The Parables of Christ 4

The Strong Man and the House

October 26, 2003

Rev. Brian Kocourek

 

This morning we will examine the Parable of the strong man’s house. We find this parable in Matthew 12, Mark 3, and Luke 11. It was spoken in defense of the Holy Spirit which was showing Jesus the anointed the thoughts and intents of the hearts of men. Jesus had been accused of healing the sick by the power of Satan. Therefore these men were blaspheming the Holy Spirit that was telling Jesus what to do and say. And therefore this parable has all to do with the Holy Spirit casting out devils. Let’s read first from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 12.

 

MATTHEW 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?(I just love the way Jesus uses pure logic to rip to shreds their every argument they have for their own belief’s. Notice, he is saying here, if Satan fights against himself, then he has no kingdom, and what kingdom he is trying to acquire could never stand, so don’t tell me that Satan would cast out himself. Your argument has no basis in logic and is so stupid it shows that no thought has even gone into it. Then He continues with another brilliant piece of logic to systematically take apart their argument further.) 27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. (He says, look if what you say is true then it has to be in every case, and if that is so then what about your own children who do cast out devils? Come on, be consistent in your thinking. What you are accusing me of you must also accuse your own children of who have done the same thing. And those children will end up becoming your own judges, if you are not careful in what you are saying. Then after systematically destroying their flawed theology, He now begins to tell them by what power He is casting out the devils.)

 

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God,(He is saying, but, on the other hand, if what I am doing is the Spirit of God doing it,) then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Because a kingdom is not a piece of property, but it is a king and his people.

 

In LUKE 17:20 we read,   And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (It is not something that you look for visibly)  21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! …(He is telling them that it is not a place..) for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Now the Greek word that within was translated from is the word entos, and it means to be near, or in the midst of. Jesus was not telling these God rejecting Pharisees that the kingdom of God was in them. He would never say such as that. How can a fountain contain both good and evil water. How can a bad tree contain good fruit? It can’t be so. No, what He wss telling them is that standing right in their very midst is the King Himself and where the King is there are His followers, and therefore, the Kingdom is in your midst and you don’t even know it, because it does not come by what you are observing, but it comes by Divine revelation.)

 

Now, in getting back to our parable in Matthew 12:and picking up at verse, we hear Jesus telling the Pharisees  28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God,(He is saying, but, on the other hand, if what I am doing is the Spirit of God doing it,) then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (and then He explains why the devil must first be bound and cast out..)29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. (Now, since this is speaking of the Holy Spirit of God coming into the vessel and binding the devil that has control over that vessel, we need to understand what the word spoil means. Because it does not mean that the Holy Spirit comes in and binds the devil and then makes ruin of the house as we would think of food being ruined because it has become spoiled. The right translation for this word should not have been spoil but rather plundered. For the weapons that the enemy has used to control the house, have been gathered up and cast out.)

 

II CORINTHIANS 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

Notice that we have weapons of our warfare but so does the devil. And we are to use our weapons to bind his weapons. Remember, the greatest battle ever fought is in the mind.  And thus in the mind we are to destroy completely any resemblance of the devils weaponry. He uses the 5 senses as does God. If I am in a battle for a piece of ground, I will use the enemy’s own weapons against him if I take them from him. I am not going to give them back to the enemy, that would be suicide. But what I am going to do is to take them from him, and use them to destroy him on this battle ground. And so does the Holy Spirit, He comes in and cleans up the house, and then uses the same weapon’s to destroy the works of Satan, and to fortify the house. He said casting down reasoning, and yet that reasoning which is a weapon is now in the hands of God and He uses it for the defense of the Gospel just as Jesus did to tear down the  false doctrine of the Pharisees.

 

Jesus goes on in explaining what this parable is all about in verse 20 when he says, Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. 31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (what a terrible sin to speak against the Holy Spirit, and just think. It will never be forgiven, then it can never be placed under the blood of Jesus Christ.)

 

MARK 3:22  And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23 And he called them [unto him], and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. 28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: 30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

 

Just think to be never able to receive forgiveness. That means eternal separation from God. What a terrible consequence for words spoken from the mouth. But remember this also, that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. That is what Jesus told us. He said a good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, and neither can an evil tree bring forth good frit or good teaching. They just can’t do it. And neither does a good fountain bring froth both good and bitter water. It is either good or it is bitter, but the same source can not bring forth of both kinds, or both natures.

 

 

in Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

And in the message False Anointed Ones at the end-time, brother Branham taught us that the fruit is the teaching of the season. Therefore a the Tree which represents a man is known by what teaching he has.  Then what of those that are able to blaspheme? They never were one with God to begin with. Oh, they might be religious, and they might even be ministers of the Gospel, but not the Gospel of Christ. Far be it, a minister of Jesus Christ to blaspheme and speak evil of the very Anointer himself. 

 

Now the Greek word blasphemos comes from the root words Blapto which means to harm and phema which is a report. And the facts of life is that blasphemy against the Holy spirit is sin, which is unbelief. They simply do not believe, and can not believe, for there is no place in their soul for the Word.  And we are told in God’s own Word that “He that is born of God can not sin, He can not disbelieve, for God’s Seed remains in Him. Therefore, rest assured if you are seed of God you could never speak hurtful things against the Spirit of God. Then what of those that could call the Parousia of Christ such harmful and disrespectful words as puke or garbage or false doctrine? These men could not be seed of God, nor could they be born again of the Word of God.

 

Then, are they ministers? Absolutely they are, but the real question is whose ministers then are they? And the Apostle Paul gives us our answer in 2 Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers  (whose ministers?, Satan’s own ministers) also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

Now the Apostle John tells us that this sin is unto death.  JOHN 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin [which is] not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

 

And from QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS  preached on June 28, 1959 402-Q-92 Brother Branham said, There is a sin unto death, and you don't even pray for that sin. How many knows that there's a sin unto death? You don't even pray for it. Take Mark, the 3rd chapter of Mark. And after we find the 3rd chapter of Mark, then quickly we shall have this one Scripture before closing. Let's go to 3 and 22. And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub,... (They seen Him discerning the thoughts of the people.)... and they said, He has Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils cast he out devils. And he called them unto him, and said unto the--unto them in a parable, How can Satan cast out Satan?... (Now, if the devil can heal, how can he do it?)... How can Satan cast out Satan? ... if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand, And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind him--the strong man; and then he will spoil his goods. How can he go out into there, into them hearts and find what... (See?) lest it be of God? Verily I say unto you, All sin shall be forgiven unto... sons of men, and blasphemy wherewith... they--whatsoever--soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost has never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (That's the separation.) Because... (Why did He say it?)... Because they said, He has an unclean spirit.   403 Calling the Spirit of God that was doing these miracles in Christ, they said it was the Spirit of the devil doing that; Jesus said it is the unforgivable sin. And if you see a man... don't pray for him if he's making fun of the Holy Ghost and talking against the Holy Ghost, you are forbidden to even pray for such a person. You understand it? For there is a sin unto death. There's only one sin. Jesus said all manner of sin shall be forgiven the sons of men, but to blaspheme the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. Now people say, "Well, blaspheming the Holy Ghost,..." What is "blaspheme?" Means "to talk about, ridicule, make fun of, blaspheme." All right.

What did they blaspheme Him? Telling that Holy Spirit that was within Him, making Him act and do the things that He was doing, they said, "He's possessed with Beelzebub, the Devil. And that's the Devil, a fortuneteller in Him making Him do those things. Seeing the secrets in the people's heart, and telling Philip He knew where he was at before he come to the meeting, and casting out devils, and doing those things there, He does it by Beelzebub, and He is a devil." And Jesus said that sin shall never be forgiven, so that is the unpardonable sin never to be prayed for. It can never be forgiven. A man and a woman that does that has eternally sealed their self from the Presence of God forever and forever: no forgiveness.

 

LUKE 11:14    And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided  against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20  But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (the word spoils here was translated from the Greek word skulon which means “the arms that have been stripped off from the enemy”, in other words, the spoils of war.) 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first.

 

Now, the Apostle Paul uses this same word in describing the armor of the Christian in Ephesians chapter 6.

 

EPHESIANS 6:10    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 13    Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

 

Now the word armor means a covering to protect the body. It comes from the root word to arm, which is what we do when we are preparing for battle.

 

II CORINTHIANS 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 11, verse 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: In other words, when the devil has control over you, his weapons are working fine. He has you thinking his thoughts, and doing his actions, and speaking his words, etc. 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, (Listen to this quote from Brother Branham. In it he tells us that God is the only one stronger than the devil.

 

EXPECTANCY 53-0903   E-55 He only could know as the Father showed Him. And what the Father showed Him, they seen was perfect every time. So they couldn't understand that. And why wasn't He getting the people healed. They said, "Well, He's Beelzebub. He casts out devils by the prince of the devils." And what did Jesus turn and say? "If Satan cast out Satan, his kingdom's divided." Satan can't cast out Satan. Certainly not. Only God can cast out Satan. How can a strong man enter another's house?

 

ANOINTED ONES AT END TIME 65-0725M   231    Notice the children. "Who does the children... If I cast out devils by the Word of God (which He was the Word of God), who does your denominational children cast them out by?" Now... And God alone can cast out a devil; we know that: God alone, for the strong man has to be stronger than the one in his house. They had power to do it. You know the Revelation there said he--that antichrist that raised in the last days done signs and wonders that even deceived those that dwelled upon the face of the earth, and deceived every one of them, Christians and all, whose names were not written in the Lambs Book of Life--answering to Matthew 24:24--whose names were not written in the Lambs Book of Life from the foundation of the world. That Life that was in the root of that--of that genuine orange tree, that come up through all those citrus and everything else, and passed on and put the fruit in the top of the tree, above all the denominational grass and branches... You got it? I'll hurry.

 

And the Apostle John said, I JOHN 4:4   Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

Therefore, Jesus is saying when God comes into the house and overcome him, (satan) He (God) taketh from him (satan) all his armour (and remember the weapons of this warfare are imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought, (notice we are told every thought that would exalt itself against God.) wherein he (satan) trusted, and divideth his (satan’s) spoils (that is the weapons that have been plundered. And notice these weapons are divided. And what does that mean? Well is the Stronger one is God Himself and He is the King of Righteousness, then these weapons of the mind are Rightly divided by the king of righteousness Himself. Therefore all these imaginations, and reasoning and every thought that is brought into captivity is now rightly divided by the Word of Truth, and placed into their right perspective, concerning the Sovereignty of God. And then Jesus tells us). 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

 

And so what do they do? They go off and separate themselves from the brethren, as the apostle Jude said,  JUDE 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25    To the only wise God our Saviour, [be] glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

 

Luke 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

 

You see what good does it do for you to have God come in and cast out the devil and then you try to live a clean life without God? Jesus tells us you will never do it. You must be born again. And if God is residing in your vessel when that demon comes back He will find the house occupied and can not enter because the stronger man is in there which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory.

 

Luke 11:27  And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed [is] the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

 

 

I JOHN 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? The only ones then that truly can overcome are those who know their right position in the family of God and call Jesus what He truly is, The Son of God. Not God the Son, He can’t be His own Father.  And that is how we overcome, it is Christ in You, which is the Hope, or the earnest expectation of Glory, which is the very mindset of god in you. And what about those that overcome? Well, we have several wonderful promises from God Himself for overcoming.

 

REV 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

 

REV 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

 

REV 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

 

Let’s just bow our heads in thankfulness and prayer.