CLEAN – podcast 19 (The House Swept Clean)

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.Context (A)Luke 11:14-23Jesus, exorcism, and BeelzebulScriptural study: Luke 11:24-26This is a picture of an exorcism, though not explicitly so stated.When we become followers of Christ we remove some behaviors and replace them with others. We subtract, but we also add. If we're only characterized by what we don't do, or by what we are against, instead of by what we do do, we will be empty, and mislead many. God has work for us to do (Eph 2:1-10)!It's worse to be a religious, hollow hypocrite than to be lost entirely. Matthew 23: review the woes and notice how hard Jesus hammers hypocrisy.Use the time wisely (Eph 5:15). God cares about how we schedule our days!Context (B)Luke 11:27-28Focus on the mother of Christ, rather than on obeying Christ's teaching. This is what completes us, and what keeps the Devil away. "Idle hands are the Devil's workshop."God values religion and piety a lot less than he values obedience.It's amazing that already in the 2nd century veneration of Mary was beginning. By 431 she was promoted to being Mother of God.There will always be religious people trying to distract us, and make us feel okay about not obeying the will of God.ConclusionDon't just conquer laziness, or lying, or lust, without cultivating a strong devotional life. This won't work!Don't just go to church, without going out into the world. Don't let the Great Commission become in your life the Great Omission!Don't become rid of one sin only to be overtaken by seven! It makes no sense to cut out drunkenness -- only to be overtaken by envy, bitterness, hypocrisy, judgmentalism, a critical spirit, pride, and arrogance!Don't be a house swept clean. Be clean, of course, but don't stop there. A truly pure devotion to God   means being ministers of the gospel. Everyone is in the ministry. If that's not true in your case, or your church teaches that only staff members or leaders are in the ministry, don't be deceived.A true disciple longs (1) to know God and (2) to make him known!Internalize this lesson, and our faith will be powerful and pure and effective. Materialism, sexual sin, and apathy about the things of God will be far from our hearts. We will burn with righteous passion for him and his mission.