THE COLLAPSE OF A DIVIDED HOUSE
Luke 11:17-26. 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. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
At the time of the AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, this saying was used more than any other saying. The saying did not ORIGINATE with the CIVIL WAR, but it is a saying which Jesus Himself used many MILLENNIUMS before. The saying simply fit the situation of our country at the time of the CIVIL WAR. “Every...house divided against itself shall not stand.”
Most of the JOURNEYS OF JESUS is BEHIND HIM. He hath chosen (1) HIS MESSAGE, (2). HIS METHOD and (3). HIS MEN. His power is recognized by his FRIENDS AND HIS FOES. Jesus now makes His move comes, to NAZARETH where he had been rejected. (“He said: “A profit is not with out honor except in his own country”)
1. The Jews had REFUSED His REVELATION about who he said He was. (John 1:111) and this became a SIN AGAINST LIGHT.
2. The Jews had CONFUSED His REASON for coming to earth. “Luke 11:17. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation” This was a SIN AGAINST LOGIC.
3. The Jews had ABUSED REDEMPTION; they had FORMALITY without FAITH, RITUAL without REALITY and RELIGION without RIGHTEOUSNESS. Their works proved they were not God’s Children. This was a SIN AGAINST LOVE. (John 3:16) God’s Love is UNDESERVED, UNSOUGHT, UNENDING.
I. THE BINDING OF SATAN.
Matt 12:29...... “How can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house.” (Read Isaiah 61:1) Gal 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Vr #17 How Can Satan Cast Out Satan?
(A). A DIVIDED KINGDOM OR HOUSE CANNOT STAND. Vr#17
Luke 11:17 Every kingdom divided against itself is(“doomed and brought to desolation”) brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. {The disunited household will collapse}
(B). A DIVIDED SATAN CANNOT STAND.
Luke 11:18. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand {“how will his kingdom last?”}Because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
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. (Mark3:27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man)
II. THE BLOOD OF THE SAVIOR.
Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith so ever they shall blaspheme:
(A). THE POWER OF JESUS.
Luke 11:21. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
Mark 3:27...... Except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
There is hope for the DRUG ADDICT, FALLEN WOMAN, and THE DRUNKEN MAN.
(B). THE PROMISE OF JESUS.
Mark 3:28 “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men,...”
There are 4,319 different sins mentioned in the Bible. (1). There Are SECRET SINS, shown in the life of Cain’s Sin and David’s Sin. (2). There Are SOCIAL SINS, (Heb 11:25Moses, Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ;) Death, Misery, Hatred, War, Adultery..... Are all products of SIN? (3). There are SHOCKING SINS, Abortion, Sexual Sins, and Homosexual Sins. There are 4,319 in all mentioned in the Bible.
James 4:17. “Therefore to him that KNOWETH to DO GOOD, and DOETH IT NOT, to HIM IT IS SIN. (John 1:9 ..... “If we confess our sins) “to say the same thing God says about our sins”
III. THE BLASPHEME OF THE SPIRIT.
Matt 12:31-32. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy {every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things} shall be forgiven unto men: but THEblasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
1. The Sin against the Spirit Is Not: Adultery, Murder, Idolatry, Using God’s Name in Vain.
2. What Is the Blaspheme Against the Holy Ghost?
Mark 3:30. Because THEY said, He hath an unclean spirit.
The Holy Spirit in John 16:8. When He is come, He will REPROVE the world of SIN and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT. John 16:13 “The Spirit will Guide you unto all Truth” and John 14:17 calls Him “The Spirit of Truth”
The HOLY SPIRIT BLASPHEMER can’t find God for the same reason a CROOK can’t find a POLICEMAN.
(A). THEIR ARGUMENTS ARE FUTILE.
(B). THEIR STATEMENTS ARE FOOLISH
(C). THEIR DECISIONS ARE FATAL.
Can we commit the Sin of Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit Today? Some have said NO BECAUSE JESUS IS NOT ON EARTH and it would be IMPOSSIBLE to say what these men were saying. Others say yes because JESUS IS IN HEAVEN and you could look back at the MIRACLES to commit the sin.