St Matthew, Chapter 12, verse: 29, Christ's promise to plunder.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ refutes them) Part 4. 

So the Pharisees wanted to do battle and they brought their fight to Christ.  They accused him of having the power of Satan to cast out demons.  This was their way of casting doubt.  This was their way of bringing fear.  This was their way of dividing the people so that they could regain the control that they were loosing to the teachings and miracles of Christ.  In their crooked minds they thought that by making this statement they would bring a shadow over Christ and cause the people to wonder.  But Christ brought the fight to them.  He told them a house divided would not stand.  He told them that by their fear and doubt their children would be their judges on the day of judgment.  He told them that because of their blindness that the kingdom of God had come upon them and they did not even know it.  The battle continued.

And as the final blows took place, Christ brings the TKO to the Pharisees with these words: "How can anyone enter the strong man's house, and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?  Then he will plunder his house."   So Christ gave them a forewarning of things to come.  He would plunder their house of authority over the people.  He would bind their power and release the people, loosing them from the authority of the Pharisees.  This was a prophecy to the Pharisees who then had to stand back and take heed of these words.  For they were warnings that they could not overlook.  They were signs of the times that they had to address.  These words were a slap in their face of their coming demise.  They did not know.  They did not understand the one that they came before.  They only saw him as a man and not the Messiah.

Not only did Christ speak to the Pharisees but he also spoke to the demons that possessed the Pharisees that led them to come against Christ.  He spoke to the demons of the coming downfall of their authority.  He spoke to the demons of their house being plundered and all of their treasures being taken away.  For what did the demons treasure most, the capture of the righteous 
souls of men, for Christ had not yet completed his mission.  What did they seek to accomplish day in and day out, except to bring mankind to turn against God and to live in hell with them for the rest of eternity.  But Christ spoke to them through the Pharisees.  The strong man is being bound and the house of hell will be plundered.  And the righteous souls of hell would be released and brought to the kingdom of God for all eternity.

Which side will you belong, in the coming battle?  Which side will you lend your support?  Judge wisely or judge not.  The decision is made, with or without your consent, for the judge will decide for those who wait.  Be not dead to the kingdom of God, for it is upon you.  Judgment will come when you least expect it, whether you are prepared or not.  The dead of the world are dead.  They do not know.  They do not believe.  They will discover the truth.  Open your eyes, now.  Open your minds, now.  Open your hearts, now, to the wisdom of God and he will bring you to salvation.  Be not the fence dweller.  Be not the changeling, part in the world and part in the spirit.  The two do not coexist together in you.  You are either of the world completely or of the spirit completely.  Otherwise you choose to walk the fence.  And those who walk the fence can be snatched off by evil. 

The battle continues even today.  Where does your soul belong?  Does it belong to Christ or to the devil?  You do not know!  Christ calls to you to come to him, not partially but totally.  Give to him totally and he will give to you completely.  Most people fear giving themselves to Christ because they still belong to the world.  Deep down they believe that total commitment to Christ is for those religious fanatics and not for them. So they continue to do the repetitious behaviors only giving on the surface and not giving deeply, down to the heart.  Christ wants 100% and not 50%.  Christ wants all of you and not half to him and half to the devil.  Release your soul from evil.  Come to Christ.  If you only knew the riches of his rewards you would run into his arms.  Christ awaits you!  The Holy Spirit desires to be with you!  God the Father loves you!

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verse: 28, The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ refutes them) Part 3. 

So the Pharisees wanted to fight.  They wanted to cast doubt upon Christ.  They wanted to create suspicion upon his name.  Consulting with their partners, the devil, they came up with the thought that Christ was a partner with Beelzebub.  And they spoke it to him.  But Christ refuted them and schooled them on what they were doing.  He told them that a house divided will not stand.  He told them that if he was under the power of Satan then how is it that their children were able to cast out demons calling upon the same power that he did.  He told them that because their children believed in that same power, they would be the judges of the Pharisees at the day of judgment.

Christ was meek.  Christ was mild.  But the Pharisees wanted to battle so Christ brought them to the battle.  He spoke to them the words that ran ice chills down their backs.  He told them, "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."   This was a chilling thought.  The kingdom of God had come upon them.  They then had to understand what this meant.  They had to know that they then were fighting with God.  They then had to understand the consequences of their actions, the consequences of their words. 

The thought came and the next thought was that of the demons pulling them back into the pit of their reality, telling them that this could not be.  The demons had them to think that the Spirit of God was not upon this man and the kingdom was not upon them.  The demons told them that these were the ramblings of a possessed man and that they should find some way to get rid of him.  For the people did not see as they saw.  The people did not understand as they understood.  The people did not know as they knew.  So they continued to battle, blinded by the reality that stood before them, Christ Jesus, the Messiah.

Are you blinded by the reality of the world and unable to see the reality of the kingdom?  Are you in the world, unable to let go because of the fear spoken to you by the devil?  Christ wants you to let go.  Christ wants you to let God.  Christ wants to demonstrate to you the awesome power of his love for you.  But you can not experience it until you let go, until you let God direct your life.  When you express you release of the world and speak your dependence on God, the miracle begins.  Once the miracle begins your life will not be the same again. 

The demons will try to pull you back.  They will bring you doubt.  They will try to bring you fear.  They will try to turn you back.  But those who persevere will begin to see the change.  They will begin to know in little ways that God provides.  They will see the miracles taking place before their eyes and the kingdom of God will be upon them.  Patience is required.  Perfect patience is needed.  For a ocean liner is not turned around on a dime and your destiny will not be changed over night.  Walk the path with Christ and he will provide.  Seek the knowledge of the Holy Spirit and he will guide.  Know the words given by Christ and God will protect and provide.  God loves you!

St Matthew, Chapter 12, verse: 26 - 27, They sought Division: Satan vs Satan.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Christ refutes them) Part 2. 

And they came to him seeking to divide.  They came to him seeking to cast doubt.  They came to him seeking to destroy the power of the kingdom of heaven.  The battle continues, for they did not know to whom they came.  And Christ was meek.  Christ was mild.  Christ was gentle in his response to the accusations of the Pharisees.  For they accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub.  They accused him of being evil.  They accused him of having the power of the devil, and they did not know.

Christ refutes them simply by saying,  "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?"   For he had told them that a house divided will not stand.  He had shown them the simple truth of their misstatement.  Yet, from their own mouths, they spoke these words of evil, thereby condemning themselves.  For they said that Christ, the Son of Man, was evil, that he had the power of evil, that he belonged to the house of evil.  For they were fearful.  They feared for their positions and their authority.  They saw Christ as a threat and wanted to eliminate him and separate him from the people.  So they sought to bring division into the minds of the people by making the Messiah look evil to the people.

But Christ had mercy.  Christ forgave them.  Christ opened the door to let them come in.  But they refused to come.  Christ told them,  And if I cast out devils by Beelzebub, by whom do your children cast them out?   For the children of the Pharisees called upon the same power that Christ himself called, the one true God, Jehovah.  He called upon his father to give him the power to cast out demons, heal the sick, make the lame walk, and the blind see.  And this is the one and same God that the children of the Pharisees called upon also.  For they believed in God.  They followed his commandments.  They knew of his power.  And they, the children of the Pharisees, loved him.  But the Pharisees did not understand.  They were fearful and followed the counsel of evil. 

Christ, therefore, told them that because they did not believe, their children, "Therefore they shall be your judges."   On the day of judgment, their children would be present.  On the day of judgment, their children would give witness.  On the day of judgment their children will be their judges, condemning them to hell.  Christ wanted them to see.  He wanted them to understand.  He wanted them to change their ways and turn from evil that he might love them.  But they would not.  They could not.  They were lost and captured by evil and kept imprisoned by their own wills, their own desires, their own fears.

Will your children judge you or will you have to give judgment for them on the day of judgment?  Do not be captured by evil, for it will imprison you and not let go.  It will drag you to the deepest darkest corner of despair and offer to end your life as an option.   Christ will come for you, if you only ask him.  He will help you, if you become open to him.  He will guide you, if you will only follow him.  Be not trapped with evil.  Turn to Christ for salvation.  For salvation is not something that is shunned because it signifies the church.  Salvation is in the world, with you.  Salvation is with you at all times, in daylight and darkness.  Salvation is ever present even outside of the church in your time of need.  Seek not the four walls of the church but seek first the salvation of Christ and the church will welcome you.  The church will accept you.  The church will know you.  For through Christ is your salvation.  Through Christ is your deliverance from evil.  And through Christ is your life eternal in heaven.  Come, take his hand and he will lead you to salvation!