“Empty to Filled” series week 2

“Filled with Presence”

Review:

Last week we looked at the story of David and his men as they arrived from battle only to find their homes destroyed and their families taken captive.

It was in the midst of great loss and devastation that we saw, “David encouraged himself in the Lord.”

We talked about the possible ways David was able to encourage himself, and we discussed the lessons we can learn from David’s life that will help us encourage ourselves in the Lord.

Today:

I want to discuss being “Filled with the Presence of God.”

Introduction:

The context of our text for this morning is seen as Jesus is conducting His earthly ministry of teaching and healing.

As was often the case, He was questioned and rebuked by the religious leaders of His day.

Jesus heals a man with a withered hand which starts a conversation and debate as to how he could heal.

Some accused him of healing by the power of the devil rather than the power of God.

This accusation brought strong rebuke for Jesus.

It was in his rebuke that we received statements such as: “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Jesus proceeds to interact with the religious leaders as they accuse him of driving out demons by the power of Satan.

They seem unable or unwilling to accept the teaching of Jesus with full evidence of God’s authority working in and through Him.

It is at this point that Jesus provides a teaching which will serve as our text for today.

Matthew 12:43-45

English Standard Version (Chapter 12)

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it 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. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Opening Observations:

We see that an individual can be possessed by demonic spirits.

Christian can be oppressed but not possessed

Equally, the one bound can also be set free or cleansed from the demonic spirit.

When the individual is cleansed, Jesus said that the demons seek rest but are unable to find any.

Then, Jesus says that the demons will come back to their former residence and look for opportunity to re-enter into the individual’s life.

The key statement is found in: “it finds the house empty.”

Once discovered as empty, the demon then re-enters the individual with seven other demons worse than itself, and Jesus says, “the last state of the person is worse than the first.”

There are 2 fundamental principles in Christ’s teaching:

Deliverance: emptying the house

Filling: bringing in a new occupant

The key issue that afforded the demon opportunity to re-enter was due to the fact that the house remained empty.

Although the Christian cannot become possessed by a demon, spiritual oppression is very active in attacking the mind.

Spiritual oppression . . .

Spiritual oppression in the believer’s life results in ongoing mental and emotional torment

Spiritual oppression can be broken by the authority of Christ

Spiritual oppression can return in the believer’s life if/when they do not fill themselves with God’s Word and Spirit.

The ongoing battle for freedom . . .

1. The Cycle of Spiritual Warfare: Even after experiencing deliverance and freedom in a particular area, believers must remain vigilant and cautious. Without continued reliance on God's strength and guidance, there is a risk of falling back into old patterns of agreement with the enemy.

2. Vulnerability to Re-Engagement: Despite experiencing liberation, there may still be lingering vulnerabilities or areas of weakness that the enemy seeks to exploit.

3. Opportunity for Re-Entrance of Bondage: This underscores the importance of ongoing spiritual discernment and resistance against the enemy's schemes.

4. Need for Continued Vigilance and Renewal: Spiritual growth and maturity involve a continuous process of renewing the mind and resisting the schemes of the enemy.

5. Emphasis on Agreement: By aligning ourselves with God's truth and resisting the lies and deceptions of the enemy, we can maintain our freedom and guard against spiritual bondage.

How do we fill the house?

Matthew 13: 1-9

English Standard Version Chapter 13

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

The seed is sown.

What seed are we receiving?

The seed is a thought, question, perspective, attitude.

In the parable, the seed is the Word of God

The condition of the soil determines receptivity.

What takes root depends on the soil

If the soil of my soul is hardened, I will reject the Truth of God.

Rejection of God’s truth exposes my “soil” to the thorns of the enemy

The key to being filled is good soil which produces fruit.

Good soil is prepared for the seed

Good soil is productive

Productivity for God’s Kingdom will safeguard our hearts and minds against the enemy

Summary . . .

A Christian can experience spiritual oppression.

The authority of Christ can break oppression.

Once free, the believer must “fill the house” with God’s presence.

The way we fill the house is to prepare the soil of our minds to receive God’s Word and become productive in God’s Kingdom.

The enemy will attempt to re-approach formerly bound areas of our lives, but the presence of God’s Word and active involvement in God’s Kingdom will safeguard our hearts and minds.