Authority Always Wins
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
3 stories
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Look at Timeline
The title for today’s message comes from a Tom Petty song:
Authority Always Wins
You can follow along in YouVersion or we’ll be in the gospels
Start in but switch to
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Authority Over The Natural
Authority Over The Natural
Jesus Calms the Storm
Jesus Calms the Storm
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.
Luke 8:22
Look at map
I want you to realize this is a real place
Most think it was 2.5 miles from shore
Most think it was 2.5 miles from shore
Assuming you can see the shore!
Mark tells us it was in the evening...
They’d have to swim from here to UAW on Muller/Springfield
Avg. depth 84 feet
You’re not touching bottom!
Pay attention next time you drive from church past there
Long way to swim!
Especially being tossed by waves in the dark
Look at the geography
Galilee is 2nd lowest lake to Dead Sea
705 feet below sea level
Warm air settles near the lake, cool air over the mountains and drops
Stirring creates sudden and violent storms
They’re sitting in a little dingy!
Found this boat in Galilee, its 27 feet long and 2000 years old
That’s what happened to Jesus and the disciples
Suddenly thrown into a violent situation
Flying near mountains in turbulence
This is how life works too
We’re moving through life, and a storm comes out of nowhere
Why are the disciples here?
They listened to Jesus
What was Jesus’ plan?
Let’s go to the other side
What are the disciples thinking now?
We’re going to die!
What’s changed?
There’s a challenge in front of them
They don’t believe Jesus can get them through it
They’re thinking, “Yeah Jesus is powerful, Son of God, Messiah, water into wine, blah blah blah
But I see this one is going to end it all
Ever been there?
Yay Jesus, until something gets hard
Then we start thinking God is small
God hasn’t gotten smaller; your faith has!
Just like the disciples, we don’t believe Jesus can get us through it
What seems to big to the disciples? NATURE!
Jesus is great, but mother nature is a beast!
You know the power of nature...
Tornado through Washington...
Haiti earthquake in 2010
Killed 160,000 people in less than 30 seconds!
Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004
Killed people in 14 different countries
If the Caldera volcano in Yellowstone erupts...
Temps plummet for 10 years
4 inches of ash for 500 mile diameter
The disciples believed that Jesus was a victim of nature too…
And this one was probably particularly bad
And this one was probably particularly bad
Seasoned fishermen who live on this lake were terrified
They look over and see this:
Glenn’s brain bleed
He had double vision which was fixed with minor eye surgery
Doctors said he should have had something...
Blindness, speech, epilepsy, paralysis… something!
But there’s nothing in nature too big for God
mark 4:37
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Even with the storm Jesus is passed out
A bog one by the way — even season
He must have been tired!
And also comfortable
Look at the disciples reaction: Don’t you care?!
Don’t we respond that way to Jesus in our storms too?
Don’t you care? Do something!
39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
mark 4:39-
Jesus
Whoa, I didn’t know He could do THAT...
I’m sure the disciples were thinking, “Man, I just wanted Him to help scoop out some water...”
So many times in my life I thought things were too bad for Jesus to help
Then He turns around and does something incredible
Here’s the thing about storms:
1. You’re only going to be in one if God wants you there - trust Him
1. You’re only going to be in one if God wants you there - trust Him
2. God has the power to pull you out of it at any time - have faith
3. He will pull you out when He’s good and ready - be patient
We need trust, faith and patience...
This story gives us an amazing understanding of Jesus
He has all authority over the NATURAL
What does that mean for us?
But His authority doesn’t end there...
If
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Authority Over The Supernatural
Authority Over The Supernatural
You’re not touching bottom!
Authority Over The Supernatural
Authority Over The Supernatural
Jesus Casts Demons into A Herd of Pigs
Jesus Casts Demons into A Herd of Pigs
will help us with this story
1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
mark 5:1
So Jesus is now going to be challenged in another realm
He showed His power over the NATURAL
Now we look at the SUPERNATURAL
Matthew actually says there are 2 guys
Matthew actually says there are 2 guys
Perhaps only one spoke
Perhaps the other took off running...
Here’s a demon possessed guy, let’s see how bad off he is...
3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.
mark 5:3
Luke adds that he didn’t wear clothes
Matthew actually says there are 2 guys
27 When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.
Perhaps only one spoke
Perhaps the other took off running...
Demon possessed people can be very powerful
In Acts, 7 Jewish guys are trying to cast out demons
They’re desperate so they try “by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims”
Proble
14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
One demon possessed guy beat up and ripped the clothes off of 7 guys and sent them running!
Now for Jesus, this demon-possessed guy comes up to Jesus
He can break chains and beat up anyone...
But for Jesus, he runs and falls down before Him
Jesus commands the demon to leave, and then this:
7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
The demon is kissing up to Jesus! Begging Him!
Demons may not like Jesus, but they sure respect Him
That’s because He has authority over them
Very different from the guys in Acts...
9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
Mark 5:9
Legion is a Roman military term
It is a unit of Roman soldiers
Numbers vary across time
100BC it was 5 or 6,000
200 AD it was 1,000 or 1,500
In a minute, we’ll hear the number 2,000
It’s fair to think there are about 2,000 demons in this guy...
11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.
Honestly, I have no idea why the demons wanted to go in the pigs
Maybe because they were unclean animals
Maybe they wanted one last shot at wreaking havoc
I don’t know
Whatever the reason, it’s important to know the demons cannot enter the pigs without Jesus’ permission
The craziest thing about this story is the people
14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.
They’ve seen Jesus’ power, and they ask Him to leave
Jesus cast 2,000 demons into pigs that rushed down the bank to kill themselves
Jesus cast 2,000 demons into pigs that rushed down the bank to kill themselves
And the crazy, naked, possessed guy who breaks chains is sitting there discussing the weather
Hello, it’s lovely to see you all. Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable...
They don’t ask for forgiveness, they don’t fall and worship, they ask Him to leave
Jesus will only be in relationship with you, if you care to be in relationship with Him
He’s not going to force you
Even still, Jesus shows us another valuable lesson here
He has all authority over the SUPERNATURAL
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Authority Over Sin
Authority Over Sin
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
Now, here’s one of my favorite stories in the Bible
Jesus heads back to Capernaum
People are flocking from all over to see Jesus
He’s in a building, preaching the good news and it’s PACKED!
Luke 5:1
18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.
I love the desperation of these 4 men
They’ll do anything to get their friend to Jesus
Tells me a few things:
These friends truly care about this guy
How often does Scripture tell us to care for those around us
It seems they’ll do anything for this guy
2. These friends truly have faith in Jesus
You don’t climb on a roof and lower a guy in unless you think something is going to happen
This week, I pictured Candi Hallam up on the roof with a chainsaw
I can see Candi Hallam up on the roof with a chainsaw
“Well guys, I just wanted to let you know I have a friend who’s a little sick...”
You don’t go taking someone’s roof apart unless you know there’s a good reason
Jesus is that reason
So they lower this guy in, and here’s what Jesus does:
20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
luke 5:20-
The Pharisees are minimizing Jesus
That’s often people’s first reaction to Jesus
That’s everyone’s first reaction to Jesus
Nathanael - Can anything good come from Nazareth?
Nazarites - Isn’t that the carpenters son? How can He come from heaven?
Jesus’ brothers - says they didn’t believe at first
Even today!
Eh, Jesus lived but He wasn’t the Son of God
He was a nice guy, a good teacher. But He wasn’t some Messiah...
Now the Pharisees are doing it!
He can’t forgive sins! He’s blaspheming!
What does that statement wrongly assume? That Jesus isn’t God!
They don’t say it though - they just think it
This is a big problem
Both for them, and for today
I’ve had many conversations with people who don’t believe in God
(Now that I work at a church it’s less, but I still have them)
Most of them don’t believe because they have unanswered questions
Why does God allow suffering?
What about all the contradictions in the bible?
How can Jesus be the only way to God?
Questions and questions and questions
They don’t know the answers so they just don’t believe in God
This week, I installed a prehung door
I could not get it to fit no matter what
I shimmed and shifted and couldn’t get it
I had questions I couldn’t answer
So I don’t believe in doors anymore...
I just walk into walls until someone eventually let’s me in
No, I called Stan Marion, a carpenter at our church
If I have a question, I talk to someone that knows the answer
When I find someone who doesn’t believe in God, I ask them...
Have you prayed about it? Have you called a pastor? Have you picked up a Bible?
If you don’t look for answers, you’ll never get them
The other question I ask is this: If I gave you enough evidence to prove God, would you become a Christian?
They often say NO! Because they actually don’t WANT to believe
That’s what I think the Pharisees are doing here
They don’t question to see, they’ve already decides He’s not
They don’t WANT Him to be the Messiah! They like the things the way they are...
So they sit there quietly criticizing...
And then I’m sure Jesus freaked them out when He answers to their thoughts
22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.
luke 5:22
They’re sitting there “Stupid blaspheming Jesus...”
He turns and says, “Why do you question in your hearts?!”
Uh oh! He caught me!
Jesus says, what’s harder, to say he’s forgiven?
In a sense, saying that is easy… Forgiveness is invisible
Jesus is saying, I’ll show you I can do the invisible, by showing you something visible
Get up, pick up your bed (you mama doesn’t live here, you can clean up after yourself now) and head on home!
Yeah, I know you couldn’t even walk when you came in here...
Your buddies had to airlift you and now you can skip your way back to the house...
And people FREAKED!
26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
Whoa, that was crazy! How can He NOT be who He says He is?!
If He was blaspheming, God surely wouldn’t give Him the power to heal
But He did, so He must be able to forgive sins!
Something only God can do!
He MUST be God then! And the Pharisees immediately repented for judging Jesus
They fell at His feet and begged for mercy
Then they worshipped Him and sang His praises all night long!
No, that’s not what happened...
The Pharisees still hated and criticized Jesus...
In next week’s story they go right back to accusing Him of blasphemy
These stories have taught us 3 things today:
1. He has all authority over the NATURAL
2. He has all authority over the SUPERNATURAL
3. He has all authority over the SIN
However, He will not force you obey that authority
2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
We all have a choice to make when it comes to following God
Now, we can only make that choice because of God, but we have a choice nonetheless...
You will serve God, or you will serve yourself, which then serves Satan
It’s your only two options...
As you consider this, I want us to see this video
Now you can ask yourselves the questions the Pharisees were supposed to ask
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Conclusion
Conclusion
Show pastor video
I want us to know this:
Jesus’ message still stands today
I have seen God do amazing things
Both in my life and in others
I believe if He can do those things...
He must have authority in all things
My prayer, is that you would allow Jesus to have authority in your life
He will do so much more than calming a storm, casting demons or healing paralysis
He can make you clean, he can make you new
He can give you a new start
And a chance to know God personally, intimately
Will you let Him do those things for you today?