The MARK of a Servant-Captivation of Christ

A common theme in chapter five is that all miracles took place after Jesus was approached by others.

Typically we see people being approached by Jesus. The lady at the well, the man by the pool Bethesda for example. However, in this fifth chapter we exclusively see others approaching Christ.

The power of Christ is self-sufficient. It does not need our help or input. It simply needs Jesus.

I. Binding of Spirits v. 1-20

There is undoubtedly a Spirit of the Antichrist that is rampant in this world. This evil spirit is effecting our children, parents, neighbors, and friends. The plague of sin has consumed our society, government institutions, and schools.

This evil cannot be silenced or chained through the efforts of men. The only hope is Jesus. He alone is the breaker of chains and the binder of evil spirits.

What we see in verse four is that many times he had been chained. Yet, each time he broke the chains. Our society has attempted to legislate our way out of sin. Yet sin will break the chains every time. There is no politician in Georgia, or Washington D.C. who posses the power to legislate America back to a rational mindset.

The truth is that the spirit of evil in this world is greater than any man made law or organization.

The left says we need more access to mental health care. The right says we need more access to guns. However, America has more guns than we’ve ever had. According to psychcentral.com there are currently over 577,000 practicing mental health professionals.

I love to hunt and shoot but our only hope is found at the foot of the cross on Calvary’s hill.

Christian if you are attempting to gain victory over sin through your own power, you will never prevail. If you are waiting for someone else to

Acts 19:15–16 KJV 1900

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Some of us have had to deal with those who have an evil Spirit in the last few years. These spirits have came from family members, church members, parents and children. There have been times when it seems there is no hope. I have wept and set with you as you have wept. We have prayed, groaned, and at times sat in numb pain.

However, every situation has one thing in common. The only hope for the person who seems hopeless is an intervention by Jesus.

People try to have interventions for loved ones but Jesus is the intervention that is needed.

There are some right now that have an evil Spirit in their heart and I will tell you the same thing I will tell anyone. You need to have an encounter with the Jesus of the Bible. Not just some Jesus you have made up to justify your evil spirit, but God incarnate, Jesus the Christ.

II. Breaking of Burdens v.25-34

Secondly we see that there is the account of the woman who was healed of an issue of blood.

Once again we see that she approached Jesus. Why? Because she had heard of the wonderful things that he has done.

People are drawn to what works. What this world needs to see from the church is genuine faith and pleasure in God and his church.

This is not a post on social media, a half-hearted I love my church, but rather a genuine pleasure in God and the people of God.

This woman had been to the Dr., furthermore, she had spent everything she owned but was left without hope. Many of you know mine and Sandras testimony. For years we had been to Dr’s and spent a fortune searching for the answer to infertility. There was a continual loss of hope. Disappointment was the norm for many years. However, what the Dr’s couldn’t fix, Jesus could.

Proverbs 13:12 ESV

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

I do not now the reason that God answers some request and does not others. However, what I do know is that when hope fails there is always Jesus.

This woman was healed due to two reasons. 1. She had great faith. 2. She had someone tell her about Christ.

This world needs you and I to introduce them to Jesus.

He has the power and the desire to break the burdens of sin.

1 John 4:4 KJV 1900

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1 Peter 2:24 KJV 1900

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

III. Bringing to Life

The last miracle is that of bringing to life of the young girl.

Ephesians 2:5 KJV 1900

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Ephesians 2:5 ESV

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

Unlike the lady or the man. This young lady could not come to Jesus. Instead there was another who came on her behalf.

I would to God that I could come to Jesus for others. However, like the Dad, I can not come on her behalf but I can bring Jesus to them.

This young girl was hopeless. Her condition separated her from Jesus. Her only hope was if someone else would go on her behalf. Likewise, this world needs Jesus but their sin has separated them from God. They need someone to bring the good news to them.

Romans 10:14–15 KJV 1900

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Application

In one incident we see Jesus went to the sinner.

In another we see that the testimony of others brought the woman to Christ.

In the final miracle we see that Jesus was brought to the sick.

The common denominator is that in every situation it was Jesus that makes the difference.

We preach of the sufficiency of Scripture.

We sing of the goodness of God.

We talk of our faith and his faithfulness.

Yet do we practice what we believe.

Have you had an encounter with Jesus?

If so your evil spirit will flee.

The chains of sin will be broken.

There will be an abundance of life.

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.