BEHOLD OUR GOD PART 2
JESUS SUPERNATURAL AUTHORITY AND COMPASSION
Mathew 8:23- 9:1-8
INTRODUCTION:From Overview Message: “It is said that Matthew’s gospel was the favorite of the early church. The gospel of Matthew tells the story of how the promised Messiah inaugurates the kingdom of God, accomplishing salvation for His people and sending His disciples into the world to advance this kingdom until His return (by making disciples of all nations).
Tell the three miracles by memory.
THEN: Matthew reveals Jesus supernatural sovereign authority and power over nature, spiritual forces, and sin.
NOW: Today God has supernatural sovereign authority and power over nature, spiritual forces, and sin.
OBJECTIVE: I pray my people would trust in Gods supernatural sovereign authority over nature, spiritual forces, and sin. I pray their faith would grow deeply and God would use them for Kingdom ministry.
- We should be in Awe of Jesus Supernatural sovereign Authority over Nature(8:23-27). We see the disciples following Jesus into the boat (discipleship) to cross the Sea of Galilee (lake). They were His disciples and discipleship demands submission so they follow Jesus wherever He goes.
Storms on the Sea of Galilee would blow up quickly. The actual lake was 16-18miles long and 8 miles wide. According to David Platt, “The word Mathew used for great/furious/violent also means earthquake, a term used for apocalyptic upheavals.” The Sea of Galilee was a lake 600ft below sea level with mountains surrounding it. As the wind would come over the mountain it could cause waves up to 8-9 feet high. Mathew said, “the boat was being swamped by the waves”. This could fill a small boat and sink it fast. This storm was supernatural in nature. Wind, rain, lightening along with water coming over the sides of the boat.
Jesus was asleep showing his human side, he got physically tired, and His supernatural side in the fact the storm did not bother HIM.According to DanielDoriani, “In the Old Testament sleep in difficult situations sleep symbolized a deep faith in God (Job 11:18-19;Ps 3:5-6;Pr. 3:24-26).” Jesus calm relaxed nature is complete opposite to the disciples’ anxiety and freaking out. The disciples cry out “Lord save us” which displays faith and fear. Jesus then speaks to storm and immediately it calms. WOW what power! The disciples are in awe (fear) of Jesus as they are starting to realize He is the messiah.
Mathew is revealing that Jesus is God and in control of everything (sovereignty) and discipleship means following Him through the storms of life is our only option as disciples. Calvin said about this passage, “that those who know God’s power safely rest in His protection, for He controls all the harmful things we fear.”
This does not mean that all storms in life, in your marriage, career, in your physical health with be calmed when and how we desire.
We must trust God in all the terrifying things we face in this life.
This story in Mathew sets faith against fear. D.A. Carson says, “Faith chases out fear, or fear chases out faith”
ILLUSTRATION:Think about all the devastation about “Harvey” (statistics). Harvey dumped over 21 trillion gallons of water. 15-20 people lost lives. 130 mph winds with 150 mph gusts. 15-20k people rescued. Thousands of people in shelters. What could you have done to prevent Harvey’s destruction? Prepare a little or a lot. Why did God allow all of this destruction? God will use this storm for His glory and our good. Did it cause your faith and trust in God to grow or wan? David Platt said, “Faith is not confidence that trials won’t come your way. Faith is confidence that no matter what wind and waves come your way in this world, the God of the universe will be right there in the boat with you. His power and His presence will see you through.”
APPLICATION: Have you ever cried out in faith to Jesus to save you? Are you in awe of Jesus power and authority over nature? Do you trust Jesus providence in the storms of life rather than constantly struggling against it?
In Romans 8:27-28 Paul said, “And He (Jesus) who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to is purpose”. At the end of Chapter 8 Paul says nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not even a storm.
- We should in Aweof Jesus Supernatural Sovereign Authority over Spiritual Forces (8:28-34)
Demon possession is the indwelling of an unseen evil spirit that renders a person incapable of making all or some decisions and actions. These demons were fierce/ powerful and no one wanted or could pass by them. The tombs or caves we considered unclean and were a place where demons were known to hang around in Jesus day.
These demons are deathly afraid of Jesus. Jesus spoke directly, immediately and effectively to the demons and they not only begged to be thrown into a herd of pigs and Jesus said, “Go”. This was a town was primarily Gentiles partly indicated by having a herd of pigs.
The demons said, “Have you come here to torment us before the time?” The demons know there is a day coming that they will be finally judged and cast out into eternal fire (Matt. 25:41). They also know Jesus has the power to through them in the abyss (2 Peter 2:4).
The demons begged to be thrown into the herd of pigs, Jesus granted their request and the men were set free. These men were in a graveyard, gentiles, demon possessed, and surrounded by pigs, any good Jew would stay far away but not Jesus. Jesus showed compassion for these men.The people should have been in Awe of the power to save and heal these men but they were only concerned with themselves and begged Jesus to leave.
So what can we learn from this story?
1. Jesus supernatural sovereign authority over the spiritual forces of this world should make us trust Him and stand in Awe of HIM.
2. We should not fear demons.They fear God because they know His power (James 2:19). - We should reach out to undesirable, unclean, sinful people who are in need.
Too many times we have fear because of our unbelief but we should not have fear if we have faith and trust is in our sovereign God!
ILLUSTRATION:Peter describes Satan as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), Jesus says, the thief (satan) comes to steal kill and destroy(John 10:10a) but he is a lion on a lease and can do nothing without Jesus permission! Jesus said, “I have come so they may have life and have it abundantly “
APPLICATION: What do you fear and why? Is your unbelief allowing fear to creep into your mind?Is your security in your home, job, and family? What are we so afraid of?
Jesus Christ is the Son of God who can drive out fear and unbelief. He has sovereign authority over nature, sickness, and the spiritual forces of this universe. Nothing can harm us apart His sovereign authority and sovereign will. We should be the most secure and confident people in the world. We are in the hands of the one true mighty living God who has the power to save our souls for eternity! He has taken the sting out of death! - We should be in Awe of Jesus Supernatural sovereign Authority to Forgive Sin (9:1-8).
Jesus heads back to Capernaum, his own town, His base of operations. He is in a home we believe it to be Peters home. The gospel of Luke gives much more detail about the story (Luke 5:18-26). Jesus is brought a man who is paralytic by his friends. Jesus saw their faith and immediately, without the man asking, forgives him of his sins.This shocked and offended the religious leaders that were there. Matthew records that the Scribes said to themselves,” This man is blaspheming”. Blaspheming was an insult to God by laying claim to an action that should be attributed to God alone. They were infuriated because only God can forgive sin and thus Jesus was claiming to be God. The religious leaders would have been justified in this if Jesus had not indeed been the Messiah, God Himself. Jesus again proves He is God because He knew their thoughts. Jesus addressed them and their evil thoughts with the million dollar question, “which is easier, to say, your sins are forgiven, or to say rise and walk?”
To prove to them He was God and had the power to forgive sins He heals the man. The crowds were in awe (afraid), and glorified (worshiped) God for His sovereign authority over sickness both physically and spiritually.
Note that Jesus said in the present tense, your sins are forgiven, meaning that at that moment the man was healed spiritually. Jesus came to deal with the root of all suffering which is sin. Our ultimate need is never physical but it is spiritual. For us to be completely healed our sin has to be dealt with and Jesus did that on the cross.
God never promises to heal us of all our physical ailments but he does promise us forgiveness of our sin if we repent of our sin and put our faith and trust in HIM.
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Paul said in 2 Cor. 4:16-17, “Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.” Forgiveness of sin is Gods greatest gift and it came through the cross.
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ILLUSTRATION: “THE CROSS” Jesus defeated sin once and for all. He is the cure for all mankind’s sin (1 John 2:2). He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
We will all suffer in many ways as Disciplesof Christ. Ultimately we will experience complete peace when Christ returns. We can experience forgiveness of sins and peace now by putting our trust and faith in Jesus.
APPLICATION: Have you put your trust and faith in Jesus today? I implore you to put your faith in the only one who can save your soul. Are you experiencing the peace of God that can only come from Jesus?
Paul says in Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice, Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and yours minds in Christ Jesus.”
CONCLUSION: The God of the universe has the power over nature, the spirit world, and to forgive sin. He is sovereign and has a sovereign will. He will work for our good and His glory. He can forgive you today of your sins and give you peace beyond the worlds understanding. Let Him, surrender to Him, repent of your sins and turn to him with all your heart today. OUR GREATEST NEED TODAY IF FOR OUR SINS TO BE FORGIVEN.
--John Gray