Luke 11:14

Luke 11:14 says, 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.  Jesus cast out a devil from a person who could not speak, and then the man spoke.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, their is no demon that He does not cast out, and we are able to speak the truth spiritually for the first time and it have meaning.  Verse fifteen adds, But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.  Some people may have given Jesus praise for what He had done, but many tried to discredit Him by saying He was casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub, or Satan, the chief of the devils.  There are still many people today who see a miracle and want to give credit to anyone but God.  Verse sixteen continues, And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.  Still others wanted to tempt Jesus by asking for a sign from heaven.  We do not need to ask for some separate heavenly sign when we see a miracle from God today, but simply need to accept the miracle itself as a sign of God's love and mercy.  To do less is to tempt God. Verse seventeen declares, 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.  Jesus didn't just hear their words, but He knew the thoughts behind their words as well.  It is our thoughts that are important to God.  Jesus said a house divided against itself will fall.  Verse eighteen adds, If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.  Jesus asked that if Satan was divided against himself, which he would be if Jesus was casting out demons in the name of Beelzebub, how could Satan stand.  What we need to realize is that all evil is under the power of Satan and all good is under the power of God.  Verse nineteen continues, And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.  Jesus asked if He was casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub, then by whose power were their sons casting them out.  There were other men of Israel who were casting out devils in God's name, and they were praised.  Jesus had sent out some who did so.  We cannot attribute the miraculous work of God through certain people and attempt to discredit it through others if we are to be true followers of Christ.  We cannot be a divided house of God and be successful in advancing His kingdom as effectively as we should be.  Verse twenty states, But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.  Jesus said that if He cast out demons with the finger of God, then the kingdom of God had come upon them.  As followers of Christ, all that we do should be done under the power of God, because He is the only source of spiritual power.  Verse twenty-one adds, When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:  Verse twenty-two continues, 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.  Even though a strong man might have a stronger man take what is his, there is no stronger man than God, nor any Devil that is stronger, so if we put our faith in God, we are secure as long as we retain our faith.  Verse twenty-three declares, He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.  This is a very simple but very profound statement.  We are either for God or against God.  Their is no middle ground.