By THE SPIRIT Luke wrote in chapter 11:
14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.
15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
Jesus overcame the devil in the wilderness and He continued to display the power and authority FATHER had bestowed on Him. He now cast out a demon and delivered the mute but some of the people attempted to reason away why the miracle did not happen. Out of the abundance of their heart, they spoke. People will rationalize away whatever does not fit their doctrine and this is a primary cause of people remaining incapacitated and unable to achieve deliverance from their bondage. We must receive with gladness whatever FATHER provides and accomplishes before our eyes.
16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.
What more of a sign does one need than to see a known mute immediately delivered of a demon? Instead of praising Our Heavenly Father for delivering the mute, they challenged the power and authority of Jesus. Even seeing was not believing for this group. We should expect FATHER to bless us in our walk and encounters rather than question every circumstance we find ourselves in. There are those who spend their life looking for signs rather than simply hearing FATHER. Which is better, sign language or hearing HIS Word?
17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.
18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.
19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.
22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.
23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Jesus provided proof that the Kingdom of FATHER had come by His ability to cast out demons and heal the sick. Those who go in His Name and do the same also bring forth the Kingdom. Those who speak against the straight and narrow path of Jesus Who is The Door are the ones who scatter the sheep. Those are the people who would keep us divided, exploited, and are in opposition to Christ.
Jesus likens the demon to a strong man who resists any challenge to his dwelling place. The demon was able to take up residence due to weakness of the person caused by some event in the past. Demons still exist today and are most subtle in their methods to take up residence in a host. We must be sensitive to The Holy Spirit so that we will know the proper method of dealing with these spirits. Jesus was not moved by His various encounters with demons and they knew of His power and authority over them. We too have that same power to take their “armor” and divide them from their host. FATHER has the necessary righteous tools for winning the war against the demonic forces. Let us be fully equipped and walk in the power of The Holy Spirit so that no matter what we encounter, we will overcome the darkness with light.