34 lines
1.7 KiB
Markdown
34 lines
1.7 KiB
Markdown
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title = "Luke 11:14–26"
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date = "2022-12-10"
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### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk11.14-26)
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Jesus's enemies are still upset at the good things He is doing. They are jealus
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of His popularity and offended by the rebukes He has given them. Preiviously,
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they had put His knowledge of the Law to the test, but they couldn't find
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anything wrong with His answers. Now they attempt to discredit Him with
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accusations of being a Satanist. Others keep asking for a sign from heaven to
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validate His ministry, as if they haven't heard the reports of people being
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healed, the five thousand being fed, the raising of at least two people from
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the dead, and whatever else has been lost to history. (As John says, there
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aren't enough books to tell us all the things Jesus did.)
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Jesus shows them that their accusations are baseless. If Satan wishes his
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demons to torment people, he wouldn't also then allow a person to command them
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to desist. Jesus then asserts that He is casting out demons the same way the
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Jews do: through prayer for God's power and authority. He compares a demon to a
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strong man protecting his own palace, but God is able to overpower him and take
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away even the weapons and armor he would have used in his defence. There is no
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neutrality between God and Satan. You are either working for one or the other,
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even if it feels like you are your own person.
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Just because an unclean spirit is cast out from a person, if there is
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transformation in them to join God's kingdom, there is nothing to stop the
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spirit from coming back to torment the person again.
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* * *
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We praise You for ruling with absolute authority even over the spiritual powers
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that hate You. None may fight against Your decrees.
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