Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-02-14

/. The Accusation fvv. 14-16-) The
fact of demono1ogy as revealed in the
New Testament records Is here
strongly emphasized. Their existence,
their malignity, their evil powers,
their relation to the devil, and yet
their subsection to our Lord, is all
clearly set before u.s. The devil had
SO taken possession of this man that
he could not speak, yet word from
Jesus, and the dumb spake- That he
should have such power caused the
people to wonder" w. 14). His mir
acles were for one principal reason
John $3.50. Matthew tells US (12:23)
that in this case they asked the ques-
ton: us this the Son of David E. g.,
the promised Messiah? The record
does not, however, indicate that they
believed on, him-were converted
They knew what had been prophesied
about the Coming One lisa 29;1S,
1878, A, yet they hesitated to come
out on his side. Into the midst or
their controversy ". Is, Matt. 12:24;
Mark 3:22) the Scribes and Pharisees
projected themselves. They had
come down from Jerusalem seeking,
chat they omight accuse him" John
1895, So. 1t is ever thus that the
devil seeks to divert.
Convincing Logic.
II. The Defense CIV. 11-2O). But
he, knowing their thoughts" Evident
~ they dared not openly to make their
accusations They would not accept
the natural and. true explanation
Jesus endured this contradiction and
these charges for US Elsa. 1873, ~,
and must not his disciples expect
convincing logic Jesus reveals their
motive (v. 16) and demonstrates the
untenable position and conclusion
which resulted from their own charge
Satan is not fighting himself. king
never sends an army against his own
soldiers. but against those of his en-
envy. Therefore, out of their own &C
Acknowledgement that the devils were
cast out, he proves that the kingdom
of God has come upon them Such an
accusation ". 15) was to Jesus an ev-
idence of the depravity of their hearts
There is keen sarcasm in the answer
he demanded from them ~ 49, EVIL
IDENTIFY they, too, had had power over
demons, and it is easy to see the sdr
| lemma into which he led them. This
| is not the only time that Jesus con-
victed men out of their own testi-
mony (Matt. 21:25).
| III. The Application CIV. 1926
| With a true teachers skill Jesus
drives home the truth brought out IL
the preceding paragraph. Satan is
strong man." but he, Jesus, is strong
er. He has power to overcome and to
take from the strong man his armor
(defense), and his spoil, and to bind
him fast ". %; Mark 1927; Rev
20:2). Those bound by chains of sin
are the spoil of Satan, and Jesus Is
the only one powerful enough to
break the power of Cancelled sin
And set the prisoner free
Cleanse the palace"
With Christ there must be entire
possession; there can be no neutrality
". 23). We cannot belong to Chris
and be a slave to Satan, to mammon
to self, or even to others whom W.
may love. The persistence of evil II
here indicated. Unclean spirits ar
ever seeking a habitation. Therefor
it is not enough for a man to b.
cleansed his dwelling must be occu
pied, and if the Holy Spirit does no
take possession, the evil one will. Tn
parable that follows (vy. 1926
teaches this truth negatively In on
case Satan is dislodged by Christ, h
, finds the palace" ". 22) IMAM t
be pre-occupied. In this case the pa
, ace is empty Matt 12:4G. The al
sence of positive attachment, too, o
possession by, Jesus Christ, involve
hostility to him. This picture is tina
of the reformed man, not of the II
; generated man. This latter has hi
| place pre-occupied, and the returnin
2 spirit can find no place of abode u
= less, however, such be the case, tn
t latter end of that man is far wors
than his first state; witness the golt
cured Incorporate men who return
their cups e Pet 2:22); they retur
O because they have no strong defende
to drive off the returning enem
d This application and principle hel
propounded may, and does. accoul
for most of the back-sliding after man
OF the so-called conversions, viz, tn;
the germ of character has not bee
: generated (John BID 1t is by Fl
. the most difficult proposition
= Christian work to reach one who
g thus gospel hardened
". The Illustration (vv- 1886
his teaching, Jesus constantly used
miliar objects as illustrations tt
e incongruity of placing a candle und
u a bushel measure rather than in j
II rightful place that it may conspic
10 ously perform its proper function is
IN once apparent. Jesus is the Lig
SO John 7:17; S:12). so also is Il