Spiritual Warfare
Jesus’ Encounters with Demons Part 4 of 7
Matthew 9:32-33
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
34 But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."
We still live in a world where people are hopelessly bound by evil spirits
We medicate, we lock up, we ignore, but not Jesus
Let’s be more than ‘amazed’ as the crowds were in Jesus’ day
The Pharisees could not recognize the power of the Holy Spirit
Let’s not make the same mistake
We need to recognize the power of the Holy Spirit to cast out demons
Jesus’ Encounters with Demons Part 4 of 7
Matthew 9:32-33
In Matthew 9:32-33…
We don’t get a lot of information
as Jesus cast out the demon
of a man who was mute.
This is another case where others brought
the demon-possessed person to Jesus.
There were people who wanted
to help demon-possessed people.
You have to wonder…
If these caring people had tried other methods
to get help for the demon-possessed person.
Did they seek help in the past
at the house of worship?
Did they try to get medical help?
We don’t know, but…
We do see people bringing seemingly
hopeless people to Jesus.
Are there believers today
who are willing to help those who
are hopeless cases get to Jesus?
What would we, the church, do…
If compassionate people
brought demon-possessed people
to the church for help?
Remember…
The father who brought his demon-possessed son
to the disciples and they could not cast the demon out?
Jesus was frustrated
that the disciples could not do it.
And the disciples asked why.
Maybe we need to ask why
we are not able to set people free from demons.
We see the possessed man was delivered,
spoke and the crowd was amazed.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of doing
His miracles by the power of the devil.
What we do see here is…
This is one of two occasions where Jesus
was accused of performing His miracles
by the devil’s power.
Matthew 9:34…
But the Pharisees said,
"It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."
Matthew 12:24…
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said,
"It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons,
that this fellow drives out demons."
On four other occasions…
The Pharisees accused Jesus
of preaching His message
by the power of the devil.
John 7:20…
"You are demon-possessed," the crowd answered.
"Who is trying to kill you?"
John 8:48…
The Jews answered him,
"Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan
and demon-possessed?"
John 8:52…
At this the Jews exclaimed,
"Now we know that you are demon-possessed!
Abraham died and so did the prophets,
yet you say that if anyone keeps your word,
he will never taste death.
John 10:20…
Many of them said,
"He is demon-possessed and raving mad.
Why listen to him?"
We still live in a world
where people are hopelessly bound
by evil spirits.
We medicate, we lock up, we ignore…
But not Jesus.
Let’s be more than ‘amazed’
as the crowds were in Jesus’ day.
The Pharisees could not recognize
the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let’s not make the same mistake.
We need to recognize the power of the Holy Spirit
to cast out demons.
Scripture Reading
Matthew 9:32-34 NIV
32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
34 But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons."
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