Choose Your Side Today!

Please take your Bibles and find Luke 11:14. As we continue in our study of Luke’s gospel, I want to share a message with you entitled, “Choose Your Side Today!”

 

Brothers and sisters, we are at war today.  However, I’m not talking about the China and the US.  I am not talking about Russia and Ukraine.  I am not talking about Hamas and Israel.

 

As the body of Christ, we are at war today with the devil.  This war is between Satan and Jesus.  This war is between the Spirit and the flesh.  This war is between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the world. 

 

Our text this morning is not about the spiritual armor of God.  However, I want to read from that same chapter a few verse before.  See Ephesians 6:10-12.

 

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, we are at war this morning, and you have to choose your side today.  Will you choose Jesus or will you choose the devil?

 

 

1. An Accusation of Demonic Activity, Luke 11:14-15

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.”

 

All of a sudden, right here in front of us, Jesus is casting out a demon.  The demon was living in a man and wasn’t allowing him to speak.  He was mute.

 

However, when Jesus made the demon leave the man, he miraculously could talk again.  I can only imagine his first words may have been, “Thank you Jesus!  Praise God!  Hallelujah,” and the crowds marveled at what had taken place.

 

However, there were some who doubted Jesus’ power and authority.  They accused Him of working with the devil to cast out this demon.

 

BTW…in a few weeks, when we get to Luke 12, Jesus talks about the unpardonable sin or the unforgivable sin.  What is it?  It is attributing to the devil what only God can do.

 

Only God can cast out demons.  Jesus was acting on behalf of God and as God!

 

 

2. An Explanation about Spiritual Rivalry, Luke 11:16-20

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.

 

In verse 16, there was another group from the crowd who desired to test Jesus.  They wanted Him to perform a sign.

 

However, because He was and is God and is all-knowing or omniscient, He knew their thoughts and gave them this explanation about spiritual rivalry. 

 

First, a kingdom or nation divided against itself cannot stand.  We see this all around the world with what are often called “civil wars.”

 

On some occasions, it has seemed like we were close to that in our country again like we did in the late 1800’s.  At times, it is probably more accurate to call us, “The Divided States of America.”

 

Next, a house divided against itself cannot stand.  We see this often with families who have been fractured and split over fights and disagreements. 

 

We see this most clearly in marital relationships.  A husband and wife who are divided cannot stand together and end up divorcing.

 

Therefore, Satan isn’t going to cast out demons.  Why not?  His kingdom can’t flourish if he does that.

 

These folks accused Jesus of working for Satan.  Beelzebub is another name for the devil.

 

Originally, this name was for Baal, the god of the Canaanite nations.  It then morphed to Beelzebul, prince of demons.  Then, it changed to Beelzebub or lord of the flies.

 

Regardless, in this context, it was another name for the devil. They were accusing Jesus of working for him.

 

However, Jesus caught them in quandary.  If He was casting out demons with the devil’s power, whose power and authority were the Jewish leaders using when they were casting out demons?

 

Jesus caught them.  They were using God’s power, and verse 20 says Jesus was too!  Jesus was God in the flesh standing before them.

 

3. An Illustration of the Impossibility of Religious Neutrality, Luke 11:21-26

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.”

 

The end of our text this morning is a parable that Jesus told.  It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. 

 

In other words, it is an illustration.  This parable illustrates the truth that there is no such thing as religious neutrality.

 

The strong man is Satan.  His palace is his kingdom.  His goods are his demons and those he possesses.

 

Satan cannot be overtaken except by someone who is stronger, one who can bind him.  Jesus is stronger than Satan.  The Lord Jesus will then set free all who belong to Satan and take them for Himself.

 

BTW…whether you are talking about the cross or the resurrection or the Jesus’ return, Jesus has defeated Satan.  That is the truth!

 

Look at verse 23.  Either you are with Jesus or against Jesus. 

 

You can’t say, “I haven’t decided yet.”  Your lack of a decision is your decision.  Delayed obedience is disobedience.

 

When Jesus comes into your heart and Satan leaves, I’m sorry to say this, but Satan will tempt you and test you to see how solid your commitment to Jesus is.

 

If you’ve decided and you are firm in your commitment, Satan doesn’t have a chance.  He has been bound by Jesus.

 

However, if you waver, if your commitment isn’t firm, if you’re hanging on to elements of your past and your lostness, you should be worried. The devil will come back and try his best to wreck your life completely. 

 

Conclusion

You have to choose your side today.  See 1 Corinthians 10:21.

 

21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons.

 

Are you going to choose Jesus today?  Are you going to choose His ways today?  Are you going to choose baptism today or church membership today or tithing today?

 

Either you are for Him or against Him.  Choose Jesus today!