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Sermon: A Kingdom Divided Date: January 28, 2024, Morning Text: Luke 11:14–26 Series: Luke Preacher: Brian Garcia Audio: https://storage.googleapis.com/pbc-ca-sermons/2024/240128-AKingdomDivided.aac
Join me as we pray father.
We come before you Humbly to your throne of
grace.
For Lord if errors were what you counted who could stand If it
was only or sin that you saw.
Who can approach thee?
But Lord we approach you Not by our own strength nor by our
own merit.
But we approach you in the name of and by the merits of another
even Jesus Christ the Righteous One our Redeemer our Creator
by whom we now have access into this grace in which we now stand and Even more
so Lord this morning.
We exult in the glory and the presence of Christ.
We thank you Redeemer For your finished and exalted work of
salvation Which you accomplished by your own obedience which you have purchased
for? this distinct people to be a unique peculiar possession
by God a People of every tribe nation and tongue and language from all kindreds
to be gathered before you Even this morning on the Lord's Day.
We thank you a Redeemer For this privilege status of adoption as you've taught
us this morning through the catechism.
That by means of adoption we have the right to become heirs of the Almighty.
We thank you For this great privilege of knowing you.
We pray Lord this morning That as we endeavor to open your word to receive instruction
To receive that which you've laid before us by means of spiritual nourishment that you prepare our hearts.
That you would remove from us every distraction Every high and lofty thing that would so easily
hinder and entangle us away from today's instruction.
We pray Lord that in all these things and more Through the mouth of your preacher and through the
admonition of the Saints.
We would look not to the preacher But to the Shepherd Jesus Christ the
great Shepherd of the sheep who for the joy that was set before him endured the shaming scorn of the cross
and Purchased for his people an eternal salvation that cannot be neither destroyed
nor denied.
Well Redeemer we come before you again Recognizing our shortcoming recognizing our sin,
but also recognizing our great Savior in Jesus.
Minister to us today by means of your word and by means of the Holy Ghost who has been
sent to be a deposit of the good inheritance that we share as adopted sons and daughters
and Lord that you would grant us even now wisdom and Eyes to see ears
to hear and hearts to receive that which you've laid before us For the glory of the only Son from the
Father full of grace and truth to him be glory.
Amen, well church.
I ask that you turn to your Bibles in Leviticus chapter 7.
As we continue our Old and New Testament readings
We're reading the chapter 7 in its entirety.
When I chose this scripture reading as we're going systematically through the scriptures I envision
pastor Conley would be reading this.
But instead I'll have to read this for you.
Hear you this morning the word of the Lord from Leviticus chapter 7.
This is the law of guilt offering.
It is most holy in the place where they kill the burnt offering.
They shall kill the guilt offering in its blood shall be thrown against the sides of the altar and all its fat
shall be offered the fat tail the fat that covers the entrails the two kidneys and the fat that is on them at the loins
and the long.
Lobe of.
The liver and he shall remove with the kidneys the priest shall burn them on the altar as a
food offering to the Lord.
It is a guilt offering every male among the priests may eat of it.
It shall be Eaten in a holy place.
It is most holy the guilt offering is just like the sin offering There is one
law for them the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it and the priest who offers any man's burnt
Offering shall have for himself the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered and
every grain Offering baked in the oven all that is prepared on a pan or a griddle Shall
belong to the priest who offers it and every grain offering Mixed with oil or dry
shall be shared equally among all the sons of Aaron.
And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offering that one may offer to the Lord
if he offers It for a Thanksgiving then he shall offer with Thanksgiving sacrifice
unleavened loaves mixed with oil.
Unleavened wafers smeared with oil and loaves of fine flour mixed with oil
With the sacrifice of his peace offering for Thanksgiving.
He shall Bring his offering with loaves or he shall bring
One loaf from each offering as a gift to the Lord and it shall belong To
the priest who throws the blood of the peace offering and the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering.
For Thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering.
He shall not leave any of it until the morning.
But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a free will offering
It shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice and on the next day
What remains of it shall be eaten?
Well, what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire.
If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day He who offers
it shall not be accepted.
Neither shall it be credited to him.
It is tainted and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
Flesh that touches any unclean things shall not be eaten.
It shall be burned up with fire.
All who are clean may eat flesh, but the person Who eats of the flesh
of the sacrifice of the Lord's peace offering while in unclean?
This is on him that person shall be cut off from his people.
And if anyone touches an unclean thing whether human uncleanliness or an unclean beast or
any unclean the testable creature and Then eat some flesh from the sacrifice of the
Lord's peace offering that person shall be cut off from his people.
The Lord spoke to Moses saying Speak to the people of Israel saying you shall eat no
fat of ox or sheep or goat the fat of an animal That
dies of itself and the fat of one that is torn by beasts May be put
to any other use but no account shall on no account shall you eat of it?
For every person who eats of the fat of an animal of which a food offering may be made
To the Lord shall be cut off from his people.
Moreover, you shall eat no blood Whatever whether a foul or of an animal in any
of your dwelling places.
Whoever eats any blood that the person that person shall be cut off from his people.
The Lord spoke to Moses saying speak to the people of Israel saying Whoever offers sacrifice
of his peace offering to the Lord shall bring his offering to the Lord from the sacrifice of his peace.
Offering his own hands shall bring the Lord's food offering.
He shall bring the fat with the beasts with the breast and the breast may be waved as a wave.
Offering before the Lord and the priest shall burn the fat on the altar.
But the beast or the breast shall be for Aaron his sons.
And the right thigh you shall give to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace
offering.
Whoever among the sons of Aaron offer the blood of the peace offering and the Fat
shall have the right thigh and for a portion.
For the breast that is waved in the thigh that is contributed I have taken from the people of Israel
Out of the sacrifice of their peace offering and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as a
perpetual Due from the people of Israel.
This is the portion of Aaron and of his sons from the Lord's food offering.
From the day that they were presented to serve as priests to the Lord.
The Lord commanded this to be given them by the people of Israel and from the day that he's anointed them.
It is a perpetual through due throughout their generations.
This is the law of burnt offerings and the grain offering and of the sin offering and of the guilt offering of the
ordination Offering and of the peace offering which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai and on that
day He has commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the Lord in the wilderness
of Sinai.
You might be wondering what is up with all of these various? conditions
and sacrifices.
Why can't there be one sacrifice that would satisfy all of these conditions.
And the good news is that the Lord has provided one Eternal sacrifice the
sacrifice of his own son Jesus Christ to fully satisfy
the wrath of Almighty God.
But prior to that dispensation of Christ coming into the world Being born of the Virgin dying a death that we deserve being raised on the third
day God had made an arrangement with his people to deal with the issue of sin
To you on the other side of this dispensation.
You may think of this as trivial.
Why all of these regulations why their distinction between sin offering guilt offering peace offering and
all these other offerings?
First.
The reason why our minds go there is because we have minimized the issue of
sin.
We've minimized it Partly because we are kind of like the spoiled child on the other side
if you have a father who it was an immigrant and had lived in a foreign land and saw the difficulties
of Living in a foreign land and all that entails to be successful as a immigrant son.
Now you get to enjoy the rights and privileges of being an American being a part of an affluent Community you take
for granted the things that your father had to go through.
So too I feel today in the church we take for granted that which God's ancient people had to go
through in order to atone in order to Deal with the issue of sin and so we've minimized it and we say well,
thank goodness for Jesus and amen.
Thank goodness for Jesus.
Recognize also that even in this dispensation God treats sin.
Seriously, and though we no longer have to go through the regulations of following certain burnt
offerings.
The priests or the pastors today don't operate as as ancient
Butchers as in the Old Testament where the Old Testament priest was in a sense a butcher he
had to come and regulate the the Sacrifices that I were coming to him and and and
portioned them off and then offer them as a as an appeasement To God's divine wrath, but now we
have but one true living Exalted high priest and his name
is Jesus Christ and he stands before the throne of God perpetually and He is
now even for us interceding for our sins.
And so Jesus Christ is once and for all that atoning sacrifice For our sins and he sits at the
right hand of the Father interceding for us today.
And so indeed we are thankful for our Redeemer in Jesus.
Please turn to Mark chapter 10 as we look at our New Testament reading this morning.
This one I promise you will be a lot shorter.
Mark chapter 10 verses 32 to 34.
Our New Testament reading again is Mark 10.
32 says the following.
And they were on the road going up to Jerusalem and Jesus was walking ahead of them
and they were amazed and those who followed were afraid in Taking the twelve again.
He began to tell them what was to happen to him saying see we are going up to Jerusalem.
And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes and they will condemn him over to death and deliver him
over to the Gentiles and they will mock him and spit on him and Flog him and kill him after
three days.
He will rise.
One of the things that we notice time and time again in the gospel narratives are the Expectations that the
Apostles of Christ had in regard to the work Christ would accomplish.
Time and time again Jesus speaks in parables and often confuses his disciples.
Then there are other times in which Jesus plainly speaks to them.
And even when he plainly speaks to them It's like his words go right over.
Their heads.
So here you have Christ speaking plainly to them.
They're asking what's gonna happen.
Jesus.
What are we to expect as we go to Jerusalem.
And Jesus speaks clearly to them.
He says the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priest.
He says that they will condemn him put him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles and that he
will be spit upon flogged and killed.
And after three days he will rise.
Now, I don't think it's in Mark's gospel.
But I think it's in Matthew's gospel Luke's gospel where after this saying is said to them.
It says.
And they ponder amongst themselves what he had meant.
I Think he was pretty clear, wasn't he?
Exactly.
What was to happen and transpire, but the Apostles were incredulous.
They couldn't believe that their Savior that their Redeemer the Messiah of Israel would have to go through these things.
Their expectations were not always correct.
So we too at times have to check our expectations whether it's
Our expectations of how God is going to show up in our lives how God is going to help us in daily
Circumstances or whether it be regarding the glorious second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
We may not have all the expectations correct.
This is where scripture instructs us to wait and trust upon the Lord.
And so with that being said Let's turn to him 217 and
we can stay seated for this hymn looky
Saints 217 and we will stay seated as we sing.
See the man of sorrows now from the
fight he turned.
Victorious.
Every need to him shall bow.
Crowd.
Creek on the
There's brown
Men
church our main text for this morning's message is going to be found in the gospel of Luke chapter 11
verses 14 to 26.
I Asked that you turn to your Bibles there and when you have that please do stand for the reading of God's Word.
Again, the text this morning will be Luke chapter 11 starting in verse 14.
Hear ye this morning the Word of the Lord.
Now he was casting out a demon that was mute.
When the demon had gone out to the mute man spoke and the people marveled.
But some of them said he cast out demons by Beelzebub the prince of demons
while others to test him kept seeking him a Sign from heaven, but he
knowing their thoughts said to them.
Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste in a divided household falls.
And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that 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 it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons then the kingdom of God
has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his own palace his goods are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him He takes away his armor in which
he trusts and divides his spoil.
Whoever is not with me is against me.
Whoever does not gather with me Scatters when the unclean spirit had gone out of a person it
passes through Waterless places seeking rest in finding none.
It says I will return To my house from which I came and when it comes it finds
the house swept and put in order.
Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself and they Enter and
dwell there and the last state of that person is worse than the first.
This is the word of the Lord you may be seated.
Let me pray father.
We do again come before you thankful For your provisions of this past week.
That despite the trials and tribulations that we've encountered and faced You have proven to be
faithful yet again and Bringing us to this place of worship to receive instruction from your
word.
We pray Lord that as we receive this instruction that we would recognize the kingdom
to which we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken a kingdom that cannot be deterred a
Kingdom that has been firmly established by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords himself.
Even King Jesus to whom be glory this morning and forevermore.
Amen.
What church has we endeavor to look at this passage of Scripture in the gospel of Luke you are now
familiar with?
Some of the earmarks of Christ's ministry.
In the ministry of Christ Christ is delivering people from bondage and
bondages of various types.
An Example that we've seen the Gospels of one the bondages of which Christ delivers is the
bondage of sickness.
We've seen Christ heal the sick.
We've also seen Christ deliver from the bondage of demonic oppression.
This is not the first instance in which we see Jesus speaking of demonic possession and
In this case in verse 14 of Luke 11 We see now he was casting out a demon that was mute.
When the demon had gone out the mute man spoke and the people marveled.
We see Jesus also Bring forth deliverance in the area of death itself where
Jesus even raises the dead.
Jesus is the great deliverer in every sense of the word.
And the Old Testament the term deliverer Had a connotation that connotation being
directly linked to Moses as the great deliverer of God's people.
As God's people being in bondage in Egypt.
We're looking forward to a certain type of deliverance.
This was a political deliverance.
This was also a deliverance from the bondage of slavery from foreign oppressors.
Now the people in Israel as Jesus was living and walking were looking forward to a similar
type of Deliverance.
Their deliverance that they were looking forward to was to be delivered from their oppressors by the Roman State.
The Roman Empire ruled the world of an iron fist and they ruled over the land of
Israel and Upon that land was great oppression.
And so they were looking forward to the Messiah to relieve them to deliver them from
their Gentile oppressors.
And yet as Jesus fulfills his ministry We see Jesus
delivering but of a different type and of a different kind his deliverance again.
Is that which he delivers people from their sickness delivers people from demonic oppression?
That delivers people from the bonds of death itself.
But even more importantly as you begin to see time and time again Jesus is delivering
people from the despair of sin and death all the
effects of The endemic sin that it affects the world whether it be sickness.
Whether it be demonic oppression whether it be death itself Jesus is demonstrating that he is the true
deliverer of God's people.
He is indeed the greater Moses in every single way and he demonstrates
this by exercising his authority.
If you came in this morning He received in a bulletin in that bulletin should be an insert.
If you want to follow along today's teaching Jesus continues to exercise.
Authority.
By cleaning the house of Israel.
You see Israel was looking for a certain type of deliverable.
They received the greatest deliverer man can know in Jesus of Nazareth.
He is indeed delivering them and among the way that he delivers them is by Delivering them
from demonic oppression from unclean spirits.
And so Jesus again continues to exercise Authority by cleaning the house
of Israel from unclean spirits.
Again they're in the earthly ministry of Jesus we observe this Phenomenon that is not
strange to the world of the Old Testament this phenomenon of demonic oppression or
possession and In the times of Christ these things were actually amplified.
Demonic activity was at an all -time high even compared to the Old Testament.
Why.
Because as Jesus was coming into the world as this kingdom was breaking into the world.
Certainly the kingdom of darkness also was ramping up its activity to try to deter to try to meet
The kingdom of God in the person and work of Jesus so you might ask yourself the question Why is there more or
seemingly more demonic activity in the New Testament stories of the Gospels than in the Old Testament?
Stories though we do see demonic possession and an oppression in the Old Testament.
We see it at a very in far more rampant pace in the New Testament the reason being
again God's kingdom is breaking into the world through Jesus Christ and the kingdom of darkness is well aware of this
and its Activity is ramped up to try to deter the prince of peace
because the prince of darkness was at work.
We see here transpire in Luke's gospel in verse 15 of Luke 11, it
says this but some of them after seeing the Miraculous deliverance from demonic
oppression by the hands of Christ.
It says some of them said He cast out demons by Beelzebub
the prince of demons.
Can you imagine?
Seeing the Deliverer seeing the Redeemer seeing him at work
seeing how even the forces of darkness tremble at his voice and then
attributing to that one the chosen one of Israel that to him is.
Is.
That the reason why he's able to fulfill these things and deliver people is not by the power of God.
But instead by the power of Beelzebub.
Who is Beelzebub?
Beelzebub is the prince of demons.
Would you write this in the notes his opponents claimed?
He was using Beelzebub or the prince of demons to cast out demons.
The word Beelzebub literally means Baal the old the Old Testament
foe of God Baal the prince or Baal the prince Baal being
the Old Testament false god of the Canaanites.
Who in the ancient who was the ancient and prominent God of the Canaanites?
And he was in a sense a false impression of Yahweh a false impression of the true
God of Israel.
And so the opponents of Christ Link Jesus to the
pagan God of the Canaanites and they say it's not by
Yahweh's hand that Jesus is accomplishing this.
But rather it is by Beelzebub by all the prince.
The prince of demons it is by this Canaanite false God that this man is a
company is accomplishing these works.
This is utter Blasphemy to attribute to Christ to
attribute to the Holy Ghost a false deity a false
God in a false narrative is Indeed among the highest forms of blasphemy that one
can engage in.
Part of the criticism that also accompanied the work of Christ here as deliverer in verse 16
says while others to test him Kept seeking from him a
sign from heaven so they were saying Jesus if
you're truly the deliverer if you're likened unto Moses.
Show us great signs.
For even our father Moses gave great signs in the wilderness.
He was accompanied by the splitting of the Red Sea.
His miraculous works were accompanied by fire coming down from heaven to deter the Egyptians.
Upon the marks and the the the signs of Moses was also the presence of the Lord himself
upon That great and powerful sign in mountain Sinai where the Lord descends
as a flaming fire.
Prove to us that you're the greater Moses prove to us that you're the great deliverer.
Give us signs from heaven.
What they were missing is that the greatest sign from heaven was standing before them.
Because Jesus said he is that bread of life that came down from heaven.
Jesus is that eternal word made flesh Dwelt among us.
He's the one who pitched his tabernacle among men so that in Jesus the eternal
Infinite God can be handled and touched and seen the only son from the father full of
grace and truth.
The greatest sign had been made known through and in the person and work of
So though they were clamoring from signs from heaven he was indeed that very sign from heaven
given to men and.
What a shame it is indeed that they demanded these signs and attributed to Jesus this
false narrative this false identification with Belzebub or Baal.
When he is indeed Yahweh come and human flesh He goes
on.
Jesus responds to the critics in verse 17.
But he knowing their thoughts again another subtle way that the gospel writers point to
the divinity of Jesus but fact that Jesus knows the hearts knows the
thoughts who can know the thoughts and intentions of the human heart and mind but Christ but
God himself.
And he responds by saying these words every kingdom Divide against itself is
laid waste in a divided household falls.
For you say that I cast out demons by Belzebub.
So Jesus responds again by saying that every kingdom and house divided will what?
It'll fall.
But you write down the notes as well.
Jesus said that every kingdom and house divided will fall and he explicitly in this text
links Satan to Belzebub.
So though they're trying to attribute Bell Christ who bells above Jesus actually brings out the true
and bright identification of Belzebub by in verse 18 saying.
And if Satan also is divided against himself.
How will his kingdom stand for you say that I cast out demons by Belzebub again?
He's identifying bells above rightly in this scenario with Satan now this brings up an interesting
point of reference in Scripture that in the world the Old and New Testament a
Spiritual worldview is at play.
So what I mean by that is that clearly in the Old Testament There was but one true
God to be recognized to be worshipped and this is Yahweh Jehovah
the very God to whom we express Thanksgiving and praises in our song and our hymnal this morning
that Yahweh Jehovah to him belongs the hallelujahs all praise be to this one
true creator God and.
Yet in.
The Old Testament world where Belzebub or Bob was at work and at play.
These were true.
Spiritual.
Principalities guising themselves demonic powers guising themselves
as divinities and so the Bible says that the Old Testament those who the
Pagans once worshipped what they want sacrifice to the indeed were sacrificing to demons.
So it's not to say that the gods of the nations even today There truly is a
God that is being worshipped under the guise of Allah.
For instance in the Muslim faith There is no doubt that there is a divinity a
power a stronghold that it's inspiring Individuals to strap bombs to themselves and
carry out holy jihad holy warfare against the enemies of Allah.
But that is not the true God of Israel.
This is a false God and in the Old Testament Satan is the principality
associated with.
But all and the New Testament we see that other Principalities and in for instance in
the book of Revelation Jesus likens the God Zeus to
Satan so these principalities these powers are very real but these are
principalities that are guising them guising themselves or or or as the Apostle Paul writes in
2nd Corinthians that these are aimed these are demonic beings who masquerade
as angels of light.
So here again, Jesus does indeed equate Satan to Belzebub
and the kingdom of God here is now elevated as distinct and Different
from the kingdom of Satan and the world notice again what the text says in verse 17
and 18.
Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste in a divided household.
Falls and if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
So there are two kingdoms at play in this world there's God's kingdom and then there's
Satan's kingdom.
The kingdoms of this world are under the fellowship of Satan the devil, how do
we know this?
Well, the Bible says this considering the state of this world.
2nd Corinthians 4 4 says that Satan is a god of this age.
Blinding the minds of the unbelievers today may not see the glorious light of the gospel of Christ.
When Satan was tempting our Lord Jesus Christ.
What did he offer him but all the kingdoms of the world?
What indeed does it say in 1st John chapter 5 verse 19?
But that the whole world is lying in the hand of the evil one.
Truly Satan is the power as the Apostle Paul says the power the Prince of the air
who is at work in the sons of disobedience and.
So we have two kingdoms at play here.
God's kingdom that in the gospel of Luke and in the incarnation and through the life and ministry of
Jesus is breaking into the world and Pushing back against the
kingdom of darkness the kingdom of Beelzebub the kingdom of Satan.
We see the kingdom of God is distinct and it's different from every other Kingdom in that it is the only
kingdom that is truly undivided.
There are not two or more political parties vying for power in God's kingdom.
The world today that we see is a divided kingdom and we all have to do.
And we all and all we have to do is turn on the media for instance to see it.
And so there's a danger that happens when we invite the world's division into the
Church of Christ.
When you look at today's world how divided is through political lines social lines economic lines racial
lines.
We need not invite those divisions into the church.
For in Christ in God's abode in the body of Christ though We are all distinct
and the church has many members.
Yet we are all one in Christ Jesus.
So that all those who truly profess Jesus Christ and know him as Savior and Come under the rightful
lordship of Jesus Christ.
We have a same inheritance we have a same brother in Jesus and we have the same father in
Yahweh and.
So we must beware not to invite the world's division into
God's household.
Charles Spurgeon wrote this and he said you cannot cast out Satan by Satan.
Nor correct error by violence.
Nor overcome hate by hate.
The conquering weapon of the Christian is.
Love.
It's love.
Love is what helps us to conquer within the church.
Love is what helps us to conquer in the world.
It's not by being hateful in meeting division with division.
But rather its main division with Christian love and unity because it's in Christian love
that we find true in abiding unity for he Loved us
first.
Therefore we can now love one another as he has taught and instructed us to do.
Christian love is the answer to Satan's divided kingdom.
Christian love is indeed the currency of God's kingdom and economy.
Jesus goes on to continue his rebuke of These Pharisees and Jews when he
goes on in verse 19 to say this.
And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub.
By whom do your sons cast them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
What does Christ mean when he says by whom do your sons cast them out?
He's referring to the Jewish people.
He's referring to the sons of Israel.
If you if I cast out bells of demons by Beelzebub by Satan.
Well, then those among you who are casting out demons as well by what authority by what name are they casting out?
Demons is the rhetorical question that he meets them with.
He goes on the same verse 20.
He says this.
But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons.
Then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
This is very important in recognizing the good news of Jesus Christ.
If Jesus indeed is casting out demons by God's finger.
Then I want you to write this in there God then the kingdom of God.
I Want you to write in the present tense.
Has.
Come upon them.
Here's the implication The kingdom of God is a current.
Reality.
If it is indeed by the finger of God that the Lord Jesus Christ is
expelling these demonic forces Jesus using uses
the sons of the prophet that stood with Elijah as an example of God's
supernaturally again anointing individuals to confront these demonic powers of
Darkness, he says that these sons the sons of the prophet will be their judges on that day.
Since someone greater than the prophet is here in the person of Jesus Christ.
This has implications for our understanding of the church today.
This has implications for our understanding of the future.
There are those even within Christendom those amongst the the Brotherhood of Fellowship of
believers who wrongly hold to a view that it says the kingdom is yet future that the
kingdom is a is a future reality and that it will be a reality that will be
realized amongst in a thousand year future reign of Jesus and the Declaration from Christ
himself in this narrative.
Is that the kingdom of God has Come upon them in the
person and work of Jesus.
And we know this even more truly now today because Christ after accomplishing his
ministry his earthly submission to the father his humble obedience his
death and burial and resurrection in his subsequent Glorification at the right hand of God the
father he now and today and forever more is Enthroned as we sing
earlier today.
He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
It doesn't get higher than that.
He is as the Apostle Peter proclaims in Acts chapter 2 the exalted one.
He cannot be more exalted than he is today.
Because he has accomplished the work of redemption?
He is the one to whom the book of Revelation speaks of when it says that there was a scroll
in the midst of the heavens of heavens and There was no one among even the created throngs of
God who was worthy to open its seals yet silence fell upon heaven
and Among that silence came writing in the perfect Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the
world.
This Jesus was the one who alone was found worthy to open its seals to bring us the
decree of God.
Because he is the exalted and forevermore enthroned King of Kings Lord of
Lords Prince of Peace.
He is God the eternal Word made flesh and he is reigning today.
He's reigning We can we're not waiting for a future enthronement.
He's King today.
Therefore we ought to have an optimism about the Christian
Church in its mission.
Why?
Though I agree that things in the world may go from bad to worse what that means
for the church is that we are a victorious people writing
with Jesus who is the conqueror.
Some folks would would put Jesus as the as Among the four horsemen of the
Apocalypse.
He's the one he's the rider who is Conquering.
He's the one who is who is bringing forth conquering in his robe.
And certainly Jesus gives that image to us in Revelation chapter 19 where he is the one who
comes forth from heaven with a sword.
Protruding from his mouth of double -edged sword and his robes are dripped of blood the garments being sold the
blood of his own enemies.
He comes forth as a conqueror.
Therefore we know that even if the world gets more and more chaotic more and more divided Satan's
System as Satan's kingdom crumbles we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
We have a true hope for the future.
I love the way the writer of Hebrews points out this optimistic
Eschatology of the future by pointing to the current reality that is enjoyed within the church
today in Hebrews chapter 12 the likely the Apostle Paul says and writes
this he says this phrase yet once more.
Indicates the removal things that are shaken that is things that have been made in Order that the
things that cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore let us be grateful for Receiving notice.
He's not talking about the future.
He's talking about their time he says for we are grateful for receiving a kingdom
that cannot be shaken and Thus, let us offer to God Acceptable
worship with reverence and all for our God is a consuming fire.
What kingdom was he pointing to?
What kingdom was he was he alluding to but the kingdom that Christ established in his
ministry and in his work.
This kingdom is even spoken of in the same chapter of chapter 12 of Hebrews where it says in verse 22.
But you have come to Mount Zion Into the city of the Living God the heavenly
Jerusalem.
Into innumerable angels and festal gathering into the assembly of the firstborn who are rolled in heaven into God the
judge of all and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect and to the end to
Jesus the Mediator of a new covenant and to the sprinkle blood that speaks a better word than the
blood of Abel.
Yes, indeed.
We have come to this Mount Zion.
Yes, indeed we belong to this kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Because Jesus has established this kingdom rule in himself and We
are his Offspring through faith in this precious gospel.
So again beloved we have much reason to be optimistic about the future of the church.
Because the kingdom is now Jesus is ruling today and I've I've shared of
you time and time again.
How do we know this exegetically to be true?
One of the most quoted scriptures in the New Testament from the Old Testament in Psalm 110.
Psalm 110 gives us this grand vision that says that the Lord Yahweh Jehovah sit
on to my Lord.
Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool and the word goes forth from Zion verse 2
Go rule in the midst of your enemies.
Jesus today Demonstrates by clear exegesis of scripture in the New
Testament that he is indeed Enthroned at the right hand of the father
Stephen before he's martyred.
This is the vision that he sees heaven opened up and he sees the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power.
It's exactly what Jesus told to his opponents when he was put before human trial in a human tribunal.
He said you shall see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power.
When he would return and come in judgment for them.
Which he accomplished in the year 70 AD when he destroyed the Jewish system and its
temple worship therefore exonerating the claim that the kingdom is now the
kingdom is here because all of the Sacrifices all of the regulations of the Old Testament like
we read today in Leviticus chapter 7 centered around temple worship and what
more clear declaration that there can be that God's kingdom now rules than the old
System now being completely gone and done away with.
I believe there's an error in the church today.
That teaches that there will be another temple a third temple that will arise in Jerusalem and that we
will then return to the things that God has already done away with.
Why return to the things to the elementary things of the world a return to
its temple?
Sacrifices when we've received once and for all the only sacrifice that can make man whole
in Jesus Christ.
We're not waiting for a third temple.
The Bible makes it clear that the church is the temple of the Living God and
So beloved we're not waiting for a third temple.
We're not waiting for a future and throne.
We're not waiting for a future kingdom.
We belong to that kingdom today.
Therefore take your place and your mantle in that kingdom arrangement and do the
work.
That Jesus has called us to Jesus again is demonstrating with with clear and
concise Power that the finger of God is upon him in the kingdom of God
has come upon.
The people he goes on to demonstrate this in verse 21 when he says when a strong man Fully armed
guards his own place his goods are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him He takes away his armor in which he
trusted and divides his spoil.
Now it is evidence.
By.
Jesus's power over demonic forces as was established in earlier verses where Jesus
is I think he is casting out demons by his authority by his
power by his kingdom proclamation.
He's making it now clear that he himself Has
disarmed the strongman.
Once you write this in the notes It is evident by his power over the demons that Jesus
has disarmed the strong man.
Now who is the strong man?
The strong man is what he is the one who he alludes to in verse 18 Satan the
devil.
Beelzebub the prince of demons in the Old
Testament.
There was a festival that was called Shavuot or the the
Feast of Weeks and The New Testament.
We see this festival.
We see at the inauguration of the New Testament Church in the Feast of Pentecost.
And.
The Feast of Pentecost was the visible and tangible representation that
the kingdom of God had been established through the church and to beat for the church to be
its Representative on earth.
What happened on that day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.
Again, the nations are gathered together in Jerusalem.
The Spirit of God descends upon the hundred and twenty in the upper room and they all begin to speak in tongues.
No, not unintelligible tongues or languages.
But as is evident in Acts chapter 2 went forward into the crowds.
The crowds began to hear the gospel in their own native tongue and their own native language.
The gospel had now begun to infiltrate the nations and the world even on that
very first inaugural day of Pentecost demonstrating that the kingdom of God had been
established and that God was using the church as its embassy as its Representation here
on the earth and it was evidence of the disarming of the strong man Satan
the devil who in the Old Testament is Depicted as the one who is leading astray the nations under a
gloomy darkness.
The New Testament even continues this language by demonstrating that Satan is still the god of this world.
The Satan is indeed still the one in whom the the world is lying in his wicked power.
But Satan no longer has Comprehensive authority or power over the
nations and it is evident on that very first Christian Pentecost When the
Spirit of God descends upon his people and the people are now empowered by the Spirit to preach in
every nation language and tongue.
Evidence of disarming of the strong man.
That Satan the devil can no longer keep the nations in total darkness.
And that Satan cannot stop the advancement of God's kingdom by means of this gospel
Proclamation.
And so we confess and we believe that Satan is indeed disarmed today.
That is not to say That Satan is no longer effective.
That Satan is no longer powerful.
Yes, he is still that line seeking to devour seeking to destroy.
But know this.
He is a disarmed opponent and One of the errors I see in Christendom
is that we make Satan to be scarier and bigger Than he actually is.
When you recognize this about Christian eschatology.
That Satan today's rightful place.
According to the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 16 verse 20 is underneath our feet.
That's his proper place.
Because that's the promise to us in the garden.
That God by means of the seat of the woman would bring forth victory over the serpent.
So that under the feet of God's people chiefly and princely in Jesus Christ
That serpent will be brought to an end.
Indeed we are living in such times today.
We should consider ourselves among those counted blessed because we belong to this kingdom.
Notice what it says here in God's Word.
What is of interest?
Is what Jesus goes on to say in?
Verse 22.
In verse 23, I'm sorry.
Whoever is not with me is against me and whoever does not gather
with me.
Scatters.
I Want you to write this in the notes.
Christ and his kingdom are Exclusive.
If you do not gather to him You will be scattered.
You will be scattered.
Jesus is not just a good.
Mere.
Moral teacher in the same ranks as Buddha or Muhammad or other gurus or
teachers throughout history Jesus stands unique in his claims where he
claimed to be God in human flesh.
Among the claims of Jesus was not just that he was the king of God's kingdom.
It wasn't just that he had mere authority to heal the sick or to cast out demons but
among the unique claims of Christ is that he said this to the Jewish leaders in John 8 58
before Abraham was I am in the Greek
Breen Abraham Guinness tie ego and me.
Very clear very emphatic before Abraham came into existence.
Jesus says I am the eternally existent one.
And The Jews knew exactly what he was claiming because in the following verse.
And John 8 59.
They pick up stones to kill him.
They finally catch up to him later in John chapter 10 and Jesus asked him what for what good work do you
try to stone me.
And they respond saying it is not for good works that we stone you but rather because you being
a mere man.
Claim to be God.
And what does Jesus do.
He does not deny it.
But rather he goes on to say in John chapter 10 verse 30 that I and the father
are one.
He claims true and the true divinity in that
Jesus is God incarnate and he demands.
Exclusive.
Devotion which is why we see in Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 24 that it says that our God is a
Consuming and a jealous God.
The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 like we just read earlier.
Also quoting from Deuteronomy chapter 4 says that our God is a consuming fire.
Jesus is the true and eternal God in human flesh the second person of the
Holy Trinity.
He demands true and worthy and exclusive devotion
worship and praise.
Because I alluded to earlier in Revelation 5 only one Amongst the heavens
and the earth and all that is in them was found to be worthy.
Only one was worthy Jews.
They did not heed Jesus's Word and instruction and they were indeed
scattered again.
When the Romans came and destroyed the second Jewish temple and they were sent in the
disparate.
Which is which has lasted now nearly two millennia.
The Jewish people are still scattered today.
Evidence of the words that Jesus spoke being true that those who not gather to him Will be
scattered and the Gentiles along with the Jewish people will continue to be scattered until
they gather to Jesus Christ.
Jesus puts it this way.
They shall not see him.
They shall not be blessed by him until they say blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord.
And true it truly we ought to consider and Remember
our privileged position as the people of God and not forsake the blessing of our Savior.
For truly those who do not gather to him will be scattered.
Jesus is not just one way to God.
He is the only way to God.
He says of himself among his divine claims.
In John 14 6 He says I am the way the truth in the life.
No one comes to the Father, but by me There is only one way to God.
It's not through a church.
It's not through an organization.
It's not through any human being other than the man Jesus Christ who is
both God and man.
He's the only mediator between God and man.
We need not other.
Mediators.
Whether they be So -called saints or whether they be other gurus or teachers
or other So -called ways to God.
There is only one way and it is through Jesus Christ.
He's who we proclaim to you.
It's who we bring to you this morning.
Now Jesus to close this sermon to close our time.
Jesus shares a word which is quite frankly confusing and
Interesting and so I'm going to try in the short time that we have to Parse this out in a way that
hopefully brings some clarity.
He goes after speaking about the kingdom of God coming over Coming upon them the fact that Jesus
through his work of deliverer and delivering people from demonic oppression.
He goes on to say this about demonic oppression.
Verse 24 when the unclean spirit has gone out of a person it passes through waterless places Seeking rest and
finding none.
It says I'll return to my house from which I came.
And when it comes it finds the house swept and put in order then it goes
and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself and they enter and dwelled there and the last
state of that person is worse than the first.
This is a pretty almost esoteric Saying that it's coming from Jesus very
mysterious very very confusing on the onset but I actually want to simplify this and I want you
to think of this and maybe a Way that you've never considered before.
You see this message ends of a sobering warning.
And I think it has more to do with the house of Israel Than with actual
individuals who are possessed by demons.
Jesus for instance is the one who comes and he ministers to who first and foremost.
But as he himself said he came to seek and save those of the lost sheep of
Israel he comes to his people to his covenant people those who were his
own and What do they do?
They reject him.
Jesus comes.
He tries to clean the temple.
Remember he goes to Jerusalem.
He cleans the temple.
This was a all a picture of him cleaning Israel.
He runs out.
He chases out the money changers with a whip representative of the religious
leaders that are coming and Exploiting God's people but what instead do the people of
God in Israel at the time do do they?
Welcome their Savior that came riding on a donkey.
They did for a moment until just a few days later they ask for him
to be crucified and they Exchange him for an enemy for a
thief for a murderer.
So I believe that Jesus here is pointing to the state the spiritual state of Israel.
When he says when the unclean spirit has gone on over persons of Jesus metaphorically speaking of the people of Israel in this way.
Saying that he has come he has he has now delivered them he has now cleansed the house of Israel and it
passes through one of those places taking a Place to rest in finances.
I'll return to my house from which I came the demonic powers and When it comes it finds the
house swept and put in order.
Because Jesus has come he's disarmed a strong man this language is all coming together and Then it
goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself and they enter and dwell there.
The last state of that person is worse than the first.
Demonstrating that even though Jesus came to his own came to the house of Israel the house of Israel on wholesale
rejects him and They invite what?
They invite powers of darkness to dwell with them again.
Therefore the first state or the last state is worse than the first.
So again this this message ends of a sobering warning from Christ that just as he cleansed the house of Israel from demonic
lies and Activity and left that house in order the people did not want itself and by large
Ethnic Israel rejected God's Son and crucified the Lord of Glory there later.
Destruction by the hands of the Romans was God's just wrath and vengeance for their unbelief
further denial of the King of Glory.
So we too in a sense Can come under the same judgment if once
receiving the grace and loving -kindness of God We trample over it by not maintaining the house
that Jesus cleaned.
Let me be clear as.
A.
Confessional Baptist, I do not believe that one can lose their salvation.
So I'm not talking in salvific terms.
One of the errors of evangelicalism today I think is that we look at everything through the lens of salvation in salvific
terms.
But I think that there's a truth here for the Christian as well to to warn against and to and and to be careful with
that Jesus just as he comes and he makes us new just as he cleanses the house of our heart.
And We too can again after being cleansed after receiving the Lord.
Jesus can then again invite demonic influences
into our lives and.
Then.
We trample upon the precious work of Christ.
And when he purchased us.
Recognize this when Paul argues against sin in 1st Corinthians.
One of the arguments against his argument was sin is that he says do you not
recognize who purchased you.
Who you belong to?
You are a purchase blood -bought possession of the Most High God therefore
run from sin run from it.
Because of who you belong to.
So beloved be careful that after belonging to Jesus you not then again invite the things of the
world into your life.
That you're not once again invite sin invite demonic Influences into your life and I've
seen this happen in Christian ministries in churches.
I've seen this happen with men in recovery.
Where they accept the truths of God.
Maybe even be regenerated by faith and yet again open their lives to the chaos and
mess of this world.
Do not open your life and your heart to the lies of the enemy or
to sin.
So once you write this after receiving deliverance through Jesus Christ and I mean this in the general sense not
necessarily Demonic deliverance as you would see in certain types of movies or by
certain charlatans in the evangelical church.
But after receiving deliverance through Jesus Christ you can again open the door to unclean
spirits and Your state will be worse than the first.
Please don't confuse us in terms of salvation.
But just as Israel.
The Jesus came and cleaned the house of Israel and they again brought forth demonic influence so we too in
a Microcosm can do likewise which again this sobering warning from Christ.
So what's the answer here beloved?
The answer is through.
Embrace.
The regenerative work of the Holy Spirit by daily repenting of sin.
Choosing to walk in the light of God's truth and not forsaking the Christian gathering
where we receive instruction for life and for holiness or as the Apostle
Peter quoting from the Proverbs says Do not be like the dogs
that return to its own vomit.
Do not return to the vomit of this old world, which is fading away instead be steadfast
and Resolved to do God's will.
For the Bible says he who does the will of God shall live and
remain forever.
You can live forever today by embracing the gospel of our
reconciliation the gospel of our salvation that Because we are sinners God in the fullness of time
sent forth his Son To born of the Virgin to live the life that we could not live by the death that we deserve and was raised again
on The third day and he now lives forever more enthroned at the right hand of God the Father where he
intercedes for you and me.
Today, which is why again while it is still called today You have the
opportunity to repent turn from sin and to trust in the Savior.
Jesus puts it this way you must be born again.
May you have?
This gift and this grace.
To hear these words and to respond to it By believing in your heart that God raised this
Jesus from the dead and believing that he is Lord over all.
So that not only may you be saved from the wrath to come but you may have deliverance.
Yes, even true deliverance today when you make that commitment and when you
make that profession.
Today, let's pray Precious
Savior Our true deliverer our greater Moses.
We thank you for all that you have done.
For the deliverance of your people from the bondage of sin death
and Satan.
We know Lord that you are powerful to save.
We know Lord that your salvation is an everlasting salvation of which you promised
to your people that your sheep hear your voice and No one will be able to
snatch them from your hands.
Lord Jesus, may you watch over us as our Great Shepherd the Great Shepherd of the sheep Who by the
blood of the eternal covenant?
Brought a people for God from every tribe nation and tongue.
For his own glory and his own namesake Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are good.
We thank you that you are a loving Savior.
And so Lord more love to thee O Lord.
We do sing and we do proclaim Unto the glory of your name in Jesus name.
We do pray.