Character Assassins!

Luke 11:14-23

14 Jesus delivered a man from a demon that had kept him speechless. The demon gone, the man started talking normally, taking the crowd by complete surprise. 15 But some people said, He drives out demons [because He is in liaison with and] by Beelzebub, the prince of demons. 16 Others were sceptical, waiting around for him to prove himself with a spectacular miracle.

17 Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, "Any country in civil war cannot stand for very long. A constantly squabbling family falls to pieces. 18 If Satan fights Satan, is there any Satan left? You accuse me of ganging up with the Devil, the prince of demons, to cast out demons, 19 but if you're slinging devil mud at me, calling me a devil who kicks out devils, doesn't the same mud stick to your own exorcists? 20 But if it's God's finger I'm pointing that sends the demons on their way, then God's kingdom is here for sure.

21" When a strong man, armed to the teeth, stands guard in his front yard, his property is safe and sound. 22 But what if a stronger man comes along with superior weapons? Then he's beaten at his own game, the arsenal that gave him such confidence hauled off, and his precious possessions plundered.

23 "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.

Food for thought!

Have you ever been misrepresented? Has anyone ever taken your words and motives and twisted them around and used them against you? Have you ever done something good, which was misinterpreted as bad? Have you ever been attacked, slandered and envied for doing good? This is what is happening to Jesus. He has done something good, he has healed a man, and his enemies are not happy; they decide to character assassinate him.

The earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus was surrounded by constant controversy. Nearly everyone He met misunderstood Him and what He came to this world to do. Nearly everyone was guilty of misrepresenting his words and his works. The things He did and said in love were used to attack Him in hate, especially by the religious leaders. They hated him and they hated everything he said and did. They despised Him so much that they actually plotted to have him killed, (Mark 3:6).

These men will do anything to kill Jesus. They begin by killing his name, his character, his fame. They begin by saying, He is demon possessed. "He drives out demons because He is in league with and by Beelzebub, the prince of demons." They are saying that Jesus is in partnership with Satan!!!!

These men consider the words and works of the Lord and attribute them to the power of the devil; they accuse Jesus of acting under the influence of “Beelzebub”. Beelzebub was a loathsome, wicked demon associated with all things dirty and filthy. It was a cruel, heartless attack. Why would they say something so foolish and so cruel against someone so innocent and so holy as Jesus?

If they acknowledge that Jesus is working His miracles in the power of God, then they will be obligated to follow Him too. If they acknowledge that Jesus is working His miracles in the power of God, they will have to admit that their old system of belief is dead and is being replaced. If they acknowledge Jesus and what He is doing, they are out of business and they know it! They will have to change and that is not about to happen. So, they attack Jesus and accuse Him of being in league with the devil. If this charge sticks, they can undermine His ministry with the people and draw away His crowds.

It is easy to attack people you don’t agree with. You don’t need facts; just make a few wild accusations and people who are not attentive will take the bait. When that takes place a life, a reputation, a family, or a ministry is destroyed. Beware that you are not in the business of attacking others. When you do, you are truly doing the work of the devil! He is a destroyer (1 Pet. 5:8), and he loves to enlist others in the business of destroying people!

There is nothing so cruel as slander, for it is apt to stick because the human mind always tends to think the worst and very often the human ear prefers to hear the derogatory rather than the complimentary tale. We need not think that we are free of that particular sin. How often do we tend to think the worst of other people? How often do we deliberately impute low motives to someone whom we dislike? How often do we repeat the slanderous and the malicious tale and murder reputations over the tea-cups?

Jesus responded to his attackers and totally destroyed their arguments. He uses illustrations from life that prove Satan cannot be in the business of casting out Satan.

A kingdom, a country, a family, a life divided cannot stand. For a kingdom, a country, a family, a life to be strong it must be united. For Satan to cast out his own demons would be counterproductive.

Children who grow up in a home where mom and dad fight like cats and dogs do not stand a chance. A marriage that faces a constant barrage of fighting is a marriage that cannot stand. A relationship that lives on strife cannot survive. A home is not a home unless it is filled with love, unity and peace.

Last but not least: "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." (Nahum 1:7).