SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS
OR
ANOTHER WICKED GENERATION
SUNDAY DEC. 15, 2019
Scripture To Consider:
“Jesus said, ‘When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.’” Matthew 12.43-45
Something To Consider:
Jesus gives us a backstage look into the unseen realm of evil unclean demonic spirits. This subject has presented itself due to Jesus bringing healing and relief to those who were demon-possessed. Finally, the Pharisees, who were not willing to admit that Jesus was able to cast out demons by the power of God, attributed these miraculous exorcisms to Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.
In previous lessons Jesus discussed the problem with their fool-hearted theory of a kingdom divided against itself. He also exposed the spiritual battle strategy of first binding the strong man which is only accomplished through prayer and a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus.
Jesus also in previous lessons, reminded them as He reminds us, of the natural law of good trees producing only good fruit while bad trees only producing bad fruit. And finally, Jesus described these religious leaders as He truly saw them, as nothing more than a “Brood of vipers!”. Jesus would also want us to beware of the many poisonous snake-like religious leaders that are spewing out religious but not biblical foolishness and erroneous false doctrines in this 21st century generation!
But, in our Scripture to consider today, Jesus is warning of unseen, unclean, demonic spirits that indwell the unbelieving and rebellious Christ rejecting individuals of every generation. In Matthew 10.1, it is documented, “And when Jesus had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all kinds of disease.”
Something Else To Consider:
Does that mean Jesus has given us, His elect of this 21st century generation, and possibly the last generation, the God-ordained power over unclean spirits? Have we been granted the divine power to cast out demonic unclean spirits that spiritually hold in bondage human beings? Have we been given the spiritual power to heal all kinds of sickness and disease?
We are told in Hebrews 13.8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Therefore, if there is a disconnect to the power of God in the lives of so-called believers, the problem lies at the feet of every generation of so-called believers in Jesus, and not with God.
Jesus spoke much about generations, such as generational condemnation, generational wisdom, adulterous generations, and the final judgment of generations. Jesus was and is able to think on a generational level, knowing that the good or evil of a few can either bless or spoil many if not the whole. And so, in our text today Jesus gave a wise warning to a wicked generation. He opened the hidden from human eyes, spiritual realm, to expose the world of unclean spirits.
The Jewish nation had taken a deliberate step forward in attempting to religiously clean up their spiritual act. But according to Jesus they had fallen much short of obtaining true spiritual victory by not allowing God’s Holy Spirit entrance into the hearts and minds of its leaders. And yet, the early disciples of Jesus, those He had given power to in Matthew 10.1, they understood the importance of that divine power!
Something More To Consider:
In Acts 5.16, doctor Luke reported of the early church; “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” This was a true healing and delivering camp meeting! And yet, these early disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit and the divine power of God, were arrested and placed in prison.
Many times, we pray for the power of God, but are we prepared for the persecution that may follow? Often, we long for the divine power of God and for the miraculous healings of God that took place in the early church to take place in today’s church. But, are we ready for the human sacrifices that accompany the true power of God’s Holy Spirit?
After returning to their homeland from exile, the Jewish nation established a religious dominion of influence and order. The nation as a whole put away their idols and ceased their worship of false deities. And yet, in doing so, they emptied themselves of harmful habits but did not replace the emptiness with the whole truth of God’s Word and God’s holy influence.
And when offered the opportunity to receive God’s Son as a fulfilment to prophecy they refused and remained opposed to the Coming One whom could have filled all their spiritual longings. Therefore, because of their repeated rejection of Jesus of Nazareth, He declared of them; “And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” And so, it has been with many wicked and adulterous generations since, including this 21st century evil Christ rejecting generation.
A Few Final Words:
Prior to the great gathering of the elect saints after the tribulation, and after the sixth angel has poured out his bowl judgment on the great river Euphrates, so that its waters are dried up to make a way for the kings of the East to move upon the nation of Israel, Jesus revealed to John, writing in Revelation, another end time event. “And I John saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet [Satan’s religious and political end time representatives].”
John continued in verse 14 of Revelation chapter 16, by stating; “For they are the spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of Almighty God.” And then Jesus will declare in that day, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he [or she] who watches, and keeps his [or her] garments [their lives and their righteous and holy testimony to the end], lest he [or she] walk naked and they see his [or her] shame.”
Wise spiritual leaders take heed to the warnings of unseen and unclean spirits, while remaining fully aware of the many in their generation who remain hanging in the balance between a decision concerning heaven or hell. And according to Jesus, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man [woman or young person], he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.”
And also, according to Jesus, “Then he [the unclean spirt] goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man [woman or young person] is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked [21st century end time] generation.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, fill us with Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Make us to be a good influence on this end time Christ rejecting generation. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 