Freedom from Fear

 1 Samuel 24; Psalms 57-58; 1 Chronicles 8; Matthew 8 

“I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.”

Psalm 57:9

“Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.”

Matthew 8:33, 34

Today, there are many living in great fear within their religious beliefs. Those in the region of the Decapolis worshiped at the temples of Zeus and other Greek gods. The pigs were used for sacrifices at the temples. Jesus was upending the spiritual order and worship of the powers, even as he set a demon-possessed man free. Following Jesus’ display of spiritual authority, the townspeople feared the potential for retribution from the spirits or even from Zeus. Whole villages have turned to Jesus in our day, through similar experiences of Christ’s authority over the spirits. When we praise the Lord among the nations, we are declaring that he alone has all authority in heaven and on earth.

“Lord Jesus, thank you. You are setting the nations free from their fear of spirits, for your glory.”