Seven Friends Of an Unclean Spirit

Matthew 12:43-45  “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. “Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” (NASB)

1. An unclean spirit like unforgiveness can bring seven more wicked spirits wicked than itself – resentment, ill-will, grudge, malice, retaliation, bitterness, and hatred. So we better forgive everyone everything every time, if we do not want our condition to be worse than before.
2. It is high priority that an unclean spirit like unforgiveness does not find its previous home empty, but occupied and ruled by the Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus warns us ‘that is the way it will also be with this evil generation’. So do not be surprised if you see this happening often but we have been forewarned. Let us be wise, and encourage others to be too.

Are You a Servant?

Since Jesus included an elder brother in  the parable of the Prodigal Son, we can be confident that he plays a important and significant role in this allegory.  Luke 15. 25-32 gives a very clear picture of his position in his father’s home (vs 31) and his attitude towards it (vs 29).

 

When  he realized his worthless brother had returned home in disgrace and his father had received him with open arms, all his pent up bitterness, envy and anger towards his father and brother surfaced. When he refused to enter his home, his father come out and pleaded with him to rejoice with his father’s joy. (Do we always rejoice in the things that give our Father joy?)

 

Though the eldest, with all its added privileges, his bitter words to his father reveals his servant spirit. A son, yet a servant, how pitiable. His words (slaving for you) and actions (became angry and refused to go in) reveal that he served his father not out of love but of compulsion.

 

Though sons, we serve our God willingly, for His love constraints us to express our love and gratitude in service to Him. But if as years pass by, our love weaken then everything we do in the name of the Lord, becomes a burden. Are you a son sitting at the feet of your Father or are you a servant toiling for a tyrant?

 

Seven Friends Of an Unclean Spirit

Find out who the seven friends of the spirit of unforgiveness are.

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