Halloween has recently been celebrated in the United States with people dressing up as all sorts of things. However, despite the fact people are interested in Halloween, many people don’t believe in the impact that spirits have on the world. Instead, we look to what our eyes show us.

In the Gospel of Mark, there’s a demon-possessed young man, and the disciples cannot heal him. We read about the same young man in Matthew, but we get a slightly different description of the man’s issue than we do in Mark.

“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.”

Matthew 17:15 (NKJV)

In Matthew, the boy’s father describes his son as an epileptic, but in Mark, he describes him as being possessed.

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.

Mark 9:17 (NIV)

Some might say that the young man was an epileptic and leave it at that, discounting any spiritual involvement, but if that were the case, then why did Jesus cast out the spirit? Although Jesus didn’t frequently heal people the same way, there is a difference between how he healed someone spiritually and physically afflicted. For example, there was a man in Mark 7:31-37 who was also deaf and mute, yet Jesus didn’t cast out any spirits from him.

After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

Mark 7:33-35 (NIV)

Since we know that every problem in the world is the result of sin in the world, we should also be aware that there are physical and mental afflictions that can come from spiritual influence. Indeed, Ephesians 6:12 gives us this insight.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

However, regardless of the root of the problem, we know that Jesus is the solution.

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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