Luke 11 vs 14-28

Key Points from last week:
Private prayer is the engine for spiritual growth.
The answer to my problems is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Detailed glimpse into demonology)
Luke Chapter 11 Verses 14 – 16
•This was perhaps a particularly egregious scene for some of the Jews, especially any religious elite or scribes in the crowd. Why? Well, casting out demons was something fairly common-place in that culture at that time. But this circumstance was specific, this person was mute. In order to gain power over a demon in Jewish demonology thinking at that time, you had to have it reveal its name. Can’t do that if the person is mute…so essentially, the rabbis, the priests, the Jewish religious elite and leaders were powerless and unable…but Jesus was able…
•So, their thinking was that if Jesus wasn’t employing the prescribed correct route, then He must be in league with the demon…completely wrong thinking of course but now you understand their reaction. It was also that by now, they had made up their minds that Jesus was not the Messiah. And so, even in the face of absolute unquestionable evidence, they couldn’t see. Their presuppositions, and honestly their pride-fueled conclusions, blinded them to even undeniable truth! That is a danger we all face and have to be aware of and awake to…
•For them, being able to consider an alternate perspective could have meant and been the best blessing of their entire lives…to recognize Jesus for exactly who He is…perhaps it’s the same with you. But for even you Christians, how are you ever going to learn if you don’t have the ability to consider other perspectives and even ideas that maybe even go against or contradict an idea that you have or have had for a long time? If the only viewpoint you are willing to consider, like seriously consider, is your own, you’re not going to learn.
•What’s more, you won’t be able to be empathetic at all towards people that present something new or even confrontational to what you believe or what you’re saying. Look, there are limits here for sure, but don’t miss obvious truth because you are so dug in on your own perspective. Here’s the thing…let’s say that you really believe what they’re saying is completely wrong…still, being willing to consider where they’re at implies that you’ll be willing to make an effort to understand the factors that might have led to those ideas and that is entirely helpful in finding ways to persuade them to change their minds. These fools miss Jesus, right in front of them, even in light of undeniable truth, because they were dug in and in love with their own pride…
•There were three reactions to what Jesus did, all of them marveled. One group demonized Him. One group doubted Him, wanting to see another thing, another sign. And a third group, implied, believed.
Luke Chapter 11 Verses 17 – 20
•Jesus knew their thoughts, and I love that. Not only does that reveal His divinity but that frees you to pray within your heart to the Lord, privately and even without verbalizing your conversation and you can be confident that God hears your prayers.
•But also notice, He doesn’t answer those seeking a sign, He first addresses those that accuse Him of being essentially a demon. He will, its coming, but it’s not His priority. Why? Revelation 3:15 Jesus said, “You are neither cold not hot, I could wish you were…” To be hot for the things of God, to be “on fire,” is to be in a place of drawing near and staying near to the Lord and you are entirely usable because you are willing and available to the Lord.
•To be cold for the Lord, totally against the Lord, you are squarely on that end of the spectrum and on one hand, so be it…but on the other hand, perhaps you’re just fighting against what you know to be true and as outwardly cold you are, inwardly you are crying out for comfort and truth.
•But to be lukewarm, believe but just not enough…need more, another sign, that’s a very dangerous place to be. Enough God in you to be no earthly good and enough of the world in you to be ineffective in the faith. So, look, they’re not His priority…
•But what He says to the crowd that demonizes Him is interesting and important. A house divided against itself cannot stand… Who needs to be attacked when they are terminal from within? Please remember this truth given by Jesus. If you are in a “house,” a family, a church, a place of work, a relationship, if you want it to be well, to be successful and to thrive, please hear and heed this truth. You cannot and do not win or lose on your own. You win together or you lose together. So, if one person loses the argument, you all lose. Work together. Team up. The threat is external, it is from without, and you don’t stand a chance, according to Jesus, unless you work together and not against each other!
Luke Chapter 11 Verses 21 – 22
•In context, Jesus is making the statement that He doesn’t cast out evil by evil…that’s a statement of equality. But rather, He is greater, stronger, able to cast the demon out because He indeed is God. In application, it is comforting, reassuring and encouraging to put into mind and remember that Jesus and what He can do for you and in you is eternally stronger than what you think is an enemy stronghold in your heart, mind or life.
•Just trust Him. Give it to Him. Let Him deal with it… Here’s what He does. He comes upon the enemy, that evil that is harming you. Pounces. Then He overcomes. Takes from him all of the armor in which he trusted. And finally divides his spoils. He completely can defeat the work of the enemy, what the enemy has done, in your heart and life. With this, know, nothing in your life or in mine has to stay under the control of the enemy or the flesh. But, you have to be open to new ideas, perspectives…you have to be willing and wanting to learn!
Luke Chapter 11 Verse 23
•A solid statement of exclusivity. There is no neutrality when it comes to Jesus. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. He is stronger. He is able. So, here’s the decision each of us make personally. Whose team are you on? With whom will you choose to align? And the implication here is that if you do not make a positive choice for Jesus then you indeed are choosing against Him. Satan is strong…says it right here…Jesus is stronger. Both have asked for you, and to choose Jesus is to do something…do nothing, and I’m choosing against Him.
Luke Chapter 11 Verses 24 – 26
•This is an interesting glimpse into the demonic realm given to us by Jesus. We aren’t sure what the “dry places” are but we do see that evil is incomplete…it seeks rest, there is no rest in evil… And the demons for some reason seek a host…a host somehow gives the demon rest. How? No clue…but certainly bone chilling to read…
•Casting a demon out of a man isn’t enough…they must be saved. If the demon is cast out, the strong man is removed, and yet the house is left unguarded, the demon will return with a crew and it will be worse for him. So, application for those that are without Christ today, one step forward, seven steps back…that’s what the enemy wants and intends to do, in wrecking you from the inside out…
•For the Christian, there is no doubt and it is an impossibility for a Christian to be demon possessed. You are the temple, the house of the Holy Spirit. God Himself. Demons are not going to even want to come for a visit. And where there is light, darkness cannot dwell.
•Demonic influence and spiritual oppression are definitely a thing, but that is from the outside. You cannot be possessed because you are already possessed by the stronger Man! But there is still application here even for you.
•God is constantly at work in your life and mine. The Holy Spirit is every moment speaking to you, showing you, pointing things out to you, wanting to teach you and increase you from strength to strength and glory to glory…and we hear Him. If you are saved today, you hear the Holy Spirit all the time! That’s why you’re not comfortable in or with sin anymore, that’s why your spirit within you cries out, “Abba Father!”
•But there is a danger…if you are shown something, led away from something, taught something and it is, how do I say this, not embraced, not installed…given no power in your heart, mind, thinking, or life…then you are in danger of hardening your heart. And let me tell you Christian, a hard heart is far worse than a diseased heart. Perhaps seven times worse… So, listen and respond. Replace the issue that you now see, you’re finally listening to the voice of God about in your heart/life, replace it with agreement and partnership with the Lord in the Spirit! That is a sure path to growth, power and joy!
Luke Chapter 11 Verses 27 – 28
•I told you that this study would be a detailed glimpse into demonology. Demons, the devil and all of the principalities of evil seek to do nothing in your life but steal from you, kill and destroy anything good in your life. Here Jesus tells us exactly, exactly how to overcome evil in our lives. With good. The greatest and only weapon? The Sword of the Spirit. It is by learning, considering and ultimately keeping the Word of God that harm in us and to us and through us is overcome and we end up blessed. No matter the circumstance we face.
•Jesus not only said this here but this is what He did Himself. As He was tempted by Satan…so very cruel…Jesus was starving, weak, alone, not in a good place whatsoever, the enemy came and offered Him what He could not have or take, but what He so desperately needed. Just absolutely cruel. And what did Jesus employ to both strengthen Himself and resist ultimate harm to Himself and to His family…you and me? He used only the Word of God.
•Also, let me just point out…this is a clear statement by Jesus that Mary ought not be exalted. The amazing promise statement here by Jesus is that you and I will be blessed, even more than the woman who was privileged to care one on one for Jesus Himself, to know Him more intimately than any other human being for more than 30 years, more blessed you will be if you hear the Word of God, attend to it, consider it, set your mind to really comprehend and understand…even if it challenges what you hold to be true today…blessed you will be if you hear the Word of God…and keep it!
•You cannot have one without the other. You can’t keep the word if you don’t set your mind to understand it…application puts understanding on display…and you won’t be blessed unless you keep the Word of God. Hearing only has no power. And this keep is not just hold onto…it take it in and preserve it, protect it, guard it…it becomes treasure.