Go

"Go" is a small word that can have big results --

And when He [Jesus] came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men confronted Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And they cried out, saying, "What business do You have with us, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?" Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding at a distance from them. And the demons begged Him, saying, "If You are going to cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs."

And He said to them, "Go!"

And they came out and went into the pigs; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. Matthew 8:28-32

Another demon-possessed man was delivered by Jesus.

When they [a crowd] came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Mark 5:16

Here's another "Go" command --

And as He [Jesus] was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was begging Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Mark 5:18-20

If we go when Jesus says to, He can be exalted and others can be amazed, too.

Should today's believers tell demons to go?

Consider these words for followers of Jesus regarding Satan and demons: cast out, stand against, wrestle against, resist --

He [Jesus] said to them [His first disciples and those who would believe in Him because of their teaching from the Lord. Matthew 28:20],

"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe:

In My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:15-18

James wrote, But He [God the Father] gives us [believers] more grace. That is why Scripture says:

"God opposes the proud

but shows favor to the humble."

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6-7

Paul wrote, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

Peter wrote, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Since Jesus has superiority, what should His believers do?

And Jesus came up and spoke to them [His disciples], saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them [His disciples], He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it. Mark 16:19-20

Have you and I been forgiven? 1 John 2:12 What should happen now?

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?"

She said, "No one, Lord."

And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

Then Jesus spoke to them [religious Jews verse 13] again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:10-12

To go on with life and not sin anymore as we follow the Lord Jesus Christ as the light of the world, sounds like part of a divine plan.

If we have trouble with thinking that we're holier than others, Isaiah 65:5 or that we're righteous and despise others, Luke 18:9 or don't want to eat with sinners, Matthew 9:10-11 here's another "Go" command we might need --

Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9:12-13

The Heavenly Father knows where the birds are, doesn't He? Matthew 10:29

So, He knows where we are and what happens if He says, "Go" and we go --

So He sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher [Jesus] asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. Mark 14:13-16

Maybe the Lord will say to you or me, "Go."

Will we do it?

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."

To go to a desert road doesn't seem to be much of a plan, does it?

The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Acts 8:29

Philip shared the message of salvation through Jesus and a person of great authority believed. Acts 8:27, 30-39

Your thoughts?

R. Jason