Matthew 12:22-50; Mark 3:22-35; Luke 8:19-21; 11:14-54: Replacement is a huge part of setting a new pattern for your life. In the passages today we read of the man who once had a demon who was healed of that demon, but it was important for that man to fill the void of the darkness with light and continue in that pattern. Jesus said if the void is not filled, the demon will return with even more to find the place swept clean and ready.
I wonder in our lives how many people come to church, have an experience with the Lord, then go right back into the same old way of life and the darkness comes back with a. vengeance. If we do not work on replacing the darkness with scripture, prayer, God honoring music, christian friends and influences the drift back into the old way of life will happen quickly. We have a tendency to go back to what we know and if comfortable. Then when we are convicted we think, to what end? I already tried that and it didn’t work. It didn’t work because we never really turned away. God is saying turn away never to return to the things of the flesh. Replace them with things of the spirit. If you walk in the spirit you will not do the things of the flesh. Setting that new pattern and living in it will allow for growth to the point that the old nature will no longer “fit” who you are and saying no will be much easier in time. Until then, don’t even entertain the things of your old nature. Live in the Light!