As Jesus continues to reveal more of His divine power through His teachings and miracles, in this week’s sermon in our series The Gospel of Luke, Part III: A Journey through Galilee we see Him dismantle irrational disbelief through rational apologetic arguments. The very incarnation of our triune God demonstrates, through word and deed, that He came to destroy the works of that other trinity – the world, the flesh, and Satan himself. Praise be to God that He is victorious!

Tyler’s Main Point

Jesus is the Christ who delivers people from the power of Satan by the Power of God.

Key Takeaways

• Jesus’ teachings and miracles serve to authenticate His ministry and divinity.

• Yet despite the evidence – and the fact they had just witnessed a miracle with their very eyes! – the Pharisees refused to believe that He was the Christ.

• Their disbelief was so great, they resort to the illogical statement that Jesus is casting the demon out by the power of Satan in a vain attempt to discredit Christ’s work.

• Jesus responds with two apologetic arguments that quickly dismantle their disbelief.
  • In the first, Jesus argues that a house divided will not stand; that the idea that Satan would cast out one of his own demons from someone he is seeking to steal from God makes no logical sense.
  • In the second, Jesus argues that a strong man protects his belongings due to his strength and weaponry. But when someone stronger overpowers the strong man, the stronger man divides the spoils of him who has been defeated.

• Jesus is the stronger man from the everlasting kingdom of God who gives new life to dead sinners.

• Jesus gives the Pharisees – and all who doubt him – a clear choice: either you can choose to receive the kingdom of God, or you can choose to remain in the kingdom of Satan.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

• To whose kingdom do you belong to?
  • If you have not made the choice to receive God’s grace through Jesus, what is holding you back?

• How is your testimony of transformation a testament to the power of God?

• Do you view God as being passive and distant, or proactive and on the attack? Why?

Discuss with your community group:

• How have you seen God deliver each other from the schemes of Satan?

• How does the truth taught in Scripture that we all, apart from Christ, are dead in our sin and part of Satan’s kingdom influence your faith, your understanding of grace, and how you relate to the lost?

Passages Referenced

Luke 11:14-23; Eph. 2:1-5; 2 Tim. 2:25-26; Matt. 12:22-32

Worship Set List

Praise The King, Life Defined, No Other King, Break Every Chain, Holy, Holy, Holy, Is He Worthy