This week, we continue in our Luke series by reflecting on Luke 11:14-28. Today, let’s consider how we will experience similar spiritual assaults as Jesus experienced.
‘Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for 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.’ (Luke 11:14-19)
Lesson: A Christian or a church that is allied with Christ against demonic powers will face attack from the kingdom of darkness.
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Jesus knew what it was to be misunderstood and slandered. Jesus having done a wonderful kindness in healing this ‘mute’ man, is accused of doing so by the power of the devil. What his accusers don’t realise is that it’s actually they, as shown by their accusatory and divisive behaviour, who are being influenced by the power of darkness! Like Christ, those who seek to attack the kingdom of darkness, will face retaliation and be attacked by the power of darkness and we must be ready for this!
Jesus responds by showing them the folly of their logic; it simply doesn’t make any sense for someone who is serving ‘Beelzebul the prince of demons’ to attack him by driving out demons! It makes no sense, if Jesus is serving satan, for Him to drive demons out.
Beelzebul derives from the name of the Canaanite fertility god and probably means ‘lord of the flies’ or ‘lord of dung’! Let’s be clear, Jesus, The Son of God who is being led by the Father and the Spirit, is being accused of serving the lord of dung and the prince of demons! Jesus warns each of us who are allied with Him in sharing the gospel and praying against demonic powers that we will also face similar attacks:
‘“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!’ (Matthew 10:24-25)
Response
A Christian or a church that is allied with Christ against demonic powers will face attack from the kingdom of darkness. Beelzebul is still ‘the lord of dung’ and he still attacks what is good and those who seek what is truly good. Let’s not be surprised if we are slandered for sharing the gospel, standing up for truth and praying against demonic powers. Stand strong knowing that you are experiencing the sufferings of Christ and that He is greater and that He is with you.
COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Please ensure that the members of your group are aware and familiar with using the daily devotionals, which are accessed in Church News, the Teaching button on the website and are now available on the major podcast platforms.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message from our series in Luke on Sunday, based upon Jesus’ teaching from Luke 11:14-28. Here, we continue to see hostility toward Jesus continue to grow as they accuse Jesus of doing His miracles by the power of the devil.
Please read Luke 11:1-13, and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
Read Luke 11:14-22. How is Jesus’ greater strength and power over demons revealed in His ministry? How are we to continue, in Jesus’ strength, to ‘plunder’ the kingdom of darkness?
Read Luke 11:23. Who is this aimed at, and how are we to be ‘with’ and ‘gather’ with Jesus?
Read Luke 11:24-26. Here, Jesus is warning against allowing the influence of demons back into our lives. One can be set free from demons or the teaching of demons only to go back and become worse off than before! To protect ourselves, those who are cleansed must be filled; In what ways are we to fill the ‘house’ that is our minds, souls and lives?
Read Luke 11:27-28. Jesus responds to this woman’s praise with a correction about obeying God’s Word. How does this relate to our previous point about filling the ‘house’ of our mind? And how are you doing on this theme (of hearing and obeying Jesus) that has been repeated throughout Luke?
SIV - What does this section teach us about how we may be treated as we seek to share the gospel?
SIV- What promise of success does this section give us regarding the mission of Jesus?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
Let’s pray together that, this week, we will have opportunities to SIV; and pray for anything else that's come out of our time in God’s Word.