Today’s message is based on
Matthew 12:22-37 and it is so on time. Jesus speaks to the soul of two kingdoms and explains how they are divided by the Spirit/spirit that leads them. Right after healing a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, the crowd began to wonder, “Could it be that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of David?” But the religious leaders said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said.” Can you imagine being so foolish? If Jesus received his power from Satan, then why would he perform that act? I mean really, if Jesus was working for Satan, then why would He cast out demons? He would be in a war against himself. I love how Jesus turns this, and gets the Pharisees to question their own beliefs and practices. He takes out His Sword and uses it to cut straight to the heart. Then Jesus said, “But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger - someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” Can you see? The strong man is Satan, the house is his kingdom - which we know to be the world. And the people are who he possesses. The ones who still operate under God's Genesis 3 curse. In order for a human to be set free from God's curse, he must cast out the evil and love God with all his heart. Jesus said, ‘Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.” So there it is. If a person opposes Christ, who is the living Word of God, then they are His opponent and belong to the prince of this world. Jesus said, “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven - except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.” You see, anyone who speaks against Christ, does not have the Spirit of God, so how can they actually know? They are just the walking dead - totally ignorant of what is to come. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit is actually denying the voice of God, they are rejecting that which has been called. The Lord said, ‘A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” If you want to know the heart of a person you can identify them by their fruit, but “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.” Matthew 7:15 NLT Jesus said, “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Matthew 12:22-37 NLT “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his very eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:12-13
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