The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-02-06


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" ". 14). His mir
acles were for one principal reason
John $3.50. Matthew tells us Q2:23)
that in this case they asked the ques-
ton: rs 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. 1918,
1878, ~, yet they hesitated to come
out on his side. Into the midst of
their controversy ". Is, Matt. 1924;
Mark 1929 the Scribes and Pharisees
projected themselves. They had
come down from Jerusalem seeking,
that they might accuse him. John
1895, 36). 1t is ever thus that the
devil seeks to divert.
Convincing Logic.
II. The Defense wv. 1920. But
he, knowing their thoughts" Evident
ly 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 lisa. 1913, ~,
and must not his disciples expect a
like treatment? Matt. 1929. With
convincing logic Jesus reveals their
motive ". 49, and demonstrates the
untenable position and conclusion
which resulted from their own charge
Satan is not fighting himself. A king
never sends an army against his own
soldiers, but against those of his en-
envy. Therefore, out of their own &C
knowledgement that the devils were
| cast out, he proves that the Kingdom
of God has come upon them. Such an
accusation ". 49, was to Jesus an ev
idence of the depravity of their hearts
There is keen sarcasm in the answer
he demanded from Them ly. 19). Eyi
| IDENTIFY they, too, had had power over
demons, and it is easy to see the di
lemma into which he led them. This
is not the only time that Jesus con
victed men out of their own testi
mony Matt. 21:251.
III. The Application wv. 21-26)
With true teachers skill Jesus
drives home the truth brought out in
the preceding paragraph. Satan is 6
Strong man." but he, Jesus, is strong
er. He has power to overcome and tc
take from the strong man his armol
(defense), and his spoil, and to binC
him fast ". %; Mark 1927; Rev
20:2). Those bound by chains of sir
are the spoil of Satan, and Jesus if
the only one powerful enough to-
break the power of Cancelled sin
And set the prisoner free.
Cleanse the "Paiace."
With Christ there must be entire
possession; there can be no neutrality
". 23). We cannot belong to Chris
and be slave to Satan, to mammon
to self, or even to others whom We
may love. The persistence of evil il
here indicated. Unclean spirits art
ever seeking habitation. Therefore
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. TIT
parable that follows wv. 24-26
teaches this truth negatively. In ont
case Satan is dislodged by Christ h
finds the palace" ". 22) (man) II
be pre-occupied. In this case the pal
ace is empty Matt. 12:44. The alb
sence Of positive attachment, too, o.
possession by, Jesus Christ, involves
hostility to him. This picture is tina
of the reformed man, not of the re
| generated man. This latter has hi
place pre.occupied, and the returning
spirit can find no place of abode. I'm
less, however, such be the case, the
latter end of that man is far worse
than his first state; witness the gold
cured Incorporate men who return t
their cups e Pet. 2:22): they return
because they have no strong defender
to drive off the returning enemy
This application and principle her.
propounded may, and does, accoun
for most of the back-sliding after man,
of the so-called conversions, viz, tina
the germ of character has not beer
generated John so. 1t is by .fa
the most difficult proposition il
Christian work to reach one who il
thus gospel hardened.
w, The Illustration wv. 1886. II
his teaching, Jesus constantly used ia
miliar objects as illustrations. Thu
incongruity Of placing a candle undel
bushel measure rather than in 1T
rightful place that 1t may conspicu
ously perform its proper function is a
once apparent. Jesus is the Ligh
| John 7:17; SID, so also is tht
Christian. They are to be so set be
fore men that, seeing Christ reflected
in them, they will glorify the Father
who sent him. This is that which /:
used by God in redeeming, transform