Luke 11:14-28

Now He was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!” And others, as a test, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven.

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”


Don't you wonder what the formerly mute man said? And aren't you surprised that people asked Jesus for a sign? What did they think every move he made, every miracle he performed, and every word he spoke was? Everything pointed to the Father. Everything pointed to the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is present. And even the finger of God has more power than the entire kingdom of darkness currently allowed to rule much of the earth. And with the coming of the kingdom, we see unprecedented movement in the powers of darkness. Only 5 of the 39 books of the Old Testament even mention Satan. But when Jesus comes on the scene the demons cannot remain silent. Just being in His presence they cry out, "What have you to do with us, Son of the Most High God?" The mere proximity of Jesus forces them from the behind the scenes work demons prefer and into the spotlight for a showdown.

Jesus is accused of using the power of Satan to defeat Satan, but he points out how crazy that would be. Plus, there were leaders of the Jewish faith who cast out demons. They would confirm that it was not by evil forces that they did this. In Exodus 31:18 the finger of God had inscribed the words of the law on the stone tablets. The psalmist speaks of the heavens as created by the finger of God. God does not have literal fingers. This is a figure of speech indicating the power of God. But I like the mental image of God (or Jesus) pointing a finger at the demon and with a flick of a knuckle commanding it out of this man. Jesus has easily overpowered Satan and taken away his weapons.

But he will not completely accomplish this until he comes again. Until then, Satan has some of his weapons still on earth. One of Satan's most effective tactics is to divide those of us in God's kingdom against one another. We must encourage one another in our battle for the kingdom. We won't walk around confronting demons like Jesus did, but we make war against the sin in our lives. Fight not against those who are different, rail not against those who believe not in Christ, but make war against the sin in your life. Hold each other accountable in their faith journey. "The only foothold Satan has in your life is your flesh and your sin" (Piper).

When you find yourself seemingly free from a particular sin, beware. Although your spiritual house may seem to be swept and in order, temptations return sevenhold. Be on your guard against temptation! Do not let sin master you! For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first (2 Peter 2:19-20).

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Luke 10:17-24

The Seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”

He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him.” Then turning to His disciples He said privately, “The eyes that see the things you see are blessed! For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see yet didn’t see them; to hear the things you hear yet didn’t hear them.”


The Seventy returned understandably ecstatic. Even the demons obeyed them under the authority of Jesus' name! Jesus does not reprimand their joy, but he seeks to refocus it. They are to rejoice in their salvation, not in their derived power over the demons. They had witnessed the disciples inability to cast demons out of a boy, but they had successfully commanded the forces of darkness.

 Various interpretations are given of the statement, "I saw Satan fall like lightening." This either refers to Satan's original fall after leading the insurrection against God, or it signifies his loss of power as the kingdom of God came near and his fallen angels were ordered around by a band of regular Jewish men. I grew up in the mountains hearing tales of "snake handling" churches. If your faith is strong, those venomous snakes won't bite, or at least the bites won't hurt. Although Paul survives a snake bite while marooned at Malta, I think this passage is a figurative one. Snakes and serpents likely refers to Satan, the demons, and/or those who would stand in the way of the gospel.

Why does Jesus tell his disciples to not take joy in their own successes, even spiritual ones? The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), and he is our only true source of joy. In good times and bad, in success or loss, we are assured of victory in Jesus. He has power over any worldly or supernatural force conspiring against us. Jesus came into the world to overthrow the evil one (John 12:31).  Although it is unlikely we will cast out any demons, as disciples of Jesus we have been given spiritual authority and power for overcoming the works of darkness and evil (1 John 2:13-14).

Jesus' prayer contains a warning that pride can keep us from the love and knowledge of God.  Those considered wise were blinded by their own beliefs and self-righteousness from seeing the kingdom of God which was before their very eyes. Humility, not feelings of inferiority but the realization that our worth comes from Christ, leads us to a true recognition of who we are in God and of our dependence on him. Those with the simple faith of a child receive the kingdom of God. God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (Prov. 3:34, James 4:6). Jesus is the revelation of the one true God.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of you faith, the salvation of your souls.  Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. 1 Peter 1:3-12

Luke 9:37-48

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”


The crowds continued to seek Jesus for miracles. As soon as he descends the mountain he is accosted by a large crowd. The disciples have apparently begun healing as well, perhaps since they were sent on their mission. But they are not able to heal the boy. (Later when they ask Jesus why, he tells them that kind of demon can only be cast out through fasting and prayer. Faith of the highest kind was necessary to perform the task.) Jesus looks at them and says, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”  Jesus almost sounds like me when I ask, “Do I have to do EVERYTHING around here?” But I believe he was lamenting the fact that his disciples lacked full faith and that people continued to seek miracles and healing rather than looking to the kingdom of God. Regardless, he healed the boy and handed him back to his father.

Jesus again predicts his death, but they do not understand. He will not always be there bodily to fix all their problems. Believing Jesus will usher in a messianic kingdom in the way they expect, they are afraid to ask him about this saying.

In fact, they begin to argue about which of them is greatest. Perhaps some were jealous at the attention the three in the inner circle received. Perhaps these three were the very ones who began such arguments. But they all wanted an exalted place in the kingdom they believed was at hand. Jesus takes a child, often devalued in that society, and uses him as an example. Whoever receives and cares for the least is the greatest. Whoever humbles himself is the greatest.

We can be guilty of many of these mistakes. We often seek Jesus when we need help, not to consistently seek his will in furthering the kingdom of God. Our faithlessness and lack of focus on God impede our spiritual growth and impact in this world. We desire to receive praise and attention for our good works rather than pointing to the glory of God. We focus our eyes on the urgent and overlook the "least of these" around us each day. Let us daily seek to focus on and draw our strength from God! And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him  (Hebrews 11:6).

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21

Luke 8:26-39

Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.  And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.


After the calming of the storm, the stunned disciples land on the other side of the Galilee. Several boats of people step off into the land of the Gerasenes. The people here were culturally more Hellenistic than Semitic, accounting for the presence of pig farmers. Needless to say, these folks were not Orthodox Jews. Perhaps this will be a place Jesus and his small crowd of disciples can find respite from the throngs.

Up on the hill were two demon possessed men who lived among the tombs. If the one in this story lived today, he would be jailed or institutionalized and heavily sedated with drugs. He was dangerous to himself and society and had been banished from civilization. The locals had tried binding him with heavy chains, but in fury he ripped them apart. No guard could keep him controlled. Imagine this man: naked, skin marred from the beating sun in the day and exposure to cold at night, cuts and scars from self-mutilation. When anyone neared the tombs he would run down to attack them. The townspeople knew to steer clear.

As Jesus and his crowd entered this man's territory, he flew down the hill towards them. Perhaps at first the demons did not recognize this man who looked like any other. At the command of Jesus to leave the man the demons threw their host to the ground, not in worship but in fear. Controlling his voice, they ask "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me." We know from other scriptures that some demons are bound for now in the Abyss and some are allowed to roam the earth, destroying whom they can. These demons know Jesus has the power to bind them or destroy them. No one outside Jesus and his apostles have had this power.

The demons beg to be sent into a herd of pigs. For Gentiles the herd of pigs would be a standard way to make a living. For Jewish observers they would be a source of revulsion. (I would be thinking Carolina barbecue myself!) For whatever reason, Jesus let the demons have their choice. Good news for the man, bad news for the pigs and the farmers. Possession stirred the pigs into a panicking mob, rushing over the cliffs and into the sea to drown.

The herdsmen immediately run into town to alert the townspeople. They come out amazed that the insane dangerous man is now sitting clothed, calmly sitting at the feet of a Jewish teacher. Whereas other regions mobbed Jesus for more miracles, here they were afraid of this sorcery and more concerned about the loss of monetary gain. The cured man had a different attitude. He begged Jesus to be allowed to come along as a disciple. But Jesus sent him home to be a witness to the fearful townspeople who had expelled Jesus from their region.

It is said that the greatest lie of Satan is that he has convinced the world that he either does not exist or that he has unimaginable power. We cannot understand everything about the unseen spirits, but any of our knowledge should come from the Bible, not from Hollywood or people's personal accounts.

Demons around Jesus could not help but reveal themselves. But as a rule they are much more subtle. They are still at work today. Although we may not pass our children through the fires of Baal, we surgically abort about 3,288 babies per day in America (not to mention the morning after pill). Although many who support abortion want them to be "safe and rare", there are those who actually celebrate it. We emotionally, physically, and sexually abuse children. We rape and kill. Rarely is any of this attributed to demonic activity. We talk about depression, mental illness, or personal choice. While these things are real, we should focus on putting on the armor of God against spiritual darkness. Evil forces want nothing more than to keep you from believing on Christ, and if you do believe to make you turn back or be as ineffective of a Christan as possible. As 1 Peter 5:8 warns, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." He wants you to be miserable, overwhelmed, and self doubting. He wants you to hold bitterness in your heart. Through the power of God you can overcome him. As James 4:8 teaches, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

On a positive note, we see from this story that God can use anyone as a missionary. This man once possessed could now enter a town where Jesus himself was unwelcome and share the gospel with his kinsmen. Jesus can transform any life. When everything else has failed, the power of God can turn your life around for his glory. That doesn't mean you will have an easy life. I doubt the former demoniac had a rousing welcome home party restoring him to wealth and prosperity. He was likely treated with suspicion at least for a time. Nevertheless he gladly walked the road set before him by Christ.

First, then, here is what these children are to tell. It is to be a story of personal experience. "Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord has done for thee, and hath compassion on thee." Not what you have believed, but what you have felt; what you really know to be your own; not what great things you have read, but what great things the Lord has done for you; not alone what you have seen done in the great congregation, and how great sinners have turned to God, but what the Lord has done for you. And mark this: There is never a more interesting story than that which a man tells about himself.  - C.H. Spurgeon 

Luke 4:38-44

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf.  And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.


After leaving the synagogue, Jesus walks to Simon's house and dismisses his mother-in-law's fever with a simple command. I love how she hops right up to serve the people in the house. I can imagine any southern woman reacting the same way, "Oh thank you Jesus! Can I get you some sweet tea? A piece of cake?" No mention is made of the fact that Jesus is healing on the Sabbath, thereby "working" and "breaking the Sabbath". At this point people still seem excited and amazed by his miracles.

As the sun set and the Sabbath ended, devout Jews were free to walk any distance and bring their sick to see this miracle worker. He took time to heal each one of them. The demons had good theology, but they did not respect the title "Son of God". So each time Jesus rebuked them, not needing their witness. Their truth was a crooked truth, meant to shortcut Christ's winding path to Calvary. Jesus did not need vast crowds of revolution seekers, he desired only those who truly were willing to follow at any cost.

In spending time alone in prayer, Jesus models true ministry for his followers. Ministry, no matter how spectacular or effective, is not a true ministry of God if it is not steeped in prayer and led by the Holy Spirit. In choosing to limit himself to human form, Jesus needed time to "recharge his spiritual batteries" throughout his ministry. This is especially seen before or after spiritual battles, large volumes of healing, or times of extended teaching. The crowds driven by their own needs will have no time for solitude and prayer. Nevertheless we must take time from simply "doing good" to spend time personally seeking the face of God.

Although the people in Capernaum begged Jesus to stay and minister there, he was led away by the Holy Spirit. Clamouring crowds, acclimation, and vast needs were not his driving forces. Not content to minister comfortably in Galilee, Jesus followed the Spirit's leading and ministered throughout Judea. We must likewise be open to stay or go as the Lord commands, daily seeking his will for our lives.

You see, Jesus isn’t simply another preacher delivering a sermon, Jesus is the sermon—God’s Word with authority and power in human flesh. He is God’s sermon to the world. He was sent to preach the Good News. It’s the good news that you are pardoned, that your death sentence has been lifted forever. It is good news that gives sight to the blind, that opens the ears of the deaf, that causes the mute to shout out with praise and thanksgiving. It is good news that finds its fulfillment in your hearing, when you hear that God is at peace with you for Jesus’ sake, that your sins are forgiven by His blood, that you are free.   - Robert E. Moeller, Jr.

Luke 4:31-37

And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,  “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

After rejection in his hometown of Nazareth Jesus goes down from the hill country to Capernaum, a town on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. When he begins teaching in the synagogue, people are immediately astonished. He continues to teach with authority and explain Scripture in a new way. Rather than teaching what the rabbis have said, Jesus teaches "but I say" and "the Lord says". That is a huge distinction.

In the synagogue was a demon controlled man, clearly able to hide it from the other religious people. The demon instantly realizes the presence of the Messiah, is threatened, and uses the mans voice to call out at the threat to its power. Jesus will not allow the demon to speak the words that he is the Son of God, even though the words are true. The demon's words stir up dissension, division, and distraction. As we have noted, Jesus is not interested in winning followers through some grand show of power but through a changing of hearts and minds.

The passage from Isaiah that Jesus had read in Nazareth indicated that as the Messiah he would "set free the oppressed." Certainly anyone under the influence of a demon is oppressed! (Demon possession is covered well here.) When the crowds see that Jesus is able to command spirits, the word gets out that something exciting and unusual is going on in Capernaum.

Although few in the world are in need of an exorcism, many are controlled to some extent by evil forces. Each sin gives evil a foothold in our life. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26-27, "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Ephesians 4:26-27). The deeper we fall into sin, the further we drift away from God and towards Satan. The deeper we deceive ourselves that we are "good people", the more barriers we allow between our spiritual ears and the pleading voice of the Holy Spirit. Do not think that simply because there are no demons cast out in your Sunday morning service that the devil is no longer at work around us.

For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 

 - Ephesians 6:12