Who is this Teacher?

Introduction:

So as we have been tracking with the orderly accounted Gospel of Luke, so we know from reading the text that

Jesus has been baptized

Jesus has taught in many surrounding synagogs

Jesus has been rejected in his hometown of Nazareth and sought to be thrown over a cliff

And this morning we will read of Jesus next ministry moment...

Please stand for the reading of the Word of the Lord

Read - Luke 4:31-37

Luke 4:31–37 ESV

And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Pray

This morning I want to start us off with a few questions, and I want you to answer them in these few seconds.

Do you believe…

The Word of the Lord has Authority & Power?

Do you believe the Word of the Lord is able to deliver from Evil?

And do you believe that the Word of the Lord is able to save and keep us from all evil?

As we red in our text moments ago, so we see it’s about a man with an unclean spirit;

But even more so it’s about Jesus who is the authority and power over the demonic!

Let’s make this clear in our text; it would be easy and even a temptation to put our focus on anyone other than Jesus and what He does in our text.

So lets now unpack and discover what Jesus did this day in Capernaum…

Luke 4:31 “And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,”

So we see Jesus now leaving Nazareth, as a matter of fact heading south of Nazareth to where?

Capernaum, yes the same Capernaum he had already been in and taught in.

The same place that the Jews in the synagogue in Luke 4 16-30 - (two weeks ago) where they were wanting Jesus to re-enact what he did in Capernaum for others.

Luke 4:23 “And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ””

Remember Jesus knew what they were thinking before they could even say it; and he exposed them and (remember this what he exposed in them was that they did not have faith in Him)

And so what was Jesus doing in Capernaum again?

“And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee…And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,”

Jesus we see here keeps a routine and habit of going to the synagog on the sabbath, just as he did in Nazareth.

So we see him now here in Capernaum, again teaching those around him on the sabbath.

Yes don’t ever forget this, but before Jesus did miracles; He first taught His Word.

I would even go onto say there are more mentioning’s of Jesus teaching the Word than doing Miracles (not in any way am I trying to downplay or call miracles insignificant, but Jesus taught, it’s clear that’s how his ministry started)

Let it be said just as Jesus started His ministry with teaching, that we would start and end our ministry with teaching; and power from the Holy Spirit.

And for us while Sunday is a message and Wednesday is a teaching; so what is Jesus the great teacher teaching you throughout the week through His Word and His Spirit?

For me Psalm 42..

Psalm 42:5 “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation”

Then I felt the the Holy Spirit lead me to the a coffee shop where I met this brother named ethan and we just encouraged each other in the faith, and prayed for one another

I didn’t want to be hypocrite in my question to you this morning, so let it be said we are led by His Word’s and His Spirit as Christians daily.

Lets continue on to verse 32...

Luke 4:32 “and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.”

So we’ve come to know from 2 weeks ago that Jesus in the synagogue left many “marveling”

And He continues to do the same thing with His teaching here in the synagogue…

But we know that this time not only did his teaching “astonish” them but “His Word possessed authority”

Jesus words possessed authority - authority in the greek - possessed supernatural power

And so it’s good to know that Jesus Word’s posses such authority, spiritually.

Because in our next verse we will see His Words must posses authority spiritually to un-posses and heal a man with an unclean spirit.

And before we move on it’s important to to notice this, Jesus words to the people in the synagog possessed authority, before he delivered the man. (even before the miracle of deliverance; so the the authority of his teaching was felt and they were astonished) - As I said 2 weeks go is the Word of God enough for us? (it should be)

Luke 4:33-34 “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.””

And so in the place of worship was a man, and this man was not by himself (per say)

this man...“who had” - in greek meaning be able to experience

Who had a…. “spirit of an unclean demon”

And if you know or seen anything about people being possessed, you often know it’s not them in full control of their body and in this case this demon is disturbing the synagogue worship with his “loud voice”

See Loud voice - in the greek meaning large and surprising!

And isn’t that what the enemy and our flesh love to do? (to disturb us and distract us from bowing at the feet of King Jesus?) Worshiping Him and reading his Word?

The enemy and our flesh love to distract us when we are seeking to worship and glorify our God.

And so what did the demon say out loud in the synagog?

….Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God

Here the demon in the man is already asking questions he knows the answer too

He knows this is Jesus from Nazareth

The demon also knows what? “have you come to destroy us?” While the evil spirit asks’s the question so this is what we call a rechtorical question (he knows the answer too it already, but in fear asks’s, is this the time you have come to destroy us?)

Rev 20:10 “and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

And so the demon knows, and makes sure everyone else knows, this teacher who is leaving them “astonished” is who?

“The Holy one of God”

As R.C. Sproul says ‘Nothing recognizes the holy more than the unholy”

The darkness knows who Jesus is and not only that they cry out in fear at the Word of the Lord.

“The Holy one of God… Luke 4:35 “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.”

The demon being loud and soon to be violent…

So Jesus rebuked the demon in the man “saying, “Be silent and come out of Him!”

Rebuked - in the greek meaning commanded him; it was not an option for the demon to go

And it wasn’t as if they demon had power to defy, no authority had spoken...

“And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.”

So if you can imagine what a scene right?

This man who now has an unclean spirt and the demon is screaming through the man, in the place of worship (the synagog) and recognizing Jesus as “the holy one of God”

And Jesus rebuked him (commanded him) “be silent and come out of him!”

And remember this wasn’t done in secret. Jesus lifted no finger; but His Word’s of authority and power commanded the demon and he came out of the man.

Do we not see truly how powerful the Word of the Lord is this morning? // Those in the synagog did this day...

The Word of the Lord delivered this man from evil..

“Having done him no harm…”

The man who was possessed is freed from darkness and it’s grip on his life; and no harm has been done to him!

Even though it sounds like it might of been painful hitting the ground and an evil sprit coming out of him...

The Word of the Lord makes it clear He was saved and kept from evil as well!

Luke 4:36-37 “And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.”

Jesus the great teacher in our text, not only with Word, but in authority and power, delivering the helpless and lost in dankness; from evil and saving them and keeping them safe.

That point could sum up this whole text: (ABOVE)

But this morning I want to even break that point up and begin to unpack with more Scripture references, Jesus as the authority, and power, and He being able to deliver us from Evil, and how He saves and Keeps us from evil.

Ending:

First:

Jesus has full Authority - Jesus is the author of authority.

We see this through His Word in other moments of time where He makes it clear to us...

John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Colossians 1:16 “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”

Colossians 1:17 “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Does Jesus sound like He has authority with His words throughout these Scriptures?

Those in the synagogue were not wrong, Jesus words are absolutely ”astonishing” and full of authority; and now He was demonstrating this to them...

But not only with authority, but also with power “for with authority and power...”

Referring to the Word of the Lord being powerful : We can reflect on His miracles for a moment:

John 2:1-11 (Jesus water into wine)

Mark 1:40-45 (Jesus cleanses a leper)

Luke 8:43-48 (the woman who touched his garment)

Luke 8:46 “But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.””

Matthew 8:23-27 (Jesus calmed the storms)

Matthew 14:15-21) Jesus feeds the 5000

And our text today - Jesus delivers a man from a demon.

From these moments in the Word of the Lord; so we can read of the power Jesus demonstrates is not only healing the sick, calming the weather and the wind; turning water to wine and multiplying bread; but also He has...Power over the darkness and demons!

If anyone tells you the devil and his demons are more powerful and authoritative than Jesus they are flat out wrong; and are in for a great awakening if they would only turn their eyes to Jesus!

So Church is Jesus Word’s powerful? (Yes!)

We also see, not only was Jesus words with authority and power, but His Words were able to deliver the man from the evil spirit (darkness)

Something NO one else could do in that synagogue by the way!

The Lord’s Prayer - Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

To deliver as to rescue or heal- do you think the man liked to be possessed by the unclean spirit? no!

He needed rescue, healing and deliverance from something He had no control over.

And we notice he obvisouly could not rescue himself from this darkness.

And lets just be real this morning; we are all in need of rescue from darkness and sin, and this is something that we are incapable of doing on our own.

And that takes us to our last point, Referring to the Word of the Lord about those being saved and kept:

What was the outcome of this moment with Jesus for the man possessed?

Jesus saved him from an evil spirit and kept him from being harmed.

And at this point in this mans life what more could he want? But to be delivered from the enemy and kept from harm?

Jesus has saved Him; and has kept him from Evil.

Psalm 20:6 “Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.”

This Morning:

We are not all possessed by the enemy, or an evil spirit (obviously)

But we are all cursed under the fall, and under sin

And we are in need of Jesus the one with authority and power, the only one who can deliver us from evil and save us and keep us from the enemy, sin and eternal death in a place called hell.

Pastor Shaun but, why are we in need of Jesus?

Because we are the ones lost and broken in sin. (Just as the man was possessed and needed rescue, and healing from the demon and darkness)

So our spiritual condition is one of desperate and deep need of healing and rescue from sin

And the only healing and rescue from sin is found in faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior...

And what He has done for us on the Cross, (taking our sin and shame upon Himself; meaning we know longer bear the weight of our sin, He did)

Jesus then being buried in the grave and RISING from the grave. (He rising defeating the enemy and his demons; not only that but He conquering sin on our behalf, brining us healing and deliverance)

Church Family:

Jesus came to deal with the enemy, death and sin; mind you that if we were left to them on our own, we would be hopeless just like the man who as possessed by the demon.

The man possessed by the demon was not able to save himself, please get this!

But because Christ the greatest teacher, worked a miracle in His Life He was freed!

WE CHRISTIANS have new life in Christ because He has given us faith to believe in Him.

He having all authority and power He has saved us by grace through faith and has delivered us from evil, and is saving us and keep us from it until we are back home with him.

2 Thes 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

Psalm 32:7 “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah”

Psalm 138:7 “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.”

Yes for those who are Christians He is keeping us from the enemy:

We as Christians who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Our bodies can not be possessed no longer by the enemy, for our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit

Titus 3:5 “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

So this morning I wanted us to start off with that question do you believe?

I will ask it again today Church family do you believe...

In Jesus who is the authority and power over the demons, the one who is able to deliver us from darkness; and is able to save us from sin and keep us for Himself?

He’s our only HOPE!

Col 1:21-22 “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”