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Matthew 12:43-45 is the text for this sermon entitled, "The Unclean Spirit."
Introduction - What is the unclean spirit?
•The "unclean spirit" symbolizes evil and spiritual uncleanliness, with roots in Old Testament concepts of defilement.
•Jesus' references to unclean spirits highlight the dangers of spiritual emptiness, suggesting that a heart devoid of good can invite further evil.
•The passage emphasizes that a person cannot simply rid themselves of evil without filling their heart with goodness, as emptiness invites more significant spiritual danger.
1. When the Unclean Spirit Leaves
•The idea of the unclean spirit leaving refers to the moment when a person wakes up and wants God’s help to clean up their life.
•Nahum 1:11 (The oracle against Nineveh) and Matthew 15:18-19 use the same verb to describe what is gone out of the mouth proceeds from the heart!
2. When the Unclean Spirit Finds No Rest
•Demonic activity against the will of God (expelled by a stronger presence)
•Satan’s search for rest in "waterless places" (geographic metaphor) shows that he never stops seeking new converts and looking for those without spiritual fulfillment.
•Verb used to describe Satan’s empty quest is the same as Simeon’s prophecy to Mary (Luke 2:35) “sword will pierce your soul.”
•Deserted, dry places – abode of demons in Old Testament (Isaiah) and Revelation 18:2 “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
Consequences of Spiritual Emptiness
•Upon returning, the unclean spirit finds the heart empty, swept, and in order, but lacking the presence of God, making it vulnerable to worse conditions.
•The return of the unclean spirit with seven others signifies a more severe state of spiritual decay. The attack is now sevenfold more forceful.
•The sermon warns against superficial attempts to improve one's life without inviting God into the heart, leading to a cycle of spiritual vulnerability.
•The final state of a person can be worse than the initial condition if they do not fill their lives with God's presence.
Practical Applications
•Let us examine our lives, ensuring we fill our hearts with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit to avoid spiritual emptiness.
•We encourage one another to be vigilant against spiritual emptiness.
•What is in our heart and what comes out of our heart is key.
•We must not allow Satan to lead us into the dry, waterless land that dries up the soul. The gospel offers the living waters.
•Peter pictures allowing Satan to return as a dog returning to its vomit!
•Remember verses about being filled with God’s Spirit, and Jesus’ presence in us!
--Matthew 5:6 “… for they will be filled.“
--Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace