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?