April 5, 2017 WWJWMTD By Otis and Sue Davis
It’s a Heart Condition?
A prophetic & theological word from Otis & Sue Davis
"When an evilspirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12:43-45 NIV
He revealed their hearts. We must connect these verses with Matthew 12:24-29. But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub,the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. Satan’s "house" is the body of the person who is possessed by the demon.
It appears that the demons are restless and seek bodies in which to reside as shown in Matthew 8:28-31. When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs."
When the demon left, this man’s life was changed for the better, but his life was still empty. When the demon returned, he brought others with him, and the man’s life ended in tragedy.
The primary application is to the nation of Israel, especially that generation present when Jesus ministered on earth. The nation had been purged of the demon of idolatry, which had plagued them in the Old Testament. But reformation was not enough. Reformation could cleanse, but it could not fill. The nation should have received the Savior and been filled with spiritual life. Instead, the people rejected Him and the end was destruction.
There is a Personal application. It is not enough to clean house; we must also invite in the right tenant. The Pharisees were proud of their "clean houses," but their hearts were empty!Mere religion, denomination, or reformation, will not save. There must be regeneration, the receiving of Christ into the heart as seen in Revelation 3:19-22. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
We cannot be neutral about Jesus Christ; he knows the truth of the heart. (The Bible Exposition Commentary) A clean empty heart will be filled by the Holy or the un-Holy. Guard your Heart above all else for it is the source of life. Proverbs 4.23 hcsb A heart filled with selfish pride will not hear and be open to the Holy Spirit. Remember This! Whoever does NOT receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will NEVER enter it. Luke 18.17 gnb (Written by Otis and Sue Davis)
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