Thoughts on Luke 11:24-26

Read Luke 11:24-26.

There is no such thing as spiritually neutrality!  People act, though, as if there is such a thing.  They want to be rid of their demons, then keep an empty "house" (empty of Jesus, that is).  What people need, after the eviction of demons, is a move-in by a permanent tenant named Jesus.  To refuse Jesus means they want self-improvement instead of repentance.  In God's eyes there is no difference between a respectable sinner and a vile one.

There are three "houses" to consider:
1.  The occupied house.
2.  The unoccupied house.
3.  The re-occupied house.

The owner cleans and orders his house, thinking that an improved life (life without demons and torment) is the goal.  Nothing changed for this owner.  He still calls the shots. The demon is evicted now, but Jesus has not been welcomed inside.  The man is still driven by his fleshly nature, improved as he thinks it is.

Deliverance Without Disturbance (Mt. 8:34)

Read Matthew 8:34.

What upset the pig herders so much that the town asked Jesus to leave?  They weren't put off by the transformation of those who used to be demon-possessed.  Who wouldn't rejoice in that?  It was when Jesus' intervention went beyond the spiritual domain that the town asked Him to leave. The pig herders and other tradesmen allowed for lives to be changed but not for livelihoods to be compromised.  Jesus was welcome to heal, preach and bless so long as those activities didn't limit their business. In other words, "Stay out of our business, Jesus. Expel demons -- make our lives better -- but don't touch our idols."

Is there an area in your life that is off-limits to Jesus?  Why do you think you made it so?  What might you be afraid of?

The Return of The Unclean Spirit (Luke 11:24-26)

Read Luke 11:24-26.

• The impossibility of spiritual neutrality.
• The vacuum of a human spirit.  
• It is made for occupation.  
• Jesus doesn't want to be a visitor or a renter but an occupying Landlord (heart Lord).
• The insufficiency of mere morality.
• Morality, self-improvement and self-discipline, without Christ's occupying your heart, fall short.
• The question isn't whether or not your heart passes room inspection.  The question is whether or not Jesus lives and reigns in your heart.
• All that is required for demon-possession is for Jesus to be not living in your heart.
• You must do more than get the demon out and get the dirt out.
• You must get Jesus in.

Epilepsy And A Demon (Mt. 17:18)

Read Matthew 17:114-21 for context,

The boy Jesus healed was an epileptic (Mt. 17:15, MEV).  That was the natural cause.  Jesus saw the supernatural cause -- a demon -- and dealt with it.  Would you or I have been so sensitive?  So bold? Before you make such an equation -- that what looks like epilepsy is actually demon activity -- you had better know that you heard from God.  Certainly this account isn't teaching that all epileptic activity is demonic.

The Excuse That Prevented Belief (Mk. 3:30)

Read Mark 3:30. 

The scribes (Mk. 3:22) said Jesus had a demon.  That demon was specified as an "unclean" spirit (Mk. 3:30).  It wasn't just that the scribes said Jesus was demon-possessed.  That accusation was evil, false and arrogant, but Jesus seemed willing to forgive it (Mk. 3:28).  The greater sin of the scribes was in creating an excuse whereby, believing it, they and people could appear justified in constantly rejecting Jesus.

What self-made excuse keeps you from yielding to Jesus' invitation and commands?

Relief And Belief (Mk. 9:14-29)

Verse 24 -- I noticed the words"with tears" (MEV).  What Jesus said to the man (Mk. 9:23) got to him.  The man repented of his lack of faith and confessed that, though he believed now, there was an internal battle raging.  His heart and his head were at war.

Observations

1. Everyone needed something from Jesus.  The possessed man needed deliverance, the father of the possessed man needed belief, and the disciples of Jesus needed Him to finish what they couldn't.
2. The need for belief superseded the need for relief.  Repentance was a higher priority than having changed circumstances.

Questions

1. What is it that I need from Jesus?
2. Is my "belief" conditional or absolute?  Is it professional or "real" and personal?  ("Professional belief" -- Now there is a subject to investigate!)
3. How disturbed am I by any lack of belief that surfaces in me?