14: And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15: But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16: And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17: But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18: If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19: And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20: But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21: When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23: He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25: And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26: Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

14: And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

Jesus has power that is greater than the devil’s. The devil tries to prevent us from speaking.

15: But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16: And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

Beelzebub # 954 – A name of Satan; dung – God. There will be some people who will attribute the power of Satan to Jesus. They are the ones who will want a sign from heaven. Revelation 13:13-14 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do . . . Thus the Bible warned us that men will be deceived into thinking that a miracle (fire from heaven) is from God when it is from Satan.

17: But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

House = the Church Heb. 3:6 But Christ a son over His own house; whose house we are. So God’s kingdom or His Church must not be divided but must be in unity or it will fall.

18: If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

Satan will also unite his kingdom or his church.

19: And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20: But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The finger of God represents the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God is come upon you. The question will be what power is it that is working the miracles? Is it the power of Satan (Beelzebub) or is it the power of God (Holy Spirit).

21: When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23: He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.

When two powers are at war, the stronger of the two will win! We cannot be neutral in this war. We must be actively on the side of Jesus or we are against Him.

24: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25: And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished (#6823). 26: Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Garnished # 6823 – expansion, to act. II Chronicles 3:6 And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty; and the gold was gold of Parvain. Jesus has power through the Holy Spirit to cast out the unclean or unholy spirit from the people of His Church (house). His Church has been swept clean and has expanded and been active in gathering souls into the Church (precious stones). Precious stones: 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood . . .See also Lamentations 4:1-2 fine gold . . . precious sons of Zion . . . stones of the sanctuary.
Now Satan wants to destroy the Church so he enters into the Church during the last days seeking rest for himself – seeking Sunday rest instead of Sabbath rest. Satan will use all his power (7 wicked spirits) and the last state of the Church will be worse than the first. We must be vigilant and be on guard against Satan’s deceptions entering the Church.