The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:11:14-28

kjv@Luke:11:14 @ And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

kjv@Luke:11:15 @ But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

kjv@Luke:11:16 @ And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

kjv@Luke:11:17 @ But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

kjv@Luke:11:18 @ If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

kjv@Luke:11:19 @ And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.

kjv@Luke:11:20 @ But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

kjv@Luke:11:21 @ When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

kjv@Luke:11:22 @ But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

kjv@Luke:11:23 @ He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

kjv@Luke:11:24 @ When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

kjv@Luke:11:25 @ And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

kjv@Luke:11:26 @ Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

kjv@Luke:11:27 @ And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

kjv@Luke:11:28 @ But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:11:1-13 Jesus ' Teaching on Prayer
  
• After - Luke:11:29-32 The Sign of Jonah
  

Study Resources:

dict:naves Beelzebub
dict:tcr Satan

Notes:

By asking for a sign, the others are tempting Jesus in the same mode as Satan himself had; they are asking for Jesus to prove Himself by His own power rather than by direct obedience to the Father with confirmation. Men fall to temptation all the time being challenged to prove their own selves. Eve herself was challenged at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to prove herself wise beyond where God had positioned her. Satan is in fact attempting to prove himself as like the Most High God. It is all self exaltation; the opposite of what Jesus is performing here in our flesh. Given this essential understanding, how is it that Satan would be dividing his own house if then publicly in the name of God casting his own out? Let us consider.

A house divided can work in two directions, only one favorably. If the house were understood as the house of Israel, Satan is loosing support with every good work Jesus does, Jesus is going from no support to considerable support quickly. A house divided at this point of time is a positive thing for Jesus. If it is to mean Satan's house being divided, Satan certainly is not going to loose the support of his demons, he would be loosing his/their influence over the house of Israel. What Jesus may be asking us to consider is which weakens Satan's case more, he himself casting demons out pretending to be Messiah or Messiah casting his demons out against his will. Jesus is making it known that He being in some allegiance to Satan as proposed hurts Satan more than he would be willing to risk.

Remember that Jesus knows that the accusation of association will be made and yet proceeds with the good works anyway as it is obedient to the Father's directive. The men making the accusation might not even be obeying Satan's directive either as they may be acting out of their own self exaltation as is their fallen nature. They unwittingly step themselves into a huge logical trap which Jesus is able to make sizable advantage with. It goes to show that if you set yourself to do what the Father says is right, regardless of the strategy or foreseeable gain doing what is right will eventually win the day.

The problem for Satan is not just the casting out of his demons. The problems everything else Jesus is doing and intends to do. If it were just the demons, fine then cast one out, they go on a brief vacation, seven of them come back. Advantage Satan. If not now however, soon, it will be what they are coming back to; The Holy Spirit indwelling; the spiritual wild fire catching all over the known world; the teachings of a risen and ascended savior; millions if not billions of converts having full redemption and eternal life. That is for him a house divided, a house that knows that it is going down to the pits of Hell. That instead of exaltation like unto the Most High he has been most thoroughly defeated and condemned.

It is unknown whether the woman meant anything by her "paps" comment at the time. Knowing the history to follow regarding the worship of Mary and of other feminist gods all along (but particularly at the collapse of sovereign Judah kjv@Jeremiah:44), it is important for Jesus to make a pointed response. The hearing and keeping of God's word is always key when blessing is talked of. It should be of interest though that whether He is being alleged to be in allegiance to Satan or whether He is being brought down to (or below) the position of His earthly mother, the image of Him in terms of position in God's word is perceptively being attacked just the same.

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:11:14-28
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:11:14-28 rwp@Luke:11:14-28 mhcc@Luke:11:14-28
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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