THE GOSPEL OF LUKE THE LIFE & STORIES OF JESUS

SERMON TEXT: Luke 11:14-26 3

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 4

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 5

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first. Luke 11:14-26 ESV 6

A Kingdom Divided.

I know someone will ask me, Do you really mean, at this time of day, to re-introduce our old friend the devil- hoofs and horns and all? Well, what the time of day has to do with it I do not know. And I am not particular about the hoofs and horns. But in other respects my answer is Yes, I do. I do not claim to know anything about his personal appearance. If anybody really wants to know him better I would say to that person. Don t worry. If you really want to, you will. Whether you ll like it when you do is another question. CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

Three Kingdoms

Three Kingdoms - kingdom of Satan - Kingdom of God - kingdom of Self

A Kingdom Guarded

One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees with Dualism that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living ma part of the universe occupied by the rebel. CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

A Kingdom Guarded - a strongman guards the palace - one stronger comes and overcomes him - strips his armor and divides the spoils

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 14

A Kingdom Guarded - a strongman guards the palace - one stronger comes and overcomes him - strips his armor and divides the spoils - this is Jesus taking back what the Enemy has stolen

Enemy-occupied territory that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening--in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going. He does it by playing on our conceit and laziness and intellectual snobbery. CS Lewis, Mere Christianity

Neutrality

Neutrality - I don t want to get involved - I d rather keep to myself until things play out - I m just focussing on me and mine

It is impossible to be neutral in spiritual matters, for neutrality means standing against Him.

So how do I get engaged in the Kingdom of God?

So how do I get engaged in the Kingdom of God? By recognizing our need to pray and being drawn to deep compassionate action.

Self-will and prayer are both ways of getting things done. At the center of self-will is me, carving a world in my image, but at the center of prayer is God, carving me in his Son's image. Paul Miller

If you are not praying, then you are quietly confident that time, money, and talent are all you need in life. You'll always be a little too tired, a little too busy. But, if like Jesus you realize you can't do life on your own, then no matter how busy, no matter how tired you are, you will find the time to pray. Paul Miller

The kingdom of self is a place of seeming neutrality. Neutrality does not exist in regard to standing with Christ. Neutrality means standing against the works of God. We must not simply remain empty of evil but we must be filled with the very nature and presence of God.

The insistence on the absolutely indiscriminate nature of compassion within the Kingdom is the dominant perspective of almost all of Jesus' teaching. What is indiscriminate compassion? 'Take a look at a rose. Is it possible for the rose to say, "I'll offer my fragrance to good people and withhold it from bad people"? Or can you imagine a lamp that withholds its rays from a wicked person who seeks to walk in its light? It could do that only by ceasing to be a lamp. And observe how helplessly and indiscriminately a tree gives its shade to everyone, good and bad, young and old, high and low; to animals and humans and every living creature -- even to the one who seeks to cut it down. This is the first quality of compassion -- its indiscriminate character.' (Anthony DeMello,) What makes the Kingdom come is heartfelt compassion: a way of tenderness that knows no frontiers, no labels, no compartmentalizing, and no sectarian divisions. Brennan Manning

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE THE LIFE & STORIES OF JESUS