Good morning everyone,

Luke 11:18-21-18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

One of the most challenging things for us as believers throughout our walk with Jesus, is to seriously take to heart His Words and what it really means to disobey them. The enemy is the master of deception in that he looks to lure us through what we sinfully desire. Even though as Christians our new desire is for Christ, unrepentant sin dulls our intimacy with Jesus, and stirs up our "carnal lusts" to be fulfilled (James 1 v15). At this point, the struggle is the allegiance between "two kingdoms" for the Christian.

Though we as believer’s belong to the Father through Jesus, and no one can pluck us out of His hand (John 10 v28,29). We still have the ability to do what any unbeliever does, which is sin. The bible calls it in Ephesians 2 v2-"following the prince of the power of the air", which unbelievers do in their blindness. Yet we too walk as being blind when we assume that we have our "own kingdom" and our decisions are our own, and not influenced by either the Holy Spirit or the devil (2 Peter 1 v9). To believe that we are walking without any influence to either of these is to think as the world does, and believe we rule our own kingdom!

I believe "human autonomy" is the biggest lie that the church has embraced from the world, because it makes people very self-righteous. Human autonomy means that you have the ability or power to make moral choices and act on them. But making "good" moral choices doesn’t mean you live for God’s glory & kingdom, but maybe your own glory and kingdom, which is sinful! So a goal of morality shouldn’t be the reason we do anything as a Christian, but God’s glory should be (1 Corinthians 10 v31). Biblically, until we believe on Jesus Christ and become new creations, we are slaves to sin no matter how "morally good" we are (Romans 6 v17). So in order to be a light to darkness, we must deal with our heart and pray for a holy desire to see the Light of Christ. When walking in the light we not only expose the darkness in ourselves but those around us (Ephesians 5 v11). In striving to live as a light in this dark world, people will see that there are only two kingdoms in this world. So our prayer must be that when people get tired of walking in the darkness of their sin, they will see the light of Christ through you and I. So let’s persevere and live for His kingdom for His sake and others salvation!

In His Love, Ld