Sunday, June 17, 2018

LUKE 11:21-28 THE STRONG MAN AND THE STRONGER MAN


THE STRONG MAN
AND THE STRONGER MAN
Luke 11:21-28

Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

Susie: Let’s define some terms before we delve into the significance of this verse:

·     Strong man = Satan
·     Palace = this world
·     Goods = unbeliever’s lives
·     Stronger man = Jesus Christ
·     Armor = the crafty wiles Satan uses to keep people under his rule
·     Spoils = those who trust in Jesus for deliverance

Susan: One of Satan’s titles is “prince of this world” which is why the Lord speaks of the strong man’s palace.

John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Susie: Satan is under the mistaken assumption that his goods, the people under his control, cannot be stolen from him since he has great power in this world. However, there is One greater.

Susan: Jesus overcame Satan by the power of His own blood as the final Passover Lamb.

Susie: Satan is a defeated foe, but he has not quit struggling. He still exerts power in this world, but he will ultimately be cast out into the lake of fire. Jesus has the power to disarm him and take back the people he has deceived.

Colossians 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:



Isaiah 53:12 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Susie: This teaching of Jesus is recorded in other places in scripture as well.

Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Mark 9:40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

Luke 9:50 "Do not stop him," Jesus replied, "for whoever is not against you is for you."

Susan: There is no neutral ground when it comes to Jesus. There are no fence dwellers allowed; complete allegiance is required. The following quote expresses it well:

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: entire article may be found at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=LUke+11%3A21-28&version=KJV


There are no Switzerlands in this cosmic war. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. Jesus says that neutrality to him is opposition to him. To decide for God, one must decide for Jesus. In a cosmic war there are no spectators; everyone lines up on one side or the other. The implication is to be careful which side you choose. The miracles not only make a statement about Jesus' authority; they ask a question about our response.

But even where there is opposition, the opponents are not abandoned to their fate. Evangelism is infiltration into enemy lines. Rejection is not a cause for abandonment, since we never know when a Saul might become a Paul.

Susie: The Pharisees had just accused Jesus of working in concert with Satan, so they were definitely not for Him, but were against Him. Next Jesus explains what happens after a false exorcist casts out a demon.

Luke 11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

Susie: Jesus explained what happens when a demon is cast out of the human it has been inhabiting. Like a hermit crab searching for a new shell, the demon looks for a new person to possess, to dwell in.

Susan: The demon wants to wrap itself in a new earth-suit. When it is not able to find a weak and vulnerable enough person to use as its vessel, it gives up and goes home to its old haunt, the original host person.

Luke 11:25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Susie: Notice that when the demon returns to the person, he finds the life swept and dressed up. Sweeping removes some dirt but is not as effective as washing. The person has done their best to clean up their act by their own power, but they have not been washed clean.

Susan: The person did their best, but self-effort only goes so far. The only effective cleansing agent is, indeed, the soap of His love, the blood of Jesus. It is the only cleaner that provides permanent results.

Susie: After Jesus clears out our sin, He then fills our emptiness with His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit continually cleans us from within and fills us up to the point that no demon can enter in as long as we are yielded to Him.

James 4:6-7 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Susan: Satan still tries to wield influence over believers, to oppress them. However, the Holy Spirit guides, directs, and strengthens us against the schemes of our enemy, the evil one.

Susie: If a person has tried to change by their own power and is not depending upon Jesus, they are vulnerable. The demon not only reenters but brings his entire crew, like a street gang to mess up the person worse than before. The only defense against this invasion is to have the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit! The Pharisees who performed exorcisms had a measure of success in getting the demon to leave, but it was a temporary respite for the person. They did not preach the power of Jesus or guide the person to that relationship. Therefore, the person was left empty and still completely unable to please the Lord.

Luke 11:27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

Susan: This woman in the crowd may have grown nervous about all the demon talk and wanted to refocus the discussion to something pleasant that did not make her brain go tilt.

Susie: Therefore, she complimented Jesus’s wisdom by saying how blessed his mother must be to have raised such a Son.

Luke 11:28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Susan: Jesus explained that His mother’s blessing did not lie in His birth, but in her obedience to God and what He asked of her. We, too, are blessed when we obey what God asks and fulfill His purposes in our lives.

Luke 6:47-48  Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Ponder this an Apply it: Satan has power, but Jesus had more power. His Holy Spirit living within us has the power to overcome Satan in our lives. Are you tapping into that power source daily? Plug yourself into the Holy Spirit by utilizing scripture, prayer, fellowship, and worship. When you face temptation, ask the Lord to help you resist. He will show you how to escape it and live victoriously for His glory. Two verses you should memorize:

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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