Can You Put Jesus First In All Things?

Secular -

Sam was hiking with his friend Jake when they came to a wobbly rope bridge dangling over a canyon.

Jake said, “Don’t worry, Sam. Trust me—it’s totally safe!”

Sam looked down at the frayed ropes and creaking wood. “Why should I trust you?”

Jake shrugged. “Because I’m standing behind you.”

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 8:14–34 NKJV

Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Now a good way off from them there was a herd of many swine feeding. So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go.” So when they had come out, they went into the herd of swine. And suddenly the whole herd of swine ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and perished in the water. Then those who kept them fled; and they went away into the city and told everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Put Jesus First In All Things. Including Your Trust & Your Will.

Life Point- Put Jesus First

Exegetical -

Matthew 8:14–22 BSB

When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve them. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took on our infirmities and carried our diseases.” When Jesus saw a large crowd around Him, He gave orders to cross to the other side of the sea. And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Homiletical -

So Jesus is going to Peter’s house and Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever.

Now this was a big deal back then. They didn’t have antibiotics and ibuprofen or Tylenol.

There were plenty of diseases that a fever could get too high and could kill you. I am not saying her life was in danger, but it very well could have been.

Now notice what she does when Jesus was completely healed. She got up and served them. She got up and served Jesus.

When Jesus comes into your life and takes away your sin, the first thing that you want to do is serve Him in whatever capacity you can find. Because of your gratefulness of His sacrifice for you.

Now evening comes and word has gotten out where Jesus is and people start showing up with those that are afflicted with demons and sickness.

The question that is usually raised by modern society is; “Are demons real.”

Let me state this very simply. Yes. They are real and are annoying as well.

I have personally encountered demonic influence a few times in my ministry.

It seems that demon possession in the first world is not very overt but more covert. Whereas demons in the third world are very pronounced.

These people would have been very pronounced as to demon possession. The Jews had a way of dealing with it that was a long and drawn out ritual.

However, notice Jesus casts them out with a word. He doesn’t bother with a ritual or struggling with them he just casts them out. Which is was a novel thing to the Jews. They were used to dealing with these situations for hours and even days. Sometimes they couldn’t get the demons out.

You will also notice that Jesus’s followers did the same thing.

Acts 16:16–18 BSB

One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

Now this act got Paul brought before the magistrate because the girl was earning her masters money by what she was doing. But you see the demon left immediately.

The average believer can cast out a demon. However, Jesus did say that some would only come out by both prayer and fasting. So we have to keep that in mind as well.

Also notice that in this particular instance Jesus healed all who were sick as well.

This was all done to fulfill a prophecy found in the Old Testament. Which also corresponds to what Peter wrote in

1 Peter 2:24 BSB

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”

These prophecies can be found in Isaiah 53

So a large crowd is around Him now and I can imagine it was a lot of people who were starting to get out of control who wanted something from Him. So he decides to go across the sea. As He does a scribe says I will go wherever you go.

He speaks to the man in parables, which fulfills another prophecy that states He will speak to them only in parables. A lot of people try to put some huge spiritual meaning in this one but it is quite simple.

It is getting late and there are a bunch of people around Him and he just wants to sleep.

Folks when your body is exhausted sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap. Get some rest. let God recharge you so you can be used again. Even Jesus said it to the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane when he asked them to watch and pray.

Matthew 26:41 BSB

“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Another person speaks up and says “Lord I want to follow, but let me bury my father.” and Jesus says “Let the dead bury their own dead.”

At first glance this seems ridiculous. But what is in view here is that his father was not dead. His father was in old age and it was common for the aged to live with their children until they die.

You see he wanted to follow Jesus, but he says I have other priorities and Jesus is saying I am the Son of Man, God in the flesh. I am the priority over all things. Your heart isn’t really in it.

The problem with the American church today is that their hearts aren’t really in it. They says they Love Jesus but the things of the world have over taken them. They want the touch of God, but they aren’’t really wanting to serve Him.

Folks we like to think we are independent here in the U.S. but we aren’t. We rely on each other and the church, universal, is relying on you to get up and serve Jesus any way you can. Anything you find your hands to do, do it.

Illustration -

One day, a pastor shared with his congregation how he had become overwhelmed with life's responsibilities. In the midst of juggling family, work, and church commitments, he realized he was spending less time in prayer and serving God. To lighten the burden, he decided to start each morning by dedicating the first hour just to Jesus. He joked that just like a game of Tetris, where you need to fit blocks perfectly, serving Jesus first allowed all other pieces of his life to fall into place.

Life Point - Trust Jesus First

Exegetical -

Matthew 8:23–27 BSB

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

Homiletical -

Now imagine this if you will, Jesus gets into this little boat to go across the sea, which to us is like a big lake and he falls asleep.

Why is He asleep?

Well this is a profound answer. You ready. He was tired. He was tired from all the ministering He did with the people. So He went to sleep.

Then a storm comes up, a bad one. you’ve got waves that are bigger than the boat and the disciples are freaking out and what is Jesus doing? In the midst of all this chaos and mayhem, He is sleeping.

So like a good disciple they handled it themselves right?

NO! They went and woke Jesus up. Screaming Save us, we are all going to die!

Jesus, probably a little groggy gets up and instead of calming them down, He rebukes their faithlessness!

He gets up and rebukes the sea too and it calms down.

Now this is freaking everyone out! They are like, who is this guy that even the sea obeys Him.

Rather than trust in Jesus they freak out.

Sounds a lot like us today doesn’t it?

We get all freaked out about life’s storms and the things that can and do go wrong in our lives and turn to Jesus as a last resort. Remember Jesus is first, not last. Bathe yourself in the Word of God and prayer, like we discussed last week. He will either walk with you through it or He will rebuke it. One or the other.

Trust Him and no matter the outcome, keep trusting Him and His word

Romans 8:28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Life Point - Put Jesus’ Will First

Exegetical -

Matthew 8:28–34 BSB

When Jesus arrived on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, He was met by two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?” In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus, “If You drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” “Go!” He told them. So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the waters. Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their region.

Homiletical -

So Jesus arrives on the other side in the region of the Gadarenes and two demon possessed people come out of the tombs.These men were so violent they wouldn’t let any pass by.

What happens?

The demons see Jesus and they know instantly who He is and they are afraid. You see everyone was afraid of these demon possessed guys, but Jesus wasn’t. They were afraid of Him.

So the demons rather than being cast out ask permission to be driven out into the pigs.

What is the significance?

Are Jews supposed to be handling pigs? No. So Jesus allows this to kill two birds with one stone.

Now their is another problem. By doing this He just upset the local economy and was causing them trouble. This is why the demons wanted to go into the pigs, to try to make trouble for Jesus, but Jesus already knew their thinking and allowed it because it was His will.

So they beg Him to leave before something else happens.

Now imagine you are a disciple and you are watching this all happen.

You would probably be wondering what’s going on, not really understanding why Jesus did what He did.

That’s like us today. When we are in the midst of something we don’t understand why God allows or does the things He does in our lives. But when we look back at it we see his sovereign hand working through our lives, intertwining His will throughout life’s circumstances. Our job is to just trust Him through it all.

Can you do that today? Can you put Jesus Will for your life first and take your will and throw it off the table?

But pastor what if He sets it up that I have to go to Africa? Then I guess you should go to Africa.

Don’t ever, ever tell God you aren’t going to do something, because you will end up doing it.

Illustration -

After a tough time in ministry in my life I told God, I am never going to pastor again. You know what His response was? It was the same response He gave Paul. Who are you oh man to tell God what you will and won’t do. You will do the will of God. Because if you are seeking God you will want to submit to God and if He calls you to do something you will submit to that, because you are seeking God.

Always put Jesus will before your own. You will happier that’s for sure.

Life Principle– Put Jesus First In All Things. Including Your Trust & Your Will.

Call to Action – altar call….