Matthew 12 – The empty space in our soul

Jesus speaks to some of his opponents by saying, “When an evil spirit comes out fo a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’  When it arrives, it find the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.  And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.  That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus was telling his opponents that it is not enough for a person to merely be convicted of their wrong actions and commit to changing their behaviors and lifestyles.  If that is all that happens then after a time they will fall back into their old sins.  Rather, the wrong actions must be replaced with something new; namely the Holy Spirit.

The worst thing the church can do to new Christians is leave them alone.  If someone has been convicted of their wrong actions and recognized the need for Christ in their life, they need to have someone in their life who can give them continuing ongoing support.  The new Christian needs to be assisted in filling their life with the Holy Spirit.

When the church fails to build up and strengthen new Christians we leave them vulnerable to the attacks of the spirits who were chased from their life.  We live them vulnerable to old habits and vices.  We need to purposefully be an active part of their life so they can be filled with a new Spirit who brings new habits and virtues.

Empty space in our soul will be filled.  We need to be sure that it is filled with the Holy Spirit.

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