[This week, no video, just audio.]

This sermon was originally called “Closing doors to demons” and was delivered on November 17, 2024. But I changed the title to this: “Is this the sermon demons don’t want you to hear?” I explain why in a short introduction at the start of the message. Some strange things happened on and around it’s delivery.

Okay, to the sermon itself.

Jon Thompson says: “The demonic hates anything that reminds them of hope.” If you belong to Jesus, that’s you. But be at peace and do not be afraid.

This sermon unpacks one of the most intriguing (and confusing) parts of the Bible: Mark 5:1-20. It’s when Jesus casts out a legion of demons from a man. They go into a herd of pigs who quickly drown. People are both afraid and amazed.

The sermon presents some big picture ideas about spiritual warfare, takes us through the text, warns against major “doorways” which give the demonic permission to function in our lives, and encourages practices to help us live freely and victoriously in Christ.

There is a companion podcast to this sermon. It is a talk I had with Steve Dabbs, author of “When Demons Surface.” You can access that talk here, or by searching for it in ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan.’ You can also watch our conversation on YouTube here.

In Romans 16:19-21 Paul says: “I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” It was a great word then, and it’s a wise word now.

Let’s open our eyes, and be not afraid. Is this the sermon demons don’t want you to hear?