Conquer > Collusion

The last 18 months have seen a lot of demonstrations in our country. When things have turned destructive, one argument has been, “we were peaceful, but others who were pretending to be us are the ones who did the damage.” I have heard this disclaimer from both the left and the right.

Then the pushback came during the election cycle when peaceful demonstrators were hesitant to condemn those who were not “of us” but who hijacked the march for their own cause.

What are you trying to say? What are you hoping to accomplish? Who are you and what do you stand for? Are all questions that linger when we see our roadways blocked, our cities burning, and business being looted.

Society was quite similar in Jesus day with groups building allegiances and coalitions in order to amass power. Certain religious sects sometime cooperated and other times clashed. Some politicians arranged treaties with the religious leaders and others ruled as tyrants with no leniency.

In this environment people witnessed the crowd support for John the Baptist, they observed the miracles done by Jesus. His opposition could not deny Jesus’ miracles, but they did not recognize his participation in the rule of God, and would not admit His kingdom.

Jesus proved that He does not collude with evil spirits, He conquers them!

Transition: Today’s text exposes 4 realities associated with Jesus’ rule in human hearts.

A Greater Kingdom (vv.14-23)

One stronger (v.22)

The limits of Beelzebub (14-19)

1. Baal-zebub is first mentioned in 2 Kings 1:2-3. Israeli King Ahaziah falls through a lattice and he sends messengers to a god of the nearby city of Ekron to ascertain if he is going to survive his injuries. This god of Ekron is known as the god with wings or the god of flying things.

2. Elijah rebukes the messengers for going to the wrong deity. Elijah prophesies that Ahaziah will die from his injuries. And it happens by v.17

3. By the time of Christ this god of Ekron has become known as one of the lieutenants in Satan’s force. Matthew, Mark and Luke all use the description as “a prince of demons”.

4. Commentator R.T. France writes, “In biblical thought Satan is a malevolent power, but never on a level of authority equal to God.”[i]

5. So if Satan is a lesser power than God and Beelzebub is only a lieutenant, then Jesus is claiming a much higher authority than what he is being accused.

We must remember that the things that tempt us to turn away from God are always less. The sinful pleasure that you are tempted to yield does NOT offer the joy of a pure relationship with the God of eternity. The popularity you may gain by placing sports above your relationship with God will always fall short compared to the “well done, good and faithful servant” offered to all who finish the race God puts before us. The pain of illness may take your physical life, but that is but a wisp compared to eternal life in His presence. Sin may offer comfort for a season, but [NOTE THIS!} it ALWAYS falls short of the blessing promised by God!

6. Jesus is accused of playing for a minor league team, when He has already proven to be the GOAT all-star in the majors!

The Finger of God (20-22)

1. You may recall in the early chapters of Exodus (specifically 8:19), Moses and Aaron perform miracles in front of Pharoah that his magicians are able to imitate. But when it came to the 3rd plague (gnats), the magicians were NOT able to replicate it and they described that which they could not do as being “the finger of God”

2. Remember Daniel 5? Belshazzar hosts a party and drinks toasts to all the false gods of Chaldea when suddenly a hand appears and the finger of God writes on the wall a prophecy that Daniel interprets for the king. That very night (Dan 5:30-31) Belshazzar dies and Darius the Mede receives the kingdom.

3. By casting our demons by the finger of God, Jesus is proving the unquestionable superiority of YHWH. When people turn to lesser gods, YHWH proves throughout the centuries that even His finger is more than adequate to destroy false pretense.

4. V.22 states that the God of the Bible is stronger than any other religion or belief system.

5. When the kingdoms of men and of demons establish themselves against the kingdom of God, they are bound to be destroyed and divided!

No middle ground (23)

1. Finally, Jesus says that, not only is He the greatest authority, but He will NOT share His glory with another.

Isaiah 42:8 NLT:2013

8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.

I’ve noticed that many cowboys have 2 tools on them at most times: a good knife, and a pair of pliers. Some women may be able to turn a screw with a butter knife or both kill a bug and drive a nail with a shoe. On the other hand, the first option that most handymen put in their truck is a toolbox because they have learned that the right tool makes all the difference in getting the job done. We saw that the disciples were unable to drive out a demon when they didn’t use prayer. Sometimes we can accept no imitations and only use the weapon designed for a specific task. Jesus says that when it comes to spiritual conflict, He is the only right “tool”.

2. Jesus claims that He is the only one who can permanently solve someone’s demon problem!

Application

1. The people wondered what Kingdom Jesus represented. Today people are aligning with race, politics, vaccers and anti-vaxers, traditional or holistic therapies, views on law enforcement, and dozens of other ideologies.

2. Jesus is recorded in Matthew 6:33 as saying,

Matthew 6:33 ESV:2016

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Transition: After Jesus points to a Greater kingdom, He calls people to…

A Greater Response (vv.24-28, 33-36)

Blessed rather (v.28)

An ordered house (25-26)

1. Plastic surgery, Psychotherapy and 12-step groups have become a socially acceptable way to bring order to a chaotic life.

2. Jesus says that great spiritual jeopardy exists if emptiness is not replaced by something more positive.

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop” or “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings”. This dog reminds me of Chris Harris’s companion, Karma. I don’t know if she would sit still long enough for anyone to do this to her.

3. The principle Jesus is teaching is that even a cleaned and ordered house needs to be filled with thoughts and actions that honor God.

4. “I’m bored” can be the stage for some very ungodly events.

Keep the Word of God (v.28)

1. Jesus clearly states that those who are most blessed are those who hear and keep the Word of God.Text

Wholly Bright (v.36)

1. In the last 4 verses of today’s text, Jesus picks up this obedience theme and expands on it.

2. It isn’t good to only allow God into certain parts of your life. Some may be godly with their hands, but not with their tongues. Some may be godly in public, but privately go online to places that are sinful. Some may be disciplined with exercise, but their spending does not reflect God’s priorities.

3. V.35 warns against letting Christ into some parts of your life, but forbidding Him to work in all areas.

4. V.36 then talks about the life that allows the light of God’s Spirit to permeate every area.

Transition: The reason we respond with complete obedience, is because Jesus is…

Greater than Jonah (vv.29-32)

Something greater than Solomon (v.31), something greater than Jonah (v.32)

Yesterday morning this light came on the dash of Ann’s car as we drove to Emporia. Ann noticed the light come on and said, “The car seems to think you are getting a little wide on the sides of your belly button, above your belt. 20 lbs. of air at Casey’s and the “wide belly” light went away. However, if you drive in my Explorer, you will notice this light on the dash. I’ve heard that this light means “it is time to put a little piece of black tape over the gauge.” I bought a device and found out that it means there is a leak somewhere in the fuel emission system. While the check engine light is one I have learned to ignore because if I clear the warning, it just comes back the next time I turn the ignition; Some signs are too important to ignore. If you see either of these, act immediately and you can avoid the $5,000 lesson I learned the hard way!

signs or Sign

1. Some signs can be unheeded, but others are crucial!

2. An evil generation seeks evidence of power.

3. As the queen of Sheba found, Godly wisdom is greater than wealth or military power.

4. Jonah’s object lesson and preaching brought repentance

5. Jesus’ resurrection is greater than Jonah because it doesn’t just bring temporary repentance, it provides eternal life! Amen?

What Makes Jesus Greater? (Mt 12:40)

Matthew 12:40 ESV:2016

40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

1. Jonah was alive when he went into the great Fish, Jesus was dead when he was put in the tomb.

2. Coming out of a sea creature after 3 days is no easy task to pull off; but coming out of a grave after being dead (never to die again) trumps all other signs!

Application

1. The first man in today’s text was bound by a spirit that forced him into silence. When Jesus touched him, he encountered spiritual power that was greater than any demon.

2. When the people heard Jesus speak about His ability to clean and order one’s life, they were challenged that the greatest response is to hear and keep the Word of God.

3. Finally, the people wanted to align with someone who indicated that He had power, but Jesus offered them the sign of His own resurrection.

Conclusion:

Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb is greater than any of his other miracles. He fed people, healed people, calmed storms, he resuscitated some who later died, but when He rose, it was the period on an entire life of perfection and obedience.

When he resurrected after 3 days in the earth, it was an exclamation point that sin was atoned, that death was defeated, and reconciliation with God was now possible.

All the damage done by the first man was corrected by the perfect man. It is this sacrifice and forgiveness that we celebrate by eating bread and drinking the fruit of the vine in remembrance of His death until He comes again.