Luke 11:21-26 – Satan

Christ is drawing a picture of Satan and his power in these verses. He speaks of the devil as a ‘strong man.’ Satan has won many victories over the souls of men; he has captured the vast majority of mankind and robbed them of heaven; he is a mighty enemy not to be taken lightly. Satan is well supplied with armour. He will not be overcome by feeble efforts. To war against him requires all our strength. And Satan has many weapons to attack the soul of man and reign in his heart. When men and women are dead in their sins, slaves to Satan, their hearts are at ease about spiritual things. It is a false peace from which they will one day awaken, but for the moment they are spiritually asleep. We should thank God that Jesus Christ is able to overcome this strong creature and his mighty armour, destroying his kingdom, and taking those men and women that belong to the devil and turning them to love and serve Him.

Christ also teaches the impossibility of neutrality in these verses. Nothing is so offensive to God as lukewarmness in belief. It is a terrible thing to be dead in our sins, but it is far worse to know the truth and yet try to take a middle ground, committing neither to Christ nor to the world. We must serve Christ with all our hearts, if we are going to serve Him at all. There must be no holding back, no compromise, no attempt to bring God and the world together. Those who hear the truth of the Gospel and hesitate, throwing off old sins and yet reluctant to come to Christ in obedient faith, are like the empty, cleaned-up house that just invites the devils right back again. It is not enough to clean up our lives, Christ must reign inside our heart or else the devil will.

Questions
1. What has Christ done to the devil?
2. What is wrong with a half-hearted commitment?
3. Who will reign in our lives if Christ doesn’t?

Prayer Points
1. Give thanks for Christ’s power over the devil.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.