THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 11:14-26
“If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20)
Genesis 1 gives us the first description of the kingdom of God.
Adam and Eve, created to be like God, ruling over creation with God’s authority.
But in Genesis 3 we find them losing their authority to the Deceiver, becoming slaves to his lies.
Under Satan and his demons, this world becomes a dominion of darkness, not a kingdom of light.
Now here we have Jesus, a God-like human, asserting authority over Satan and his demons.
The kingdom of God has come upon us, an Adam is once again in the highest position.
We share in this reality by being connected to Jesus by faith, hope and love.
The Spirit of Jesus in us places us in a position of authority over Satan as well.
But being freed from impure spirits does not mean that we remain unmolested or uncontested.
They come at us with a fury, with seven more spirits, to reclaim us.
If we do not stay close to Jesus, if His Spirit is not the new resident in our heart…
Then we will fall again, and our fall will be worse than before.
The strong man IS bound, we can resist Satan ‘with the finger of God’, so that he flees.
But to remain free, and to enjoy that victory, we must welcome Jesus as the new Lord in our hearts.
If Jesus’ Spirit is not at home in your heart, there are other impure spirits willing to oblige!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, in my heart I once again set You apart as Lord. I would rather be surrendered to You, than to those dark spirits eager to mess up my life.
Observations/Application
There are but two kingdoms – that of good and that of evil.
Through Christ Jesus which we remember this day – the start of Lent – He was and is and ever will be victorious. He has overcome and He empowers all His own if we but ask Him to reign in our hearts – the Source of life and life eternal.
Because He lives I live.
He lives within my heart.
He overcame and I can overcome in His name.
He is my Safety, my Fortress, my Security, my All in all.
And so today I go forward in His name serving Him in all I do and say.
I am an instrument of His peace serving in His kingdom.
I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.