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.
One of the greatest threats to the child of God is spiritual emptiness. Jesus describes it here before he had gone to the cross. The full understanding of the gospel hadn’t been revealed. Being a child of God is all about faith and being under control of the Master. We must believe on him as Savior, surrender to him by opening your heart and letting him in. If someone comes to your house then the house isn’t as empty as it was. This is the wonder of salvation. Before we were saved we were alone. The devil was no company. Sin wasn’t. The pretty-named gods of this world couldn’t offer company either. Who wants Satan for company anyway! When we’re saved the unclean is kicked out and cleaned out. Talk about a renovation. The Bible says all things become new when we accept Jesus as Savior.
A few chapters earlier the disciples were upset because others not in their group were casting out devils. Jesus told them that he who wasn’t against them was for them. We must busy ourselves with our own Christian upkeep. If we don’t keep a maintained spiritual life we’ll have trouble with the devil trying to occupy the space. We need to occupy ourselves with the things of the Lord. We can’t go empty in our heart and soul. If we do, first one thing then another and you wake up empty wondering why it’s not like it used to be. Why don’t I enjoy Christianity like I did. Is it others? What about us? Are we full? Is Jesus really your Lord?
If you’re lost Satan has you. You’re under the power of sin. There was nothing worth anything in our heart until we were saved. When we got saved we were cleaned out. God decorated us with the things of the child of God. We were filled by the Savior. When we buy a house it’s not enough to paint, caulk the cracks, fix the gutters and decorate it. Without furniture it would do no good. You couldn’t live in it. What good is decoration if you have to sleep and eat on the floor.
Sometimes we want the Lord to clean up our house but keep our old furniture or just bring in our own new stuff. We can’t do that. Unclean spirits are put out. The devil doesn’t like that. He’s not satisfied being thrown out like that. He wants back in his house. See verse 24. He calls it “my house.” You know what to do? Tell him this is the Lord’s house now!
Clean, decorated, but empty. The Lord needs to abide in us. If he doesn’t dwell there guess who will. If you ease the Lord out of your life you’ll find yourself empty. If the devil sees you empty what hinders him? You may be swept and garnished–cleaned and decorated. Are you empty? We have to keep prayer in our space every day. We have to give the Lord his lordship every day. We need a pure mind and soul that bow to the Lord. Otherwise the Bible says the last state is worse than the first. None of us wants to get into this shape. Keep your spiritual house occupied with the things of the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 