Luke 11-C “The Danger of Emptiness”

S = Luke 11:24-26 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

O = his passage potentially teaches us a number of things about demons—but I doubt that is the point. Rather it teaches us about ourselves and the danger of emptiness. We are to be inhabited, like the land that God made in Genesis 1-2. But who is the one who inhabits? Who swept the house and put all things in order? Jesus is the One…so why does he not live in the house? Because they reject him, test him, demonize him, and overestimate their own ability to protect their own “house.”

A = Who will I allow to live in me? Will my spiritual eye be good? Will I put the Light of Christ on the stand in my life or will I be empty and dark until I am no longer empty…but darker than I could have ever imagined? Will I respond to Jesus—hearing and keeping his word? If so then I am blessed, filled with light! Will I repent at his teaching? Yes I will. I repent of the inner darkness and outward violence like the Ninevites. Yes I seek the wisdom he gives like the Queen of the South sought long ago. Yes I need Jesus to sweep out my life and put things, relationships, and priorities in order. But even more I welcome him to drive out the darkness and fill me with the enduring light that can reach out to help and encourage others. I invite Jesus to remain, to dwell in me by the Holy Spirit, that I might never be the den of demons that, left to myself, I would surely become.

P = O Lord, invade my life this week with the light and loving power of the kingdom of God. Make my eye good to see and appreciate your light, your truth, your holiness, your wisdom, and your love for me. May I not be able to hide your presence in my life today. Amen.

Luke 11-B “But some of them…”

S = Luke 11:15-18a “But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”

O = While the people marveled, “Some of the people” either wanted more signs to tickle their appetite for good epic entertainment or were scoffers that demonized Jesus’ ministry (literally). Honestly, if I recognize that a sign is truly from heaven, how many do I need before I repent? Signs are meant to be applied to our hearts, not to be watched like a magic show. Secondly, there were the scoffers—calling Jesus’ work demonic as a way of avoiding the necessary personal response. This reveals an interesting principle about unity. A kingdom divided will fall, it will be laid waste, the principle is so profound that this Biblical saying is a part of our English vernacular. Conversely, can it be said that the kingdom united stands firm? The people who heard Jesus were divided, Satan’s kingdom is in fact divided, but the Kingdom of God is not divided because God is not divided. Why do people so often apply divided thinking to the Trinity? Why do people imagine that there is disagreement or development within the Trinity? Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are not divided. They are not a good cop, a bad cop, and a psychologist putting up with each other in order to get the job done. They are united in character, purpose, and bound together in love. Jesus is the complete revelation of the God-head bodily (Col. 2:9). His kingdom will not fall! My kingdom…that is another story.

A = Do I rejoice at the delivering, redeeming work of Jesus, agreeing that his plan is right and good? Or am I counted with the “some of them” that fail to apply the message to their own heart, or with the “other others” that deny the holy character of Jesus and his ministry in the lives of hurting people? Now as a professing Christ-follower, I would never do the “some of them” thing on the surface, but are there things Jesus wants to do in my heart to which I say, “No! That’s a bad idea”? If so I am no different than those who looked on long ago. What ways is God telling me to repent this week? What do I need to allow God to empty me of so that He can fill me with life overflowing? Where am I resisting his work? Is my personal kingdom divided and destined to fall or have I surrendered my broken kingdom to a United Person—where I might finally be complete, clean, and full in Him?

P = O Lord, speak to me today and may I not refuse your message. May I have grace to repent of my kingdom and receive of your kingdom…not as one who needs to be in control, but as one who daily yields control to you my loving Savior. Amen.

An Independence Day Devotional

We are off our normal series this week and will return next week.

Read: Hebrews 4:12

                                        The Word That Liberates

                                         "Everyone...is a slave to sin..." (John 8:34)

              "Then you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

We are all slaves to sin until we become Christians. As slaves we have no part in the kingdom of God. But when the Son sets us free from our sins, we are no longer slaves. As we begin to know the Truth through worship, prayer and Bible study, we are set free from our chains.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are born again (John 3:3‑21) and our spirit is given life, yet our spirit may still be restricted by our soul or intellectual mind. Our mind has been filled with lies and worldly philosophies which serve to chain and perhaps even strangle our newborn spirit, as thorns would a good plant. How then can we liberate our spirit from the control of our soul so that we might cast down all philosophies and thoughts that are contrary to the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5)? We read in Hebrews 4:12 that the Word (the Bible) is sharper than any two‑edged sword, it can even divide soul and spirit. As we apply the Word of God to our life, it will separate our spirit from the restrictive control of the mind—the truth will set us free.

Once the Spirit has been liberated (released) from the control of the mind it is free to flow out into every area of our life. Because our spirit is no longer confined, we, by the Holy Spirit, can open up to the release that comes through the manifestations of our spiritual gifts and prayer language. As our spirit is in control of our thoughts and actions, we are released to bring life to our body and mind in a whole new way, by the blood of Christ. The Word of God is mighty indeed. As we study to know more of the truth, as revealed in God's Word, we will be set free, as we allow Him to liberate our spirit from all the fallen ideas and habits that entangle it (Heb. 12:1-2).

Action Points:

• What aspect of your mind has the most binding effect upon your spirit and your faith (e.g., fear, intellectualism, greed, pride/arrogance)?
• Ask God to set you free. If necessary, agree together in prayer with another Christian for your deliverance.
• Remember, being set free does not necessarily mean the removal of temptation, but the removal of the compulsion to sin. Now we can say “No!” in order to say “Yes!” to something better (Romans 6:12-13).

Luke 11-A “Teach us to pray…Hallowed be your Name”

S = 11:1b-2 “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come…”

O = In this very familiar passage, Jesus is specifically answering the request, “Lord, teach us to pray” for John the Baptist apparently also taught his disciples. This passage in Luke is the shorter version of the prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. What strikes me as I read this today is the first line…“Father, hallowed be your name.” This means is that we desire God’s name to be “hallowed” which is an old English way of saying “holy or sacred”. It is the language of worship, of reverence, but it involves my participation. How often have I just said these words without thinking about how my life either hallows or fails to hallow my Father’s name? My behavior, the way I live and love has a direct impact on whether God’s name will be hallowed by those around me. Secondly, do I pray out of a world-view oriented around the coming of God’s kingdom or merely a desire to see Him bless my kingdom?

A = Am I living into this prayer? Do my attitudes and actions lead people to hallow God’s name/character or am I a stumbling block to whatever God-awareness they might have? I know that I often fall short in this area. I need to allow the first and second clauses to impact the way that I think, pray, and live this week. Perhaps as I pray these simple lines it will remind me to refocus my life around God’s kingdom and representing the family well.

P = O Lord, may I live into your holiness so that others may better see the winsome beauty of your person and may I love others out of a deep desire that your kingdom might come in all its fullness—in my heart, in my family, in my neighborhood, town, etc. Lead me on the journey of discipleship today as a hallowed Father. Amen.

Luke 10-C “He Had Compassion”

S = 10:30,33 “Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead… But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.”

O = Within this parable—teaching us to live with a view towards treating everyone as a “neighbor” by showing mercy to them—is an illustration of what the world does to us (robs, strips, beats, and leaves for dead when we are of no further use) and of what we can all too often do to others. There is also the illustration of how Christ shows compassion (lit. “to enter into the suffering of another”) on us—binding up our wounds, cleansing, carrying, and caring for us.

A = Do I realize what the world’s ideas do to my soul—that before I experience the saving work of Christ I am half-dead and helpless on the road? Many don’t. Do I see the robber in my heart and how I can begin to treat others as a result? Do I see Jesus as a judge or as the One who truly enters into my suffering and brings healing to me at great cost to himself? Will I follow the example of mercy to others—both family & stranger—this week? Or will my empty religion in the Temple of Self take me by on the other side?

P = O Lord, thank-you for the healing me and saving me from the fall through your costly love. May I be sensitive to ones in need I meet this week. May my words and deeds help to bind up the broken hearted and my solidarity with the one on the road lead me to go to them and share your mercy as you give the opportunity. Melt my heart, bridle my tongue, and guide my hands today.  Amen.

Luke 10-A “Peace Be to This House”

S = Luke 10:5-6 “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.”

O = The larger group of 72 disciples were sent out were to be givers not just takers. In addition to their works of healing and deliverance, they were to come with words of blessing that were more than mere words, the customary “Shalom.” But if there was one who valued peace, who received the gospel message, it would remain on him. There was no need to evaluate and judge hearts before offering a blessing…it didn’t came in response for hospitality received, but up front in faith. If there were no “sons of peace” there is nothing wasted—you move on—and your peace comes back to you.

A = I need to be quick to bless and speak the peace of God over people, homes, and offices I enter. I need to recognize that my words are more than just words but have spiritual weight to them. I need to be more a “son of peace” myself as I go and minister the gospel message.

P = O Lord, may I be an ambassador of your peace today, may I only go where you are committed to go as well. May I keep my eyes open for those who will respond and may I always think about how I can bless others, not just how they can bless me! You came not to be served but to serve. Can I expect any less for myself…as part of your kingdom mission? Amen.

Luke 9-E “We tried to stop him...”

S = Luke 9:49-50 “John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

O = This is really amazing to me. This other person seems to be manifesting a greater belief than even the apostles at this time. He is successful in driving out demons in Jesus’ name when the apostles had failed. It seems he understood that the power, the authority, was in Jesus not in himself. A lesson the disciples apparently had forgotten. In addition, why does John think this is the topic to bring up to save face after the argument about who was greatest…or does he? My first reading is that John was trying to show Jesus that while they had perhaps missed the point by arguing about greatness, they recognized that Jesus was the greatest and that they were the defenders of his deliverance franchise. If this is John’s motivation, then Jesus’ correction puts an end to it. Imagine thinking that Jesus would be happy that people were being left in their bondage once this man’s “unauthorized” ministry! But I wonder, if perhaps instead of trying to get Jesus’ approval, John is simply coming clean after being convicted by Jesus’ teaching? I would like to hope that it might have been the latter.

A = Do I see the success of other’s in the name of Jesus as a threat? Do I see the Kingdom of God as bigger than my ministry, my congregation, my denomination? I hope so. God’s team is bigger than any one person or group. Within the realm of Biblical orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right actions) there is a vast multitude of committed followers of Christ. We need to get better at working together and not being envious or defensive at the success of others even at a time when we seem to be falling short.

P = O Lord, may I be more concerned about hurting people experiencing your deliverance than how it looks for my own ministry. May I be quick to confess, to come clean, when I realize my motives and actions have fallen short accurately representing your “name” in love, grace, humility, and truth. May I never hinder someone acting on true belief in your power and authority to help those in need. Instead, may I be more like them this week! Amen.