Recovery Mission

And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons. (Mark 1 :35)

God is in the house. This must have been the sentiment as Jesus visited these meeting houses, fighting the infection of demonic influences. This is not the first time we read of this satanic scenario in Mark's Gospel. So this tells me that Jesus routinely encountered demons in this setting and lets me know that this was the rule rather than the exception. Sometimes we are surprised to find evil lurking in church services or ministry settings. We shouldn't be. Evil lurks where it should not be. It prowled around in Paradise, seeking who it could lure away from God's authoritative and protective Word. He will lie in wait, dormant even in our Bible studies and prayer meetings, until holiness begins to be manifested and it sees a chance to oppose the plan of God to recover His people. The devil still tempts us to seek counsel apart from the Word of God and abandon God's abundant provision. The Lord gives His people all they will ever need if they will only trust His word. Evil will try to subvert God's authoritative teaching and cause doubt and division. And evil uses people to do it. The Lord has always known where the opposition is gathered. It congregates in many congregations. In the least likely places...synagogues and churches. Be on your guard...the devil lurks where you would not likely look. The Lord knows the hideouts and He is still actively recovering the high ground of holy houses through the preaching of the gospel...proclaiming the authority of the word of God.