Jesus or the Devil, You Choose

“Jesus or the Devil, You Choose”

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We divide people into groups today, we have ethnic groups, and social classes-upper-class, middle class, lower-class, white-collar, blue-collar, men and women, young or old, religious are irreligious; and the list goes on.

But God divides the entire human race into only two categories; V:23-Read.

There are only two groups of people spiritually: those who are with Christ and those who are against Him; those who are God’s, and those who are Satan’s; those who are in the kingdom of light, and those who are in the kingdom of darkness; those who are righteous and those who are unrighteous; those who are saved and those who are lost. Everyone lives and dies in one of those two groups, one group is going to heaven, and one group is going to hell. It is Jesus or the devil. In the war between God and Satan, between truth and error, no one can be neutral. Either you accept Jesus Christ as the son of God, and follow him with all your heart and seek to advance his kingdom, as His child. Are you are in the kingdom of darkness, and you are against Jesus. You don’t have to attack Jesus, the bible, the gospel, or the church to be against him; all you have to do is not make a decision for him.

He that is not for me, is against me!

There is no neutral ground, there is no third option!

In these verses once again Jesus proves his power over the devil. Jesus has demonstrated over and over that he is the Son of God, who has all power in heaven and earth. It is clear to see Jesus power over disease, death and the devil; you would think anyone seeing his power would trust him as their Savior and Lord. But many of the religious leaders closed their eyes to the miracles of Jesus, and their closed their heart to the truth of who Jesus was. They had already determined that they would not accept Jesus as their Savior!

But Jesus with love and patience continues to confront these people with the truth of who he is; calling them to make a decision for him.

There are three parts to the drama that unfolds in these verses.

Part 1:

1. The Release of the Man.

This drama begins with one of the shortest miracle stories in the Bible, V:14-Read.

This is just the latest in a running battle between Jesus and the devil, starting with the temptation in the wilderness. Several times already Jesus had cast out demons in the book of Luke; he had cast an entire legion of demons out of the demoniac.

He had cast a demon out of a young man. In each one of those cases the devil was seeking to destroy them in different ways. This particular man had a demon that was making him mute, he was unable to express himself, he couldn’t talk. This demon had silenced this man’s tongue; had taken away his ability to communicate. This demon had so gripped this man’s mind, heart and tongue that he was trapped within himself, unable to express himself. Can you imagine not being able to verbalize the thoughts in your mind and heart? To not be able to say anything to anyone; the devil had affected his ability to communicate. He was a prisoner inside his own body. Someone said, it is God’s desire, and man’s great joy to talk with God and praise him with your tongue. The psalmist said, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto thee oh God my strength and redeemer.

-“that the words of your mouth build others up and minister grace unto those who hear you”.

Because our tongues have so much power, Satan wants to take away, stifle your communication with God. He wants to bind your spirit, and silence your tongue in prayer and praise to God.

This man is a picture of what Satan wants to do to every one of us: he wants to stifle your prayer life, and make you mute spiritually, Satan wants to disrupt your communication not only vertically, but also horizontally. Satan wants to isolate you from your spouse, family, and friends and lock you up in your own silent world, making you unable to communicate with God or others.

Whenever we failed to speak words of spiritual blessings to our spouses and families, are forget to pray, are do not use our tongues to share the gospel, we are playing into the hands of the devil.

God gave us our tongue to praise him, proclaim him, and bless and encourage others.

By not speaking to God, about God, and for God we are letting the devil have his way with our tongue.

What a sweet release it was for this man when Jesus cast out the demon and loosed his tongue where he could speak!

Can you imagine what it was like when he began to speak? I wonder what he said. I imagine that he is praising God and thanking the Lord Jesus for setting them free! I bet you couldn’t shut this guy up for days; for days he is praising God, and telling his family how much he loved them! No wonder the people were amazed!

We learn once again that Jesus is stronger than any demon, and that he has the power to restore people in body, soul and speech. This miracle also teaches us what happens when we come to know Jesus: our mouse are restored to their right and proper use. Instead of cursing God, and tearing others down without words, we are able to pray, and praise God, and speak words of love and encouragement to our friends and family. It is only by the grace of God that we can speak words of godliness and grace.

Today Jesus can put a new song in your mouth, a song of praise to God.

The second part to this drama is:

2. The Reaction of the People.

V:15-16.

The reaction of the people is the main reason this miracle is recorded in Luke’s Gospel. The reaction of the people, and the response of Jesus takes up much more space than the miracle itself. There are three reactions from the people:

· Some were amazed.

V:14-‘the people wondered”.

When this mute man began to talk, the people heard him, and they were amazed. They could not deny the miracle because it was obvious. Everybody saw this man healed, before he couldn’t speak, and now he can speak.

They knew that Jesus had done something supernatural, there was no way to deny a miracle had just taken place.

· Some rejected the miracle.

V:15-“they said, he cast out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the demons.”

They clearly saw something supernatural had happened, but instead of recognizing it was the power of God; they claimed that it was the work of the devil. Since they cannot deny the miracle, they determine to explain it away, by saying Jesus did this power the power of the devil.

When they said Jesus was working in the power of Beelzebub that was the most wicked, dirty, hateful, hurtful thing they could have possibly said about the power Jesus was working in. Matthew says it was blaspheming the Holy Ghost.

To identify Jesus with Beelzebub was a wicked slanderous thing! It was blasphemy to the highest degree. Beelzebub was a Phoenician god, the god of filth, the god of waste. The Phoenicians saw life come from filth and said, look at that, out of filth, stench, rottenness, garbage; out of purification comes life. Life comes from filth. And, so they worshipped the god of filth. The Pharisees said the pure, clean; Holy Lord Jesus Christ is casting out demons by the power of demons.

They were saying that Jesus was the devil’s tool; that he was in league with the devil, working for the devil, doing what he did by the power of the devil.

Since these people denied that Jesus was the son of God, working with the power of God; the only other alternative was he was working with the power of the devil.

They gave the credit for the deliverance of this man to Satan. They saw the supernatural work of God and would not allow themselves to believe it was from God!

People slandered God in much the same way today.

To look at the amazing creation and the complexity of man and say that it is the work of evolution is to slander God and rob Him of His Glory! The unbeliever says “the miracle of man’s existence and the miracle of this earth cannot be of God, there must be some naturalist explanation”. The evidence is staring you in the face, but you refuse to accept it.

-“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse”

To see the supernatural work of God in creation, and say God didn’t do it; isn’t science, its denial.

Another miracle that people deny today is the miracle of the Bible: The Bible is a miracle book, written over a period of 1600 years, on three continents, in three different languages, by 40 different authors. Yet it comes together in perfect unity to form one continues story. The story of God’s plan of redemption through His Son Jesus Christ! The Bible is scientifically accurate, historical correct, filled with fulfilled prophecies, is in perfect unity, and it is indestructible.

Jesus said Heaven and earth will pass away but my word will never pass away! And yet men ignore God’s word and say it is not a supernatural book; but it really is! Yet unbelieving man refuses to give God the credit for this book.

Another miracle right in the face of an unbelieving world is the Church. People who have been saved, and rescued from sin, death, and destruction, and made new in Jesus!! I was an 18 year old young man when I asked Jesus Christ into my heart on a hot July afternoon! Jesus changed my life-It was a miracle!! How do I know without a doubt Jesus Christ is the son of God that died on the cross and rose from the grave?

Because I’ve met him, and he saved me and changed my life, and I talked to him this morning!

Don’t dismiss the miracles God is letting you see today!

It takes a lot of work to dismiss the supernatural work of the Spirit of God in this world!

Some demanded more proof.

V:16-“and others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven”.

These were the skeptical people who tried to be neutral. They were not sure whether Jesus was doing the work of the devil are not, maybe his power did come from God, they were open to that possibility, but they demanded more proof. What Jesus was doing was not enough, they wanted something more. They wanted some sign from heaven before they would believe he was the savior, the son of God.

This attitude is common today; most people do not think they are hostile to Jesus. They would consider themselves spiritually open, and willing to consider what Jesus has to offer. But before they make a commitment, they think they need a sign of some kind that Jesus really is the Savior. What Jesus has already done is not enough for the skeptical unbeliever.

The truth is God has given more than enough evidence that he exist, and that his son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world! Many people who say they are skeptics have no real desire to know God at all. They reject Jesus, but never read the Bible to find out about Jesus. They are dishonest doubters.

The third part to this drama is:

3. The Response of Jesus.

V:17-26.

These people don’t want to accept that Jesus was working by the power of God. Jesus reads their minds… And then tells them what they are thinking. Don’t you think that reading your mind, would be sign enough that Jesus is the son of God? Jesus responds to the people’s accusation by telling them:

1. You are illogical.

V:17-18-Read.

Why would Satan undo the very work that he had been doing? Why would Satan’s silence this man’s praise, and bring him into bondage, and then deliver him from the very bondage he had put him in? This is illogical, it doesn’t make sense! A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand; if Satan is divided against Satan, then his kingdom will fall. Satan is not that dumb! Satan is smarter than a lot of Baptist Churches that are divided.

And by the way your home cannot stand when you and your wife are not working together in unity!

It was illogical for the people to say that this miracle was a work of the devil. They had to deny common sense to not recognize that Jesus was working by the power of God.

Jesus told them, you are illogical.

Jesus also told them:

2. You are inconsistent.

V:19-Read.

Their sons were casting out demons; and went they cast out demons they said, it was a sign that God was working through them. But that is not what they were saying about Jesus. When Jesus cast out demons, they said it was the work of the devil. This was inconsistent! Jesus said if you say I’m working for the devil, then you should say the same thing about your sons. Jesus caught them in their contradiction. Their attacks on Jesus were illogical and inconsistent. Every attempt to deny God’s work is illogical and inconsistent. God is our Creator, we cannot even deny his existence, without using the mind that he gave us. We cannot shake our fist in his face, without using the fist he made. How inconsistent it is for people who deny there is a God: to get angry and ask God to damn something. Do they believe that God has the power to do that? If not, then why do they keep asking him to do it?

Jesus also told them:

3. You are incorrect.

How did Jesus cast out this demon? Jesus wasn’t working for the devil, so where did he get his power over demons? Jesus answers that question in, V:20-Read.

Jesus tells them you are incorrect, I am not working by the power of Satan; but by the power of God! Jesus was doing His work:

V:20-“by the finger of God”

This expression has its origins in the book of Exodus, where Pharaoh’s magicians used it to describe the power of God in the plagues.

God worked wonder-working signs by sending the plagues on the land of Egypt; and those pagan magicians saw the plagues and declared;

“This is the finger of God”, this is the power of God.

But these people had witnessed the finger of God, the power of God casting out this demon and refuse to recognize it. The people were asking for a sign; but casting out this demon, and releasing this man should have been sign enough for them. They had witnessed a demonstration of the power of God before their very eyes.

They had seen a man touched by the finger of God, and set free to praise and speak for God.

To further help these people understand he was working by the power of God Jesus gave an illustration, V:21-22-Read.

The “strong man” in the story represents the devil, who stakes claim on a person’s life, and holds them captive in his fortress, under his iron grip. This is a frightening picture of the devil’s domain; the goods in his palace are the souls of people who are in bondage to sin. Satan has claimed them as his property; and they need to be rescued from his control. Anyone who doubts Satan strength to hold people captive needs to look at what’s happening in this world. Satan stands guard over his treasure, lost souls, wanting to hold on to every single one of them. If you have not been touched by the finger of God, and set free by the power of Jesus Christ; then you are still under the devil’s control, whether you know it or not. And try as hard as you can, in your own strength you will never be able to break free from Satan’s palace, because he is standing guard over your soul.

But praise God, there is, V:22, a stronger man… There is someone stronger than Satan; the Lord Jesus Christ!

In V;22, Jesus is described as a stronger man who attacks the devil’s palace, overthrows his guard, strips him of his armor, and takes the souls that Satan had locked in his dungeon of doom, and sets them free.

How did Jesus the “stronger one” overthrow the devil? Jesus overthrew the devil through the power of the cross! On the cross Jesus paid the price for our sins, and disarmed and defeated the devil.

Jesus died on the cross to destroy the works of the devil, to pay the price for our sins, and to reconcile us to God.

-“Jesus took on flesh and blood that through his death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”.

It is through the cross and the empty tomb that Jesus overpowers Satan and rescues us!

Jesus is stronger than the devil; and Jesus has the power to set you free today!

Do you believe in the power of Jesus Christ? Have you trusted in his death and resurrection for your deliverance?

When we are presented with the power of Jesus Christ, we have a choice to make: either we believe in his divine power and receiving as our Savior and Lord, or we decide to keep running with the devil.

There is no middle ground; we have to take sides.

There is no neutral zone, there is no, no man zone. There is no fence to sit on!

Jesus says, V:23-“He that is not with me is against me: and whoever does not gather with me scatters”.

This is the choice that every individual has to make: will I be for Jesus Christ, or against Jesus?

Many people would rather not have to choose; that’s what’s happening here in .

They saw Jesus cast out the demon, and some rejected him, saying he is working by the power of the devil. Others were amazed at what happened, and were open to the possibility he might be the savior. Yet they did not believe in him and commit themselves to him. They were not against Christ, but they were not for Christ. We see the same thing today, people who say I’m not against Christ, but I’m not going to trust him as my Savior and follow him either. There are people here this morning who worship on Sunday, and then go back and live in the world the rest of the week. Jesus says you cannot have it both ways; there is no middle ground. Jesus says, if you are not completely for me, then you are really against me!

You say, I choose not to choose; Jesus says then you have made your choice, you are against me.

He that is not with me is against me…

It is Jesus or the devil.

Jesus tells them you are incorrect, it is by the finger of God, the power of God that this demon has been cast out.

Jesus also told them:

4. You are incomplete.

V:24-26.

To not be for Jesus, to not have him in your heart and life, puts you in great spiritual danger.

That is the point of this illustration that Jesus gives:

The story goes like this; a demon moves out of this man for some reason, the man cleans up his life, sweeps it out, and has a moral Reformation. Throws out of his life all the things that pertain to the devil, sin, and remodels his life. But his life is incomplete, because he doesn’t invite the Lord Jesus to move into his life. It is not enough for you to clean up your life, by stopping all your bad habits, and starting good habits. Because all you have done is clean up an empty house, an empty heart.

This man makes a moral rebound, people look at him and say wow; he has really cleaned up his act.

But all he had done was clean up the outside of his life.

Satan left, but the spirit of God never moved in!

The man swept his soul, but never ask God to cleanse it!

So when the unclean spirit decided to return to the house, be-it-ever-so-tidy, it remained unoccupied. The demon knowing he could still occupy the man, went out and got 7 more wicked spirits to come and take up residency, and devour the man’s soul with him.

This is exactly what happens when a person makes a moral improvement by their own religious effort; without bowing their knees to the Lordship of Jesus Christ! There’s nothing more dangerous, than thinking that your moral, cleaned up life will deliver you from the power of Satan, and the damnation of your soul. You can have a morally clean life, and a spiritually empty life!

Jesus is warning these religious people, and us that morality and religion are seductive and deadly; they have no power against the devil.

I have seen people who have made a remarkable change in their life; they lay down their sin and vices, start attending church, small group, and look like they’ve made a remarkable recovery. But unless you put your faith in Jesus Christ, you do not have his spirit living within you.

Where the Holy Spirit dwells, no evil spirit will enter, but without the Holy Spirit there is nothing to lock the door against the devil.

Sooner or later all the old demons will return, and Jesus says, you will be worse off than before.

-“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

We are either for Jesus or against him. If we are for him, then his spirit lives inside us, and our souls are secure. But if we are not for Jesus, then someday Satan will come and take possession of your soul. There is no safety, salvation except in the Lord Jesus Christ! Your house must not just be clean, you need a new Jesus to move in. The powerful Lord Jesus must move in.

Please hear me, the devil must not only be cast out; the Holy Spirit must move in!

It is dangerous to be satisfied with any moral, religious change that falls short of a complete conversion by the Holy Spirit of God. Moral Reformation, is not enough; you need spiritual regeneration, new life through the Lord Jesus.

In order to experience real, lasting spiritual change, you need something more than personal advice, a self-help program, or a recovery group.

Not even casting a demon out is enough; what you need is Jesus to come into your heart as your Savior.

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to those who will repent and believe in him as their Savior and Lord!

There can be no vacancy in your heart, and no-joint occupancy. It is either Jesus or the devil.

Are you for Jesus, or against Jesus? If you are not sure which side your own, then you are on the devil’s side.

Why don’t you change sides this morning! If you are living a moral life, with an empty heart; you need to invite Jesus into your heart this morning!