Demonic Reality

May 27

(Luke 11:14-19 NIV) ““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. {15} But some of them said, "By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons." {16} Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. {17} Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. {18} If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. {19} Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.””

(John 8:37-47 NIV) ““I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. {38} I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father." {39} "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. {40} As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. {41} You are doing the things your own father does." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself." {42} Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. {43} Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. {44} You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. {45} Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! {46} Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? {47} He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.””

There are powerful spiritual forces at war in this world, and often we behave as if we had no clue. The same Bible that teaches the reality of Jesus Christ also teaches the reality of the demonic. Star Wars called this “the dark side of the force”. Sometimes these demons make people mute -- sometimes they make people into loud-mouthed religious zealots. Both confronted Jesus in Luke’s gospel. Jesus drove the demon from the man who was mute, but the demons of the religious zealots proved to be more stubborn. These experts claimed that Jesus used the power of the devil to drive out the devil. They said this because they belonged to Satan, and were adept at lying and accusing. Jesus told them they were foolish to think that Satan would drive himself out. No kingdom can survive if it is divided against itself. Neither can we! Choose this day whom you will serve. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day