Maud church of ChristBy Jim BradshawSunday Morning, June 8, 2014

Matthew 12:22-32

Abraham Lincoln SpeechOne of Abraham Lincoln’s most famous speeches: Made as he accepted the Republican Party’s nomination to be the state of Illinois U.S. Senator in June 16, 1858.

The best-known passage of the speech is:

A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South.

Mark 3:25

An Amazing FactMar 3:24-26 ESV If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. (25) And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (26) And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.

All Things Miraculous Belong to God!

Can This Be the Son of David?Mat 12:22-24 ESV Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind

and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. (23) And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" (24) But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."

Can This Be the Son of David?Jer 23:5-6 ESV "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,

when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (6) In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'

2Sa 7:12-13 ESV When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. (13) He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Can This Be the Son of David?Isa 35:4-6 ESV Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear

not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." (5) Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; (6) then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

Mat 12:24 ESV But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons."

Mat 10:24-25 ESV "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. (25) It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

Cast Out by The Finger of GodMat 12:25-28 ESV Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every

kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. (26) And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (27) And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. (28) But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Job 1:8-10 ESV And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?" (9) Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? (10) Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

Cast Out by The Finger of GodLuk 11:18-20 ESV And if Satan also is divided against himself,

how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. (19) And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. (20) But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Exo 8:19 ESV Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

Exo 31:18 ESV And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Cast Out by The Finger of GodMat 12:29 ESV Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and

plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

Luk 11:21-22 ESV When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; (22) but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.

Joh 16:33 ESV I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Cast Out by The Finger of GodMat 16:16-19 ESV Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of

the living God." (17) And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (18) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Christ’s Kingdom Stronger than Satan’s!!!

Cannot Forgive Blasphemy Against the Holy SpiritMat 12:30-32 ESV Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Which Side are YOU On?Luk 11:28 ESV But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Heb 4:12-13 ESV For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (13) And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Cannot Forgive Blasphemy Against the Holy SpiritMat 12:31-32 ESV Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. (32) And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

The Unpardonable Sin is specifically Blasphemy againts the Holy Spirit

1Ti 1:12-13 ESV I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, (13) though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

Cannot Forgive Blasphemy Against the Holy SpiritMat 12:31-32 ESV Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. (32) And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Jas 1:17 ESV Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Miracles, which were GOOD GIFTS from above can ONLY Come from God!!

So Who Can Be Forgiven1Jn 1:7-10 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (8) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.