and a
disgrace because Jesus would always cast out the unclean spirits when He
encountered them. You can’t have God abiding in you AND an unclean spirit.
The HOLY spirit will not dwell in the same place with an unclean spirit.
Like Isaiah, we dwell among a people of unclean lips. Our world is unclean.
Therefore, whatever is of the world and under its control is going to be
unclean. What you watch on TV will be unclean. What you listen to on the
radio will be unclean. What you read in newspapers and magazines will be
unclean. The billboards along the highway will be unclean. You MUST
determine to obey Phil. 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.
An unclean spirit looks for an unclean place to dwell. When
Jesus commanded the unclean spirits to leave the maniac in Mark 5 they
requested that He allow them to go into the herd of swine – unclean animals.
If you allow filthiness in your life and mind you are inviting the unclean
spirits to take up residence there. You better avoid that loose, sexual,
gutter-level, bathroom language. You better not allow yourself to become
involved with unclean people or you will be preparing yourself as a
potential habitation for an unclean spirit. There is a point where that
unclean spirit takes control and you can’t escape the bondage of
uncleanness. The maniac could break chains and fetters, but not the grip of
the unclean spirits that had him bound in his filthy, foul sin. If he hadn't
met Jesus he would have died in that awful state.
Jesus can still rescue people who have unclean spirits. He had the power
when He walked among men and He has the power today. It is still possible
for someone to be born again and become a new creature in Christ. We don’t
see it happen much because the Gospel message is so often watered down and
weak, but it is still possible for someone to forsake their lewdness, their
filthy mouth, and filthy mind and be clean. The blood of Christ still washes
white as snow, and when a person will believe and obey the absolute truth of
God’s Word he will have power over unclean spirits.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what
manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 2
Pet. 3:11 Now ye are clean
through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15:3
This is a message that is needed in our pornography-riddled
world. This is a truth that every person should understand and keep as one
of the guideposts of their life.
Mike Miller
5/22/2005
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