Room For Only One Strongman

# 551 - Today's Du-votional comes from: Mr 9:38,39 “Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.

Something Jesus had just said bothered John. Jesus had just mentioned the power of His name in relation to receiving a little child into the church. (Baptism) It is the greatest miracle of all that with a little water and the name of Jesus, a soul is born again! “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (Jn 3:5)

As Jesus was speaking to His disciples about receiving these little children, John picked up on the words, “no one,” and he wondered out loud if he and the others had overstepped their bounds in demanding that this other exorcist, who was not one of them stop using the name of Jesus!

Jesus then told them they had indeed overstepped. Do you know why? Because it's not about the “one ” in “no one.” It's about the name and command of Jesus.

What is baptism if not a form of exorcism? It is a method commanded by God by which we receive the Holy Spirit.

Ac 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When the Holy Ghost moves in, the devil and his demons must move out. They are “exorcized.”That's the gist of Jesus' statement concerning the strongman in Lu 11:22 "But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils

Therefore, in the matter of baptism for example, its efficacy is not based on the faith walk of the one performing the rite. It's efficacy comes from everything entailed in the name of Jesus and the authority of His command. It's about Him.....not us.

Father, thank You for the reminder again, that it is not about us, but about Jesus. Help me to keep it that way not only in baptism, but in all things.