Luke 11:20-23 New International Version 20 But if

[Isaac Samuel Lubwama]

Luke 11:20-23 New International Version
20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Romans 6:20-23 New International Version
20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness.
21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 61:1 New International Version
The Year of the Lord’s Favor
61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Romans 8:1-2 New International Version
Life Through the Spirit
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

 

[Powers]

I prayed with you in Jesus Name amen.

 

[Articles]

We see in your post a heart that is clearly stirred by the power of God’s Word and the reality of spiritual warfare—this is a good thing! The passages you’ve shared speak profoundly to the victory we have in Christ over sin, death, and the enemy’s strongholds. Let us respond with the truth of Scripture and lift these truths up in prayer, for the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).

First, let us affirm what Jesus declares in Luke 11:20-23: *"But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you."* Here, Christ reveals that His authority over darkness is undeniable proof that the Kingdom of God is breaking into this world. The imagery of the "strong man" (Satan) being overpowered by One stronger (Jesus) reminds us that no scheme of the enemy can stand against the power of our Lord. Yet, Jesus also gives a sobering warning: *"He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters."* There is no neutrality in the spiritual realm. Either we are surrendered to Christ, actively gathering for His Kingdom, or we are, by default, aligned with the scattering work of the enemy. This is a call to examine our hearts—are we fully submitted to Jesus, or are there areas where we’ve allowed compromise or passivity?

The passage from Romans 6:20-23 further underscores this truth. Before Christ, we were slaves to sin, reaping shame and death. But now, in Christ, we are slaves to righteousness, reaping holiness and eternal life! The wages of sin is death, but the *gift* of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Notice the contrast: wages are earned, but eternal life is a *gift*—one we could never earn but receive by grace through faith. This should fill us with both gratitude and urgency. If we’ve been set free, why would we ever return to the chains of sin? Yet how often do we, like the Israelites, grumble in the wilderness and long for the "leeks and onions" of Egypt (Numbers 11:5)—the temporary pleasures of sin that lead only to death?

Isaiah 61:1 proclaims the mission of the Messiah: to preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim freedom for the captives. This is the same mission Jesus claimed for Himself in Luke 4:18-19. If you are feeling broken, captive, or oppressed, take heart—Christ came to set you free! But freedom is not passive. It requires our active participation. We must daily choose to walk in the Spirit, for as Romans 8:1-2 declares, *"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death."* The Spirit empowers us to live in victory, but we must yield to Him moment by moment.

Now, let us pray over these truths and ask the Lord to apply them deeply to our lives and to the lives of all who are reading:

Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We thank You that by His finger—by His authority and power—demons are cast out, strongholds are broken, and Your Kingdom advances. Lord, we confess that there are times we’ve allowed the enemy to have a foothold in our lives, whether through unrepentant sin, fear, doubt, or complacency. Forgive us, Father, for the ways we’ve scattered instead of gathered, for the times we’ve been lukewarm instead of fully surrendered to You.

We declare today that Jesus is Lord over every area of our lives. We renounce any alignment with the enemy’s plans and submit ourselves wholly to Your Kingdom. By the power of the Holy Spirit, break every chain, shatter every stronghold, and set every captive free. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may walk in the freedom Christ purchased for us on the cross. Let us no longer be slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness, reaping holiness and eternal life.

For those who are reading this and feel bound by addiction, fear, shame, or any form of oppression, we speak life and freedom over them now. Jesus came to proclaim liberty to the captives, and we stand on that promise. Let the truth of Your Word penetrate every heart and mind, bringing conviction where needed and comfort where there is brokenness. May we all rise up as warriors for Your Kingdom, gathering instead of scattering, advancing instead of retreating.

We also lift up those who may not yet know You, Lord. Open their eyes to see that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Draw them to Yourself, Father, and let them experience the power of Your saving grace.

Finally, Lord, we ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit upon Your people. Fill us anew, that we may proclaim the good news of the Gospel with boldness and love. Let us be vessels of Your healing, Your freedom, and Your truth in a world that is lost and hurting.

We pray all these things in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our King and Deliverer. Amen.

Beloved, if you are reading this and have never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, we urge you to do so today. The Scriptures are clear: *"If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"* (Romans 10:9-10, WEB). There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Turn from your sins, place your faith in Jesus, and receive the gift of eternal life. If you’ve already done this but feel distant from God, repent and return to Him. He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Walk in the freedom Christ has won for you, and never forget: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11). The enemy has been defeated—so live like it!

 

[hostadmin]

Dear friend, we're standing with you in the power of God's Word. We've seen that Jesus' authority over darkness is undeniable, and His Kingdom has indeed come upon us. But let's not forget the tender heart of our Father, who desires for us to live in freedom and abundance.

In Romans 8:1-2, we read, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." This is our reality, our identity in Christ. But sometimes, we can forget this truth and get caught up in our struggles, feeling overwhelmed by our circumstances or past failures.

Let's take a moment to remember who we are in Christ. We are loved, forgiven, and set free. We are no longer slaves to sin but children of God, walking in the Spirit. When we feel weighed down, let's bring those feelings to the Lord and ask Him to remind us of our true identity.

Let's also pray for one another, that we would walk in the fullness of our freedom and authority in Christ. We can pray for strength to resist temptation, for eyes to see the truth of God's Word, and for hearts that are fully surrendered to Him.

And remember, friend, if you're feeling distant from God, it's okay to be honest about that. He's always there, ready to welcome you back with open arms. Just take a step towards Him, and watch as He meets you right where you are.

Let's keep encouraging one another, standing firm in the truth of God's Word, and walking in the freedom and love that Jesus has won for us. We're in this together, and we're stronger when we lift each other up.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

 

[Windwold]

Praying with you in Jesus Name. Amen.