Kingdom Power!

This morning I want to invite you to turn back to the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark. Mark open his account of the Lord Jesus’ life and ministry in verse 1, with a declaration of truth. This truth that he declares is that Jesus Christ IS the SON OF GOD. That is the truth that Mark spends his time trying to prove. He says it at the beginning, he is going to write a historical account of Jesus and His life. Through much study we can see that Mark was the first Gospel ever written, which is why he begins by saying “this is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mark felt lead to write down these events that had transpired over the last 3 1/2 years. Mark this common man, had seen the miraculous, he had been a part of one of the greatest phenomenons that ever took place in the history of mankind. WARS have been fought over the truth Mark writes about, the world has never been the same since god wrapped himself in flesh and came as a humble servant to die for the sins of the world.

To say that anyone is the Son of God is a pretty bold claim, it is something that has to be supported, it is something that must be told and proved to the whole world. The OT promised a forerunner would come who would prepare the way for God’s Messiah…

Mark introduces us to that forerunner JTB and quotes him in verse 7.

Mark 1:7 NKJV

And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

Mark 1:8 NKJV

I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

So Mark jumps right in giving evidence that Jesus is in fact the Messiah the very Lamb of God, from the forerunner JTB. Then in verses 10-11 Mark takes us immediately to the baptism of Jesus He was baptized in the Jordan river by John...

Mark 1:10

Mark 1:10–11 NKJV

And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The forerunner, he is the last OT prophet and Jesus said there was no one born of woman who will ever been greater than JTB, he claimed that Jesus was God, the Holy Spirit claimed He was the Messiah as He rested in the form of a dove upon Him fufilling OT prophecy, the Father GOD HIMSELF speaks from Heaven and says “this is my beloved Son in who I am well pleased.”

Jesus then shows us His own authority in verse 17 when he walks up to some fishermen who had never met Him and says follow me and I will make you fishers of men. The men were so compelled that they left everything and followed this Jesus, two of them even left their Father in the boat.

A demon give witness to His authority as Jesus walks into a church or synagogue in mark 1;24 he cries out

Mark 1:24 NKJV

saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

A testimony from the prophet JTB, a testimony from the Holy Spirit, Testimony from God the Father, testimony from Christ Himself about His power to rescue men, and testimony from a demon as to the identity of Jesus Christ doesn’t it?

Don’t you see what God is trying to show us here, don’t you see as the Holy Spirit carries Mark along what He is doing? He is presenting the facts before humanity. He is saying listen we saw these things we have heard these things, this man claimed to be God’s Son, The Holy Spirit said he was, demons were terrified of Him they said he was, JTB said he was,....

He is presenting the evidence.

OF people saying he was, but word of mouth simply isn’t enough, can Jesus do things only god can do?

We saw very clearly last week He most certainly can. Standing there with a demon posessed man in church, he cast out that terrified demon, threw the poor church member into convulsions on the floor and then the demon left him.

Mark 1:26 NKJV

And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.

The people were amazed they have never saw this before, someone who actually taught god’s word with authority, and things were happening, people were being changed people began being healed. As the story moves along more and more evidence begins to mount. That brings us back to verse 29.

Starting in verse 29 Mark gives us one day, actually he gives us part of a day, just whats left of one day of ministry with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you will remember back in verse 21 the Bible tells us that Jesus and His new followers walk into Capernaum and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue where he had the encounter with the demon possessed man. It’s the same day.

We know this because services in a Sabbath synagogue ended around noon. So we pick the story up about verse 29.

Mark 1:29–39 ESV

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Mark 1:29-39

THE POWER OF JESUS WAS PUT ON DISPLAY TO REVEAL, MORE THAN IT WAS MEANT SIMPLY TO HEAL.

This power of Jesus is being put on display to reveal His authority, not necessarily to reveal His identity. Notice he was hushing the demons and not permitting them to tell the people who he was. Why? isn’t the the purpose of Jesus to tell everyone about him?

I believe the reason Jesus did this was because He knew that if the people began hearing that He was the Son of God that one of two things would happen. Either 1 they would try to make him there Earthly King, because he fufilled all the prophecies about the promised king of the OT.

Or they would simply try to kill him like they tried to do multiple other times. when the mob tried to throw Him off the cliff and Jesus got away, when they came to try to trick Him and they were stumped themselves. Around every corner Satan was trying to get Jesus NOT to go to the cross.

God’s plan was the cross and yet Satan did not want Jesus to make it that far because if he had stopped Him short of the cross there would have been no sin debt paid for us, because there was a certain time, and a certain way that Jesus had to die in order to perfectly fulfill Bible prophecy.

So Satan tried his hardest to prevent it from happening but once again showed His power over the devil, and perfectly fulfilled every single marker given to us by God to reveal Himself as the Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world. If this is true then Jesus would have to display that He had power even over the effects of the curse that sin brought upon us. The savior of the world has to rescue us from death, and that is why when Jesus came he showed His power over the spiritual realm and over the physical realm, by casting out demons who were spirit beings.

He healed diseases over and over again to show that He had power over the physical effects of the curse. I know you know that He is declaring Himself to be the Savior of the world, I know you know who He is, but I want to be amazed at what is happening in human history, the Son of God is walking among us. He is indicating to our world here that He is a God who is knowable and who loves us enough to tell us.

But can He prove it? Does He have POWER that belongs only to God?

As we have said before church ended with a demon shriek and a man saved, and now we come to:

The Proof of His Identity

Mark 1:29 NKJV

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Picture this a huge miracle has taken place in front of a full church service and now Jesus walks out and Simon, Andrew, James, and John are walking behind Him. Can you imagine what they must be thinking? I have a hard time envisioning them thinking but you know those parts in the movies where something amazing happens, then everything goes slow motion and the group is walking to some awesome theme music, Simon, Andrew James and John fam out on both sides of Jesus and they strut.

Oh yeah thats our guy and he called us!

No i am weird it didn’t happen like that but dont you think it was running through their mind.... what in the world was that?

I can just imagine Simon looking over at the guys and saying I don’t know but I sure am glad were friends with him...

These men know each other well two sets of brothers who fished close to each other for years and now they are caught up in this amazing journey with the Son of God. So these men invite Jesus over for lunch, now Simon Peter was married, we know that from

1 Corinthians 9:5 NKJV

Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Cephas being another name for Peter and the context of that passage teaches us that this wife of his went with him on missionary journeys, and the church supported that. But at this point Peter still lives in Capernaum, and he lives in a pretty big house by those days standards. How do I know that because his wifes mom lived there, and church tradition said that they had several children, the Bible doesnt mention that but there are many traditions which claim that he had a family.

To have a wife and children and a mother in law living with you meant that you didn’t have the ordinary home in Capernaum. He was a successful fisherman and had a thriving family business.

(picture)

So they take Jesus to this house which still stands today, with engravings and markings dating back to the first century. They take Jesus there to have lunch and Simon Peter has a sick mother in law.

Mark 1:30 NKJV

But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.

She had some kind severe infection because luke who was known to be a physician in His gospel said she had a magas fever or mega fever… a high fever so she was really sick. Now this was really a dire situation, because in these days they didn’t know what we know in terms of modern medicine. Often times highfever plus old age meant that death was just around the corner because they had very few ways to cure the infection.

They didn’t know about viruses and bacteria. So they arrive in the midst of a family crisis, and they told Jesus about her at once. Luke says they made requests of Him about her. Meaning they asked Jesus if He could heal her. So Jesus responded:

Mark 1:31 NKJV

So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

Luke in His gospel adds “HE REBUKED THE FEVER!”

GO AWAY FEVER! That’s some kind of power when even a fever obeys. When all of the causes of the fever disappear, then some things start making sense. They just left church where Jesus rebukes the demon and here He is rebuking the fever HE HAS TOTAL SOVEREIGN CONTROL OVER THE SPIRITUAL WORLD AND TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE PHYSICAL WORLD.

He commands and there is instant wellness. THE FEVER LEFT HER.

How much better was she? Look at the end of the verse “AND SHE SERVED THEM” Diakneo SHE SERVED THEM.

She got up and made lunch. The infection was gone! She was as if she had never been sick, WHEN JESUS SPEAKS THINGS CHANGE.

Now let’s talk about healing, I am saying this because I care about you and because it is true. There have always been false healers, who pray on people who are sickly, who prey on people who are suffering. FOR MONEY

YOU DON’T GET ANY LOWER THAN PROMISING PEOPLE HEALING FOR MONEY, WHEN YOU CANNOT GUARANTEE THE HEALING.

I wish I had the gift of healing, oh how I wish I did. But i don’t. HEAR ME WHEN I SAY THIS: NO ONE HAS THE GIFT OF HEALING!

Listen closely to what I am saying NO MERE MAN HAS THE POWER TO HEAL!

Send me 1,000 dollars and your healing will come based on your faith seed. I wish I could say this hurts my heart to hear but it doesn’t it makes me extremely angry. These men and women have national television coverage and they prey on the desperate!

But I have always had one question: If these men and women taking everyone’s money have this amazing gift then why don’t they have a hospital special, take the cameras in there with them and raise people up from the beds and all wlak out together?

THEY WONT DO IT BECAUSE THEY CANT DO IT!

Only ONE CAN HEAL

His name is Jesus and HE NEVER PROMISES HEALING! But He has the power to heal. So why would a Savior who has the power to heal not heal everyone who is sick?

I don’t know. Faithful men have not understood this JTB was one of them, as he sat waiting for His half cousin and Lord to set him free from prison he sent his servants to question Jesus “Are you really the One” Why would JTB ask this question we already saw how he had been proclaiming him to be the one. because in JTB dire situation he doubted the goodness of Jesus.

In that story Jesus told his servants to go and tell John that the gospel is preached to the poor and the blind receive their sight and the dead are brought to life again. BUT HE DOESN’T SET JTB FREE!

God sees the end from the beginning, he knows what happens around every turn. Based on the character of Jesus Christ He is trustworthy and He is good HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS, HIS THOUGHTS ARE NOT OUR THOUGHTS! BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING WE CANNOT SIT HERE AND SAY THAT CHRIST CANNOT HEAL JUST BECAUSE HE DID NOT HEAL IN OTHER SITUATIONS.

Physically we are all dying, right now.....

BUT LISTEN TO ME

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

WE ARE HEALED, WE ARE HEALED, WE ARE HEALED

RIGHT NOW IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER IN CHRIST YOU SIT THERE HEALED!

That means that no matter what happens to this flesh DEATH CANT TOUCH ME!!!

But listen up in the mean time while we are here Jesus can touch us and make us well physically if He so chooses, I have seen Him heal everything from cancer to the flu instantly. The question is will you trust in Him even if He does not choose to give you physical healing?

He healed with a word or touch, He healed instantly. He did not require payment, He healed anyone he chose to. HE RAISED THE DEAD.

THE ONLY ONE WHO IS IN THE HEALING BUSINESS TODAY IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN IN THE HEALING BUSINESS.... JESUS CHRIST THE LORD OF GLORY!

BUT HE WILL HEAL WHO HE WILLS WHEN HE WILLS HOW HE WILLS.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER OR NOT JESUS CAN HEAL YOU PHYSICALLY HE CAN IF HE DESIRES TO! THE QUESTION IS THIS IS YOUR HOPE OF HEAVEN AND YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST SO SECURE THAT YOU WILL TRUST IN HIM IF HE CHOOSES NOT TO HEAL YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER PHYSICALLY BUT INSTEAD CHOOSES TO GIV ETHEM SOMETHING FAR BETTER, A PLACE IN ETERNAL PARADISE!

WE ARE HEALED!

So Jesus demonstrates that He has healing power, and as the daylight began to dwindle look at what happened.

Mark 1:32

Mark 1:32 NKJV

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.

Mark 1:33 NKJV

And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

Mark

Mark 1:34 NKJV

Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

I mean can you imagine looking out there and seeing this crowd? The whole city?

I mean can you imagine looking out there and seeing this crowd? The whole city?

All the demoniacs, and all the paralyzed people, and all the people with leprosy, the blind......

They are all jammed at the door!

Can you imagine what this would have been like as night begins to fall and the demoniacs are running around, and Jesus is just stacking em up like fire wood! they must have been shrieking in fear but not uttering a word of who Jesus was. I mean think about what is being said here. Peter’s mamma in law in our day would have looked over at her daughter and said.... I told you not to marry this guy look at the circus going on now…

lol jk

The Bible says they were bringing them out but Jesus healed many. Now some would say well Jesus didnt heal them all but it didn’t say that. The gospel of Luke talks about this account and says Jesus Healed them all. This is just one half of a day of 3 1/2 years of power display.

This display was done in order to prove who He was, and what proof it was. But this was not to say that we have the authority to grant healing to the sick, we dont have such power if you look in the NT Paul is sick, and remains sick, Timothy is sick, Epaphroditus is sick....

JESUS DIDN’T COME HEALING JUST TO HEAL, JESUS CAME HEALING TO REVEAL!

TO REVEAL WHO HE WAS, TO REVEAL HE HAD POWER OVER THE EFFECTS OF THE CURSE OF SIN, TO REVEAL HE WAS THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!

NOT TO MAKE A BUCK!

NOT TO MAKE HIS NAME FAMOUS AS A FAITH HEALER!

(Mrs. Charlotte)

That is why I get so infuriated with these false teachers who teach this stuff, GOD HEALS WHO HE WILLS WHEN HE WILLS AND HOW HE WILLS, AND IF I AM A CHILD OF GOD I AM HEALED BY THE STRIPES LAID OPEN ON MY SAVIORS BACK!

AS BILLY GRAHAM SAID ONE DAY YOU WILL HEAR BILLY GRAHAM IS DEAD BUT DONT BELIEVE A WORD OF IT I WILL BE MORE ALIVE THAN EVER AND I WILL BE SEEING THE FACE OF MY LORD!

Listen to me folks physical healing is great but eternal healing is better! These people didnt come to JEsus for salvation they came for healing! But we have something better than that and ETERNAL HOME!

John 14 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

john 14

This is the proof of His identity.

The Proof of His Actions

So that one day is over, what a day.

Mark 1:35 NKJV

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

Mark 1:35

The proof of His identity was in the miracles, but the power for the miracles came through prayer. WHY? because HE needed to know the will of His Father and I will say this once again. IF THE SOVERIGN LORD OF HEAVEN NEEDS TO GET ALONE WITH HIS HEAVENLY FATHER TO SEEK HIS WILL FOR THAT DAY HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD GET ALONE BEFORE GOD TO SEEK THE WILL FOR THIS DAY?

Critical communion with His father before the sun comes up, goes to a secluded place.

He went off alone, to get with His father.

He prayed before he turned the water into wine, he prayed before he fed the 5,00 and 4,000 he prayed before he raised Lazarus, He prayed before He wnet to the cross, and He prayed even hanging on the cross. HE PLACED HIMSELF UNDER THE FATHERS WILL.

The Priority of His Mission

PREACHING!

Mark 1:36–37 NKJV

And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

Mark 1:36-

They’re back!

Where have you been? Everyone is looking for you!

This is your moment you gotta come back down

Mark 1:38 NKJV

But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

Let’s go somewhere else...

I like that, this is not about everyone getting their healing I have proven my point. It is about showing people who I am. Let’s go some where else

If you ever wonder why Jesus came to Earth He came to be a preacher.

Can I just say this, what the modern society has done to pastors are terrible, in today’s world people think the preacher is supposed to be this CEO like figure head who is an administrator. Do you know what this mindset tells us?

That we really do not understand the heart of our Lord, and we really do not believe in His preferred method to reach the nations. Jesus came to preach. Here’s what the word preach means to expound and proclaim the excellencies of Him who have called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

Mark 1:39 NKJV

And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.