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Watching the movie The Rite last weekend made me realize that not thinking that the devil is real may be just as bad as not believing in God. The evil spirits are always at work wreaking havoc on our lives. And while it is okay to be fearful of them, it is very comforting to have Jesus Christ on our side. That is if you do have Him on your side and that requires some commitment on your part. Do you realize that Satan can only control you if you allow him to? The Bible says you can be bound by Satan. This can happen any number of ways but most likely through worship and allegiance to things rather than God. By not paying attention to your spiritual life, you can allow Satan to plunder away at you. The Bible shows us over and over again that the evil spirits are fearful of Jesus. In fact, in example after example, Jesus cast evil spirits out of people. He commanded that they leave and they listened. In The Rite, the exorcist explains that it is incumbent to learn the evil spirit's name so that you can command they to leave by the power of Jesus Christ. Mark 1:23-27 says, "In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, 'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!' Jesus rebuked him and said, 'Quiet! Come out of him!' The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, 'What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." Jesus has the power to destroy the unholy ones. When we do allow them to inhabit our lives, there is a way to drive them out again. Turning to Jesus Christ and asking for His help is the easiest way. Yet so many of us try to go it alone or ignore the situation, hoping it will get better on its own. Why would we ever do that? Mark 7:21-23 says, "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile." What is inside of you? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to fill you from within or are you allowing the evil spirits to plunder away at your soul? The message of the Original Testament, the eternal message again is revealed--Trust God!

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