“Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matthew 12:31-32).

You are either with the Lord or you are not. Do not ignore the Holy Spirit within you and then expect to be a part of the kingdom. We are not soloists with knowledge but members of the church of God. Yes, we sin and sometimes get pushy. There is no excuse for this. Each of us must come to the place where we realize that we are not alone but dependent upon the Lord for all things. Be guided by the Lord and His goodness so that You may walk in the everlasting and faithful way.

Lord, I confess that I do not fully understand what this means. I believe You are telling me that I must walk under Your direction. You give me grace so that when I am pushy, or even belligerent, You offer forgiveness, but there is a line that should never be crossed. Teach me where that line is and help me to listen to the Holy Spirit so that I never come close to that line. Guard me against apostasy.

Lord Jesus, I need Your help every day. Guard my lips so that I do not speak what will bring harm to Your kingdom. Holy Spirit, open my ears to hear Your directions, for faith comes by hearing. Lord, guide me in all my ways so that I may humbly walk with You, who is and must be the author and finisher of my faith. Keep me close to You always so that I may not cross any line which would imperil others or me because of my actions. Amen.

“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:29-30).

Jesus makes clear that we are in a battle in this age. It is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and forces of darkness. The wicked one is bound by Jesus. That is why we read of the Apostles casting out demons and healing. In your house, is Jesus your strong man? You cannot be, for we are weak, but He has already overcome. If you are with Jesus, you shall not be overcome, for He is your strength.

Lord, like a small child, I sometimes push Your hand away and believe I can do it on my own. Guide me to live trusting and depending upon You for all things. Help to not lean on my own understanding, but to abide with You and walk in Your ways. Lead me, O Lord, so that I may now and always walk with You. Yes, there is hostility and a war that is constantly going on. Help me to stay focused upon the hope only You give.

Lord Jesus, without You I can do nothing. Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk with You always. Guide me this day so that I may see where I am tempted to leave the path You have set me upon. Continue to teach me how to stand firm in the truth of Your presence. Help me to not rely upon myself, but to always lean upon Your everlasting arms for all things. Guide me now and always in the everlasting way of life. Amen

“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Matthew 12:28).

If it is by God’s Spirit, then the kingdom of God is with You. Why do we say, “The Lord be with You?” We say this because without the Lord, we can do nothing. I can do nothing. If the Holy Spirit directs you to cast out demons, then speak as directed, for the demons know who has all power and authority. The kingdom of God begins with you knowing by faith that He is present and that all power and authority belong to Him.

Lord, there is a spiritual battle raging around me. Our contemporary culture makes fun of all of this and calls it superstition. Help me to neither be afraid, nor indifferent, but engaged with You. No matter what happens, help me stay connected with the Lord and walk the narrow path. The kingdom of God is within all who believe. Our Lord has promised to be with us always, and never leave nor forsake us.

Lord Jesus, these things are real because You are talk about them. Help me to not focus upon the evil in this world, but upon You who has conquered all evil from the cross. The wicked one has no power over me, but so many believe His lies. Help me to know that You are Truth, and he is a liar. Keep me on the narrow path of following You without fear. Guide me today in the way I should go and grant me a willing heart to do what You ask. Amen.

“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?  If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefor they will be your judges” (Matthew 12:26-27).  

Make no mistake, Satan is united in one thing, and that is hatred.  Wherever, and however he can spread the seeds of hatred, you see his work.  It is everywhere in this age.  Jealousy, coveting, and dissatisfaction abound.  Reject the devil and all his empty promises.  Our Lord is One, and He alone has all power and authority.  Be guided by Him and live in the grace He gives.  Do not be divided, but united in Him.  Lord Jesus, You have prayed that we would be one.  Wherever there is disunity, the wicked one is at work.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to know that in You alone is unity.  Where there is disunity in my life, slay it.  Where there is discord in me, humble me to love others as You have loved me.  Teach me to be a peacemaker.  Guide me to follow You in all Your ways. 

Help me, Lord Jesus, to live the Gospel of truth today.  Where I am tempted to sin, point my eyes in the right direction.  My mind races, but all truth is in You.  Help me to understand that true life is in You alone.  The world is divided, but the church is one.  Help me to move from living as the world lives to living in the unity of Your presence and purpose in my life. 

Lord Jesus, You have so clearly laid out the truth that I often run in the opposite direction.  Guide me, Lord, to live faithfully according to the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Help me to be a peacemaker, being humble and willing to walk in peace with those whom You bring into my life.  Be the One who leads me, and with Your Holy Spirit, send me into the world as a peacemaker for Your sake.  Amen.

“He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand” (Matthew 12:25).  

The wicked one divides, and the Lord unites.  See the big picture and you will see that where there is division, there is evil.  Where there is unity in peace there is the presence of the Holy Spirit.  God is love and He establishes relationship in love.  Whether it is your family, the congregation, your community, the nation, or the world, if it is divided, it will not stand. 

Lord, where my attitude is one of standing my ground in order to divide, restrain me.  Teach me how to love.  “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, love never fails.”  Love is not just emotional, but cares for the other so much that it always seeks for the right thing to do.  Lord, You are love and You are in me.  Let me not divide but be filled completely with You in order to live out Your love. 

Lord Jesus, I am under constant attack by the world, flesh and devil seeking to divide my loyalty to You.  Or is it just me?  Lord, I must decrease, and You must be my all-in-all.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may humbly walk wherever You lead me.  Help me to understand that only in You is there hope and a future.  All power is Yours alone.  Guide me in the truth of Your love and power so that I may live out Your love today.  Amen.

“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons” (Matthew 12:24).  

The wicked will do anything to discredit the Lord.  In what they say wrongly is faithfulness, unaware that they are serving their “father” below, they will accuse those who follow the Lord.  They accuse.  You will know them by their fruits.  The wicked are always accusing.  Do not be deceived by them but see things as they are.  No good can be done except through the Lord, He is the source of all that is good (Psalm 37:3). 

Lord, I have been falsely accused when I am doing the best I can to do what is right in Your sight.  Continue to be the One who directs me, even when others are accusing me.  Where there is a legitimate accusation, help me to see, repent, and turn back to Your grace.  Where it is a false accusation, help me to see it for what it is, shake the dust off my feet and move on. 

Lord Jesus, my mind can go in many different directions.  Only by Your help can I stay on the narrow path of faithfulness.  Help me to be very slow to accuse, quick to repent, and willing to obey what You are commanding.  Guide me always to see that in You alone is there hope and a future.  The wicked are all around me, but You are the One who leads the faithful.  Help me to be faithful to You, Lord, doing what You would have me do.  Amen. 

“All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” (Matthew 12:23) 

Who can do what God does except God?  But didn’t Jesus say that we would do greater things?  The power does, and always will, belong to God, but He does mighty things through His servants.  He will do what He chooses to do.  Do you believe our Lord can do all things?  People ask, “Can this be?”  Scripture tells us plainly, that yes, this is the Messiah, Son of David, the holy One, who heals and redeems us.  

In my mind, Lord, I make things so complex.  You are God, the Father of us all.  You have created me, and through Jesus, You have called me to become as He is, a child of Yours.  In the mystery of what You are doing, help me to learn more and more how to trust You in all things.  Let me not view You in amazement as if such things were not possible, but in awe that with You all things are possible. 

Lord Jesus, all power and authority belong to You.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly walk where You lead me today.  Give me eyes to see what You would have me do.  Lead me according to Your grace and mercy to reach out to my neighbor, knowing that whatever You ask me to do will accomplish what You desire.  Teach me meekness that I may have a willing heart to serve You, Son of David.  Amen. 

“Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see” (Matthew 12:22).  

 What is impossible for God?  He was there and healing those who were brought to Him.  Is there willingness that is a part of the equation?  It is best to ask yourself that question.  Are you willing to be healed by Jesus?  Each of us needs what we need and thinking that we have no need for God is often a difficulty for us.  If we are willing, the Lord will heal where we are blind and will give us words to speak when we are mute. 

 Lord, I still have so much pride in me that even with You, I pretend that I do not have need.  But I do have needs, many of them.  I need the healing that only You can give.  Begin with my pride and show me how to be humble, knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Help me to see where there is need for change, both in myself and, where it is Your command, in others.  May I be allowed to serve in Your name, bringing others to You. 

 Lord Jesus, I need healing.  Open my eyes to see the truth.  Open my mouth to speak Your words.  Bind the wicked one who pesters me.  Free me to be Your servant always.  In and through all things, be the One who leads me moment by moment all the days of my life.  Guard my heart, soul and mind so that I live out the life You give as You shape me to be whom You are making me to be.  Amen. 

“He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.  He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope” (Matthew 12:19-21 (quoting Isaiah42:1-4)). 

 Jesus has not come to sell His version of things.  He did not come to establish a religion.  Jesus is the Lord of all, and He has come offering eternal life to as many as will come and join Him.  This world is filled with suffering and sorrow.  The one thing we have is hope.  Because Jesus lives, we too shall live.  He does not argue with us but has plainly stated the fact of the matter.  Either you will or you will not come to Him on His terms. 

 Lord, this world is filled with arguments.  People are calling for us to go one way or another.  From the beginning, You have told us of the way things are to be.  Help me to see through the lies of this age to understand that of course it must be the way You have created things to be.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to understand that in You alone is there hope and a future. 

 Lord Jesus, You have never coerced me to do anything, but You are constantly calling me to live the life You have demonstrated by word and deed.  You have nurtured me in the faith to learn how to follow You and I have heard what You desire from me.  Help me to put into practice each day what needs to be done.  Lead me in Your goodness so that Your light shines through me this day as I seek to do what is pleasing to the Father.  Amen.  

“This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased.  I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles” (Matthew 12:17-18). 

 Jesus, in fulfilment of prophecy, came to make things right for all those who turn to Him.  We humans get together and the next thing you know, our group is our special group and we want people to conform to our image.  Jesus died for the whole world.  We all have our expectations but Jesus brings us reality.  Will it be your will or the Lord’s will that is done.  The Lord will accomplish salvation for all who believe and endure to the end. 

 Lord, You know how I have my ideas of things.  I want You to love me just as I am.  I want You to favor the people I hang out with.  I want.  This seems to be the attitude of the old Adam, but You created humanity, and You created us to be in relationship with You.  Lead me away from myself to realize that You give, and will bring, justice to all people.  Guide me into the life You created me to live. 

 Lord Jesus, I need not tell you anything about this world that is filled with injustice. Your justice is not to make one group superior to another.  You have come to establish Your kingdom.  You are and must be the king of my life.  Help me to get over myself, in fact, to die to myself so that You may take Your rightful place as my Lord.  Help me through my struggle to die to sin, death, and the devil today.  Amen.