WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:09.279 Well, good morning. Good to see you all this morning. It's good to be back here at Brunsfield. 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:17.059 I think anyway, it's the first time that I've ever met anyone who names their plants, but 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:23.179 I guess that's an Italian thing, is it? It's all right. I got a bit of Italian blood running 00:00:23.179 --> 00:00:30.140 through me as well, but never named any plants yet. But Graziella, was that it? Graziellina. 00:00:30.219 --> 00:00:36.740 Is that like little thank you or something, or what is it? Graziellina. Grace is a name. 00:00:37.219 --> 00:00:42.140 That's good. All right. I won't find out the rest of your plants' names just now. 00:00:44.140 --> 00:00:52.379 Okay. Time's marching on, so let's turn to Luke chapter 8. If you have a Bible, go to Luke 00:00:52.380 --> 00:01:01.580 chapter 8, where I understand you've been walking with Jesus through Galilee this morning, 00:01:01.719 --> 00:01:10.960 chapter 8. We're going to look into two different occasions in the life of Christ here in Luke 00:01:10.960 --> 00:01:21.900 chapter 8. There are so many of these in the Gospels where Jesus really does stun people 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:30.259 with the reality of who He is. I think that's probably, if you want a big picture of the Gospels, 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:38.819 I think one of the major themes of the Gospels coincides with what I think seems to be the major 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:47.340 theme of God's revelation in all the Bible, which is Him, how great He is. I think that's really what 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:55.120 glory is all about. It is about something to do with the expression of the greatness of God. And so that 00:01:55.120 --> 00:02:02.540 theme just runs through all of the Bible. And particularly, you would expect to see it so much in the Gospels, 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:10.140 because the Gospels are just accounts of the life of God as a man. So you would expect to see just the greatness 00:02:10.139 --> 00:02:16.679 of who this man is, God in human flesh, right the way through the Gospels. And you're not disappointed. 00:02:16.839 --> 00:02:24.339 You see that it's right the way through the Gospels here. Jesus, again, stunning His audience by the 00:02:24.339 --> 00:02:36.239 things that He does. The first incident takes place, we're told, verse 22, on a certain day that He got into a 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:46.180 boat with His disciples. And He said to them, let us cross over to the other side of the lake. 00:02:46.920 --> 00:02:57.700 And they launched out. But as they sailed, He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, 00:02:57.920 --> 00:03:06.219 and they were filling with water and were in jeopardy. And they came to Jesus and woke Him up. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:18.520 saying, Master, Master, we're perishing. Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:31.000 And they ceased. And there was a calm. But He said to them, where is your faith? 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:44.740 And they were afraid and marveled, saying to one another, who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water. 00:03:45.419 --> 00:03:48.219 And they obey Him. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:59.639 Way back at the beginning of the Bible, we're told that Satan employs a tactic. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:07.759 We don't quite know yet exactly who this is in the form of the serpent back in Genesis chapter 3. 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:11.779 But we find out as the Bible story unfolds that it is Satan. 00:04:12.179 --> 00:04:19.560 And he is employing a tactic there that proves to be overwhelmingly successful. 00:04:21.959 --> 00:04:28.099 Dethroning God ultimately in the hearts of men by tempting them to doubt. 00:04:28.100 --> 00:04:33.000 To doubt. To doubt in this instance, God's word. 00:04:33.580 --> 00:04:38.240 And to doubt, I believe, an extension of that, the greatness of His character. 00:04:38.500 --> 00:04:42.260 So we are, in a sense, our word. 00:04:42.400 --> 00:04:43.680 We're as good as our word. 00:04:44.580 --> 00:04:46.200 Right? We even say that about people. 00:04:46.840 --> 00:04:48.340 He's as good as His word. 00:04:48.720 --> 00:04:50.260 And we mean that He's got character. 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:54.039 And so God's word is always tied in with God's character. 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:57.420 God's word is always tied in with God's spirit. 00:04:57.939 --> 00:05:01.159 It always disturbs me when people describe churches as, 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:04.459 well, you know, this church has the spirit and this church has the word. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:07.459 And, you know, people go around this church to get a bit of the spirit 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:08.980 and then that church to get a bit of the word. 00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:10.480 It never works that way. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:13.560 All these things have always been and will always be 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:17.079 just intricately joined together because that's who God is. 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:20.699 But back in the garden, Satan tempted the man and the woman 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:25.819 to doubt the word of God and the greatness of His character. 00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:34.199 And ultimately, then, the faith and dependence 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:38.139 that the man and the woman had on God when they were created 00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:40.719 were replaced with doubt and self-reliance. 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:45.599 And without wanting to be too overly simplistic here, 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:49.000 I'd like to suggest to you that the rest of the Bible story, 00:05:49.860 --> 00:05:52.640 including the gospel, 00:05:53.760 --> 00:05:57.220 is a revelation of God's design 00:05:57.220 --> 00:06:00.080 to turn human beings back 00:06:00.080 --> 00:06:05.939 from doubt and self-reliance, 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:08.320 which we're good at, 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:14.980 and I'll hopefully make that point as we go through this story, 00:06:15.219 --> 00:06:19.019 to turn us back from doubt and self-reliance 00:06:19.019 --> 00:06:22.779 to a life of faith and dependence on God. 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:24.500 Isn't that what the gospel is designed to do? 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:28.279 Because I'm not born trusting in God. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.039 I'm not born depending on God. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:37.920 I'm born with a very, very keen sense of self-dependency 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.040 and desire for self-fulfillment. 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:41.740 Is that not fair? 00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:44.860 When I cried as a baby, 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:46.720 so I understand. 00:06:46.939 --> 00:06:49.540 I wasn't crying because people weren't getting saved. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:53.300 Because I wanted more people to depend on God 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:55.000 and I wanted to know God more. 00:06:55.080 --> 00:06:57.100 I was crying because I had a need 00:06:57.100 --> 00:06:58.300 and I wanted it fulfilled. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:07:00.280 And as a young child, 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:03.100 when I threw tantrums 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:05.040 and I screamed and I yelled, 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:06.259 I wasn't screaming and yelling 00:07:06.259 --> 00:07:07.819 because I wanted the church to grow. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:10.500 I was screaming and yelling 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:11.780 because I wanted a toy 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:13.600 or I wanted a nap 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:14.699 or I wanted something. 00:07:14.860 --> 00:07:18.240 It was just a very, very keenly felt sense 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:19.199 of what I wanted. 00:07:19.280 --> 00:07:20.240 That's how I'm born. 00:07:20.340 --> 00:07:21.660 That's how we're all born. 00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:24.560 And the very point of the gospel 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:26.420 is for God to transform 00:07:26.420 --> 00:07:29.259 that sense of self-reliance 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.360 that we're born with 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:31.360 and that we live with. 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:33.040 And if nothing happens, 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.439 that we will die with. 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:36.180 Is that fair? 00:07:38.580 --> 00:07:39.540 We'll die 00:07:39.540 --> 00:07:42.720 with that same sense of self-reliance 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:44.520 and doubt 00:07:44.520 --> 00:07:48.840 if God doesn't do something to change us. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:49.660 Wouldn't it be great 00:07:49.660 --> 00:07:51.460 if somewhere along the line 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:52.560 we could just kind of get 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:55.100 like a doubt inoculation every year? 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:55.879 Wouldn't that be great 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:57.379 if we could just go somewhere 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:58.320 and get a jag 00:07:58.320 --> 00:07:59.340 and that would be it? 00:07:59.400 --> 00:08:00.840 One jab in January 00:08:00.840 --> 00:08:02.300 and then we're kind of soaring 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:03.439 on the wings of faith 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:04.720 for the rest of the year. 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:07.100 The only problem is 00:08:07.100 --> 00:08:09.520 the Bible doesn't tell that story. 00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:10.960 The Bible tells a story 00:08:10.960 --> 00:08:12.020 of men and women 00:08:12.020 --> 00:08:15.220 who are earnest to please God 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:18.240 but really seriously want to do well. 00:08:18.360 --> 00:08:20.140 Some of the songs we sang 00:08:20.140 --> 00:08:22.660 or was it in your intro slides this morning? 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:24.220 I think that's what you were trying 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:25.660 to communicate about the church. 00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:28.640 Just broken people 00:08:28.640 --> 00:08:30.800 but serious about faith, 00:08:31.760 --> 00:08:33.060 serious about Christ, 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:35.320 earnest to please God 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:36.519 and yet probably 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:38.120 if the truth were known 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:39.180 for many of us, 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:41.019 plagued in many ways by doubt. 00:08:43.860 --> 00:08:45.399 From Eve to Abraham, 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:46.660 from David to Zechariah, 00:08:46.759 --> 00:08:47.840 from Peter to Thomas, 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:49.820 even John the Baptist 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:52.400 succumbs to this one, 00:08:52.440 --> 00:08:52.920 doesn't he? 00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.740 Luke 7.20 tells us 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:57.379 that after John recognizes 00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:58.900 that Jesus is the Lamb of God 00:08:58.900 --> 00:09:00.080 who takes away the sins of the world, 00:09:00.140 --> 00:09:01.060 he still asks, 00:09:01.420 --> 00:09:02.660 Jesus, are you the one 00:09:02.660 --> 00:09:04.940 or are we to expect someone else? 00:09:06.060 --> 00:09:06.940 One man writes, 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:08.240 had the Bible been written 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:10.060 by a public relations agency, 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.100 they would have eliminated that verse. 00:09:12.780 --> 00:09:14.640 It's not good PR strategy 00:09:14.640 --> 00:09:16.340 to admit that one of the cabinet members 00:09:16.340 --> 00:09:17.660 has doubts about the president. 00:09:19.540 --> 00:09:20.420 I'm sure there may be 00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:21.740 a lot of folks nowadays 00:09:21.740 --> 00:09:23.100 that have doubts about the president 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:25.160 and won't go there. 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:28.480 You don't let stories like that 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:29.340 get out if you're trying 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.940 to present a united front. 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:31.820 But the scriptures 00:09:31.820 --> 00:09:33.560 weren't written by personality agents, 00:09:33.660 --> 00:09:34.259 they were inspired 00:09:34.259 --> 00:09:35.280 by an eternal God 00:09:35.280 --> 00:09:36.660 who knew that every disciple 00:09:36.660 --> 00:09:37.280 from then on 00:09:37.280 --> 00:09:38.220 would spend time 00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:39.220 in the dungeon of doubt. 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:42.240 Could I suggest to you 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:43.080 that perhaps, 00:09:43.280 --> 00:09:44.160 suggest to you, 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:46.019 this is up for grabs, 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:46.519 okay, 00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.719 but could I suggest to you 00:09:47.719 --> 00:09:49.459 that perhaps the real point 00:09:49.459 --> 00:09:50.519 of this little story here 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:51.439 in Luke 8 00:09:51.439 --> 00:09:53.659 isn't how flimsy the boats were 00:09:53.659 --> 00:09:54.579 in Jesus' day 00:09:54.579 --> 00:09:56.519 or how quick you could get caught up 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:58.179 in a storm on the Sea of Galilee 00:09:58.179 --> 00:09:59.159 if you're not careful. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:00.779 I'm not even sure, 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:01.719 and I say this carefully, 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:02.980 that the main point here 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:04.939 is how powerful Jesus is 00:10:04.939 --> 00:10:06.379 in being able to still the storm, 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:08.779 although that is a main point here. 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:12.779 However, 00:10:14.059 --> 00:10:14.679 I wonder if, 00:10:14.740 --> 00:10:16.419 along with this amazing revelation 00:10:16.419 --> 00:10:17.019 of the deity 00:10:17.019 --> 00:10:18.459 and the majesty of Jesus 00:10:18.459 --> 00:10:19.199 in this passage, 00:10:19.339 --> 00:10:21.279 Luke is not trying also 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.399 to get us to see 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:24.240 how rotten we are 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.539 at trusting God, 00:10:27.539 --> 00:10:30.279 but how faithful God is 00:10:30.279 --> 00:10:33.079 at delivering us. 00:10:33.459 --> 00:10:34.379 Now that's just a thought, 00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:35.679 but I'd like to try 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:36.779 and develop that thought 00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:37.919 as we go through here. 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:39.639 I don't think 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:40.620 the whole purpose here 00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:41.899 is just to see 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:43.299 how great Jesus is, 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:44.620 because Jesus could have 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:45.839 just kind of flown in the air, 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:47.740 turned into a big flaming star, 00:10:47.939 --> 00:10:48.219 and you know, 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:48.459 I mean, 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.139 that would have done it 00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:50.120 for these guys, right? 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:51.599 But it's not. 00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:52.599 The story here, 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:53.879 as is the whole story 00:10:53.879 --> 00:10:55.259 of the gospel, 00:10:56.339 --> 00:10:58.740 is entwined with humanity, 00:10:58.919 --> 00:10:59.360 isn't it? 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:01.839 The gospel works 00:11:01.839 --> 00:11:04.000 with just real life human beings, 00:11:04.099 --> 00:11:06.379 and part of the real life deal here 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:08.659 is how quick these guys are 00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:09.960 to doubt. 00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:12.860 How easy it is for them 00:11:12.860 --> 00:11:16.759 to doubt the Lord. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:18.779 Where is your faith, 00:11:18.939 --> 00:11:20.720 Jesus says in verse 25? 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:21.939 Or, 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:23.820 why are you so timid? 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.299 How is it that you have no faith? 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:26.720 That's how Mark records it 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.279 in his gospel. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:27.879 Or, 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:28.299 oh, 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:29.700 men of little faith, 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.360 Mark's gospel says. 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:34.360 And so guess what? 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:36.500 That being the reality 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:38.779 that we struggle with faith, 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:42.240 the faith life is not an easy life, 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:42.740 is it? 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:44.519 It's a great life, 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:45.659 it's a great life, 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:46.860 but the faith life 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:48.320 is not an easy life. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:52.240 I find it hard to keep going 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:55.159 when I've never yet met Christ 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:56.220 face to face. 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:57.519 And so I'm challenged 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:58.620 to give up everything, 00:11:58.740 --> 00:11:59.740 all my dreams, 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:01.799 all my goals, 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:04.680 all my personal aspirations. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:07.980 God challenges me 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:09.879 to give all those up 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:11.039 and I've never yet seen him 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:11.620 face to face. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:12.720 That's not easy. 00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:16.159 It's worth it. 00:12:17.299 --> 00:12:18.639 And it's the way 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.539 that God has designed for us 00:12:20.539 --> 00:12:22.360 to be reunited to him 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:22.960 through Christ 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:23.820 by faith, 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:24.120 right? 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.600 By grace you're saved 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:27.419 through faith, 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.139 but it's not an easy life. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:32.820 And knowing that to be the case, 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:34.060 God sends a storm. 00:12:35.299 --> 00:12:35.919 You'd think, 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:36.519 in a sense, 00:12:36.680 --> 00:12:37.779 that the last thing 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:39.039 doubting people really need 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:39.700 is a storm. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.500 You'd think they need a cuddle, 00:12:43.060 --> 00:12:44.000 right? 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:46.259 Or a pat on the back. 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:49.419 But he sends a storm. 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:50.860 He knows what he's doing 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:52.919 to help the disciples 00:12:52.919 --> 00:12:54.759 develop their faith. 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.720 Isn't that interesting? 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.000 Peter says, 00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:59.340 1 Peter 4, 00:12:59.399 --> 00:12:59.840 verse 12, 00:13:00.100 --> 00:13:02.180 Don't be surprised 00:13:02.180 --> 00:13:05.639 at the fiery ordeal 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:08.080 that comes upon you 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:09.399 to test you 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:11.360 as though some strange thing 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.379 were happening to you. 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:16.040 But rejoice 00:13:16.040 --> 00:13:17.960 inasmuch as you participate 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:19.120 in the sufferings of Christ 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:21.139 so that you may be overjoyed 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.259 when his glory 00:13:22.259 --> 00:13:24.139 is revealed. 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:26.819 Jesus had said, 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.779 we're told in the story, 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:28.720 Jesus had said, 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.000 get in the boat 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.179 and we're going 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:33.639 to the other side 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:34.819 of the lake. 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:35.860 How did the song go 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:36.860 that we sang this morning, 00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:37.500 My Lighthouse, 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.139 My Lighthouse? 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:40.299 How was the bit about 00:13:40.299 --> 00:13:41.620 he's going to lead us 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.220 safe to shore? 00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:43.259 Right? 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.480 I just thought it was really good. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.559 Somebody's been either 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:47.539 doing their homework, 00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.740 okay, 00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:49.719 in putting the service 00:13:49.719 --> 00:13:50.579 together this morning 00:13:50.579 --> 00:13:52.899 or God's just kind of 00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:53.939 overrun the whole thing 00:13:53.939 --> 00:13:54.659 and done what he wanted 00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:55.319 to do anyway. 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.459 Jesus had said, 00:13:57.699 --> 00:13:58.199 get in the boat 00:13:58.199 --> 00:13:59.219 because we're going 00:13:59.219 --> 00:14:00.019 to the other side 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:00.379 of the lake. 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:00.899 And off they go 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:01.679 across the water 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:02.659 and we're told 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:03.759 that somewhere along 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.399 the line, 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:06.279 Jesus falls asleep. 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.620 Just another great reminder 00:14:09.620 --> 00:14:12.319 that Jesus was God, 00:14:12.439 --> 00:14:12.599 yes, 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:13.319 but he was human. 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:14.639 He's tired, 00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:15.579 he's weary, 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:16.579 falls asleep. 00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:18.259 Soon as he falls asleep, 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:18.900 it seems, 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:20.820 there's this, 00:14:20.920 --> 00:14:22.100 verse 23, 00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:24.580 this fierce storm arises. 00:14:25.100 --> 00:14:26.980 This fierce gale of wind 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:28.340 descends on the lake. 00:14:28.660 --> 00:14:30.300 Matthew uses the word, 00:14:30.680 --> 00:14:30.920 okay, 00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:33.060 the terminology 00:14:33.060 --> 00:14:35.139 that Matthew chooses to use, 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:36.280 the words are 00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:38.620 megas seismos. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:40.580 That's the two Greek words 00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:41.280 that he uses 00:14:41.280 --> 00:14:42.980 and you can almost figure out 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:43.680 what he's saying, 00:14:43.780 --> 00:14:43.960 right? 00:14:44.280 --> 00:14:45.840 Megas seismos. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:47.320 Megas seismic. 00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:51.240 This is a mega seismic storm. 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:52.860 Okay? 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:53.879 So you get the idea 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.620 that it's big. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.180 It's big. 00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:56.920 So the disciples 00:14:56.920 --> 00:14:58.700 aren't being wimps here. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.340 You know, 00:14:59.379 --> 00:15:00.060 it's not that the boat 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:00.860 is starting to rock 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:01.420 a little bit 00:15:01.420 --> 00:15:02.280 and they've never been, 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:02.740 you know, 00:15:02.780 --> 00:15:03.379 they're fishermen. 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.899 A lot of these guys, 00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.759 they know what it's like 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.680 to be on the water. 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:08.000 So they're familiar 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:08.759 with storms. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:10.200 So for these guys 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.639 to be freaking out, 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:14.179 for these guys 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.080 to be freaking out 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:15.700 is big. 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.779 Is big. 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:20.899 The Sea of Galilee, 00:15:21.059 --> 00:15:22.700 680 feet below sea level. 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:24.159 It's surrounded by hills, 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:25.059 some of which are 00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:27.019 almost 2,000 feet 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.860 high above sea level. 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:29.779 The temperature 00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:30.899 and pressure changes 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.120 because of all of that 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:32.960 result of the climate 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:33.559 in the area 00:15:33.559 --> 00:15:34.379 along with the kind of 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.419 geography of the lake 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:37.340 caused some cracking storms. 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.720 It was just kind of 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:39.740 a storm center. 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.399 Really, 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:41.879 it was perfect for storms. 00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:43.120 Perfectly suited 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.259 because of where it was 00:15:44.259 --> 00:15:46.220 for some great storms. 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.860 And they're in one. 00:15:50.440 --> 00:15:51.960 And the water is coming in 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:53.500 and the faith is draining out. 00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:54.820 Isn't it? 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:55.700 They're in one. 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.560 It's a big storm. 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:58.060 And they're starting to doubt. 00:15:58.840 --> 00:15:59.840 These are storms. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.800 We have life storms. 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:03.080 And as we have life storms 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:05.019 and we feel the water's coming in, 00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:06.379 it's very easy to feel 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:08.000 the faith draining out. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:08.639 Is it not? 00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:10.320 Anybody in a storm right now? 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:12.120 We've been in a bit of a storm 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.899 in our family here 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:14.039 for the last five years 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.240 and we're weary. 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:16.200 We're weary. 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:17.340 We're tired. 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:22.279 Our patience has run very thin. 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.460 We're very human. 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.919 God is showing us even more 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:26.480 how broken we are 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:28.100 and how easy it is 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:29.019 in those circumstances 00:16:29.019 --> 00:16:31.460 for us to begin to doubt. 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:34.100 And so they wake Jesus up saying, 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.519 Master, we're perishing. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:37.980 Now what are they forgetting? 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.720 What are they? 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.360 Well, they're forgetting 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:43.019 that Jesus is in the boat 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.679 with them. 00:16:47.220 --> 00:16:48.000 They're forgetting 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.419 that it's not been all that long, 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:50.799 if you read before this account, 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:51.679 that he's healed 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.419 the centurion servant, 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:54.579 that he has raised 00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:57.460 the son of the widow 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:59.000 of Nain from the dead. 00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.720 But they're also forgetting 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.939 that Jesus had said, 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.900 let's go to the other side 00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.360 of the lake. 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.040 How quick I am 00:17:10.040 --> 00:17:10.600 to forget 00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:12.019 that God has promised me 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:13.160 that not only 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:15.160 am I his treasured possession 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:15.720 in Christ, 00:17:15.860 --> 00:17:17.300 Ephesians 1.14, 00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.900 and his beloved child 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.600 by adoption, 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.840 John 1.12, 00:17:21.060 --> 00:17:23.500 and his precious bride 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:24.800 by faith, 00:17:25.800 --> 00:17:27.300 but how quick I am 00:17:27.300 --> 00:17:27.740 to forget 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:28.640 that he is never going 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.160 to leave me 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.400 or forsake me 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.980 and that he is going 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:33.320 to lead me safely 00:17:33.320 --> 00:17:34.180 to the other side. 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.440 So being aroused, 00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:38.300 verse 24, 00:17:39.040 --> 00:17:40.220 he rebukes the wind 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.340 and the surging waves 00:17:41.340 --> 00:17:42.480 and they stop 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:44.620 and it becomes calm 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.960 and he says to them, 00:17:46.060 --> 00:17:47.220 where is your faith? 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:50.079 It's not that they can't 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.480 have faith, 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.319 it's that they're looking 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.860 at the wrong thing. 00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:57.819 My greatest need 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.579 when I get caught 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:00.079 in a doubt storm, 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.740 I think, 00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.460 is a fresh recognition 00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:05.100 of the power of God 00:18:05.100 --> 00:18:06.100 in the person of Christ, 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:06.620 isn't it? 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.220 Many years ago, 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.140 I had a breakdown 00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:11.759 and I was out of work 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:12.779 for almost a year 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:16.240 and one of the things 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.039 that God used 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:17.879 during that time 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.559 in my life 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:19.779 was the Gospels, 00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:21.259 the life of Christ, 00:18:21.379 --> 00:18:22.519 just walking with Christ 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.559 and walking with Christ 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.920 and listening to Christ 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:27.680 and observing how he lived 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.660 and what he said. 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.180 So glad you're going 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.160 through Luke's Gospel 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:32.139 just now. 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.279 It's a great place to be 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:36.180 when doubt storms hit, 00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.119 turning my doubt 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.139 and self-reliance 00:18:38.139 --> 00:18:39.619 back into faith 00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:40.779 and God dependence. 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:41.740 Well, 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:42.759 that's the first scenario. 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.960 The second scenario 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:46.180 here in Luke 8 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:48.099 brings a different 00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:49.240 kind of challenge 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.940 to the whole faith issue, 00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.359 but it's still a challenge 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:53.319 to us, 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:54.700 to faith. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.259 This time, 00:18:55.339 --> 00:18:55.899 it's in the life 00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:57.839 of a demon-possessed man. 00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:59.000 So we'll pick it up 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.980 in verse 26. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.279 And then they sailed 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.019 to the country 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.200 of the Gadarenes, 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:08.399 which is opposite Galilee. 00:19:09.899 --> 00:19:11.420 And when he stepped 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:14.480 out on the land, 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.320 okay, 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.560 so that's just a reminder 00:19:16.560 --> 00:19:18.259 that they had reached 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:20.100 the other side, 00:19:20.820 --> 00:19:21.140 okay? 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.620 So it's just kind of 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:24.640 a continuation, 00:19:25.060 --> 00:19:25.279 really, 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.680 of the last story. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.240 But when he stepped 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:30.259 out on the land, 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.060 there met him 00:19:32.060 --> 00:19:33.340 a certain man 00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.360 from the city 00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:35.539 who had demons 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:38.159 for a long time. 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.139 And he wore 00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:41.039 no clothes, 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.740 nor did he live 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.579 in a house, 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.500 but in the tombs. 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.899 When he saw Jesus, 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.039 he cried out, 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.960 fell down before him, 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.480 and with a loud voice 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:52.899 said, 00:19:53.159 --> 00:19:54.460 What have I to do 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.019 with you, 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.500 Jesus, 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:57.519 Son of the Most High God? 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:58.599 I beg you, 00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.900 do not torment me. 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:02.579 For he had commanded 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:03.619 the unclean spirit 00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:04.639 to come out of the man. 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.400 For it had often 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.339 seized him, 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.480 and he was kept 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.740 under guard, 00:20:10.139 --> 00:20:11.319 bound with chains 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.440 and shackles, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:14.460 and he broke 00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.160 the bonds 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.920 and was driven 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.500 by the demon 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:17.279 into the wilderness. 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:19.839 Jesus asked him, 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.220 saying, 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:22.160 What is your name? 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:25.200 And he said, 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.379 Legion, 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:28.280 because many demons 00:20:28.280 --> 00:20:29.680 had entered him. 00:20:30.760 --> 00:20:31.720 And they begged him 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.560 that he would not 00:20:32.560 --> 00:20:33.160 command them 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.120 to go out 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:35.240 into the abyss. 00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:37.420 Now a herd 00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.440 of many swine 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.880 was feeding there 00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:40.460 on the mountain, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:42.140 so they begged him 00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:43.180 that he would permit them 00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.080 to enter them, 00:20:44.520 --> 00:20:45.460 and he permitted them. 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.200 Then the demons 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.180 went out of the man 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.440 and entered the swine, 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.420 and the herd 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.480 ran violently 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.440 down the steep place 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.260 into the lake 00:20:54.260 --> 00:20:55.320 and drowned. 00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.320 When those 00:20:57.320 --> 00:20:58.140 who had fed them 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.300 saw what had happened, 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.400 they fled 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.220 and told in the city 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.500 and in the country. 00:21:05.080 --> 00:21:07.180 Then they went out 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.480 to see what had happened 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:10.100 and came to Jesus 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:13.020 and found the man 00:21:13.020 --> 00:21:14.680 from whom 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.860 the demons 00:21:15.860 --> 00:21:17.100 had departed, 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:19.020 sitting at the feet 00:21:19.020 --> 00:21:19.700 of Jesus, 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.980 clothed 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:23.220 and in his right mind. 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:26.360 and they were afraid. 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.500 They also, 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.960 who had seen it, 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:34.220 told them 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.319 by what means 00:21:35.319 --> 00:21:36.539 he who had been 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.500 demon-possessed 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.559 was healed. 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.120 Wow. 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:43.559 Then the whole multitude 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:45.220 of the surrounding region 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.299 region 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:48.380 of the Gadarenes 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:50.240 asked Jesus 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:54.039 to go, 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.819 to leave, 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.180 to depart 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:04.079 from them. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:07.240 For they were seized 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:09.100 with great fear. 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:12.059 and so he got 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.619 into the boat 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:15.059 and returned. 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:19.099 But the man 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:20.980 from whom 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.639 the demons 00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:22.759 had departed 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.719 begged him 00:22:24.719 --> 00:22:26.199 to stay. 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.039 Begged him 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:30.000 that he might 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.119 be with him. 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:35.459 But Jesus 00:22:35.459 --> 00:22:36.919 sent him 00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:37.359 away 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:37.859 saying, 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:39.079 return to your 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.879 own house 00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:41.039 and tell 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.359 what great 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.339 things God 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:44.239 has done 00:22:44.239 --> 00:22:45.179 for you. 00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.619 And he went 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.179 his way 00:22:48.179 --> 00:22:49.639 and proclaimed 00:22:49.639 --> 00:22:50.379 throughout 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:51.819 the whole city 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:54.419 what great 00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:55.299 things 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.059 Jesus 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:57.039 had 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.839 done 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.879 for 00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.779 him. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:01.920 Now let me 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.180 say 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:04.160 that I find 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:04.899 that passage 00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:06.200 at one 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:06.740 and the same 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.619 time 00:23:07.619 --> 00:23:09.099 fascinating 00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:10.680 and frightening. 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.259 Fascinating 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:14.839 because 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.720 of the 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:16.460 insight 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.420 that we're 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.119 given 00:23:18.119 --> 00:23:18.960 into a 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.399 world 00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:20.000 that we 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:21.220 can't see. 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:23.399 We would 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.019 never know 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:24.759 what's going 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.160 on here 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:25.539 if Jesus 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.220 hadn't told 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:26.619 us. 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:27.500 And this 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.279 is fascinating 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:28.920 that so often 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.379 in the Bible 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:29.900 God gives 00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.960 us insight 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:32.520 into things 00:23:32.520 --> 00:23:32.920 that we 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:33.540 would never 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.140 know were 00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.600 there 00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.340 or would 00:23:35.340 --> 00:23:36.000 never know 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.700 are true 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.660 or would 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:38.260 never be 00:23:38.260 --> 00:23:39.200 aware of 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.760 if he 00:23:39.760 --> 00:23:40.080 hadn't 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:40.840 told us. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.640 So 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.520 fascinating. 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:43.700 But I also 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.620 find that 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.440 passage rather 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.180 frightening 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.800 because 00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:48.620 this 00:23:48.620 --> 00:23:49.540 world that 00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:50.140 we can't 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.700 see is 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.120 real 00:23:51.120 --> 00:23:53.300 and it's 00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:53.800 powerful 00:23:53.800 --> 00:23:54.320 and it's 00:23:54.320 --> 00:23:54.940 very evil. 00:23:54.940 --> 00:23:56.680 Paul 00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.240 writes 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.500 to the 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.080 Ephesians 00:23:58.080 --> 00:23:59.220 that our 00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.720 battle is 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.259 not against 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.820 flesh and 00:24:00.820 --> 00:24:01.039 blood. 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:01.460 It's not 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.240 just you 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:02.799 think you're 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.299 fighting all 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.660 the time 00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:04.200 against what 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.559 you can 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:04.920 see. 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.320 And God 00:24:06.320 --> 00:24:06.640 says in 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.279 actual fact 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:07.580 we have 00:24:07.580 --> 00:24:07.779 to be 00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.080 really 00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:08.559 careful 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.259 not to 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:09.820 get sucked 00:24:09.820 --> 00:24:10.500 into fighting 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:10.920 the wrong 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:11.279 enemy. 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.180 And this 00:24:13.180 --> 00:24:13.640 happens all 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:13.960 the time. 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.420 It happens 00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.160 in life. 00:24:15.259 --> 00:24:15.640 It happens 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.519 in offices. 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.140 It happens 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:17.840 in communities. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.799 It happens 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.580 in families. 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:20.359 And it 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:20.879 happens in 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.240 churches. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:23.599 Where we 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.980 get sucked 00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:26.599 into in a 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:27.519 similar sense 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.919 bamboozled 00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:30.460 by the 00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:32.399 enemy to 00:24:32.399 --> 00:24:33.240 fight the 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.039 other guy. 00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:35.039 Not him 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.079 but to 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.399 fight the 00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:36.859 other guy 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:37.159 and to 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:37.500 fight the 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.159 wrong enemy. 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:38.419 You've got to 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:38.759 be really 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:39.159 careful. 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:39.819 God tells 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.539 us that our 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:40.980 battle is 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.599 not against 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.119 flesh and 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.439 blood. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:43.539 The real 00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.079 issue, the 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:44.619 real fight, 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:44.980 the real 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.000 battle, the 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.740 real warfare 00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:48.039 that we're to 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:49.059 fight particularly 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.740 as those who 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.240 belong to 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.980 Christ is 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.559 the enemy. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.079 Not the 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.539 rest of the 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.000 body. 00:24:58.419 --> 00:24:59.460 Not those 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.599 that we're 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:01.119 intimately 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.339 linked to 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.159 by faith. 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:03.819 But so 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.259 often we 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:04.720 take our 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.159 eye off the 00:25:05.159 --> 00:25:05.579 ball again 00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:05.799 and we 00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.179 fight the 00:25:06.179 --> 00:25:06.740 wrong enemy. 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.379 Our battle 00:25:07.379 --> 00:25:07.619 is not 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:07.839 against 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.240 flesh and 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.399 blood. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:08.579 It's 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:09.000 against the 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.279 rulers, 00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:10.099 the powers, 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:10.779 the world 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:12.299 forces of 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:13.099 this darkness. 00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:14.339 This stuff 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:14.980 is real. 00:25:16.179 --> 00:25:16.839 It's here. 00:25:17.379 --> 00:25:17.919 People think 00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.579 that somehow 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.359 just because 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:19.819 we close 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.240 the doors 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.579 of the 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.059 church, 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.139 we keep 00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:22.819 the evil 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:24.039 forces at 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.339 bay. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.099 We don't. 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.480 We do 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:25.699 that, 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.000 what we'll 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.379 see in a 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:26.539 minute, 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.419 by resisting 00:25:27.419 --> 00:25:27.779 them, 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:28.980 not by just 00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:29.579 closing the 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:29.859 doors. 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:30.740 In fact, 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.279 sometimes I 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.659 think Satan 00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:32.079 does some 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:32.319 of his 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:32.899 best work 00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:33.519 right here 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.339 among 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:35.859 believers, 00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:37.919 just causing 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:38.559 disunity 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:39.859 or distraction 00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:41.679 from opportunities 00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:42.339 that we have 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:42.939 to grow 00:25:42.939 --> 00:25:43.339 and to 00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.439 feed and 00:25:44.439 --> 00:25:45.039 to be built 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.480 up and 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:45.980 strengthened 00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:46.319 and a 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.379 real powerful 00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:48.019 force for 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.740 God in 00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.139 the world 00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.460 and in 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.940 this city. 00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:50.980 Sometimes I 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.200 think he 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.559 does some 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:51.779 of his 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.440 best work 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:54.740 here by 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.359 holding us 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:57.240 down and 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:58.359 distracting us 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:58.900 from the 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.660 real goal and 00:25:59.660 --> 00:25:59.940 the real 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:00.559 purpose that 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:00.920 God has 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.359 called us 00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.180 to as 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.839 followers of 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.079 Christ. 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.660 Sometimes I 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:03.879 think he 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:04.220 does some 00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.460 of his 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.259 best work 00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:06.440 here. 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:06.960 We think, 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.240 oh no, 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:07.839 Satan's out in 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.319 the pubs and 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:08.819 the clubs and 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:10.619 the brothels and 00:26:10.619 --> 00:26:10.720 all. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.359 That's the lust 00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:11.879 of the flesh 00:26:11.879 --> 00:26:12.440 that almost 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.059 just takes care 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.579 of itself. 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.799 It almost 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:16.339 just self 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.240 perpetuates. 00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:19.359 Be careful, 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.139 be careful, 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:22.659 be aware. 00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.079 Yes, 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:23.720 it's fascinating 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.179 to see beyond 00:26:25.179 --> 00:26:28.799 the veneer of 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.399 just what we 00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:30.279 can see and 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:30.960 sense with our 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.879 five senses. 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.639 There's more. 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:33.879 Yes, 00:26:33.919 --> 00:26:34.579 it's fascinating, 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.200 but it's also 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.200 very frightening. 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.179 These are world 00:26:37.179 --> 00:26:38.139 forces of 00:26:38.139 --> 00:26:38.599 darkness, 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.659 spiritual forces 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:42.080 of wickedness, 00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:42.880 Paul says, 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.460 in heavenly 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.300 places. 00:26:44.660 --> 00:26:45.480 The Bible tells 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.080 us that demons 00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:46.820 can do many 00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:47.360 things. 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.580 They can exhibit 00:26:48.580 --> 00:26:49.880 superhuman strength. 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:52.040 They oppose 00:26:52.040 --> 00:26:53.660 the purposes of 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.100 God in the 00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:54.300 world. 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.220 They're incredibly 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.860 subtle and 00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.320 crafty. 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:57.100 They promote 00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:57.920 idolatry. 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.080 They promote 00:26:59.080 --> 00:27:00.279 false religion. 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.380 They deceive 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.040 and move the 00:27:02.040 --> 00:27:02.500 nations. 00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:03.580 They afflict 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:04.500 people physically. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.400 They possess 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:06.040 people. 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.080 They're invisible, 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.560 but they're 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:08.120 capable of 00:27:08.120 --> 00:27:08.640 manifestation. 00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:09.540 They have 00:27:09.540 --> 00:27:10.120 supernatural 00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:10.879 intelligence. 00:27:11.479 --> 00:27:12.019 They cooperate 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.539 with one 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:12.879 another. 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:13.879 They slander 00:27:13.879 --> 00:27:14.739 God before 00:27:14.739 --> 00:27:16.019 men, but 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:16.459 they also 00:27:16.459 --> 00:27:17.259 slander men 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:18.099 before God. 00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:18.879 They have 00:27:18.879 --> 00:27:19.699 access to the 00:27:19.699 --> 00:27:20.179 thoughts of 00:27:20.179 --> 00:27:20.539 believers. 00:27:20.979 --> 00:27:21.539 They blind 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.079 the minds 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.939 of unbelievers. 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.099 They accuse, 00:27:24.219 --> 00:27:24.719 they pervert, 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.339 they bewitch, 00:27:25.439 --> 00:27:26.019 they degrade, 00:27:26.179 --> 00:27:26.679 they attack, 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.299 they tempt. 00:27:27.659 --> 00:27:28.059 They even 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.179 disguise themselves 00:27:29.179 --> 00:27:30.479 as being good. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:32.459 Angels of 00:27:32.459 --> 00:27:32.979 light. 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:33.579 Those are all 00:27:33.579 --> 00:27:34.039 things and 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.659 there's more 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.539 that the Bible 00:27:35.539 --> 00:27:36.279 tells us 00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:37.419 Satan and 00:27:37.419 --> 00:27:38.339 his demons 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.079 do. 00:27:39.239 --> 00:27:39.619 So whatever 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.039 you do, 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.500 don't be 00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.039 fooled by 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.479 the fact 00:27:41.479 --> 00:27:41.739 that you 00:27:41.739 --> 00:27:42.319 can't see 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.599 them. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:47.419 They're as 00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:48.000 real as 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.799 you are, 00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:49.659 but equally 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.279 don't be 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:51.339 intimidated by 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.619 them. 00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.519 Don't be 00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.500 intimidated by 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.779 them. 00:27:57.419 --> 00:27:57.819 I remember, 00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.299 I'm sure it 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:58.739 was John 00:27:58.739 --> 00:27:59.179 Piper, 00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.500 I remember 00:27:59.500 --> 00:27:59.919 him sharing 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:00.179 in a 00:28:00.179 --> 00:28:00.579 conference 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:01.379 once, 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.319 you know, 00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:02.979 just about 00:28:02.979 --> 00:28:04.019 growing as 00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.500 he's grown 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.819 as a 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.079 believer, 00:28:05.239 --> 00:28:06.179 he's grown 00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:07.079 to respect 00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.899 the power 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.259 of the 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.599 enemy, 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.480 but not 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:10.779 to be 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:11.419 afraid of 00:28:11.419 --> 00:28:11.679 him. 00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:12.480 And then 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:12.740 he just 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.039 kind of 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.399 told a 00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:13.879 story and 00:28:13.879 --> 00:28:14.119 he said, 00:28:14.179 --> 00:28:14.319 you know, 00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:14.839 he imagined 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.799 himself just 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.099 kind of 00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:16.579 waking up 00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.199 one night 00:28:17.199 --> 00:28:17.859 with some 00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.199 kind of 00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:19.079 green-looking, 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.699 ugly, 00:28:19.919 --> 00:28:20.720 goblin kind 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:21.159 of creature 00:28:21.159 --> 00:28:21.639 at the foot 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.220 of his bed, 00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:22.679 just, you 00:28:22.679 --> 00:28:22.839 know, 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:23.579 kind of 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.159 waking him 00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:24.559 up in the 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:24.839 middle of 00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:25.179 the night 00:28:25.179 --> 00:28:25.579 and maybe 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.059 his first 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.599 response 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:29.259 was a bit 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.859 of shock 00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:30.699 at this 00:28:30.699 --> 00:28:31.679 thing in 00:28:31.679 --> 00:28:32.279 his room, 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.039 this presence 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.440 that was 00:28:34.440 --> 00:28:34.779 there, 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:36.079 you know, 00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.680 just ugly 00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.259 looking 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.700 creature. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:39.759 And he 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:39.899 thought, 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.119 you know, 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:40.859 once I 00:28:40.859 --> 00:28:41.279 gained my 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.819 presence of 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.059 mind, 00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:42.480 I think I 00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:42.779 would just 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.079 say, 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:43.700 and? 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:46.839 Yes? 00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.539 Can I 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:48.059 help you? 00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:52.680 Because 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.139 that's about 00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:53.559 the best 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:53.960 they can 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.279 do. 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.099 Don't be 00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.619 intimidated 00:28:59.619 --> 00:29:00.319 by them 00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.619 because 00:29:00.619 --> 00:29:01.420 greater is 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:02.039 he who 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.399 is in 00:29:02.399 --> 00:29:02.819 you than 00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.220 he that 00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.519 is in 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:03.980 the world. 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:09.579 Don't be 00:29:09.579 --> 00:29:10.059 fooled by 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.460 the fact 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:10.940 you can't 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:11.200 see them, 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:11.559 but don't 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.159 be intimidated 00:29:12.159 --> 00:29:12.799 by them. 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.779 The New 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.079 Testament 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:14.579 epistles, 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.139 and I 00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.399 don't have 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:16.700 time to 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.039 go into 00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:17.759 demonology 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:18.359 this morning, 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.119 but the 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.619 New Testament 00:29:19.619 --> 00:29:20.099 epistles, 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:20.680 which I 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:21.879 believe should 00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:22.960 be read in 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:23.759 a very unique 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.119 way, 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.139 distinct in 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:25.579 a sense 00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.240 from just 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.200 the Gospels. 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:27.960 We're not 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.440 to take all 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:28.700 of our 00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.159 marching 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:29.680 orders 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.279 necessarily 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.700 from the 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.220 Gospels. 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:31.799 That's an 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.299 historical 00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.899 account of 00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.240 the life 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.619 of Christ, 00:29:33.619 --> 00:29:33.819 there's 00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.019 many 00:29:34.019 --> 00:29:34.359 lessons 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:34.619 to 00:29:34.619 --> 00:29:34.939 learn, 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:35.579 there's 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:35.819 many 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.239 commands 00:29:36.239 --> 00:29:36.500 to 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:36.959 obey. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:39.859 But by 00:29:39.859 --> 00:29:40.359 and large, 00:29:40.479 --> 00:29:40.839 the New 00:29:40.839 --> 00:29:41.399 Testament 00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.099 epistles 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.279 are the 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.639 marching 00:29:43.639 --> 00:29:44.119 orders 00:29:44.119 --> 00:29:44.519 for the 00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:44.939 church. 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:45.819 They are 00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:45.979 the 00:29:45.979 --> 00:29:46.299 marching 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.879 orders 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:47.759 for the 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.199 church. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.299 And the 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:49.459 New 00:29:49.459 --> 00:29:49.779 Testament 00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.159 epistles 00:29:50.159 --> 00:29:50.559 give us 00:29:50.559 --> 00:29:51.500 one primary 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.899 bit of 00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:52.319 direction 00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:52.659 when it 00:29:52.659 --> 00:29:53.079 comes to 00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:53.579 dealing with 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:53.899 Satan 00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:54.359 and his 00:29:54.359 --> 00:29:55.139 cohorts. 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:55.640 Do you 00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:55.920 know what 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.380 it is? 00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:00.420 Resist. 00:30:01.380 --> 00:30:02.020 One 00:30:02.020 --> 00:30:02.780 primary 00:30:02.780 --> 00:30:03.460 bit of 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.840 information. 00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:05.780 One 00:30:05.780 --> 00:30:06.400 primary 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:06.940 directive. 00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:08.060 Resist. 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.320 Because the 00:30:13.320 --> 00:30:13.660 greatest 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.180 weapon, 00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:15.000 it seems, 00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:16.040 that Satan 00:30:16.040 --> 00:30:16.880 has against 00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.600 us is 00:30:17.600 --> 00:30:18.240 temptation. 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:20.880 So I 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.259 guess if I 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:21.640 wake up 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:22.039 tonight and 00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.319 there's some 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:22.799 green kind 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.299 of goblin 00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:24.319 looking creature 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:24.700 at the foot 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.019 of my bed, 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:25.420 I want to 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:25.559 say, 00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:25.859 and? 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.579 It seems 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.019 as though the 00:30:30.019 --> 00:30:30.740 greatest weapon 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.380 he has against 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:31.759 us is 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.240 temptation. 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.200 And if we 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.819 resist, 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:34.480 think about 00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:34.859 this, 00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:35.420 if the 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:35.779 greatest 00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.339 weapon is 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:36.799 temptation 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.339 and I 00:30:37.339 --> 00:30:37.960 resist, 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:38.759 where does 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.160 that leave 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.420 him? 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.420 Powerless. 00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.299 Powerless. 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:48.079 That's the 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.720 whole point. 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:52.899 Matthew 4, 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.240 11, 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.480 Jesus resisted 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.139 Satan's 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:55.759 temptation in 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.099 the wilderness 00:30:56.099 --> 00:30:56.480 and we're 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.139 told that 00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:57.599 the devil 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.839 left him. 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:01.639 Ephesians 6, 00:31:01.939 --> 00:31:02.319 we're told 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.000 twice to 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:03.619 stand firm 00:31:03.619 --> 00:31:03.879 and in 00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.439 verse 13, 00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:05.059 we're told 00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:05.559 to take up 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:05.960 the full 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.399 armor of 00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:06.759 God that 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:07.240 we may be 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:07.720 able to 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:09.159 resist in 00:31:09.159 --> 00:31:09.480 the evil 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:09.799 day. 00:31:10.159 --> 00:31:10.839 James 4, 00:31:10.939 --> 00:31:11.339 verse 7 00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.579 says, 00:31:11.679 --> 00:31:12.279 resist the 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:12.740 devil and 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.339 he will 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:15.779 flee from 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.460 you. 00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:16.759 Do you 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.059 know where 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:17.619 he'll go? 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:19.059 He'll 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.359 go and 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:19.879 find somebody 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.240 else who 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:20.460 won't 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:20.839 resist. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.659 But if 00:31:22.659 --> 00:31:23.379 you resist, 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.039 he has 00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.819 no other 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.799 recourse than 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.419 to leave 00:31:26.419 --> 00:31:27.279 you alone 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.000 because he 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:28.299 can't do 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:29.000 anything else. 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.059 In 1 Peter 00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.559 5, 8, 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.039 be of sober 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.419 spirit, 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:33.859 be on the 00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.059 alert, 00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:34.599 your adversary 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.059 the devil 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.879 prowls about 00:31:35.879 --> 00:31:36.240 like a 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:36.819 roaring lion, 00:31:36.899 --> 00:31:37.759 always ugly, 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:39.099 always big, 00:31:39.419 --> 00:31:40.679 always ferocious, 00:31:41.139 --> 00:31:42.179 always mean. 00:31:42.659 --> 00:31:43.319 He prowls about 00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.079 like a roaring 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:45.579 lion seeking 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:46.179 someone to 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.440 resist a 00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:46.920 picture of 00:31:46.920 --> 00:31:47.060 that. 00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.560 Oh, 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.500 it's awful. 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.820 But resist 00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.140 him. 00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:53.799 Firm in 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:55.900 your faith. 00:31:58.580 --> 00:31:59.720 We defend 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.480 with the 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:00.900 word, 00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:01.940 we resist 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:02.720 with the 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.039 will. 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.900 We defend 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:05.580 with the 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:05.980 word, 00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:06.860 we resist 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:07.680 with the 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.019 will, 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.000 being strong 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.320 in the 00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:09.660 Lord and 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.100 the strength 00:32:10.100 --> 00:32:10.519 of his 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.000 might. 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.539 So let 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:11.819 me just 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:12.920 finish by 00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.880 again suggesting 00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.960 to you the 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.740 gist of the 00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.440 story here. 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.519 There's a lot 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.259 of different 00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:19.160 intricacies you 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:19.880 could dive into, 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.480 do that in 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.059 your own time. 00:32:21.339 --> 00:32:21.859 Let me just 00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:22.779 pull back for a 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:23.420 minute and 00:32:23.420 --> 00:32:24.200 suggest as we 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:25.000 finish just the 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:25.680 gist of the 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.299 story here. 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.259 I don't think 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:27.920 the main point 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:28.839 here is how 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:29.839 powerful possessed 00:32:29.839 --> 00:32:31.000 people are, 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.160 or how horrible 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:34.319 demons can be 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:34.940 to people, 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:37.140 or how fast 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:37.940 demon-possessed 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:38.740 pigs can run 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.359 down a hill. 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:42.519 I think the 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.160 point is, 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.720 again, 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:47.019 how rotten 00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.759 we are at 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.579 trusting God, 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.819 but how 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:52.000 faithful God 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.539 is at 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.799 delivering us. 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:54.440 And I draw 00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.200 this conclusion 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.779 from the way 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.079 that the 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:58.079 account ends 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.059 with the 00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:00.380 contrast between 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.519 the people of 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.200 the region 00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:04.579 who can't 00:33:04.579 --> 00:33:05.640 wait to get 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.539 rid of Jesus. 00:33:08.220 --> 00:33:09.039 They want 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.740 him to go. 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.380 the contrast 00:33:12.380 --> 00:33:13.039 between them 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.759 and the man 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.319 who's been 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:15.099 delivered, 00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:16.480 who can't 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.480 help but want 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.299 to be with 00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:18.599 him. 00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:19.259 He wants 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:19.579 him to 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.059 stay. 00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.240 Verse 34 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.299 says that when 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:25.779 the herdsmen 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.500 saw the pigs 00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.279 and what had 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:27.539 happened, 00:33:27.619 --> 00:33:28.180 they took off 00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:28.759 like a shot 00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.339 into the city. 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:29.859 They started 00:33:29.859 --> 00:33:30.359 to spread the 00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:30.599 word. 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:31.779 The demon-possessed 00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.279 man was 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.160 apparently well-known. 00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:33.740 People had seen 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.259 his behavior. 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:34.859 They knew of 00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:35.980 his crazy, 00:33:36.180 --> 00:33:37.119 secluded existence 00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:37.779 in the tombs. 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:38.500 And when they 00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.279 arrived back, 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:40.139 verse 37, 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.220 the people of 00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:41.700 the surrounding 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:42.119 country, 00:33:42.220 --> 00:33:42.639 they're gripped 00:33:42.639 --> 00:33:43.279 with fear and 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:43.859 they don't ask 00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:44.579 Jesus to stay. 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.440 They ask him 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.359 to leave. 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:47.000 And then there 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.899 is a striking 00:33:47.899 --> 00:33:50.279 contrast between 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:50.879 them, 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.740 verse 38, 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.460 and a delivered 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.480 man who begs 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:56.839 Jesus to stay 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:57.720 or to let him 00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:58.839 certainly go with 00:33:58.839 --> 00:33:59.819 him and to be 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.559 with him. 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:02.579 And Jesus 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.539 says in verse 39, 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.220 No, I want you 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:04.899 to return to 00:34:04.899 --> 00:34:05.700 your own house 00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.940 and tell what 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.720 great things 00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:08.559 God has done 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:09.519 for you. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.460 And he went 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.119 his way and 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.860 proclaimed throughout 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.539 the whole city 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.340 what great things 00:34:13.340 --> 00:34:14.420 Jesus had done 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:14.860 for him. 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.699 We're not given 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:17.179 interestingly the 00:34:17.179 --> 00:34:17.900 history of this 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.119 guy. 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.500 We don't know 00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.340 how he grew up. 00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.219 We don't know 00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:21.179 what caused him 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:22.400 to become demon 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.759 possessed. 00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.420 We don't know 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:25.059 why he's a 00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.440 target. 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.699 We don't know 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.400 what it is that 00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.279 goes on in his 00:34:29.279 --> 00:34:29.900 background. 00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.460 We don't know 00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:30.700 what his 00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:31.460 relationship to 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.079 God was. 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.500 We don't know 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.119 any of that 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:33.920 about this guy. 00:34:35.660 --> 00:34:36.280 And I find that 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:36.920 interesting because 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.579 as a kind of 00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.500 counselor, I'd like 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:39.860 to unpick all the 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:41.079 stuff that maybe I 00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:41.980 think may have led 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:43.440 to this guy going 00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.460 a bit mad and 00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.180 just kind of, you 00:34:45.180 --> 00:34:46.079 know, falling into 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:48.079 this situation that 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:49.180 is so awful for him 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:49.519 now. 00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:52.340 We're not told any 00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:52.720 of that. 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.280 All we're told is 00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:57.000 his response to 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:57.300 Jesus. 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.860 That's all we're 00:34:58.860 --> 00:34:59.180 told. 00:34:59.900 --> 00:35:01.760 That as Jesus 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.559 delivers him from 00:35:02.559 --> 00:35:03.660 the demons, he 00:35:03.660 --> 00:35:04.720 wants nothing more 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:05.720 than Christ. 00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:07.840 And I think that's 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:08.420 really, when it 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.139 comes to this kind 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:10.260 of spiritual warfare, 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.119 I think that is the 00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:12.079 most significant 00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:12.880 thing. 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:15.119 Whenever somebody 00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:15.860 calls me into a 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:16.539 situation where they 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.000 think there's some 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.840 kind of demonic 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:19.780 activity, the first 00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:21.800 thing I bring with 00:35:21.800 --> 00:35:23.300 me isn't a, you 00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.160 know, a smoke 00:35:24.160 --> 00:35:25.420 incense kind of thing 00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:27.019 or holy water or 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.220 anything. 00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:28.279 the first thing I 00:35:28.279 --> 00:35:28.839 bring with me is 00:35:28.839 --> 00:35:29.379 the gospel. 00:35:30.759 --> 00:35:31.619 The gospel. 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:33.119 Because what I 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.839 understand from the 00:35:33.839 --> 00:35:34.539 Bible is that when 00:35:34.539 --> 00:35:37.779 Jesus comes in, the 00:35:37.779 --> 00:35:38.519 devil goes out. 00:35:39.379 --> 00:35:40.799 When Jesus comes in, 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.819 the devil goes out. 00:35:42.959 --> 00:35:43.419 It doesn't mean that 00:35:43.419 --> 00:35:45.819 we stop being targets 00:35:45.819 --> 00:35:46.819 from an oppressive 00:35:46.819 --> 00:35:48.739 sense, but certainly 00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:50.319 from a possessive sense. 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.079 The gospel is your 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:53.500 greatest weapon. 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:56.119 I know how rotten 00:35:56.119 --> 00:35:56.960 it feels to doubt. 00:35:57.159 --> 00:35:57.980 Believe me, I do. 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.820 I know how rotten 00:35:58.820 --> 00:36:00.619 it feels to feel 00:36:00.619 --> 00:36:01.599 weak in faith. 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.039 However, I also know 00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:04.119 how amazing it feels 00:36:04.119 --> 00:36:04.639 to believe. 00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:05.079 Don't you? 00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:06.900 I know how amazing 00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:08.019 it feels to believe, 00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:10.559 to trust, and to 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:11.260 know that God's 00:36:11.260 --> 00:36:12.059 faithfulness in 00:36:12.059 --> 00:36:13.199 delivering me from 00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:15.659 my doubt is one of 00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:16.519 the greatest things 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:17.960 that he has ever 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:18.619 done for me. 00:36:18.699 --> 00:36:19.860 So that I can go 00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:23.220 and you can go now 00:36:23.220 --> 00:36:25.180 and do everything we 00:36:25.180 --> 00:36:26.760 can to help others 00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:27.059 know. 00:36:27.180 --> 00:36:27.800 That's what Jesus 00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:28.700 told this guy to do. 00:36:28.760 --> 00:36:29.700 Just go back to the 00:36:29.700 --> 00:36:31.620 city and tell them 00:36:31.620 --> 00:36:32.400 all of the wonderful 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:33.640 things that God has 00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:34.220 done for you. 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.880 I want to leave here 00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:36.599 today, and I hope 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.460 you do too, just 00:36:37.460 --> 00:36:40.539 refreshed, reinvigorated 00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:42.920 with a vision to go 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:44.539 and reach this lost 00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:46.460 city for Christ. 00:36:46.660 --> 00:36:47.460 Tell him all the 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.019 wonderful things. 00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:48.860 Not all at once. 00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:50.440 Not all at once. 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.579 It's a little bit 00:36:51.579 --> 00:36:52.140 here, a little bit 00:36:52.140 --> 00:36:52.360 there. 00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.280 Don't dump everything 00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:53.980 on your neighbor 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.559 when you get home 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:55.920 today, but the next 00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:58.000 opportunity that arises, 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:01.300 just tell people about 00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:02.840 Jesus, all the wonderful 00:37:02.840 --> 00:37:03.599 things that he's done 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:03.940 for you. 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.460 Let me pray. 00:37:04.780 --> 00:37:05.760 Father, thank you for 00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:09.140 the account that's been 00:37:09.140 --> 00:37:10.160 preserved for us here 00:37:10.160 --> 00:37:11.280 that I'm sure has many, 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:12.280 many, many things to 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:12.800 teach us. 00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:14.700 But one of the 00:37:14.700 --> 00:37:16.240 greatest things is we're 00:37:16.240 --> 00:37:17.160 brought face to face 00:37:17.159 --> 00:37:19.059 with our own reality 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.859 and weakness, 00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:22.980 propensity to lack 00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:25.899 faith, but also just 00:37:25.899 --> 00:37:28.980 with the great faithfulness 00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:30.899 of God in delivering 00:37:30.899 --> 00:37:32.899 us from our enemy, 00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:35.039 establishing us in Christ. 00:37:36.179 --> 00:37:37.019 And Lord, we pray that we 00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:38.139 would be like this man 00:37:38.139 --> 00:37:41.599 and that we would want to 00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:44.039 be with you, but also that 00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:46.159 we would want to go where 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:47.820 we have to go to tell 00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:48.579 others about you. 00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:49.619 Help us to do that, I 00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:51.420 pray, with a fresh sense 00:37:51.420 --> 00:37:54.539 of urgency and faith today. 00:37:54.639 --> 00:37:55.659 In Jesus' name, amen.