Who Obeys the Word?
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Working retail. Spent hours doing inventory. Making sure we had as much as it said we had. Laborious but ultimately necessary. Reminded that our faith needs inventory.
Need: Our faith needs inventory. Testing and trials. Often we don’t pay attention to how we respond. But we should.
Main Idea: Inventory your faith
This is a continuation of the parable of the Sower. Who is listening and obeying the Word of God?
Luke 8:22-39
Truth #1: Faith believes you are secure in Jesus (22-25)
Exp. The first text is popular. Verse 22-23. On the Sea of Galilee. Boat was filling with water. Sinking. Verse 24. Master = acknowledging who he is. Still panicked. Rebuke = to correct. Calm. He doesn’t pray to God. He does it. God’s Word is spoken, and the wind and waves obey. They don’t have minds or think. No ears or make decisions, yet they obey God’s Word. Not who you think would listen. Then Jesus asks them a penetrating question. Verse 25. They are rebuked. Not for having zero faith, but lacking sufficient faith. They screamed “master” but still in fear.
Ill. Christian’s terrified of dogs. I’m holding the dog down. He’s still terrified. The person who has control is next to him, and he is still afraid. That’s the disciples. They know who has the power, but they are still terrified.
Christ - This story is reminiscent of Jonah and the storm which God calmed. Jesus is God who has power over the wind and the sea. Jesus is in control over creation. He is God in flesh and tells it what to do.
Arg. Where is your faith? Jesus praises the faith on non-disciples. Friends of paralytic. Roman centurion. Sinful woman. He questions the faith of disciples. Why? Because the longer you are with Jesus, the more your faith should grow. You’ve seen more, experienced more. The disciples saw him calm storms, heal lepers, cast out demons, raise the dead. The test of their faith was a storm that obeyed his word. What’s your test?
App. How does our faith grow?
Walk with Jesus faithfully. Be constant. Know he is the same today as yesterday.
Walk with Jesus deeply. Don’t settle for shallow. Deeper theology leads to greater worship.
Truth #2: Faith believes Jesus has power of spiritual forces (26-34)
Exp. After the storm ceases, they reach the other side of sea of Galilee. Roman side. There was a man waiting for him. Verse 27. Demoniac had no clothes = social stigma. Forced to live at tombs = away from society. Verse 28. Scholars agree the demons speaking here. They know exactly who Jesus is. THEY BEG HIM not to be tormented. This man had been tormented in the past. Verse 30. Legion = 6,000 troops. That’s how many demons. Verse 31. THEY BEG AGAIN. Abyss = final destiny of Satan. Eschatological end. Verse 32. THEY BEGGED AGAIN. He gave them permission. No good vs. evil. Evil is not equal.
Ill. In movies, evil is depicted to be held by an unstoppable leader whom no one can match up against. Like we believe Satan is challenging Jesus because Jesus isn’t strong enough. That’s not the case!
Arg. The book of Job.
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
God drew a line and Satan couldn’t cross it.
Christ - Jesus has sovereignty over the demons and can cast them out. The demons trembled in fear and begged him. They were only allowed to go where Jesus said they could go. Evil has no chance against Jesus. He crushes the head of the serpent through his victory over sin and death.
App. What do we do? Don’t give more credence to demons than necessary.
Don’t give credit to something not demonic.
Believe you are sealed in Christ.
Truth #3: Faith believes the Word of God is worth obeying (35-39)
Exp. Finally, we have the response of the people. Verse 35. He was naked, now clothed, chained, now sitting at Jesus’ feet. In his right mind. Complete change. Luke displays many sitting at Jesus’ feet like rabbi. They aren’t typical rabbi school students. New community needs new wineskins. Verse 36-37. Not afraid of demoniac, afraid of Jesus. Asked him to leave. See the miracle, see him clothed and in right mind, and still don’t believe. Even the wind and waves obey. Fell on the wrong soil.
Ill. They would rather be with the demoniac. What if you drive a 93 Honda Civic with a busted engine and flat tires. I offer you a brand new civic with no miles exactly the way you want it. You choosing the 93 Civic is what they are doing. Feeling more comfortable with a demoniac is wild.
Arg. Not unlike humanity. Like the disciples who witnessed the power of Jesus, yet still with little or no faith. Like the Israelites who saw God’s power through the 10 Plagues and Red Sea and still built a golden calf.
Christ - Jesus explained in the parable of the sower that not everyone would hear and obey God’s Word. His gospel is foolish to the perishing.
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
App. What is it to you? Hear and do the Word.
Do you marvel at the works of Jesus?
Do you find joy in his gospel?
Are you burdened to obey the Word of God?
Conclusion
Look how it ends? Verse 38-39. He commissions him. Let’s go from this place being sent.
