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Sermon Transcript

Introduction: Good morning, let’s pray. If you are new to Citylight, you quickly see that we are committed to preaching verse – verse through books of the Bible here. And one of the most common commands in the Bible is a command we find in our passage this morning: “Don’t be afraid…” In fact, it repeats that command over 150 times. But why does the Bible tell us so many times “don’t be afraid?” Well, my pastor in Philadelphia pointed out that fear tends to control us. He mentioned that fear will: 1. Cause you to do things God forbids 2.  Forbid you to do things God commands 3. Fear robs us of setting our hope on God who gives us all things to be enjoyed (1 Tim. 6:17). And as we focus on discipleship this year at Citylight, our text teaches us that fear prohibits true discipleship or following Jesus!

Now, lets connect this idea with our text this morning. When you look at our text, there is a temptation to believe it is 3 random stories about Jesus performing miracles. But look at the connection: With only a word, Jesus: calms a storm, cast out evil spirits, and heals/raises the dead. In the face of all our fear, panic, and trembling, the text wants to present to us a clear picture of the power and authority of Jesus! Our text presses on all of us that Jesus is not just a teacher or religious figure, He is the Divine Son of God/God in the flesh. And with that idea in mind, let me ask you: What are you afraid of? What are you worried will never change or is changing for the worse, and will devastate your life? Family, if you ignore our text this morning you will ignore this vital truth. The only way to deal with fear is to have a holy fear of Jesus. It is to have a big picture of and confidence in the authority and power of Jesus! Fear of the world paralyzes you, while a holy fear and awe of Jesus will liberate you! So, our big idea this morning is: “Don’t be afraid, believe in the authority of Jesus.” And our text will show us what falls under the authority of Jesus:

  • Creation
  • Spirits
  • Sickness and Death

Body:

  1. Creation (8:22-25)
  2. First, creation. The text opens with Jesus taking a nap while His group sails across a lake. Suddenly, a massive windstorm, which is literally translated as “hurricane,” hits. And living in Amarillo, we know how scary wind can be. It was so chaotic that Jesus’s disciples (who were trained fishermen) said they were going to die. And the Bible teaches that because of sin, the world was broken and thrown into chaos. Scholar David Gooding says, “We live in a universe that that is lethally hostile to human life…Within our earth itself wind, wave lighting, storm, flood, drought avalanche, earthquakes, fire, heat, cold, germ, virus, epidemic, all from time to time threaten and destroy life.” And that chaos even affects our personal lives. Sometimes it feels like a hurricane: doctor’s concerning diagnosis, sudden death of a loved one, miscarriage, or losing your job. Other times, it can feel like slowly drowning: lingering health problems, marriage is falling gradually falling apart, or even your kids are struggling. It could even feel like the storm your own sinful choices or how others’ sin has hurt you. We can’t avoid how sin has broken the world. In this life, you are either going into a storm, in a storm, and coming out of a storm.
  3. But did you notice that when the disciples were panicking, Jesus didn’t tell them to row harder or give “tips?” Instead, Jesus uses the storm to teach them about his infinite power and goodness; to teach them He has authority over creation. Think about His infinite Much like the storms the dust storms in Amarillo that blind us to see the road, the storms of our lives tend to blind us to seeing Jesus. But when the disciples mention that the winds and waves obey Jesus, they are referring to Psalm 89:9, “You rule the raging sea; when its waves surge, you still them.” Last year I heard about Michael Jordan going to a training camp with some young basketball players. They asked him to play and even though he was retired, he said yes. And the reporter asked why, it was because he wanted to remind them that he is still Michael Jordan; greatest basketball player ever. Jesus uses the storm to remind His disciples what Dr. Miguel Nunez says, “When we see Jesus calming the storm, we aren’t just seeing a miracle; we are seeing the Architect of the waves telling His building to be still. Nature recognizes the voice of its Owner.” There is no storm in this world that is greater that Jesus’s infinite power.
  4. Now, think about Jesus’s infinite goodness. When the disciples were panicking, they basically tell Jesus, “Don’t you care we are going to die?” When the storms and chaos of this life come crashing on your life, you may ask the same question to Jesus, “Don’t you see or care what is going on?” But for the disciples, the waves and hurricane-winds took their attention off the facts: Jesus isn’t just infinitely powerful, but infinitely good too. And you know where we see His goodness in this section? Not just in calming the storm, Jesus was with them when they began to sail, when the waves began to get big, and when they were sinkin In the middle of the storm, they were living out Isaiah 43:2, “I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.” The comfort that the disciples were overlooking was that the Son of God, who had taken on flesh, was right there in the middle of the storm with His disciples. You and I need to hear that Jesus powerfully rules over creation, but He is loving enough to stay in the boat with you
  5. Implication: And please hear me. If you are going through a storm or chaotic season, reach out and we will walk with, pray over, and process the situation with you. But the main point of the text is not to give you good advice, it is something better. I remember hearing about an older woman who lost her husband in a car wreck. And her young pastor was trying to explain to her what God was doing in her circumstances. She told him, “Pastor, thank you, but I don’t need you to explain to me what the purpose in this is; because I can’t see it. I need you to remind that even if I don’t know, God does; He can make good come of this!” You need to be reminded how powerful and loving your savior is! So allow me to remind you this morning: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.  He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Col. 1:15-20) Family, don’t be afraid, trust Jesus in Jesus’s authority over creation.
  6. Spirits (8:26-39)
  7. Next, spirits. When we look at the beginning of the story, we are introduced to man with a serious problem: he possessed by multiple demons. And the text goes out of its way to point out how these demons devastated this man’s life. Listen to how Philip Ryken describes these verses, “He was naked, lonely, violent, and insane; he was walking among the dead.” Jesus found this man in the worst condition possible. And what we need to understand is that the Bible teaches not only the existence of demonic-spiritual forces but that they are in opposition against God and his people. But the lie that many people tend to believe is, “We are too advanced to believe in ghosts and spirits.” But I can remember talking to a friend who battled anxiety. And odd enough, they would feel most anxious when they considered coming to church, it was as if they felt a presence tell them, “You’ll be safe if you stay away from church!” Family, don’t be naïve, Eph. 6:12 is true: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”
  8. Now, this man’s situation was extreme, and the demonic activity was obvious. But typically, the enemy attacks in more unseen and subtle ways. 1. Discouragement. The enemy uses our pain and frustration to make us feel like God has forgotten about us. I had a friend who was a former marine and had seen horrible things during his service. He had said that he felt like he saw death everywhere; and was so discouraged. 2. 1 Thess. 2:18 says that the Devil tried to stop Paul from spreading the gospel; the enemy wants to stop the spread of the gospel. We see this with our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted over the gospel in in places like Nigeria. 3. Accusation. Zech. 3:1 mentions how the enemy accuses God’s redeemed people. The enemy will present lies: “You are an addict (alcoholic, porn, sexually immoral) and will never change.” “You ruin everything.” “You are too far gone for God to love you.” The goal of the evil spiritual forces is to tempt you to believe that the spiritual forces are too strong for Jesus; that this is the situation where the gospel isn’t true.
  9. But pay attention to 2 important observations in the section. First, the demons call Jesus “Son of the Most High God.” And they even ask Jesus’ permission to be cast into pigs. The demons themselves are reminding us that there is a power dynamic: evil spiritual forces can’t match Jesus! 2:15 tells us that at the Cross, Jesus proved He was stronger by disarming the evil spiritual forces by paying for our sins. Second, the demons asked if Jesus was going through them into the “abyss” or pit. Rev. 20:11-15 tells us that Jesus will come back throw the devil and evil into the abyss; destroy them. You see, even the demons know that Jesus isn’t just stronger than them, He is the King who has sentenced them/death/evil to be destroyed! Charles Spurgeon says, “Christ is the conqueror of hell. He has broken the dragon’s head, and put his foot upon the neck of the leviathan.” Family, Luke mentions these facts to make sure we understand that although spiritual warfare exists it is not a fair fight.
  10. Implication: And we can learn how to apply the truth that Jesus has authority over the spirits. When you feel the enemy tempting you to believe that Jesus can’t or won’t help you in your current situation: 1. Turn to Jesus. Did you notice how the crowd had failed to help the man but when Jesus healed him, they didn’t want anything to do with Jesus? Knowing that Jesus has authority over the spirits means to run to Him, fall at His feet, and tell Him how you feel the enemy attacking. This could look like fighting satanic lies like, “God won’t forgive you” by praying the promises of Scripture. Pray, “I am tempted to feel like you have abandoned me, but you promised that you will never leave me or forsake me!” 2. Share the gospel. In vs.39, Jesus tells the man go tell others what God did for him, and he goes out telling others what Jesus (Son of God), did for Him. As you are blessed by Jesus’s authority, tell others about His authority. This can be at work, home, or school. But it can be as simple as serving in our kids ministry, where we tell them every Sunday who Jesus is and what He has done for God’s people! Family, don’t be afraid, Jesus has authority over spirits
  • Sickness and Death (8:40-56)
  1. Lastly, sickness & death. In this last section of the passage, we see two people who go to Jesus because they have the same desperate need. We see Jairus, ruler in the synagogue who ran to Jesus because his only daughter was sick and dying. We also see a woman who had spent all her money on doctors but no could help her. The text is reminding us that that no matter how much we have advanced as humanity, we can’t get rid of sickness and death. In Genesis we see that God created the world in perfect harmony and peace; where humanity could have a relationship with him. But when Adam and Eve rejected God/sinned, humanity was separated from God and death and sickness entered the world. And deep down, we know that the world is broken; we know that we are broken on the inside and under God’s judgment. Have you wondered why when we mess up or stub our toe; we cuss? Have you ever wondered why we cry when we are frustrated or at funerals? It is because we know that things aren’t the way they are supposed to be. Family, what we need to understand that sickness and death is the great equalizer, it is the one problem we can’t get rid of on our own.
  2. But as these people face sickness and death, we see Jesus heal the woman and brings Jarius’s daughter back to life. These miracles are meant to show us that Jesus has total authority over sickness and death. And he proved it by taking on flesh and absorbing the wrath of God for sin on the Cross and resurrecting three days later. His resurrection proved that one day he will return and we will see every storm, demon, and death itself destroyed. But notice what He tells them that their faith has healed the and to believe to be saved? To believe/have faith is to trust in Jesus as the only hope to defeat sickness and death. Luke mentions these details to remind us that we are called to not just agree with Jesus or like Him, but to trust in him; submit our lives to Him as our Lord and Savior. Truth is, if you are actively rejecting or giving partial devotion to Jesus, you have every reason to be afraid. Because one day you will have to stand before God and answer for how you have lived your life. And any life not trusting in Jesus, has no hope for escaping the judgment of death! So if that is you trust in Jesus for the first time today. Confess the ways you have failed Him and believe its His life/death/resurrection that defeats death! Please find a prayer-partner and we will pray with you!
  3. Implication: You see, Jesus used these miracles as “movie trailers” pointing to the day He renews the world and destroys sickness/death. But what do we do know as we wait for that day? We do what Jairus and the woman did: take our sickness/suffering to Jesus! Basically, when you are sick pray: 1. Boldly; do you notice how when the people take their sickness to Jesus, there is no “Well, maybe Jesus can do it.” They go to him confident that he has authority. When you are suffering, pray to Jesus with confidence in his authority; ask him boldly to bring healing and peace. 2. Humbly; there is also this trust in Jesus that he knows best. As you pray boldly, pray humbly knowing that even if Jesus doesn’t answer the way we want, He will give you the strength to suffer well and faithfully because He is with you! And my encouragement then is if you are sick, please come and receive prayer from our prayer team. Don’t leave today without taking your need to Jesus. As we mentioned earlier, this doesn’t mean Jesus will answer our prayers the way we think he should, but you are better off trusting in Him. Family, don’t be afraid, Jesus has authority over sickness and death.

Conclusion:

To finish, I ask again: “What are you afraid of?” Whatever it is, Jesus is bigger and more powerful. I love how Heidelberg catechism summarizes it: Q. What is your only comfort in life and death? A. That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.” Citylight, lets be a family that celebrates the power and authority of Jesus; lets believe in him over fear!