A Blessed Christmas (Luke 11:14-28)

[14] Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. [15] But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” [16] while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. [17] But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. [18] And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. [19] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [20] But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [21] When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; [22] but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. [23] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. [24] “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ [25] And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. [26] Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” [27] As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” [28] But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

1. The goal of beelzebul’s Christmas “holiday” carols is to keep you from talking to God, listening to God, and obeying God in the midst of this invisible war you are in.

2. The goal of beelzebul’s narrative tales and network news feeds is to make you think less about Jesus and even negatively about Jesus, so that you listen to his lies and do what he wants you to do in the midst of this invisible war.

3. The goal of beelzebul’s world religions and spiritualities is to blind you to Christ through moral reform and good behavior, or to give you an excuse for moral corruption and evil behavior in this invisible war you are in.

4. The goal of beelzebul’s marketing strategy is to neutralize and sentimentalize the realities of truth and lies, darkness and light, God and satan, heaven and hell in the midst of this invisible war you are in.

Bottom Line: Jesus wants us to experience the full victorious blessing of hearing the Word of God and doing what it says. Will you take advantage of that blessing this Christmas, and this next year?