Luke 11:17-20 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation… I. THE CONDITION OF THE SINNER. What a condition it is! It is summed up in that twenty-first verse, "When the strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace." I will ask you to notice the five particulars here specified in that proud usurper's dominion — First, his personality; second, his power; third, his panoply; fourth, his palace; fifth, his peace. II. THE POWER OF THE SAVIOUR. Satan is strong, but the Divine Master is stronger. Upon that citadel the Lord Christ does not hesitate to advance. Man-soul is summoned. He effects an entrance, and more than that, He achieves the victory. He shall not only come upon him, but overcome him. And then a mighty transformation takes place in the soul of the believer. He divides the spoil. The faculties of the man are not to be destroyed; they are to be altered. What shall we say to it? Whatever it is, it teaches us that the whole powers of the restored man are to be laid at the feet of this Saviour. Mark what is said concerning Satan: .that he keeps his gates in peace. Blessed be God, when the transformation is effected, a greater, stronger one than he is also able to keep His gates in peace. III. I close with one word of WARNING. You know that warning word. He goes on immediately to say, "He that is not with Me is against Me, and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad." He is saying to us, Beware of compromise; beware of half-and-half work in this matter of full surrender of your being to Him. What does He mean? I will endeavour by a story to illustrate what He says. Some years ago there was a rich man who possessed the whole of the town in which he lived, with the exception of one poor, small, and dirty hovel. He was greatly minded to possess the whole. He asked the price. The poor man, miserly and cunning, probably asked an exorbitant sum. "It is too much," said the would-be purchaser; "but I will tell you what I will do — I will cover this table with sovereigns." "No," said the other; "no, I must have them on end!" "It is too much," said the purchaser. "No," said the other, "I must have them on end"; and so the bargaining went on, until the would-be purchaser gave up the business. As he left the room, the miser, looking at him with a leer on his face, said, "Remember I the town belongs to thee and me." My dear brethren, Satan, if I may so express it, made a harder bargain with the Captain of our salvation than did that miser. We are redeemed, not with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the blood of Christ. Shall it ever be that that cruel enemy shall come up to our Lord, and, pointing to the citadel of your or my heart, shall say, "Remember, the town belongs to me and Thee." But is there no lesson in that passage which follows? "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, but findeth none," and if he can find in you and me a foothold he will use it. It is my house, he says, and he comes back again; he comes seeking admission, and if he finds a place in our citadel he occupies it. He may be cast out as an unclean spirit, but he may return transformed as an angel of light, but an unclean spirit still. Is there no danger of this? I believe there is. Take heed that ye be not deceived. What is the remedy? I only know of one. It is to be God-possessed. It is to let that flag of Calvary float from roof to turret. It is to let God be in possession. Light expels darkness, health expels disease, God turns out Satan. (E. W. Moore.) Parallel Verses KJV: But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. |
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