Strength In Numbers, Ha!

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Bible Tools Metaphysics Metamath Creationism Revelation The Gospels Commentary
The Gospels What Failure, Why? The Gospel According To Matthew Introduction The Baptisms, The Temptation Of Christ, New Wine Raca, Thou Fool Children In The Marketplace, Blasphemy And Casting Out Devils One Wiser Than Solomon Logic In The Gospels Kingdoms Divided The Line Is Drawn The Line Is Crossed The Family Of God Empty The Man, The Man Won't Rest, The Rest Won't Fail The Mustard Plant, Leaven In The Meal No Wedding Garment, Whose Resurrection? Ten Virgins, Ten Talents The Gospel According To Mark Introduction Bridegroom And Fasting, Christ The Testator Demons By Demons, Candles And Bushels The Sower – Reaping And Mustard Trees Corban ‘The Gift’ – Rewards In This Life, But Not $$$ A Close Comparison To Matthew 24 The Gospel According To Luke Introduction Temptation Of Christ, Dropping The Bombshell Bridegrooms, Garments, Children In Marketplaces Who Say Ye That I Am? – Mary And Martha Opinion, Expectation, Purpose, Division Judgement Already Happened In Part Mustard Trees, Leaven, Hate What You Have The Dishonest Steward Priceless Articles Of Faith, Marriage And Resurrection Matthew 24’s Companion In Luke, - Confirmation With Mark The Gospel According To John Introduction Born Of The Spirit, Where The Wind Blows, You See? Samaritan Woman – We Know What We Worship – Contrasts The Son Is Revealed As God – and Glorified In The Father Bread From Heaven, Flesh And Blood: Consumed Whole The Identity Of The Son Of God – Appearances Not Deceptive Those That See, Sheep Hear The Shepherd’s Voice Cryptic; Any Connection With Anselm? – the Holy Trinity Was Paul Truly A Christian? Introduction The Mystery Religions In the Days Of These Kings Why Christianity Won Saul, Part Of The Problem? Were Paul Not In Christ, Why Would He Risk It All? Conclusion New Testament In Christ Introduction Doctrinal Fundamentals The Sealing – Hit The Ceiling! The Right Hand Of Power Coming On The Clouds Of Heaven You've Got It Totally Upside Down! The Dumbest Thing I Ever Heard Introduction Many Paths To God - What Utter Bullshit Blood Of Christ Man, That’s Dumb! Should Have Been More Careful Paying For Yourself There? These Three Agree In One The Head Of The Corner No Marriage In Heaven Ye Do Therefore Greatly Err Strength In Numbers, Ha! Jesus Paid The Price, (And Gave Me Credit) My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? Shortcomings And Stumbling Blocks Introduction Gay Marriage A Stumbling-Block Trouble Dividing The Sexes Is There Freedom Of Religion? The Power Of The Cross Introduction Christ Obedient To The Cross Grace The Gift Of God Shadows And Substance Propitiation For Sins The Suffering Servant The Urim And Thummim Acts and Epistles I Introduction The Book Of Acts I The Book Of Acts II Moving On To Romans	Strength In Numbers, Ha! The encounter between Jesus and the pharisees who said Jesus casts out demons by the prince of demons is a shocking example of blasphemy, but Jesus answered calling them the synagogue of satan. In the account from Luke; -- Click To Expand/Collapse Bible Verses -- Luke ch11:v14-26 Luk 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. Luk 11:15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. Luk 11:16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. Luk 11:17 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. Luk 11:18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. Luk 11:19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. Luk 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: Luk 11:22 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. Luk 11:23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. Luk 11:24 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. Luk 11:25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Luk 11:26 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. (KJV) It took me a long time to separate the concept of the dwelling of the strong man in his palace from the individual that the spirit resides within. Jesus is not talking about a demon that inhabits a man here. Jesus opened with a statement of kingdoms, satan's and God's own,. In view is the fact that satans kingdom here is that of the physical nation of Israel to whom Jesus came to gather together His lost flock. In this sense Jesus is in the role of the stronger, and not as the devil who is being spoiled. Were the pharisees in good standing with God, (as opposed to doing the will of their father the devil as Jesus put it elsewhere) it follows that if Jesus were to be casting out with the authority of devils then the devil would be stronger than God, whose nation they claimed to be. The converse is true - that the Kingdom of God came with Christ and spoiled the devil of those goods he was holding captive in "his" palace. Jesus states that He is clearly gathering together His elect, and to oppose Him is to be doing the will of the devil. He winds up clearly juxtaposing the healing work of the sevenfold Holy Spirit with the work of a devil, which can only make a man worse even if there is some respite. So, what of strength in numbers? Clearly it didn't work for the pharisees and scribes in Jesus' day. The same can be said for those in the modern church who "claim to be Jews and are not" are essentially "those who claim to be Chritsians and are not" and are the modern day synagogue of satan. Strength in numbers is the goal of all these modern day revivals and ecumenicism - every "church" is separate from the others doctrinally and as men they would be double minded, lukewarm even on their own principles and ultimately not in good standing with God. The modern day church has chosen to rally around a common set of values, whether it be veneration of the nation state of Israel, or a more generalised ecumenicism,.. which is false doctrine itself as bad as any rapture theory - (that compromise is acceptable in the truth.) Satan has not been asleep for two thousand years and the only thing on the churches side as opposed to a lone believer is fellowship and strength in numbers. The former is not done in the truth when it is only found in the second, and the purer fellowship of the Lord is preferable. Jesus also taught that to make friends of future converts from unbelief (the mammon of unrighteousness) through those we correct in truth is wise - so that when we fail to find fellowship we can be still accepted by those related fellowships around us who will recognise our own doctrine - we avoid the judgement and scourging of that modern day "synagogue of satan" who have stopped watching Jesus and started watching on the basis of legalism and thus judging falsely from a position of like faults in themselves. Clearly strength in numbers has some benefit,.. but not on the basis of righteousness as found "in crowds" - the outer appearance only. It would appear that strength in numbers does not sit on the fence,.. but is clearly placed outside the Kingdom of God as well as in the rarity of the true believer amongst those who do not follow Christ. Continue To Next Page Return To Section Start Return To Previous Page