Confess Sins, Confess God

Confess Sins, and Confess God

Lent 3 T Luke 11:14-28

INI

In the previous weeks, the battle had been against Satan and Jesus. Then it shifted to the battle that we at times have with faith itself with God. And today, the battle shows why there’s a clash between the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of Satan: because they both want to dwell in your heart.

Scripture speaks about the heart being the source of where evil comes – as Jesus says in Matthew 15, out of the heart comes evil thoughts, adultery, murder, sexual immorality, theft, and the like. But Jesus alludes to spiritual war in this text as He seeks to eradicate evil from man’s heart. As Jesus takes center stage in a Christian’s heart, He sets Him free to confess two things: first, to confess sins. Second, to confess faith to the world.

Jesus’ words about spiritual warfare stem from an ordinary exorcism. It’s ordinary because there seems to be little to no drama involved. A demon caused this man to be mute. He couldn’t confess his sins to God and he couldn’t confess his faith to the world. In that way, he truly was captive to Satan. But when Jesus came near, so was this man’s freedom. Jesus casted out the demon, and the man was free to speak! This great work shows what Jesus means about the stronger man plundering the strong man’s house. He is the stronger man. Satan is the stronger man. This is a reference to the power Jesus has over Satan – that since Jesus has died for the sins of the world, and defeated the power of sin, which is death itself, Jesus now has control OVER death. But as always, God’s kingdom and reign brought confusion to sinful man.

The crowd’s response to Jesus’ miracle was divided – some marveled. Others wanted other signs to confirm that He indeed IS a miracle workers. Yet others accused Jesus of having a demon!

Jesus addressed their preposterous notion that He had a demon by stating “a kingdom divided against itself falls.” Which is true! Divisions within one’s own kingdom aren’t good and it leads to failure! Especially when it comes to Christ’s Holy church! There should be true unity – and not a false sense of unity where differences are simply ignored.

However, their perception of spiritual warfare is skewed and nonsensical. It’s clear they don’t understand the reign of God’s kingdom, and what He’s come to bring! The irony of the situation is that the crowds accused Jesus of being divisive. But the opposite was true! The crowds were the divisive ones! The crowds seemed content to keep the status quo of letting this man be demon possessed. They seemed fine with his demons, even though they, as God’s people, were to look after each other!  You would think that God’s people would want their brothers and sisters to be freed of their demons and sins! However, they were divided against themselves by attacking Jesus, their true brother and friend, for setting the mute man free! This crowd proved to be divisive against God they claimed to worship! For Jesus has come to restore His creation from the bondages of their sin, including their demon possession and muteness!

The most alarming thing is that this crowd was against God, and they couldn’t even see it. They had their heart set against the goodness of God and His Gospel, and accused God Himself of doing something evil, when in fact, He was fulfilling what He came to do.

Now, this shows us a very important truth. That where the Gospel is proclaimed, THERE WILL BE RESISTANCE TO IT! Where sin is called sin and dealt with, and where Jesus brings true freedom FROM sin, not freedom TO sin, there will be people accusing Jesus of division! Because there’s constantly a battle between Christ, who frees you to confess your sins and confess Jesus as Savior, and Satan, who would rather keep you silent about your sin and your faith.

Perhaps, the attitude of the crowds are familiar to us – either because we feel that way about ourselves, or feel that way about our brothers and sisters in Christ. Where we’ve just learned to live with sin, or the demon possessed man who lives in the corner. And our consciences have just been seared against God and we’ve given ourselves, or others, over to sin. However, this is a fruit of being truly divisive against God. It prevents Jesus from being the healer He’s come to be.

There’s nothing more that Satan hates then when Christians “hear the Word of God and keep it” as Jesus says at the end of our text. Because by clinging to Jesus, the house of Satan is plundered.

Pastor Joshua Ralston