Key Passage
The Pharisees heard the people saying this. The Pharisees said, "This man uses the power of Beelzebul (the devil) to force demons out of people. Beelzebul is the ruler of demons." Jesus knew the things that the Pharisees were thinking. So Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom that is fighting against itself will be destroyed. And every city that is divided cannot continue. And every family that is divided cannot succeed. So if Satan (the devil) forces out his own demons, then Satan is divided. And his kingdom will not be able to continue."
— Matthew 12:24-26 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Incredibly, we can assign good deeds to bad motives or evil intent when those good deeds are done by those we don't like or hold as our enemies. Jesus faced this same problem. But Jesus reminds us that Satan and his forces already know what most of us intuitively realize when we think about it: you don't advance your own cause by causing division and rivalries. Satan also knows that if he can divide us, he can more easily defeat us. Jesus' point, however, is that even united, with all the evil one's forces intact, he could defeat Satan because he was stronger than Satan. Jesus went into Satan's stronghold and defeated him. With his help, we can, too!
Prayer
Holy and Almighty God, I believe that in Jesus you showed your power over the evil one. Please come with your power and might and completely eliminate his influence over me by sending Jesus to bring us home to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
— Colossian 2:12-15
Those children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like those people and had the same experiences people have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil. Jesus became like those people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.
— Hebrews 2:14-15
But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us. Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not death, not life, not angels or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from God's love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Romans 8:37-39
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
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The Pharisees heard the people saying this. The Pharisees said, "This man uses the power of Beelzebul (the devil) to force demons out of people. Beelzebul is the ruler of demons." Jesus knew the things that the Pharisees were thinking. So Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom that is fighting against itself will be destroyed. And every city that is divided cannot continue. And every family that is divided cannot succeed. So if Satan (the devil) forces out his own demons, then Satan is divided. And his kingdom will not be able to continue."
— Matthew 12:24-26 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Incredibly, we can assign good deeds to bad motives or evil intent when those good deeds are done by those we don't like or hold as our enemies. Jesus faced this same problem. But Jesus reminds us that Satan and his forces already know what most of us intuitively realize when we think about it: you don't advance your own cause by causing division and rivalries. Satan also knows that if he can divide us, he can more easily defeat us. Jesus' point, however, is that even united, with all the evil one's forces intact, he could defeat Satan because he was stronger than Satan. Jesus went into Satan's stronghold and defeated him. With his help, we can, too!
Prayer
Holy and Almighty God, I believe that in Jesus you showed your power over the evil one. Please come with your power and might and completely eliminate his influence over me by sending Jesus to bring us home to you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scriptures
— Colossian 2:12-15
Those children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like those people and had the same experiences people have. Jesus did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil. Jesus became like those people and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.
— Hebrews 2:14-15
But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us. Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not death, not life, not angels or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us—nothing in the whole created world—will ever be able to separate us from God's love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Romans 8:37-39
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
© 1996-2017. All rights reserved.
