"Sometimes it's personal"

When reading this what seems odd

Mark 5

The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man

1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When they 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. 16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

One day while I was reading this passage, I got stopped dead in my tracks. In verse 8 Jesus told the spirits to come out of the man. But, notice, they did not come out. This truly, got my attention. I could see, how I, may have some trouble with deliverance, but not Christ. This thing should have come directly out. It is a lesson for us.

So, I asked God why? His answer was simple, "Sometimes it's personal." This took some dwelling on. I still dwell on it, feeling I don't have the complete answer.

I sure know that it is personal to the person being tormented by these evil spirits. I, also, know that whenever I am going to minister to someone with an oppressing spirit, that it becomes pretty personal to the spirit. In every case that I have worked, the demon acts up just before deliverance, knowing that their time is short.

Notice that God said, "sometimes". I, personally, have only once asked the name of a demon. It except, the once, has never been an issue. I know that many folks always ask, but, I don't find the need. But, "Sometimes" it must be needed.


So I ask, "Personal how?" Is it about me? Do I need to be on guard. I, always, need to be on guard. Protected by the Spirit of God, with my armor on. By, the way, why do people say, "I get up every morning & put on the armor of God.". I ask, "Why do you ever take it off." I digress. Does it become "personal" because there is an evil scheme to harm me? Is this somehow familiar to me?

Well in my searching for the answer, I asked myself, why did I ask, that one time, the name of the evil. I asked, because, I was stumped. It was difficult, & I was searching for an answer, so, I thought maybe the answer was in the name. It was. The personal part is the name of the demon. Our names describe us. In the spirit realm it alludes to our purpose. Our name is very personal in the spirit realm. So, it goes, that a demons name is very personal & describes their purpose. Knowing the purpose behind the possession or oppression is always helpful.

Demons, also, come in various strenghts & purpose. Some are lesser demons and some very strong. People, also, play a part in letting go of the evil. These things all work together
in deliverance. Is the person ready for change, are they willing to let go? Some are afraid of who they will be after deliverance. Mostly,with these lesser demons, it is not "personal" & I have run across some pretty powerful demons that the "personal" has not come into play.

But, "sometimes" it is personal & I will need to know the name. It is good, thank you Jesus, to know why this is important. The spirit realm has it own rules, laws and regulations. It is good that God shares those with us.