WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.400 So, I think that you've been on a bit of a journey with Jesus in a series on Sunday mornings, 00:00:08.779 --> 00:00:14.019 and we're picking up in this section in Luke chapter 4, verse 31. 00:00:14.220 --> 00:00:17.820 Jesus, of course, has just left Nazareth. 00:00:18.199 --> 00:00:25.440 He had gone into the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, and he sat, of course, as rabbis 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:31.920 did, and he read from the scroll of Isaiah 61, verse 1 and 2, as we've become familiar 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:38.640 with, and then he preached and explained or expounded what he had read to the people who 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:39.620 were present. 00:00:39.760 --> 00:00:48.960 Instead of opening their hearts to the message, they instantly resolved to reject him and to 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:51.260 reject his message. 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:56.820 Jesus had come to his own, it would seem, and his own had received him not. 00:00:56.920 --> 00:01:02.780 Instead of receiving him, they took him from the synagogue by force to the brow of a hill 00:01:02.780 --> 00:01:10.819 where they were going to throw him or push him off and watch him hurtle down to his death. 00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:19.799 Jesus, of course, passed through the midst of the crowd in Nazareth, and he left the town 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:20.640 or the village. 00:01:21.679 --> 00:01:27.719 What's interesting is that he never stepped foot in Nazareth, as far as we can tell, ever 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:28.340 again. 00:01:29.399 --> 00:01:34.899 He never, ever stepped foot in Nazareth again during his earthly ministry. 00:01:36.060 --> 00:01:42.060 They rejected him, and he did not return to illumine their minds ever again. 00:01:42.539 --> 00:01:46.780 His voice was never again heard in the streets of Nazareth. 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:51.640 Now, I'm not saying that no one from Nazareth ever heard Jesus preach anywhere else ever 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:54.140 again, but I do think that's significant. 00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:56.240 He had come to his own. 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:58.599 His own had received him not. 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:00.740 They were going to kill him. 00:02:01.260 --> 00:02:03.240 He left, and he never returned. 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:07.359 And there's one or two incidents like that in the Gospels, isn't there? 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:10.379 There's the story of Herod, King Herod. 00:02:10.379 --> 00:02:15.900 He silences the voice of God in his life when he beheads John the Baptist. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:23.180 He cuts off God's speaking voice in his life, the agent that God had in place to speak to 00:02:23.180 --> 00:02:23.379 Herod. 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:25.180 Herod silenced him. 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:29.919 And it's interesting, as you follow the story through towards the end of the Gospels, 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:36.439 that when Jesus is sent to Herod, Jesus is largely silent in his presence. 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:42.520 Herod wants to be entertained with miracles, and Jesus has nothing further to say to him 00:02:42.520 --> 00:02:48.500 because he has already cut off or silenced the voice of God in his life. 00:02:48.620 --> 00:02:55.400 Now, I would not be so presumptuous as to say that that will happen to you. 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:01.879 What I can say to you is that over the course of my life in ministry, I have met one or two 00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:04.960 people, and I have sensed that they've become a bit callous. 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:09.479 I've sensed that they've become a bit hard of heart. 00:03:10.379 --> 00:03:16.620 And I have sensed that the speaking voice of God in their lives is largely a thing of 00:03:16.620 --> 00:03:17.359 the past. 00:03:18.359 --> 00:03:20.259 I can say that to you. 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:28.919 And I'm asking you this morning, as you think about Jesus leaving Nazareth and coming down 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:37.099 to Capernaum, never to return, I am asking you not to harden your heart towards the speaking 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:40.599 voice of God and the speaking voice of Jesus. 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:47.739 Well, let me just kind of break this passage that we are looking at this morning into sort 00:03:47.740 --> 00:03:49.040 of manageable chunks. 00:03:50.260 --> 00:03:53.580 I'm going to just use the headings that John sent to me by way of title. 00:03:53.740 --> 00:03:54.920 I'm just going to add one more. 00:03:55.540 --> 00:04:01.439 But we're going to look at preaching, cleansing, healing, rebuking, and then leaving. 00:04:01.540 --> 00:04:05.620 Those are the five areas that we're going to camp on for a few minutes this morning. 00:04:06.160 --> 00:04:11.160 And we'll begin by looking at Jesus preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:15.700 Capernaum, if you've ever looked at a little map at the back of your Bible, you'll know that 00:04:15.699 --> 00:04:19.879 Capernaum was in the northwestern corner of the Sea of Galilee. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:22.800 It says that Jesus came down to Capernaum. 00:04:23.319 --> 00:04:30.420 He did that quite literally because Nazareth is about 1,200 feet above sea level, and Capernaum 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:33.060 is about 600 feet below sea level. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:39.079 So he quite literally had come down from Nazareth to Capernaum. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:44.680 As was his custom on the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue. 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:47.199 Where he began to preach. 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:51.759 Synagogues, of course, had come into existence when Israel were in exile. 00:04:52.659 --> 00:04:55.699 You remember when they were carried off as prisoners to Babylon. 00:04:56.680 --> 00:05:01.620 And during that period of exile, synagogues had come into existence. 00:05:01.899 --> 00:05:09.639 They met together on the Sabbath in gatherings to say prayers, to recite blessings, and to 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:12.339 read the law and to have it explained to them. 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:19.219 And soon buildings were built to facilitate these gatherings, these synagogues, or these 00:05:19.219 --> 00:05:20.639 coming together of people. 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:22.819 Soon buildings were erected. 00:05:22.979 --> 00:05:28.439 And when they returned back to Israel, these prisoners, when they came back to Israel, they 00:05:28.439 --> 00:05:31.379 brought this synagogue model with them. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:36.899 And Capernaum had become the adopted home of Jesus. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:40.500 He had moved from Nazareth to Capernaum with his family. 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:41.779 It was his new home. 00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:50.060 And he frequented the synagogue in Capernaum more than any other synagogue anywhere in Palestine. 00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:56.040 No doubt, as they sat there that Sabbath waiting for Jesus to preach there, the atmosphere 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:58.339 was just pure buzzing. 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:01.699 As they waited for Jesus to begin to preach. 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:03.100 As the prayers were prayed. 00:06:03.100 --> 00:06:05.320 As the blessings were recited. 00:06:05.320 --> 00:06:12.420 And they waited for Jesus to pick up a scroll and read from it. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:15.240 And then begin to preach from it. 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:22.240 As they listened to Jesus, the thing that struck them was the authority with which he spoke. 00:06:23.260 --> 00:06:30.180 There was a ring of power, both in terms of his content and in terms of his delivery. 00:06:30.180 --> 00:06:37.759 They had never heard anyone speak with such authority and power as Jesus did. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.139 Jesus was an incredible preacher. 00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:46.240 The preaching that they were used to listening to was in stark contrast. 00:06:47.139 --> 00:06:49.319 The preaching of the scribes and Pharisees. 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:50.800 They took pride. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:56.379 The scribes and Pharisees took pride in the fact that they didn't add anything of their own 00:06:56.379 --> 00:06:57.639 to orthodoxy. 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:05.459 They just peddled what had been taught by rabbis and great teachers in the past. 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:11.860 In fact, listening to a sermon from the scribes and Pharisees was a bit like reading a PhD thesis. 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:18.620 Statements are made and then in the footnotes people spend forever stating why they made the 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:19.000 statement. 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:23.219 And it just goes on endlessly until it bores you to tears. 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:26.920 And when you have to mark one, it's just really frankly horrendous. 00:07:28.340 --> 00:07:32.160 Listening to the scribes and Pharisees preach was a bit like that. 00:07:32.280 --> 00:07:35.800 They would make statements and then they would tell you why they made the statement and who 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:41.720 else had made the statement in the past as they drew on the weight of others to kind of 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:46.220 authenticate what they themselves wanted to say. 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:50.800 Listening to them was a bit like eating reheated porridge. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.259 I don't know if you're much of a porridge fan. 00:07:53.340 --> 00:07:54.439 I eat porridge every morning. 00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:58.800 My wife thinks it's the most disgusting looking substance that she could imagine. 00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:04.800 I had an old uncle and he would make a full pan of porridge once a week and then every day he would 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:09.319 reheat the entire pan and carve off a little slice for himself and eat it. 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:13.680 And listening to the scribes and Pharisees was a bit like eating reheated porridge. 00:08:13.840 --> 00:08:15.860 It was just horrendous. 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:21.900 And this, of course, this kind of preaching is not unique to the first century. 00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:27.980 Many of us are weary listening to sermons like this even in the 21st century. 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:29.840 But Jesus was different. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:35.620 His sermons were full of authority and they were relevant. 00:08:35.800 --> 00:08:39.740 You never went to the synagogue to listen to Jesus and left wondering, 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:42.320 what in the world was all of that about? 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:45.560 And what has any of that got to do with me? 00:08:45.779 --> 00:08:49.879 When you went and listened to Jesus, you knew exactly what he wanted to say 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:54.539 because he stood up and said it with clarity and with power. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:00.919 I long for that kind of preaching in the 21st century. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:06.740 A sense of expectancy that when the word of God is preached, 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:08.659 the voice of God will be heard. 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:13.620 Don't you long to come to church with a sense of expectancy 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:20.460 that when someone stands to preach, you fully expect to hear the speaking voice of God 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:25.039 as he ministers to you in your life and in your circumstances. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:29.379 I read recently the book by Martin Lloyd-Jones, Preachers and Preachers. 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:32.039 I didn't find the first chapter terribly helpful, 00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:35.159 but there was one little story in it that really struck me. 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:40.519 When he was ill and in hospital and out of the pulpit for a long period of time, 00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:43.360 a little 12-year-old girl wrote to him. 00:09:43.819 --> 00:09:45.559 And in the note she said to him, 00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:49.519 we are looking forward to you coming back. 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:51.279 We hope that you get better soon. 00:09:51.959 --> 00:09:55.500 We miss you in the pulpit, she said, 12 years of age. 00:09:55.819 --> 00:09:58.419 You are the only preacher that we can understand. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:10:03.439 Martin Lloyd-Jones, the great expositor. 00:10:04.159 --> 00:10:07.579 You are the only preacher that we understand. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:12.399 You long, don't you, for this kind of preaching. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:17.019 I long for preachers who preach like this. 00:10:17.339 --> 00:10:20.659 I think that preaching has fallen on hard times. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:25.099 Preaching is, it either falls into one of two categories. 00:10:25.100 --> 00:10:27.680 Either it's dreadfully, dreadfully boring. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:31.200 It's like listening to a preacher read from a commentary. 00:10:31.500 --> 00:10:35.300 There's no sermon structure and there's definitely no application. 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:36.980 And it's dreadfully boring. 00:10:37.180 --> 00:10:41.759 Or the other extreme is that it's nothing but a bunch of stories and waffle. 00:10:43.300 --> 00:10:47.980 I think personally that preaching has fallen on hard times. 00:10:47.980 --> 00:10:53.620 Listening to some of the preaching that we are subjected to 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:56.000 is a bit like trying to eat soup with a fork. 00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:57.720 It's just painful. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.259 It's dull and wearying. 00:11:02.120 --> 00:11:05.000 But I've also been in meetings where I've heard sermons 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:09.580 and it's almost like the hush of heaven falls upon the room. 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:14.200 And the words of the preacher are like arrows going through the air 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:15.620 into your heart. 00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:21.440 And you leave church knowing without any shadow of a doubt 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:22.720 that God was there. 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:26.899 That God spoke to you through his word. 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:33.779 When the word of God is preached, says Martin Lloyd-Jones, 00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:36.560 people will attend with listening ears. 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:42.039 And when Jesus preached, he preached with power and with authority. 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:47.039 And there must have been a clarity about the way that he preached. 00:11:47.579 --> 00:11:50.139 Preachers are by very nature heralds. 00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:51.699 That's what the word carousel means. 00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:54.019 It carries that sense of being a herald. 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:58.819 The king has spoken and the subjects must hear what the king has said. 00:12:00.099 --> 00:12:05.339 And preachers must have a sense that they are speaking on the king's behalf 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:09.720 as they bring the message to a congregation Sunday by Sunday 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:11.620 or wherever else it might be. 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:15.080 They are heralds speaking on behalf of the king 00:12:15.080 --> 00:12:19.139 so that the subjects might hear what he has said. 00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:24.180 Whenever a man of God is taken up by the Spirit of God 00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:26.700 in the preaching of the Word of God, 00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:29.900 then people will attend with listening ears. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.139 So that's the first thing. 00:12:31.139 --> 00:12:34.939 I know that Brunsfield is the exception to this. 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:37.879 Anything that I've said negative about today's preaching, 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:39.159 so please forgive me. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.379 I'm sure you've got great, great preachers. 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:43.819 In fact, I know you've got great preachers here in Brunsfield. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:47.879 I've heard John, and this is no reflection of him. 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:51.460 It's just a real passion of mine. 00:12:52.699 --> 00:12:54.819 Preaching is not rocket science. 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:57.639 It's hard, hard work. 00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:59.419 There's no doubt about that, 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:01.159 but it's not rocket science. 00:13:01.819 --> 00:13:05.599 Just explain, just illustrate, and just apply. 00:13:07.079 --> 00:13:08.759 It's as simple as that. 00:13:09.099 --> 00:13:12.299 Just show people the relevance of the Bible for their lives. 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:15.919 Just bring them into the world of the Bible and make it live. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:19.219 And I long for that kind of preaching in the 21st century. 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:21.759 And I leave church often depressed 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.819 that people somehow have never caught that. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:27.939 So let me move on before I get myself into trouble. 00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:28.860 Here's the second thing. 00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:31.160 Preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 00:13:31.640 --> 00:13:33.380 Jesus was a powerful preacher. 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:37.280 Secondly, I want you to think about the cleansing 00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:40.440 that took place in the synagogue. 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:41.940 As Jesus preached, 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:45.280 a man cried out in the middle of the service. 00:13:45.400 --> 00:13:46.660 It was a little unnerving. 00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:48.540 I don't know if you've ever been in a service 00:13:48.540 --> 00:13:51.640 where somebody cries out with a loud voice. 00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:54.559 And that's what happened in the synagogue that morning. 00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:56.960 Somebody began to shout out, 00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:57.340 Ha! 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:00.699 Jesus of Nazareth, I know who you are, Son of God. 00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:02.980 What have you come here to destroy us? 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:04.340 What do you want with us? 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:05.419 Why are you here? 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:09.080 And there was an unnerving moment 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:13.919 as this man shouted out in the middle of the service. 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:17.399 Interesting demon possession, isn't it? 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:21.819 I find it interesting that it's very rare in the Old Testament. 00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:23.659 You hardly ever read about it. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:26.579 You read about an evil spirit tormenting King Saul. 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.799 But by and large, when you read through the Old Testament, 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:33.139 you hardly ever read about demon possession 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.759 or demon exorcisms. 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:36.860 But then when you come to the Gospels, 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:38.379 it's all over the place. 00:14:39.259 --> 00:14:41.399 It's like on every page in the Gospels. 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:44.799 You find Jesus encountering demon-possessed people 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:47.899 and delivering them from their demon possession. 00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:50.199 And then when you move out of the Gospels 00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:51.600 and into the book of Acts 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:53.639 and then into the epistles again, 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:56.600 it kind of fades a little. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:57.959 It's not that it never exists. 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:01.079 You've got the demon-possessed girl in Acts 16 00:15:01.079 --> 00:15:02.840 when Paul arrives in Philippi. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:05.740 But it certainly begins to subside again 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:08.120 throughout the rest of the New Testament. 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:10.600 Not a great deal of it in the epistles. 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.939 But in the Gospels, it's all over the place. 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:18.240 It's staring you on the face every page that you turn. 00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:21.019 And I wondered, why is that? 00:15:21.220 --> 00:15:22.399 Why is that? 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:25.000 And I think the answer to that question is 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:27.399 found in 1 John 3, verse 8. 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:30.039 Jesus came to destroy the works of the evil one. 00:15:31.579 --> 00:15:34.740 And if Jesus came to destroy the works of the evil one, 00:15:34.740 --> 00:15:37.179 you would expect when Jesus came to earth, 00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.980 you would expect to find opposition. 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:41.940 And you'd expect to find resistance. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.420 And that's exactly what we do find. 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:48.620 This one who came to destroy the works of the evil one, 00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:51.740 we find that he is resisted and he is opposed. 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:55.980 And you find he is encountering, combating, 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:58.440 and engaging the forces of darkness 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:00.240 throughout the Gospels. 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:03.560 Jesus addresses the demon, 00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:04.919 be quiet, he says. 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:05.659 Be quiet. 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:06.820 Come out of him. 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:09.700 Then the demon throws the man down on the ground 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:13.000 and comes out of him. 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:15.259 But we're told by Luke, who's a doctor, 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:17.399 who's interested in physical details, 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:19.100 he didn't harm the man. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.980 Tried to harm him. 00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:22.279 Threw him down on the ground, 00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:24.180 but he didn't harm the man. 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:28.000 The point, of course, of all of this 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:31.199 is that the demon did exactly what Jesus told him to do. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:36.279 Even the demons are subject to the authority of his word. 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:38.659 His authority is not just in his preaching, 00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:41.139 but when he speaks to the forces of darkness, 00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:43.739 they are forced to listen to him. 00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:46.659 This demon knows that Jesus is the Son of God. 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.399 He knows more about Jesus 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.779 than all of the people in the synagogue put together. 00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:53.659 He knows exactly who Jesus is. 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:58.539 But this demon is still a demon on his way to eternal hell. 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.899 Even though he believes in Jesus 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.779 and he knows a lot about Jesus. 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:07.220 Because the life of faith is about more than knowing about Jesus, 00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:07.720 isn't it? 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:12.099 It's about knowing Jesus in a personal relationship. 00:17:12.899 --> 00:17:15.119 The difference between the disciples and this demon. 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.859 The demon knows Jesus, 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:19.519 knows more than the disciples probably about Jesus. 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.299 But they love Jesus. 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:26.180 They're trusting in Jesus to guide them and direct them and instruct them 00:17:26.180 --> 00:17:27.579 and provide for them. 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.839 But this demon is opposed to Jesus and hates Jesus 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:34.539 and recoils from the presence of Jesus. 00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:41.980 It's interesting that Jesus doesn't let this demon destroy this man, 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:42.779 hurt this man. 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.980 Somehow, miraculously, 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:48.420 he prohibits this demon from destroying this man. 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:52.359 You see something of the destructive nature of Satan 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:54.779 in what takes place there, don't you? 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:57.639 He's interested in destroying people. 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:58.720 Destroying people. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.400 Jesus cares deeply about people. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:05.839 But these demons are interested in destroying people. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:12.279 A little brethren preacher who's probably well known to 00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.500 by the name of David Gooding. 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:15.299 Ever heard of David Gooding from Belfast? 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.440 A godly little man. 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:20.720 And in his little commentary on Luke's gospel, 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:21.839 he makes this point. 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.140 He says it would be wrong and dangerous 00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:26.579 to suggest that every person is demon-possessed. 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.500 Of course it would. 00:18:28.399 --> 00:18:30.759 That would be wrong and it would be dangerous. 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:36.199 Demon-possession is an extreme form of spiritual bondage. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:39.259 But the writers of the New Testament assert that 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.720 to a lesser or greater degree, 00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:42.519 every person who's not a Christian 00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:47.099 is under the power of Satan in some shape or form. 00:18:47.159 --> 00:18:48.039 And that's true. 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.659 Before I became a Christian, 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:54.240 I was under the control of Satan to some degree. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:19:00.440 And we see something of the destructive nature of Satan 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:02.960 in the kind of lives that people live 00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:05.359 and the kind of directions that people go. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:07.680 Goodness, I come from a family where 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:11.940 the destructive nature of Satan is all too visible. 00:19:13.339 --> 00:19:14.839 It's on every front. 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:16.660 As people make terrible choices 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:18.519 and go in terrible directions 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.579 and make a mess, 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:21.740 one mess of their life after another. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:25.339 And then I see Jesus from time to time 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.920 break into people's lives 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:29.279 and rescue them from that tyranny 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.420 and that bondage 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.880 and set them free. 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:34.319 From time to time I see Jesus do that. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:41.440 And I just want to wind this point up 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.500 by saying to you 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:46.059 that if you're here and you sense, 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:47.539 well, I'm not demon-possessed, 00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:52.759 but I know that I'm under the influence of sin 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:55.779 and sin has me in its snare 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:59.359 and pulling me in directions that I don't want to go 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:01.899 and I wish that I could break free. 00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:03.519 I just want to say to you 00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:05.399 that Jesus could help you break free. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.299 The gospel is about setting people free 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:13.240 from the tyranny and the controlling power of Satan. 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:16.539 And if I didn't believe that, 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:19.079 I wouldn't stand in a pulpit Sunday by Sunday. 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.400 I believe that with all my heart. 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:23.460 I've seen people set free by Jesus again and again. 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:26.019 I could tell you story after story. 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:28.740 I know a man that walked into a tent here in the meadows, 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:34.519 an alcoholic carrying a carrier bag full of alcohol. 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.599 He walked in the tent, 00:20:36.299 --> 00:20:37.779 probably half cut, 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:40.440 and they took the carrier bag of alcohol from him 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:43.740 and he went in and he listened to a preacher called Dick Lucas. 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:47.620 And he left the tent having become a Christian 00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:50.640 and he never asked for his carrier bag on the way out 00:20:50.640 --> 00:20:52.820 and he never looked for a drink since then. 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:55.000 Set free by Jesus. 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:56.519 That's possible. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.600 Here's the third thing, 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.480 the healing in Simon's house. 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:04.000 The healing in Simon's house. 00:21:04.279 --> 00:21:05.059 We leave the synagogue. 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:06.640 We go to Simon's house. 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:09.080 Simon has a mother-in-law, 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.980 which is a little inconvenient for people 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:13.360 that think that Simon sort of established 00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:15.600 celibacy amongst the clergy. 00:21:15.780 --> 00:21:17.040 It's a little awkward. 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.700 If you've got a mother-in-law, 00:21:18.800 --> 00:21:21.380 you must have had a wife at least at some point along the way. 00:21:23.020 --> 00:21:25.660 Because the two usually go hand in hand, don't they? 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:28.400 Mother-in-laws and wives come as a package deal. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.160 And that's a good thing. 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:33.120 And shame on you if you thought I was saying anything 00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:33.940 about mother-in-laws. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.720 It never entered my head. 00:21:37.560 --> 00:21:39.120 They enter Simon's house. 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.360 Simon's mother-in-law is ill. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.620 The arrangements had probably been made 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:46.440 that when they came back to Simon's house 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:49.700 that she would cook them lunch. 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:51.500 She wanted to do it. 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:53.400 It wasn't that she was being forced to do it. 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.680 She wanted to do it. 00:21:55.060 --> 00:21:57.100 But she'd come down with a terrible fever. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.560 Luke says it was a high fever. 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.120 He's a doctor. 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:01.840 He knows more about fevers than I do. 00:22:02.820 --> 00:22:04.259 I know that when I had a fever, 00:22:04.259 --> 00:22:05.140 my mom told me, 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:07.000 you're going to school whether you like it or not. 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:07.920 Stop your nonsense. 00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:10.119 But when you've got a high fever, 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.980 even walking to the bathroom from your bed, 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:17.700 you feel like a 40-foot truck is driving through your brain. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.920 And she's got a high fever. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.660 She's rendered powerless. 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.680 She's lying in bed. 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:25.180 And they ask Jesus to help her. 00:22:25.279 --> 00:22:27.180 And he does help her rather unusually. 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:29.100 In the rest of the story, 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:31.420 he lays his hands on the sick and heals them. 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.519 But in this story, 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:34.759 he doesn't lay his hands on Simon's mother-in-law. 00:22:35.060 --> 00:22:37.480 He speaks to the fever that she has. 00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:38.539 He speaks to the fever. 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:41.060 Almost like the fever can hear him. 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:43.600 And he heals her. 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:44.980 And it's not like, 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:45.820 you know, 00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:49.120 I hope that you feel a little bit better by the end of the day. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:51.399 And then sort of halfway through the afternoon, 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:54.099 she drags herself out of the bedroom and says, 00:22:54.219 --> 00:22:55.239 would anyone like soup? 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:58.179 I think I might have a can of Heinz tomato soup here. 00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:58.979 No, no. 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.639 She is instantly healed. 00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:03.979 And instantly she's engaging in what she wants to do. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.079 She cooks them a meal. 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:09.659 Instantly she engages in the service that she wants to do for Jesus. 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:11.899 And that's the way it is with Jesus. 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.939 When he intervenes in our lives, 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:18.000 he enables us to do what we were created to do. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:20.319 What we were made to do. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:24.220 He sets us free to do what we want to do, 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:27.000 that we want to do to serve him, 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:28.180 to glorify him, 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:30.619 to render something to him. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.599 Remember that story of Eric Little 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:35.859 and Jenny is telling him off on Arthur's seat for all the training. 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.920 Remember that story? 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:40.519 As he trains to be an athlete and he says to her, 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:42.220 God has made me fast. 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:43.839 And when I run, 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.640 I can feel his pleasure. 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:50.580 I think that Jesus wants this woman to feel the pleasure of God 00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:54.560 as she serves him and glorifies him and enjoys him. 00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:58.140 I have no idea what it is that God wants you to do. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:02.440 But here is at least one lesson. 00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:04.340 There's a bunch more lessons from this. 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:06.660 But at least one lesson from this story 00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:11.420 is that Jesus can help you do whatever it is God wants you to do. 00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:14.800 And what you have in your heart to do by way of service. 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.600 Well, of course, 00:24:16.660 --> 00:24:18.620 these miracles and this demon possession 00:24:18.620 --> 00:24:21.200 is all about authenticating Jesus 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:24.940 as the prophet that John spoke about 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:26.960 at the beginning of the service. 00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:28.820 The prophet that was greater than Moses. 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:32.640 All of these miracles were about authenticating Jesus, 00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:36.000 revealing that Jesus was this great prophet 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:38.759 that had been spoken of throughout the Old Testament. 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:41.460 Fourthly, there's a rebuking at sunset. 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.799 That really struck me. 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:46.980 He continues to heal people outside Simon's home. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:49.180 And not only is he healing people, 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:51.200 but he continues to set people free 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:53.000 from their demon possession. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:54.000 Really interesting. 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.599 And then the demons, 00:24:55.740 --> 00:24:56.859 as they come out of people, 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.119 are shouting, 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.440 you are the son of God. 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.599 And he rebukes them. 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.140 And he says, 00:25:01.500 --> 00:25:03.740 stop saying that. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.859 You've got to be silent about this. 00:25:06.859 --> 00:25:09.000 And this is what theologians refer to 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.519 as the messianic secret. 00:25:11.459 --> 00:25:14.000 Why did Jesus not allow these demons 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:17.039 to announce the fact that he was the son of God? 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:19.919 He was the Christ and the son of God. 00:25:19.979 --> 00:25:22.199 And I think there's various reasons for that. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:24.919 I think Jesus didn't want the crowds 00:25:24.919 --> 00:25:28.619 to get caught up with a misguided interpretation 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:31.299 of what the Messiah would be 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.579 and what he would do. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.639 Remember the story of the feeding of the 5,000? 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:36.880 You get a little glimpse 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:38.960 of their misguided understanding 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.920 of the Messiah's role 00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:42.500 when they want to make him king. 00:25:43.100 --> 00:25:46.680 They want to call down fire from heaven 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:48.560 to consume the Roman legions 00:25:48.560 --> 00:25:50.240 and send them packing. 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:51.880 They want a political kingdom. 00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:55.780 And Jesus has come to be wounded 00:25:55.780 --> 00:25:57.460 for our transgressions 00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:59.500 and bruised for our iniquities. 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:01.140 And they'd never conceived 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.560 of a suffering servant. 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.300 Never, ever. 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:06.740 Jesus would reveal his true identity 00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:09.460 at the right time to the right people, 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:12.019 not to a misguided crowd 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:13.099 that would be caught up 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:17.039 by the euphoria and frenzy of miracles, 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.799 which is interesting, 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.799 that he silences these demons. 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.720 The other reason, I think, 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:24.460 which is really worth just mentioning, 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:26.519 and my time is gone, 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:28.220 but this is worth at least mentioning, 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:31.779 that Jesus did not want demons 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:33.380 as his PR agents. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.460 He didn't want his demons 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:38.579 speaking to the press on his behalf. 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:42.079 There were people much more suitable 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.539 to represent him 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.740 and speak on his behalf 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:46.420 and declare his identity 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.259 than demons. 00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:51.839 And if people met demons 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:52.759 listening to them 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:54.319 announce that Jesus was the Christ, 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.640 they would have been put off 00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:58.579 becoming followers of Christ forever. 00:26:58.700 --> 00:27:00.240 I mean, who wants to follow someone 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.660 that's supported by demons? 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.099 It's just unthinkable. 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.879 And of course, that reminds us, 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.240 doesn't it, 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.640 that Christ's witnesses 00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:10.400 have a responsibility 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.940 to live lives 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:14.720 that are marked by things like 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.039 integrity and authenticity. 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:19.600 Jesus doesn't want demons 00:27:19.600 --> 00:27:21.220 representing him. 00:27:22.120 --> 00:27:24.680 He wants people that are Christ-like. 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.039 I'm going to speak about 00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:27.240 the loveliness of Jesus. 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.600 The loveliness of Jesus 00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:30.799 better somehow be evident 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.840 in the lives that we live. 00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:32.960 I'm going to speak about 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:34.279 the grace of Jesus. 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:35.360 I'm going to speak about 00:27:35.360 --> 00:27:36.200 the grace of Jesus. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.920 Then the grace of Jesus 00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.880 better be evident 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:40.120 in the way that we interact 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:41.059 with other people. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:44.120 There are enough demons 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:45.779 claiming to be Christians 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:47.820 trying to speak about Jesus 00:27:47.820 --> 00:27:48.740 putting others off. 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.940 Lots and lots of people 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.920 who could never witness 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.539 to their neighbors 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.640 because of the behavior 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:54.460 that has gone before them. 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:56.100 It would contradict anything 00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:57.180 that they might want to say 00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:57.900 about Jesus. 00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.860 Professor Blackie, 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.920 Edinburgh University, 00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:04.080 Christian teacher, 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:06.660 teaching a class of students 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:07.759 oral recitations, 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:09.740 telling them to take the book 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.600 in their right hand, 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.539 speak from their diaphragm, 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:13.700 one boy takes it 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.740 in his left hand. 00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:18.080 Blackie thunders down the class, 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.840 take the book 00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:21.059 in your right hand, 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.140 didn't you hear me? 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:25.960 He holds up his right hand arm 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.460 and it ends at his wrist. 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:29.840 He has no right hand. 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:32.080 Professor Blackie went down 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.740 the class, 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:34.160 put his arm around the boy 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:35.039 and said, 00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:36.240 as everybody shifted 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.660 uncomfortably in their seats, 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:39.180 wondering what will come next, 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.519 said, 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:41.060 I am deeply sorry. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.160 I had no idea. 00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:45.980 That story was being told 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.420 as part of a sermon illustration 00:28:47.420 --> 00:28:48.420 in Charlotte Chapel 00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:49.420 many years later 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:51.000 and at the end of the sermon, 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.340 a young boy jumped up 00:28:52.340 --> 00:28:53.440 to the front of the church 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.900 and he held up his arm 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.500 and it ended at his wrist 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.200 and he said, 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:59.440 I was that young man 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:01.200 and Professor Blackie 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.640 led me to faith in Christ 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:05.759 but he could never have done it 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:09.080 if he had not put the wrong right. 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:12.080 He could never have done it 00:29:12.080 --> 00:29:13.860 had he not put the wrong right. 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:17.019 And here was a Christian professor 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:18.420 who understood 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:21.319 that the lives of Christ's witnesses 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.700 need to be marked by things 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:23.500 like authenticity 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:24.319 and integrity 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.059 and grace 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.779 and love. 00:29:26.139 --> 00:29:26.859 No demons 00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:28.159 as PR agents. 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:29.019 Well, 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:30.139 here's the last thing. 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.619 Leaving, 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:31.819 there's a ton of things 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.859 that we could say about that. 00:29:32.939 --> 00:29:34.539 Jesus withdrew 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.000 to a solitary place 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.460 at daybreak. 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.299 I know that, 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:41.899 I know that we could be legalistic 00:29:41.899 --> 00:29:44.279 about the whole issue 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.359 of quiet times 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:45.659 but, 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.679 and I know that there are people 00:29:47.679 --> 00:29:48.259 who suggest 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.000 that if you don't have 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:49.720 a quiet time 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.579 in a certain way 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.460 at a certain time 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.139 every day 00:29:52.140 --> 00:29:54.100 and then you're 00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:55.460 a backslidden rascal. 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.480 I understand that 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.540 and I understand that 00:29:57.540 --> 00:29:58.860 by and large 00:29:58.860 --> 00:30:00.240 some of that's legalism. 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.960 But I think 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.540 I'm also 00:30:02.540 --> 00:30:03.420 find myself 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:04.140 really challenged 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.620 by what Jesus does here. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.840 Because if the second member 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.560 of the Trinity, 00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:09.580 if Jesus, 00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:10.880 the Son of God 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:12.120 felt the need 00:30:12.120 --> 00:30:12.800 to retreat, 00:30:13.040 --> 00:30:15.380 to recalibrate spiritually, 00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:16.220 to commune 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:17.160 with his Father, 00:30:17.820 --> 00:30:19.020 then who in the world 00:30:19.020 --> 00:30:19.820 am I to think 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:21.159 that I can trundle through 00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:22.500 every single day, 00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:24.299 week after week, 00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.339 month after month, 00:30:25.419 --> 00:30:26.419 without ever talking 00:30:26.419 --> 00:30:27.119 to the Father? 00:30:27.220 --> 00:30:28.220 Do I really think 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.119 I can do that? 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.720 If Jesus, 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:31.899 the Son of God, 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.000 felt his need 00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:34.039 to withdraw 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:35.379 and recalibrate 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.740 and just be alone 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.599 with his Father, 00:30:38.399 --> 00:30:39.500 there needs to be 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.159 somewhere, 00:30:40.399 --> 00:30:40.859 somehow, 00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:42.279 time where we just 00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.279 meet with God 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.679 and commune with him. 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.339 Isn't there? 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.480 There needs to be. 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:48.000 Otherwise, 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.660 we will fall flat 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:51.000 on our spiritual faces 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.839 as we trundle 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.480 through the day, 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:54.960 depending on our own resources 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:56.440 and our own strength. 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.279 But enough about that. 00:30:58.360 --> 00:30:58.500 Here, 00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.559 let me just wind up 00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:01.660 by making reference 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:02.360 to the fact 00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:03.880 that Jesus withdrew 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:05.440 and then the crowds 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.259 found him. 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.920 They were looking for him 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:08.700 and they found him 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:10.140 and they wanted 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:10.940 to keep him. 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:11.759 They didn't want him 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.460 to leave. 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:14.380 The folk in Nazareth 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.200 couldn't get rid of him 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.720 quick enough, 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.759 but here they want him 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:18.039 to become their pastor. 00:31:19.080 --> 00:31:19.720 Would you come 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.860 and be our pastor? 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:21.420 Would you preach 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.140 to us every week? 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.660 Don't ever leave Capernaum. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.740 That was the cry 00:31:24.740 --> 00:31:25.900 of the people in Capernaum. 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:28.000 But Jesus says to them, 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:28.380 listen, 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.539 there are other towns 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:32.160 and there are other people 00:31:32.160 --> 00:31:33.759 and I want to go to them 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.460 as well as to you. 00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:37.100 I want them to hear 00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:38.259 the message of my kingdom 00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:41.640 so that they can take out 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:42.779 heavenly citizenship. 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:45.559 I want them to hear 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.440 that they must bow 00:31:46.440 --> 00:31:47.779 and make me king 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.539 of their lives. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:50.259 I want them to hear 00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:51.339 the good news. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.680 And there are other towns 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.839 and there are other people 00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:56.059 and I must 00:31:56.059 --> 00:31:57.859 and I want to go to them. 00:31:58.139 --> 00:31:58.859 And it's great 00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.799 to sit in church, 00:31:59.899 --> 00:32:01.019 an evangelical church 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.500 like this, 00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:02.720 on a Sunday morning, 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.099 isn't it? 00:32:03.099 --> 00:32:04.379 It's just a delight 00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:05.180 for me to come 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:06.819 to this side of Edinburgh. 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.420 I worship on the other side. 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:10.259 But to come to this side 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.700 of Edinburgh 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:13.900 and to see an evangelical gospel 00:32:13.900 --> 00:32:17.920 proclaiming congregation 00:32:17.920 --> 00:32:18.840 like this, 00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.600 it's great, 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.400 fantastic. 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:24.100 But there are streets, 00:32:24.580 --> 00:32:26.300 rows and rows of houses 00:32:26.300 --> 00:32:28.180 in this city 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:29.500 where no one is going 00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.320 to a church. 00:32:32.360 --> 00:32:34.060 And who will ever tell them 00:32:34.060 --> 00:32:35.759 about this great king 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.560 called Jesus? 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:38.960 And who is ever going 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.779 to interact 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:40.839 and engage with them 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:42.200 and somehow tell them 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.819 that they need to surrender 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:45.000 to his kingship 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.819 and make him Lord 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:48.359 and Savior of their lives? 00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:49.700 Who's going to tell them? 00:32:50.119 --> 00:32:51.519 I grew up 17 miles 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.799 from these great 00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:54.200 gospel preaching churches 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:55.440 in the center of Edinburgh. 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.879 17 miles I grew up 00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:58.000 further down the coast. 00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:59.480 I don't ever remember 00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.659 anyone ever 00:33:00.659 --> 00:33:03.779 telling me as a youngster 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.899 about Jesus. 00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:07.440 and about what he could do 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.400 by way of forgiveness 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.519 and transformation. 00:33:09.820 --> 00:33:10.360 I don't remember 00:33:10.360 --> 00:33:11.700 anyone ever telling me 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:13.120 about Jesus ever. 00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:14.380 So it's great 00:33:14.380 --> 00:33:15.280 to sit in church. 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.080 I love it. 00:33:16.560 --> 00:33:17.920 Sing these great songs. 00:33:18.540 --> 00:33:19.720 Hear the Bible explained. 00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.900 That's great. 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:23.300 But let's just remember 00:33:23.300 --> 00:33:24.300 as we close 00:33:24.300 --> 00:33:25.200 what Jesus said. 00:33:25.280 --> 00:33:26.380 There are other towns. 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:27.940 There are other groups 00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.400 of people 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.680 and I want them to hear. 00:33:30.880 --> 00:33:31.720 And I don't think 00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.740 Jesus has changed. 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:34.140 I think Jesus wants 00:33:34.140 --> 00:33:34.759 the people 00:33:34.759 --> 00:33:36.320 of this city 00:33:36.320 --> 00:33:37.640 to hear about him. 00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.480 And I want to encourage you 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.480 in every effort 00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:41.940 that you are engaged in 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:43.000 and involved in 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:44.259 in sharing the good news 00:33:44.259 --> 00:33:44.680 of Jesus. 00:33:45.020 --> 00:33:46.259 I want to encourage you. 00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:48.620 If I could encourage you 00:33:48.620 --> 00:33:49.240 to do anything 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.800 it would be 00:33:49.800 --> 00:33:51.800 multiply it by about 20. 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:54.460 Multiply it by about 20. 00:33:55.060 --> 00:33:56.380 Because there are people 00:33:56.380 --> 00:33:57.160 perishing 00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:58.940 and going to a lost hell 00:33:58.940 --> 00:33:59.900 in this city 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:00.720 that we live in. 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:02.620 And I believe 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:04.140 the gospel works. 00:34:04.559 --> 00:34:05.319 The gospel 00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.940 in its simplicity 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.740 works. 00:34:07.860 --> 00:34:08.579 It doesn't need 00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.940 to be defended. 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:10.699 We don't need 00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:12.139 to apologize for it. 00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:12.980 We just need 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:13.980 to let it loose 00:34:13.980 --> 00:34:15.619 and watch it at work. 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:17.079 I've told this story 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:17.480 and with this 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:17.860 I'm finished 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.720 a million times. 00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:20.740 But our associate pastor 00:34:20.740 --> 00:34:21.280 in the church 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:21.980 that I served 00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.559 in Canada 00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:25.940 was a missionary 00:34:25.940 --> 00:34:26.519 in Africa. 00:34:26.720 --> 00:34:27.220 He came back 00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:27.839 from Africa 00:34:27.839 --> 00:34:28.879 worked with us 00:34:28.879 --> 00:34:30.759 as a church 00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:32.459 and a lady 00:34:32.459 --> 00:34:33.079 in our church 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:34.500 was following up 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.659 on the Canadian census 00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:37.119 and she went 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.819 into this house 00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.399 where the lady 00:34:38.399 --> 00:34:39.299 was physically 00:34:39.299 --> 00:34:40.699 and visibly ill. 00:34:40.799 --> 00:34:41.480 She was dressed 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.559 in a bathrobe 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:45.539 or a nightrobe 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:46.779 and her garden 00:34:46.779 --> 00:34:47.419 was a wilderness 00:34:47.419 --> 00:34:48.199 and she says 00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:49.319 I come from the church 00:34:49.319 --> 00:34:50.039 at the top of the hill 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:51.119 one of our guys 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:51.879 would love to come 00:34:51.879 --> 00:34:52.839 and cut your hedge 00:34:52.839 --> 00:34:53.899 and cut your grass. 00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:54.500 How she knew 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:54.959 one of us 00:34:54.959 --> 00:34:55.799 would love to do that 00:34:55.799 --> 00:34:56.299 I don't know. 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.320 But she came up 00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:58.160 with this suggestion 00:34:58.160 --> 00:34:59.300 I'd love to do that. 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:00.720 Our associate pastor 00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.640 came back from Africa 00:35:01.640 --> 00:35:02.140 and said I'm going 00:35:02.140 --> 00:35:02.560 to do that. 00:35:02.660 --> 00:35:03.420 I hate offices 00:35:03.420 --> 00:35:04.519 let me out of this place. 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:05.440 He went down 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:05.940 every week 00:35:05.940 --> 00:35:06.860 and he cut her grass 00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:07.860 and he cut her hedge. 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:09.940 And all summer 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.980 she just watched him. 00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:12.620 She said nothing to him 00:35:12.620 --> 00:35:13.480 she just watched him 00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.080 out the window. 00:35:14.500 --> 00:35:14.880 Poor woman 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:15.400 was that ill 00:35:15.400 --> 00:35:16.000 she could hardly 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.980 say a great deal 00:35:16.980 --> 00:35:17.640 to him anyway. 00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.360 At the end of the summer 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:20.080 she came out 00:35:20.080 --> 00:35:21.220 with a glass of juice 00:35:21.220 --> 00:35:22.220 and she gave it to him. 00:35:22.740 --> 00:35:23.580 And she looked at him 00:35:23.580 --> 00:35:24.539 and she said to him 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:26.340 why do you want 00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.500 to help me? 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:30.079 And you know 00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.880 what he said to her? 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.340 He said 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:32.400 because God 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.500 has helped me. 00:35:35.259 --> 00:35:36.340 And I would love 00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:36.920 to tell you 00:35:36.920 --> 00:35:37.639 about how God 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.279 has helped me. 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:39.480 Would you allow me 00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.759 to meet with you 00:35:40.759 --> 00:35:41.639 for just four 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:42.500 or five weeks 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:43.940 and from a book 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.719 called the Bible 00:35:44.719 --> 00:35:45.559 show you 00:35:45.559 --> 00:35:46.639 how much 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.880 God has helped me. 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.639 She says 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:50.820 okay I'm up for that. 00:35:50.820 --> 00:35:52.580 and he met with her 00:35:52.580 --> 00:35:53.300 for four weeks 00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:54.440 and on the fourth week 00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.019 she became 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:55.940 a Christian. 00:35:56.580 --> 00:35:56.880 Listen 00:35:56.880 --> 00:35:58.360 I just want to encourage you 00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:59.900 if you take nothing else 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:00.740 from this sermon 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.860 and from this service 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.780 please take this. 00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:03.880 The gospel 00:36:03.880 --> 00:36:05.180 still works 00:36:05.180 --> 00:36:07.720 and it can transform lives 00:36:07.720 --> 00:36:08.260 and there are 00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:09.019 other people 00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:10.900 in other places 00:36:10.900 --> 00:36:12.220 that still need to hear it. 00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:13.320 Thank you so much 00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:14.300 for your kind attention. 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:44.280 Thank you.