Dealing with the Empty House

Matthew 12:43–45 ESV

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 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. 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.”

Pray

Recap

Sweep the House

Put the house in Order

The house is found Empty

Left without Custody

Left with no one living in it.

Spirit returns and brings 7 more with it

Question: Who needs to move in?

Revelation of the Word

Turn to Revelation 3

Prior to this there are a people who believe they have it all, they have done it all on their own.

a. Jesus gives these traits of the vacant house

i. wretched; pitiable; blind; poor

Revelation 3:20 ESV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The Lord is knocking in your door (not the lost)

He wants to come into you

He wants to dine with you

what I am hopeful you will take with you is;

Salvation is the beginning, Christ, the giver of the 7 Spirits of God, must be seated on the throne of your heart.

The House Christ Occupies

Romans 8:3–4 ESV

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Works of the Flesh

Selfish tendencies or living for the self

Doing things even for the Lord as if to please Him

We are supposed to be vessels of the Spirit of God

Flesh is not pleasing to the Lord

Romans 8:8 ESV

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Things of the flesh; done in the flesh cannot please God

Even the best intended action is not pleasing to Him if it is not what He desires

You are a dwelling of the Lord

Romans 8:9 ESV

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

It is because your were made to be a dwelling place of God that Jesus stands at your door and knocks.

When the Spirit of God dwells in you you are no longer in the flesh

The Spirit of God is not a backpack

The Spirit of God is not an after thought

The Spirit of God is the very essence of our God and must be in you

If you are His then the Spirit of Christ must be in you

Jesus carries the 7 Spirits of God and for this reason must be seated on the throne of your heart.

There is a harmony that is needed for the Spirit Soul and Body to be integrated and connected to the Lord. This is can only happen when Christ is occupying the house that has been swept and put in order.

Walking Around with an Empty House

Acts 8:14–18 ESV

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

Saved but not filled

They had the word of God

They had been baptized into the body

The things of the Spirit were missing

Progression to be more than a guest at the wedding

At least I am saved no longer works

The truth found here is that the Spirit of God is an essential part of our growth

No need to fear the filling of the Holy Spirit; without it we are an Empty House

Question: How powerful was this event that a very well known magician (who operated in real power) wants to buy the Holy Spirit and the ability to give it to others?

Danger of an Empty House

Example Judas Iscariot

Walked with Jesus

Ate with Jesus

Had the Living Word with Him and yet was a vacant house

John 13:2 ESV

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

Judas in all the exposure to Jesus

Operated in the Flesh when things did not look the way he wanted it to

Tried to provoke or manipulate Jesus to do what he thought it was supposed to be

Judas was Master of his own destiny and would have it no other way.

He came into agreement with Satan

John 13:11 ESV

For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Jesus washes all of the disciples feet

Identifies there is one that was not clean

The work of sweeping and putting in order was done with Judas but he would not give custody to the Lord

John 13:27 ESV

Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

Progression that led for a full blown possession

What we see in Judas is what we have been working on all along

a. Sweeping the house

b. Putting the house in order

c. Failing to give possession of our home to the Lord

whatever unclean Spirits had departed Judas in the process are now returning and bringing back 7 until he is completely possessed

You cannot be God to yourself and say Jesus has custody or occupies your heart

Answer the Door

Revelation 3:20 ESV

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Jesus is knocking

without Him all we do; all we are; all we will ever be is;

Wretched; Pitiable; Blind; Poor

Jesus comes into you

you no longer live for yourself but you live for Christ

Jesus dines with you

your provision comes from the Lord

He prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies

Today is the day to surrender and give him possession of your heart that you would only do what He wants, speaks what He speaks, and go where He sends you.