The Stronger Man
Notes
Transcript
Intro
I teach OT at Montreat. First thing I do, explain the different kingdoms throughout Scripture. One my favorite ways to understand the Bible. Time of Jesus = The Present Kingdom.
Need: Is the kingdom here now or is it still to come? Let’s look at this text.
Luke 11:14-23
Main Idea: God’s Kingdom has come in Jesus
After teaching them how to pray, he begins casting out a demon. Much of this text will bring up issues that we won’t cover fully today. We will in the coming weeks.
How: Jesus is working in the power of God (14-20)
Exp. The coming of God’s kingdom must be within his power. Look at the different responses: Verse 14-16. Three responses:
Marveled. To be amazed. He was mute, and is no longer mute. Typical response to Jesus. Speechless. Proof the demon is exorcised = he speaks.
Slandered. Verse 15. Beelzebul is a synonym for Satan. Also the name of a Philistine god. Israelites inquired about him in 2 Kings 1. God left Israel to suffer because they pursued this false god. Now, they use it for Satan, the enemy of God. Jesus will address this response.
Skeptical. Verse 16. They wanted a clearer sign. Exorcising demons is not enough. He answers this later in the text. Pretty typical to get a different response from so many people.
Ill. If I started singing Rocky Top. Some would sing with me, some would roll their eyes, some would think it was sacrilegious, and some wouldn’t know what was happening. One event, multiple responses.
Exp. His immediate response is to the slander. Verse 17-18. Knew their thoughts. Kingdom divided will fall. If Jesus is under the power of Satan, why would he be casting out demons? Destroying his own plan. Verse 19. Jews had exorcists. They do this same thing. Logically, where does their power come from? Finally answers. Verse 20. Not Satan: God. Two other times the finger of God is mentioned. After the third plague, the magicians said it to Pharaoh. Moses says it with the tablets. The plagues, the Law, casting out demons, was just the power in his finger.
Christ - God has more power in his finger than the false gods of Egypt, false gods of Philistines, and Satan’s demons combined! And it is being used by the Son of God who is God in flesh. This is proof that the kingdom has come. Satan’s dominion is over. Demons shudder, sin runs away, and death fails in the kingdom of God. The finger of God brought salvation in OT, and in NT.
Why: Jesus comes to destroy Satan’s kingdom (21-22)
Exp. We keep reading into a parable. Verse 21-22. We must define the characters. The strong man = Satan. Armed and guards his palace. Goods are safe. Stronger man = Jesus. Attacks and overcomes. Takes armor away and divides his spoil. Jesus is ushering in God’s kingdom by destroying Satan’s. In the same way that a divided kingdom cannot stand, two opposing kingdoms can’t be in the same place.
Ill. There is no coexisting with a spiritual kingdom. A Bama fan can be married to a Tennessee fan. UNC/Duke. Whatever rival you can conceive of can cohabitate. The spiritual realm is different. When Jesus comes, he’s Lord. Which means there can be no others.
Arg. Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Christ - He is the ancient of days who has dominion over all the earth. If Jesus has dominion, Satan can’t have dominion.
Now What? - You must choose (23)
Exp. Jesus has discussed Satan’s kingdom and his own coming. His power. His plan. Now, his application. Verse 23. One posture and one action.
Posture: Either with him or against him. You can’t be ambivalent. By not choosing Jesus, you are choosing to oppose him. The opposition of his kingdom is the kingdom of evil.
Action: Gather with him or scatter. The kingdom of evil is scattering because of his arrival. If you aren’t gathering with Jesus, you are scattering with Satan and the forces of evil. It is a losing side.
Ill. Cory. We would ask what the best of something was. He would never answer because he said it felt like saying the others are bad. That’s true here. If you choose Jesus, you are saying evil is bad. If you don’t, you’re against him and you will scatter like Satan.
Arg. Jesus has already said this in Luke 9:49-50
49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
Satan is not for you. He is absolutely against you.
Christ - Jesus came for you. The kingdom of Satan imprisons while Jesus sets you free. The kingdom of Satan divides but Jesus gathers together. Satan will have you believing you’re the worst, but Jesus said you’re worth his own life.
App. Choose
Choose Jesus. Gather with him and be for him.
Choose the way of Jesus. Choose what is true, not falsehood. What is building up, not tearing down. What gathers, and not divides.
Conclusion
We are living in the “already but not yet.” The kingdom is here, but it’s still coming. We live in victory, and we await the fullness of that.
