| There is a very good, positive, and important | | | | Jesus is casting out a demon - a bad spirit - that |
| reason for knowing what is in The Word Of God, | | | | had made a man dumb. Not only was this man |
| and why it is there. | | | | unable to carry on a conversation, but he would |
| We are studying in Luke Chapter 11 and at verse | | | | not be able to express gratitude and praise in |
| 13 we read of Jesus Christ saying to His disciples | | | | worship, nor would he be able to pray out loud. |
| - how much more will your Father in heaven give | | | | These matters are important - the way we pray |
| the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. | | | | - the way we sing - remember we are appearing |
| This is one of the greatest gifts any man or | | | | in the presence of the King - Jesus Christ. |
| woman can receive - the gift of the Holy Spirit. | | | | The way we sing and praise reveals a lot - about |
| To receive that anointing - to receive that holy | | | | our love for Jesus - about our commitment to |
| power - to receive the Holy Spirit as Jesus | | | | Jesus Christ. |
| received when He came up out of the Jordan | | | | Jesus Christ casts out this evil spirit. The man is |
| River is a most precious experience. If only the | | | | set free. He is able to speak. |
| leaders of the nations would seek this anointing - | | | | And then, some people accuse Jesus of |
| what a different world this could be. | | | | committing the unforgivable sin. These critics said |
| When we ask and seek and knock - and go on | | | | Jesus was casting out evil spirits by using the |
| doing so - go on asking - go on seeking - go on | | | | power of the devil. They were saying that Jesus |
| knocking - that is the meaning of these words - | | | | got His power from Beelzebub - the king of |
| the Father is willing that we have exactly the | | | | demons - lord of the flies - insects. |
| same equipping as Jesus had. That is what Jesus | | | | Some of these people were so frantic to discredit |
| is teaching us here, as He sets out for Jerusalem. | | | | Christ and His Word and His Ministry that they |
| When we look at or consider - gifts - miracles - | | | | were saying that Jesus was in league with the |
| healing - prophecy and prophesying - speaking in | | | | devil. (Matthew 12 and verse 24 tells us it was |
| tongues and interpretation - it is a consequence of | | | | the Pharisees who said this.) |
| this. This was all first experienced at Pentecost | | | | This time - these people just went too far. At |
| and we have previously studied the details of that | | | | times to criticise can be very very dangerous, |
| occasion recorded in Acts Chapter 2 by the same | | | | especially if the negative comments are levelled at |
| medical doctor who has written this authentic | | | | what God is doing. |
| Gospel. | | | | Be careful as to the words which flow from your |
| As we move on into verse 14, it is very | | | | mouth. They reveal what is in our hearts and one |
| interesting that we read of spiritual warfare. Right | | | | day we will be answerable for every careless |
| away - in the next verse - we read of conflict. | | | | word we have spoken. There will be no use |
| When the Father gives the Holy Spirit, we can | | | | saying - O I did not mean to say that - I did not |
| become more aware of spiritual conflict, and | | | | intend to be so negative and critical. That is why it |
| involved in spiritual conflict. This was the | | | | is in the Word of God and that is why each of us |
| experience of Jesus. This was the experience of | | | | needs to know what is in the Word of God. |
| each of His disciples. | | | | |