Is It From God or Satan?

The Pharisees were focused on finding something that would discredit Jesus and destroy his reputation, accusing him of violating the Law and having no respect for God’s commands.  Each time he had shown that their claims were false, but they continued to look for something that could be construed as evil.  

“Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.  And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?” (Matthew 12:22-23)

Jesus had healed a number of people of what were considered incurable diseases already, and when he healed a man who was demon possessed as well as being unable to hear or speak,   The people knew his parents, that they were both descendants of David, and they knew that the Messiah would come from David’s family.   That Jesus was able to heal a man with so many problems convinced the people he had to be the Christ. 

“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.” (Matthew 12:24)

It didn’t matter what Jesus did, the Jews would try to spin it as something evil.  They accused Jesus of casting out demons through satanic power.  It made as little sense as Al Gore’s claim that the growth of the polar ice packs at both the north and south poles and snow as far south as Tallahassee, Florida and the Sahara desert are the result of human caused global warming.   It was totally illogical, contradicting known facts, and Jesus pointed this out. 

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?  And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.” (Matthew 12:25-27)

As Jesus pointed out, if Satan was casting out demons, there was in effect a civil war in among his followers that would eventually destroy his power.  It would be a stupid action on Satan’s part.  In addition, there were certain Jews who performed exorcisms who were highly respect Jewish leaders, claiming they were empowered by God.  If Jesus did the same thing under Satan’s power, how were they to know whether the other exorcisms were from God or from Satan.     They needed to check it out rather than simply jumping to conclusions. 

This is a very important point.  When we see people  raising their hands and swaying back and forth the same way at a rock concert as they do in a worship service, for example, we need to question whether it is the Holy Spirit or some other spirit causing the behavior.  People in many different religions around the world, including the Church of Satan speak in tongues and prophesy much like those in many modern churches.   Since some of those groups are definitely not of God we need to check each incident carefully to see if it is from God.   Satan can cause or fake every sign, and in Mark 13:22, Jesus warned, “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”  Signs and wonders do not prove a thing is from God, but only that there is something that needs to be checked out.

Matthew 12:28-30 continues, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.   Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.  He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”  If Christ were casting out demons by Satan’s power, then it only reinforces demonic power, but if he was doing it by God’s power, then they were seeing God’s power and kingdom revealed because it would not be possible for a weaker being to force Satan’s demons out.  People need to check whether they are following Christ or chasing after Satanic teachings.  I Timothy 4:1 warns, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”   If we don’t make sure what the source of those signs and teaching is, we may well be led away from the truth.   Remember, I John 4:1 commands, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."