{"id":298,"date":"2013-10-09T21:01:13","date_gmt":"2013-10-10T02:01:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=298"},"modified":"2013-10-09T21:01:13","modified_gmt":"2013-10-10T02:01:13","slug":"a-house-divided","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=298","title":{"rendered":"A House Divided"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\">Lesson 32<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">A House Divided<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Luke 11:14-28<\/p>\n<p>Over the course of my lifetime I have attended on a regular basis or belonged to five different churches in three different denominations.\u00a0 Of those five in three of them I have experienced some type of discord within the congregation related to the Pastor. In those situations there has been open hostility towards the man the church called to be its leader.\u00a0 The earliest recollection of this type of divisiveness occurred when I was just a teenager.\u00a0 The church asked the minister to leave because in the mind of the people he did not fit the bill of what they saw as a good preacher or pastor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In one church a beloved pastor left because he could no longer work in an environment where everything that was done was compared to what his predecessor had done.\u00a0 He continually lived in the shadow of that man.\u00a0 He finally decided that the church needed someone without ties to the previous man.\u00a0 Sadly, the next minister was an aggressive individual who believed that he was called because the church wanted to move in a new direction.\u00a0 When he suggested changes or began to implement them he ran headlong into the establishment of those who were not about to budge, because they liked things exactly as they were.\u00a0 After a number of years the minister was actually driven out of that church.\u00a0 The last Sunday I attended there I just sensed that the Holy Spirit was not present in such a hostile climate.\u00a0 That church has since closed its doors.<\/p>\n<p>If there is one weapon that satan uses more than any other it is division and strife in the church.\u00a0 We become his unwitting allies when we fight either among ourselves or attack the leadership of the church.\u00a0 Christ and the writers of the New Testament constantly called the followers of Christ to be unified.\u00a0 Many of the epistles were written because of problems in the church, especially those things that cause division.\u00a0 Jesus on the last night before His crucifixion prayed that the disciples and those who would come after them in the faith would be one with Him and His Father.\u00a0 In at least the letters to the Corinthians, Galatians and Philippians Paul had to deal with cliques or individuals in conflict with each other and sometimes his teaching.\u00a0 The apostle John, especially in 3<sup>rd<\/sup> John had to call out those who were destroying the fellowship of the church in Ephesus.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Whenever members of the church loses their focus on Christ and His work and look at their own ministry, small groups or teams as central to the church then division is standing at the door waiting to keep the people from being unified.\u00a0 We are then in danger of seeing satan gain victory over us and slowing down the impact a church might have on the community.\u00a0 When David drifted away Nathan had to tell him that his actions actually allowed the nations around Israel to blaspheme God. In the eyes of His enemies he had made God appear too weak to receive complete dedication from the one king who God had placed on the throne of Israel. David was a man after God\u2019s own heart but certainly did not behave in that way.<\/p>\n<p>Luke 11:14<\/p>\n<p>As He had done so often before Jesus cast out a demon from a man.\u00a0 Unlike before the demon did not speak and had caused the man to be mute.\u00a0 When he was freed the man began to speak. Luke wrote that the crowd was once again amazed.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In what way was the action of that particular demon different from the ones previously faced by Jesus?<\/li>\n<li>What impact had he had on the man\u2019s life?<\/li>\n<li>Why was the crowd amazed?<\/li>\n<li>How is it that we are so often amazed when God does something in our midst?<\/li>\n<li>What does our reaction show about our faith?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 11:15-16<\/p>\n<p>There were two responses to the miracle done in the man\u2019s life.\u00a0 The people reacted by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Accusing Jesus of casting out the demon under the authority of Beelzebul, the chief of the demons.\u00a0 Beelzebul is just another name for satan. When a person does not have an answer for what he has just experienced the easiest thing to do is to attempt to demean what a person does or says by ridiculing him, accusing him falsely or using intimidation. The militant atheist uses these tactics because they have no answers to refute the truth of God.<\/li>\n<li>Testing Him by wanting to see some kind of sign from heaven.\u00a0 It was not enough that they had just seen a man cured.\u00a0 The crowd always wanted more.\u00a0 By denying His power over demons they were actually questioning God\u2019s ability to work through Him.\u00a0 This is called blasphemy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What were the two different ways that the people responded to the miracle?<\/li>\n<li>In what way were they the same? (Both were mean to discredit the miracle that Jesus had performed.)<\/li>\n<li>Why do people use such tactics when they hear what they do not want to hear? (Because they have no answers for the truth.)<\/li>\n<li>To what have the militant atheists resorted to doing in debates over the reality of God and Christianity? (They no longer answer questions or give a reasonable argument for their positions but resort to be belligerent.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 11:17-18<\/p>\n<p>Jesus knew what they were thinking and spoke to them using a tool of logic.\u00a0 His opening defense was:<\/p>\n<p>A kingdom that hopes to continue cannot be divided.\u00a0 Two things will happen to it.\u00a0 It will be laid waste and it will fall.\u00a0 They should have understood that satan was not going to do anything that would weaken his forces or bring defeat on himself.\u00a0 If he was allowing a person, like Jesus and the other Jewish exorcists to cast out demons his whole plan for the control and destruction of man would fail miserably.<\/p>\n<p>1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why was the accusation made against Jesus by the people problematic? (It was not logically possible.)<\/p>\n<p>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What are satan\u2019s tactics?<\/p>\n<p>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How would what they were saying go against everything that the devil is trying to do in the world?<\/p>\n<p>4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can you name a time when you may have made such illogical statements concerning what you understand about God? What was the occasion?<\/p>\n<p>5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What does Jesus\u2019 statement say about churches when there is division to be found in them?<\/p>\n<p>6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How does this principle operate in homes, among friends or other organizations?<\/p>\n<p>Luke 11:19<\/p>\n<p>The second point in Jesus\u2019 defense brought the issue closer to home.\u00a0 He used a logical argument to show that to accuse Him was to bring judgment upon them.\u00a0 The steps look something like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The fact that a demon had been cast out was undeniable.<\/li>\n<li>If He is in league with satan in the casting out of demons<\/li>\n<li>The Jews who cast out demons must also be in league with satan<\/li>\n<li>Therefore because they approved of their actions they also were guilty of working with the devil.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How did their accusation bring judgment on them?<\/p>\n<p>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In what ways does Jesus\u2019 logic make sense to you?<\/p>\n<p>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How could you use a process like this in sharing Jesus with others?<\/p>\n<p>4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How often have you been caught in a verbal trap as the people in that crowd did that day?<\/p>\n<p>5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How have you handled situations like this when you have been falsely accused of something?<\/p>\n<p>Luke 11:20<\/p>\n<p>One final point was made that summed up what had really taken place.\u00a0 Jesus words also would have been encouraging to the people as well.\u00a0 If indeed Jesus had cast out the demon under the authority of God then the kingdom of God had truly come upon them. It would also mean that those among them who had done the same would have cast out demons by the finger of God.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What had really taken place?<\/li>\n<li>How would Jesus\u2019 words be an encouragement to them?<\/li>\n<li>What did it mean for the people for Jesus to have accomplished the work that He had done in the man\u2019s life?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Luke 11:21-22<\/p>\n<p>Jesus painted a picture for the people that very clearly pointed to Himself.\u00a0 In the parable:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The strong man with all of his weapons and guards surrounding him feels he is perfectly safe in his domain.\u00a0 Truly that attitude is one of false security. The devil believes that this world is his playground and he is king of the hill.<\/li>\n<li>The stronger man who entered into the domain is Jesus. He had come into the world to reclaim all that was His.<\/li>\n<li>The devil was no match for the more powerful Jesus who took out of his hand all he had possessed and gave it to the conquering people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Who are the different characters in this parable?<\/p>\n<p>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why does satan still maintain that this world belongs to him?<\/p>\n<p>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What are his weapons and who are the guards around him that give him a false security?<\/p>\n<p>4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What weapons does Jesus bring to the battle?<\/p>\n<p>5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Who benefits from the defeat of satan?<\/p>\n<p>Luke 11:23<\/p>\n<p>There is no middle ground with Christ.\u00a0 Man either chooses to give his life to Him or chooses death.\u00a0 Many throughout history have tried to live on the spiritual fence.\u00a0 They have not been willing to make the commitment to follow Jesus with their total being.\u00a0 All that one has to do is look at the state of the church today to see how this continues to be played out.\u00a0 Attendance is sporadic at best and ministries within and outside the walls suffer for lack of people who are willing to serve.\u00a0 Jesus made it very clear in another place that those who do not give their lives to them that He never knew them.<\/p>\n<p>1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What did Jesus mean by the statement about either being for Him or against Him?<\/p>\n<p>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What are the indications that a person has made that choice?<\/p>\n<p>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How have people tried to live as if they are sitting on the fence?<\/p>\n<p>4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What will be the response of Jesus to each of those groups?<\/p>\n<p>Luke 11:24-26<\/p>\n<p>As if to explain what a man would look like who had not committed his life to Jesus.\u00a0 He was like a man who had been possessed by a demon.\u00a0 The man may have somehow been freed from the demon and cleaned out all of the evidence from his life that the demon had been there.\u00a0 The problem was that he left the place where the evil spirit had left empty.\u00a0 He may have tried to fill it with religion or other meaningless pursuits.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime the demon had tried to find a new home but was unsuccessful so he returned to see how things were going with the man.\u00a0 Finding him empty he found seven other spirits. All of them took residence making him seven times worse that he was previously.\u00a0 Every person is going to be filled with some spiritual relationship good or bad.\u00a0 Unfortunately the man was one who thought he could continue to sit on the fence and not have to make a decision.\u00a0 It ended up costing him his peace and life.<\/p>\n<p>1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In what way was this man an example of those who are unable to decide whether they wanted to be a disciple of Jesus or not?<\/p>\n<p>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What is the problem with just getting rid of the bad in our lives?<\/p>\n<p>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How is this picture like those who have religion and not Christ?<\/p>\n<p>4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What does it mean when we understand that there is a void in our lives that only God can fill?<\/p>\n<p>5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What commitment have you made in your life?<\/p>\n<p>Luke 11:27-28<\/p>\n<p>As Jesus finished speaking a women cried out.\u00a0 She invoked a blessing on the woman who bore him and nurture Him during His early life.\u00a0 Jesus indicated that there was one thing more important than all the things done to sustain human life. The real blessing comes to one who hears God\u2019s word and follows what it teaches.<\/p>\n<p>1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why did the woman cry to bless the one who had given Him life? (Because of His ministry.)<\/p>\n<p>2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What was more important to Jesus?<\/p>\n<p>3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How does the world know that we have heard God\u2019s word?<\/p>\n<p>4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What are the things that we do that indicate we have indeed received His word?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0Do not take part in any group that seeks to divide the church.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0Seek the truth in every situation.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0Be careful not to condemn someone just because you do not agree with them.\u00a0 What\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0 they believe may be helpful to you.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0Fill your life with that which will help you to grow spiritually.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0Remember it is not religion but Christ who will give meaning to your life.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0Hear the word of God with an open heart and mind and believe the message within its\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u00a0 pages.<\/p>\n<p>One of the things that the church has done to hopefully eliminate dissension is enact the elder model of leadership.\u00a0 With this kind of team in place reduces the focus on one individual.\u00a0 It is so easy to criticize when there is just one person in a leadership role.\u00a0 We have worked hard to make sure that it is not a house divided but one of unity.\u00a0 Much more can be accomplished for God\u2019s kingdom when we are all working toward the same goal. \u00a0We want to be messengers for Christ who do not get sidetracked by peripheral issues. \u00a0Great care must be taken to make sure the world does not see a number of diverse groups with their own agendas at work in the body. \u00a0Let us not be a house that is ready to collapse from within, but one built on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 32 A House Divided Luke 11:14-28 Over the course of my lifetime I have attended on a regular basis or belonged to five different churches in three different denominations.\u00a0 Of those five in three of them I have experienced some type of discord within the congregation related to the Pastor. In those situations there [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-luke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=298"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":299,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298\/revisions\/299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}