A REMINDER OF SPIRITUAL EMPTINESS
OR
HEARING AND KEEPING GOD’S WORD
SUNDAY AUGUST 15, 2021
Scripture To Consider:
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it 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.”
“And it happened, as Jesus spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’ But Jesus said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.’” Luke 11.24-28
Something To Consider:
Some warnings are well worth repeating. In our text today Jesus repeated the same warning found in Matthew’s gospel chapter 12, and verses 43-45. Here in Luke, we are reminded of the seriousness of spiritual emptiness. In last week’s lesson Jesus stated, “He [or she] who is not with Me is against Me, and he [or she] who does not gather with Me scatters.”
In other words, in our not being with Jesus, we open ourselves up to the possibility of experiencing spiritual emptiness. And according to our Scripture to consider and Jesus, our being spiritually empty is dangerous and to be avoided by all true believers at all cost. There is no middle or neutral ground at the cross. We must all decide!
Look at our society in this 21st century. The true biblical truth is spoken evil of, mass murders on the rise, corruption is increasing in the highest of levels of all governments around the globe, deception spreading within the so-called church, and an uneasy avalanche of false disinformation flooding the very fiber of every nation! And demonic activity is at an all-time high!
Therefore, when will we realize that spiritual emptiness, whether forced or voluntarily accepted, is destroying the human race. The enemy is fully engaged in these end times! What are we doing in Christ to combat the father of lies? Or are we to be found by Christ at the end of our lives, having aided and abated the enemy? God forbid!
Something Else To Consider:
In Deuteronomy 8.11 we find the words of Moses as spoken by God; “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today.”
And Jesus speaking on the cost of discipleship proclaimed in Luke 9.62; “No one having put his [or her] hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” In other words, a true believing follower of Jesus will endure to the end, thereby being saved according to Jesus in Matthew 10.22, Matthew 24.13, and Mark 13.13!
Something More To Consider:
The picture that is painted here by Peter, Moses, and Jesus, is of a person turning back from the knowledge of God’s Word and Jesus Christ to an old sinful lifestyle. It is never a pretty picture to behold. The remedy for the damage done by turning back is revealed by Jesus after a certain woman declared a blessing on the mother of Jesus. For Jesus answered her declaration of the blessedness of Mary, by stating; “More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.”
James, the brother of Jesus agreed with Jesus by reminding us, “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Let us learn not to be deceived by preachers and teachers of spiritual emptiness. And let us also be reminded of what the mystery writer of Hebrews 10.38 acknowledged; “If any man [woman or young person] draws back [backslides from the truth], My soul [God declares] has no pleasure in him [or her].”
Therefore, what will we do with the reminder of the deceitfulness of spiritual emptiness? Will we combat spiritual emptiness with our hearing and our keeping God’s Word on a daily basis? Will we combat spiritual emptiness by being careful of not hearing and heeding the many traditions of man and doctrines of demons being espoused on a regular basis from within the so-called church? Our eternal spiritual condition depends upon our being steadfast followers of Jesus Christ and our observing His commands, not man’s.
A Few Final Words:
The refusal to hear and to keep the revelation of the Word of God has brought about a great spiritual emptiness in America and most other nations. And yet, there has always been a remnant, a few faithful in every village, city, and state of every country. Will we be considered by Jesus as among the faithful few and eternally blessed?
The alternative is not to be left for chance! The alternative is eternal separation from all that is good or facing eternal torment. The alternative was created for Satan and his rebellious angelic horde, and not for humanity. And yet, no evil and no unrighteousness will enter the kingdom of God.
Hearing the Word of God produces faith, while keeping the Word of God creates eternal blessings. Both are eternally worthwhile spiritual goals to pursue to guarantee against spiritual emptiness. And according to Jesus, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.”
How important has the Word of God become to us? John declared in His opening monologue of the gospel of John, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And in verse 14 of John chapter 1, John revealed; “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Hearing and keeping the Word of God is the same as our hearing and keeping Jesus, come in the flesh as the Word of God!
Do not be deceived or misdirected by the many distractions that have been created by both Satan and fleshly oriented elite men and women who seek world domination by evil tactics. And by all means seek God’s guidance and divine direction in being prepared for the soon coming end time events predicted in advance in the Word of God!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, thank You for the reminder of the dangers of spiritual emptiness. Help us to be hearers, keepers, and doers of Your Word. May we learn these lessons of a lifetime from Jesus. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 