By: Michelle C Tull
We've heard it preached that the Kingdom of God has two signs. The first sign is "casting out demons" and the second is "healing the sick". Casting out demons demonstrated how Jesus will finally stop satan from having Christians as his lawful captives, and, the healing of the sick represented how Jesus will heal us of spiritual and physical infirmities for all eternity.
In the book of Luke chapter 11 and verse 14, Jesus was driving out a mute demon from a certain man, and when the demon left, the man that had been mute spoke. The scripture continued that the crowd was amazed, but, something was not totally right... some of the people said that Jesus was able to do this only by way of His association with beelzebub, the prince of demons. Others tested Jesus asking for a sign from Heaven. (The beelzebub thing and the request for the sign are two thoughts that are connected.) Jesus had just given them a sign, a sign from Heaven, but evidently, it was not good enough for them! Nobody could discredit Jesus based on the miracles He did, so the people tried to discredit Jesus by saying that He was from hell.(They were saying that beelzebub was empowering Him!)
Jesus reading their thoughts and concluding that they were not really that dumb, spoke to them concerning the Kingdom, and a house being divided (Luke 11, verse 17). The people had determined that Jesus was the right hand man of satan and that He was out there driving out demons; that would have showed however that satan was coming against himself. Jesus spoke about their stupidity and the fact that they were listening to things that were not true and this prevented those same persons from entering into the Kingdom.
Jesus did not have to practice exorcism to drive out demons, He simply pointed the finger of God at them and the demons were expelled without all the "aesthetics". The "finger of God" was a term used to represent God's Holy Spirit and His rule. It was something that the pagans, magicians, wizards and astrologers understood, even though they did not obey God.
In Exodus chapter 8, verses 17 through 19, when the third plague with the lice came upon the Egyptian men and the animals, the magicians said to Pharaoh, "this is the finger of God." Those people knew exactly what Jesus was referencing; they could see it! They simply refused to acknowledge it - just like the Pharaoh. (The reason for their refusal was that their hearts were hardened.)
Luke 11, verse 20 reads, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come to you." This is Kingdom invasion! When Jesus does battle with satan by the Spirit of God, and begins to plunder the strong man's house, He frees the people from the bondage of the enemy. Right there in this text we identify that the powers of the Kingdom were at work and the Kingdom of God was already present.
Some people get confused over the fact that the Kingdom has come and is still coming. This might be attributed to the fact that the Old Testament does not separate the two comings of Jesus Christ. The "Great Day of the Lord" is always recorded as one event making it unclear that Jesus came to earth already to atone for sin, and that He is coming again for the final consummation with great power and glory.
Take this encouragement today: the Kingdom of God has arrived and its power is gathering many. God has equipped us to share our faith, enjoy His peace and joy and to experience victory over the evil one by His Word. Let us continue in the body of Christ to seek the lost and bring glory to the King of all Kings.
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