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Luke 11:14-28
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
In our sophisticated age, we are uncomfortable discussing such things as demon-possession. But Scripture is certainly not. And while we may not wish to ascribe it to demon-possession, we have known of those whose minds and bodies were so completely controlled by Satan that all human efforts to escape that control were futile. Only the power of God can break those shackles.
In our day, we may not see the kind of possession the New Testament describes, but the power of Satan is still very much in evidence. We can see it in the violence that saturates human society—and not just in far-away, terror-ridden places, but even here, where the lyrics to popular songs encourage violence and physical abuse; where unborn children are slaughtered by the tens of thousands; where the sick and elderly are often neglected and even encouraged at times to end their lives. We see the evidence in the covetousness all around us; in all the things people seem prepared to do for a bit more money; in selfishness; in the search for a material security that will one day turn to rust. We see it in the slanderous gossip that robs the unsuspecting of their reputations. And all the while, a web is being woven from which there is no escape except through the intervention of God Himself. We would like to think that we Christians are not caught up in this, but you know we are. We hate it, and we struggle with it. But by our own reason and strength, we are as helpless as the unbelieving world around us. Perhaps there is less difference than we would like between the demon possession of the New Testament and the troubles of life with which we find ourselves intimately involved.
When Jesus drove out that demon, He did more than deliver one helpless victim from Satan’s kingdom. He demonstrated that He is stronger than all demonic influence, and that He is able to overcome evil itself. And there is but one explanation for this: in Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God has come! Even the demons knew it! A King has come whose kingdom cannot be overcome by Satan! And this same Christ is able to free those caught up in the power of the devil. Jesus Christ is the conqueror!
But even faced with clear evidence, many are reluctant to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is conqueror. Those who witnessed the casting out of the demon could not deny that they could hear this previously muted man talking. He seemed now to be perfectly normal in every way. And yet, even though they had seen with their own eyes the power of Christ, they still would not believe. In looking for an explanation other than the truth, some hit upon the idea that Jesus had some sort of working agreement with Satan.
Do we ever do anything like this? When granted some great blessing, or met with some stern warning in life, do we look for explanations other than the power of God? Are we reluctant to really acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the conqueror?
Unbelief has its roots in the unwillingness to acknowledge Jesus Christ for who He clearly is. And such unbelief is found also among those who, no doubt, consider themselves Christians, people who may well believe that what Scripture records is true, but have never really put their faith and hope in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Let us beware of this sin of unbelief! It cannot rob Christ of His authority, of course; He is the conquering King whether anyone believes it or not. But unbelief robs the soul of eternal fellowship with God.
In light of this, the concluding words of the Savior are of particular significance: “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God, and keep it!” Indifference towards the Word of God robs one of the blessings of God. But to listen attentively as God speaks in His Word is to know the treasures of His mercy and the promises of His grace; to listen attentively is to know of the holy life He gave into death for our sins and the sins of the world, and for the forgiveness and eternal life He promises and gives. To listen attentively is to find life on this earth exceedingly rich and satisfying, as we walk in fellowship with the Lord. And to listen attentively is to know that, when life has run its appointed course here, we will enter into those indescribable joys of heaven, to await the glory of the resurrection.
Jesus Christ is the conqueror! Satan’s kingdom will go down in utter defeat! May our whole confidence be in Him; may our allegiance be His without reservation. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ! In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus always. Amen.
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