#72 Luke 11:21-28 Blessed Are Those Who Hear and Obey
On May 22, 2022 by Amy BurginAmy:
Episode #72 Luke 11:21-28
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin and I’m usually here with my daughter Joy. She’s out this week, but don’t worry, she’ll be back next week.
If you’re anything like us, you desire to fix your eyes on Jesus despite the distractions and pressures of this world. This podcast makes room to quiet the noise around and in your mind so you can see and hear Jesus better. Each week we focus on one passage from the Bible by reading it several times and createing stillness after each reading so we might also be still, listen, and know God more.
We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before I read today’s passage, take a minute to pour out your heart to God. Maybe it’s a list of questions for which you need answers, sadness, anxiety, hope, gratitude, or joy. Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to God in the next minute.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Amy:
In today’s passage, Jesus continues a conversation he has with a crowd after driving a demon out of a man. I’m going to read the passage two times. As I read, consider the question: What does this say about God?
Luke 11:21-28 Jesus said, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes 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.”
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Again?
Luke 11:21-28 Jesus said, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes 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.”
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about God?
[Pause and know]What Does This Passage Say About People?
Amy:
In today’s passage, Jesus continues a conversation he has with a crowd after driving a demon out of a man. As I reread the passage, consider: What does this tell you about people?
Luke 11:21-28 Jesus said, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes 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.”
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Take the next few moments to answer the question, what does this passage tell you about people?
[Pause and know]Lord, What Would You Have Me Know Or Do Today?
Amy:
In today’s passage, Jesus continues a conversation he has with the crowd after driving a demon out of a man. As I read for the last time, ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?
Luke 11:21-28 Jesus said, “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes 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.”
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Take the next minute to ask God, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”
[Pause and listen]Blessing
Amy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you turn your face toward God today and know Him more.
One Response
Amy:
It may feel odd to think about demon possession in 21st century American culture. Why is it another spirit could come inside my body? One day, when I was talking to God about this, the answer hit me. Our bodies were actually made to house more than one Spirit because our God desires to be that close to us.
In 1 Corinthians 3:16 Paul says to the church, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?”
Again, speaking to the Roman church in Romans 8:9 he says, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.”
In John 14:15-17, Jesus himself said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
Wow. What a blessing. We were made to house the very Spirit of God. Though the demonic may take advantage of our unique make-up, our ability to house more than one spirit, Christ is stronger and desires to drive the devil out so that we might be free and that He might have us close.
Closing
Amy:
Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.
It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.