Responding to Jesus: Luke 11:23-28

1. The absence of neutrality in responding to Jesus
23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Luke 11:23 (ESV)

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:8 (ESV)

2. The hidden danger in failing to respond to Jesus
24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26 (ESV)

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38 (ESV)

3. The superior blessing in responding to Jesus
27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:27-28 (ESV)

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:48-49 (ESV)

11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 (ESV)

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3 (ESV)