Kingdom Conflicts
Matt.12:22-30
22 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. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25 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. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 “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.
30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
A pastor friend asked if he could talk with me in private. He explained his dilemma of being privy to some information regarding the homosexual activity of another pastor. My heart was grieved. I have heard of several cases of pastors and assistants who have been accused of sexual impropriety. Some have been models to me. Close friends and classmates have left the ministry due to moral failure. I thought no one is exempt; I'll never be surprised again.
Most pastors have been remained moral and faithful to their call, but I am gripped by the awareness - there but for the grace of God go I. In visiting with a couple of my friends who had enjoyed their sin for season and refused to believe that “whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap” shared they had lost both their ministries and their families. There are consequences!
The world system, established and crafted by Satan, entices our greed, passion and pride. It stimulates our fear, anger, and despondency. It may be lust in someone's life It might be depression or discouragement in mine. If it is temptation to steal or embezzle in another life, it may be low self-worth in another. In fact, none of us are exempt from the onslaughts that would keep our focus off Christ and onto ourselves. Satan does his work. However, I believe Satan also gets more credit than he deserves. It is clear, Satan tempts us and causes us to fall, but let’s remember that Adam and Eve rebelled against God in that perfect environment. We are led into sin by our own lust.
We must not forget there is not only the kingdom of God, but also another spiritual kingdom which is the kingdom of Satan. The Bible also calls it “the dominion of darkness”, or “the realm of this world”. A kingdom has a king, authority, and subjects. In the Kingdom of God, Jesus is our King; all authority in heaven and earth has been given Him by the Father-God. Citizens of His Kingdom are those who are born again, repentant people, broken by their own sinfulness and unworthiness, and who have determined to live for God in righteousness by the power of the in dwelling loving Spirit of our Lord making us love God with our hearts, minds, souls and spirits.
If you are not part of the kingdom of God, then you are part of the kingdom over which Satan has control and reign. One minister put it this way, "Often the kingdom is likened to a Caribbean cruise on a luxury liner. People change into their leisure clothes, grab their suntan lotion, and saunter down to the docks. What a shock it is when they find that entering the kingdom is really more like enlisting in the navy and doing battle with the enemy."
The passage this week exposes the opposing Kingdoms that collide even in our lives as Christians.
Lord, help us be aware of Your Word and the work of your Spirit to the temptations we face. Give us the power we need to have Your mind in our thoughts and actions day by day.
