il while there are many demons. In the King James Version of the Bible there is not always the dif ferential between these two. A good study Bible, as well as con sidering the context, will assist you in determining whether Scripture is referring to the devil himself or to the demons who serve and fol low him. The Christian who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit has One who seeks to influence him toward godliness. This is why we should continually be filled by the Spirit. Scripture is very careful to distinguish between demon possession on the one hand and physical disease. The two are never considered synonomous (Matthew 4:24; 8:28-32). Any in terpretation which denies the real ity of demons and their possession of human beings is absolutely un- Biblical. It may reveal itself some times in a condition of schizo phrenia which is simply a divided mind or a split personality. This is not to say that all mental illness is caused by this. We know, how ever, that certain conditions are physical while others are definitely spiritual. Mary Magdalene had been healed of the Lord. The seven de mons were cast out of her (Luke 8:2). She had known first-hand the horror and agony of slavery to the devil. The illness of her body may or may not have been related to this problem. Scripture does not specifically tell us. There was no question but that she needed both physical and spiritual assistance. Thank God Jesus gave her both! There is no indication that de monswill voluntarily leave a human being once they have possessed the life. Luke 8:31-32 reveals that they evidently must inhabit a body
of some sort. Skeptics and higher critics of the Word of God have sought to discredit such a view. Explanations have been manufac tured trying to do away with the plain statements of God's Word. The simple fact cannot be denied. The Lord Jesus Christ did cast out demons in His day. At His word these evil spirits left their helpless victims. Sometimes it was only af ter a last act of violence and malice. There is infinite power in the words of Jesus Christ for any gen eration. This was true in His own day when He was here on earth as well as in our day when He is at the right hand of God the Father. He is able to heal the body and most certainly to heal the human soul bringing eternal salvation. How wonderful it was for Mary Magdalene to be delivered of de mons as she was brought face-to- face with the Lord Jesus Christ. MARY MAGDALENE Considering the miraculous de liverance of Mary Magdalene what a marvelous transformation she ex perienced. She received forgive ness which Christ alone can give, as well as the physical and mental healing of her body. Following the crucifixion of our Lord, we find this same Mary on the first day of the week while it was still dark coming to the sepulcher where Je sus had been buried (John 20:1- 18). She was the first to discover that He was no longer in the tomb, and ran to tell the disciples about the news. How devoted she was to the Lord. In olden days, so the story goes, a slave said "goodbye" to his wife and two children just as he was led to the auction block to be sold. Page 49
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