Luke 11:14-28: The King You Cannot Ignore

Introduction

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/failed-atlanta-nail-salon-robbery_n_64ac3fc9e4b0b6417638ba07 - Ignoring an armed robbery! Not what you expect!

We live in a culture that would like to ignore Jesus and His church - a culture that wants to act like Jesus doesn’t exist.

BUT… Jesus is the King this world cannot ignore. Jesus it the King you cannot ignore.

I don’t want you to ignore Jesus! You’re thinking, “I’m not ignoring Jesus. I’m at church on a Sunday morning, how could I be ignoring Jesus?” Yet, we get really good at ignoring Jesus. We might give him an hour of our time on Sunday mornings, but live the rest of the week ignoring Him and what He desires from us.

Jesus making clear to us in the Gospels - you cannot ignore Him. You either follow Him, or you don’t. There’s no neutrality. You will either align your life with His Kingdom, or you will align your life with the kingdom of this world. Jesus is the king you cannot ignore. If you do, it will ultimately cost you eternity.

Luke 11:14-29 contains some strange words from Jesus, but powerful. These words speak directly to where we are as a culture and how we should respond to our culture and to Jesus.

Four truths that you need to remember as you daily choose to live for the King you cannot ignore.

Explanation of the Text:

Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. On the way to His crucifixion, opposition building. Jesus’ words towards religious leaders will become more direct.

Jesus drives out a demon that caused a man to be mute. Everyone amazed when man speaks. Another amazing miracle!

Casting out of demons: A reminder of two competing kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world (John 12:31, Ephesians 2:2, 1 John 5:19, 2 Corinthians 4:4).

We can’t dismiss the reality of Satan and demons. Does demonic possession happen today? Absolutely (stories from the mission field where there’s little Gospel influence). We may not often see demonic influence/possession manifest in all the ways we read in the Bible, but there is a real enemy who blinds the eyes of people. Followers of Jesus cannot be possessed. We are possessed by the Spirit of God.

When Jesus was on this earth an intensification of demonic power. Satan throwing everything he had at Jesus. In the OT, we don’t see much about demonic possession. After the Gospels and the first part of Acts, we don’t see much about demonic possession. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen, but probably an increase in demonic activity in days of Jesus. The enemy does not want Jesus to be victorious.

The focus of this passage is not the miracle but the response to the miracle.

vs. 15 - “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.” (2 Kings 1:2) The name has roots in Baal - the chief Canaanite god. In days of Jesus, Beelzebul = lord of the house - Beelzebul became a way to describe Satan himself.

What the crowd knew: God drives out demons. Apparently, they had seen others drive out demons. Jesus was not the only one who cast out demons. Driving out demons was evidence of God’s work (vs. 19). What the crowd didn’t want to admit: Jesus is from God.

Some in the crowd antagonistic toward Jesus: “You’re of the devil.” They were calling Jesus, God in the flesh, evil! Many today ignore Jesus by being antagonistic: “I can’t believe Jesus because...”

Others in the crowd skeptical (vs. 16): “We need a sign that you are of God.” An irrefutable sign from heaven… As if casting out a demon wasn’t enough. Many today ignore Jesus by being skeptical: “I’ll believe in Jesus when...” (1 Cor. 1:21-22)

vs. 17: Jesus knew the thoughts of every person in the crowd and responded with several stories that on the surface seem strange but help us know the nature of Jesus.

First illustration - vs. 17-19 - Jesus to those questioning: “It’s common sense. How can I be sided with Satan?” Jesus is casting out demons. Why would someone who is on Satan’s side cast out demons? It’s like a house divided - it’s like Satan destroying himself. Satan’s not out to destroy his own kingdom. vs. 18 - Jesus essentially asking, “Have you ever seen anyone cast out a demon in the name of Satan?” What more evidence did the people need that Jesus had come from God?

vs. 20 - “finger of God” - reference to Exodus 8:19 - Pharaoh’s magicians could not replicate the plague of gnats - only conclusion was that the plague was sent by God. Jesus making a huge claim - His works are the finger of God - He’s not simply a miracle worker. He has come bringing the Kingdom of God.

Second illustration - vs. 21-22 - Strong man = Satan -fully armed - powerful - his possessions = those he has control over. It seemed like no one more powerful than Satan - in some sense, control over this world, blinding people from the truth. Satan enslaving people to sin - holding people captive. BUT… One stronger, Jesus, has come. Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, has defeated Satan. He has rendered Satan powerless.

Imagine jaws dropping in the crowd - Jesus has claimed that He is more powerful than Satan. vs. 23 - Jesus: “There’s no neutrality. You can’t ignore me. You are either for me or against me.” You’re either in the Kingdom of God or ruled by the defeated kingdom of the enemy.

Third illustration- Perhaps the oddest thing Jesus says in this passage. An unclean spirit coming out and roaming? Point: unless you are under the control of Jesus, you will not be able to resist the work of the enemy. Jesus saying that in those who are not under the control of Jesus, times of demonic influence/possession more intense than others. Sometimes demonic influence completely leaves a person, and the person seems to get better. Their life looks moral, put together, etc. (The house is tidied up.)

People can get their act together without Jesus, but they can’t find real victory without Jesus. They may find themselves eventually under even greater demonic control. What’s the point? A person might find relief from the demonic for a season, but a person will not find victory over the demonic apart from Jesus.

You are NOT spiritually neutral - you are either controlled by Jesus or controlled by the evil one.

vs. 27 - 28 - A woman cries out: “Blessed is the womb that bore you...” (Luke 1:48) A woman honoring Jesus for His works and teaching. Jesus: “If you want to honor me, bless me, listen to my word and obey.” This woman and everyone left with a decision: will you obey Jesus or ignore Jesus?

Four truths this passage challenging us to consider:

Clemson/Carolina/Georgia/Alabama - you’ve chosen a side…

The world is not neutral.

Two realities: the kingdom of this world, the domain of darkness (Ephesians 2:1-3) and the Kingdom of God. These two kingdoms at war, but the victory has been won. You’re in one kingdom or the other, and you are influenced by either one or the other.

You need to know the enemy’s playbook. There’s an all out assault for your soul.

The enemy will use the antagonist to tell you that the things of God are evil and the things of this world are righteous. You so clearly see this in our culture right now. You hear things like, “The Christian faith is oppressive. The way they view women is oppressive. The way they view homosexuality/transgenderism is hateful. The way they brainwash their children is oppressive. Look at all the damage the church has caused throughout history, etc.” Followers of Jesus have not always represented Jesus well, but God is not evil. Nor is His church evil. His church is the bride of Christ. The Gospel is not oppressive. It’s good news. It’s freedom.

The world will tell you that what’s righteous is letting everyone live out their own truth in the name of equality for all. The world will tell you that what’s wrong and hateful is the Christian faith that oppresses people from living out their truth.

The enemy will use skepticism to keep you asking but never embracing. The enemy wants to keep people in a state of antagonism or skepticism all in attempt to get you to ignore the truth of Jesus. Questions of the skeptic: “Can I really believe that a good God sends people to hell?” “How can a loving God not let me love who I want to love? After all, love is love.” “I can’t give my life to Jesus unless all of my questions are answered the way I want them to be answered.” Or, I need more…

Your heart is not neutral.

You will choose a kingdom to align with. There’s no middle ground. You will choose to align yourself either with the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of this world.

Even as a child of God, your heart is prone to wander. Beware. You think you’re safe because you made a profession of faith. Easy to think that as a follower of Jesus that you are exempt from the schemes of Satan, but you are not. Satan cannot possess you. He cannot take away your salvation, but you can certainly choose to take your eyes off of your Savior and put them back on what you’ve been saved from. If you choose to listen to the voice of the enemy, don’t be surprised when your heart wanders. You may be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, but you still live in a broken, fallen world, and it is so easy to drift from what you know to be true and begin to believe again the lies of the enemy.

How many people have you seen drift? How many churches have we seen drift from the truth? There are churches in our area that would pride themselves as being affirming churches. Why? Our hearts not neutral. We are prone to wander from what God is revealed and believe the lies of the enemy. (Sparkle creed???)

You must choose daily the direction of your heart.

Luke 9:23 - take up your cross daily. A daily choice to align your life with the truth of the Gospel and follow Jesus in a world that is antagonistic to Jesus.

Be very aware of who or what influences you most. “Garbage in/garbage out.” NOT a legalistic message of “Don’t watch this, or don’t listen to that person, or don’t associate with those people.” Rather, a reminder of the subtle influence of the enemy. At every turn, A demonic worldview is being pushed down your throat. Are you allowing a demonic worldview to influence you? Are you allowing a demonic influence in your home?

Be very deliberate to choose to set your mind on things above. THIS is THE application. The plea of Paul in Colossians 3:1, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 4:8. Why this plea? Paul knows how easy it is for our hearts to wander. You know how easy it is for your heart to wander from the truth.

You can choose the voice you listen to each day, just know how that voice is trying to lead you/convince you. This is NOT a legalistic plea but a Gospel-centered directive: everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) because of what He has done for you. What I talk about: does it glorify God or glorify the kingdom of the world? What I listen to: does it glorify God or does it glorify the kingdom of world? What I watch? What I allow to entertain me? What I allow to inform me?

It’s not just avoiding what’s evil/demonic. The more I put myself under the influence of Christ the more I recognize the ploys of the enemy.

Some of you are playing with the kingdom of this world not recognizing the damage it’s causing to your own soul. Repent and choose to set your heart and mind on the God that loves you.

This passage calling us to make a decisive decision: Will you embrace the true King or ignore Him? To ignore the King is to ignore the eternal salvation He wants to give you. To embrace the King is to reject the kingdom of this world and find real life.

Today, embrace the King. Believe this King came to die for you. Believe that He rose again so that you could be forgiven and brought into a relationship with Him.