Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to today's broadcast. My text for today's message is found in Matthew chapter 12 in just a couple verses. These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote these words, Matthew chapter 12, verses 28 and 29.

Verse 28, but if I cast out devils by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is coming to 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 will he spoil his house. Then will he spoil his house.

Now may it be, I am totally, I have been preaching for a long time, but I am totally shut up to God actually teaching this. He may use me just as a clay pot to say the words, but God the Spirit must teach these things. May it be that from the word of God, that is the scripture, what I'm preaching from today, may it be that from the word of God, the word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, May it be that from the word of God, the word of God will bind a strong man during this very broadcast. Just, oh God, may it be. Now, let me just come right to the point. I have about five things I wanna try to go through this morning concerning these words from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Number one, here's the first thing, the devil himself, Satan, okay? Just so you understand, the devil himself, Satan, Lucifer, The great red dragon, he's called all those things in the scripture. The devil himself, Satan, Lucifer, the great red dragon, with all his minions, all the other fallen angels, which are called demons in other places, or devils in other places. The devil himself, Satan, that is Lucifer, the great red dragon, with all of his minions, are no match for God's Christ. They're no match for God's Christ.

He could bind the strong man. He did it here, and we read the account of it here by Matthew. He actually cast out devils by the Spirit of God. He came and bound the strong man, so to speak. Now, three things about this. Remember what I said, the devil himself, even with all of his minions, are no match for God's Christ. He can bind the strong man. Three things here.

Christ manifests this clearly, even at his weakest point, we could say. And I even, when I speak of Christ, I even kind of shudder to even use that word concerning him. But you'll see what I think, you'll see what I'm saying in the scripture. Christ manifests this clearly, even at a weak point in his condescension. And this is what Matthew recorded in Matthew chapter four. And listen to what we read there in Matthew chapter four. Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, Satan himself, that old red dragon.

And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights. Now I want you to think about that. 40 days and 40 nights without food. And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterward and hungered. I can see why, can't you? And hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command these, that these stones be made bread.

Now, our Lord Jesus Christ made this world out of nothing. He spoke it into existence. I don't care what all the others say. He spoke it into existence. And here he is, hungry after 40 days of fast, hunger, a hunger like I've never known. hunger like most of us probably have never known. And the tempter came to him and said, if thou be the son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh them up into a holy city. Now that there just kind of, Satan's a tempter. It just fell flat. He just fell flat.

Then the devil takes him up into the holy city and setteth him upon the pinnacle of the temple, the highest point. And he saith unto him, if thou be the son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, now here you have Satan himself quoting scripture. Now let that be a warning to all of us. A lot of people out there quoting scripture that don't mean they're of God. The devil himself does it. The devil takes him up into the holy city, set him up on the pinnacle of the temple, and said, if you be the son of God, cast thyself down for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against the stone.

Jesus said unto him, now I want you to notice there's not a lot of, no argument, no real rebuking in the way we often think of rebuke. Jesus Christ just refers back to what? The scripture. The first time, scripture, look at this one. And he said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Why did Jesus Christ just say the devil himself? I'm God. and your desires to tempt me. Scripture said, you quoting scripture to me? Here's what scripture says. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God again.

The devil takes them up into an exceeding high mountain and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. Somebody say, here's what the flesh, here's what unsaved, well, what was that mountain? Doesn't matter what mountain it was. And he saith unto him, all these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then said Jesus unto him, get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him. As soon as he said, get out of here, he was gone. He had to leave. Why? Because he's able to bind the strong man. You hear what he's saying? Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. That's the first thing.

Christ manifests this clearly even at a weak point in his condescension. But there's a second thing under this, that the devil himself is no match for Christ. The demons are no match for Christ. Christ manifests this binding power over legions of demons.

Listen to how Mark records it in Mark chapter five. And I'm not gonna read the whole passage, but it's in Mark chapter five, verses one through 20. And I would encourage you, if you have a Bible, go back and read this. Sometime. Matthew chapter five, verses one through 20, and read it, and read it and forget everything that, everything that maybe you ever heard me say, forget everything you ever heard any other preacher say, and just read what the word of God itself said.

Here is a man, our Lord Jesus Christ came upon this man, he meant to come upon this man too. He deliberately purposed to go meet this man. This man was a mad man. He was a maniac, he was naked, he lived in the tombs, he was filthy and dirty, and he was possessed by legions of angels.

And you know what it said? Now look, look, in verse seven of Mark five, now you go back and read the whole thing sometime, but look. Mark chapter five verse seven, and cry, I'm sorry, verse six, but when he saw Jesus far off, he ran and worshiped him, that's this man with this legion of demons, and cried with a loud voice saying, what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou son of the most high God?

I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. Then he asked him, what is thy name? And he answered, say, my name is Legion, for we are many. See it? And he besought him much that he would not send him away out of the country. Now here is a legion of demons begging Jesus Christ. Do you see that? begging Jesus Christ. Someone says, why didn't Christ just keep him from entering the man to start with?

Because all things are in his sovereign hand. And he does what and allows what and suffers what he is pleased to do and what will bring him glory. Look at what it says. For he had said unto him, come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him what his name was. And he said, my name is Legion, for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send him out of the country.

Now there were there nine to the mountains, a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, send us into the swine that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. Do you see that? The unclean spirits went out and entered into the swine. Christ gave them what they asked, but you know what the pigs did? Look at it. And the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea. There were about 2,000 and were choked in the sea. So he still did with those demons what he was pleased to do with them. That's Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Christ binds the strong men.

Here's the third thing. and I'm just gonna save it and go on to the second. I say it and just go on to the second thing. Christ has no problem with me or you. You're not as powerful as a demon and neither am I, but we're as wicked as one. We don't have the strength of the demons, but we're just as wicked and evil and corrupt as they are.

Now here's the second thought. God's Christ is not this, listen to me. I know you don't hear most preachers saying this, but it needs to be said. Here's the second thought from this very thing. Christ said, I'm casting out devils by the spirit of God. And if I am, then the kingdom of God's coming to you.

Christ is not this sissy, weak-kneed guru of L-U-V, love. Everybody seems to think as long as it's love, that it makes it okay. No, the scripture says, love not the world, neither the things of the world, for the love of the world is not the love of the Father. There is a love that's evil and ungodly. God's Christ is not this sissy, weak-kneed guru of LUV, this love that these lying preachers are pawning off on people today. And somebody may say, well, I don't like that.

Well, if you got that attitude, let me tell you, that's your problem. This is who Christ is. What did he say? But if I cast out devils by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is coming to you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods, except he first bind that strong man? then will he spoil his house. Jesus of Nazareth is God the creator.

John chapter one verses one through three. Jesus, that man, that man was born of a virgin. That's what the book says. Born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, born in a stable, laid in a manger. is God Almighty the Creator. Here's another thought into this second thing. He's not this weak, need-sissy Jesus that's preached today. Jesus of Nazareth is the one man who had God's Spirit with no limits.

This is exactly what is recorded by John in John chapter three, and I want to read that. I can attempt to quote it, but I don't want to misquote it. Listen to how John put it in John chapter three. And let me see, I believe it's verse 34. John chapter three verse 34, for he whom God has sent speaketh the words of God, and the reference you will see here is speaking to Jesus Christ. For he whom God has sent speaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit, notice that's a capital S there, giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

He didn't piecemeal out just a little bit or just enough, he had the Spirit of God as a man. even as a man. Now, he is God. He is God. But he as a man, the spirit of God, without measure. Here's a third thought about this. Remember the second thing. God's Christ is no sissy, weak knee guru of love. The Father, the Word, that is Christ, and the Holy Ghost, according to John in 1 John 5, 7, these three, you see that? are one. Somebody says, preacher, I don't understand that. I told either, but I believe it. I believe it. These three are one. Number four, remember Jesus Christ is not this sissy.

Men are preaching today that men are partied off on men and women today. Jesus of Nazareth is the king who reigns in and binds, binds whom he will in God's present kingdom. I know you've got some groups of so-called Christians out here all talking about the kingdom, the kingdom, and then they talk about the millennial reign, then that's what they call the kingdom, the kingdom. I'm saying this, this scripture, Jesus Christ himself made it clear, Jesus of Nazareth is the king who reigns in and binds whom he will in God's present kingdom. Listen to what he said again.

But if I, this was the text. This is the text, Matthew chapter 12, second verse of it, verse 28. But if I cast out devils by the spirit of God, and he was. And he did. Listen, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. And Paul made it clear. Paul put it this way. We've always talked about this. Men lie on God. This is how Paul put it in Colossians chapter one. He put it this way. Colossians 1, this is just beginning, verse 9.

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you may walk worthy of the Lord and all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might according to his glorious power and to all patience and long suffering with joyfulness. Now look at it now, here we're getting to it.

Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet. That means qualified, he qualified us. We don't qualify ourselves. We've done nothing, everything we've done is to disqualify ourselves. Giving thanks unto the Father which hath made us meet, that has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath delivered us into hath delivered us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

Here's a fourth thought about this. Now remember, remember the devil himself and his minions is no match for Jesus Christ. God's Christ is not this sissy, weak-kneed guru of L.U.V. that's pawned off by lying preachers in our day. And here's the fifth thing on that. Christ binds his gospel called people to himself.

Listen to the way the apostle Paul put it, 2 Corinthians chapter 10. I want you to listen to these words. Listen to what the scripture itself says, not what men say about it. Paul wrote these words, 2 Corinthians chapter 10, and I'll begin in verse four.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringeth into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ. I say glory to God's Christ.

Here's a third thought. Christ warned and the Apostle Paul himself warned about false Christ. That's right. Christ said false Christ would come. Now, Matthew chapter 24. And what's amazing is the Lord Jesus Christ here is talking about things that would happen in the latter day. things that would take place later, long after his present day, the day he was here upon this earth. And what's amazing is people love to talk about that, but they don't want to deal with what I'm about to read to you right now. Listen to what he says in Matthew 24, just two verses.

Then, if any man say unto you, lo, here is Christ, or, you see it, or there, what did he say? Believe it not. Believe it not, look. For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall shew great signs and wonders. You see, it's not about what a man's doing, some preacher's doing, or about what somebody says their Jesus can do this and their Jesus can do that. Look. Signs in one in so much that if it were possible, excuse me, they shall deceive the very elect. You see, it's not miracles that prove anything. It's the word of God. It's the word of God. Now, let me move on.

As I said, Christ warned, Paul warned about false Christ. Paul said, they'll come preaching another Jesus. 2 Corinthians 11 forward. He said, I'm afraid some of you believe it. You believe it. But here's a fourth thing. Paul warned that there's a false gospel. Did you know that? He warned that there's a false gospel. Listen to how he put it to the churches of Galatia.

And now this is, to me this is sobering language. Galatians chapter one. And for the sake of time, let me begin in verse six. Now, look at it. These people have heard Paul preach the gospel. The gospel had at least outwardly, through their profession, had laid hold of them. But look at what Paul says.

Galatians 1, I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another. but there be some that would trouble you and would, do you say that word? And would pervert, pervert the gospel of Christ. Now that's strong language.

What do we talk about when we talk about a pervert? You know what it's talking about. People are sexually deviant. People that are caught up in sexual misconduct. We often talk about that being perverted. Paul says there's a perverted gospel. There are people who would take the truth of God and turn it into a lie. Look at it. Which is not another, but there be some that trouble you and would pervert, turn totally askew, turn totally out of the way, would pervert the gospel of Christ. So Paul warned that there is a false gospel. Now here's the last thing for today. That's what I'm gonna give you. And I'm gonna read you a passage of scripture here in a moment. But let me make this statement. It is never, note my words. It is never can Christ bind the strong man. Never. It is never can Christ bind the strong man. The question is, will he? Will. A leper came to Christ one time. A leper. Eat up with this flesh-eating disease. I can't even describe it. I don't have the language to describe it myself. He was a leper.

And he came to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was supposed to be crying out, unclean, unclean. But he didn't. He was even breaking the law when he came to Christ. Ever think about that? and he runs to Christ and bows down and worship him. But you know what he said to Christ? Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. He knew it wasn't about Christ's ability. He knew Christ had the ability.

The only question was Christ willing. Now Lee, listen to what an old king from years ago, a powerful man, very powerful man. As a matter of fact, in the world of his day, in the hemisphere, in that area of his day, he was the most powerful king that existed. Nobody could stand up to him. Nobody could stand up to him.

And here's what he said after God brought him low. After God brought him down, he sat out there, and I'm being a little metaphorical, but he stood out there in Babylon, looked at all the hanging gardens, and kind of put his fingers in his suspenders, and is not this that great Babylon which I have built?

God said, I'm gonna bring you down. I'm gonna make you eat grass like an ox for seven years. And God did it to him. He bound that strong man. He broke him down. He brought him low. Listen to what happened when God gave him his mind back. Look what he says. Daniel chapter four, verse 37. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar. Go back and read. You can read about Nebuchadnezzar in books other than just the Bible. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the king of heaven.

All whose works are truth and his ways judgment, they do verdict rendering. And all whose ways are judgment. Now listen to this last phrase. This is a strong man that God had bound. Look at it. And those that walk in pride, he is able to abase. You see it? The question is not and never has been God's ability. The question is, will he?

Well, somebody says, I thought God wanted to save everybody. This book does not teach that. I thought Jesus Christ died to make it possible for everybody to be saved. This book does not teach that. God makes his people willing in the day of his power, and it's all based upon his will. He's able. He's able, the question is, is he willing? Now I'm gonna sum it up this way.

I thank God. I thank God that Christ entered my house. I thank God that Christ bound me and all that was against me, including myself. And I thank God that he's pulled me in my house and graciously brought me to God. You know what Jesus Christ did? He came in and bound the strong man. Oh, I thought I was it. Young preacher. Had to, as we say, the bull by the tail on a downhill pull and just had all the world of religion before me. And God showed me what I really was.

Listen, he broke into my house. Yeah. He broke into my house. He spoiled me, but you know what he did first? He bound me. Bound me up. Bound me up. Has he ever bound you up? That's the question. Has he ever done that to you? He ever invaded your house? Bound you up? You see, listen to me. He can leave your house untouched.

He doesn't owe you this gospel message that you're listening to right now. The only thing God owes you is condemnation forever. The only thing God owes me is condemnation forever. Has he done this to you? Or has he left your house untouched? You see, God don't have to do something bad to a man or a woman to cause them to go to hell. No, it ain't nothing like that. All God's got to do is just let a man or a woman have a nice job, a nice spouse, nice kids, nice boat, and just a nice vacation, and just bless him all the way to hell if he leaves him alone. What does Christ do? He binds the strong man. And in binding the strong man, he's proved what? The kingdom of God is coming to you. Amen.