WEBVTT 00:00:00.620 --> 00:00:07.980 The reading of God's Word today comes from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, verses 14 to 36. 00:00:08.580 --> 00:00:10.220 Please follow along in your bulletin. 00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:15.200 And he was casting out a demon, but it was mute. 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:20.000 When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the crowds were... 00:00:21.379 --> 00:00:28.060 But when some of them said, he cast out demons by Bezabal, the ruler of the demons, 00:00:28.059 --> 00:00:32.359 others to test him, were demanding of him a sign from heaven. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:35.039 But he knew their thoughts and said to them, 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:41.560 Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house divided against itself falls. 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:46.659 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.560 For you say that I cast out demons by Bezabal, 00:00:51.399 --> 00:00:55.840 and if I, by Bezabal, cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:58.500 So they will be your judges. 00:00:59.300 --> 00:01:02.520 But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, 00:01:03.080 --> 00:01:05.700 then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:09.359 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, 00:01:09.520 --> 00:01:11.219 his possessions are undisturbed. 00:01:12.100 --> 00:01:16.300 But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, 00:01:16.800 --> 00:01:20.159 he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied, 00:01:20.320 --> 00:01:21.719 and distributes his plunder. 00:01:21.719 --> 00:01:25.959 He who is not with me is against me, 00:01:26.459 --> 00:01:29.400 and he who does not gather with me scatters. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:32.859 When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, 00:01:32.939 --> 00:01:36.039 it passes through waterless places seeking rest, 00:01:36.599 --> 00:01:38.700 and not finding any, it says, 00:01:39.460 --> 00:01:42.480 I will return to my house from which I came. 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:46.939 And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:50.759 Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits, 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:52.140 more evil than itself, 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:54.759 and they go in and live there. 00:01:55.480 --> 00:01:59.379 And the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:02.299 While Jesus was saying these things, 00:02:02.679 --> 00:02:05.700 one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:08.939 Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breast at which you nursed. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:10.400 But he said, 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:11.659 On the contrary, 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:15.819 blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. 00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:17.919 As the crowds were increasing, 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:19.379 he began to say, 00:02:19.859 --> 00:02:22.299 This generation is a wicked generation. 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:24.239 It seeks for a sign, 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.739 and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah. 00:02:28.780 --> 00:02:31.900 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:34.919 so will the Son of Man be this generation. 00:02:35.900 --> 00:02:39.459 The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment 00:02:39.459 --> 00:02:42.680 and condemn them because she came from the ends of the earth 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:44.359 to hear the wisdom of Solomon. 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:46.200 And behold, 00:02:46.920 --> 00:02:49.500 something greater than Solomon is here. 00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.180 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment 00:02:54.180 --> 00:02:57.220 and condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. 00:02:58.200 --> 00:02:58.800 And behold, 00:02:59.660 --> 00:03:02.460 something greater than Jonah is here. 00:03:04.140 --> 00:03:04.740 No one, 00:03:04.820 --> 00:03:05.720 after lighting a lamp, 00:03:05.820 --> 00:03:07.940 puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, 00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:09.760 but on the lampstand, 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:12.579 so that those who enter may see the light. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:15.399 The eye is the lamp of your body. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:17.039 When your eye is clear, 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:18.799 your whole body is also full of light. 00:03:19.399 --> 00:03:20.579 But when it is bad, 00:03:20.979 --> 00:03:22.939 your body also is full of darkness. 00:03:24.079 --> 00:03:27.039 Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:30.840 If therefore your whole body is full of light, 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:33.099 with no dark part in it, 00:03:33.739 --> 00:03:35.219 it will be wholly illumined. 00:03:35.780 --> 00:03:38.959 And when the lamp illumines you with its rays. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:41.319 This is the reading of God's word. 00:03:41.319 --> 00:03:49.780 The following is a letter documenting the correspondence between two demons in our world. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:57.280 My dear Wormwood, 00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:03.719 I was quite disappointed to learn of your patience' conversion to the enemy's side. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:09.459 While your incompetence in preventing this from happening will not go unpunished, 00:04:09.460 --> 00:04:12.200 all is not yet lost. 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:14.900 Though he is now a Christian, 00:04:15.420 --> 00:04:17.319 and you have lost that battle, 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:19.240 our war is still on, 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:23.900 and requires new tactics for which we have an entire specialized arsenal. 00:04:24.840 --> 00:04:29.100 Do not try with arguments to persuade him to leave the enemy. 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:32.340 That will only embolden him all the more. 00:04:32.340 --> 00:04:34.660 No, make him comfortable now. 00:04:34.780 --> 00:04:36.340 Put his mind at ease. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:39.360 Convince him our battle is either over, 00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:41.639 or that it never happened. 00:04:42.479 --> 00:04:45.180 You must not let him learn, 00:04:45.560 --> 00:04:49.419 or feel in any way that he is in the vanguard of our war. 00:04:50.859 --> 00:04:51.419 Now, 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:55.539 busyness is one of our Father Below's greatest tactics. 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:59.359 If he can be made so busy with practical, 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:02.299 ordinary, daily concerns of work, 00:05:02.799 --> 00:05:03.459 relationships, 00:05:04.019 --> 00:05:05.679 and even church activities, 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.600 he won't have time to spend with the enemy, 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:11.139 or to think about eternal matters. 00:05:11.780 --> 00:05:12.519 Trust me, 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:16.040 once he's been secluded from the enemy by busyness, 00:05:16.840 --> 00:05:21.280 you can begin to show him so many other humans around him 00:05:21.280 --> 00:05:24.040 who unknowingly serve our cause, 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:25.840 who have more money, 00:05:25.840 --> 00:05:27.520 who are more attractive, 00:05:27.900 --> 00:05:28.480 powerful, 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:30.400 and even nicer than him. 00:05:31.620 --> 00:05:35.720 He can then become convinced that others are happier than he is, 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:40.140 and therefore they have no need of God. 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:42.519 You see, 00:05:42.659 --> 00:05:44.740 over the course of thousands of years, 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:47.939 our Father Below has conditioned the human mind 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:49.939 to subconsciously think 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:52.419 that it has all the time in the world, 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:57.339 and he can straddle the fence in this war of souls and eternity. 00:05:58.479 --> 00:05:59.939 Make him forget 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:04.180 that he is now an important part of our enemy's army, 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:06.400 and that his home is heaven, 00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:08.100 and not really earth. 00:06:09.519 --> 00:06:12.420 Lull him into comfort and security in this world, 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:15.800 and he will quickly forget his duty to the next world, 00:06:16.300 --> 00:06:19.340 and those around him who are trapped in our plans, 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:23.079 and destined for a well-deserved destruction 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:26.720 and habitation with us down below. 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:29.819 Before too long, 00:06:29.899 --> 00:06:31.199 he will become convinced 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:34.099 that as long as he doesn't stray too far 00:06:34.099 --> 00:06:37.199 into being too bad or too good, 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:40.219 that he can remain neutral and comfortable. 00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:44.839 When he has the fantasy of being neutral, 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:47.240 firmly plant in his mind, 00:06:47.939 --> 00:06:51.539 he becomes a valuable weapon for our cause, 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:53.899 since he will have no idea 00:06:53.899 --> 00:06:56.000 he's been following our orders. 00:06:57.259 --> 00:06:59.659 Keep him in this state of numbness 00:06:59.660 --> 00:07:01.680 as long as possible, 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:03.620 as the damage we can do 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:05.280 by these simple lies 00:07:05.280 --> 00:07:06.420 in his life 00:07:06.420 --> 00:07:08.520 and those around him 00:07:08.520 --> 00:07:10.680 will be great. 00:07:11.880 --> 00:07:14.000 Your affectionate uncle, 00:07:14.640 --> 00:07:15.300 Screwtape. 00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:17.280 Wow. 00:07:18.420 --> 00:07:20.940 I don't know if I can get my voice that deep. 00:07:23.020 --> 00:07:25.000 God has equipped people in the body 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:26.180 with many talents, huh? 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:28.540 How you guys doing? 00:07:28.540 --> 00:07:29.460 Good? 00:07:29.460 --> 00:07:30.340 Good? 00:07:30.960 --> 00:07:32.020 Good, good. 00:07:33.060 --> 00:07:34.260 Okay, well, 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:37.760 you know, 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:40.180 as I am a pastor 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:41.540 and a dad 00:07:41.540 --> 00:07:42.540 and a husband, 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:44.500 I wear a lot of different hats. 00:07:45.580 --> 00:07:47.060 As a pastor, 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:50.320 I have a couple burdens 00:07:50.320 --> 00:07:52.360 that weigh on me. 00:07:53.340 --> 00:07:54.860 One of the burdens is 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:57.220 that sometimes we would forget 00:07:57.220 --> 00:07:58.840 or somehow that we would forget 00:07:58.840 --> 00:08:01.340 why we are here as a church. 00:08:03.020 --> 00:08:04.500 We've said from the very beginning, 00:08:04.640 --> 00:08:05.580 you see it in documents, 00:08:05.700 --> 00:08:07.200 you see it in the website, 00:08:07.200 --> 00:08:09.540 that we are here for the glory of God 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:12.520 and for those not in church on Sunday. 00:08:13.640 --> 00:08:15.380 The idea of that is that we're missional, 00:08:15.560 --> 00:08:16.460 we're outwardly focused, 00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:18.160 we're about talking to people 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:19.840 wherever God has us at our workplace 00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:21.980 or wherever we're traveling, 00:08:21.980 --> 00:08:24.160 and we're about sharing our lives 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:25.580 and the gospel with them there 00:08:25.580 --> 00:08:28.500 and also bringing them here. 00:08:29.520 --> 00:08:31.120 But meeting them where they're at, 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:34.820 my fear is that sometimes we forget that 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:36.440 or I forget that. 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:40.279 Another thing that I have a burden for 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:41.800 as I think about my life 00:08:41.800 --> 00:08:44.379 is I forget why we're here. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:47.360 If you read the documents 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:48.799 and see on the website, 00:08:48.939 --> 00:08:50.500 we say that Watermark, we believe, 00:08:50.580 --> 00:08:52.460 exists for the glory of God 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:53.460 and to allow people 00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:54.980 to take their next step 00:08:54.980 --> 00:08:56.019 in their spiritual journey. 00:08:57.779 --> 00:09:00.240 I think sometimes we forget that also. 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:02.379 When I teach a sermon, 00:09:02.539 --> 00:09:04.700 I have this incredible burden 00:09:04.700 --> 00:09:06.299 that you're going to hear it 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:06.899 and you're going to go, 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:08.559 this is where I need to be right now. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.159 And you're going to walk away just, 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:12.320 that's just impossible. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:15.680 But we're here on a journey 00:09:15.680 --> 00:09:19.760 and a journey consists of many steps, 00:09:20.360 --> 00:09:22.440 taking them and changing. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:25.320 So our hope is after you hear a sermon, 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:26.200 you come to worship 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:27.320 and you experience community 00:09:27.320 --> 00:09:28.920 and you eat great food 00:09:28.920 --> 00:09:31.240 and you have the Lord speak to you 00:09:31.240 --> 00:09:31.660 in this time, 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:32.220 you start thinking, 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:33.780 okay, what is the next step for me? 00:09:35.660 --> 00:09:36.700 Now we don't want anybody 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:37.660 to stay where they are. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:38.940 If you stay where you are 00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:40.280 the same place this year 00:09:40.280 --> 00:09:41.400 as you are next year, 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:44.279 then we feel like something's gone wrong. 00:09:45.319 --> 00:09:46.120 But it's a journey 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:47.220 that we take little steps 00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:48.259 and so all along we're saying, 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:48.840 okay, God, 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:50.959 what is the next step in my life 00:09:50.959 --> 00:09:52.240 and how can I honor you 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:52.840 and please you 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:53.980 as I walk in this direction? 00:09:55.659 --> 00:09:58.759 When I was looking at this passage 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.139 for quite a while, 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:02.539 I was reminded of this story 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:04.259 of this missionary doctor in Africa 00:10:04.259 --> 00:10:05.199 and the story, 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:06.379 which is true, 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:07.819 said that this doctor 00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:08.820 was reaching out 00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:10.040 to this tribe in Africa 00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:11.320 and one day 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:12.700 the princess of the tribe 00:10:12.700 --> 00:10:14.060 came to meet him 00:10:14.060 --> 00:10:17.280 and as she walked up to his house, 00:10:17.420 --> 00:10:18.580 she saw a mirror 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:21.220 hanging by his door. 00:10:22.020 --> 00:10:23.260 Well, it was just a normal mirror. 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:23.800 It was a mirror 00:10:23.800 --> 00:10:24.680 that he used to shave 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:25.300 and brush his teeth 00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:26.200 and get ready every day, 00:10:26.420 --> 00:10:27.020 but this lady 00:10:27.020 --> 00:10:27.940 had never seen a mirror. 00:10:28.920 --> 00:10:29.680 And so she's attracted 00:10:29.680 --> 00:10:30.580 by the glinting of it 00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.100 and she went up 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:31.900 to the glinting of it 00:10:31.900 --> 00:10:33.380 and she saw it 00:10:33.380 --> 00:10:34.300 and she grabbed it 00:10:34.300 --> 00:10:35.120 and she looked at it 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.159 and she pulled it up 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:36.740 to her face 00:10:36.740 --> 00:10:39.039 and she saw the most ugly 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:41.320 and hideous face 00:10:41.320 --> 00:10:43.379 she'd ever seen. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:45.840 Well, she pushed it back 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:47.840 and she looked on the back side of it 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:48.919 to see what was back there, 00:10:49.539 --> 00:10:50.779 but there was nothing. 00:10:52.340 --> 00:10:53.139 And she asked the doctor, 00:10:53.220 --> 00:10:53.919 what is this? 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:55.899 This is a mirror. 00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:58.580 Well, what do you use this for? 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:00.180 Why, I use this to look at myself 00:11:00.180 --> 00:11:01.180 and to understand 00:11:01.180 --> 00:11:02.379 what I look like. 00:11:02.379 --> 00:11:04.919 And asked her, 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.799 she was convinced 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:07.299 that there wasn't a trick behind it. 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:08.539 She said, I want this. 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:10.939 I must have this. 00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:12.139 And the doctor goes, 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:12.840 well, this is my only mirror. 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:13.899 I need this to shave 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:14.659 and brush my teeth 00:11:14.659 --> 00:11:15.720 and there's not another mirror. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:16.139 I need this. 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:17.080 She goes, I'll pay you 00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:18.279 vast amounts of money for this. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:19.019 I'll give you all these 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:20.059 elephant tusks of ivory 00:11:20.059 --> 00:11:21.340 and anything you want, 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.279 I'll give this to you. 00:11:23.220 --> 00:11:24.279 Well, the doctor thought about it 00:11:24.279 --> 00:11:24.960 for a while and he said, 00:11:25.100 --> 00:11:26.919 I need this. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.039 It's going to be months 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.200 before I can get another one, 00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:30.720 but for the sake 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.360 of the relationship 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:31.860 with this lady, 00:11:31.860 --> 00:11:32.480 I'm going to give her 00:11:32.480 --> 00:11:33.120 this mirror. 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:34.879 And so he gives 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:35.860 the princess this mirror 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:36.940 and she takes this mirror 00:11:36.940 --> 00:11:38.620 and she looks at it 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:40.440 very intently 00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:41.500 and stares. 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:44.039 And then all of a sudden 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:45.379 with just a violent movement, 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.460 she throws it to the ground 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:48.220 and shatters it 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:49.220 in a thousand pieces. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:52.759 And the doctor looks at her like, 00:11:53.180 --> 00:11:54.800 and she goes, 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:55.320 there. 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:57.759 You're never going to tell 00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.340 on me again. 00:11:58.340 --> 00:12:02.320 Now the reason I tell 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.139 that story is because 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:04.920 that is how I feel 00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:05.560 sometimes 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:07.540 when I come to God's word. 00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.300 We come down 00:12:10.300 --> 00:12:11.720 and we open God's word 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:12.980 and it's a mirror 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:14.980 to our souls. 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:18.180 It shows us what we're really like 00:12:18.180 --> 00:12:19.180 and what we really are 00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:20.360 and you can't hide 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:21.000 from a mirror 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:21.560 because a mirror 00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:22.660 always tells the truth 00:12:22.660 --> 00:12:23.960 and sometimes we just want 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:24.900 to throw it away 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:27.679 because it's too hard. 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:30.679 But when we come 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:31.500 to God's word, 00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.319 we see that there's 00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:33.279 two things working. 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.679 There's his holiness 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.779 and his character 00:12:35.779 --> 00:12:39.559 and there's our incredible need 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:40.740 for him 00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.959 and our brokenness. 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:43.799 And as we grow 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:44.579 on this journey, 00:12:45.579 --> 00:12:46.480 in between there 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:47.500 is the cross 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:50.279 and grace 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:52.459 and forgiveness 00:12:52.459 --> 00:12:55.000 and mercy. 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.220 And if we forget 00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:58.919 mercy and grace 00:12:58.919 --> 00:12:59.839 and we just see 00:12:59.839 --> 00:13:00.539 judgment 00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:02.220 and hard things, 00:13:02.339 --> 00:13:03.139 we just become 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:05.939 we become 00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:07.620 not good. 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.579 We walk in fear. 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:10.980 And if we just see grace 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:12.199 and we don't see truth 00:13:12.199 --> 00:13:12.919 and holiness 00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:13.939 and God's character, 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:14.899 then we forget 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.860 why we have grace 00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:16.720 and we just start doing 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.759 whatever we want to do 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.819 because we forget 00:13:18.819 --> 00:13:19.439 who we are. 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:22.179 But when we come 00:13:22.179 --> 00:13:22.919 to God's word, 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:23.720 my prayer is that 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.159 we'll see all of these things 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.319 brought together 00:13:26.319 --> 00:13:28.199 and we'll fall in love 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:28.799 with Christ. 00:13:33.139 --> 00:13:33.879 Today's passage 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:35.059 is an interesting passage. 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:37.579 Last week, 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.559 we talked about 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:39.860 prayer 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.620 and you're going to understand 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:41.879 why we talked about prayer 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:42.419 because today, 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:43.299 we're going to talk about 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:44.919 choices we need to make. 00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:46.779 And in this passage, 00:13:46.860 --> 00:13:47.519 I think we're going to see 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.220 three choices. 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:50.039 We're going to see choices 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:50.819 that we have to make 00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:53.360 in what side we're on. 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.500 We're going to see choices 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.399 we're going to have to make 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:57.860 in what power 00:13:57.860 --> 00:13:59.019 we choose from. 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:01.439 And we're going to see choices 00:14:01.439 --> 00:14:02.219 that we have to make 00:14:02.219 --> 00:14:03.579 in how we're going to live 00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:04.500 our life every day. 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:07.419 If you look in your bulletin, 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.779 we're looking at Luke 00:14:08.779 --> 00:14:10.519 chapter 11 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:13.039 verses 14 through 36. 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:14.639 I think that I'll probably 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:17.159 only get to 28 today. 00:14:17.159 --> 00:14:18.699 And this is what we're 00:14:18.699 --> 00:14:19.419 talking about 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:20.740 is we look at the choice 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:22.299 of what side 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:23.059 we're going to be on. 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:24.299 Now remember, 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:25.120 Jesus had just taught 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:26.379 this lesson on prayer 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:27.399 and he said that we, 00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.879 this is how you pray. 00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:29.519 It's the only time 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:30.419 his disciples ever 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:31.399 taught him how to do anything. 00:14:31.819 --> 00:14:32.179 And he said, 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:33.399 you pray knowing 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:34.379 who God is. 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.019 You pray knowing 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:38.959 how to pray to him. 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.659 You come to him 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:40.319 as a father 00:14:40.319 --> 00:14:42.019 in a child's relationship. 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:44.720 And you know why 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:45.240 you come to him 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.000 because he's good. 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.639 And today we look at 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.720 why we need to come to him. 00:14:50.699 --> 00:14:51.840 Why we need to pray. 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:54.179 Verse 14 says, 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:55.720 and he was casting out 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.720 a demon and it was mute 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.779 and the demon had gone out 00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:58.759 and the mute man spoke 00:14:58.759 --> 00:15:00.480 and the crowds were amazed. 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:01.299 The word in Greek 00:15:01.299 --> 00:15:02.039 is like they were like, 00:15:02.079 --> 00:15:02.639 oh my gosh. 00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:05.279 But some of them 00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.059 in verse 15 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:07.240 and we know who these are 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:08.120 because of Matthew 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:08.899 and Mark's account, 00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.159 they're the religious leaders. 00:15:10.259 --> 00:15:10.919 The religious leaders 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.579 have been finding, 00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.639 trying to find a way 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:15.180 to crucify Christ. 00:15:16.280 --> 00:15:16.759 They've been trying 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.259 to find a way 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:17.940 to label him 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.759 as a blasphemer, 00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:20.160 a guy who hates God. 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:21.700 And so they watch 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.560 these things happen, 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:23.480 these incredible things. 00:15:23.560 --> 00:15:24.200 He's casting out 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.639 these demons 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.520 and they say, 00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:26.759 he cast out demons 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.680 by Beelzebul, 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:29.520 the ruler of the demons. 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.780 Now it's a very 00:15:30.780 --> 00:15:31.520 interesting word there. 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.600 Basically what they're saying 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:33.940 is that Beelzebul 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:34.560 is the name 00:15:34.560 --> 00:15:35.120 that the Jews 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.000 finally gave 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.560 to the devil. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:40.480 It was the ruler 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:42.120 of the Canaanites. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.279 They worshiped Baal. 00:15:44.420 --> 00:15:45.600 His name was Baal the prince 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.120 but they called him 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.700 Beelzebul, 00:15:46.800 --> 00:15:47.680 the Jewish people did 00:15:47.680 --> 00:15:48.200 because it meant 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:48.720 that he was 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.960 the Lord of flies. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.420 And so after seeing 00:15:52.420 --> 00:15:53.240 all these miracles 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.420 they look at what Jesus did 00:15:54.420 --> 00:15:55.100 and they say, 00:15:55.340 --> 00:15:56.480 you are the Lord of crap 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.620 because that's where 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.379 flies come to. 00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:03.360 Can you imagine that? 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:09.240 You're the Lord of the flies. 00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:10.620 Others, 00:16:10.899 --> 00:16:11.779 to test him, 00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:12.560 in Greek the word 00:16:12.560 --> 00:16:13.240 basically means 00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.120 to find fault, 00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:15.000 to trick him. 00:16:15.340 --> 00:16:16.000 It's the same word 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:17.120 that was used by Satan 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.960 when he took him out 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:18.519 into wilderness 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.019 to tempt him. 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.159 They were demanding 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.000 a sign from heaven. 00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:21.659 They wanted to see 00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:22.259 something huge. 00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:22.860 They wanted to see 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:23.320 an eclipse 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.120 or something 00:16:24.120 --> 00:16:25.100 that was out of control. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:28.120 I thought about 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.879 this passage a lot 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.600 because we live around 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.460 people all the time 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:30.740 and say, 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:31.920 if God could just 00:16:31.920 --> 00:16:32.820 show himself to me, 00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:35.180 if Jesus could just 00:16:35.180 --> 00:16:35.580 show himself, 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:36.400 then I'll believe. 00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:39.480 But here you have people 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.220 who are with Jesus 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.000 every day 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.520 and they saw 00:16:43.520 --> 00:16:44.840 amazing things 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:45.379 from him. 00:16:46.660 --> 00:16:47.900 Feeding 5,000, 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.720 catching fish, 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.180 healing people, 00:16:51.560 --> 00:16:52.100 bringing people 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:52.760 from the dead, 00:16:53.540 --> 00:16:54.300 freeing people 00:16:54.300 --> 00:16:55.040 who are demonically 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:55.460 possessed 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.800 and all of these people 00:16:56.800 --> 00:16:57.240 say, 00:16:57.960 --> 00:16:58.860 I still don't believe. 00:17:01.460 --> 00:17:02.540 Would we really believe 00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.179 that Jesus walked 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:03.939 in the room right now? 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.839 The people in Jesus' day 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.180 didn't. 00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:11.039 They wanted a sign. 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.799 But he knew their thoughts 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.460 and he said to them, 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.180 so he's listening 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:14.899 to their thoughts 00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:15.720 and he can hear 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.259 their hearts. 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.659 Any kingdom divided 00:17:17.659 --> 00:17:18.220 against itself 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:18.819 is laid waste 00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.480 and the house divided 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.359 against itself falls 00:17:20.359 --> 00:17:21.759 and if Satan is also 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.819 divided against himself, 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.839 how will his kingdom stand? 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:29.319 He said, 00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:29.839 for you say 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:31.159 that I cast out demons 00:17:31.159 --> 00:17:32.099 by Beelzebul. 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.779 So he gives them 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:35.000 this benefit of the doubt. 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.079 So let's say I do. 00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:37.639 I do cast them out 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:38.159 by Beelzebul. 00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:39.379 Well then how do 00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:40.480 your sons cast them out? 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.299 Because it was well recorded 00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:44.779 that Jewish historians 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:46.159 throughout history, 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.240 that Jewish guys 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:47.679 would go around 00:17:47.679 --> 00:17:48.059 and they would 00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:48.959 exercise demons. 00:17:49.899 --> 00:17:50.399 Some of them 00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:50.720 would do it 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.459 with incantation, 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:51.939 some of them 00:17:51.939 --> 00:17:52.299 would do it 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:52.759 with a potion, 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.180 but it happened. 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.319 And in the Talmud, 00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:57.299 the rabbis always said 00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:57.680 that anybody 00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.980 who could cast out 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.900 a demon was definitely 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:00.619 the hand, 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.160 the finger of God 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:03.180 and Jesus says, 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:03.720 okay, let's say 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.299 that I am. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.839 How do your guys do it? 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:11.480 If I, by Beelzebul, 00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:12.319 cast out demons 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.180 by whom you, 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.379 do your sons 00:18:14.379 --> 00:18:15.119 cast them out 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.839 so they will be 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.379 your judges 00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:17.460 but I, 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:19.279 if I cast out demons 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:20.460 by the finger of God 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:21.400 and the minute he said that 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:21.920 they would have thought 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:22.640 back to Egypt 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:23.500 with Moses 00:18:23.500 --> 00:18:24.220 in front of Pharaoh, 00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:25.400 it's the exact same words 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.620 of God's handwriting, 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:27.720 it's the exact same words 00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:28.759 of God's finger 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.120 writing out the Ten Commandments, 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:31.460 everybody would have understood 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.200 what he was saying. 00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:33.560 If I write out 00:18:33.560 --> 00:18:34.820 and do these things 00:18:34.820 --> 00:18:35.580 by the finger of God 00:18:35.580 --> 00:18:36.400 then the kingdom of God 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.080 has come upon you. 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.700 God is here. 00:18:37.780 --> 00:18:38.660 The Messiah is here. 00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:39.400 If these things 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:39.980 are really happening, 00:18:40.300 --> 00:18:41.180 God is in your presence. 00:18:41.280 --> 00:18:41.660 What are you going 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.320 to do about it? 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:44.820 How are you going 00:18:44.820 --> 00:18:45.420 to react 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:50.140 when a strong man 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:51.140 fully armed 00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:52.400 guards his own house? 00:18:52.540 --> 00:18:53.100 His possessions 00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:54.100 are undisturbed. 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:56.140 But when someone 00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:57.100 stronger than he 00:18:57.100 --> 00:18:58.480 attacks and overpowers him, 00:18:58.520 --> 00:18:59.400 he takes away from him 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:00.200 all his armor 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.840 on which he rallied 00:19:01.840 --> 00:19:02.360 and relied 00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:03.160 and he distributes 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:03.640 his plunder 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.460 and immediately 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.280 the people would have known 00:19:05.280 --> 00:19:06.320 who he was talking about. 00:19:08.040 --> 00:19:08.960 The strong man 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.900 is Satan, 00:19:10.060 --> 00:19:10.480 the devil. 00:19:11.780 --> 00:19:13.160 And he has this world 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.180 under control. 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:17.080 and his possessions 00:19:17.080 --> 00:19:18.380 are who? 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.740 Who are his possessions? 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:27.900 Us. 00:19:32.600 --> 00:19:33.900 His possessions are us. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.620 You have an owner. 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.539 Everyone has an owner 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.080 or a master. 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.519 And so the strong man 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.320 guards his house 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:43.859 and the only thing 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.480 that a strong man 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.000 is worried about 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.879 is somebody stronger 00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:46.939 and when the stronger 00:19:46.939 --> 00:19:47.659 person comes, 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.099 Jesus, 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.559 he attacks him, 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:50.740 he overpowers him, 00:19:51.159 --> 00:19:52.480 he pins him down, 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.779 he conquers him completely, 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:55.220 he takes off his armor 00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.939 and he distributes everything. 00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.779 Well, Jesus is just 00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.720 describing what happened. 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.659 He just cast out a demon. 00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.599 He just bound 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.319 the strong man 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.639 and he freed this guy 00:20:05.639 --> 00:20:07.659 like he does 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.439 in our lives. 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:10.940 And then he says 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:13.240 something very specific. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.360 My mouth is dry. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.279 All this time 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:17.840 he's trying to share 00:20:17.840 --> 00:20:18.840 that we're in this war, 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:20.320 that there's these two kingdoms 00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:21.240 that are fighting each other. 00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:22.259 There's only two kingdoms. 00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.360 There's a kingdom of God 00:20:24.360 --> 00:20:24.960 and there's a kingdom 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.440 of the devil. 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.080 Is there a third kingdom? 00:20:29.279 --> 00:20:30.140 No, there's not a third kingdom. 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:30.880 There's two kingdoms. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.100 There's a kingdom of God 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:32.640 and there's a kingdom 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:33.039 of the devil. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.220 And all these passages 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.059 Jesus is trying to say 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:36.579 that we're in the middle 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.879 of this huge war 00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:39.960 that is much greater 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:41.079 than anything we could talk about, 00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:42.039 that Satan is real. 00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:43.539 He's trying to grab people 00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.279 to his kingdom. 00:20:44.679 --> 00:20:46.099 He's trying to keep them blinded. 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:47.480 He's trying to let them forget 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.679 that there's a battle going on. 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:49.599 In verse 23 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.259 he says something 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:52.059 very hard and harsh. 00:20:52.179 --> 00:20:52.500 He says, 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.819 he who is not with me 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.379 is against me 00:20:54.379 --> 00:20:55.619 and he who does not gather 00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:57.559 with me scatters. 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.819 Did you hear what he said? 00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:05.399 I mean, 00:21:05.439 --> 00:21:06.240 the minute he said that 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.019 everybody would have just, 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:11.579 he who is not with me 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:13.259 is against me 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:15.299 and he who does not gather 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.519 with me scatters. 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:17.879 I mean, 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.859 Jesus is saying there, 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:20.480 and this is huge, 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.319 he's saying there's no, 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.539 there's no neutrality. 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:24.119 You can't sit on a fence. 00:21:24.240 --> 00:21:25.139 There's no Switzerland. 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.279 There's no place 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:27.439 in between the two kingdoms 00:21:27.439 --> 00:21:28.539 where you're safe. 00:21:28.899 --> 00:21:30.200 You're either in one kingdom 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.159 or in your other kingdom. 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:31.920 Either you're working 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:32.420 for the kingdom 00:21:32.420 --> 00:21:32.880 or you're working 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.600 for the other kingdom, 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.680 but there's no, 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:36.000 there's no neutral place. 00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:37.000 You can't be indifferent. 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.600 You can't say, 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:38.820 well, 00:21:38.860 --> 00:21:39.140 I just, 00:21:39.320 --> 00:21:39.540 you know, 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.340 I don't know. 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:40.740 I'm just trying 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.620 to make a decision still. 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:45.160 I haven't heard enough yet. 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:47.320 But what Jesus is saying 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:47.980 to his disciples 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.759 and he's saying to us 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.519 is that 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:51.600 every one of us 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:55.320 is in one of two camps. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:57.759 Now, 00:21:57.800 --> 00:21:58.300 I'm not saying 00:21:58.300 --> 00:21:59.080 that if you don't 00:21:59.080 --> 00:22:00.140 follow Christ right now 00:22:00.140 --> 00:22:00.900 that you're demon possessed. 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.500 That's not what 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.500 the passage says here. 00:22:03.320 --> 00:22:04.160 But the passage says 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.800 that if you're not 00:22:04.800 --> 00:22:05.680 a Christ follower 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:07.400 that you're in demon territory. 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.160 And that Satan 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.080 has control 00:22:11.080 --> 00:22:12.220 of where you walk 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.920 and what you do 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.940 and who you are 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:14.519 and what happens 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.140 in your life. 00:22:15.540 --> 00:22:17.040 And Jesus says to us 00:22:17.040 --> 00:22:17.920 and he says to them, 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.420 hey, 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:20.040 we need to make a choice. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.240 Every woman, 00:22:22.360 --> 00:22:22.960 every man 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:25.560 is either for Christ 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:29.779 or you're against Christ. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:33.259 Every woman, 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:33.779 every man 00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.819 is either for Christ 00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:37.440 or you're against Christ. 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.319 Jesus doesn't allow 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.359 a spiritual reality 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:40.419 of a center 00:22:40.419 --> 00:22:41.299 in between place. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:41.599 He's saying 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:42.419 we gotta choose. 00:22:45.399 --> 00:22:46.440 How do we choose? 00:22:48.659 --> 00:22:49.460 What does it mean 00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:50.259 to take that next step 00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:50.759 into choosing? 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:53.679 He uses very specific words. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.360 He says gathered. 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.100 And the minute people 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:56.100 in Jesus' day 00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:56.980 would have understood this, 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:57.720 they would have thought 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.279 of a couple things. 00:22:58.340 --> 00:22:58.660 They would have thought 00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.279 about the shepherds 00:22:59.279 --> 00:22:59.720 that go out 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.779 and get the sheep 00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.519 and gather them. 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.340 But they would have thought 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:03.019 about this passage 00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.660 in Judges. 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.299 And there's a story 00:23:05.299 --> 00:23:05.860 in Judges 8 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.420 where Gideon 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.380 is about to go up 00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.220 against the Midianites 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.920 and the Midianites 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.740 have an army 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.880 of like 30,000 people. 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.480 And God basically 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.820 whittles Gideon's army 00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.840 down to 300 men 00:23:14.840 --> 00:23:16.180 and God gives them 00:23:16.180 --> 00:23:17.980 victory over the 30,000 people. 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.600 And after the battle 00:23:19.600 --> 00:23:20.039 is over, 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.279 Gideon is chasing 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.120 these guys 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:23.979 and they're corralling them, 00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.839 they're gathering them, 00:23:24.959 --> 00:23:26.439 they're destroying them utterly 00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:28.019 and they come to this city, 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.079 Sukkoth. 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:31.119 And they go to the city 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.279 and say, 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:31.939 we need your help 00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:33.899 because we're in the middle 00:23:33.899 --> 00:23:34.639 of this huge battle 00:23:34.639 --> 00:23:35.379 and things are raging 00:23:35.379 --> 00:23:36.279 and we need food 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.619 and we need refreshment 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.139 and we need you 00:23:38.139 --> 00:23:38.699 to come join us 00:23:38.699 --> 00:23:39.919 because we need your help. 00:23:41.719 --> 00:23:42.759 And the people of Sukkoth 00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:43.279 said what? 00:23:45.439 --> 00:23:46.059 You know, 00:23:47.439 --> 00:23:48.919 it's not really clear to us 00:23:48.919 --> 00:23:49.899 who's going to win this battle. 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:52.620 We really don't know 00:23:52.620 --> 00:23:53.960 what side we want to be on. 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:55.980 I think we'll just stay 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.620 right in the center 00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:57.440 and see what happens. 00:23:59.380 --> 00:23:59.900 And Gideon says, 00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.759 okay, you can do that. 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.380 But after I win 00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:04.940 through God's power, 00:24:05.540 --> 00:24:07.440 I'm going to come back 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:09.980 and we're going to have a talk. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.360 And the talk's not going 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:12.960 to be very good. 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.880 It's going to be hard. 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:19.220 What Jesus says here 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:20.480 is in reality, 00:24:20.760 --> 00:24:21.840 in spiritual world, 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:23.020 that it's impossible 00:24:23.020 --> 00:24:24.080 to remain neutral. 00:24:26.040 --> 00:24:28.720 That Satan sees neutral people 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.640 as his. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:31.180 And you might walk around 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.480 and say, 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:31.960 I'm neutral, 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:32.720 I'm Switzerland. 00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:36.000 But the demonic forces 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:37.080 in our world today 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:38.380 don't honor neutrality. 00:24:40.520 --> 00:24:42.100 They want us to pick a side. 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:45.779 The next passage I see 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.599 as we read through this 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.980 in verses 24 through 28, 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.199 we get this choice 00:24:49.199 --> 00:24:49.899 and the choice is, 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:51.339 do pick a power. 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.419 How are we going to live? 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.639 And Jesus tells this story 00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:57.019 and it's a very interesting 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.919 parable in a story 00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:59.480 and it's never told before 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.759 and he basically says, 00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:01.879 this is what happens 00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:03.119 when we try to live our life 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.859 in our power. 00:25:05.899 --> 00:25:06.839 He says, 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.359 when an unclean spirit 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:09.219 goes out of a man, 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.939 it passes from waterless places 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.759 seeking rest 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:13.160 and not finding any 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.480 that says, 00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:14.820 I'll return to my home 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:16.279 from which I came. 00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:17.980 And when it comes, 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:19.039 it finds it swept 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:20.279 and kept in order. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:20.640 In Greek, 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.480 the word is beautiful. 00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.660 And then it goes 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.360 and it takes along 00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:25.380 seven other spirits 00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:26.640 more evil than itself 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.880 and they go in 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.740 and they live there 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.500 and the last day 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.039 to that man 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.480 becomes worse 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.960 than the first. 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.259 Jesus is trying 00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.960 to show us 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.519 and try to show 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.059 his disciples 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:38.080 that there are 00:25:38.080 --> 00:25:39.100 many ways to live. 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.779 There are many ways 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:41.460 to clean our house. 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.319 But you gotta be careful 00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.000 how you do it. 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.139 I mean, 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.200 if you look at the world today, 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.559 people, 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:52.720 we're very complicated people. 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.299 We're social 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.980 and spiritual 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.879 and physical 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.700 and there's so many 00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.220 different dynamics 00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.720 and I've seen so many people 00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:59.460 change their lives, 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.680 lose 80 pounds 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:02.099 and become disciplined 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:04.000 and they all do it 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.779 through some kind 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:06.339 of power and strength. 00:26:06.339 --> 00:26:11.019 And Jesus says, 00:26:11.199 --> 00:26:12.159 be careful guys 00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:14.019 where that power 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.779 comes from. 00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:16.980 I think the question 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:17.659 for us today 00:26:17.659 --> 00:26:18.599 I often hear is, 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.579 does it work? 00:26:21.199 --> 00:26:22.240 Will it help me? 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.259 I mean, 00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.199 will I feel better 00:26:24.199 --> 00:26:25.199 if I become a Christian 00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:26.240 or if I become a Buddhist? 00:26:26.980 --> 00:26:28.279 Does it make my life easier? 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:29.480 Does it make my life sexy? 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:31.679 I mean, 00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.919 if Christianity, 00:26:33.419 --> 00:26:34.339 maybe you've heard this, 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.359 I don't know if you've heard this, 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:36.199 but I hear it all the time, 00:26:36.439 --> 00:26:37.659 if Christianity won't give me 00:26:37.659 --> 00:26:38.379 what I want, 00:26:39.899 --> 00:26:40.879 I might as well be a Buddhist. 00:26:44.299 --> 00:26:44.579 I mean, 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.879 I found real peace 00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:47.359 in going to the Hindu temple. 00:26:49.439 --> 00:26:50.240 What's wrong with that? 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.639 It works for me. 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:57.599 I mean, 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.719 these books that I'm reading 00:26:58.719 --> 00:26:59.740 and these self-help books 00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.500 and these seminars, 00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.879 they've really helped me 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:03.359 change my life around 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.779 and Jesus gives this warning here 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:05.059 and he says, 00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:06.359 be careful guys 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:08.379 because if you try to 00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:09.759 renovate your own life, 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:11.439 if you try to modify 00:27:11.439 --> 00:27:12.479 your behavior 00:27:12.479 --> 00:27:14.719 and you leave a vacuum 00:27:14.719 --> 00:27:17.839 in your life, 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:22.419 then something's going to 00:27:22.419 --> 00:27:23.339 come into that vacuum. 00:27:26.459 --> 00:27:27.799 And the passage says 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.859 that your old life 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:31.119 is going to be worse 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:32.939 than your new life. 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.500 I mean, 00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.500 he wants us to think about 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.100 that there's a way 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.000 to get change 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:37.500 and there's a way 00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.180 to get power 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:38.960 and there's a way 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.759 to clean our house 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:40.480 and there's a way 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.140 to give ourselves 00:27:41.140 --> 00:27:41.840 up to something. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.299 I mean, 00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:43.240 we all give ourselves 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.799 up to something, 00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.200 don't we? 00:27:48.680 --> 00:27:49.160 Don't we? 00:27:52.340 --> 00:27:53.519 Look at your business cards. 00:27:56.740 --> 00:27:57.680 Look at your titles. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:28:00.940 Look at how you talk 00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.720 about your heritage 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.560 or who you are. 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.960 We all give ourselves 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.660 up to something 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:06.200 and Jesus is warning us 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.680 in this sense. 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.180 He says, 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:07.720 be careful 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.980 because these powers, 00:28:09.360 --> 00:28:10.600 they're going to change us. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:12.420 They're going to make us different. 00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.100 And if you try 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.860 to change yourself 00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:17.200 by anything but me, 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:21.880 it might work 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:22.519 for a while. 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.259 I mean, 00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.519 you might find peace 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.220 going to the Hindu temple. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.680 You might find peace 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.200 sacrificing dogs. 00:28:32.279 --> 00:28:33.180 All of these things 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:34.680 might give you peace. 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.080 But it doesn't mean 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:39.019 it's right. 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:44.220 Where's the power come from? 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.500 How do we change 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.220 in our life? 00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:48.819 In 1930, 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.700 the Great Depression 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.380 hit the world 00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:51.460 and my grandparents 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.119 went through it 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:52.940 and they said afterwards, 00:28:53.299 --> 00:28:54.140 we will never ever 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:54.920 be poor again. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.240 They got self-control. 00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:59.079 They got a vision. 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.740 They got power. 00:29:01.359 --> 00:29:02.319 They got a drive. 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.960 They got their house 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.380 in order. 00:29:05.160 --> 00:29:05.660 Their focus 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.099 and their goal 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.000 was not to be poor, 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.299 not to depend 00:29:08.299 --> 00:29:08.880 on other people 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.900 because people are worthless. 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.559 You cannot depend 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.359 on anybody else. 00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.279 And this power 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.920 drove them 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:18.660 and this power 00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:20.019 changed them 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:21.800 and this power 00:29:21.800 --> 00:29:22.519 changed the way 00:29:22.519 --> 00:29:23.340 that they saw people. 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.140 This power changed 00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:25.019 the way they saw stuff. 00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:26.340 This power changed 00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:27.200 the way they interacted 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.060 with their world. 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.220 And the question 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.019 I asked myself was, 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.380 were they better off 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:34.220 then 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:37.400 or before? 00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:42.340 some people would say 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.080 the problem we have 00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:43.780 in our world today 00:29:43.780 --> 00:29:44.420 and the economy 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:44.800 and the way 00:29:44.800 --> 00:29:45.480 everything is going 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:46.940 is because of that 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:50.480 that we wanted to change. 00:29:52.100 --> 00:29:53.380 A very close friend of mine 00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:54.640 was taught at an early age. 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:56.320 He said the key to life 00:29:56.320 --> 00:29:57.560 was to be very educated 00:29:57.560 --> 00:30:00.340 and always maintain control 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:01.120 of his emotions. 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:03.440 Real men are tough, 00:30:03.780 --> 00:30:04.100 smart, 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.940 and never show 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:05.540 their emotions. 00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:05.720 emotions. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.799 He clung to these things 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:08.480 and he used them 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:09.359 to change himself. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:10.319 He got smarter, 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:11.099 he got stronger, 00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.079 he got colder, 00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:13.139 he forgot his feelings, 00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.399 and he got his house 00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:14.799 in order. 00:30:17.139 --> 00:30:17.579 Fear 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.079 drove him 00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.720 in everything 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.379 that he did 00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:22.379 and he changed. 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:28.019 Is he a better person? 00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:33.680 I don't know, 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.279 I guess it depends 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:35.019 on who you ask. 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:38.779 His wife would say 00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.940 that she doesn't even know him, 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:41.000 that he feels distant 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:43.119 and that she feels used by him. 00:30:44.460 --> 00:30:45.799 His kids are turning out 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:47.759 just the way that he is 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.659 and all of a sudden 00:30:49.659 --> 00:30:50.440 he's starting to think, 00:30:50.539 --> 00:30:51.539 is that a good thing? 00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:54.240 But he grabbed that power, 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.819 that power of being stupid 00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.659 and poor 00:30:56.659 --> 00:30:58.079 and he used that power 00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:59.319 to change his life 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.480 and to get his life in order. 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:04.099 And now he's looking at his life 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.880 and he's wondering, 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:07.220 did he allow seven demons 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:09.819 to come into his world 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:13.620 and make his life worse 00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:16.279 than it was before 00:31:16.279 --> 00:31:17.720 he grabbed onto those things? 00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:19.559 I mean, 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.299 there are many ways 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:20.980 to fix ourselves, 00:31:21.100 --> 00:31:21.339 guys. 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:22.460 We can use religion, 00:31:22.600 --> 00:31:23.380 we can use education, 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.120 we can use money, 00:31:24.200 --> 00:31:24.900 we can use power, 00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:26.000 we can use relationships, 00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.960 we can use 12 steps, 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:27.920 we can use self-help books, 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:28.620 we can use titles. 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.039 Did I say we can use religion? 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.960 We can use all these things. 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.180 We can harness that power 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:35.500 and they will work 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.720 in our lives 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.779 for a while. 00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:42.160 But what Jesus says 00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:42.980 in his passages, 00:31:44.140 --> 00:31:46.039 at what cost? 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.880 Is our life better 00:31:51.880 --> 00:31:52.920 after all these things? 00:31:53.080 --> 00:31:54.259 Are our families better 00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.080 after all these things? 00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:56.580 Are our relationships better 00:31:56.580 --> 00:31:58.440 after all these things? 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:01.180 Or will we let seven demons 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:02.480 come in and control us? 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:08.259 The passage says 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.860 that if the power 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.860 doesn't come from Christ 00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:10.500 in the gospel, 00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.120 then the emptiness 00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:11.900 is going to be filled 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:13.180 and you have to be careful 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:14.539 how you fill it. 00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:16.759 Because it says, 00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:17.560 then it goes 00:32:17.560 --> 00:32:18.320 and it takes along 00:32:18.320 --> 00:32:19.220 seven other spirits 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.140 more evil than itself 00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.799 and they go in 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.440 and they live there 00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.960 and the last state of the man 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.480 becomes worse than the first. 00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:30.900 The last state of the man 00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:33.820 becomes worse than the first 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:35.000 and Jesus is telling us 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.099 and he's telling his disciples 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:37.159 and everyone who will listen 00:32:37.159 --> 00:32:39.099 that unless God changes you, 00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:39.939 unless the Holy Spirit 00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:40.539 fills you, 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.599 that there's a vacuum 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.599 and that vacuum 00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.480 is going to get filled up 00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.000 by something 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:44.980 and you better be careful 00:32:44.980 --> 00:32:47.579 because what fills it up 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:48.679 might not be what you want. 00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:53.019 Let the Holy Spirit 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.519 fill it up. 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.919 So we choose a side 00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:58.019 because there's no Switzerland. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.379 We're asked to choose a power 00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:02.059 and make sure that it's not our own 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.980 but it's the Holy Spirit 00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:03.599 who's doing this 00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:04.359 and then finally 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.799 we're asked to choose 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:07.019 a lifestyle, 00:33:07.179 --> 00:33:07.659 a response 00:33:07.659 --> 00:33:08.220 and we see that 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:09.639 in verse 27 and 28 00:33:09.639 --> 00:33:11.220 and I think this is hilarious. 00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:12.839 Please don't do this to me 00:33:12.839 --> 00:33:14.000 as I'm preaching or talking 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:15.480 but as Jesus was saying 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:15.899 these things, 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.059 one of the women cried out 00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.779 and raised her voice 00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:18.200 and she said, 00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.539 blessed is the womb 00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:20.099 that bore you 00:33:20.099 --> 00:33:20.579 in the breast 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.419 at which you nursed. 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.179 Now what do you say about that? 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.440 Thank you very much. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.899 Can some of the ushers 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.960 escort that lady 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.740 out of here please? 00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:33.340 I mean, 00:33:33.500 --> 00:33:34.440 in her goodness 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:36.080 she's trying to praise Jesus. 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:36.700 In her goodness 00:33:36.700 --> 00:33:37.980 she's trying to praise 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.960 and compliment Mary 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.740 and everyone who hears that 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.080 hears these words. 00:33:42.840 --> 00:33:43.420 Blessed are you 00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.380 from where you came. 00:33:44.780 --> 00:33:45.480 Blessed is your mother 00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:46.200 because of you 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:47.780 and he redirects her 00:33:47.780 --> 00:33:48.460 really gently 00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.860 and he says 00:33:49.860 --> 00:33:51.280 in a South Alabama twang, 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:51.759 ma'am, 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:54.220 the reason my mama 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.860 is blessed 00:33:55.860 --> 00:33:58.280 is because she heard 00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:58.940 God's word 00:33:58.940 --> 00:34:01.859 and she obeyed it. 00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:05.599 Ma'am, 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.759 the reason my mama 00:34:06.759 --> 00:34:07.240 is blessed 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.720 is the angel 00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.199 came to her 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:08.400 and said, 00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:08.579 Mary, 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:08.920 this is what's 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.659 going to happen to you 00:34:09.659 --> 00:34:10.440 and she looked 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.119 at that angel 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.440 and she said, 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:14.980 the hand servant 00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.599 of the Lord 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:18.440 may be done to me 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.639 as you said. 00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:23.320 And Jesus is telling us 00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:23.800 and he's telling 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.579 his disciples here 00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:26.199 that we have a choice 00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:27.739 how are we going 00:34:27.739 --> 00:34:28.259 to respond 00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:28.939 to what goes on 00:34:28.939 --> 00:34:29.619 around us 00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:31.639 and he says here 00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.980 that God's people 00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:35.419 respond 00:34:35.419 --> 00:34:37.519 by listening 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.539 to God's word 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:41.759 and obeying it. 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:47.619 God's people 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:49.419 respond to his spirit 00:34:49.419 --> 00:34:51.339 by listening 00:34:51.339 --> 00:34:52.579 to God's word 00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:54.960 and obeying it. 00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:57.199 I mean, 00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:57.779 we can obey 00:34:57.779 --> 00:34:59.079 a lot of things 00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:01.259 but here in this passage 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:02.319 Christ says 00:35:02.319 --> 00:35:04.299 true change, 00:35:05.779 --> 00:35:06.500 true hope, 00:35:07.699 --> 00:35:08.799 true blessedness 00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:10.480 happens 00:35:10.480 --> 00:35:11.759 because we hear 00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:12.319 God's word 00:35:12.319 --> 00:35:16.619 and we can obey it. 00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:19.179 Now, 00:35:19.319 --> 00:35:20.379 how does all this 00:35:20.379 --> 00:35:20.980 even happen? 00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.719 How can I even 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.419 do this 00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:26.840 in the passage 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:27.639 it says really clearly 00:35:27.639 --> 00:35:29.480 because there was 00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:30.240 a strong man 00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.960 who had you 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.599 and me bound, 00:35:34.260 --> 00:35:36.220 who had control 00:35:36.220 --> 00:35:36.820 over everything 00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.579 that we have, 00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:40.559 who made all 00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.180 of our decisions 00:35:41.180 --> 00:35:42.000 for us 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:43.139 and controlled 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.720 our life. 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:47.260 And this stronger man, 00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:48.599 Jesus, 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:50.680 comes in, 00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:52.759 he breaks 00:35:52.759 --> 00:35:54.480 those bondage 00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.119 chains. 00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:57.099 He gives us 00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:57.500 freedom. 00:35:58.919 --> 00:35:59.879 He gives us 00:35:59.879 --> 00:36:00.339 hope. 00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.379 He gives us 00:36:02.379 --> 00:36:02.879 mercy. 00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:04.879 He gives us 00:36:04.879 --> 00:36:05.379 grace. 00:36:06.779 --> 00:36:07.359 He gives us 00:36:07.359 --> 00:36:08.039 a new family. 00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.299 He says, 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.099 walk with me. 00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.339 Walk with me. 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:17.620 there's a war 00:36:17.620 --> 00:36:18.680 going all around us. 00:36:20.100 --> 00:36:20.740 There's only 00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.360 two sides. 00:36:22.820 --> 00:36:23.920 We have a choice 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:24.820 to make every day. 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:28.559 We have a power 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.480 to choose from 00:36:29.480 --> 00:36:31.800 and we have 00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:32.440 a response. 00:36:34.019 --> 00:36:34.800 And we have 00:36:34.800 --> 00:36:35.320 a savior 00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:37.160 who is beside you 00:36:37.160 --> 00:36:38.100 all the way. 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:39.980 No matter 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.440 what you're going 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:41.140 to experience today, 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:42.039 no matter what happens 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:42.600 in your life, 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.839 no matter who you are, 00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:44.779 no one can say, 00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:45.279 but you don't 00:36:45.279 --> 00:36:45.799 know me, 00:36:45.940 --> 00:36:46.440 this is really 00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:47.000 happening to me. 00:36:47.339 --> 00:36:47.819 Jesus says, 00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.420 I know you. 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:51.739 And I freed you. 00:36:53.719 --> 00:36:54.279 And you have 00:36:54.279 --> 00:36:54.779 a choice. 00:36:57.219 --> 00:36:57.759 Are you going 00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:58.279 to walk with me 00:36:58.279 --> 00:36:58.559 today? 00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:01.179 Are you going 00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:01.779 to trust me? 00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:05.239 Are you going 00:37:05.239 --> 00:37:05.639 to realize 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:06.139 that I'm good? 00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:10.500 Let's pray. 00:37:10.940 --> 00:37:11.299 Father, 00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:11.960 we just thank you 00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:12.679 for this day. 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:14.559 We thank you 00:37:14.559 --> 00:37:15.280 for your word 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:16.420 which is so powerful. 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.320 We thank you 00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:18.960 for the message 00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:19.920 that we see 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:20.679 in your son. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:27.480 We thank you 00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:28.240 for the choices 00:37:28.240 --> 00:37:29.240 that we have now 00:37:29.240 --> 00:37:30.000 as your children. 00:37:36.159 --> 00:37:37.199 Help us to see 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:37.800 the battle 00:37:37.800 --> 00:37:38.960 around us. 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:41.240 help us 00:37:41.240 --> 00:37:41.860 to realize 00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:42.380 that there's 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.720 kingdoms at war 00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:45.179 and that we're 00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:45.880 not neutral. 00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:47.199 Either the war 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:47.800 on one side 00:37:47.800 --> 00:37:48.260 or the other. 00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:50.199 Father, 00:37:50.240 --> 00:37:50.960 help us to realize 00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:51.559 that the power 00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.280 to change 00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:52.980 comes not 00:37:52.980 --> 00:37:53.740 because we try 00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:54.420 really hard 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:54.960 or we do 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.679 really well 00:37:55.679 --> 00:37:56.800 or we read 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:57.179 a book, 00:37:58.179 --> 00:37:59.720 but the power 00:37:59.720 --> 00:38:01.059 to true change 00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:01.699 comes because 00:38:01.699 --> 00:38:02.380 of your son 00:38:02.380 --> 00:38:04.039 and through 00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:04.639 your spirit. 00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:08.900 Father, 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:09.239 thank you 00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:09.960 for the response 00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:10.559 that you give us 00:38:10.559 --> 00:38:11.579 to do every day 00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:14.319 that we have 00:38:14.319 --> 00:38:14.659 a choice 00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:15.099 to listen 00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:15.960 to your words, 00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:16.960 to hear your words 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.679 speak to us, 00:38:17.779 --> 00:38:18.460 to see the words 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:18.859 of life 00:38:18.859 --> 00:38:19.819 come into our life 00:38:19.819 --> 00:38:21.519 and you ask us 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.119 to obey. 00:38:25.239 --> 00:38:25.960 Some of us 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.379 in here 00:38:26.379 --> 00:38:27.239 realize 00:38:27.239 --> 00:38:28.159 that's impossible. 00:38:29.920 --> 00:38:30.739 It's impossible. 00:38:30.739 --> 00:38:33.979 And your word 00:38:33.979 --> 00:38:34.259 says, 00:38:34.379 --> 00:38:34.819 yes it is. 00:38:34.859 --> 00:38:35.579 It's impossible 00:38:35.579 --> 00:38:38.619 in your own strength. 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:42.099 But the stronger 00:38:42.099 --> 00:38:43.119 man has come in 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:44.959 and he's freed us 00:38:44.959 --> 00:38:47.639 and allowed us 00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:48.439 to choose 00:38:48.439 --> 00:38:49.659 and to walk 00:38:49.659 --> 00:38:51.159 and to read 00:38:51.159 --> 00:38:52.579 and to obey 00:38:52.579 --> 00:38:54.139 and to follow. 00:38:55.739 --> 00:38:56.219 Father, 00:38:56.279 --> 00:38:57.279 may we be a church 00:38:57.279 --> 00:38:57.859 and a people 00:38:57.859 --> 00:38:58.799 who point people 00:38:58.799 --> 00:39:00.059 to the stronger man 00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:01.380 every day 00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:02.039 in our journey. 00:39:03.559 --> 00:39:04.119 Help us, 00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:04.659 each one of us, 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.139 to realize 00:39:05.139 --> 00:39:05.619 what it means 00:39:05.619 --> 00:39:06.179 to take 00:39:06.179 --> 00:39:07.799 small steps 00:39:07.799 --> 00:39:08.619 of change 00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:10.500 to trust you. 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:12.619 And Lord, 00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:13.539 we come before you 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.019 in the middle 00:39:14.019 --> 00:39:14.860 of this war 00:39:14.860 --> 00:39:16.519 and we realize 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.739 how lost we are 00:39:17.739 --> 00:39:18.579 and we can just 00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.599 cry out to you 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:22.000 and claim your victory. 00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.759 We pray all these things 00:39:24.759 --> 00:39:25.880 in your son Jesus' name. 00:39:27.079 --> 00:39:27.380 Amen.