Word@Work Luke182 - Luke 11:14-16
Published: Thu, 09/02/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
POWER SOURCES
Luke 11:14-16 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. (NIV)
It seems bizarre that Jesus could be accused of using evil powers to cast out demons. His exorcism ministry was well known: those who had previously been held captive by Satan had been released to live a healthy and productive life in the community. Why did they not attribute such healing to the power of God? After all, if even the demons recognised that Jesus was the Son of God (Luke 4:41), why did the people have so much difficulty in understanding the source of His power?
It is a sad fact that we easily mislead our minds so that we sometimes cannot see what is obvious. The people had (with the encouragement of their religious leaders) decided that Jesus could not be the Messiah and therefore they had to find another explanation for all His miracles. Clearly He was totally effective in everything He did: He far exceeded the abilities of doctors, and so His power had to be superhuman. Now, if they admitted that He was from God, then they would be obliged to obey His commands and follow Him. But if they could claim that His power was Satanic, then they would be quite justified in resisting any call to believe in Him and therefore to submit to Him.
The lengths people will go to, in order to avoid the obvious! But resisting God is so ingrained into our human nature, that for those outside of God's kingdom, it is easier to postulate a force, higher power or even demonic activity than to admit that God is supreme in all things and that His kindness is designed to draw us to the point of repentance (Romans 2:4). But that is exactly why some people are so resistant; they have no intention of accepting that the Lord is right and they are wrong. Repentance is the obvious route to blessing but that would demand submitting their whole life to Him. So they fabricate lies about Jesus to match the fantasy world they inhabit. May God send them messengers to explain the gospel to them - that messenger could be you!
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for being so much higher, bigger, stronger and wiser than anybody else, and for being infinitely more powerful. Please help me to recognise when You are at work, and be willing to submit myself to You. I pray for those of my friends and colleagues who cannot see how kind You have been to them, so that they are willing to concoct all sorts of explanations except the right one: that You have acted in power ... so that all who see might submit to You and receive Your blessing. Please help me to explain what You are like and why You show great kindness even to those who hate You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
It seems bizarre that Jesus could be accused of using evil powers to cast out demons. His exorcism ministry was well known: those who had previously been held captive by Satan had been released to live a healthy and productive life in the community. Why did they not attribute such healing to the power of God? After all, if even the demons recognised that Jesus was the Son of God (Luke 4:41), why did the people have so much difficulty in understanding the source of His power?
It is a sad fact that we easily mislead our minds so that we sometimes cannot see what is obvious. The people had (with the encouragement of their religious leaders) decided that Jesus could not be the Messiah and therefore they had to find another explanation for all His miracles. Clearly He was totally effective in everything He did: He far exceeded the abilities of doctors, and so His power had to be superhuman. Now, if they admitted that He was from God, then they would be obliged to obey His commands and follow Him. But if they could claim that His power was Satanic, then they would be quite justified in resisting any call to believe in Him and therefore to submit to Him.
The lengths people will go to, in order to avoid the obvious! But resisting God is so ingrained into our human nature, that for those outside of God's kingdom, it is easier to postulate a force, higher power or even demonic activity than to admit that God is supreme in all things and that His kindness is designed to draw us to the point of repentance (Romans 2:4). But that is exactly why some people are so resistant; they have no intention of accepting that the Lord is right and they are wrong. Repentance is the obvious route to blessing but that would demand submitting their whole life to Him. So they fabricate lies about Jesus to match the fantasy world they inhabit. May God send them messengers to explain the gospel to them - that messenger could be you!
Prayer: Almighty God. Thank You for being so much higher, bigger, stronger and wiser than anybody else, and for being infinitely more powerful. Please help me to recognise when You are at work, and be willing to submit myself to You. I pray for those of my friends and colleagues who cannot see how kind You have been to them, so that they are willing to concoct all sorts of explanations except the right one: that You have acted in power ... so that all who see might submit to You and receive Your blessing. Please help me to explain what You are like and why You show great kindness even to those who hate You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
W@WLuke182 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2010 | Provided by BeaconLight | Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Subscribe | View Archive | Donate | W@W Facebook Group