Main Text: Luke 11: v14, v21-22, same story is told in Matthew 12:22-29.

The people brought to Jesus a man who was demon oppressed by a mute demon, (Matthew says blind and mute). When the demon left the dumb man spoke v14, (Matthew says he spoke and saw).

The Pharisees accused Jesus that he was driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub, that it the prince of demons. Jesus said that if that were so, then Satan’s kingdom is divided and cannot stand; but rather the kingdom of God has come.

In verse 21-22: Satan is displayed as a strong man, fully armed, guarding his own house/palace/kingdom jealously and his possession/goods are safe.

• The strong man/Satan cannot allow his kingdom to be plundered.
• He must first be incapacitated/tied up/overpowered/weakened/immobilized.
• Only a stronger man can do that – That is Jesus.
• Jesus is displayed as stronger than Satan; He enters into Satan’s House i.e. The world under control of the evil one – 1 John 5:19.
• Jesus himself said: “Now is the time for judgement on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out” – John 12:31.
• Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan – 1 John 3:8
The stronger man/ Jesus attacks and overpowers Satan, takes away his armour (trust) and divides his spoils (the souls of men), which he guards jealously so that they remain under his oppression.

On the cross, Jesus nailed all the accessions Satan had against us, so that we can be free from his oppression (Colossians 2:14). v15 – ^“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross”.   Like the man who was blind and mute, under Satan’s oppression, Jesus can set us free from any kind of oppression/addiction/sin.

In Mark 5, we find the story of a demon possessed man who was a captive of Satan – Satan jealously guards his spoils/goods/souls of me under his captivity.

• He was staying in the tombs (Abnormal behaviour, staying among the dead). He had no hope.
• No one could bind him with chains and shackles (Talks, counselors, motivational talks, witchcraft cannot contain/ deliver those under Satan’s oppression).
• He broke the chains and shackles and chains (supernatural power working in this man, and cannot be dealt with naturally). He was uncontrollable.
• He was always crying – Night & Day (Desperate).
• He was cutting himself with stones (Destroying himself) The thief/Satan, comes only to steal, kill and destroy – John 10:10
• After Jesus delivered him from the chains and shackles of the strong man/Satan – the man who was demon possessed in V15 is now sitting down, clothed and in his right mind (Restored)
• Only Jesus has the power to restore us back to God, and God’s plan for us – unlike the thief, He came so that we could enjoy life to the full – John 10:10

Only Jesus has the power to deliver us and the world from sins of fornication, drugs, adultery, pornography, malice, greed, witchcraft, suicide, idolatry, envy hatred, murder, tribalism, racism, curses, alcoholism etc. which have bound many.

Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. John 14:6. The truth set us free – John 8:31-32.

Today if you surrender your life to Jesus, He will set you free and you shall experience the piece of God, and become a new creation. He will set you free and you shall be able to worship God I truth and in the Spirit.