Empowered by the Spirit: Living a Victorious Life Daily

MONDAY, 19 MAY 2025

TEXT: Matthew 12:22-37

22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.

23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.

26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?

27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.

28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.

30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: CONSIDER WHAT YOU SAY

Jesus has been in the business of performing miracles to meet human needs and fulfill the Scriptures concerning Himself. But the Jews would raise questions whenever they see Him doing this.

This evil attitude of the Pharisees continues in today’s text. So, when Jesus cast out a demon from a man who was blind and mute, the multitudes were amazed. But not the Pharisees.

Jesus in His response explained that it was unreasonable to suppose that the devil would pull down his own kingdom. Jesus added that His miracles were neither through ‘African microphone’ (juju) nor demonic and diabolical powers but the spirit of God.

He warned that anyone who sees a clear evidence of the work of the spirit’s power and links it with the devil is sinning against the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, believers should be careful and watch what to say. Do not speak foolish and unprofitable words.

QUESTION: Have you spoken foolish and unprofitable words against Christ and the Holy Spirit?

PRAYER: Oh Lord, please forgive any idle word I have spoken and help me to be more careful today, this week and in the future in the way I use my tongue, in Jesus’ name. Amen.