My Motives (Chantilly Sermon)
May 17, 2026
2 Kings 6:17 CSB – So the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Luke 11:14-23 CSB – Now he was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven.
17 Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons[i] he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.
Jesus Exposes the Unseen Spiritual Reality (Provokes an Accusation)
Luke 11:14-16 CSB – Now he was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven.
Ephesians 6:12 CSB – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”—C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
Three Responses
Luke 11:14b, the crowds were amazed.
Luke 11:15, But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
Luke 11:16, And others, as a test, were demanding of him a sign from heaven.
Jesus Clarifies Reality
Luke 11:17-19 CSB – Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.
Romans 1:21-22 CSB – …their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools…
Proverbs 9:10 CSB – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Luke 11:19 CSB – And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.
Jesus Gives Further Clarity
Luke 11:20-23 CSB – If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.
The Strong Man vs. The Stronger Man
Luke 11:22-23 CSB – When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder. 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.
1 Peter 5:8 CSB – Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
1 John 4:4 CSB – You are from God… the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Luke 11:22 CSB – But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers him, he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder.
Two Keys to Spiritual Strength
Key #1: Be Changed by Jesus’ Power
Luke 11:24-26 CSB – “When an unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, and not finding rest, it then says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ 25 Returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that person’s last condition is worse than the first.”
First cause of spiritual sickness: changing without Jesus’ power
Pride can often be used to beat down the simpler vices. Teachers, in fact, often appeal to a boy’s Pride, or, as they call it, his self-respect, to make him behave decently: many a man has overcome cowardice, or lust, or ill-temper by learning to think that they are beneath his dignity — that is, by Pride.
The devil laughs. He is perfectly content to see you becoming chaste and brave and self-controlled provided, all the time, he is setting up in you the Dictatorship of Pride.”—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Spiritually Healthy People are Changed by Jesus’ Power
Key #2: Totally Surrender to Jesus
Second cause of spiritual sickness— spiritual neutrality
Luke 11:23 (The Message) – “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.
Revelation 3:15-16 CSB – I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.
Luke 11:27-28 CSB – As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the one who nursed you!”
28 He said, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
“We do not come to God as bad people trying to become good people; we come as rebels who must lay down our arms. — C.S. Lewis
