In the sermon 'The Stronger Over The Strong' by Floyd Koenig, the central message is the power of Jesus Christ over Satan and the transformation of sinners through His salvation. The sermon, based on Luke 11, presents sinners as slaves to Satan, deceived into thinking they are free, while emphasizing that true freedom comes through Christ. It highlights the miracle of Jesus casting out demons as evidence of His divine authority, contrasting it with the disbelief of religious leaders who attributed His works to Beelzebub. The sermon underscores the omniscience of Christ, His kingdom, and His role as the stronger man who overcomes Satan's hold on sinners. Koenig stresses the importance of the Gospel as the power of God unto salvation, capable of breaking through the deceit and bondage that Satan imposes on the unsaved. The Gospel, described as a dynamic force, is the sole means by which sinners can be redeemed and transformed into new creatures in Christ. The sermon concludes by affirming that believers, once enslaved by sin, are now servants of righteousness, called to live in holiness and eagerly await the return of their Savior.

Let's look at Luke chapter 11, Luke 11. Good to be here this morning, good to see each one of you. It's always good being in the house of the Lord. We've enjoyed the Freedom of our nation this last week, and the Lord has been good, given us a free country. Even today we can stand and preach the word and not have to worry about authorities coming down upon us.

That could change, but as of now we have this privilege and what a great privilege it is. Praise the Lord most of all for his mercy and grace in calling out sinners out of their sin. We're going to find here in our text today in Luke, Gospel of Luke chapter 11, that the sinner is literally a slave to the devil and he doesn't realize it. He thinks he's free. He thinks he's okay.

He thinks he's doing his own thing when in reality he's a servant of the devil. Let's look in our text now in Luke chapter 11. I want you to begin reading with me verse 14. Luke 11 verse 14. And he was casting out a devil, speaking of the Lord, And it was dumb.

And it came to pass when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake and the people wonder. So here's a great miracle. Our Lord was casting out the devil. This devil caused this man to be dumb. We find over in Matthew that he was also deaf and was not able to speak and was not able to hear, all because Satan had come upon him and afflicted him.

The Lord spake and the people wondered. Now put yourself in the place of these people and here's the Messiah. They didn't really realize who He was and he spoke and cast this devil out of this man. All of a sudden this man spoke and was set free and they wondered. They saw a miracle which was very shocking to say the least.

And of course it was a wonderful miracle concerning the guy that had been afflicted. But notice when our Lord works there's always those that want to lamb blast Him. Think of verse 15. But some of them say it, this is the religious crowd, He casted out devils through Beelzebub, the chief of the devils." Now they couldn't explain what had happened. It was a miracle they couldn't deny it.

So what do they do? They attribute it to the devil. Verse 16, and others tempting him sought of him a sign from heaven. Now they'd already seen a great sign but that wasn't good enough. They wanted a sign from heaven to prove that He was who He came to be and that He is the Messiah.

Verse 17, and He knowing their thoughts, and by the way we see He's omniscient here, He knows all. He knows what we're thinking. He knows what we say. He knows what we do. And so, verse 17, but he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against the house falleth.

If Satan also be divided against himself, How shall his kingdom stand? Because you say that I cast out devils through the Elzebub. And if I by the Elzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges?" Now he's speaking here. They had accused him of casting this demon out through the power of Satan.

And of course the Lord said that's not possible because Satan's not going to fight against himself. He could not last if he fought against himself. And he said furthermore there are those among you Jews who claim to cast out devils. Do they cast them out through Satan also? So he's really refuting what they had said, blaming or trying to accuse him of performing his miracle in the power of Satan.

Now, verse 20, but if I with the finger of God cast out devils. Now it's like this. You see folks when the Lord does a miracle, he doesn't even have to speak. But he says it's The flick of the finger. That's how he can deal with Satan.

Now the context is, he had been preaching and teaching on prayer. And he tells his audience, if you want to be blessed of God, then pray. If you have a need, pray. Seek the Lord. Put the Lord first.

Seek His glory, His kingdom. But then He gives power to this prayer by this miracle that we see here. So notice verse 20, but if I with the finger of God cast out devils no doubt the kingdom of God has come upon you. Now the Kingdom of God speaks of Christ's incarnate kingdom where he ruled and reigns and so Christ had now come as prophesied throughout all the Old Testament he had come into the world and began to preach and minister and so his visible kingdom had literally come at this time. Now verse 21, when a strong man armed keepeth this palace his goods are in peace.

Now you need to understand this strong man armed is Satan and Satan has a possession and that possession he possession. And that possession he guards and he keeps by his power, his influence. Verse 21, when a strong man are keepeth this palace his goods are in peace, But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor, wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." Now the stronger than he is the Lord Jesus Christ and only the Lord has power over the devil And only the Lord can redeem that sinner from the clutches of the devil. And that's all made possible through the preaching of the word and the power, quickening power of the Holy Spirit. Verse 23, he that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me he that getteth not with me scatter them so you're either with the Lord or you're against the Lord there's no middle ground that's right you know a lot of people say well I'm neutral no to be neutral is to serve the devil.

I want to share with you this morning a message entitled, the stronger over the strong. You need to understand Satan is the strong man. Now Christ casting out the demons like this was really the destroying of their power. The heart of every unconverted sinner is the devil's palace where he dwells and where he rules. Now like I said before, that sinner thinks he's free.

He thinks he's doing the only thing. That's how deceived Satan, deceptive Satan is. He makes that sinner think he's doing his own thing when in reality he's a servant of the devil. Look at all the foolish things that sinners do. And look at some of the foolish things that we've done in the past.

And I'll tell you we were literally servants of the devil. But then one day by the grace and mercy of God the Lord came in and changed all that. That's called mercy and grace. He loved us while we were yet sinners. And that's the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now there's a kind of peace in the heart of an unconverted soul, while the devil as a strong man armed keeps it. In his sin, the sinner feels secure. He has no doubt concerning the goodness of His state, nor any dread of coming judgment. There is, however, a wonderful change that takes place in the soul when the sinner is converted by the power of Jesus Christ. And if you're saved here this morning, you can testify to that miraculous work of the Lord.

And if the Lord hasn't changed your heart when you got saved, you're just claiming to be something you're not. When the Lord saves a person, he makes him a new creature in Christ. Old things pass away, behold all things become new. When the Lord sets that sinner free, he changes from the inside out. He loves the Lord as a desire to serve the Lord.

So here in our text, Christ declares himself to be the Messiah by his power over Satan. Now we're given a picture of a man in his sinful state. The Lord Jesus came into the world to destroy the works of the devil. First John 3 verse 8 says, He that commiteth sin is of the devil. For the devil sineth from the beginning.

For this purpose the Son of Man was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. I want you to notice first this morning, Satan reigns in the heart of the unsaved person. Look again, verse 21, Luke 11, 21, when a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. Now through the fall, man became the servant of sin and Satan rules in his heart. Look with me if you will in Romans chapter five.

Romans chapter five, notice this truth. And this is really a one verse commentary on chapter three of Genesis. But notice here Romans chapter five verse twelve. Romans five verse twelve. Now I want you to see this in your Bible.

Romans 5 verse 12, were for is by one man, that's Adam. Sin entered into the world and death by sin. You see before Adam disobeyed God, there in the Garden of Eden, he was perfect, He was sinless. He would have lived forever right, but he disobeyed God and God gave him a prohibition there in chapter 2 that if he ate of this forbidden fruit he would surely die. Well he disobeyed God, ate of the forbidden fruit and died.

But folks he not only died, He plunged the whole world into sin. We all became sinners in Adam. That's what's wrong with the world today. It's full of a bunch of sinners who need a Savior. Look at verse 12, Romans 5.

Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, notice, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." You see what that verse teaches? Not only did Adam sin and become a sinner and die not only physically, died later physically, but at that moment he died spiritually. But we died in Adam. We all were born into this world spiritually dead. We had physical life, but we were dead spiritually.

And so the Lord Jesus came into the world to give life to sinners. And that was the purpose for His coming, to redeem those who had fallen in Adam. And so we find here that we all became sinners in Adam. Now I want you to look over in Romans chapter 8, Romans 8. Here we find that the sinner in his sin of himself has neither the desire nor the ability to save himself or to serve God.

Look at Romans 8, look at verse 7. Because the carnal mind, that's the unsaved mind, is enmity, that word enmity means to be at a continual state of war. Folks sinners are at a state of war against God. Now they may be religious, but if they're unsaved, they're at a state of war against God. They hate God.

They're an enemy of God. And one day they're going to fall under the judgment of God. Because their kernel mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then, they that are in the flesh, that's the unsaved, we're all in the flesh, but this is talking about those who are merely of the flesh, not born again spiritually. So then they that are in the flesh, notice, cannot please God.

How many unsaved people you hear talking, they think they're pleasing God because they've joined some church or they've done some religious performance. The scripture says that unsaved person cannot please God. In fact, Isaiah tells us that their works are filthy, are as filthy rags in God's eyes. And so unless we unless we're converted, unless we're born again of the Spirit of God, become a child of God, there's nothing we can do to please God. And that's where Satan, that's where Satan keeps us as sinners.

That's where we all were at one time. Look in Ephesians chapter 2. Notice beginning in verse 2. Here Paul is preaching to Christians there in the church at Ephesus. These were Gentiles who had been gloriously saved by the grace of God.

But notice what he says. Look at verse 1. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sin. Now that was not only true of the Christians in the church at Ephesus, but that was true of you and me. We were all dead in trespasses and sins.

That's where the Lord found us. Verse two, when in time past we walked according the course of this world, according the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worked in the children of disobedience. See that was our nature before the Lord called us out of our sin. Verse 3, among them also we all had our conversation, our conduct in times past in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, noticed and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." But look at verse 4, but God, who is rich in mercy for his great love, when he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ by grace your Savior." Isn't that precious? I'll tell you, the Lord saw us, a bunch of foul-mouthed, ungodly sinners loving our sin, hating God and He loved us in spite of that.

He loved us in spite of ourselves. In fact, you get to read the scriptures, you'll find He loved us for the world was ever created. You have to accept that by faith, you're not going to figure it out. Folks, that's the God we serve. He is sovereign, He has a will, he's performing his will, and I'm glad today he has chosen to make me a part of that will.

Let me tell you, once he redeems you, you're his forever. And one day He's coming to bring you to heaven to be with him. And what a day that'll be amen. And so praise the Lord. So Satan reigns in the heart of the unsaved.

Now the spirit of Satan is the strong man. We noted that But look again Luke 11 verse 21. When a strongman armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. Now As long as that sinner continues to live a sinful, lustful, worldly life, he's somewhat at peace. You know what upsets that sinner?

You know what makes Satan mad? Is when the gospel is preached. That destroys that peace. And it's only through the gospel. You can sing to that sinner.

You can tell him how good he is. But when the gospel is preached, things change. Things change. Satan hates the gospel. The sinner, folks, the sinner hates the gospel.

He hates the very thing he needs the most. Right. Sampson, the strong man, fell victim to the stronger Villa. Though he could slay a lion, the lion of the pit overcame him. Solomon the wisest of men was outwitted by Satan.

Satan is cunning and he knows our weaknesses. Now, If it were not for the power of Christ, Satan would overwhelm us with his wisdom and power. We're no match for the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12.

That's the reason we need the Lord. We're helpless before Satan. Notice this strong man is armed. Look again verse 21, when a strong man armed. This strong man is armed.

Now his key weapon is the lie. Look in John's Gospel chapter 8. Here our Lord speaks of this strong man. John 8, notice verse 44. John 8 verse 44.

Now hear these Pharisees claim to be so religious and the Lord looks in the night and says you're of your father the devil. Don't you know that got them upset? You know you tell people the truth about themselves and they're gonna hate you. Right. They hated our Lord They will hate you.

I remember many times out knocking doors trying to convince men that they're sinners and they need a savior. And I'm telling you, you can see their temper rise as you tell them or try to tell them that they're a sinner and they need a Savior. They became sinners in Adam and they need a Savior. But notice here John 8 44 he says, you are of your father the devil and the lust of your father ye will do." Notice, he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speak of the lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it." And so the devil, his key weapon is the lie.

Now The sword of God's Word is truth, but the sword of the devil is the lie. Satan overthrew Adam and Eve from a perfect state with a lie. You see this in Genesis chapter 3 Did God really say? Would he really kill? Anyone Well, the scripture says the wages of sin is death Adam sin and he died We all became sinners in Adam.

We died spiritually. We all need a Savior. And that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan continues to deceive man with his lies. He tells some that they're too young to think of death and hell.

A lot of young people. They're so sarcastic. You try to talk to them about the Lord. I've had, I've tried to talk to some young people about the Lord. Earrings and tattoos and nose rings and all of this.

And you look them in the face, try to talk to them about the Lord, and they snicker. Like you're an idiot. That's what they're trying to impress. And it's nothing but safety trying to keep a witness from being delivered to those sinners. Kids need the Lord.

Young people need the Lord. Sinners need the Lord. And of course we were all sinners in Adam. Satan assures others that they're too late for the day of grace is over. So there's some that think, well, they're too young.

I don't have to worry about them. I'll sow my wild oats. But then as people grow older and become gray headed and feeble and they've lived lives of sin, Satan whispers in their ear, it's too late for you, you're too wicked. But the truth of the matter is the Lord came to seek and to save that which was lost. You know the qualification to be saved is you have to be lost.

And I got news for you, we all meet that qualification. Christ came to save sinners like you and me. Satan assures others that baptism, church membership, or good works is sufficient. Why? I know a young man who got under the gospel, heard the gospel.

He's a young man in Brazil, heard the gospel, claimed to believe, to have believed on the Lord, claimed to love the doctrines of grace, in fact even thought he was called to be a preacher. And Now he's gone back to the Catholic religion. You see, he was trusting his feelings instead of trusting the Lord. And Satan's good at that. He's good at getting us to trust something other than the Lord Jesus Christ, but the Lord is the Savior.

He is the Savior. He tries to deceive and discourage us in many ways. He will lie to us about God. He will lie to us about each other, and He'll lie to God about us. You see, His favorite weapon is the lie.

He tempts us to doubt God and His Word. Satan also uses sins, the sins, and lusts of men. He has a lot to work with there, doesn't he? He uses the arrows of pleasure, pride, the desire for wealth, fame, and many other avenues of temptation. And he knows our weakness.

Right. Notice again Satan arms the heart of the unsaved. He arms the heart of the unsaved. That's reading sinners are so adamant in their sin. The stronger warrior taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted.

Look at verse 22, now Luke 11 22, but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him he taketh from him all his armor were he trusted and divided his spoils." Now Satan uses prejudice, ignorance, and evil education to keep men in darkness. He'll do anything to keep you from reading the Word of God. He wants to keep you in darkness. The person who has a hard heart, seared conscience, and a habit of sin is not going to be moved by anything outside of divine power. That's the reason the Word must be preached.

That's the reason Satan hates the Word. That's the reason the world hates the Word. That's the reason a lot of religious people hate the word. And so this is why we must preach Christ. It is the sinner's only hope.

The sinner's only hope. The gospel is the only thing that will break through this armor. Look in Romans chapter 1. Romans chapter one. Romans chapter one.

I want you to notice verse 16. Romans chapter one verse 16. That's a glorious portion of scripture. Here Paul talks about the fact that sinner needs the gospel. Look at it, verse 16.

He says, for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek or to the Gentile. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It is the dynamite of God. It is only through the gospel that the sinner will ever be saved. Look in 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 1, And notice if you will, verse 18.

Paul was a preacher of the gospel. God had gloriously, miraculously saved him from Phariseeism and called him to preach. He became an apostle. Notice verse 18. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.

Folks, that's what the unsaved think of the preaching of the cross, preaching of Christ, who died on the cross. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God, the dynamite of God." Notice the contrast. There are those who hate the preaching of the gospel. Now that's true in a lot of religious circles today, even in some Baptist churches. There are some who hate the Gospel, but if you've been born again, If the Lord has worked a miracle, a work of grace in your heart, He's changed your heart.

He's given you a love for the Gospel that you didn't have before. A love for the Savior. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved. It is the power, the dynamite of God. So God uses the preaching of the cross to call sinners out of their sin.

The strong man claimed possession of the heart of the unsaved. Look again, verse 21, Luke chapter 11. When a strong man armed, keepeth his palace. Keepeth his palace. Now the corrupt heart of the unregenerate person is Satan's palace.

He dwells in that unsaved heart in power. And he makes that person a slave to do his bidding. The corrupt heart of an unregenerate person is Satan's palace. He works through the lust of the flesh, the desires of the will, and the carnal affections. If Satan can control your mind, he can control you.

That's the reason you need to guard your mind. You need to spend some time in the Word of God. Have the Lord speak to your heart. He is your only hope. As long as Satan controls what you hear and what you see, he will control you.

Now you look at all, notice all these young people with their cell phones and all their foolishness that's on that phone. Let me tell you, they're thinking about everything but the Lord. That's right. They're thinking about everything but the fact that they're sinners and they need a savior. Satan's busy leading people to hell today.

And that's even true in some churches. There are churches today right here in this city who never preach a gospel, where the gospel is never preached, never preached. And the gospel is the sinner's only hope. So if Satan can keep you, keep your mind on other things other than your need as a sinner, your need of a savior, he will have the victory in your life. Satan holds sovereign rule over the unsaved.

He rules his palace. While he is in possession of the human heart. He says to his servant, go and he goes. He says to his servant, come and he comes. Satan puts his claim on all the powers of man.

Think of your life before you're saved. You are literally serving the devil. Serving the devil. The sinner is taken captive by Satan at will. Look at me in 2nd Timothy, 2nd Timothy.

You know you have so many people who think they're in control as unsaved people, but really they're servants to their own sin and certainly servants to the devil. 2 Timothy chapter 2. I want you to notice if you will. Let's go back up if you will to verse 21. 2 Timothy 2, 21.

If a man therefore purges himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and neat for the masters use, and prepared unto every good work. Of course he spent some time warning of things that we're to separate ourselves from. Verse 15, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word." And we're to be aware of, look at verse 16, "'but shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto ungodliness' and so forth. Now look down if you will, verse 22, flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Now look at it, But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

If you've ever tried to talk some people about the Lord, they can get in some foolish and unlearned questions, try to trick you up. Well look at verse 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive. That means, folks, we're not to be quarrelsome. We're to be gentle.

But we're to be firm. Look at it. And the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. Now if you ever tried to deal with a sinner you need to be patient. In meekness instructing those notice who oppose themselves folks the sinner is his own worst enemy.

If God per adventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, now look at verse 26, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will. Every sinner is a captive of Satan and he rules, Satan rules with an iron hand. The only way that sinner can be redeemed from the clutches of the devil is through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and through the preaching of the Word of God. So the sinner is a servant of the devil. His mouth will curse.

His eyes shall lust after vanity. His feet are swift to go into mischief. His hands shall do the work of Satan. Unsaved man is a slave of sin. We hear a lot about the drug culture today.

And the drug culture is just a bunch of sinners who've rejected the Lord and Satan has taken control. And let me tell you, Satan would love for every one of us to end our own life. He hates Christ, he hates the gospel, and he doesn't want us serving the Lord. And he'll do anything he can to keep us from serving the Lord. Whoever commit a sin, the scripture says, is a servant of sin.

John 8.34. Then notice secondly this morning, the unsaved man is at peace with the world. He's at peace with the world. His goods are in peace. Look again Luke chapter 11 verse 21.

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, notice his goods are in peace. As long as that man's living in sin, he's doing okay. Doing okay. But let someone come with the gospel, and all of a sudden, trouble starts. He is in love with the world.

He is undisturbed. His conscience does not prick him. God does not alarm him. The thoughts of hell Never disturb him. Satan says, Peace, peace.

That's where the sinner is, outside of Christ. The preaching of the gospel is the only thing that will disturb this peace. That's the reason Satan hates the gospel. Notice thirdly this morning, the stronger man brings true conversion. Glory, hallelujah.

There's a strong man armed, that's Satan. And he has a possession, that's the sinner. And he's guarding that possession. But then comes the stronger than he. And that is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Look at verse 22, Luke chapter 11 verse 22. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome on him and overcome him he taketh from him all his armor. Amen. Where he trusted and divided his spoils. He redeems that sinner from the clutches of the devil.

That sinner is set free. Not only is he set free, but the Lord gives him a new heart, new desires, new ambitions. He becomes a new person from the inside out. Amen. When the stronger man, the Lord Jesus comes in, the first thing he does is destroy the armor of Satan and that is ignorance.

He enlightens the mind and the heart with the gospel. I want you to look at that in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4. You see folks, Satan has blinded every unsaved person. Not only is that person a slave to the devil, but he's been blinded spiritually. He's been blinded spiritually.

Look at 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 4. Notice if you will, begin at verse 3. Second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 3, but if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. You see when you preach a gospel to an unsaved person, he can't understand it. Satan got his mind blinded and it's only through the power of the Holy Spirit that he'll ever come to see his need and see who the Savior really is.

But notice, but if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world, that's Satan, had blinded the minds of them which believed not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ whose image of God should shine unto them. You see, when the gospel's preached and their sinner's out in the audience, Satan blinds their mind to the truth. The only way they can ever come to realize their need is through the power of the Holy Spirit, taking that word and applying it to that heart. That's what happened to me one day. One day the Lord showed me the fact that I was a sinner in need of a Savior.

Call me out of my sin and save my soul. Now look at verse five. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts. See, there is the penetrating power of the gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Has shined in our hearts, notice, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. It's only as the Lord quickens our heart, gives us spiritual understanding, literally turns on the light, does away with that darkness that Satan had kept us in as his servants now he's the Lord has given us the light to understand who Christ truly is And we look and we see Him not only as our Savior but we see ourselves as sinners in need of a Savior. And Only then will we repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, you can't believe in someone you don't know. Now God uses the law to show us our sin.

I want you to look quickly with me in Galatians chapter 3. Galatians chapter 3. Galatians 3. I want you to begin reading with me in verse 24. Here we see the purpose of the law.

Folks, the law was never intended to save anyone. Amen. The law was given to show us the exceeding sinfulness of our sin in order that we might see the Lord Jesus as our Savior. Look at that. Galatians 3 verse 24.

Were for the law was our schoolmaster, our instructor, to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster, for we, for he or all the children of God, by faith in Jesus Christ." So the law was to show us how sinful we really are, hopelessly, helplessly lost, and to show us our need of a Savior, and literally to point out who Christ is. Look over in chapter 4, Galatians 4, notice if you will verse four, but when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. So Christ came, took our sin on Himself, has given to us perfect righteousness, has taken our sin away and declared us righteous before God. Not only have we been born again into God's kingdom, but folks, we have been adopted into God's family.

As soon as the Lord comes in, there is a conflict. Look again, Luke chapter 11 and verse 22. But when the stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him, He taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. So he comes upon him. The battle rages.

Pride is cut away. The comfort of sin must be removed. The reigning power of sin must be destroyed. Christ struggles with all the power of His blood and the blessings of His Holy Spirit." Look again in Romans 8, Romans chapter 8. Look at beginning of verse 9.

Romans chapter 8 verse 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of him. See, if you haven't been born of the Spirit, you're not of God. Verse 10, and if Christ be in you, the body is dead.

That is the body is dead to continue on in sin. That's what it means. Because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you." So we've been quickened by the Spirit, been made alive by the Spirit of God. So I conclude, do you know anything about this struggle?

Are you burdened? Have you seen your need of a Savior? Has the Lord called you out of your sin? Has He given you true light where you see yourself as the sinner you are and you see Christ as the Messiah. Have you looked to Him for salvation?

Look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. The sinner must look to the Lord. Come to Jesus Christ and let him wash you clean by his shed love. Do you have on the robe of righteousness this morning? Have you been washed in the blood of a lamb?

That only takes place as you repent of your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus. Satan reigns in the heart of the unsaved. Christ reigns in the heart of the believer. I want you to look now at Luke again at Luke 11, look at verse 23. Luke 11, 23.

He that is not with me, the Lord says, is against me. And he that gathereth not with me scattereth. You see there's no neutral ground here. You're either for the Lord or you're against the Lord. As believers, we have died to sin and we are alive to God through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

We need to continue to preach Christ and He will break the claims of Satan and set the captives free. One last scripture I want you to look in Romans chapter 6. Folks, if you're in Christ this morning, you've been set free. You've been set free. Romans chapter 6.

Notice if you will, Romans chapter 6. You will Romans chapter 6 look at verse 20 let's go back up to verse 17 but God be thanked that you were the servants of sin but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. Who do you serve today? You still serving sin or you serving the Lord Jesus?

Verse 22. Let's go back to verse 20. For when ye were the servants of sin you were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things were of you are now ashamed. For the end of those things is death.

But now being made free from sin and become the servants of God, you have your fruit unto holiness and the end ever less divine. You see, if the Lord has changed your heart, he's called you out of your sin, You'll love what you used to hate and hate what you used to love. You'll have a desire from the depths of your heart to serve the Lord. You'll have a love for His word and you'll look forward to His coming. Amen.

Thanks for watching!