The Haunted House
Jesus’ ministry was focused on God’s love and care, therefore, He physically healed and spiritually delivered His many followers. Religious leaders often criticized Him for not always following the rules; they were all about looking righteous instead of being righteous. Before you judge them look at your own heart.
Why the title ‘haunted house’? Because after Jesus healed and delivered a man the people responded with wonderful amazement, “Is He Messiah?” however, the leaders accused Him of operating in Satan’s power. Jesus’ response to this indictment was a parable, a story, to illustrate a vital point (Matt. 12:22-32). His suggestion was that their reasoning was flawed, it wasn’t logical that He, operating in Satan’s power, would cast out Satan’s demons. It didn’t make sense!
On the other hand, if He was operating in the Spirit’s power as their ancestors had foreshadowed: Moses (Num. 11:16-30), Gideon (Jud. 6:34), Samson (Jud. 13:25), or David (1 Sam. 16:13) then God’s Kingdom had arrived. Blasphemy! Jesus was reminding the people that God’s desire has always been to be in intimate relationship with them, in fact, to live in their hearts and minds: His dwelling place He won’t share with anyone. Consequently, He taught that after you recognize Satan’s methods (the strong man) targeting your heart, as a believer, you have greater power than he does. You can bind him or lock him out of your house or life and take back or plunder what he’s stolen from you: your kids, your finances, your health, your relationships … living in the Kingdom of God means you can have victory over Satan.
… the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4b NLT
That’s not the end though, in verses 43-45 Jesus told a followup parable emphasizing the need to fill that empty, haunted house with a new tenant. It’s crucial to fill your empty house with God or you’ll just look good on the outside but the inside will be empty and available for another occupant, like the religious leaders, who will come with vengeance (7 times worse). We need to fill our hearts and minds with Him through honest prayer, thankfulness, and worship. He doesn’t want rule-followers but relationships with His people. Being filled and refilled is the key to living that Spirit-filled life guarding our houses and not allowing a place for Satan to operate.
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you … If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:9a, 11
Analyze what fills your house and evict whatever is not of God, then be filled and refilled with Him every day: allow no empty, haunted houses.
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