Spiritual Warfare
Jesus’ Encounters with Demons Part 2 of 7
Matthew 12:22; Luke 11:14
When Jesus delivered a man who was demon-possessed, blind and mute
We get the shortest and most action-packed miracle Jesus did
Matthew 12:22 and Luke 11:14
We don’t get any more information on the man possessed
Then he was demon-possessed, blind and mute and Jesus healed him
But when Jesus confronted the Pharisees who heard of the miracle
We get a lot of information on demon activity
Where it comes from and how to deal with it
Warning of rejecting good
And
The type of fruit we are filled with
Spiritual Warfare
Jesus’ Encounters with Demons Part 2 of 7
Matthew 12:22; Luke 11:14
The shortest and most action-packed miracle Jesus did
is found in Matthew 12:22 and Luke 11:14.
Jesus delivered a man who was demon-possessed
and was blind and mute.
Jesus healed him and restored him
so he could talk and see.
Imagine how much Jesus did for this man…
Maybe more than He did for anyone else.
No wonder the people were “astonished”
and wondered if He was the Messiah, the “Son of David”.
We are left with astonishment.
That is all we know about this miracle…
But the reaction of the Pharisees is action-packed.
There was a group of Pharisees that heard
about this miracle and said…
“It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons,
that this fellow drives out demons.”
Jesus addressed their thoughts
and challenged them on how their disciples drive out demons.
It would seem the Pharisees’ disciples were not able
to drive out demons…
So Jesus said let them judge how you drive out demons.
But Jesus gives us some powerful effects
and points of deliverance.
The first is the power comes from the Holy Spirit
and the second is when you see deliverance
you see what the Kingdom of God is like.
Jesus warns the Pharisees of Blasphemy
of the Holy Spirit.
31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:31-32
Jesus also gives us more understanding
on demon activity.
Jesus talked about a strong man who guards his house.
That man’s possessions are safe
unless the strong man can be tied up
and striped of his armor in which he trusts.
21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
Luke 11:21-22
Maybe this is a warning to us as believers
that we should put on the armor of God…
Found in Ephesians 6
And fully trust in each piece of that armor.
Jesus teaches on fruit in the context of deliverance.
If you are filled with evil,
evil things will come out of you.
The question is what do we store inside of us?
It is those words and thoughts that will be judged
Could it be that when Jesus says…
You brood of vipers,
how can you who are evil say anything good?
Matthew 12:34
Jesus was referring to them being so full of the devil
that they are like the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
Jesus also gives us a look into what demons,
evil spirits look for in a person to possess…
43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
Matthew 12:43-45
It is not enough to be clean and empty of evil…
You have to fill yourself with good,
the things of God.
In this story we are…
Amazed at Jesus’ power to give sight,
speech, deliverance for demon possession.
The power to cast out demons
comes from the Holy Spirit..
Who reveals the Kingdom of God.
And Jesus says…
It is done by a small part of the body,
the “finger”.
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God…
Luke 11:20
We are warned about blasphemy.
of the Holy Spirit…
Calling what the Spirit of God
does as the Devil’s work.
Trust in the armor…
Don’t let the enemy strip you of it.
Doesn’t matter who you are
even a religious leader…
If you allow yourself to be filled with evil…
You will be possessed and look just like the devil,
that serpent of deception in the Garden of Eden.
Demons are looking for empty vessels…
People who are not filled with the Spirit and His fruit.
If this briefly mentioned miracle
of deliverance of a demon possessed man, blind and mute is not enough
Then don’t ask for another miracle
it will only reveal your wickedness.
Jesus delivered a man
who was demon-possessed, blind and mute.
Jesus healed him and restored him
so he could talk and see.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 12:22-45 NIV
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons."
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."
39 He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.
43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."
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