Grosey's Messages

Luke 11:14-32  Don't Wander Into No-Man's Land   Journey into Discipleship  

14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.

17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.

18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.

19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

24 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'

25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.

26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!"

28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Some people had brought a very sad case to our Lord. A man possessed with a demon who was blind and dumb.  With the word of Divine power and the touch of God Jesus healed the sufferer so that he both spoke and saw.

The people who witnessed the great miracle  were amazed, and well they might be for truly this was a mighty deed. Awed with wonder and reverence they began to say one to another "Is not this the Son of David?" "Surely this is the Messiah?" "No mere man could do these things?" 

Instantly the Pharisees retorted, "he casts out demons by Beezelbub the chief of demons."  "come show us a sign from heaven and we will believe."

Knowing their hearts our Lord replied "Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against a house falleth." If Satan also is be divided against himself how shall his kingdom stand? If I by Beezelbub cast out demons by who do your sons cast them out?" If I by the finger of God cast out devils no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Then follows His Vivid Illustration. He portrays a palace kept by a strong man who is armed and all is safe. But Suddenly a stronger man comes upon the strong man and overthrows him and takes all his armour and his spoils.

McCheyne likens the palace to the sinner. The strong man to Satan and the stronger man to Christ.

Thus Christ comes upon the devil-filled ones and delivers them but immediately He utters a grim word of warning. "he that is not with Me is against Me." Every age has its heresy every generation its outstanding evil. The Church of Jesus Christ may not today be face to face with the firs of Smithfield or the lions of the Coliseum, or the nameless crucifixus of a Nero or the vicious attacks of a Tom Pain or Voltaire but the devil is not dead. No nor even asleep or on holiday in this our age and generation.  True, he may have slain his thousands with the weapons of persecution and martyrdom in other days.

The Lord Jesus is ever in direct and open antagonism to Satan. "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed," has been most emphatically fulfilled. Christ has never tolerated any truce or peace talks with the evil one, and He never will. Whenever Christ strikes a blow at Satan, it is a real blow, and is meant to destroy. He never just meddles  with Satan, but He intends to cut up his empire, and destroy every part of it.  "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." There is a deadly, implacable, infinite, eternal hatred between Christ and Satan. No compromise can ever be thought of, no quarter will ever be allowed.

Jesus often cast evil spirits, or demons out of afflicted people.  "demonized" people may be influenced on different levels by these demonic spirits.  Jesus recognized a demonic spirit was keeping the man speechless, so He liberated the man by casting out the demon. Demonic activity is just as real today as in Jesus' day.  But we must be careful of seeing a demon behind every tree. I was reading of the Salem witch trials in New England in the USA in 1680's. Much that was used as evidence was more likely planted by Satan than was real.

Jesus had many opponents who followed Him around just waiting for Him to say or do something worthy of being arrested. They couldn't deny this man who had been speechless was talking, so they attacked Jesus by saying He got His power from Beelzebub, which means "lord of the flies." It was used as another name for the devil, or Satan. "But some of them said, 'He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons'" (v. 15).  "Beelzebul" had become in Hebrew culture an alternative name for Satan. In Ugaritic texts the name Beezeboul meant "Baal the prince." But in the Old Testament (2 Kings 1:2, 3, 6, 16) the name is rendered "Baal-zebub," meaning "Lord of the flies." It was a deliberate distortion to deprecate the pagan god. The Septuagint translates this, "Baal, the fly-God" (see also Josephus, Antiquities 9.2,1,19). "Beelzebul" was, and is, a fitting name for Satan. The hearts of the Pharisees and scribes were so hard that they said in essence, "Yes, Jesus has done a miracle, but only because he is in league with Satan, the Lord of the flies, the God of dung and carrion." It was a calculated blasphemy of immense perversity.  Luke alone records at least ten instances of miraculous healings by Jesus, and four of them explicitly involve exorcisms—on one occasion, wholesale exorcisms:

"And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ." (Luke 4:40, 41; cf. 4:3, 9; 8:26–39; 9:37–45)

This event tells us four things.

You Have An Enemy Who Hates You  KEEP ALERT TO YOUR REAL SITUATION (14-20)

What are Satan's "possessions?" People without Christ

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.

Satan watches over the man whose heart he inhabits, because he considers the man to be his property — "he keeps his goods." he claims sovereignty.

Did  you notice He says, "his own palace." A palace is usually the abode of a king, so Satan considers himself a great king when he dwells in the human heart. Divine sovereignty has ever been the great target of Satan's attacks, because he aspires to set up his own infernal sovereignty.

He "guards his palace, his goods are in peace."

And that is how many people are today. I called this "Don't wander into no-mans-land.  There have been a few war movies of recent days, such as 1917, All Quiet on the Western front and a few others, that portray people wandering blindly into No-Man'sLand as though they didn't know there was a war on.  Hacksaw Ridge, filmed between Richmond and Riverstone by Mel Gibson just a couple of years ago, showed the danger of No Man's Land.  Caught between the two enemies, the bullets flying everywhere, survival was rare!  This passage tells us the man is quite undisturbed — conscience does not prick him: why should it? God does not alarm him: who is God, that he should obey his voice? Thoughts of hell never disturb him. God botherers they call us. But the truth is they don't want to be bothered by God. Why? Because they live under Satan who dulls their conscience and darkens and drunkens their perceptions. They can't see who they are serving.  So they are not bothered by God.

The tenant of the heart is called "an unclean spirit." He is unclean, it is unclean to disobey God who created you; and above all it is unclean not to love the Redeemer, whose most precious blood has delivered his people from their sins.

Jesus visited planet earth to liberate us from the grip of the devil. Everyone without Christ is currently "possessed" in a sense by Satan. All of us who are now Christians were at one time in his house. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:1-5: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature ... but because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved."

II Corinthians 4:3-4, "If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are  perishing. The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God." Jesus came to rescue you from the devil's bondage–even if you don't realize you are in bondage.

2. Some times This Enemy Wears A Human Face

24 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'

25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.

26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

There are some people who have swept their house, cleaned up their lives a bit, and they think they are pretty good folks.  There are some persons who even appear to be converted, who think they are so themselves and therefore make a profession, and are cheerfully received into the Christian Church because their outward life gives evidence of a very great and remarkable change.

The unclean spirit is gone out of the man, and he is another man though not a new creature in Christ Jesus. But there was no repentance, no conviction, no struggling against depravity, no weeping before the Lord in prayer, and no looking up to the crucified Saviour and understanding that there is pardon in his wounds; no agonizing struggle after holiness, no wrestling with evil; joy came on the sudden, and the man thought himself saved. The man was a sinner yesterday, and he appears to be a saint to-day, nobody knows how. You talk to him about the work of the Spirit in his soul, convincing him of sin, breaking him with the hammer of the law or by the power of the cross, pounding him in pieces, compelling him to feel that his righteousness is filthy rags; he does not understand you. He has no root down, as Jesus said about the four soils. He bears no real fruit, though he tries to impress Christians.  A hunger for the Bible doesn't exist in his heart. He doesn't read it at home. The unclean spirit is gone out of the man, and that is about all.

Why does the evil spirit leave a man for a time? Has he not some hellish purpose in view? Certainly he has. He figues if he goves the person a taste of religion he will never hunger after the real thing. As a 5^th columnist, his man can find his way into a church, deceive those around him and settle in to poison the whole lot.

And that's where the two groups of people that were accusing Jesus falsely step in.

In Mark's gospel, we are reminded that this sin of blaspheming who Jesus is may be called the unforgiveable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Why? Because the purpose of to turn many away from the Lord Jesus their only Saviour and Hope.  And these men were religious men!  It is no different today!

PHARISEES  While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table.³⁸ The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.³⁹ And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.⁴⁰ You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?⁴¹ But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. ⁴² "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.⁴³ Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.⁴⁴ Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it."

They are a hindrance to the gospel of God's grace, promoting legalism among religious people that leads them away from Christ.

They are picky of others with the purpose of promoting themselves. 

They are easily offended and use power for themselves.

The Pharisees' religious rituals amounted to an exercise in missing the point. They obsessed over the external aspects of religious life that could be observed by others ("everything they do is done for people to see," Matthew 23:5-7), but gave little heed to the more unseen and internal aspects of godliness. On the outside, they gave every impression of being righteous. But on the inside, they were "full of greed and wickedness" (Luke 11:39). The problem was that the Pharisees did not appreciate God's concern for their hearts. Jesus calls them "foolish people" for failing to understand that the same God who made their "outside" made their "inside" also (v 40). This was hardly a new problem; the Old Testament prophets had indicted Israel for their reliance on "human rules" (e.g. Isaiah 29:13) and religious rituals (e.g. Hosea 6:6) in the place of heartfelt love for God and others. Jesus challenged the Pharisees to clean the interior of their cup by exchanging their heart of greed for a spirit of generosity to the poor. Because true holiness begins in the heart, such a change would mean that "everything will be clean" (Luke 11:41) for them. –McKinley

3 woes. The third woe could hardly be more pointed or offensive: "You are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it" (Luke 11:44). Because contact with a dead body would render a person unclean, graves had to be clearly marked so that people could avoid them. Here Jesus is comparing the Pharisees' corrupt spirituality to something repulsive and full of decay. But even worse than that, he is saying that they have the effect of making unclean those who wander into contact with them. "You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are" (Matthew 23:15).

SCRIBES  45 One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also."46 And he said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed.48 So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs.49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation,51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation.52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." ⁵³ As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,⁵⁴ lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.

They will push things to the limit to try and hurt others to punish them.

Bottom line: they keep people from the gospel of grace. 52 Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."

The devil's prime goal is to keep people from understanding the gospel. That is what he is about.

Remember :  II Corinthians 4:3-4, "If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are  perishing. The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God."

This is the devil's goal. He wants to keep people from Jesus.  He will slander the Lord Jesus.  He will divert people into religious works or rituals so people will not close with the Lord Jesus.

Decide For The Saviour Who Delivered You From Him

22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

TAKE UP THE SAVIOUR'S DESCRIPTION OF TRUE CONVERSION.

Now, observe here is a "stronger than he." This is not the man himself, the man is the house, the man is not so strong as the devil — who is this? This is Jesus Christ who comes by his Spirit into the heart of man, and the Spirit of God is vastly superior to Satanic power, as much as the infinite Creator himself must ever be superior to the finite creature. As soon as the stronger than he comes in there is a conflict. "He comes upon him," that is to say, he attacks him; and ah, how vehemently does Christ lay to at the great enemy of souls.

Col 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

"O Sovereign grace, my heart subdue, I would be led in triumph too;

Drive the old dragon from his seat, With all his hellish crew."

Cry to the Great Deliverer, he will come, he will come. Is there a conflict going on in you? Remember faith gets the victory. Look to Jesus — look to Jesus, and the battle is won. Cast your poor spirit upon Jesus.

Keep Trusting in the Saviour Who Strengthens You

2 Thess 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command.5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Ephesians 6 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Sign On With The Saviour And Gather With Him

23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

33 "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light."

The key to living in a way that is consistent with the kingdom of God—the key to being for Jesus and not against him—is to have good spiritual vision. If we have it, we will be full of light; if we don't, Jesus says we will be full of darkness. If we see the things of the world as more precious than the things of the kingdom, then we will be in darkness but all the while thinking we have light (v 35).McKinley.

Questions:

1. KEEP ALERT TO YOUR REAL SITUATION (14-20) You Have An Enemy Who Hates You

What evidence is there of spiritual warfare?

2. Some times This Enemy Wears A Human Face 

How were the Pahrisees and Saaducees religious yes tools of the devil?

3. Decide For The Saviour Who Delivered You From Him

How is Jesus the Deliverer and how does He continue to deliver us?

4. Sign On With The Saviour And Gather With Him

How can we gather and not scatter?