Well, good morning.
As Mike shared, my name is Dave, and it is a pleasure to be here this morning.
When I first met Mike, I immediately knew that I was going to like him.
His heart for the Lord and for his people is evident, but despite my last name, Cartwright,
which is English, my mom is Italian, so I knew I would like him just based on his name.
And coming into Kenosha this morning, I actually have not really spent much time in Kenosha.
And driving through, it's just like Italian restaurant after Italian restaurant, so I
will take recommendations afterwards of where I should go.
I would appreciate that.
Oh, okay, we already got one.
It's a privilege to be here.
It is good to get to be together with brothers and sisters in the Lord just a few miles away.
It's a unique privilege of working for the Simeon Trust that we just get to see the way
that God is moving in so many different local congregations.
Be encouraged of the work that the Lord is doing simply in southeastern Wisconsin.
You might not always see it, but great things are being done.
Our passage this morning is in Matthew 8.
I'm going to read it in its entirety, Matthew 8, 23 through 9, 8.
Afterwards, I'll pray and then we will jump in.
So if you want to turn there, Matthew 8, starting in verse 23.
And when he, being Jesus, got into the boat, his disciples followed him.
And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea so that the boat was being swamped by the waves.
But he was asleep.
And they went and woke him, saying, Save us, Lord, we are perishing.
And he said to them, Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?
Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
And the men marveled, saying, What sort of man is this that even the winds and sea obey him?
And when he came to the other side, to the country of Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him coming out of the tomb so fierce that no one could pass that way.
And behold, they cried out, What have you to do with us, O son of God?
Have you come here to torment us before the time?
Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them, and the demons begged him, saying,
If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.
And he said to them, Go.
So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
The herdsmen fled, and going into the city, they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
Getting into the boat, he crossed over and came to his own city.
And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed.
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take heart, my son, your sins are forgiven.
Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This man is blaspheming.
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts?
For which is easier to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk.
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.
He then said to the paralytic, Rise, pick up your bed, and go home.
And he rose and went home.
When the crowd saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you for your word.
We thank you that in the midst of all else that is going on in life, your word draws us back to you.
It comforts us.
It challenges us.
It gives us a picture of who you are.
In your majesty, in your glory, in your love.
And so, Father, as we come here this morning, we pray that you use your word to shape us more into the image of your Son.
We pray all this in his name.
Amen.
Despite all the emotional turmoil that it has given me over the years, I can't help but absolutely love the NFL.
It is one of my favorite hobbies.
It's one of the things that I enjoy most in the world.
It's sitting down on Sunday and watching football.
Now, I'm not originally from Wisconsin, so I kind of dread actually bringing this up in conversation when I'm initially meeting somebody.
Because they will, of course, ask, well, do you follow the Green Bay Packers?
And to my shame, I say, no, I'm not from Wisconsin.
I do not follow the Green Bay Packers.
And they're a little distraught at my response.
And they have the follow-up question, which I dread even more.
Well, then, who do you follow?
It is with great shame I come before you this morning and say, I follow the Dallas Cowboys.
I know.
That's the response.
That's why I hate this conversation.
And then after people collect themselves, they ask the follow-up question.
Why?
Why do you follow the Dallas Cowboys?
I wish I had a good reason.
I wish I could say something like, you know, it was a family team that was passed down from father to son.
And that's why I passionately follow the Dallas Cowboys.
I don't have a good reason for why I follow the Cowboys.
Simply, I was born in the 90s.
I was a frontrunner.
They were the best team, and I followed them.
And I've stuck with them, and I have paid for it ever since.
I do not have a good reason for following the Dallas Cowboys.
I admit it.
The question I have for us this morning is pretty simple.
Why do you follow Jesus?
I mean, why do you follow Jesus day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year?
In good seasons, in bad seasons, when life is full, when life is full of disappointments,
why do you continue to follow Jesus?
Perhaps you're here this morning, and you're not actually a follower of Jesus.
So the question for you is, well, why should you consider even following this Jesus?
Matthew is going to answer this question for us this morning.
And if I could put Matthew's argument of why we should follow Jesus into one simple phrase,
let me say it like this.
Follow the one who has all authority to fix everything.
That's why you and I should follow Jesus.
That's why you and I should continue to follow Jesus.
Because he's the one who has all authority to fix everything.
As we go through our passage this morning, we're going to see three scenes.
Each scene has a different arena, a different realm,
in which Jesus is going to bring his authority into to fix,
to realign things.
He's going to use his authority, his prerogative, and his power
to bring into order, to bring into perfect alignment
that which has become absolute chaos.
The first arena we see is the natural world.
We see this in 8.23-27.
The disciples decided to follow Jesus.
They decided to get onto this boat with him.
And very quickly, it becomes a lot different than perhaps what they expected.
We thought following Jesus was going to be fun.
We thought it was going to be easy.
Now all of a sudden, he's downstairs taking a nap,
and we're in the middle of a storm.
Most of these men were fishermen,
so they probably had some experience in storms,
but not like this.
They did everything they knew how to do to keep the boat up,
but even them, at a certain point,
realized that there was no hope for them.
And so they run down to where Jesus is sleeping,
and they stir him awake.
And in verse 27, or I'm sorry,
then they say to him,
Lord, save us.
They cry out,
and he's right there,
but they're still not confident
that he's actually going to be able to save them.
Now for us, on this side of the cross,
sometimes it's a little easy to poke fun at the disciples, isn't it?
I mean, how foolish of them, how silly of them.
They have Jesus in the boat,
and they are losing their minds.
But don't you and I do the same thing?
Life can become chaotic,
and all of a sudden, we're screaming out,
Lord, save us.
And we're wondering, is he even listening?
Is he even there?
Or is he just asleep at the wheel
as life becomes chaotic?
Jesus wakes up from his nap,
and with one word,
that's all it takes,
he calms this storm.
And the disciples,
their response in verse 27,
look at it again.
They marveled,
saying,
what sort of man is this
that even the winds and the sea obey him?
Indeed, what kind of man
would have authority over nature?
From a Jewish perspective,
it can only be one thing,
one person.
It would have to be God.
The Jewish faith
saw God as the creator.
He was the only one
who had power over nature.
Psalm 107, verse 28 and 29
put it this way,
they cried out to the Lord
in their trouble,
and he brought them out
of their distress.
He stilled the storm
to a whisper.
The waves of the sea
were hushed.
So what Matthew is showing us here
in this little scene
is Jesus demonstrating
his divine authority
over nature.
This act
is nothing less
than his declaration
of I am fully God.
And while this act
leaves these men
in a state of confusion,
they don't know
what to make of it.
I mean, who is this man
that the seas even obey him?
You and I
are not to be left
in a state of confusion
as they were.
You and I have the benefit
of being on the other side
of the cross
and of Jesus' resurrection.
And when we see Jesus
and his divine authority
over the natural world,
despite all the chaos
that we still see present
in this world,
rather than leading you
to confusion
of where are you, Jesus,
let it bring you
to a place of comfort.
That Jesus is indeed
in control.
That he does indeed
reign over this world.
I don't think I need
to convince anybody
in this room
that this world
is in need of fixing.
We could talk for hours
about the chaos
that we see
as we turn on the news.
Natural disasters,
disease,
mental health problems,
tragic accidents.
The world is a deeply
broken place.
It's in need
of some serious repair.
And you and I
can easily get caught
looking at it
and simply say,
is this ever going
to get better?
When you think of it,
it makes you
a little frantic.
It makes you
a little uneasy
and you get why
the disciples
and we would say,
Lord, save us.
But rather than confusion,
let it drive you
to comfort,
knowing Jesus'
divine authority.
That one day,
even though
your heart will stop
and my heart will stop,
one day,
Jesus will come back
and all who have
followed him
will have eternal life,
that he will bodily
raise us from the dead.
In this fallen world,
nature is distorted,
it deteriorates,
it groans,
it causes damage,
but one day,
when Jesus returns,
he's going to
perfectly restore
and bring harmony
to the natural world
as it was always
meant to be.
and you and I
will live in that
wonderful paradise.
The ailments,
the fragility,
the diseases
that plague
our earthly bodies.
One day,
when Jesus returns,
he says that there
will be no more death
or mourning
or crying
or pain
because he,
praise God,
will make all
things new.
I don't know what
your struggle is
this morning.
I don't know what
chaos in your life
is wreaking havoc.
Maybe it is a disease.
Maybe it is
the damage
that somehow
you have
endured
through a fallen
relationship.
but we are
not to be
confused
about who
is in charge.
Find comfort.
Don't have
little faith
because chaos
does not rule
the day
and it most certainly
will not win.
You and I
know
the one
who has
divine authority
and who has
the power
to restore
our world
as it is
meant to be.
that is why
we follow him.
But of course
it is not just
that the natural
world is out
of order.
We can see
that in the
next scene
Matthew 8
28-34
here we see
it is not the
natural world
that Jesus
is setting
back to
right
but the
spiritual realm.
Jesus enters
into
this land
which is
actually outside
of Israel.
It is one of
the few places
in the gospel
accounts
that Jesus
goes outside
of Israel
outside of
the promised
land of
God's people.
It is as if
Jesus is
literally
entering
into
enemy
territory.
And he
enters in
and gets
out of
the boat
and he
encounters
these two
demon possessed
men.
He thought
the storm
was powerful
of the natural
world.
Well look
at these
two men
in this
spiritual realm.
The text
says in
verse 28
that no
one could
even get
past them.
But in
verse 29
notice what
they call
him son
of God.
Even
these two
men are
recognizing
Jesus'
divine
nature
and the
authority
that he
carries.
Now of
course when
we come to
a text like
this our
minds
immediately
ask like
okay well
does this
still happen
today?
Like I
mean are
spiritual
forces still
active in
this way?
Let's
start
with the
idea that
100%
they are
still at
play.
Listen to
me as I
read from
Ephesians 6
this is the
Apostle Paul
in Ephesians
6 verses
12 through
13.
For we do
not wrestle
against flesh
and blood
but against
the rulers
against the
authorities
against the
cosmic powers
over this
present darkness
against the
spiritual forces
of evil
in the heavenly
places.
Therefore
take up the
whole armor
of God
that you
may be able
to withstand
in the evil
day and
having done
all to
stand firm.
The Apostle
Paul is very
clear that these
spiritual forces
are not
passive.
They are still
very much
active.
And they
are opposed
to God
and to
everybody
who would
desire to
follow him.
And they
love attacking
God's people.
Their tactics
are pretty
simple.
They bind,
deceive,
and they
entice
into sin.
And the
result that
we have
is the
world that
we see.
It's not
one of
natural order
becoming
chaotic
but are
spiritual
one,
are
moral
one.
We see
this as
legitimately
the problem
of evil
that affects
every single
one of us,
every human
that has
ever been
born,
the pain
and destruction
that sin
brings.
But as
powerful as
they are,
they
legitimately
are no
match for
Jesus.
Once again
in verse
32,
Jesus simply
says one
word,
go.
That's it.
It's not
some giant
struggle,
it's one
word,
and that
carries
enough power,
enough
authority,
enough weight
that they
immediately
are vanquished.
What Matthew
is showing us
in this scene
is that Jesus
not only has
authority to
set right the
natural world,
but he has
authority to
fix the
spiritual one
as well.
What does
this mean for
you and I
this morning?
I would say
simply this,
you no longer
have to walk
as you once
did.
We don't
have to walk
in sin,
we don't have
to walk in
the patterns
of life that
cause so much
damage to
ourselves and
to others,
you are
free to
walk in
the newness
of life
that Jesus
alone provides.
You don't
have to be
living as a
citizen of
the domain
of darkness,
but you are
now freed,
you are now
liberated to
live as a
citizen of
the kingdom
of God.
So my
question for
you is,
which kingdom
are you living
in?
I want to
speak to
those of us
this morning
that perhaps
are feeling
especially weighed
down by
sin,
feeling defeated
by a particular
sin that has
seemingly held
you captive,
that as much
as you try,
as much as you
pray, it seems
that you can't
get free of
it.
I want to
sin.
The idea
that this
sin will
always have
you in
bondage,
that is a
lie.
We see it
simply here.
Jesus has
the authority,
he has the
power.
He has
overcome
that which
binds you.
It's another
lie straight
out of hell
that you will
never be free
of sin
that binds
you.
I think
for a lot
of us,
it is simply
a matter of
believing this
truth,
that Jesus'
authority
actually has
conquered
the spiritual
binds
that are so
easily
around us
and entangle
us.
take hope.
This is
the beauty
of the
gospel,
that though
once we
were in
the kingdom
of darkness,
we can now
live in the
kingdom of
light.
Why do we
follow Jesus?
Simple.
He's the
one who's
liberated us.
He's the
one who has
freed us
and defeated
the evil
spiritual
forces.
What's
interesting in
this little
scene,
though,
is the
town's
response.
The town
sees what
Jesus has
done and
they're not
really impressed.
They're not
rejoicing that
these two men
that have been
bound by this
evil spirit
have been
freed.
And they're
most certainly
not interested
in following
Jesus either.
They just
want him
to leave.
Seeing Jesus
demonstrate his
divine authority
over nature,
that left the
disciples in
confusion,
but seeing his
divine authority
over the
spiritual realm,
that left the
town simply
wanting to
dismiss him,
refusing his
authority.
We want
nothing to do
with you.
We just want
to live as we
want to live.
Don't come in
here and mess it
all up.
Go away.
It reminds me
of Jesus'
words in the
gospel of John
in chapter 3
when he says,
the light has
come into the
world and
people loved the
darkness rather
than the light
because their
works were evil.
You might be
here this morning
and confess Jesus,
but realize that
it's not simply
that you're caught
up in sin,
but you're actively
participating in it,
that you're
voluntarily giving
yourself to it.
you're dismissing
his divine
authority over
your life.
Or maybe you're
here this morning
and you've just
never put your
faith in Jesus
at all.
Maybe you're here
this morning and
you've never
actually responded
to him as the
one who is
Lord and Savior.
And now you're
seeing that Jesus
actually has come,
yes, as the one
with authority,
but the one who
uses his authority
for your good.
To free you from
the power and
bondage of sin.
To bring life
where sin has only
left death.
This is the Jesus
that Matthew says
is worth following
with everything.
And if that is you,
I would plead with
you this morning to
talk to myself,
talk to Mike,
talk to whomever
brought you here
this morning about
what it looks like
to believe and
follow Jesus.
does beg the
question though,
because at some
point we've all
actually rejected
Jesus' authority,
right?
We know that.
So it begs the
question,
well, if I
recognize that I
have rejected
Jesus' authority,
when I come to
him,
will he accept
me?
Or will he just
cast me out?
Matthew moves us
into his last
scene.
We see that Jesus
not only has
authority over
nature,
not only over the
spiritual realm,
he has authority
to repair
our hearts.
The last story
is a unique one.
A man hears that
Jesus is in town.
undoubtedly,
this man had
heard of Jesus'
ability to heal.
And so,
being a paralytic,
he makes sure
that he ends up
in front of Jesus.
He gets some of
his friends to
help him.
And he's
lowered down,
and the initial
words that come
out of Jesus'
mouth are
certainly not
what he expected
to hear.
He was looking
for a physical,
miraculous healing.
He was looking
for the ability
to walk again.
Instead,
Jesus says
something very
strange.
Son,
your sins
are forgiven.
Now,
I want to be
clear,
it isn't that
Jesus is
unconcerned
with our
physical condition.
It's not that
Jesus is
unconcerned
with our
physical
well-being.
In chapter
eight of,
or,
sorry,
in chapter
seven of
Matthew,
you,
we see
Jesus healing
again and
again,
compassionately
going towards
those who
are sick,
who have
diseases.
Jesus is
very concerned
and compassionate
towards our
physical state.
At the same
time,
Jesus knows
it is not
our biggest
problem.
Jesus knows
that there
is something
in much
more need
of repair
than our
physical
bodies.
It's our
hearts.
The question
becomes,
if the human
heart
is in need
of repairing,
who can
actually do
it?
This is
what Jesus
does for us.
So,
who does
he choose
to heal
though?
Whose
hearts
does he
repair?
We see
it right
there in
verse two.
When Jesus
saw their
faith.
That's it.
That's all
it takes.
It's that
simple.
Jesus sees
this man's
faith and
he exercises
his authority
to forgive
sins.
It doesn't
matter what
you've done.
It doesn't
matter what
you will
do.
Jesus responds
to those who
come to him
in faith to
forgive their
sins.
Our story
doesn't end
there though.
Usually you
would think that
the story would
end there.
This man came,
his sins were
forgiven,
everybody goes
home happy,
but the story
doesn't end
there,
does it?
I actually
like the fact
that it doesn't
end there because
if you're anything
like me,
Jesus declaring
this forgiveness
over this man,
you question.
How do I know?
How can I be
confident that
Jesus actually
does have the
authority to
forgive my
sins?
I mean,
can I be
confident?
Can I rest
assured that
Jesus actually
does what he
says he
does?
A few other
people had the
same question.
In verse 3,
the scribes and
religious leaders,
they hear and
see what he's
done and they
say this man is
blaspheming.
And there's a
clear reason why
they would say
this in their
understanding,
only God can
forgive sins and
Jesus is not
God.
So, he is
usurping God's
authority and
putting himself in
position of God.
Of course that's
blasphemy.
And let's be
clear, if Jesus
wasn't God, if he
didn't have this
divine authority,
this divine
prerogative and
power to do
such a thing,
they would be
absolutely right.
So, Jesus
turns to them
and he's like,
fine, I'll
play your little
game and I'll
prove it to you.
I'll prove to
you that I have
all authority to
forgive sins as
I have said that
I do.
What's easier to
say in verse 5?
Your sins are
forgiven or rise
and walk?
You have to
love Jesus'
move here.
It's quite
genius.
Because what is
easier?
To say your sins
are forgiven or
to say rise and
walk?
Well, anybody can
say your sins are
forgiven.
You can't really
see it.
You can't show
it.
But rise and
walk to a
paralytic?
That's undeniable
proof.
And so, Jesus is
going to give
them the proof
that they so
desire.
this indisputable
proof.
And I love the
way that he says
it, so that you
may know.
Again, how can
you and I be
certain?
How can we be
confident?
How can we rest
assured that Jesus
actually does
forgive our sins?
That he does
have the power and
authority to do
so?
Well, we see it
in this healing.
we can be
confident that
Jesus means what
he says when he
says your sins are
forgiven.
And this is the
Jesus that Matthew
is imploring you and
I to follow once
again, day after day,
week after week,
year after year.
We all sin.
We all have guilt
and shame.
And that guilt
and shame
tells us a
narrative
about who we
are, about how
God and Jesus
feel about us.
Church, don't
let that
story
that comes from
your guilt, that
comes from your
shame, have
more power
and more
authority than
the words of
your Lord and
Savior.
Let those words
sink deep into
your soul, that
you who have
placed your faith
in Christ can
be confident that
he has forgiven
you of your
sins.
God does not
want us as his
people to doubt
what he has
done for us.
He doesn't want
us to go
through life
wondering, is
he still
actually mad at
me?
Does he still
hold it against
me?
He doesn't want
us wondering
whether or not
we will face
his wrath when
we come before
him face to
face.
He wants us
to be confident
in his divine
authority to
forgive our
sins.
And he has
this authority
because he's
the one who
went to take
those sins on
our behalf.
As we read
earlier in
Isaiah 53,
he bore our
sins so that
we might be
healed.
And then to
prove that his
death was
sufficient for
our justification,
on the third
day he rose
again.
An even
greater miracle
for us to
witness than
the hearing
of the
paralytic.
So church,
be confident
that your
Lord and
Savior,
when he says
you are
forgiven,
you are
indeed
forgiven.
This is why
we follow
Jesus.
He has
all authority
to fix
everything,
the natural
world,
the spiritual
world.
Most
importantly,
me,
you.
He has
the ability,
the authority
to forgive
us and fix
us.
The crowd's
response is
a little
different in
this last
scene.
It's not
confusion,
it's not
dismissal,
it's one of
celebration.
they lift
their voices
in
thanksgiving
and praise
because finally
somebody has
all authority.
This world
needs to fix
all of its
problems.
songs.
I love
anthem songs.
An anthem
song being,
you know,
when you're at a
barbecue,
it comes on
and everybody
sings along
to it,
right?
It just,
like,
everybody knows
it and it
captures some
universal
experience and
emotion.
Something like
Piano Man.
We didn't start
the fire.
Apparently,
I love
Billy Joel.
I love
anthem songs.
One of my
favorite anthem
songs is
is Authority
song by
John Mellencamp.
It captures
this rebellious
spirit
of American
youth.
In it,
he writes
this simple
line,
I fight
authority
and authority
always wins.
I fight
authority and
authority always
wins.
It's a great
anthem.
I particularly
enjoy listening
to it on the
way to work,
in my car,
just screaming
it out.
I fight
authority and
authority always
wins.
Brothers and
sisters,
for you and
I,
if we are
following Jesus,
we have a
very different
anthem in our
hearts.
Our anthem is
one that celebrates
his authority.
authority and
thank God that
his authority
always wins.
Let's pray.
Jesus,
we thank you
that you
indeed do
have all
authority.
Lord,
in that you
use your
authority
not just to
serve yourself,
but to
serve us.
as you
said,
the Son of
Man did
not come
to be
served,
but to
serve.
And so,
Lord,
we pray
as we
look at
your
authority,
we don't
look at it
as something
that is
confusing to
us,
but something
that comforts
us.
Not as
something to
dismiss,
but something
to accept.
And something
to be
confident in.
that your
authority,
your death
and resurrection
are sufficient
to cover
all our
sins if we
put our
faith in
you.
Amen.