Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. One day, Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons using Satan's power. Jesus replied, A house divided against itself cannot stand. That reasoning left them speechless, and so they plotted to destroy him. Today, public opinion turns against Jesus.
From the Moody Church in Chicago, this is Running to Wind with Dr. Erwin Lutzer, whose clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Pastor Lutzer is showing us portraits of Christ in a series he's calling Come and See Jesus. Pastor, it's clear that darkness can't stand it when light comes to dispel it. Give us a roadmap of where we're going in Come and See His Enemies.
Well, Dave, one of the things that we're going to see with clarity is that Jesus is constantly dividing people. By that I mean He creates controversy, of course, because of his claims, because of his miracles, and some people accept that. and many don't. We here at Running to Win are deeply committed to Jesus Christ believing that He is the Son of God and He is the One who came to redeem us.
So we love to proclaim the gospel. In other words, we are committed to Him who is called and who called Himself the light of the world. If you've been listening to Running to Win, And you have appreciated this ministry, let me tell you, it is because of people just like you who have made an investment.
so that this ministry is able to extend itself around the world.
Now we know that you have many different opportunities to give to Christian ministries. But would you pray about the possibility of helping us? Many of you already do, but there may be others. You've never connected with us even though you are blessed by this ministry. Here's what you can do.
Go to rtwoffer.com and I want to emphasize that during this month, we have special donors who have said that they are willing to double any gift that is given. What an opportunity to maximize your contribution.
So once again, go to rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. I'm going to be giving you that contact info again following this message because. I must emphasize It's because of people just like you. that we can go round the world shining the light of Christ. One day Jesus said to his disciples, Who do men say that I am?
They said, Well, some say John the Baptist, one of the prophets. And then he said, Who do you say that I am? He didn't say, now tell me, do you like me? What do you think of the miracles that I perform? Pretty good, huh?
Said, Who do you say? that I am He was asking about his person. And I want you to know today that your answer to that question determines your. eternity. Who do you say that he is?
12th chapter of the book of Matthew. What's happening is this: Jesus performs a wonderful miracle. Matthew chapter 12, verse 22. And those around him are trying to figure out who he is. They're trying to answer that question: who do you say that I am?
It says in Matthew chapter 12, verse 22, Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him so that the man spoke and saw. The man had two problems. First of all, he had a demonic problem. He was demonically oppressed, maybe even possessed. And there are some of you who are listening to this message who understand those words very clearly because you are in the same situation, filled with condemnation and self-hatred.
And some of you have battled. evil spirits, or may be battling them. The other problem with this man is he couldn't speak. Jesus healed both problems and it was verifiable. They could see it there.
And verse 23: all the people were amazed and said, Can this be the Son of David? They're trying to figure out who Jesus was. That expression, son of David, actually is a messianic title. What they're saying is: could this be the Messiah?
Some of you may be asking that question.
Some of you should be asking that question: Is this the Messiah?
Okay. The Pharisees, and those were the religious elite. We often put them in bad light, but they were trying to do their best in many situations, but they really hated Jesus. And I'll tell you why they didn't like him. First of all, because he trampled on some of their pet traditions.
They didn't like that. The other thing was, Jesus sometimes spoke to them with such a sense of. Oh, what shall we say? Jesus judged them. I mean, you know, he called them hypocrites.
He pointed out the sin in their hearts, and they didn't like that.
So they begin to panic here because you have an uprising of people who are at least questioning: is this the Son of David? Could it be that this is the Messiah? And so these Pharisees, when they see this happening, They're in a situation where they make up an explanation for what they saw. And this is what they said. I'm in verse 24.
It is only by Belzebel, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons. Wow, Belzebel or Belzebub as it is sometimes written is a Canaanite deity. and actually stood for Satan.
So they're saying the miracle that you have just seen, and nobody could deny that a miracle had happened, the miracle that we've just seen is actually done by the devil. The devil cast out. these evil spirits, and it is the devil who caused the mute to be able to speak. They're pretty desperate actually at that point. Jesus, in this context, gives some reasons why that conclusion is false.
And if you think that that conclusion is right, I want you to know today that it is false. And the reasons that Jesus gives to this people to believe in him is the same reason why you and I should believe on him. First of all, the first reason, and I've titled it, A Kingdom Must Be Unified. Maybe not said in the best way, but that's the essence of it. Notice what Jesus said in verse 25.
By the way, Jesus knowing their thoughts. Did you know that Jesus knows your thoughts today?
Some of you, God bless you. You have come with open minds and hearts, and you've said, Oh Lord, speak to me.
Some of you have come sort of as if to say, I wonder how boring this is going to be. And others of you maybe have come and said, there's no way that I'm going to believe on this Jesus. I've rejected him before, and this is going to be the same old story. And Jesus knows your thoughts. He says to them, Every kingdom divided itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided itself.
Will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he has divided himself. How then will his kingdom stand? You know, the devil does many destructive things. He overreaches and actually harms himself by his overreach.
He is oftentimes the master of chaos. He absolutely loves chaos. And sometimes there's chaos in his kingdom. And sometimes he even will fake Exorcism pretending that he's casting out a demon. Certainly, that happens with false teachers who go through certain incantations and they pretend that they're casting out demons, and it appears as if it's working, but it's not really working.
Now here's Christ's point. Don't miss it. He's saying that not even the devil, or let me put it positively, even the devil is smart enough to know. That he can't be the one casting out his own demons, or his kingdom is going to collapse. Even he knows that when there's civil war within his own kingdom, he's going to be weakened and not be able to take on.
Any attempt to take on Jesus Christ and the church.
So the devil is not going to cast out devils, said Jesus. And that's true, isn't it? The miracle that Jesus performed was so direct, so verifiable, so unique, so unquestionable. That that they couldn't deny that. And to say that somehow Satan was doing what Jesus was doing was utter foolishness.
It was an act of desperation by those who were committed. to not believing. In fact, Jesus takes them a little further in this discussion and says to them in verse 27, And if I cast out demons by Belzeboab. Or Belzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? They will be your judges.
But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. You see, they had their own. The Jewish community in those days had their own exorcists. They would go through these incantations and cast out devils, and I don't know whether or not it was working, I have no way of knowing. But Jesus is saying, go to them and ask them by whose authority they cast out demons.
Uh if they say um of the devil. Which they would never say, they would be condemning themselves. Obviously, they would not say that. If they say that they're doing it by God's power, Then, why should you be critical of me and say that I'm not doing it by God's power? In other words, if you go to them and ask them, it will undercut your own criticism.
That's what Jesus is saying.
So the first reason that they should believe is to know that the devil can't do what Jesus did. He would never do what Jesus did. Jesus is not. from Satan. but from God.
Second second reason, and I'm calling this I guess that a house must be guarded. Jesus goes on and says, In verse 29, or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods? Unless he first binds the strong man, then indeed he will plunder his house. I want you to imagine that there's a hostage taker who's grabbed some children, thrown them in the house. And now he's holding them hostage and he's threatening to kill them if any of the police get to him.
Sometimes that happens, as you know.
Now, the police just can't go in and say, oh, well, we're just going to walk in on this sunny day in Chicago and release the children. It's no problem. No, no, no, no, no. The strongman. The hostage taker has to be arrested, he has to be neutralized, he has to be bound, he has to be taken care of, and then once he is taken care of, why, then indeed the police can go and they can.
take the children and reunite them with their family.
Now Jesus is saying. In light of the fact that I'm doing so much damage to Satan's kingdom. And the damage is extensive. That I'm actually casting out demons and delivering people from that, and also that I am able to take mute people and people with these disabilities and cause them to be able to speak and to see and all the other miracles in light of that. Don't you see that I must be stronger than the enemy who is holding them bound?
Don't you see that I am able to crush? The strong man The hostage taker and set captives free, you ought to know. that I've triumphed over Satan. And Jesus has triumphed over Satan. Already then he had power over Satan.
Just in terms of power, and then after the cross, he not only had power, but he had moral authority, having destroyed Satan's ability. to claim certain rights. And so Jesus says, you have to understand here that I have bound the strong man. I've gotten to those whom he took hostage. And that proves I'm stronger than the hostage-taker.
There's a third reason that Jesus goes into here. And that is that He's saying that a ruler must be served. Once again, I've not said this as well as I should, but the whole idea, I think it's better to simply say, the myth. The myth of neutrality. Notice what Jesus said in verse 30: Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
The imagery there is the ancient imagery of the way in which they had a harvest. What happened is you took the harvest, you took the grain, and cattle perhaps stepped on it and helped to crush it and to thresh it. And then you threw it up and you threw it in the air and the chaff blew away and you kept the grain. What Jesus is saying is, He who's not gathering in the harvest and helping me do it, He's the one who's just letting all the grain blow in the wind and to blow it away instead of keeping it.
So either you are for me or you are against me. This idea of being neutral. is impossible. I want to say this clearly, and that is that. If you do not belong to God, You are God's enemy.
You're God's enemy. There's no neutrality there regarding Jesus. And so, what Jesus is speaking about is the fact that you just can't, you can't. Think. that you're neutral, kind of.
Okay. In order to illustrate the seriousness of it, Jesus now goes on and talks about an unpardonable sin. This is very serious business, folks. Verse thirty-one. Therefore, I tell you: every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age. or in the one to come. There is a sin. For which There is no forgiveness. I suppose that everyone who's ever heard of the unpardonable sin at some point in their life thinks that they have committed it.
Here I am, I'm a boy of 11 or 12 riding my bicycle. at the back of our house. One Easter Sunday afternoon. It's amazing how you remember things with real clarity. And I had what I deemed to be some very blasphemous thoughts.
against Jesus. And I'll never forget the turmoil that I was in for days wondering whether I had committed. the unpardonable sin. I wish that I had kept all of the letters that have been sent me throughout the years of people who believe that they have committed the unpardonable sin. I have some of them.
I was going to read a few of them to you today, but I don't think it will take time to do that because you probably know already what those letters say. They say something like this, like one man said, Saturday evening, three weeks ago, I committed the unpardonable sin. I was angry and I blasphemed God, and now I have to deal with the devil. Do you think that I can be forgiven? And then there are those who commit this sin or that sin, and they ask the question of whether or not forgiveness is possible for this sin or that sin.
Have they committed the unpardonable sin?
Well, let's look at this with a little bit of care. Yeah. Um Well, my friend, this is Pastor Lutzer. You certainly are going to have to listen to Running to Win next time to find an answer to the questions. that I just raised.
But I want to let you know that if you desire that your sin be forgiven, whatever it is, it can be forgiven. More of that. in the next episode. But we here at Running to Wind desire that the entire world know that forgiveness is available to all those who believe the gospel. and who are trusting Jesus Christ.
And we could not expand this ministry were it not for people just like you. From my heart, I want to thank the many of you who support this ministry. We have a very special offer during the month of August.
Some friends have said that they are willing to match any gift given during this month. Imagine that. Imagine doubling your gift. I sure hope that you have a pen or pencil handy, because I want to give you some contact info. Write this down.
And connect with us and pray about the possibility of helping us in this venture. Go to rtwoffer.com. That's rtwoffer.com or pick up the phone and call us at 1-888. 218. 9337.
Let me give you that contact info one more time. Go to rtwoffer.com or call us at 1-888-218-248. ninety three thirty seven. It's time for another chance for you to ask Pastor Lutzer a question about the Bible or the Christian life.
Sometimes being nice to a family member can make you wish you'd never done so. That's the case with this listener, who says, I have a brother who takes advantage of me. For example, he totaled his car and received money from the insurance company, but instead of buying another one, he borrows mine. Since I have another car, I can do without the one he's using, but but he refuses to pay the insurance and the upkeep, even though he has a good job. I really can't talk to him about it because he's a very angry person, always judging, always criticizing.
I want to have a good relationship with him and his wife. But this car incident is but one example of their selfishness and lack of consideration for other members of the family. Frankly, I've had enough.
Well, my friend, I am not surprised that you've had enough. I think I too would have had enough. I'm going to give you an idea here that is somewhat radical. And I wonder if you can pull it off. I don't know how old the car is that you're letting him use.
But if you can find it within your heart, I would suggest that you give him the car. Put it in his name. and then have a talk with him and his wife. And simply say this. Look.
We have been generous with you. I'm going to give you this car. I want it in your name, and it is yours. But You are no longer going to use us you are no longer going to manipulate us. And we must recognize here that we've done what we could to help you.
but um you can't depend upon us any more to bail you out of difficult situations.
Now in that instance that will force him to take care of the car, he's going to have to pay the insurance, he's going to have to pay the upkeep, and so forth, and you will have washed your hands of any further responsibility in his life. Because you're going to have made the issues clear. Remember this, there are some people that you can't reconcile with, and it seems as if your angry brother and his wife are those kinds of people. Very difficult very unthankful, very demanding, very manipulative. and very difficult to deal with.
Now you say, Pastor Lutzer, we can't afford to give him The car.
Well, in that instance, you do need to draw the line. You need to tell him that he has a certain length of time, maybe a month or something, and after that you want your car back, and you're going to insist that you get the car back.
Now if he becomes angry... If he becomes judgmental, if he becomes critical, Don't worry about it. This is not your fault. This is his responsibility. Because you cannot be accountable.
For the reaction of your brother. and his wife. The book of Proverbs is filled with descriptions of the fool. One of those descriptions is that a fool does not listen to others. A fool uses other people.
A fool never learns from experiences. A fool will always repeat the same stupidity. and really the best way to deal with them, if possible. is to remove yourself from them, Because they never learn.
Well, this has been a rather long answer, but I hope that you will be reconciled on this issue. I hope that the door to reconciliation is always open. But I'm not too hopeful, based on what you've said.
So, take some action. Don't continue to be used. It's not good for you. It's not good for him. or his wife.
God bless you. I believe we've heard some of the wisdom of Solomon in that answer, Dr. Lutzer. Thank you so much. If you'd like to hear your question answered, you can go to our website at rtwoffer.com and click on Ask Pastor Lutzer or call us at 1-888-218-9337.
That's 1-888-218-9337. You can write to us at Running2Win 1635 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60614. Running to Win comes to you from the Moody Church in Chicago to help you understand God's roadmap for your race of life.
Next time on Running to Win, more analysis on the unpardonable sin and whether believers can commit it today. Thanks for listening. For Pastor Erwin Lutzer, this is Dave McAllister. Running to Win is sponsored by the Moody Church.
