A house divided can not stand…
“Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” Abraham Lincoln
So today’s post is a seriously chewy and tough piece of biltong and might challenge us a little …This is something I felt God press on my heart recently.
In Luke 11:14–23 Jesus cast out a demon who was mute. The multitudes marveled at this but some of the people accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebub, who is the ruler of the demons. Some, testing Him, asked for a sign from heaven. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, replied to this by saying that “every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”
Jesus goes on to give the example “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger (man) than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.” And then Jesus ends off by saying “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”
The Bible tells us in Phil.2:9-11 that the Name of Jesus is above every other name, that in Jesus Name EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He has the victory. Eph.1 tells us that His power is “far above all principality and powers and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” So there will be no “stronger man” to come upon Jesus and overcome Him, taking all of his armor and dividing His spoils. Agreed?!
So here we have questions to seriously consider…
In what or who do we put our trust?
Who or what is our security? Or…
Maybe the real question is rather – what or who do we live for?
We say we live for God. Right? Maybe we answered that question a little too quick. Is this really true?
Let’s see…when we make decisions with regards to our health, home, security, insurance, family, business, personal life and every other aspect of our lives, do we prayerfully involve Jesus and make decisions according to His leading and in obedience? We might say, “well, now that would be a little too spiritual” to which the answer is “what does ‘too spiritual’ even mean??”. If our Father is Spirit, can one ever be “too spiritual”?? We need to WANT to be more and more spiritual in our everyday walk. Ever think of the fact that our Daddy is the Creator of the Universe, He is Spirit, sees and knows everything, is everywhere, loves us since before we were born, has specific plans for our lives, is far greater than all principality and powers, etc.?
In Luk.16:13 Jesus tells us that no servant 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…”.
I am going to be bold by quoting something that Saul Alinsky once said but I feel I just have to because there is much truth in it: “The classic statement on polarization comes from Christ – ‘He that is not with Me is against Me,’(Luk.11:23) Jesus allowed no middle ground to the moneychangers in the Temple. One acts decisively only in the conviction that all the angels are on one side and all the devils on the other.”
Maybe this is something we need to think about some more…What or Who do we really live for? Because there can only be one. If our choice is God, then once we make that choice and wholeheartedly so, its no more compromise. Only God can help us do this. All we need to do is truly invite Him into our everyday! He is a good Father and He is faithful.
Billy Graham once said “My home is in heaven. I’m just traveling through this world”.
Rev.3:21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
“…he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”
