Encounter #11:

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Read: Mark 3:20-30

Multitudes continued to follow Jesus. His kinsfolk, His relatives, His family were concerned about Him. They said He was beside Himself- out of His senses. But Jesus knew what He was doing, and why He was doing it. The religious leaders said that Jesus was Beelzebub, the “lord of the flies.” They equated Jesus with the gods of the Ekronites, the Philistines and the Canaanites (2 Kings 1:2). Jesus was called the prince of demons, the god of the dunghills and identified with Satan himself. But Jesus is Lord!

The good that Jesus did was considered to be works from Satan and that He deceived the people. Jesus said that if Satan's kingdom was divided, it could not stand. How can Satan cast out himself? Satan is God's enemy and everyone's enemy. Especially a Christian's enemy. The strong man, that is Satan, must first be bound and then his house can be destroyed. Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). The cross and the blood of Jesus have destroyed the devil's power and works. We must use the power given to us by the Holy Spirit, the blood of Jesus and the authority of Jesus' Name to render the devil's power null and void.

If someone says that what Jesus did was from Satan, then they are blaspheming the Holy Spirit. That means they are despising, sinning against, slandering, opposing and denying the Holy Spirit's work. If the miracles that Jesus did, and is doing, is ascribed to Satan's power, instead of to the Holy Spirit, and is constantly said to be so, then that sin cannot be forgiven. The Holy Spirit is the only One Who can convict us of sin. If He is constantly rejected and resisted, then how can someone be forgiven of their sins? How can a person be saved if Jesus is rejected? All sins can be forgiven, if they are confessed (Psalm 103:1-3; I John 1:7-10). But slander, opposition to, and denying the Holy Spirit will not be pardoned. He is the only One who can lead us to Jesus so we can be saved.

Prayer: Thank you Father for sending Jesus, and thank you Jesus for sending the Holy Spirit. I receive Your forgiveness and grace, and the power to overcome Satan's works. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Application: Walk in the Holy Spirit's power and destroy Satan's works.

Encounter Jesus: Recognize that Jesus has all authority and power.