05-05-2024 – With Him or Against Him?
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May 5, 2024
“With Him or Against Him? ”
Read Luke 11:14-16… Jesus casts out a demon, and those who continue to oppose Him use this as an opportunity to challenge His authority for doing miracles.
During the Lord’s ministry it was fairly common for demons to indwell people.
Luke 4:33-35, “In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet and come out of him!’ And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm.” 41, “Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!' But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.”
Luke 9:37-39, “On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, ‘Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy, and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth.” 41-42, “‘Bring your son here.’ While he was still approaching, the demon slammed [the boy] to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.”
When Jesus sent out the Twelve (Luke 9:1), “He gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases,” and the seventy, completing their mission (Luke 10:17), “returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’”
In Luke 11:14 a demon made a man mute, but after being cast out, the man spoke and people who witnessed it we’re amazed (Mark 1:27), “They were all amazed, [and] debated among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.’”
See Luke 11:15, although the crowds were amazed, some alleged that Jesus was doing this by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of demons!
Matthew 9:32-34, “A mute, demon-possessed man was brought to [Jesus]. After the demon was cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees were saying, ‘He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons [Beelzebub].’”
It was impossible for these enemies of God, the religious rulers of Israel, to deny that Jesus was doing miracles, for many witnessed them; so instead, they alleged that Jesus was doing this by the power of the Satan. Beelzebub means “lord of flies,” and was a Jewish name for the ruler of demons, Satan himself.
So in Luke 11:15 some in the crowd are attributing Jesus’ power and ministry to Satan, others (verse 16) are asking for another sign, a miracle that will attest to Him genuinely being the Son of God. Jesus doesn’t offer another sign, for He has already given conclusive evidence that He is the Messiah, Immanuel; He has healed every kind of disease, illness, blindness, the mute, the deaf, even raising the dead. Jesus won't offer more signs to the enemies of the gospel, for they have hardened their hearts toward Him (see John 10:22-42).
Read Luke 11:17-19… Jesus’ authority and the origin of His power has been challenged; Jesus, being omniscient, knew their thoughts (Luke 5:22), “Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, ‘Why are you reasoning in your hearts?’” Luke 6:8, “He knew what they were thinking.”
Jesus’ states in Luke 11 that if a kingdom or family fights against itself [is divided] it won’t succeed.
Look at Luke 11:18, “If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.”
How ridiculous to say that Satan empowers Jesus to cast out demons. Why in the world would Satan do that, even if he could, which he can’t, because he is only a creation of God, not God himself; but Jesus is God, and therefore omnipotent, and even though the demons know He is God, they are shaking in fear of what is yet to come, when they are sent to the deepest hell.
James 2:19 says, “You believe that [there is only one] God. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” Why do they shudder? I’m glad you asked (Matthew 25:41), “Then He will say, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Satan and his minions often disguise themselves as workers of righteousness, as Paul writes (2Corinthians 11:14-15), “Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.”
1John 3:7-8, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
What is the greatest work of the devil?
2Corinthians 4:3-6, “Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
Satan wants to keep people from hearing and believing the message of Salvation through Christ. Satan “has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”
1John 1:9-10, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”
For a person to die in a state of being guilty for sin, apart from the saving grace of God (which is made effectual by believing in God’s Son, Jesus Christ), is to die and be condemned to an eternal hell with Satan and all his demons. Yikes!
Look at Luke 11:19 again, “And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges.” Wow! The word “sons” here, is no doubt referring to the rabbis, scribes, Pharisees, and Chief Priests of Judaism, who appeared, so it was thought, to be casting out demons.
See Acts 19:11-17… God was performing mighty works through Paul in Ephesus: handkerchiefs [headbands] and aprons used by Paul in his tent making labors were taken to the sick who were then healed, and to the demon possessed, forcing the evil spirits to leave them. These miracles were given to convince the people in Ephesus that Paul was sent from God, so that they would listen to and believe his message about Christ, and be saved.
There were some so-called Jewish exorcists who weren’t having any luck casting out demons by their own or maybe their father Sheva’s name, or their list of other incantations, so they thought they would try out, "in the name of the Lord Jesus, whom Paul preaches, come out!” But the evil spirit in the man said, "I know Jesus and I know Paul, but who in the heck are you guys.”
The demon only submitted to the authority of Jesus and those like Paul, who had been granted this authority; but the sons of Sceva, didn’t belong to God, therefore they had no authority to cast out demons. The demoniac jumped on all seven of these guys, beat them up, tore their clothes off and sent them running out of the house, naked and wounded.
Read Luke 11:20… Jesus says that He cast out demons by the finger of God, and that He is from the kingdom of God, in fact, He is God! This is awesome!
The phrase used by Jesus, “the finger of God,” goes back to the time when Israel was captive in Egypt and God, sent Moses and Aaron to do miracles, in order to force Pharaoh to free the Hebrews. The Egyptian magicians were able to do several of the same miracles, but when Moses struck the dust and it became gnats covering the land, Pharaoh’s magicians couldn’t duplicate it said to Pharaoh (Exodus 8:19), “This is the finger of God,” i.e., this is by their God’s power. Also, when Moses was on the Mount Sinai (Exodus 31:18), God “gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone (10 Commandments), written by the finger of God.”
Jesus is the Messiah, sent from heaven by God, to save us; He should be worshipped, not ridiculed; but those who reject Him and His authority, commit the severest form of blasphemy, remaining dead in their sins and separated from life with God.
John 8:44-47, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
Read Luke 11:21-22… Jesus presents an analogy affirming that He is from God, and He has come to do God’s Will. Satan is referenced here as a [Lit. the] “strong man,” who is “fully armed,” and is guarding “his own house”
Satan is not going to allow anyone who is less powerful than he (like the son’s of Sceva), to break into his house (or enter his kingdom) and take any of his possessions (the souls of those who are possessed by his demons).
But someone stronger (God’s Son) overpowered Satan, defeating all his armor, and has taken back that which belongs to God (a believing soul will not be lost).
John 13:2, “During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,” 18, “I know the ones I have chosen; but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats My bread has lifted up his heel against Me,’” [Psalm 41:9, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against Me.’”
John 13:22-27, “When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.’ The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. There was reclining on Jesus’ chest one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, ‘Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.’ He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ chest, said, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus then answered, “The one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, ‘What you do, do quickly.’” 30, “So after receiving the morsel [Judas] went out immediately; and it was night.”
John 17:12, “While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.”
John 18:1-3, “ When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.” 7-9, “Jesus said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ And they said, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ He answered, ‘I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,’ to fulfill the word which He spoke, ‘Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.’”
Jesus came healing the sick and rescuing souls from the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13-14), “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins,” (Acts 2:21), “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord [for the forgiveness of sin] will be saved,” (Acts 4:12), “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
1John 3:8, “The devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
Hebrews 2:14, “Through death He [Jesus Christ] rendered powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”
Read Luke 11:23… You either believe in Christ, or you reject Him; you either serve the cause of Christ, or you hinder it; you either share the message of Christ, or you suppress it. The reality is no one is neutral when it comes to Jesus Christ.
And just so we are clear, I’m speaking of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior, Crucified, Resurrected, and Coming Back to take all those who believe in Him, to be with Him, in heaven, forever.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord for the forgiveness of sin will be saved. Just in case you missed it, His name is Jesus [God’s Salvation] and He turns no one away! He is the only way to God, and the only truth from God, and the only life with God; there is absolutely no other way to be saved and to go to heaven.
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Pastor Mike Hale
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