Thursday 7 November, 2019

14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder. 23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

Some sins have spirits attached to them. Maybe all sins do. Some spirits are stubborn and only the Word, the Blood and the Name of Jesus can get rid of them. But what happens when they go? What should we do next?

I wonder if Jesus is giving us a picture, here in this passage, of spiritual first-aid. The wounds left behind when the enemy’s arrows are finally removed have to be cared for properly so that infection doesn’t set in (ie “a stronger man” see verse 22) or 7 “super bugs” find the open wound (see verse 26). To say “phew, glad that’s over! What’s on Netflix?” isn’t going to cut it. We need to invite the Holy Spirit to enter that vacant space – that wound. We need His power, His healing oil – no one is stronger! (See Romans 8:11) We need to bandage and cover the wound with the shield of faith – that’s what keeps the evil out. (See Ephesians 6:16) We need to pick up the Sword of the Spirit – God’s word. (See Ephesians 6:17) We need to begin again to wield the promises of our Heavenly Father like a weapon that will never fail. We need to get ourselves back into the battle that is already won!

Lord, help me not be naive about the battle around me and the wounds caused by sin and the enemy. I confess, I repent, I banish in Jesus name, I invite You in, Holy Spirit – I’ll pick up my shield and my sword and get back into the fight – in Jesus Name!

Written by Boudy Van Noppen