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Then a demon-possessed man, who was both blind and
unable to talk, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both
speak and see. The crowd was amazed. "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of
David, the Messiah?" they wondered out loud. But when the Pharisees heard
about the miracle, they said, "No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets
his power from Satan, the prince of demons." Jesus knew their thoughts and
replied, "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A city or home divided
against itself is doomed. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting
against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by the
prince of demons, what about your own followers? They cast out demons, too, so
they will judge you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by
the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. Let me
illustrate this. You can't enter a strong man's house and rob him without first
tying him up. Only then can his house be robbed! Anyone who isn't helping me
opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.
Every sin or blasphemy can be forgiven--except blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit, which can never be forgiven. Anyone who blasphemes against me, the Son
of Man, can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be
forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.”
(Matthew 12:22-32 NLV). A few centuries before Christ,
Alexander the Great conquered almost all of the known world with his military
strength, cleverness, and diplomacy. One day Alexander and a small company of
soldiers approached a strongly defended, walled city. Alexander, standing
outside the walls, raised his voice, demanding to see the king. The king,
approaching the battlements above the invading army, agreed to hear Alexander's
demands. "Surrender to me immediately," commanded Alexander. The king
laughed. "Why should I surrender to you?" he called down. "We
have you far outnumbered. You are no threat to us!" Alexander was ready to
answer the challenge. "Allow me to demonstrate why you should
surrender," he replied. Alexander ordered his men to line up single file
and start marching. He marched them straight toward a sheer cliff that dropped
hundreds of feet to rocks below. The king and his soldiers watched in shocked
disbelief as, one by one, Alexander's soldiers marched without hesitation right
off the cliff to their deaths. After ten soldiers had died, Alexander ordered
the rest of his men to stop and to return to his side. The king and his soldiers
surrendered on the spot to Alexander the Great. |
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