Luke 11:21-23 - Power

Luke 11:21-23 (ESV)

[21] When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; [22] but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. [23] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Jesus had just cast out a demon and was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul the prince of the demons, i.e. Satan. Jesus reveals the absurdity of that statement. Why would Satan cast out his own demons and release someone from their power? He then ends with the verses above. Satan is the strong man who binds people and guards his possessions, but Jesus is the one who is stronger. He is the one who releases people from the Enemy’s restraint.

It is common to think of Jesus and Satan, or God and Satan as opposite that are almost equal. Nothing could be further from the truth. Satan may be the chief of demons, but he is just a fallen angel. I think it was C.S. Lewis who once observed, if Satan has an equal it would be Michael the Archangel, not God. I am convinced that one of his ploys is to convince us of his power, but his greatest power is deception. We need to set our eyes on the stronger man, on Jesus the Son of God who has all power. Are you with him?


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