SWEPT AND GARNISHED BUT EMPTY

Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself 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. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Here we are told of a person being cleansed of an evil spirit. Who is the only power that can drive out an unclean spirit? It is the Spirit of Christ. By his Word, by his might, by his Spirit are the unclean spirits driven from men.

Yet, notice that the spirit is not sent into hell or to the abyss or to some prison, but he is sent out into the world, and there he finds no rest, he finds no pleasure. The demonic spirits of this world only find pleasure in possessing the souls of men, and thus the spirit that has been driven from its home, is bound to return seeking entrance again.

Now notice what he finds when he returns: "and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished."

Ah, the spirit returns to the one from whom he has been removed and when he arrives he quickly checks to see if the man is occupied, and upon inspection he sees that the man is empty, the room of his soul was vacant, and was ready to be lived in again by its previous occupant.

Who was the house empty of? It was empty of the presence of GOD, the Spirit of God was not filling the residence. Christ had not come and made his abode in the man and this could be seen by his fruits. There was no fear of God or love of God. There was no faith in Christ, or affection for Christ, there was none of his graces, no spiritual power, no internal heart religion, no persevering faith and no overcoming godliness.

Yet, the house had been swept and garnished! It was cleansed and set in order. No doubt the man was given his right mind, and was set in order while the spirit was away. What can cleanse a man? What can set a man in a right state of mind? No one but Christ.

But listen friends, being swept and garnished did not keep the spirit from entering the man once again! All the religious ceremonies and ordinances and practices that a man can muster has no power in keeping one from Satan. No, the garnishment of these religious ornaments only made the man more attractive and inviting to the unclean spirit. In fact the spirit brought seven more devils with him when he returned, and the man became worse than ever.

The only thing that would had kept the evil spirit from coming back into the man is if when he returned he found that the ONE who had driven him out had taken up residence there. Only the abiding presence of Christ in a believer can keep him from being taken captive again by the forces of darkness.

SWEPT AND GARNISHED, BUT NOT FILLED?

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 8:14-17 ¶ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Here the people of Samaria repented at the preaching of Phillip, and were baptized. Yet the Bible says that the Holy Spirit had not fallen upon any of them, until some days after their baptism, when the Apostles came and laid hands upon them.

I fear today that many people 'believe' and are 'baptized', but have not yet received the Holy Ghost in earnest. Yet they are told by their modern pastors and preachers that they have been filled with the Spirit, even though there is no evidence of such a thing. And they take their Pastor's word for it and go on into life, swept and garnished with religious rituals, but empty of the power of God and it is not long before the same spirits that had them before they believed return and they fall away; or they continue in Church in a sinful, powerless, hypocritical and filthy state.

These are they who have a form of godliness, but would deny the power there of [2 Tim 3:5]. And these would make a mockery out of Christianity; which is truly the power of God unto GODLINESS. Friends Christianity without the power of the indwelling Spirit is fruitless, powerless, backslidden and broken. It does more harm than good.

EVIDENCE OF THE SPIRIT?

Acts 8:18-19 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

The Bible says that Simon SAW that through the laying on of the hands of the Apostles the Samarians received the Holy Ghost with power. My friends, for him to SEE it there had to be some real evidence of it. It wasn't just the Apostles saying these people had received the Spirit, but there was power in the lives of these believers, there were spiritual gifts operating in these individuals' lives.

THE LAST DAYS, A TIME OF SPIRITLESSNESS IN THE CHURCH

Jude 1:17-21 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Here it was predicted that the last day Church would be filled with mockers, and I believe the mockers are those who make a mockery of the Church. How? They are sensual. That is they walk in the flesh, they are controlled by their fleshly appetites, they have no power over their carnal nature and its many sins; and then they claim to be Spirit-filled Christians! But in truth, Jude says, "They have not the Spirit".

TAKING NO OIL WITH YOU?

Matthew 25:1-4 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

The ten virgins represent the Church as a whole. Notice all ten have lamps, all ten are going to meet the bridegroom. I would say all ten have been swept and garnished. But guess what? Five were foolish, why were they deemed foolish? Because they went to meet Christ without the oil! What does the oil represent? It is the Holy Ghost.

And did these foolish virgins inherit the eternal Kingdom of God?

Matthew 25:11-12 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Dear friends, without the power of the Holy Ghost in our lives we are nothing but mere professors of religion. We have no power to overcome the flesh, to overcome the world, or to overcome the devil. You will have no power to accomplish the works that God has prepared for your life. If you go through your 'Christian' life without ever being filled with the Spirit, you are bound for one thing, utter failure.

RAISING THE DEAD?

Revelation 3:1-3 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Here is a picture of the backslidden religion that passes its self off as Christianity today. The Church of Sardis, the Church that claims to be Christ's, who takes the living name, but is truly dead. Lifeless, powerless and fruitless is the Spirit-less Church. And Christ warns them that if things did not change he would come unto them as a thief.

What were they to do? The same thing that you are to do, REMEMBER what you have received and what you have heard, and hold fast to it. The word of God is true and we can trust it.

Now God calls us to repentance. A sincere confession of our sins before God and the forsaking of them. Laying them all down upon the altar of grace, and yielding ourselves to God as living sacrifices. Once we have repented and yielded ourselves to God, then we can earnestly ask him for His Spirit, and/or the filling of His Spirit in our lives.

Luke 11:9-10 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Oh Friend, will not see your great need today? Will you not humble your stiff neck and your harden heart, and repent before God? And ask him, and to not only indwell you, but to fill you fully with his Holy Ghost?