Demons and Drunkards

Introduction

Last week, Pastor Nik preached a powerful message and in it, he was encouragning us as the Body of Christ, to be ready, to stand for truth, even if it means paying a costly price.

Because truth is being attacked in our age, like it has from the very beginning…its nothing new.

In each generation, the attacks may take on different forms, but they are still there

I was really stirred by what he talked about, and I encourage you that if you weren’t here last week, to go back and listen to his sermon.

It’s on our Youtube channel and titled, “God, Give Us Justice”

So I want to continue along a similiar vein of what he shared.

The title of my message is Demons and Drunkards

I hear a lot of talk about our culture today, and the war that is being waged

The war on families, marriage, children, identities, sexuality, gender, etc...

There is a very real war....and although it is cultural, it’s more than that....it’s spiritual.

I say spiritual, because anything that is false or contrary to God’s Word is originated from Satan

The Bible says that Satan is the Father of lies

There is always something spiritual in nature, when it comes to attacking truth

But, also many of the ideologies being accepted and touted are not just ideas, but are religious in nature.

I recently heard someone say that just because someone doesn’t hold to a traidtional religion like Christianity or Islam, doesn’t mean they aren’t religious.

An atheist is religious

Religion - a particular system of faith and worship

Even in the absence of God, you still believe in something, and you still worship something

So this cultural war, so to speak, is also a form of worship in another sense.

It could be the religious nature in which we teach about critical race theory in buisinesses and public schools.

It could be the religious nature in which we hold to a specific political party....Republican or Democrat

It could be the religious nature in which we fly pride flags in our captial and in U.S. embassies across the world , devote an entire month to celebrating pride.

It could be the way that our culture worships abortion in the name of bodily autonomy.

But having said all that....let me ask you this question…let me shock you for a moment: Who are the demons and drunkards?

And this comes from Scripture

It might surprise you to hear me say that it’s you and I

The demons and drunkards are the Church of Christ

The demons and drunkards are Spirit-filled beleivers, that walk in the Spirit, and stand up for the truth of Scripture!

Dare I even say that Jesus himself was a demon, glutton, and drunkard!

Now before I get kicked off of stage for blasphemy....let me just clarify.

And this is such an important point to understand!

Main Point - The Church of Christ, those who stand for the truth of Scripture, Jesus Christ Himself are demons and drunkards, not in actuality, but in accusation.

Let me show you what I mean

The Accusation

Turn with me to Matthew 12

In Matthew 12, Jesus just gets done healing a demon-oppressed man who was both blind and mute.

As a result of this healing, many of the people that saw it were amazed and starting to ask if Jesus could really be the Son of David…the Messiah.

But the Pharisees, who were the religious elite of the day came to a very different conclusion.

Matthew 12:24 “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.””

They were accusing Jesus of getting his power from demonic influence....in other words, they were saying Jesus himself was demon-possessed.

Lets look at some other accusations that were railed against Jesus during His ministry.

I’m not going to go into the context of them all, I just want you to see them.

Jesus by accusation was a:

Drunkard - Luke 7:34 “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”

Samaritan (half-breed) - John 8:48 “The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?””

Sinner - John 9:24 (Pharrisees talking to a man that Jesus healed from blindness)“So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.””

Blasphemer - John 5:18 “This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

Deceiver - John 7:12 “And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.””

Insane - John 10:20 “Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?””

Criminal - John 18:30 “They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”” (This was Jesus being accused before Pilate)

So according to the accusations, Jesus was a Blaspheming, Deceiving, Insane, Criminal, Half-breed, Drunkard Sinner.

According to that, Jesus must have been a pretty horrific guy!

Imagine you had never seen Jesus, and these were the only reports you heard about him.

This last one, is the crowning accusation, because it shows the spirit of the accusers…this is the spirit of our age:

this is Jesus talking:

Matthew 11:18-19 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Main Point In other words....it didn’t matter what Jesus, or his followers did, as long as they taught and lived contrary to the religious and cultural expectations of that day, they were the enemies, and any and every accusation against them was on the table.

And once you start to demonize someone, any action against them becomes justifiable.

At the root of it, this is the foundational sin of all men....the desire to live independent of God and according to our own desires.

The serpent told Even in the Garden way back in Genesis, eat of the fruit, because then you will be like God....able to discern good and evil for yourself.

The warning of Isaiah 5:20 That says:“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil Holds true for all of us.

That is why the Church of Christ, the truth of Scripture, even Jesus himself, are considered the theology of demons and drunkards. But it’s not a case of acutality....it’s a case of accusation.

Here’s why this is important for us today:

In our media saturated world, I’ve seen churches, pastors, and Christians today that face this same type of rhetorical accusation…just in different forms.

Stating certain truths of Scripture can be called Hate Speech

Not using culturally accepted language is considered Violence

Holding to certain traditional and conservative Biblical beliefs is conisidered Bigoted

Taking a Biblical stance on gender roles is considered Misogynistic

Fighting for the life of the unborn is considered Patriarchal and Anti-Women’s Rights

Holding to a Biblical view of justice rather than adopting the ideals of social justice and critical race theory can be conisdered Racist

Holding to a Biblical, traditional view of marriage is considered Homophobic

So by some of today’s accusations, to be a Bible-believing Christian, is to be a Hateful, Violent, Misogynistic, Patriarchal, Anti-Women, Racist, Homophobic, Bigot

Who would want to be a part of a church like that?

Before going forward, I think its important to recognize, that Christians have been far from perfect.

Jesus was perfect, so all accusation against Him was false

Unfortunatley, the same can’t be said about all of those who have gone by the name of Christian

There are those that have been and continue to be Misogynistic and use the Bible to justify the way they treat women…and its wrong.

There are those that have been Racist, and used the Bible to justify enslaving and dehumanizing an entire group of people

There are those who have wielded truth as a weapon for hate and violence, rather than an Edification for salvation and freedom.

There are real people with real hurts that have been inflicted on them by the Church

My message today is not to sweep that under the rug and pretend it isn’t happening, or to be incensitive to those with hurtful and abusive experiences.

If you have had those experiences in the name of God or the Bible, let me just say....they are not a representation of the heart of God or of the truth of His Word.

The point is not that Christians have been perfect and never done wrong things, and that all accusations are falsely attributed.

The point is that Jesus who lived and taught perfect truth, was still accused, and so we should expect the same even in the times where we lovingly and rightfully take a stand for truth.

Accusations are not new…they have happened before, and they are happening now.

Right now in America, they are mostly just verbal accusations, but what started off as verbal accusations for Jesus, turned into His false trial and death.

What has started off as verbal accusations of Christians in years past, has eventually turned into persecution.

This is why we have to be ready!

So knowing that standing for truth can come with accusation, which can lead to persecution, what do we need to do in response?

What does our heart need to look like to be prepared?

I want to encourage us with four things

Encouragement

Examine Yourself - Psalm 139:23-24

I think we would all do well to take to heart and to adopt the prayer of the Psalmist in Psalm 139 who said: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

We all have the capacity for doing, saying, and intending the wrong things.

We all have the capacity to be deceived

As we take our stand for Truth, we need to guard our hearts from cynicism, wrong motivations, rash responses, bitter comebacks, incensitive comments, memes of mockery.

I can say the right thing with the wrong heart

I can do the humble thing with a heart of pride

I can convince myself that my cynical bitterness is actually righteous indignation.

I can begin to treat people as political agendas

I can think I’m speaking in love, while really only trying to prove a point or prove the other person wrong.

Guard your hearts

Ask God to examine your motivations and thoughts....

Plead with God to point out the wicked ways in you...

Sin runs deep, but the grace of God runs deeper if you let it.

Give God permission to question the ways that seem right to you

If you think you are above personal relfection and examination, you are already in danger of what it was meant to protect you from.

Suit Up

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

It is a spiritual fight, so we need spiritual resources in order to fight

Truth, Righteousness, Gospel, Faith, Salvation, Word of God

Casual Christianity will get you killed.

Love Anyways

Don’t forget who the enemy is

A Kingdom mindset recognizes that PEOPLE are not the ultimate enemy.

Jesus said to the Jews in John 8:44-47 “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Someone put it this way that “These people are prisoners of war, doing the bidding of the father of lies.”

There is a deception that people are bound to, and they need deliverance like we all have.

Story of Old Woman

There is a story of an old woman who had a next door neighbor that just despised her.

Her neighbor would shovel chicken manure over the fence onto this women’s yard.

Well one day this neighbor fell sick, and the old woman went to the hospital to visit her, carrying with her a boquet of flowers in her hand.

When she walked in her neighbor said, “Why are you here? And where did you get those flowers? I know you can’t afford flowers as beautiful as those.

The Old woman replied, “These flowers are from you. Remember everyday you would shovel chicken manure in my yard in anger and spitefulness. When in fact all you were doing was fertilizing these flowers.

Let that be our response in times of accusation. Let it be a fertilizer that causes love, forgiveness, and compassion to grow in our hearts

Rejoice

Matthew 5:11-12 ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We often respond with dread, and fear, and anxiety for our present and future.

Jesus tells us to rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven.

We don’t rejoice in our persecution or pain for their own sake, but because we know what is coming.

Don’t walk in a constant state of despondancy and discouragemnt, but keep your eyes on the prize!

AS I CLOSE

Warning

Earlier we read a part of Matthew 12, where the Pharisees accused Jesus of bringing healing and freedom to people through demonic means.

I want to read Jesus response to this, and there is a very clear and sobering warning.

Matthew 12:25-32 “Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Skip down a little further Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

In this passage, Jesus mentions the unforgivable sin

The unforgivable sin that has terrorized Christians at certain times

Personal Story

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the sin of attributing to Satan what is accomplished by the power of God, and doing this through the flagrant, willful, and persistent rejection of God and his commands.

Calling good evil and evil good

The bad news is that in living in willful and persistent rejection of God and his commands leads to judgement.

The good news is, if you are still breathing, there is still opportunity to turn from your willful persistent rejection of God to find forgiveness.

The gospel message is that God loves you and I, even in spite of what and who we are, in spite of our rebellion against Him

So he came in the form of man and died and paid our penalty so that we could find forgiveness, and then from this place of forgiveness and acceptance, to walk in a grace that enables us to live righteously.

Jesus said that it is found by being born again.

Salvation

What does it mean to be born again?

If I can make it as simple as possible, it starts with ABC

Admit

I’m a sinner, that needs a Savior

Admnit that I need God to come and transform my life

Believe

Confess

I don’t determine what is right and wrong, that is reserved for God alone.

I will live according to His Word, even if it runs contrary to my personal will and desires.

It’s not about the prayer…its about the heart

Let’s all pray this together:

Salvation Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus I believe you're the son of God. I believe that on the cross you took my sin, my shame, and my guilt, and you died for it. You faced hell for me so I wouldn't have to go. You rose from the dead to give me a place in heaven, a purpose on earth, and a relationship with your father. Today Lord Jesus I turn from my sin to be born again. God is my father, Jesus is my savior, the Holy Spirit is my helper, and heaven is my home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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