City Life Starter

Written by Nate Warren

The Word

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Luke 11:14-23 NKJV

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”
Exodus 8:16-19 ESV (emphasis mine)

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, Or the captives of the righteous be delivered? But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.
Isaiah 49:24-25 NKJV

He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind.
Proverbs 11:29a NKJV

Reflection

Jesus implicitly asks his accusers, “Who among you is able to drive out demons? In whose name do they do it?” I think they didn’t know any experience of this kind of deliverance. Jesus is revealing His power over demons, which they have never seen the likes of in their lifetime. Because they oppose His message, they spread disinformation to explain away the Truth that is among them. Jesus’ response is paraphrased, “If that’s true, then the ‘Kingdom of Beelzebub’ is going down.” He doesn’t even logically refute their ridiculous claim.

Instead, He doubles down. The analogy of the strong man and the stronger is a story of the eschatological reality that’s playing out before their eyes, but is hidden behind the surface of “the seen.” Jesus is claiming to be the stronger man that’s come to plunder the dominion of darkness, and everyone must choose a side in this war. Either we are with Him, or slave to the darkness.

Application

The same battle wages on to this day, and is playing out before our eyes as well. This brings us to a decision point.

Will you remain ignorant of the forces of darkness that seek to hide behind the veneer of the World’s systems? Do you want to be free?

The Strong use coercion and the threat of death to keep their power. Will you join the side of the Stronger? He carries all power, but practices humility. His soldiers utilize prayer, obedience, service, sacrifice, and love, just as He did. Whose side are you on? Will you join Him in that fight?

Prayer

Father,
Thank you for saving me from the forces of darkness that rule this world. I am grateful that You have chosen to rescue me and partner with me in the defeat of this darkness. I yield to Your Word.
In the Name of King Jesus,
Amen