An Evil Spirit Returns

Matthew 12: 43 – 45 (NIV): "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

 Can a person really have a demon? This passage is one of many the clearly teaches that we can. Jesus often cast out demons. Paul said our struggle is with “spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12). I believe a Christian cannot be possessed by a demon because the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts when we are saved (Ephesians 1:13, 14). But clearly, we are in a spiritual warfare.

    Jesus’ point of this story, though, is that casting out a demon and leaving your heart empty only opens you up for more and worse possession. God never intended for us to live a clean, but empty life. Cleaning up our acts will never work. If we run out one evil spirit, Jesus said, it will not only come back, but it will bring friends. It will return and find our hearts wide open, ready to be re-occupied. We are fooling ourselves if we believe we can turn over a new leaf on our own power and expect to remain in a better state.

    Jesus doesn't want us to be religious – there were plenty of religious people all around him as he said this – he wants us to have a relationship with him. There's a huge difference. God doesn't want your heart to be clean and full of rules, he wants it to be full of him.

    Once we do this, God will take care of everything else. He will run out the evil spirits and he'll put up a “no vacancy” sign. He'll do the cleaning and he will keep the enemy at bay. What God desires is a world full of people who, by faith, have invited him into their hearts. A world of people who live a life filled with hope, love and power. A world of people filled with him.