Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 11:14-36 "MORE INSIGHTS OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD"
Day 147 – Luke 11
Text: Luke 11:14-36
MORE INSIGHTS OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD
The spiritual world is a deeply fascinating one. It is frightening at times to discover that Satan and his demons are powerful. Yet, we are not discouraged for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ is even more powerful! He is the Victor!
The Lord Jesus expelled many demons when He ministered on earth! Have you wondered how demons entered into some people in the first place? Let’s take a careful look at an important lesson Jesus sought to teach the multitudes.
INVOLVEMENT OF DEMONS IS ASSUMED
Let’s study the words of Jesus phrase by phrase. Each word that Jesus taught is not without significance…
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man…”
Luke 11:24
Note how Jesus did not say that a person must do something terribly evil to invite the involvement of demons. He assumes demonic involvement. Demons are far more involved in human affairs than most realize.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesian Church agrees with this viewpoint. His words are worth studying carefully,
“But you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,…”
Ephesians 2:1-2
The Apostle John adds his insight,
“The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one”
1 John 5:19
Both apostles agree that we are far more influenced by demonic powers than we realize! The world becomes a tool of the devil to entrap the souls of men! Many are already entrapped, and they do not even know it. In time, they become dead and unresponsive to God, so entrapped they are by the powers of the devil.
THE INVOLVEMENT OF DEMONS IS NOT ALWAYS DRAMATIC
In this description, the demon appears to come and go, from the life of a man, at will. The demon may afflict an individual if he wishes. On the other hand, he may not. Either way, he is able to come and go as he pleases!
In this parable, the Lord Jesus told, the demon leaves a man’s heart. While he is gone, the man decides that he wants to have a clean house.
This is a symbolic way of describing a person who attempts to reform himself. He decides that he wants to be a better person. He thinks he has succeeded too.
A DREADFUL END
This parable told by Jesus had a dreadful ending. We read,
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man,
he goes through dry places, seeking rest;
and finding none, he says,
‘I will return to my house from which I came’
And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.
Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits,
more wicked than himself
and they enter and dwell there;
and the last state of that man is worse than the first”
Luke 11:24-26
The individual may imagine that he is the master of his own destiny. He imagines that he can run his own life. He couldn’t be more mistaken. He had not reckoned with the power of the demons, nor the extent of their wickedness!
Demons wield far greater power over human beings than we will ever fully comprehend! We may not be able to pinpoint the exact way in which demons have influenced us, but we must not be so foolish as to deny their powerful and wicked involvement in our lives!
A SOBERING CONCLUSION
Jesus had to defend Himself from wicked allegations that He was in league with demons. Along the way He taught the multitudes deep and important lessons about the invisible but very real spiritual world of evil spirits!
1. They were powerful
2. They were organized as a kingdom
3. Their ruler may indeed be compared to a strong man, fully armed, guarding his goods
a) Human souls were his “goods”
b) He guarded them as carefully as possible so that they cannot be easily delivered into the Kingdom of God
4. Evil spirits exercise great influence on human beings, without their knowledge
5. They can come and go, as they please
6. The evil work of demons can be devastating!
Interestingly, Jesus left off teaching at this point! What a sobering and solemn point to conclude his teaching! It was now up to the people to respond to the sobering truths that Jesus taught! How would you respond to all the things you are reading?
IT IS IMPORTANT HOW YOU RESPOND!
Remember, there is only ONE way in which the strong man can be defeated! There must be the involvement of ONE STRONGER- Jesus Himself. Unless Jesus comes into our life to rescue us from the power of the evil one, we sweep our house clean in vain! We will never be able to keep the enemy out successfully!