Not Today Satan (Lk. 4:31-44)

Good morning, BCC!

I want to begin by sharing part of a testimony with you. The reason why I am sharing this testimony is because I think it’s important for us to be reminded that the things we read in God’s Word is not always isolated to the times in which it was written. We need to understand the very real presence of Satan in our own world and to a greater degree, we need to know that there is One Greater than all the powers of the enemy. His Name is Jesus!

Diana’s Story

Diana was four-foot-ten, but she behaved as though she was ten feet tall. She grew up in Spanish Harlem during the 70s. She had a mom who loved her very much and a dad who was an abusive alcoholic. She was the third of five kids. Although her dad was abusive to everyone else, he never physically hurt Diana.

By the age of thirteen, Diana had become very much like her father. Filled with anger and very rebellious. She started hanging with some girls just like herself, girls who had come from similar homes and backgrounds. They eventually formed a gang called Satan’s Spades.

These girls quickly gained a reputation for being one of the toughest gangs in Spanish Harlem. They were so tough, that guys wanted to join their gang. Eventually, they grew so large that they split into divisions taking over other territories. They fought everyday.

By this time, Diana had gotten kicked out of school, and she was spiraling out of control. She started using drugs and alcohol, which only made matters worse. Her mom could see the writing on the wall.

‘You’re just like your dad!’ she would say to Diana. ‘Hija del Diablo’ You’re the daughter of the devil!’

Despite her harsh words, Diana’s mom loved her very much and she was desperate to save her daughter from the life she was living. So, after talking to teachers, school counselors and psychiatrists, which didn’t seem to help, Diana’s mom went to family court, got a warrant and had Diana arrested. That didn’t help either, because after Diana was released, she went right back to the streets, the drugs and alcohol and the violence.

Still trying desperately to save her daughter, Diana’s mom turned to a friend who was into Santeria, which is a demonic religion involving all sorts of dark arts like voodoo, seances, mediums, fortune-telling with a mix of Catholicism as well. The friend told Diana’s mom to give her a “spiritual bath”, recite certain prayers and put her name under lit candles. At first Diana protested, but after seeing how much it meant to her mom, she let her do it.

For now, let’s pause here in Diana’s story so that we can go to God’s Word.

Open your Bibles and go with me to Luke chapter four and let’s get started by reading our scripture for today’s message.

Picking up at verse thirty-one.

Luke 4:31–44 NKJV

31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.
32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.
36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.
39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.
41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;
43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Yeah! I Know!

The phrase, “familiarity breeds contempt,”[1] is believed to have originated around the 14th century in France. Its first English mention was found in the biblical writings of author and scholar, Richard Taverner. What is conveyed in this phrase is the idea that the more familiar we are with someone or something the less respect and/or appreciation we might have for that person or item. This is always the caution for us who believe in Christ and have walked with Him for many years. Too often, we try to box God in and are convinced that He only works in the way we personally understand Him.

Of course, there are some non-negotiables, like the deity of Christ. Like the fact that God exists in three distinct Persons yet He is unified in the Godhead. 3 in 1 and 1 in 3 and the One in the middle died for me. That He didn’t stay dead, but rose from the grave by His own power and might. We believe that Christ is our only hope of salvation. That salvation is the gift of God. We believe in the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for all who have placed their hope in Christ and that by the same Holy Spirit, God has equipped all Believers to serve in His Church. And finally, we believe that the canon of scripture has been closed and as Paul said to the Galatians,

There is no other Gospel than the one that has been preached for thousands upon thousands of years and is still the power of God unto salvation for all who believe it.

Galatians 1:8 NKJV

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

So yes, there are some things that we do not bend on in our faith. However, I believe that it is important for us to constantly be working against the assumptions that we “know” God in such a way that He cannot be understood outside of our constructed boundaries.

This is exactly what happened during the time Jesus walked among His own people.

Nazareth missed a huge opportunity. Their illusion of knowledge hardened their hearts and put them on the wrong side of kingdom building work. It is often what we think we know about Jesus that prevents us from truly knowing Him.

Today, we get to follow Jesus into Capernaum, which essentially, becomes a type of headquarters for Jesus’ ministry. In last week’s scripture, Pastor Mike picked up with Luke’s Gospel where Jesus reveals to His hometown, that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy. The response He got was shocking and disturbing. Not only did they run Him out of town, but they also tried to kill Him. The rejection of Jesus in Nazareth, sets up the chain of events in Capernaum. Jesus warned the people of Nazareth that when they heard about what happens in Capernaum, they’ll demand that the same be done for them in Nazareth.

Authority (Lk. 4:31-32)

Let’s take another look at verses 31-32.

Luke 4:31–32 NKJV

31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths.
32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

Verses 31-32 serve as a transitional introduction, contrasting Luke's preceding account (Lk. 4:16-30) with the subsequent verses.

A notable distinction in this section is the differing reactions of the people in Capernaum and Nazareth to Jesus. In Nazareth, after Jesus read and interpreted the scroll of Isaiah, claiming that it’s fulfillment had arrived in their hearing, Luke tells us that the people of Nazareth thaumazo, “marveled” or they were “amazed” at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth (Lk. 4:22). However, Luke uses a stronger word to describe the response in Capernaum. The people there were ekplesso. They were “astonished” which means to “drive out of one’s senses by a sudden shock.” Another way to say it is that they were “greatly/utterly amazed.”

It’s the same word that Matthew chooses to describe a similar response to Jesus’ teaching and authority.

Matthew 7:28–29 NKJV

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,
29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Here’s what blows these people away about Jesus’ teachings. Unlike the scribes and rabbis—who, much like Pastor Mike and I often do, support their points by quoting other preachers or commentators—Jesus spoke with an inherent authority.

Leon Morris explains that,

Originality was not highly prized among the rabbis and it was usual to accredit one’s words by citing illustrious predecessors.[2]

The scribes would often rest on tradition or site other rabbinical teachings to support their own teachings, but Jesus didn’t do that. He didn’t have to do that. Why not? Because He is the Word of God.

Jesus says in John’s Gospel,

John 8:14 NKJV

14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

And in His letter to the church of Laodicea Jesus calls Himself,

Revelation 3:14 NKJV

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

Now so watch this. The emphasis on Jesus’ authority is not without context. There’s a reason Luke brings this up at this point. If we go back to the beginning of Luke four where Jesus is in the wilderness with Satan tempting Him, you might remember how Satan says to Jesus,

Luke 4:6 NKJV

6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

What Satan fails to realize in the wilderness, but later discovers as people are worshiping God in the synagogue, is that he has no inherent authority. His only power and authority is what God allows him to have. We’ve already seen this in our study of the book of Revelation. Power and authority are granted and given to the beast, the dragon and Satan (Rev. 13:2-4). However, it is Jesus Who has ultimate and inherent authority, which is why He told His disciples at the end of Matthew’s Gospel,

Matthew 28:18 NKJV

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

His power allowed Him to cast out demons one moment and instantly heal a fever the next. Do you realize the significance of this for your life today? It signifies that nothing you are confronting now, or will face in the future, is too difficult for God to overcome.

He has all authority! And He has all power!

Power (Lk. 4:33-37)

In verses 33-37, we start to see what the authoritative word of Jesus looked like in Capernaum.

Luke 4:33–37 NKJV

33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,
34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.
36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Imagine this scene. As Jesus is speaking, a man begins shouting from the back of the room, disrupting the entire worship service. What he yells, doesn’t initially make sense, right? He says, “Leave us alone! Stop bothering us! We have no business with each other, Jesus of Nazareth! Have You come to pick a fight? I know You. You’re the Holy One of God!”

A couple of thoughts before moving on.

First, it has always been of interest to me that Satan would show up in the synagogue. This should alert each of us to the dangers of the demonic presence of the devil. Too often we are on the look out for what Peter describes in his letter as,

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.

But we fail to realize what Paul warned us of in his letter.

2 Corinthians 11:14–15 NKJV

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

The devil can totally show up even in the most sacred of spaces and the holiest moments. Don't think he won't. He sneaks in here sometimes, and you don't even realize it. There are teens who come to church every week, but instead of flipping through the Bible, they're scrolling through TikTok and YouTube. Instead of sitting in the sanctuary and tuning into God's voice, they're hanging out in the lobby facetiming friends or listening to stuff that won't help them grow spiritually. That's Satan's game—to keep you distracted so you never truly get to know the living God.

But it’s not just the kids. Many of you adults are impacted by the same demonic distractions as you make your lunch reservations and organize your schedules for the week. Or as you add items to your Instacart. Just last week, I saw a woman shopping on Amazon while the preacher was delivering God’s message. I’ve even seen that happen in here. Look, I get it, I know that I’m not the most interesting person to listen to, but if you can’t focus your heart and mind on God and listen to Him for an hour in this place, you will have a hard time focusing and hearing Him outside of here.

Pastor Thabiti says,

Satan took over a man and took him to church! We do not have to go farther than the assembly of God’s people to find evidence of the enemy’s work. Satan loves to oppose Christ’s work right where the Lord is meant to be worshiped.[3]

The second thing is this, it is not enough for you to only know about Jesus. You must know Him intimately. Recognize in these verses that the demon-possessed man shouted his acknowledgement of Christ. This is what the half brother of Jesus spoke about,

James 2:19 NKJV

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

The demon-possessed man yelled,

Luke 4:34 NKJV

34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

When the Sabbath was over and people started bringing their sick and demon-possessed, again, as the demons came out of those they had overpowered, they shouted,

Luke 4:41 NKJV

41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Luke says in the first occurrence, that Jesus told the demons to shut up! In the second occurrence He didn’t allow them to speak because they knew who He was. Is there any wonder why Jesus would’ve silenced the demons? Wouldn’t their acknowledgement help others to see and believe that He is the Christ?

John A. Martin gives an easy explanation for this,

The reason for Jesus’ rebuke was that He did not come to earth so that demons could acknowledge Him as the Christ.... Instead, He came to be acknowledged by people.[4]

Look, it doesn’t really matter that the demons know who He is, the real question is, “Do you know Him?”

Do you know that His is the only Name under heaven given by which men must be saved?

Do you know that at the Name of Jesus, every knee must bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God?

Do you know that He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?

That He is above all things?

He is before all things?

In Him all things consist and at this very moment He is holding all things together?

Do you know that if you will call on Him this morning, if you will confess your need for Him, He’ll come to you and live in you, never to leave you nor forsake you?

Oh my friends, you might have read a few books about Him. You may even have sung a couple songs about Him, but have you been touched by Him? Have you tasted and seen His goodness?

You should get to know Him this morning.

Respond

Ok, let’s go back to Diana’s testimony.

Thanks to another friend, Diana’s mom became a Christian, and she got rid of all the Santeria idols and other demonic items. She started praying for her daughter and telling her about Jesus, but Diana did not want to hear about Jesus at all. Her mom would invite her to church, but Diana always refused. She said it was like something dark and spiritual was inside of her and wouldn’t allow her to go. Diana describes how her anger took over her. How she wanted to hurt people all the time. She felt as though she would explode into a murderous rage.

Diana’s mom found out about a girl named Annie who was the same age and had a similar background as Diana, but who had become a Christian.

Annie took a great interest in Diana and began witnessing to her, and inviting her to church every week. Diana always said she would go to church with Annie, but when the time would come she would make up an excuse to ditch her and then Diana would go and get high. Well, one night, while Diana was so high out of her mind that she didn’t have the physical or mental strength to resist, Annie pulled her off the streets into her car and drove her straight to church where they were having a prayer meeting. The only way that Annie could convince Diana to go inside the church was by promising to give her some money. But she had to stay for the whole service.

Once they went inside, Annie took Diana to the front row. The pastor already knew that Annie was bringing a friend who desperately needed to be ministered to so at some point during the service he called Diana up on stage, but she wouldn’t go. After many requests, she relented and went up to meet the pastor.

In her own words, Diana said, “As I walked, I heard voices in my head saying they weren’t going to let go of me. That I belonged to them.”

While this is happening, there were people in the congregation praying and all of a sudden, a woman prays - “in the Name of Jesus” - and Diana attacked the pastor, tearing his clothes and spitting in his face. She heard voices from inside of herself crying out, ‘Leave her alone! Leave her alone! She’s ours, and you’ll never have her! Never!’

The pastor leaned over Diana as she lay on the floor of the stage and he commanded that the evil spirits be quiet and leave in Jesus’ Name, and just like that, it was all over. The demons were gone and Diana was in her right mind. She said,

“That was the night I got delivered.  I knew I had been set free.  It was as if I had been cleansed.  A peace came over me that I had never felt before.  That’s when I realized that I had been demon possessed and Jesus had run the evil spirits away.”[5]

When the demons came out of the man in Luke’s Gospel they asked Jesus, “Did You come to destroy us?” The short answer is - absolutely! Folks, Jesus has come to us in order to destroy the works of the devil in our lives. To set us free from the bondage of sinful slavery (Heb. 2:14; 1 Jn. 3:8).

Your sin is great. Your enemy is great. But Jesus is greater still!

If you don’t know Him, if you’ve been held captive by the enemy, I want to invite into freedom  this morning!

Submit to God that you may be able to resist the devil and he will flee.

 Tre Clark

Britton Christian Church

1/11/2026

[1] Familiarity Breeds Contempt - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase. https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/familiarity-breeds-contempt.html

[2] Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 3, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 129.

[3] Thabiti Anyabwile, Exalting Jesus in Luke, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018), 83–84.

[4] John A. Martin, “Luke,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 215.

[5] Diana’s Testimony - Cymbala, Jim, and Jennifer Schuchmann. Spirit Rising: Tapping Into the Power of the Holy Spirit. Zondervan, 2014, pp111-18.