A House Divided
Before Abraham Lincoln became president, he famously quoted a scripture in reference to whether the nation could endure the division resulting from slave holding states versus states that were opposed to slavery. He said “a house divided against itself cannot stand”. It was a quote taken from Jesus, who made that statement when confronted by Pharisees (Matt. 12:22-32) who claimed that His healing of a demon possessed man was accomplished by satanic forces. Jesus countered that if He was driving out demons by satanic power, then Satan’s kingdom would have to fall because it would be fighting against itself. But if the healing was not by satanic power, then it must have come from God, and it must be proof that God’s kingdom was upon them. I pray this week that you would overcome any division that you may be feeling and make a decision to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow Jesus.
Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” (Matt. 12:22-24) This man that these Pharisees brought to Jesus was demon possessed, blind and mute. Yet, after Jesus had healed him, the Pharisees attributed this miracle to Beelzebub… Clearly these Pharisees were intent upon refuting the evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. There are still plenty of people today who refuse to believe in Jesus and the healing of salvation that He has offered us to wash away the demons of our sins.
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. (Matt. 12:25-29) “Jesus knew their thoughts” and we too have received discernment through the Holy Spirit regarding evil. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus asked the Pharisees some logical questions, If Satan drives out Satan, how can his kingdom stand? If I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? And finally, if Jesus could go into a strong man’s house (Satan) and and overcome him then He must be stronger than that man (i.e. Satan). The logical conclusion to what Jesus was asking them was that this healing was not by demonic power, it could only have come from the power of God’s Spirit. Therefore, if it came by the power of God’s Spirit, that was proof that Jesus was empowered to usher in God’s kingdom.
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt. 12:30-32) At the end of the day, each of us must choose to have faith in Jesus or not. We are either with Him or not. There is no middle ground. We can not be divided on who He is. Even failure to declare a choice is itself a choice signifying a lack of faith in Him. The Holy Spirit testifies to us that Jesus is Lord and Savior. For anyone to not know Jesus is one thing, but anyone who actively rejects Jesus is saying that the Holy Spirit is a liar. Jesus declared that such an act is an unforgivable sin.
The Holy Spirit leads us to salvation and works in our lives through the process of sanctification, to cast unclean spirits out of us, and make us more like Christ. Anyone who doesn’t rejoice and acknowledge the healing and new life given by the power of the Holy Spirit is not a believer. Jesus made it clear, you are either with Him or against Him. You can remain blind to who He is and mute to confessing faith in Him, but you cannot do that and be healed and receive eternal life. If you have not made a decision to have faith in and follow Jesus, then by default you are against Him. That would make you like a house divided… and the Lord has declared that you will not be able to stand!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
