Prelude
After reading Matthew 12:43-45 it come to me that the church in general does not believe in the spiritual warfare in the sense of a ragging battle that is going on around them. Even though the Bible continually warns us of the devices of Satan and the power that his army of demons have, we choose to ignore the warnings.
Because Halloween is approaching, I believe that in is necessary to address the subject of haunted houses.
We live in an age, where a lot of Christians do not really believe in the activities of the spiritual world. Demonic possession is a Hollywood thing only seen on the big screen.
I can see the wheels turning in your minds right now and some of you are saying, do you really believe in that stuff?
Yes, I do and that is why I have titled the message this morning Haunted Houses.
The Bible tells us that there is a war-taking place all around us. It is a spiritual war that is unseen by human eyes. The war is between God and that fallen angel Lucifer and this battle is over the souls of mankind. The Bible tells us of demons, evil spirits, which interact and affect our physical world.
Scripture
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44Then 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.
45Then 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
Prayer
Introduction
If you would allow me, tell me read again Matthew 12:43-45 in a different translation called God’s Word.
When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest.
But it doesn’t find any.
44Then it says, I’ll go back to the home I left. When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean, and in order.
45Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself.
They enter and take up permanent residence there.
In the end the condition of that person is worse than it was before.
That is what will happen to the evil people of this day. Matthew 12:43-45 (GW)
The Unclean Spirit (verse 43)
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
What is an unclean spirit? It is nothing more than a fallen angel, a demon, one of Satan’s many servants.
Everything that an unclean spirit does is totally against God.
Their leader, Satan despises anything and everything that is for or stands for God.
For a demon to live here on plant earth they must inhabit a dwelling place. That is to say a soul, whether it be human or even an animal.
Your soul is a house of inhabitance. A place where your spirit dwells and other spirits can dwell.
If you do not admit that your are a sinner, believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God, and confess your sins to him, then you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are a candidate for visit from a demonic spirit.
The Man (verse 43)
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
A man is referring to mankind, that which God had made in his image. Genesis 1:26a says; Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…
God made us and he designed us to inhabit spirits.
Our own spirit plus the Holy Spirit or a demonic spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says; Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
God gave us the choice of which spirit would we serve. We cannot have both spirits dwelling in the house we call our body. Our house holds our kind of spirit and one other kind.
That is to say that you either have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your house or the Unholy Spirit, or Unholy Spirits dwelling in your house!
We have to make a choice.
You see our house has a door and that door can only be opened from the inside. No spirit can come in unless you open that door.
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)
Mankind chooses which spirit he allows to live in him. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; (Joshua 24:15)
You see when you start dabbling with sin it is the same as leaving your door open. Kind of like having an open house where everyone comes in and can walk through your house.
That is an invitation for the Unholy Spirit to enter in.
A demonic spirit cannot enter your house unless you open the door or invite them in so that they may enter.
A demonic spirit will set up residents without your permission, and he can invite other demonic spirits to enter in.
Mankind was God’s crowning achievement, we where made in the image and likeness of God.
Satan would like nothing better than corrupt God’s crowning achievement.
Satan’s demons mission is to enter into the open door of your house and take occupancy.
Remember they cannot enter into your house until you open the door, and comes about when you begin to dabble in sin.
The Dangers of Rectification without Rebirth. (verse 43-44)
When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
44Then 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.
You see in verse 44 a wicked spirit departed out of this person’s life. The reason may have been several reasons;
1. That person came to church where the Word of God was being preached.
2. That person may have decided to turn over a new leaf and start
coming to church.
3. That person may have joined a church.
4. That person may have promised God that they would change.
5. That person may have married a believer.
6. Saying you’re a Christian without confessing your sins and asking
forgiveness doesn’t invite the Holy Spirit in.
Any of these numbers of things may have happened, to cause the demon to leave.
That demon goes out seeking a place of rest, finds none so it comes back, and sees that person’s house cleaned out, swept out and garnished with Christian symbols and Christian words, but the house is still empty.
You see we are all born with a spirit; however, when we reach the age of accountability then our house becomes an empty house.
A place that God has prepared for his Holy Spirit to dwell in, however the Holy Spirit will not dwell there unless it has been invited in, even if you have left the door open.
1. Going to church where the Word of God was being preached doesn’t
invite the Holy Spirit in.
2. Turning over a new leaf and start coming to church doesn’t invite
the Holy Spirit in.
3. Joining a church doesn’t invite the Holy Spirit in.
4. Promising God that you’ll change doesn’t invite the Holy Spirit in.
5. Marrying a believer doesn’t invite the Holy Spirit in.
6. Saying you’re a Christian doesn’t invite the Holy Spirit in.
There must be a transformation take place before the Holy Spirit comes in.
Who’s Occupying Your House (verse 44)
44Then 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.
45Then 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.
There are only two spiritual forces that a bidding for occupancy into your house. One is the Holy Spirit that only comes in by invitation and the other is the Unholy Spirit, a demonic spirit or spirits that will move in un-invited.
We are surrounded with the presence of the Unholy Spirit. In the form of astrology, spiritism, witchcraft, false religions, and many more.
I see Christians embracing these things, by reading their horoscope, believing in reincarnation, going to haunted houses, watching certain television programs, participating in Halloween.
We decorate our homes with the occult, with the sign of the Zodiac, false gods, occultist, Halloween, and etc.
So with all this celebration around us, why has there been such an increase?
Satan knows that his time is short, so he is doing everything he can to win the battle. Revelation 12:12 says; Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.
Remember cleaning your house on your own will not save you. Once you clean your house, it is ready for occupancy. If you don’t invite the Holy Spirit in then the Unholy Spirit has an open invitation.
Invitation
Behold I Stand at the Door
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)
May I remind you that the Holy Spirit will not enter in on His own. He must be invited in.
Let me say it again; Remember cleaning your house on your own will not save you. Once you clean your house, it is ready for occupancy. If you don’t invite the Holy Spirit in then the Unholy Spirit has an open invitation.
I ask you today have you ever opened the door to your house.
And I can say with confidence that all of us have opened our doors from time to time.
The question I bring before you this morning is who is dwelling in house?
If you do not admit that your are a sinner, believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God, and confess your sins to him, then you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are a candidate for visit from a demonic spirit.
