RHM Bible Studies

Terrific today to you all! I am continuing in my study from yesterday where we found Jesus and His disciples in the midst of a crowd and the religious leaders accusing Him of being demon-possessed and His power to drive out demons being from satan himself. Jesus replied by asking them "How can satan drive out satan?" He said to them that a kingdom and a house divided cannot stand. If satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand and his end is come. He said no one can enter a strong man's house and take his possessions unless he first ties up a strong man. Then he can rob his house. Jesus told them that all the sins and blasphemes of men can be forgiven, but to blaspheme the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. So in reading this, I ask myself what distinguishes the work of satan verses the work of the Holy Spirit and it comes down to purpose and motive. Jesus' did not have a goal or purpose of partnering with the devil. We saw this when Jesus was in the desert and had the temptations of satan for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus opposed satan, resisted him and satan fled from Him. This is not something that characterizes a partnership with the devil! Jesus had shown His power over satan time and time again as temptations were put before Him. In order for Jesus to drive out the demons within a person, He had to overpower satan and give him the boot out of the person. If Jesus had the purpose of partnering with the devil and the devil liked dwelling in the body of someone, why would Jesus work to kick the devil out? Am I the only one that is saying "duh" here? It seems to me that the religious leaders were confused by the newness of Jesus on the scene, not understanding Him and as leaders, they had a heart of responsibility and concern to protect the people. As they were human, there may have been some jealousy involved too, as they were used to being the public awe and Jesus was receiving the public's attention. The religious leaders were human and in fact sinners like us all. Jesus said all their sins and blasphemes could be forgiven, but he warned them that they were on thin ice of eternal sin that could not be forgiven if they in hostility rejected the Holy Spirit and His saving power for man. Through Jesus' death on the cross, satan's power over sin and death was destroyed. Like Jesus, we need to enlighten those around us of His divine power to rescue them from sin and death (the power of satan). As for us Christians, we are each a holy temple where the Holy Spirit dwells and He calls us to not be a house divided by rejecting Him by living contrary to His will for us. He desires that we align our will with His and resist (overpower) the sinful nature of satan within us. He desires that our purpose and goals be aligned with His and together with Him, we can stand doing great things! So ending, I ask "Who's your Daddy?" ~Sheila~ Mk 3:20-30; Mt 4:1-11; Heb 2; Ro 12:1-2; 1 Pe 2:11; 1 Jn 3:8

Labels: choices, Forgiveness, Goals, Motives, Purpose, stand