["Pomp and Circumstance"]
you
song 44 will work till Jesus comes to sing it out on the first
on the second
on the
on the second
Lord, we pray that you would bless it.
Lord, I pray that you would bless the singing, the fellowship.
We ask that you would meet with us
and that you would help us to grow today.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Turn to song 216.
2 1 6
Surely goodness and mercy
216 on the first
A pilgrim
was I
and I
in the
cold
wine of sin
I did
Jesus
my
shepherd
and now
I
am
Surely goodness
and
mercy
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and mercy
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
mercy
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
mercy
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
mercy
and
I
am
Surely
goodness
and
mercy
Sing it out
I
shall come
and I shall
go forever
as you please
every day
as I
believe
Surely
goodness and
mercy shall
follow me
for they
follow me
for they
follow me
for they
follow me
Amen
Alright, well let's take our bulletins this morning
We'll look at some announcements. If you did not receive
a bulletin on your way in, just raise your hand
and one of our ushers can get one for you
If you need a bulletin, just put your hand up
and we will get one for you. The verse this week
1 John 5 18
We know that whosoever is born of God
not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth
himself and that wicked one toucheth
him not. And that's a good
verse there. We like that. If you open up your
bulletin you'll see our service time Sunday morning
service 10 30 am
and of course we are glad that you are with
us on Sunday morning on the Lord's day
for church Sunday evening service 6 pm
We do invite you to be back tonight for the evening
service. The evening service is different than the morning service
different songs that are sung, different
sermon that's preached. Just one more opportunity
to be in God's house with God's people
under the preaching of the word of God of course
and then of course our Wednesday evening Bible study at 7 pm
we'd love you to join us for all of these services
If you look at our soul winning times, our main soul winning
times on Saturday mornings at 10 am
and soul winning of course is when we go out in the community
we knock doors, we invite people to church
and we preach the gospel to anyone who's interested
We also have additional soul winning times
on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays at 2 pm
so we'd love you to join us for any of those times
if you'd like. If you are a first
time guest, if it's your first time here
at Verity Baptist Church we are
so glad you're with us. We have a gift we'd like to give you
as you walk out of the church building this morning
as you go through the main foyer or if you go out
our secondary foyer, you'll see a little table
set up and on that table you'll see these
little gift bags. Please grab
one on your way out as a gift from us to you
for being our guest this morning
There are several resources in this bag that we'd
like you to have, but the one I'd like to highlight
is this documentary that our church made
It's called Being Baptist. It's very well made
very interesting, it's educational
it's enjoyable, it's entertaining so we think
you'll like it. We want to give this to you as a gift so please make sure
you don't leave here this morning without grabbing
one of those gift bags on your way out
and if you are a guest we'd ask that you
please take a moment and fill out the communication
card which is inserted in your bulletin
if you need a pen just raise your hand and one of our
ushers can bring you by a Verity Baptist Church
pen. You're welcome to keep the pen as a gift
from us as well. We're not going to do anything odd with your
info, we would just like to have a record of your
attendance. We actually would like to send you a little
gift, but we need your information to do that
so please take a moment to fill the card out
When we're done with the announcements we're going to sing a song
when we're done singing we're going to receive the offering
and as the offering plate goes by you can drop this card in the offering plate
or you can hand it to me after the service
so I'll be standing at the main door greeting
people on the way out. So please
come by and say hello, I hope you will
If you look at the bulletin there we of course
are a family integrated church. What that means
is that children and infants are always welcomed in the
church service. We don't separate children from their parents
for any reason. We do have mother baby rooms
and daddy rooms available for your convenience
and all of those rooms have comfortable seating
they have monitors set up so you can watch the service
and listen to it. If you're not sure where those rooms
are at you can look at the back of the bulletin
and it will show you a layout of our
church building. It will show you where the mother baby rooms
are, where the daddy rooms is. It will show you
where the restrooms are. So if you have a child that's being
distracting during the service or if you need some
privacy we would encourage you to use the mother
baby rooms and daddy rooms as needed
and of course if you need to be baptized
please let us know. We'd love to baptize you
The baptistry is filled, the water is warm
and we've got everything you need to
be baptized. We've got the shirts and shorts
and baptistry robes for the ladies
and towels and hairdryers
whatever you need we've got it.
So you can go about it a couple
of ways. If you'd like to speak to somebody about
baptism, maybe you're not sure
if you need to be baptized or what baptism is
on your communication card on the back
there's a place for you to check off that
you'd like information about baptism and we'll
follow up with you in regards to that. Maybe you've already
spoken to somebody you know you need to be baptized
all you need to do is at the end of the service
after the preaching while we're singing the last
song if you step out that door one of our staff
guys will meet you there and we will get you
situated for baptisms. If you look at the announcements
and upcoming events of course we are
going through a sermon series called
Journey with Jesus. It's a verse by verse
study through the gospel of Luke. We're going to continue
that today and then
of course we have our soul winning seminar coming up on
Friday September 9th. That's 10 am to
4 pm and I'm going to be
teaching a step by step plan on how to present
the gospel. If you've never had
a
structured
seminar on soul winning we would love
for you to be a part of this. It is an all day event.
Lunch will be provided September 9th.
It's a Friday 10 am to 4 pm
and please sign up so we know you're coming
so we can make sure we've got everything you need. You'll get
a nice manual
with all of the lessons. Fill in the blanks.
It won't be like a church service. It'll feel like
a seminar. We'll have Q&A sessions and all
of that stuff so it'll be a good time. We hope
you'll come and then of course the big announcement
is our family and friend day coming up.
We'd love for you to join us on Sunday September
18th at 10 am
and our family and friend day is when
we celebrate our church's anniversary
12 years ago. My wife and I started
Verity Baptist Church in our living room
and 12 years
came by and praise God for it
and we are excited to
celebrate the
church's 12 year anniversary. We call
it family and friend day because we'd love for you to invite your family
and friends to church that day. We've got
several things going on. Of course every
week we have a special gift for all of the guests
but on family and friend day we have
a gift for every family in attendance.
We give out our anniversary mug
which is a coffee
mug that we give out every year. It has
different pictures and images but there's one
for every year. They're kind
of a collector's item
at our church and people like to brag about
how many cups, mugs they have so
praise God for that. So we'll
have that on family and friend day of course.
For the kids we'll have candy suckers
after the service and then after the
morning service we'll be grilling and
we'll have food and fellowship in
our fellowship hall. So we'd love
for you to invite a friend or family
members to family and friend day
and then also we want to let you know about our
family and friend day soul winning push. The weekend
before family and friend day on
Thursday September 15th at 6 PM
Friday September 16th at 6 PM
and on Saturday September 17th
at 10 AM we're going to have special
soul winning push on that
weekend so we'd love for you to join us. We'd love to get as many
soul winners out as possible to get the word out
about our family and friend day. Of course preaching
the gospel. BBC choir they've got
practice today at 5 PM
and the choir, it's practice
for the choir. The orchestra
does not have to be at this practice
this week. Upcoming cleaning crew
you can check for your name there. We appreciate your faithfulness.
There's other stuff there for you to look at. Please
don't forget to turn your cell phones off or place them
on silent during the service so that they're not a distraction
to anybody. If you look at the back of the bulletin
birthdays and anniversaries
for the month of August, today
is Ms. Joyce's birthday
Ms. Joyce Nathan's birthday August 21st
so happy birthday to Ms. Joyce and then this week
we have Ms. Andrea Santo's
birthday on August 25th, Ms. Kelly Mitchell's
birthday on August 26th and Justice
Usher's birthday on August 27th.
Praise report, money matters
all those things are there for you to look at.
I think that's it for all
of the announcements. So we're going to go ahead and sing
the chorus of the week which is the insert in
your bulletin. It is a medley
of several songs so
let's sing it out together. If you know it, help me
sing it. If you don't know it, let's learn together.
We'll sing this chorus of the week as we prepare to
receive the offering this morning. Sing it out
on the first
Isn't he wonderful,
wonderful
Isn't Jesus my Lord
Wonderful
Eyes have seen, ears have heard
It's recorded in God's
Word Isn't Jesus my Lord
Wonderful
Wonderful Jesus is
to me
Come, silver prince of peace
Mighty God is he
Saving me, keeping me
From all sin and shame
Wonderful is my
Redeemer, praise his name
Precious name
Oh, how sweet
Hope of earth and joy
Heaven is a wonderful place
Filled with glory and grace
I want to see
my Savior's
face
Heaven is a wonderful
Heaven is a glorious
Heaven is a wonderful
place
I want to see
my Savior's
face
Heaven is a wonderful
Heaven is a glorious
Heaven is a wonderful place
But until then
my heart
will go on
singing
Until then
with joy
I'll carry on
Until
then
mine eyes
behold the
city
Until that
day
God calls me
home
This world is not my home
I'm just passing through
My treasures are laid off
Somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel
at home in this world
anymore
More, more
about Jesus
More, more about
Jesus
More of his saving
for the sea
More of his
loving light
for me
Amen, good singing
We'll have the guys come up and help us with the offering
at this time
and let's go ahead and bow our heads and have a word of prayer
Heavenly Father, Lord, we do thank you for allowing us to gather together
this morning, Lord, we pray that you'd bless the offering
the gift and the giver, we pray that you'd meet with us
as we take time to study your word verse by verse
through the Gospel of Luke, in Jesus' name we pray
Amen
Turn your Bibles to Luke, chapter 11
Luke chapter 11
If you do not have a Bible raise your hand
bring you one. Luke chapter 11. This morning we will be reading verses 14 through 26. Luke
chapter 11. Keep your hands up and bring you a Bible. Luke chapter 11 verse 14 the Bible
reads and he was casting out a devil and it was dumb and it came to pass when the devil
was gone out the dumb spake and the people wondered but some of them said he cast out
devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils and others tempting him sought of him
a sign from heaven but he knowing their thoughts said unto them every kingdom divided against
itself is brought to desolation and a house divided against a house followed if Satan
also be divided against himself how shall his kingdom stand because ye say that I cast
out devils through Beelzebub and if I by Beelzebub cast out devils by whom do your sons cast
them out therefore shall they be your judges but if I with the finger of God cast out devils
no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you when a strong man armed keepeth his palace
his goods are in peace but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome he
taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted and divided his spoils he that is not with
me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scatter it when the unclean spirit
is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest and finding none he saith
I will return unto my house once I came out and when he cometh he findeth it swept and
garnished then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself
and they enter in and dwell there and the last state of that man is worse than the first
let's pray Father God Almighty thank you for this day thank you for this opportunity
to come together please bless bless pastor bless the message let it bring glory and honor
to you in the name of Jesus Christ I pray amen amen all right we're there in Luke chapter
number 11 and of course we have been going through this series called journey with Jesus
and it really has just been a verse by verse study through the Gospel of Luke we're preaching
through the Gospel of Luke and studying it out and this morning we find ourselves in
Luke chapter number 14 right where we left off from the last service and this morning
and also tonight we're going to be dealing with a little bit of an unpleasant subject
I think it's an it's an interesting subject but it's a little bit of an unpleasant subject
and we're going to be talking about the devil and specifically because of the fact that
Jesus deals with that in these in these verses Luke chapter 11 verses 14 to 26 have a theme
about the devil and his devils or his demons and we're going to so we're going to be studying
that that out this morning but also tonight I'd like you to know that when we were in
Luke chapter 10 if you remember we're in Luke chapter 10 several weeks ago there was one
verse in Luke chapter 10 in verse 18 in which the Bible says that Jesus said and he said
unto them I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven I told you at that time that I
would be preaching an entire sermon just on that one verse in that subject and I'm gonna
be doing that tonight so I figure if I've got we got to talk about the devil let's just
do it all in one day and and get over get it over with you know but we're gonna be looking
at the subject of the devil tonight or this morning and also tonight tonight we're this
morning we're looking at the kingdom of the devil and tonight we'll be looking at the
fall of the devil and if you've got if you're taking notes and I always encourage you to
take notes on the back of your course of the week there's a place for you to write some
things down like it maybe write down three three different points we'll be looking at
this morning you're there in Luke chapter 11 notice there in verse 14 the Bible says
this and he this is Jesus was casting out devils will notice that this is something
that Jesus is commonly doing throughout the Gospels and it's really the theme like I said
of the next 13 verses the Bible says that he was casting out devils and it was dumb and it came to
pass when the devil was gone out the dumb spake the word dumb there d-u-m-b in our King James
Bible is in reference to the fact that this person had a physical ailment they were not able to speak
they we would refer to them as mute the Bible says that Jesus was casting out a devil and it
the devil was dumb and it came to pass when the devil was gone out when he cast out the devil the
dumb spake so referring to the person that had been demon possessed they were able to speak so
as a result of having this demon in them they had this inability to speak but when Jesus cast the
devil out the dumb spake and the people wondered at this great miracle and let me just say this
and I'm not necessarily preaching on this this morning but let me just go ahead and cover it
since we're studying the Gospel of Luke I might as well cover all these things especially this
is something that I get asked about from time to time and I want you to notice that in the
Bible we will find that Jesus performed many miracles and he healed a lot of people and most
of the time when we see Jesus healing somebody the Bible this is a theme throughout the Gospels
the blind see the the dumb speak the Bible tells us that those that had the inability to hear are
able to hear and when when we see that throughout the Gospels we'll find that Jesus often healing
these people and oftentimes he does it just through the power of his word he just tells
them to be healed he just tells them their eyes to be open and he's able to do that sometimes we
see him take a physical approach there from time to time we see the Lord Jesus Christ maybe take
dirt from the ground and and spit in it and put it on their eyes or something like that and and
sometimes we see this where there's a physical healing due to a demon that has possessed a
person I just want you to understand this and answer the question for those of you that may
be wondering some medical problems according to the Bible may be as a result of demon possession
or being demon-possessed I'm not saying that every dumb person or every mute person or every
deaf person has a demon in them because the Bible does not teach that but the Bible does
tell us here that there may be some medical problems that are not due to a physical ailment
but due to a demon and here's an example where this person was dumb and it was a result as of
them having a demon that they gave them that ailment sometimes Jesus would heal people that
were dumb and blind and death and it had nothing to do with the devil it was a physical ailment
and let me just say this as well because it's a question I get asked a lot we're talking about
Devils this morning you know when it comes to mental health sometimes people have this idea
that if somebody has a mental health issue that they must be demon-possessed and I will say this
the Bible definitely teaches that there are some people who we might consider having mental health
issues that are demon-possessed but just in the same way that not everyone who's dumb and not
everyone who's blind has a demon sometimes it could be as a result of demon sometimes it could
be a result as a physical of a physical medical issue not everybody has a mental health issue has
a mental health issue as a result of a demon it could be as a result of an organic injury to their
brain there there's there's reasons for that so I just want you to understand because people
oftentimes especially preachers they like to create these these harsh lines you know and it's
like if you're you know if if you've got some sort of a mental health problem then you must
have a demon but the Bible does not does not do that sometimes in fact most of the time we see
medical issues are medical issues but every once in a while they're demon possession and we could
take that idea and understand that with mental health the same way sometimes it's mental health
issues because of an organic problem an injury to the brain it's drugs you know just destroying
your brain or whatever but sometimes it may be as a result of demon possession as well so anyway
just throwing out there because that's a question that I often receive and here's an example of the
dumb spake and the people wondered look at verse 15 but some of them said he casted out devils
through Beelzebub the chief of the devil's and I'm not really talking about the dumb spake this
morning I just want to give that information but I want you to notice that today we're gonna look
at this idea of the kingdom of the devil and I want you to notice we'll start this morning and
if you're taking notes you can write this down once you notice the ranks of the devil when it
comes to the devil and his minions there is a hierarchy within his organization notice there
in verse 15 again it says but some of them said he casted out devils through Beelzebub and I just
want you to notice the the title that Beelzebub is given the chief of the devil's so Beelzebub
would be the boss he is the highest ranking officer of the devil's and of course Beelzebub
we know is Satan and I'm not gonna take the time to go through all of the the verses to prove that
you can study that out on your own if you'd like if there in Luke I'd like you to go to Mark if
you would mark chapter 9 obviously Luke is our text for this morning Luke chapter 11 go to Mark
chapter 9 if you go backwards from Luke to Mark chapter 9 but if you'll study the Old Testament
just to give you a little information the the term Beelzebub is a term that was given a name
a title that was given to Satan and it is used throughout the entire Bible you might be familiar
if you've read the Old Testament with a prominent false god by the name of Baal and of course Baal
is was Satan and Baal is Beelzebub and throughout the Old Testament you have them called Baal
sometimes he's called Beelzebub sometimes he's called Belial you've heard of the sons of Belial
throughout the Old Testament which were reprobates and here Beelzebub these are all terms and
terminology used for Satan and the Bible tells us that Beelzebub or Satan is the chief of the
devils and I want you to understand that when it comes to the devil and his and his demons his
devils there is a hierarchy and a ranking system within the organization and the kingdom of the
devil and there is a hierarchy within the angels of God you're there in Mark 9 look at verse 34
mark excuse me I told you to go to mark and I apologize I want you to go to Matthew Matthew
chapter 9 Matthew chapter 9 verse 34 you're there in Mark just flip over to Matthew Matthew
chapter 9 verse 34 Matthew 9 34 notice what the Bible says Matthew 9 34 but the Pharisees said
he casteth out Devils notice through the prince of the Devils and against the word Prince is a
term used for ranking and ranking systems Prince principalities all of these are positions of
authority so I want you to notice that the bad guys Satan and his Devils they've got ranking
systems they've got the chief of the Devils the prince of the Devils also the good guys go to
Jude if you would Jude there's one chapter in Jude right at the end of the New Testament you
have the book of Revelation the last book of the Bible is Revelation right before Revelation you
have the book of Jude Jude and look down at verse number 9 the bad guys have a hierarchy they've got
the chief of the Devils the prince of the Devils and the good guys have a hierarchy within their
system as well notice Jude 1 9 yet Michael the archangel notice that phrase archangel and we
don't really understand everything that the Bible teaches about the spirit world and how all these
ranking systems work but the the fact that Michael is referred to as an archangel seems to indicate
a high rank and we'll see that in the book of Revelation here in a minute we'll see that Michael
is really the leader of the angels and he's the one that leads them into war and so that term an
archangel and again we don't really understand all of that but it indicates that there is a
ranking system within the angels yet Michael the archangel I want you to notice this all right Jude
1 9 yet Michael the archangel all right a high ranking angel within the angels of God the holy
angels when contending referring to fighting with the devil now we know that the devil is is
Beelzebub the chief of the Devils the prince of the Devils he disputed about the body of Moses
notice what the Bible says about Michael the archangel durst not the word durst means he
dared not he did not dare bring against him a railing accusation bring against the devil a
railing accusation accusation but said the Lord rebuke thee so I want you to notice that though
Michael is a an archangel of high rank he has some respect and when I when I use the word respect I
don't mean it in an honorable way but he has some respect for the devil in the sense that the
Bible says that he durst not bring a railing accusation against the devil so though Michael
the archangel is an angel high in rank he understands that Satan is a powerful angel as
well he understands that Satan is is is a powerful being as well and when contending with the devil
and dispute about the body of Moses he durst not bring against him a railing accusation you say
what does that mean the railing accusation means he dared not to just you know to put it in our
our modern terms I guess he didn't want to like talk smack to the devil you know he dared not
bring a railing accusation he didn't want to say say something insulting to the devil he didn't
want to you know tell him you know your mama this or whatever he durst not bring against him a
railing accusation but said the Lord rebuke thee he instead of him rebuking the devil Michael you
know brings the credibility of a more powerful being God and he said the Lord rebuke thee and
you know something we can learn from this is look if Michael the Archangel has respect for the devil
when I say respect I don't mean that in an honorable way I mean respect in the sense that
he realizes this is a dangerous foe and not someone to mess with then you better believe
that you and I as Christians need to be careful with having this loose idea about the devil you
know and just think like oh it's no big deal and Christians today will listen to music that
promotes the devil that promotes the occult that promotes a worship of the devil and they in in
Christians like oh it's just not a big it's just a song it's just the it's it's not a problem
they'll play with a Ouija board they'll though though they'll do the though they'll watch these
movies that promote the devil let me tell you something Michael the Archangel durst not bring
against him a railing accusation he realized that this was that the devil is a formidable
foe he's an enemy and we need to be careful so we see the ranking sims go to Revelation if you
would revelation you're there in Jude just flip over to Revelation chapter 12 Revelation chapter
12 let me say this about the Archangel again we don't really understand all that terminology I
will say this and if you're interested in this I'd encourage you to come back tonight because we're
going to go through this in detail tonight but in easel is equal 28 verse 14 you you go to
Revelation don't go to Ezekiel 28 we're going to look at that tonight but let me just point this
out in Ezekiel 28 and verse 14 the Bible tells us before the fall of Satan that he was referred to
as the anointed cherub that cover it he's referred to as the anointed cherub that cover it and and
again the Bible does not give us a lot of details about this and I don't really like to speculate
on scripture but we're dealing with the subject so let me just kind of give you my thoughts the
Bible calls Satan before his fall the anointed cherub that cover it the Bible calls Michael the
archangel and we know that in the Old Testament in the tabernacle of God when you went into the holy
of Holies God had commanded that they build an ark and on that ark he had commanded that there
would be two cherubims that would be built these these cherubims upon the ark made out of gold and
that their wings would cover the ark so it's and we know this that when Moses got the vision for
the tabernacle including the ark and all the furniture that goes into the tabernacle the
Bible tells us in Hebrews that the way he got that vision is that God allowed him to see the
tabernacle and allowed him to see into the Holy of Holies in heaven Moses physically looked at
what God had in heaven and then made a replica that a replica of that on earth so my thoughts
are that both Michael the archangel and Lucifer would have been the two highest ranking angels in
heaven and they would have been the archangels or the anointed cherub that cover it that would have
actually covered the Holy of Holies in heaven and that's what Moses saw and that's why God had him
create these cherubims that covered the ark and again I'm not trying to go into a lot of deep
things like that but I know some of you are like that kind of stuff and are interested in that and
it highlights for us the the ranking system now notice in Revelation 12 we'll see again that
Michael and the devil are kind of put in the same level Revelation 12 and verse 7 the Bible says and
there was war in heaven we'll talk about this as well we'll go through Revelation 12 in detail
tonight so if you're interested in this passage come back tonight but here in Revelation 12 the
Bible says and there was war in heaven Michael notice and his angels fought against the dragon
now the dragon is Satan the Bible Revelation 12 tells us that that it's the dragon is Satan the
old serpent the devil they fought against the dragon and the dragon fought notice and his angels
so I want you to notice that there seems to be these ranking systems for the good guys and the
bad guys Michael is the Archangel Lucifer or Satan is referred to as the chief of the devils
Beelzebub or the prince of the devils and we know that before his fall he was the anointed cherub
that cover it go to the book of Daniel if you would Daniel chapter 10 Daniel chapter 10 in the
Old Testament and I realized that this morning sermon may feel more like a Bible study I hope
that's okay I hope you like the Bible but we'll definitely have some application and stuff at the
end but we're gonna be both this morning and tonight are gonna be more heavy on Bible study
and when applications at the end Daniel chapter 10 in the Old Testament if you find those big
prophetic books they're all clustered together Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel
Daniel chapter 10 Daniel chapter 10 in verse 13 notice what the Bible says but the prince of the
kingdom of Persia now Persia is and it was an actual location it was a geographic location it
was a civilization the Bible tells us that the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me
one in 20 days but lo Michael one of the chief princes came to help me and I remain there with
the king of Persia so I and and so I want you to notice what's going on here and I don't have time
to go into all of the details here in Daniel chapter 10 but we have Daniel who has been given
an image of God a prophecy of God that he doesn't understand it troubles him and he begins to fast
for 21 days that God would reveal to him what it is that he is seeing and this angel shows up to
Daniel and he's pretty much explaining to Daniel why it is that he's late why it took him so long
to get to him and he says but the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me now when he talks
about the prince of the kingdom of Persia our minds would think about a physical human prince
there physically was a prince of the kingdom of Persia but this is not a reference to that
prince it is a reference to the demon the devil that is in control of that prince and we're gonna
look more into into the realm of the of the devil here in a minute but you need to understand
something that Satan is the one that is in control of the of the politics and and the
geopolitical system of this world and you say who was running who's running the the the kingdom of
Persia well the Persians were but there was a devil that was assigned to that Prince to run
that kingdom and it was the prince of the kingdom of Persia and and we'll see it later on in the
sermon but I believe that every major power has a devil running that organization there's a prince
of the kingdom of Persia what that's a devil running that organization and there's a prince
of the kingdom of the United States of America that's the devil running that organization as
well you say you're talking about Joe Biden I'm talking about Joe Biden and Donald Trump and
Hillary Clinton and and George Bush I don't care which one I don't care what political party they
are listen to me you don't go that high in a in a political kingdom as powerful as the United States
of America without having permission from the devil he is the ruler of the darkness of this
world and I realize people don't like that you know you come to a conservative church and you
expect me to be some Fox News Baptist but that's what the Bible says but the prince of the kingdom
of Persia and my loyalties to the Word of God by the way but the prince of the kingdom of Persia
withstood me one in 20 days notice what the Bible says but lo Michael now we already saw that Michael
is referred to as an archangel Michael one of the chief princes so again Beelzebub is referred to
as the chief of the devil's he's referred to as the prince of the devil's here Michael is referred
to as one of the chief princes he's also referred to as an archangel came to help me and I remained
there with the king of Persia look at Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1 and at the at that time
Daniel 12 1 and at that time shall Michael stand up notice how Michael is referred to the great
prince so I just want to highlight for you we can spend a lot of time going into this and I and I'm
not gonna do that this morning but I want you to highlight to you that within the kingdoms of both
God and the devil there is a ranking system there is a hierarchy there are ranks with authority there
are soldiers these devils and these angels underneath these other angels of authority go
go back to Luke chapter 11 Luke chapter 11 so I want you to notice first of all the ranks of
the devil the hierarchy there's a ranking system for the good guys there's a ranking system for the
bad guys but I want you to notice secondly this morning the realms of the devil not only the
hierarchy but I want you to understand his kingdom now notice what Jesus how Jesus speaks about the
kingdom of the devil now I want you to understand that Jesus is making a point about the accusation
that was made against him in Luke 11 to 16 the Bible says and others tempting him sought of him
a sign from heaven and he knowing their thoughts said unto them because remember we read just
earlier that they accused Jesus and they said that he casted out devils by the chief of the
devil's that he's casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub they said yeah he's casting
out devils but he's just doing it because the devil is helping him do it so here's Jesus response
to to through that accusation verse 17 Luke 11 17 and he Jesus knowing their thoughts that's a
statement of deity by the way the fact that he was not a mere man he was God in the flesh he
knew their thoughts and said unto them every kingdom divided against itself is brought to
desolation and a house divided against a house falleth if Satan also be divided against himself
notice what he says how shall his kingdom stand so here Jesus teaches us or shows us that Satan
has a kingdom go back to Revelation chapter 12 if you would revelation chapter 12 last
book in the New Testament should be fairly easy to find revelation 12 you said what is Satan's
kingdom made up of it's made up of two two different levels a spirit world that is in
control of a physical world it is made up of a spiritual world now we know that it's not only
the devil that's in the spirit world obviously God is a spirit and the angels were told are
ministering spirits but the devil's kingdom has a spiritual level to it that is in control of
a physical level Jesus said how shall the king hot shot how shall his kingdom stand referring to
Satan's kingdom revelation 12 3 so what what is made up of this kingdom well obviously Satan's
kingdom is made up of demons and those are the angels that follow Satan in his in his sin
revelation 12 and verse 3 the Bible says and there appeared another wonder in heaven and
behold a great red dragon remember we talked about the dragon this is Satan having seven
heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his head notice verse four and his tail drew the
third part of the stars of heaven throughout the Bible angels are often right referred to as stars
and in fact here in Revelation 12 we're gonna see that the stars of heaven are a reference to the
to the angels and the Bible tells us that the great red dragon when he went to war with God
that his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth and the
dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered and for to devour her child as soon
as it was born like I said we'll go into detail with that tonight skip down to verse number 9
Revelation 12 verse 9 and the great dragon was cast out notice that old serpent what is that a
reference to that's the Garden of Eden the old serpent the serpent that showed up at the Garden
of Eden and tempted mankind and caused them to fall that old serpent notice called the
devil and Satan like I I like how the Bible it's its own commentary you don't have to you say the
great red dragon I have to go read the satanic Bible to find out no you don't have to read
anything you don't need any other commentary allow the Bible to be its own company you say
what's the red the the great red dragon well you just keep reading in verse 9 we're told and the
great dragon was cast out that old serpent that called the devil and Satan so we know who the
dragon is which deceiveth the whole world he was cast out into the earth and notice and his angels
they're his angels they've given their loyalty to him and his angels these are the devils or
the demons were cast out with him so Satan's kingdom is made up of this spiritual level
he's it's it's the dragon and his angels which we would refer to as demons the Bible refers to
as Devils they are there is a spiritual war often referred to as spiritual warfare going on in the
spirit world between God and his angels and God's spirit people saved people and the devil and his
angels now those demons are in control of the physical world go back again to Luke 11 notice
verse 17 Luke 11 17 but he knowing their thoughts said unto them notice what he said notice what
Jesus says about the kingdom of Satan because remember he's being accused well you're casting
out Devils by the prince of the Devils you're casting out Devils by Beelzebub the chief of the
Devils you're casting out Devils by the power of Satan is what they're saying and Jesus says okay
well here's the problem every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and a
house divided against a house falleth if Satan also be divided against himself how shall the
kingdom stand because you say that I cast out Devils through Beelzebub now Jesus is saying look
I'm not casting out Devils through Beelzebub I'm fighting the devil he says if I were casting out
Devils and that would mean that the kingdom of the devil is divided that's the point that Jesus
is making but what we can gather from that point is this that Jesus is telling us look the kingdom
of Satan is not divided the kingdom of Satan is not at odds with themselves the kingdom the devil
and his minions are not fighting amongst themselves that's only done by Christians
he Jesus telling us look the household of Satan the kingdom of Satan is a highly organized highly
effective highly efficient organization that we're at war with they're not distracted like we are
distracted they're not quarreling like we often quarrel Jesus tells us look Satan's kingdom is
highly organized and highly effective he tells us that the kingdom of Satan the household of
Satan is organized and by the way that's why Satan is accomplishing so much in this world
go to Ephesians and in case I'm not being clear he's our enemy we don't want him to succeed but
oftentimes we're getting beat by the devil because he's organized and he's about his
business and we to be as focused and as organized and be about our father's business Ephesians 2
you're there in Luke go past John Acts Romans first and second Corinthians Galatians Ephesians
Ephesians chapter 2 now here's what you need to understand in the spirit world the devil
has these Devils is what the King James Bible calls them we call them demons and that those
beings in that spirit world are the puppet masters that are controlling controlling the geopolitical
arena of the physical world okay you need to understand that Satan is the one running this
world Ephesians 2 to notice what the Bible says where in time past this is Paul speaking to
Christians and he's reminding them about before they were Christians when they were not saved he
says wherein in time past ye walked according to the course notice that word course you say what
is a course a course is a path or a direction or a route a pathway Paul says look before you were
saved ye walked according to the course of this world you say well who's in charge of this
course who's setting the agenda who's creating the pathway that is leading us in this direction
he says wherein in time past he walked according to the course of this world according to the
prince of the power of the air you say who's that the prince of the power of the air that's
Satan Satan is the prince of the power of the air you say why is it called the prince of power of
the air part of it is because of the fact that he's a spirit he's not we don't physically see
him he's he's in power of the air I think I also like to think of the fact that you know prince of
the power of the air that's how we get communication and media and that's one of the major ways that
Satan controls his world is through the television through social media he's the prince of the power
of the air notice the spirit which now worketh in the children of disobedience please understand
this every unsaved person every I and please please get this I'm not telling you every
unsafe person is a wicked person or a reprobate or or demon possessed unsafe people are just that
unsafe people they need to have the gospel preached to them they need to have the Holy
Spirit and lighten their eyes and open and wake them up to the truth of God's Word but unsafe
people all of them whether they realize it or not are just all being put under the course of Satan
they're being brought under the agenda of Satan they don't even realize it you say how can that
be here's how it is look you talk to unsafe people you you don't get that here very Baptist
churches we've got a church that you know is is is not you know wickedly woke but that is actually
awake to the truth that has awoken unto righteousness that actually understands what the
Bible says but look talk to the average just unsafe just go out to a high school or a college
campus today and just talk to the average unsaved kid that just grew up under and no Christianity
you know what you'll find just a just a generation of buffoons who are just on a court with oh I don't
know hey just whatever whatever man she's gonna be the pot whatever I mean they're just under the
course of what just whatever the media tells them whatever the the movies tell them whatever the
radio tells them whatever social media tells them whatever YouTube tells them whatever Facebook
tells them you look do you think the average person if they actually sat down and thought
about the nonsense going on in this world they if they actually thought about it they would be okay
with it I mean you think just a normal human being if they just sat down a normal male if
you just sat down and thought about the acts being done within the LGBTQ movement they wouldn't be
repulsed by it normal people would be repulsed by it you say why but then why is everybody accepting
because because everybody is blinded by the devil they're just all being told this is the way we're
going okay whatever whatever and Satan just entertains them and he has here's how Jesus
called it Jesus called it the broad way he said enter ye into the straight gate for broad is the
way that leaded to destruction and many there be which go in there he said he said look you need to
find the straight gate you need to find the narrow way but the the the devil is in control of this
world he is setting the course of this world he's setting the agenda of this world by the way that's
why just just mark it down everything that the world is for is it's wrong if you're ever not
sure like well is this right or wrong first of all the Bible tells you everything you need to know
but if you're just like well I just don't know about this specific situation is it right or
wrong just ask yourself those people what are most people doing I remember growing up that's what my
dad would teach us as we as kids growing up if you're ever not sure what's right or what's wrong
just look at what most people are doing and that's wrong enter you in at the straight gate for broad
is the way broad is the way I mean everyone is just going down the wrong path so like you even
if you just you say I don't know I don't know what about this this issue or that issue just ask
yourself what are most people doing and it what's popular is wrong because it's Satan's agenda
according to the prince of power of the air that now worketh in the children of disobedience are
there any Ephesians to go to Ephesians chapter 6 look at verse 11 Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 11
he said well pastor why are you right about this because we're supposed to we're in get supposed to
be engaged in spiritual warfare fighting the devil and his agenda Ephesians 6 verse 11 put on
the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wilds you said what while there
the word while or wiles means trap or trickery remember Wiley coyote he's always trying to trick
the roadrunner right against and you know what you know what the devil's trying to do is he's
trying to trick you to run off a cliff against the wiles of the devil for we wrestle not against
flesh and blood but against principalities don't miss it principalities that's like Prince remember
the chief prince the prince of Persia against principalities against powers against the rulers
of the darkness of this world look we're not at war with physical people we wrestle not against
flesh and blood but we are against we are at war with the principalities and the powers and the
rulers of the darkness of this world that are controlling the physical world against spiritual
wickedness in high places this is Satan's realm Satan's kingdom is highly organized and efficient
and effective go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 Christians you know Christians will often I don't
know how I feel about I thought Jesus was in charge I thought Jesus was King I thought you
look obviously Jesus is God he's omniscient he's omnipotent he's all-knowing all-powerful but let
me tell you something right now God has allowed Satan to run this world this world and the world
agenda is not being run by God 2nd Corinthians 4 if you're there in Ephesians you go past you
go backwards past Galatians past 2nd Corinthians into 1st Corinthians excuse me 2nd Corinthians
2nd Corinthians chapter 4 past Galatians into 2nd Corinthians 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 look verse
4 notice what the Bible says in whom the God now you see that lowercase G God that's not God
Almighty it's a false God in whom the God the lowercase G God of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not that's the average unsaved person just going down the road of
whatever Satan says have blinded the minds of them that believe not lest what Satan trying to do he's
trying to blind the whole world distract the whole world last or unless the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them so notice that the God of this
world is working against the light of the glorious gospel of Christ so who's the God of this world
lowercase G God it's Satan the devil is the God of this world he is in control of this world he
runs this world he and his Devils are the principalities and the powers they are the
rulers of the darkness of this world they are the spiritual wickedness in high places they control
the world he's the goddess world by the way go back to Luke chapter 11 that's why Jesus at the
temptation of devil of Satan remember Satan comes and what does he offer him the kingdoms of this
world he says worship me and I'll give you the kingdoms of this world how could Satan offer the
kingdoms of this world here's how he could because he runs the kingdoms of this world so excuse me
if I'm not excited that Donald Trump might be running in 2024 excuse me look your Bible says
to not put your trust in princess put your trust in the Lord what we can learn what we can learn
is that the realm of the devil's is made up of demons is made up of this spirit world that is
in control of this physical world and look it is highly organized highly efficient highly effective
Satan's good as well as he's good at what he does I mean think about this many of you know you know
just this last week we had our YouTube channel had 23,000 subscribers just shut down and not
just our you not just that but all our YouTube other channels with thousands of subscribers shut
down and it's funny to me you you can go on YouTube and and just talk about smut and garbage
and sinfulness and and nobody cares but you have a Bible belief and you know we started a another
chance soon as they shut it down we're like well let's start another one I mean literally we start
a channel called journey with Jesus I mean doesn't that sound peaceful journey with Jesus and within
two hours it was shut down and it's like pastor he met as you're not allowed to be on YouTube
pastor me here you're not you know pastor me here's channel was taken down pastor Anderson's
child was taken out a while ago you know and it says you say why how could it be how could it be
that an organization as big as YouTube can be aware of a little church I mean there's 220 people
in this auditorium this morning in Sacramento California in a warehouse building next to a
methadone clinic how could it be that YouTube such a large organization would be so dialed in
to our church that we start a YouTube channel called journey Jesus and when the two hours is
taken down how could that be it's because Satan is highly organized and you know what Satan you
say well I know about this mega church on the street and they've got a channel nobody bothers
them because they're not bothering anybody you know I say no mess with them because they're not
messing with Satan you know why Satan's messing with us because this is what we're preaching the
Word of God because we're actively fighting against the devil by preaching biblical truth
biblical light and then by going out and knocking doors and preaching the gospel which is exactly
how you fight against the devil in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which
believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine
unto them he's coming after us because we're pissing him off and praise God for it Luke
chapter 11 we saw number one the ranks of the devil we saw number two the realm of the devil
we saw his hierarchy we saw his kingdom but then I want you to notice Jesus spent some time talking
about the removal of the devil's and this specifically the application is what we might
refer to as exorcism and we're going to look at it and study it but there's obviously practical
applications for all of us once you notice that Jesus first gives us a description of regeneration
and regeneration is a term a biblical term that references salvation in Luke chapter 11 and verse
19 notice what the Bible says Jesus and if I by Beelzebub cast out devils because they said
you're casting out devils by Satan he said okay if I buy Beelzebub because cast out devils he says
by whom do your sons cast them out because you know they're apparently there was Jewish exorcists
during that day and and that should not surprise us because if you remember acts 19 we have the
seven sons of Siva who are trying to cast out devils so Jesus okay well if I'm casting out
devils by Beelzebub by whom do your sons cast them out therefore shall they be your judges
verse 20 but if I with the finger of God now I'm going to come back to that phrase at the end of
the sermon if I with the finger of God because it's a very interesting phrase but we'll deal
with that later we'll ignore it for now but if I with the finger of God cast out devils no doubt
the kingdom of God has come upon you verse 21 when a strong man now I want you to understand
the context of verse 21 okay when Jesus begins this this illustration in Luke 11 21 when a strong
man when he begins this illustration he begins that within the context or the conversation of
what casting out devils if I by Beelzebub cast out devils by whom do your sons cast them out
he says but if I with the finger of God cast out devils no doubt the kingdom of God is upon you
so notice the context is about casting out devils casting out devils then Jesus teaches this lesson
about casting out devils he says when a strong man you say who's a strong man he's referring to
the devil when a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace but when a stronger
than he who's who's the stronger than he it's Jesus it's Jesus through the person of the Holy
Spirit but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him he taketh from him
all his armor wherein he trusted and divided his spoils I want you to notice that the Bible
is indicating for us that the way you say how do how can we cast out Devils today because I'm not
Paul and I'm not Peter and I can't just you know tell them to come out and go into a bunch of pigs
or whatever how can we cast out Devils today because look there's Devils today there's demon
possession today you say how do you deal with it here's how you deal with it the only way that you
and I are able to cast out Devils is to get people saved you say why here's why because when somebody
gets saved the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit indwells them the Holy Spirit they their body
becomes a temple of the Holy Ghost so though there may be a strong man armed keeping the palace when
a stronger than he the Holy Spirit of God when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome
him he take it from him all his armor wherein he trusted and divided his foil go to Matthew
chapter 12 Matthew chapter 12 because look say people cannot be demon-possessed you say why can
say people not be demon-possessed for the same reason the same reason that getting a demon
possessed person is saved will remove or cast out or perform an exorcism if you want to call
it that and don't look don't get be thinking about all these movies all right Hollywood
it's a liar okay these movies about Catholic priests doing exorcism all that's alive they
need to exercise the demon out of the Catholic priest okay none of that is true but the same
reason that in order to cast out a devil you would get the person saved the Holy Spirit would move
in and he's the stronger than he that would move that's the same reason that a a saved person
cannot be demon-possessed you're in Matthew 12 let me just read to you from 1 John 4 the Bible
says ye are of God little children and have overcome them because greater is he that is in
you than he that is in the world why can't I why can't a Christian ever be demon-possessed here's
why because if you're saved if you're truly say you have the Holy Spirit of God and dwelling you
and greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world there he is the strong man he is the
stronger than he and no devil can remove the Holy Spirit Matthew 12 28 notice what the Bible says I
just want you to see it again notice the context Matthew 12 28 but if I Jesus cast out devils by
the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come upon you that's the context casting out
devils in that context he teaches this little parable verse 29 or else how can one enter into
a strong man's house who's a strong man the devil and spoil his goods how can he do that except he
first bind the strong man and then he will spoil his house so I want you to see that you say how
do you how the devil possessing a human being Jesus refers to that refers to that as a strong
man guarding his palace his castle but when a stronger than he comes in the Holy Spirit and
binds that spirit that strong man and cast him out then the then the house becomes the house of
the Holy Spirit and he will spoil his house he take it from him all his armor wearing he trusted
and divided the spoils so what we learn is that the method of casting out devils used by Jesus
and the method that you and I should use today is that the Holy Spirit would do it for us and look
if you ever if you ever say I'm dealing with even possessed person if they're possessed by a devil
if they're truly possessed by a devil then they're not saved and and you say well what it's hopeless
then we need to just try to get them saved I mean to try to speak to the conscience of that
individual present the gospel to them the glorious gospel Lord Jesus Christ that they
might get saved and the Holy Spirit would come in because the Holy Spirit is stronger than he
Jesus through the personal the Holy Spirit is the one that can remove the strong man and by the way
this is a description of salvation of course not everybody that gets saved was demon possessed but
a lot look a lot of people are demon possessed they don't even know it and and when they get
saved the Holy Spirit comes in and the Devils go out this is a this is a picture of salvation this
is an explanation of salvation and it's called regeneration regeneration let me let me just give
you a couple of verses you don't have to turn here you can jot these down if you'd like Titus 3 5
the Bible says not by works of righteousness which we have done this is how somebody gets
saved so how do I get saved not by works of righteousness which we have done that's a false
gospel but according to his mercy he saved us and notice how salvation is described by the washing
of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost the word regeneration or to regenerate
is defined as a formation of new life when you got saved the Bible says that ye were dead and
trespasses and sins but ye were quickened the word quickened means you were made alive the Holy
Spirit came in there was regeneration there was a forming of a new life that's why Paul says in
2 Corinthians 5 17 you have to turn there it says therefore if any man be in Christ he is a
new creature all things are passed away behold all things are become new when you got saved you were
regenerated there was a new life there was a new creature the Holy Spirit created a new life you
were saved not by works of righteousness we have done but according to his mercy saved us by the
washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost that's salvation that's regeneration
about that here's why because Jesus gives us a contrast in the previous verses Luke 11 19
through 22 he shows us how somebody gets a devil out performs an exorcism through regeneration he
says the devil the demon is a strong man and what you've got to do you say I want to cast the devil
out I need holy water I need to you know say a bunch of chance and prayer no oh here's what you
need to do if somebody's demon possessed the devil is a strong man you got to find a stronger man
the Holy Spirit of God that's how you get somebody saved number one and that's how you cast out a
devil through regeneration now Jesus gives us that little parable about the strong man being cast
out by the stronger man the strong man being bound by he that is stronger and being cast out now in
verses 23 to 26 he gives us a contrast to that in in the previous verses he gives us what we refer
to as regeneration that's done through the Holy Ghost in verses 23 to 26 he gives us what we
refer to as reformation this is what the world does this is what the world does because look
demon put the world tries to help demon possess people and the world tries to help people that
are just not deemed possessed but people that are that are under the bondage of sin under the
bondage of Satan but what the world does cannot be called regeneration only God can give life
the what the world does must be called reformation you say what is it what is reformation or reforming
it means to make changes in something in order to improve it see you see what the world does the
world just tries to help you make change changes to improve you God doesn't try to do that God
says let's start all over new life new creature spiritual man regeneration notice notice what
reformation does Luke 11 23 he that is not with me is against me he that gathers not with me
scatter it verse 24 when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man so now we have an example of
an exorcism done not through regeneration but through reformation when the unclean spirit is
gone out of the man he walketh through dry places seeking rest and finding none he the unclean
spirit saith I will return unto my house my house is a reference to the person that was demon
possessed I will return unto my house whence I came out and when he cometh he findeth it swept
and garnished then go if he and take it to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself and
they enter in and dwell there and the last state of the man is worse than the first see Jesus says
these are two ways two different ways about in which you can bring change into your life one way
is to get saved and allow the strong man of the Holy Spirit to have dominion in your life and of
course just getting saved doesn't mean your life is going to change but as you walk in the spirit
and allow the spirit to have dominion your life that will bring change and that will bring lasting
change or you can do what the world does and that's just reformation where you try to do better
you cast out the devil there's the example being given here for a while and for a while things get
better and but when the devil returns he findeth it swept and garnished things are better things
are cleaned up but you know the problem with reformation is that it's not long-lasting and
at the end the state of the man is worse than the first these are the two types of ways of
solving demonic possession but also just demonic influences in life this is this is not just for
demon possession the the the principle Jesus is talking about demon possession but the principle
that we're learning this this can be applied to victory over sin in general you say what
what's the application here's the application victory through sin in general can only be done
through the Holy Ghost so well no I've seen people do it without Christianity yeah but here's the
difference when the Holy Ghost does it it'll be comprehensive and it'll be long-lasting see here's
the truth you can go down to AA and they'll help you stop drinking alcohol or they'll help you get
off of drugs you can go down to the world's secular psychology and counseling and they'll
help you with whatever issue you need and I'm not down on those things I believe those those
people are trying their hearts in the right place they're trying to help people but here's the
problem you know what AA is not gonna deal with AA is not gonna deal with your pride AA is not
gonna deal with your rebellious attitude towards God AA is not gonna deal with you know the well
you're you've got a heroin addiction you've got an alcoholism let us help you with that but they
don't care that you're committing adultery on your wife they don't care that you're you're
you're being lazy and and and and and not providing for your family see you say why do people why do
they why would people rather get help through the world versus the Holy Spirit here's why because
when the Holy Spirit helps you it must be comprehensive you can't come to God and say
God just help me with this one addiction I struggle with smoking cigarettes help me with
this one addiction God says no we'll help you with the cigarettes and we'll help you with the pride
and we'll help you with the arrogance and we'll help you with the lying we'll help you with all
of it we don't want just to reform you we want to regenerate you new life in Christ comprehensive
long life you know I don't want that I just want issues because I got a DUI he's got to do this
one thing here's the problem at the end the state of the man is worse than the first that's a
description between reform and regeneration so we need God you need the Holy Spirit of God you
need the help of God now let me just highlight a couple of verses for you just as we end this
morning go to Luke chapter 11 look at verse 20 just as we end this one let me just highlight a
couple these things first of all I want you to notice the power of Jesus in Luke 11 verse 20 the
Bible says but if I with the finger of God I want you to notice that little phrase that Jesus says
if I with the finger of God cast out devils no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you now
that phrase the finger of God is used only one other time in our entire King James Bible and
is specifically is teaching a certain concept let me show it to you go to Exodus if you would
Exodus chapter 7 all the way in the Old Testament you have the book of Genesis and then you have the
book of Exodus Exodus chapter 7 Exodus chapter 7 verse 11 now if you're familiar with Exodus you'll
know especially chapter 7 and 8 which is the chapter we're going to look at we're in the midst
of what's known as the 10 plagues of Egypt where Moses and Aaron are bringing the judgment of God
upon Egypt and they're bringing these 10 plagues Exodus chapter 7 and verse 11 says this then
Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers now what are the wise men and the sorcerers these
are devil demon-possessed people these are they're in the occult they're worshipping the devil all
right now just for you to get the context this is after Aaron after the first meeting between
Moses and Aaron and Pharaoh and God told Aaron to cast his rod down and the rod became a serpent
and that was supposed to be a sign to Pharaoh that look Moses and Aaron are not here on their
own authority they're here under the authority of God that's why they're saying thus saith the Lord
so they cast out the rod and it turns into a serpent and that's supposed to show that they
are there with the power of God but when Aaron cast out the rod it turns into a serpent Pharaoh
the Bible tells us verse 11 Exodus 7 11 then Pharaoh also called the wise man and the sorcerers
now the magicians of Egypt they also did in like manner with their enchantments for they cast down
every man his rod and they became serpents so I want you to notice Aaron says look if you don't
believe that we're coming from God he throws down his rod it turns into a serpent says God did that
and then Pharaoh says oh really he causes magicians and his sorcerers they all show
but there's that they cast them down they all turn into serpents and Pharaoh says my magicians
are as good as you and look here's what we can learn from the story is that Satan has power
Satan had the ability to have those magicians rods turn into serpents now there should have
been a hint there's a hint here to the outcome of this in verse 12 for they cast down every
man is rod and they became serpents but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods you know that that
should have been a hint when you cast when Aaron cast down a serpent they cast down their rods
they turned serpents but then Aaron serpent goes and eats their serpents that should have been a
hint that yes Satan has power but not like God but I just want you to notice notice this play
out look at verse 22 Exodus 7 22 in Exodus 7 22 we have Moses and Aaron this is after they
performed the first miracle or the first plague of turning water into blood they turned the river
into blood notice what Pharaoh does and the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments
and Pharaoh's heart was hardened neither did he hearken unto them as the Lord had said so Moses
and Aaron put the the rod of God in the river and turned the river into blood from the water
into blood and then the Bible tells us that Pharaoh calls his magicians and they also turn
water into blood now I don't know how they maybe they were just making kool-aid or something I
don't know but they they did something they took water and turned it into blood and Pharaoh's heart
was hardened he says well look my magicians can turn water into blood just like you go to Exodus
8 verse 7 Exodus 8 7 Aaron has now made frogs to come up and covered the land of Egypt notice
and the magicians did so with their enchantments and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt so
Aaron brings frogs upon the land of Egypt the magicians bring frogs upon the land of Egypt
Aaron turns water into blood the magicians turn water into blood Aaron makes a a the the makes
his a staff into a serpent his rod into a serpent the magicians make their rod into a serpent look
at verse 18 in Exodus 8 18 now Aaron has brought lies throughout all the land of Egypt Aaron and
Moses have brought lies throughout all the land of Egypt of course Pharaoh looks at his magicians
and says you do it too Exodus 8 18 and the magicians did so with their enchantments to
bring forth lice so they tried to do it notice these words but they could not but they could not
so there were lice upon man and upon beasts so this whole time they've been matching water into
blood serpents from rods the frogs but then there comes a point where he puts the lice out and they
and the magicians they go to do the same thing but they could not so there was lice about man
upon beast verse 19 Exodus 8 19 and the magicians said unto Pharaoh the only other time this phrase
is found in our King James Bible then the magicians said unto Pharaoh this is the finger of
God and Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he hearkened not unto them as the Lord had said
they said this is the finger of God you say what does that mean they said this is unique to God
only God can do that we can put Kool-Aid and water we can we can pull a frog out of a top hat we can
turn a rod into serpent but they said this is the finger of God they said this is unique to God only
God can do this and if you think about it even in our modern you know you want to talk about how
how the Bible is always ahead of science you know what's unique to you as a human being the
fingerprint on your finger they said this is the fingerprint of God only God this is unique to God
and Jesus thousands of years later said but if I with the finger of God cast out devils you say
what's the lesson here's the lesson and it's really the lesson the entire lesson go back to
Luke chapter 11 let me give you the application here's the entire thing that Jesus is trying to
teach us when Jesus says if I with the finger of God Jesus knows that he's quoting the book of
Exodus the only other time in the entire King in his Bible that that phrase is used is used by
magicians who've been copying God copying God copying God but then they could not copy God
any further and they said this is the finger of God this is the fingerprint of God this is unique
to God you say what's the lesson that Jesus teaching here's the lesson the lesson is this
Satan is powerful Satan is strong Satan has power he has might he has dominion he has authority he's
a foe to be to not be played with we need to understand and have some respect for the fact
that Satan is powerful but God is more powerful he may be the strong man but God is stronger he
may be the strong man but when one is stronger than he comes see Satan has his limits he can
control things up to a point but there comes a point where he can't match himself to God and
this is the finger of God and you know who who and you know who quoted that or who personalized
that Jesus said I am the finger of God Luke 11 23 look at it what we're done so there's a choice
that has to be made you can't be neutral about this thing spiritual warfare you've got to make
a choice Luke 11 23 he that is not with me is against me and he that gathers not with me
scatter it so I don't want to be involved in spiritual warfare I want to be saved and go to
church and just I don't want to have to struggle and I don't have to fight that's not a choice
when you got saved you're enlisted in the army of the Lord Jesus Christ he that is not with me is
against me and he that gathers not with me scattered is I don't know pastor you're talking
about the devil you're gonna talk about the devil tonight it's kind of scary you know you
gotta thank God you gotta let me let me let me help you out something the devil hates you he
wants to destroy your life he acts like he's your friend he tempts you and says come drink this come
smoke this come inject this come sniff this it'll be fun he's not your friend he wants to destroy
your life that's all he wants he hates you so that's not very encouraging on a Sunday morning
you know what you know what's more encouraged you know you should be encouraged this should
encourage you the devil hates you that should be you should leave here this morning I'm encouraged
the devil hates my gut he wants to destroy my family he wants to destroy my life he wants to
ruin my test with that way you say why is that encourage me here's because because here's the
there's a polarity in this fight and if the devil doesn't hate you then the opposite is worse if he
likes you because if the devil hates you that means you're on the right side because he hates
the Lord Jesus Christ well I want the devil to not hate me well in order for the devil to not
hate you you'd have to be on his side and you have to be against Jesus but if the devil hates you
that means you're with Jesus because he that is not with me is against me and he that guy
that's not with me scatter it and you know this devil is a strong man but Jesus is stronger he
has power but Jesus more power there's a limit to the devil's strength but Jesus said if I with
the finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you it's fire heads
and I would have prayer Heavenly Father thank you Lord for your word thank you for this passage of
Scripture and Lord I know it can be heavy and not something we generally want to talk about the
devil his ranks and his realm the Lord I pray that you would help us to to understand that we
are engaged in spiritual warfare it is a fight and the devil's not a friend he wants to destroy us
and Lord I pray you'd help us to learn these things supply Lord help us to take confidence
in the fact that Jesus is the stronger than he that the devil has his limits and there comes a
point where the finger of God you see we love you in the masterless name of Christ we pray Amen
we're now brother Matt come up and lead us in a final song just want to remind you that we'd
love for you to come back tonight 6 p.m. for the evening service don't forget that if you're in
choir there's choir practice today at 5 p.m. and and of course we would love for you to come for
the evening service at 6 p.m. tonight and tonight we're gonna continue kind of a little bit we're
gonna shift gears we're gonna continue the study about Satan just get it out of the way and we're
gonna be looking at Luke 10 18 and he said unto them I beheld Satan as lightning fall from him
we're gonna talk about the fall of Satan and the reason we're gonna study it out it's gonna be very
much a Bible study tonight there'll be an application at the end like always but very much
Bible study but you know when it comes to the fall of Satan there's a lot of confusion and a
lot of contradiction because I think there's a big major misunderstanding regarding the fall of Satan
that sometimes Christians don't don't understand so they see verses that seem to contradict each
other and the Bible never contradicts itself if you ever find a verse that you think is
contradicting itself you're the you're contradicted all right you're the problem but hopefully tonight
it'll make sense I'll explain to you and it all you'll be able to put all these verses together
although all makes sense so we're gonna talk about the fall of Satan we'd love for you to come back
tonight 6 p.m. for the evening service just another part opportunity God's house with God's people if
there's anything we can do for you please let us know we'll have with Matt come up and lead us in
a final song turn to song 190
every day so clearly there is never a night so long
but the soul that is just in Jesus is our new Bible soul
the wonderful wonderful Jesus
in the heart he implanted the song
the song of deliverance our marriage is true
in the heart he implanted the song
there is
in the heart he implanted the song
the song of deliverance our marriage is true
in the heart he implanted the song
there is never a night
there is never a place
where Jesus is well tonight
and will guide me to the world
the wonderful wonderful Jesus
in the heart he entered the song
the song of deliverance our marriage is true
in the heart he implanted the song
let's sing it out on the last
there is never a place
where Jesus is well tonight
let God have mercy for him
through Jesus Christ his Son
I hear you through Jesus
in the heart he implanted the song
the song of deliverance our marriage is true
in the heart he planted the song
singing before we leave here if anybody has questions
about salvation church membership or baptism
the pastor will be at the door he would love to talk to you
or direct you to someone who is training to talk about that
I ask brother Joel Usher would you close a prayer for us
brother Paul thank you very much for first getting for our pastor
and all the great message we have been giving all through
the church's word
and the teaching of the ability of the Lord
and thank you for giving your life to our lives
and for the rest of your lives
amen
you