35 lines
1.7 KiB
Markdown
35 lines
1.7 KiB
Markdown
|
+++
|
|||
|
|
title = "Luke 11:14–25"
|
|||
|
|
date = "2022-12-10"
|
|||
|
|
+++
|
|||
|
|
[
|
|||
|
|
### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk11.14-25)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Jesus's enemies are still upset at the good things He is doing. They are jealus
|
|||
|
|
of His popularity and offended by the rebukes He has given them. Preiviously,
|
|||
|
|
they had put His knowledge of the Law to the test, but they couldn't find
|
|||
|
|
anything wrong with His answers. Now they attempt to discredit Him with
|
|||
|
|
accusations of being a Satanist. Others keep asking for a sign from heaven to
|
|||
|
|
validate His ministry, as if they haven't heard the reports of people being
|
|||
|
|
healed, the five thousand being fed, the raising of at least two people from
|
|||
|
|
the dead, and whatever else has been lost to history. (As John says, there
|
|||
|
|
aren't enough books to tell us all the things Jesus did.)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Jesus shows them that their accusations are baseless. If Satan wishes his
|
|||
|
|
demons to torment people, he wouldn't also then allow a person to command them
|
|||
|
|
to desist. Jesus then asserts that He is casting out demons the same way the
|
|||
|
|
Jews do: through prayer for God's power and authority. He compares a demon to a
|
|||
|
|
strong man protecting his own palace, but God is able to overpower him and take
|
|||
|
|
away even the weapons and armor he would have used in his defence. There is no
|
|||
|
|
neutrality between God and Satan. You are either working for one or the other,
|
|||
|
|
even if it feels like you are your own person.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Just because an unclean spirit is cast out from a person, if there is
|
|||
|
|
transformation in them to join God's kingdom, there is nothing to stop the
|
|||
|
|
spirit from coming back to torment the person again.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* * *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
We praise You for ruling with absolute authority even over the spiritual powers
|
|||
|
|
that hate You. None may fight against Your decrees.
|