It is Impossible to be Neutral with God

Luke 11:24-26
24"When an evil^[a] spirit 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.' ²⁵When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. ²⁶Then it goes and takes 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."

Jesus' point is simple. When you are blessed by a cleansing of evil that allows you to receive fresh spiritual input, do not leave your inner "house" empty. The risk is that the void will be refilled with something even worse than what had been banished. Neutrality is emptiness, a void that eventually is filled by something--often something like what was there before. When we do not respond to God, opportunity becomes tragedy, and the chance for permanent reversal is lost.

Jesus has used exorcism as a graphic example of the principle he wants to convey. He says that we should make sure our inner house is not empty and that we take in light, since emptiness will likely lead to darkness. --Biblegateway.org

Cleansing from sin must be followed by obedience to God's word, not complacency. unclean spirit. A demon. waterless places. For the desert as a place inhabited by demons, cf. Lev. 16:10; Luke 8:29; and note on Matt. 12:43. the house swept and put in order. The demon has been cast out. seven other spirits. A full contingent of demons (cf. Luke 8:2). On the significance of “seven,” see note on Matt. 12:45. --ESV Study Bible

The context for this passage is exorcism.  Jesus has just cast out demons from a man.  He was accused of being in league with Satan and Jesus uses reason to refute their accusation. Why would Satan send someone to heal what he destroyed?  Read 11:14-23.

Jesus then makes the statement that there is no neutrality when it comes to allegiance with God.  You are either with Jesus or against Jesus.

Now we come to the focal passage.  Again we need to be reminded that the context of these verses is demon exorcism. 

It is not enough to put away evil things.  It is not enough to be neutral.  You have to be filled with something.  Apparently nature is not the only thing that abhors a vacuum.

Have you been trying to cleanse yourself of evil things?  If so, God bless you.  But it is vitally important that you don't leave your house empty as Jesus said.  You must fill it with something good.

Talk about Buddhism and its goal of emptying (nirvana).

What does Jesus mean by 'house'?  I believe the house Jesus refers to is our inner being, heart, mind.  What excites you?  What do you think about all the time?  Remember last week's passage?  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:34

Do you think of Jesus as your treasure?  We need to work hard to make Him our treasure as much as we can. 

What happens if you don't fill your 'house' with something good?  If you leave your house empty of anything, something will fill it.  Good or bad.  If you don't actively seek to fill it with good things, then bad will come in and even stronger than before.

What can we fill up our 'house' with?  Let's look at what Paul said in Phillippians chapter 4:
⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

To sum up:

• It is impossible to be neutral with God.  You are either for Him or against Him.
• It is impossible to purge yourself of evil and not expect something to occupy that empty space in your 'inner house'.  Something will fill it.
• Complacency does not work in the Christian life.  We must work at filling our mind and heart with good things.
• Read the Bible daily.
• Pray continually.
• Think about good things.
• Avoid bad things.
• Music with negative lyrics
  
• Movies with sex, violence, bad language, disrespect to God
  
• Excessive video games (esp. violent or suggestive)
• Negative personal relationships
  
• Run away from things you are tempted with that are negative.
• Treat your body like a temple
• Eat right.
• Get rest.
• Exercise.

Don't Be Anxious

Anxiety - Full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried.

Bring out what causes anxiety with teens?  Ask them. 

• Appearance
• Relationships with the opposite sex - Dating
  
• Making friends/Acceptance from peers
• Parental relationships/broken homes
  
• Performance in classroom
• Performance in sports.
• Bullying
• Negative self image - Appearance, lack of self confidence
  
• Negative peer pressure - Attempts to be accepted into group
  
• Cigarettes/Nicotine
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Sex
• Unruly behavior
• Foul language
• Disrespect
  

Maybe give statistics about drug abuse, teen suicide.  Mention Michael Jackson - Riches, fame didn't fulfill him.


Do Not Be Anxious - Luke 12:22-34

²²Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

• ^{Why did Jesus use the word therefore?  He is referring to what He just said.  Really verse 22 is right after a discussion on wealth in verses 13-21 (The parable of the Rich Fool).:}

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." ¹⁴Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?"

¹⁵Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
¹⁶And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.

¹⁷He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
¹⁸"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

¹⁹And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
²⁰"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
²¹"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:13-21

• It is important to point out that the needs that Jesus mentioned were essential to survival in ancient times.  Much of the world's population still doesn't know where their next meal is coming from.  In modern America however, most people have plenty of food and clothing, but greed has expanded to the clothing style and less essential material goods.  Cell phones, cars, iPods, etc. are now things we worry about.  The recent financial collapse was basically caused by greed.

²³Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

• Jesus gives three reasons we shouldn't be anxious.  This is the first.
  
• Life is more than getting material things, self-gratification.

• If life is more than food and the body more than clothes, how much more is it? 

¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10

• Jesus' promise of abundant life, which begins already in the here and now, brings to mind OT prophecies about abundant blessing (e.g., Ezek. 34:12–15, 25–31). Jesus calls his followers, not to a dour, lifeless, miserable existence that squashes human potential, but to a rich, full, joyful life, one overflowing with meaningful activities under the personal favor and blessing of God and in continual fellowship with his people. - ESV Study Bible
• Jesus didn't come to take away our happiness, but to bless us (above all, to bring glory to His Father). 
  

²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. - Heb. 10:24

• Life has meaning when we live it for God.  It becomes more fulfilling when we are not worried about our own needs.
  

²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

• Second reason:  If God takes care of birds, he will take care of us because we are worth more than many birds.
• How do we know we are worth more than birds (contrary to science and political correctness)?
• "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16
• The Father sent His only Son to die for us.
• Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, ^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
• God gave us rule over His creation and we are created in God's image.
  

²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

•  Third reason:  We can't change how long we live by worrying.

²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

• We can't add to our lifespan by worrying, not to mention the rest of our life.
  

²⁷"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

• Two 'lesser to greater arguments' (vv. 25-26 and vv. 27-28)
• Who was Solomon?
  

²⁸If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

• the grass . . . is thrown into the oven. Due to the scarcity of wood in ancient Palestine, dry grass was used as fuel. 
• O you of little faith implies a deficiency rather than an absence of faith

²⁹And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

• Eat or drink... or all the other things we focus too much on.  Can you think of any?
• This doesn't mean you become a slacker at all.  It means you should put first things first.  The main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.
  

³⁰For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

• What are examples of people that focused too much on possessions?  Michael Jackson, U.S. economy.
• Do you think God wants the best for you or do you think God is out to 'smite' us?
• Does this mean every time things don't go our way, God is mad at us?
  

³¹But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

• What does it mean to seek His kingdom?  I think it is answered at least in part by vs. 33.  Be generous and giving.
• What are 'these things'?  What you need.  Ultimately more than we can comprehend.  Our problem is that we set our sights not too high, but too low.  Sex, drugs and rock and roll can't come close to what God offers us.
  

³²"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

• He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? - Rom. 8:32.  This says it all.
  

³³Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

• What can you give to others?
• Money
• Time
• Attention
• Respect
• Love
• Thoughts
• Support
• Who is the poor?  Maybe it's anyone who needs what you have.
• What happens to the what the world offers?  It wears out, it is exhausted, it is stolen.
• What happens to what God offers?  It never wears out, it will never be exhausted or stolen.  It is never out of fashion, or dated.  It will last forever.
  

³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

• Think about what Jesus is saying here.  What is your treasure?  Popularity, pleasure?  These things will wear out soon.  They are elusive.
• Where is your heart?  On earth or in heaven?
  

Practical considerations:

• We all worry.  It is natural.  Jesus offers a way to reduce anxiety by focusing on what's really important. 
  
• Just because you worry doesn't mean you are a bad person who doesn't love God, but if you focus on God, you will have much less anxiety and stress in your life.
• How do we put this teaching into practice? How can we lessen anxiety?
  
• Live a balanced life.  What is a balanced life?
• Set aside time for God:  Alone in prayer and in His Word, and publicly at church.
• The more time you spend in prayer and Bible study, the more closer to God you become.  This helps you to be understanding when life throw's you a curve.
• We need to spend time with fellow believers.  We have to help each other through life.  And we need to worship God together.  He commands it.
• Seek out good people to be in your life.  At church, at school.  You are known by the company you keep.
• Do things for God.  Help people, be a willing servant.  He will bless you and give you more than you ever thought you could have.
• Eat right.
• Exercise.
• Get rest.
• Don't spend all your social time on social networking sites like Facebook.  Go talk to somebody face to face.
• What else can we do to fulfill this teaching?

What in my life will change if I become a Christian?

Life Focus - Bible Studies for Life - Lifeway Student Quarterly - Winter 2009

Week of January 25, 2009

Monday

On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. - Acts 16:13-15 (NIV)

This part of the lesson emphasizes the importance of going from "searching to sharing". Lydia immediately displayed a spiritual gift: generosity. What are you sharing as a result of your walk with the Lord?

Tuesday

Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. - Acts 16:16-18 (NIV)

The girl described in this passage was oppressed by demonic forces. These forces had her enslaved. Jesus freed her from spiritual bondage.

Is there something in your life that seems to have an unshakable grip on you? Call on Jesus' name. Make Jesus your master. Allow him to tear down these strongholds in your life.

Wednesday

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. - Acts 16:25-34 (NIV)

The jailer was willing to kill himself when he thought Paul and Silas had escaped. Notice the great change in the man once he had accepted Jesus.

What are your greatest fears? Our Lord promises us there is no need to fear (Lk 12:22-34).

Thursday

Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples." And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Rom. 15:10-13 (NIV)

Do you think of God as a God of hope? The Father not only wants to fill you with joy and peace, but fill you to overflowing. There are no greater pleasures in this life or the life to come greater than the pleasures of God.

Friday

Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father." - John 8:30-38 (NIV)

In our nation, we pride ourselves on our "freedom". The fact is that everyone is a slave to something. We all worship something.

What are you a slave to? What do you worship?

Saturday

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

Faith and hope are inseparable. When we lose hope, we lose faith. Is your faith dim? Focus on the hope of your inheritance that Christ is keeping in Heaven for you.

When we focus on our incredible future in Christ, it changes how we view the present.

What Should We Pray For?

I really like John Piper, Pastor of Vision and Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, MN. I highly recommend his ministry's web site, http://www.desiringgod.org. It is the most comprehensive and feature-rich web site I know of.

Anyway, read an old archive archive that has a list of everything that people in the New Testament prayed. You can read it by clicking on this link.

I plan on praying for these things as well. Hope you do too.

The Hypostatic Union

Just read an excellent blog by David Mathis at Desiring God ministries. Very well written discourse on the fact that Jesus is still a man. A God-Man. A man who prays for us before the Father.

Here's the link to the blog.

How can I show my respect for human life?

Life Focus - Bible Studies for Life - Lifeway Student Quarterly - Winter 2009

Week of January 18, 2009

Life Question: How can I show my respect for human life?

Monday

Adam knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said,"I have had a male child with the LORD's help." Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of a flock, but Cain cultivated the land. - Genesis 4:1-2

We need to recognize life as a gift. When Eve gave birth to Cain, she knew that it was a gift from God.

Tuesday

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. - Genesis 4:3-8

In this passage we see how destructive self-centeredness can be. Self-centeredness blinds us to the reality of situations and people.

Can you see a parallel between the sin of Cain and the present-day sin of abortion?

Wednesday

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's guardian?" Then He said, "What have you done? Your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground! So now you are cursed [with alienation] from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood you have shed. If you work the land, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth."

But Cain answered the LORD, "My punishment is too great to bear! Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me."

Then the LORD replied to him, "In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over." And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. - Genesis 4:9-16 (HCSB)

Cain's act of selfishness cost him dearly. This is the cost of putting ourselves before God and people around us.

Can you think of situations in your life where self-centeredness ended up creating problems?

Thursday

Adam knew his wife intimately again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, for [she said,] "God has given me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him." A son was born to Seth also, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD. - Genesis 4:25-26

When Eve gave birth to Seth, she recognized that the child was a gift from God. This is a major reason why taking human life is wrong.

Calling on the name of the LORD may have been public worship. Man has a natural need to worship God. It has been in us since the beginning.

Friday

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not [only] for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. - Phil. 2:1-4

This passages has a message for us on many levels. In the context of the sanctity of human life, it encourages us to look out for the interests of others. The "others" include the unborn and the elderly. In God's eyes, they have great worth. He loves them too. And so should we.

Saturday

Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. - Rom. 12:9-13

This is in the practical section of Paul's great Roman letter. It seems this passage is a list of imperatives (commands) that help us understand how to relate to one another as Christians.