Scripture Reading:
Matthew 12:38-45 NIV [38] Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” [39] He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, now something greater than Jonah is here. [42] The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here. [43] “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. [44] Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. [45] Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Introduction
A new sheriff was elected at a time when the community was being plagued by a lot of burglaries. He encouraged a “neighborhood watch program” and asked the people of the community to be on the lookout for suspicious-looking strangers. The sheriff encouraged neighbors to inform those near them when they would be absent so they could be on alert for any suspicious activity during their absence. At the end of one year, there was a significant decrease in the number of burglaries in that part of the county.
An empty house is in greater danger than a house fully occupied. Unoccupied property is always in danger because it presents an invitation to burglaries, vandalism and squatters.
Jesus used these known facts about empty houses to illustrate a greater truth: the danger of having an empty soul.
Text:
Matthew 12:43-45 NIV [43] “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. [44] Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. [45] Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
When Jesus told this parable He was speaking to his nation, Israel, and to its religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees.
The evil spirit of idolatry had been removed from the lives of the people of Israel as a result of the pain of the exile. According to many, in fact most of the messages of the prophets of the Old Testament, the Babylonian captivity was a punishment for the Jewish people's idolatry and disobedience to Jehovah.
After the exile never again was the nation of Israel tempted by the worship of idols. However at the same time, the people of Israel had neglected to let the true God of love, grace, forgiveness, and helpfulness enter into their hearts and lives. Consequently, they had an empty soul. The nation and the people were experiencing the results of being empty of God and his goodwill for their lives.
Their religion was empty in that it was full of negatives and lacked involvement in outreach. It was all works. Do this, don’t do that. A person can participate in religious activities yet have an empty soul in terms of being filled with the Holy Spirit and His goodness.
This parable of the empty house should cause us to get a little nervous. It is possible that some of us have not let the Holy Spirit fill our lives in such a manner as to keep the evil demonic spirits away from us. Now I don't believe that a Christian who has been indwelt by the Holy Spirit at salvation can be possessed by a demonic spirit but we can sure be oppressed and harassed by them and this can happen without us really being aware of it.
I. The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day were great at emphasizing the negative.
Their favorite verses began with, “Thou shalt not.”
Exodus 20: 7, 13-17 KJV [7] Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
[13] Thou shalt not kill. [14] Thou shalt not commit adultery. [15] Thou shalt not steal. [16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. [17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
These are things that Christians and all people, for that matter we shouldn’t do. However the danger in emphasizing the negative only, as many believers today who take great satisfaction in their negative goodness, is that they become very pious and self-righteous. They speak loud and clear about what they have not done and they don't do and announce the love of your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus would assert that negative goodness is not good enough.
II. There can be a shallow ineffectiveness of reformation.
Some people have thought they were very religious because they turned over a new leaf and abandoned or renounced a bad lifestyle, which is a good thing, but the
Parable of the empty house, points out that reform or stopping to do something is not enough and will prove to be ineffective in the long run if you don’t add something to replace what you stopped doing. Let me repeat that stopping to do something is not enough and will prove to be ineffective in the long run if you don’t add something to replace what you stopped doing.
A. For example, alcoholics or drug addicts need to do something besides just giving up the use of alcohol or drugs as a form of coping with the pressures of life.
People who consume alcohol and use drugs illegally, are using them to dull the pain that comes as a result of living. Think about it, they are in reality a substitute for that which only the Spirit of God can do in the life of the individual.
Here is something that I said at Jeanette’s son Derick eulogy on Thursday
We need to hear and believe that in the worst of times the Lord can cheer our souls with His presence and with a message that is above and beyond us. The settings for our daily lives and the schedules we follow are all tied up with the choices we've made and the lifestyles we have followed, but we need to recognize that when our hearts are heavy from grief we need to be refreshed; and God is the only one who can do that. His comfort and peace make all the difference in the world.
B. Lovers of pleasure need to do something more than stop a habit that gives them temporary pleasure but that is detrimental to them. It could be pornography, or gambling, or even shopping. You need to do something more than just stopping doing it, you need to replace it with something that is not detrimental.
C. Greedy people need to do something more than just quit grabbing for more of the possessions of the world. They need to become like God and become generous givers rather than greedy grabbers.
Instead of engaging is pornograpy, gambling, shopping, or gossiping, Replace it by reading and studying the Bible, praying or volunteering to help the homeless and needy in our communities
III. The reason you have to replace the old stuff is because evil is aggressive.
Jesus was not only focusing on the depravity of the human heart when he told this parable of the empty house. He was recognizing the malignant aggressiveness of evil and the tendency of evil to return again and again.
This is the verse that ends the account of Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness after His baptism.
Luke 4:13 NIV When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:13 AMP [13] When the devil had finished every temptation, he [temporarily] left Him until a more opportune time.
A. We need, with the help of God, to drive away and stand against every evil spirit that would oppress and harass us, and God as provided equipment to do just that
Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV [10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. [11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. [14] Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, [15] and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. [16] In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. [17] Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
B. We need to recognize that the evilspirits may come back in another form unless the place from which they were driven is filled with the presence of God. Only God in his fullness can prevent the return of evil into a person’s life.
IV. Let God fill your life with good things.
It is not enough to be merely empty of evil. We must let God fill our hearts and lives with His presence. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. When we ask God to fill us with His Spirit, we are asking Him to control our lives.
Ephesians 5:18 NIV Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
The word the apostle Paul to describe the filling of the Holy Spirit also means “to permeate”, or spread throughout, penetrate, percolate through, extend throughout.
In other words, allow the Holy Spirit to be part of every aspect of your life. He wants to permeate your careers and our ministries. He wants to be a part of everything.
So let the Holy Spirit permeate every area of your life. Let the Holy Spirit fill you and control you. It isn’t about trying harder; it’s about realizing there is power available to help us live the Christian life.
A. The mere absence of evil in your life will not bring you fullness of joy.
B. A heart that is empty of evil and cleansed from sin must be filled if it is to remain clean and experience fullness of joy.
The way to keep the weeds down in a garden is to fill that garden with seeds and plants so the weeds and the grass can be easily controlled and crowded out.
C. We must let God’s Spirit fill our lives. We must fill our lives with the things of God or the evil spirits will return to plague us. An empty mind and an empty heart invite disappointment and tragedy.
Philippians 4:8 NIV [8] Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Many professing Christians are characterized by a negative form of religion and have let evil spirits come and fill their minds and their lives. Think about the evil spirit of self-righteousness that makes us so unattractive in the eyes of the unsaved people around us. Consider the evil spirit of self-satisfaction that causes us to live dormant and stagnant lives. Consider the evil spirit of selfishness that causes us to not reach out to win others. Consider the evil spirit of apathy that leads to boredom and dissatisfaction with life. Consider the evil spirit of criticism of those who are trying to do the will of God.
Evil spirits can take many forms and occupy hearts that should be filled with the Spirit of God and with the goodness of God.
Conclusion
God wants to occupy the house of your soul. He wants to help you cultivate the fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
He wants to help you to love him supremely and to love yourself properly and to love others in a helping and joyful way.
Mark 12:29-31 NIV [29] “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [31] The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
When we permit God to fill our hearts and lives, he gives us a great inward security that replaces the fear and anxiety that dwelt there before.
1 John 4:16-18 NIV [16] And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. [17] This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. [18] There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
When we are filled by the Holy Spirit He is permitted to fill our hearts and lives, he enriches us so that we can become givers instead of getters. He enables us to experience a joy that overflows and brings joy to others.
1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
God wants to help you be what he meant for you to be before Satan came in and disturbed and destroyed the beauty and peace of the Garden of Eden which was paradise. God wants to restore paradise in your heart, and he will do that only through Jesus Christ
John 14:6 NIV [6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to comfort us in our weaknesses. You give us strength when we cannot take another step. Guide us into all truth, remind us of your ways, and give us boldness to testify about what you're doing in our lives. "I pray that we recognize these blessings that the Spirit brings to us because of the victory of Jesus. We praise you for your incredible gift of grace and the enduring presence of the Holy Spirit who assures us of your great and abundant blessings" Amen
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