Deuteronomy 18:10-13 NKJV 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lordyour God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lordyour God has not appointed such for you.[i] James 4:7-10 NKJV 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify yourhearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.[ii] I. Jesus expels a legion of demons. (10-20) A. Two forces that influence the possessed. (1-5) Matthew 8:28 NKJV 28 When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. John 10:10 NKJV 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. B. Jesus is the antidote to all outside influences. (6-10) 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Matthew 8:29 NKJV 29 And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”[i] Luke 8:31 NKJV 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.[ii] [i] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 8:29. [ii] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 8:31. [i] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Dt 18:10–14. [ii] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Jas 4:7–10.