Are Both Feet in the Boat?

Are Both Feet in the Boat?

Series: The Gospel Truth

Text: Luke 11:14-28

Introduction: (What?)

Perhaps you have experienced trying to step off a dock into a boat. Sometimes you have one foot on the dock and the other in the boat. That is not a good thing especially if the boat begins to float away from the dock. Unfortunately many who claim to follow Christ find themselves in a similar situation. They have one foot in the world and the other (they think) in Christ. Jesus had something to say about that in Luke 11.

Examination: (Why?)

1. Oil and Water

Lk 11:14-20 “Now he was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven. Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

What the people (Matthew identified them as Pharisees) did here was blasphemy. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit has to do with slandering Jesus Christ of being demon-possessed instead of Spirit-filled. A broader understanding of blasphemy is to attribute to the devil the works of God and vice-versa. Beelzebub (Lord of the Flies) was the chief god of the Philistines. When they accused Jesus of driving out a demon by the power of Beelzebub, they were committing blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. In Matt 12:32 Jesus said; “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.” Consequently we have the term “unforgivable sin” which comes from this passage.

Interestingly, those who “said” this, must have only been thinking it because in v 17 Luke wrote; “Knowing their thoughts, he told them...” Let’s pause there for a moment. Often we think that if we don’t verbalize every thought we have, then it is of no effect. However, every sin we ever commit begins in the mind. That is contrary to the teachings of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount He said in Matt 5:27-28 ““You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

In Mark 7:21-23 He said, “For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.””

That is why Paul urged the Corinthians to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5)

Back to our text; In vv 17-20 Jesus clearly told them how ridiculous there thoughts and words were. Demons belong to the realm of Satan. Why would he drive out his own henchmen who were doing his bidding? That would be counter-productive. Then He mentioned the fact that their own exorcists Back to our text; In vv 17-20 Jesus clearly told them how ridiculous there thoughts and words were. Demons belong to the realm of Satan. Why would he drive out his own henchmen who were doing his bidding? That would be counter-productive. Then He mentioned the fact that their own exorcists (Acts 19:13) claimed to cast out demons and He asked, “by whom do your sons drive them out?”

Then Jesus said “If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Oops! Busted!

Be careful not to attribute the works of God to coincidence or global warming or a particular political group. God is still on His throne. Nothing happens without His direction or permission. And whatever He directs or permits is designed to fulfill His purpose which is to build a family of faith to live with Him for eternity in the place He is preparing even now.

2. Choose Sides

Remember when we were kids and about to play ball or some other team sport we would start by “choosing sides”. Once you were on a side it was expected that you would do all you could to see that your side won. Jesus made it clear that we had to make a choice between him and Satan, and the choice would be shown by whether or not we are “with” Him. To be with Him means to follow Him in obediently by faith.

Lk 11:21-23 “When a strong man, (Satan) fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. But when one stronger than he (Jesus) attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.”

I heard a pastor say once “Satan is not all powerful, but he is stronger than you. He is not all wise, but he is wiser than you. He can’t be everywhere at once, but he has millions of demons that he assigns to different parts of his realm.”

We must realize that we must choose between Satan and Jesus. And BTW, choosing “self-rule” is choosing Satan. Jesus was unequivocal when He said “Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.” There is no middle ground and no neutrality. You are either with Christ or against Him. He gives no other options.

3. Completely in or Out

Lk 11:24-28 ““When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ Returning, 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 settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.” As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!” He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.””

An unsaved person is possessed by an unclean spirit. Salvation involves deliverance where the unclean spirit is pushed out by the Spirit of God who comes to indwell the believer. However, the saved person has a responsibility in order to thrive in their new life. They must read God’s Word, pray, confess every sin that the Holy Spirit points out and obey the commands of Jesus, otherwise they will find themselves falling back into the old habits and hangups and even worse. They will be miserable because the Holy Spirit will be constantly pressing them to repent of their sins and obey the commands of Jesus. This battle goes on throughout our earthly life. For that reason Paul wrote Ephesians 6 about spiritual armor and spiritual warfare. Also for that reason, Jesus said in Matt 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” In the letters to the seven churches in Revelation the phrase “the one who conquers” is used by Jesus describing those who would occupy His kingdom. Your faith will be constantly tested throughout your physical life.

People have misunderstood the concept of “once saved, always saved”. Many think that once they walk an aisle, pray a prayer and get wet in baptism, they can float on to heaven whether they ever darken the door of a church, crack open their Bible or pray to God except when they are in deep trouble. Yes, you only need to be saved once, but no, you can’t just sit back and float. If you have truly surrendered to Jesus, you will want to read His Word; you will want to pray; you will want to confess sins; you will want to obey His commands. Don’t be mistaken this is a battle that we must wage day after day until Jesus comes or until we go to be with Him. Our endurance is proof of our salvation.

In a moment we’re going to sing a song that asks some pertinent questions. I challenge you to take them seriously and if the Holy Spirit prompts you, repent and surrender to Jesus…either for the first time if you’ve never done it, or for the 100th time if needed to get back in fellowship with the LORD.

Application: (Am I in or out of the boat of salvation?)