"the Real World" Series

"The Real World"

Luke 11:14-23

A sermon for 7/3/22 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Pastor John Bright

Luke 11 “14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. 23 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

Pause right there. Those words I just read; they were “Breathed by God”! God wants you to hear His Word right now! So, what is your response? Do you want to transformed by that Word or do you want to be informed about the words? You have to choose.

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What is real?

Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Person asked a young accountant who was fresh out of school, "What starting salary were you thinking about?" The Accountant said, "In the neighborhood of $100,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."

The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks’ vacation, full medical and dental, Company Retirement Fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every 2 years - say, a 5 series BMW?"

The Accountant sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"

The interviewer replied, "Yes, but you started it."

SOURCE: Victor Yap in “Hope for the Unemployed.” http://www.funs.co.uk/jokes/ac1.html.

We have to be discerning in this day to search out the real because there are scams EVERYWHERE! How many times a day does you cell phone ring and the voice on the other end is telling you the warranty on your car is running out and he can help?

We usually have a “rose-colored” view of the world. We tend to look at the world as a generally God place where occasionally evil breaks in. That’s a view in which folks are quick to blame God, but that’s not the real world. We live in a fallen world where satan reigns and it’s only by God’s grace that so many blessings break into that world. The real world is a place of conflict – like we see in today’s reading.

Conflict over Jesus’ authority, v. 14-16

“14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

16 Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.”

We have seen Jesus do this miraculous work of casting out demons over and over. I have told you that there were Jewish exorcists that did the same thing in that day – Acts 19:13-17. It has been clear all throughout Luke’s gospel that Jesus has authority over all of the created order. That’s exactly what we read at the beginning of John’s gospel:

“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

It’s here we also see the source of the conflict – the world is a place of darkness. The people in this world live in darkness – then and now. Into this world of darkness came the miracle man showing the Light of God’s Love and Mercy for all to see. They could only see darkness so they thought Jesus’ authority was demonic. Others wanted a sign from God – maybe like Moses and the burning bush. These are all accusations that Jesus is NOT who He claims to be.