Power Like God Luke 8v22-56

come in power, meeting us in our need today. Amen.

Dad will fix it. That's what happens in our home anyway. If something breaks or it's not working,

well give it to Dad, he'll fix it. Well most of the time things get fixed and sometimes they

aren't and if we can't we give it to someone else who can or we take it to someone else who can.

Sometimes however things are so broken that we just can't fix it.

I was reminded of this during the summer. We received the sad news that Rebecca's friend

had taken her own life. And as we went to visit the family and saw the heartache, I so desperately

wanted to fix it all. Soon after we got news that my dad was diagnosed with cancer. As we

got the results, two to five years with treatment, I so desperately wanted to fix it all.

More recently, a friend confessed to being a secret alcoholic. As we heard the effects of

their family and their family and their life, I so desperately wanted to fix it. And these

things are not unique to me or to us as a family. Every one of you here have situations and circumstances

that you desperately want to fix it. But you can't. Sometimes things are so terrible,

there is nothing we can do. We are powerless and helpless.

Well, in Luke's account, we meet people just like us. People who are powerless. People who are

helpless. Four big ideas, four things we're going to learn from these true events today. First,

Jesus confronts the powers of darkness. Jesus confronts the powers of darkness. As Jesus

comes into the world and where we are in Luke's gospel, he's really just still beginning his

ministry and people are getting to hear about him and he's receiving a lot of attention and he's not

immune to the darkness we face. In fact, he walks right into it and confronts it head on. First, we meet the

fearful disciples on a boat. Look at verse 22. One day, Jesus said to his disciples, let's go over to the

other side of the lake. So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A squall,

which is really a small hurricane, came down on the lake so that the boat was being swamped and they

were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Jesus saying, Master, Master, we're going to drown.

Now, we've just faced a little storm, storm Ophelia, and that was terrifying.

You think what it would be like to be out in that open lake in the dark, no light, in your small little

wooden boat being tossed around by the waves and your boat filling up with water. We're going to drown.

We're going to die.

Then we meet a tortured demon-possessed man. Verse 26.

They sailed through the storm to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.

When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time,

this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

Picture the scene. A naked madman. His only friends are the dead.

Now, I don't know if you've ever experienced something or someone that you would say,

this is evil or satanic. It is not a joke.

This man has been physically, mentally, and spiritually tortured by Satan's servants.

Even his name reflects the chaos that is in his life.

Down at verse 30, Jesus asked him, what's your name?

Legion.

Legion means hundreds, even thousands.

Legion, he replied, because many demons had gone into him.

He had no rest.

Third, we meet a woman ostracized by her sickness.

Verse 40.

Now, when Jesus returned, so he's kind of gone back again across the lake,

a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.

Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet,

pleading with him to come to his house, because his only daughter, a girl of about 12, was dying.

And then it's as if Jesus is interrupted.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12 years,

more than likely a gynecological problem.

She'd been bleeding for 12 years, but no one could heal her.

Not only does she have to deal with the constant bleeding,

she faces being ostracized from her community.

You see, her bleeding made her religiously unclean and untouchable.

12 years of being pushed out and ignored.

And then fourth, we meet a broken father whose daughter is dying.

We just met Jairus, didn't we?

Who comes to Jesus to heal his only daughter.

Well, verse 49.

While Jesus was still speaking,

someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler.

Your daughter is dead, he said.

Don't bother the teacher anymore.

And with those words ringing in his ears,

his life is shattered and broken.

His only daughter, 12 years of age,

has been snatched from him.

You see, these are not just stories.

These are real people in their real experiences of life.

And when they are recorded together,

they reveal the darkness that we all see and experience

as we walk through life.

The chaos of nature's storms,

as hurricanes and flash flooding

destroy whole communities,

leaving a trail of destruction in its path.

the devastation of evil,

as it enslaves lives,

breaking and destroying all that is beautiful

and all that is good.

The suffering that sickness brings,

unbearable pain,

restricting and isolating people

from their friends and family.

And then all of these things

come to a horrible and inevitable climax.

Death itself.

And those we most love and hold dear

are taken away.

Sometimes through the process of time,

sometimes without warning.

And what makes this darkness so dark

is our absolute inability to do anything about it.

By ourselves, we are powerless and hopeless.

The disciples,

despite their years of fishing experience,

are at the mercy of the storm.

We're going to drown.

And those who try to contain

the demon-possessed man

are confronted by their own weakness.

Look at the end of verse 29.

Many times the demon had seized him

and though he was chained

hand and foot and kept under guard,

he had broken his chains

and had been driven by the demon

into solitary places.

And the suffering woman

who had sought every possible cure,

end of verse 43,

but no one,

there was no doctor,

no power

that could heal her.

And then Jairus,

who came running to Jesus for healing,

has lost all hope

because his little daughter

is dead.

We like to think

that we can face

whatever life throws at us.

That somehow we have the power

and the resources within ourselves

to deal with it.

But life's experiences

confront us with the reality

that left to our own devices,

we are powerless

and helpless.

Weather forecasts

will not protect you.

Rules and laws

will not constrain evil.

Doctors and medication

are not always enough

and no one and nothing

can save us from death.

Facing the chaos

and brokenness of this world,

we are powerless

and we're hopeless.

Second,

Jesus restores

with the power of God.

Jesus restores

with the power of God.

Well, all those we meet

in this account

are powerless.

Jesus proves

to be powerful.

Look at the way

in which Jesus restores

and renews

each situation.

First,

the disciples

in the storm.

Panic has set in.

The waves

are coming in.

We're going to drown.

But listen

to the words of Jesus.

Verse 24.

He got up,

rebuked the wind

and the raging waters.

The storm subsided

and always calm.

From the chaos

and destruction

to calmness

and restoration.

Then the demon-possessed man,

his life has been enslaved,

controlled by demons.

His life is ruined

by their constant attacks.

But look what happens

when Jesus delivers.

Verse 35.

The people went out

to see what had happened

and when they came

to Jesus,

they found the man

from whom the demons

had gone out

sitting

at Jesus' feet,

dressed

and in his right mind

and they were afraid.

And those who had seen it

told the people

how the demon-possessed man

had been cured.

From a violent,

tormented mind

to a quiet

and cured mind.

Then the sick woman,

her life is a desperate situation,

no means of a cure,

ostracized from her community.

Her life hangs

in the very balance.

But an encounter with Jesus

changes everything.

Verse 44.

She came up behind Jesus,

touched the edge

of his cloak

and immediately

her bleeding stopped.

Verse 48.

Then he said to her,

Daughter,

daughter,

your faith

has healed you.

Go

in peace.

From pain

and suffering

to peace

and healing.

And then the helpless father.

His life has been shattered

and broken.

His only daughter

is dead.

All hope is gone.

And Jesus arrives.

Verse 50.

Hearing this,

hearing that the little girl

had died,

Jesus said to Jairus,

Don't be afraid.

Just believe

and she will be healed.

Verse 52.

Meanwhile,

all the people

were wailing

and mourning for her.

Stop wailing,

Jesus said.

She's not dead,

but asleep.

In other words,

that to Jesus,

her death

was just like

someone

who is sleeping.

They laughed at him

knowing that she was dead,

but he took her

by the hand

and said,

My child,

get up.

And her spirit

returned

and at once

she stood up.

From unrelenting

sorrow

to inexpressible joy,

from death itself

to the resurrection

of life.

As Jesus

comes and

confronts

the darkness,

he restores

what is broken,

he renews

what is destroyed,

he reverses

the disorder,

lives that have been

overwhelmed

with darkness

burst into

glorious light.

Where chaos

ruled,

it is now

replaced by

calm seas,

stilled minds,

unimagined peace,

and new

life.

what awesome

transformation.

But let us not

miss the point

of all of these

events.

This is nothing

less

than the power

of God

on display.

Look at how

each of these

stories

develop and

build on each

other.

As the disciples

sit in the

calmness of the

sea,

after Jesus

has calmed

it.

Verse 25,

In fear

and amazement

they asked

one another,

Who is

this?

He commands

even the winds

and the water

and they obey

him.

Well,

they knew that

God had created

the world by just

speaking words.

They knew that

God alone

controlled the

forces of

nature.

They knew

Psalm 147.

He sends

his commands

to the earth.

His word

runs swiftly.

He spreads

the snow

like wool

and scatters

the frost

like ashes.

He hurls

down pebbles

or hailstones.

Who can withstand

his icy blast?

He sends

his word

and melts

them.

He stirs

up the breeze

and the waters

flow.

So who

is this

that stands

before us

in the boat

rebuking

nature

by his

word?

Who is

this?

Well,

ironically,

it's the demons

who know

who Jesus

is.

Look down

at verse 28.

When this

man,

this demon

possessed

man,

saw Jesus,

he cried

out and fell

at Jesus'

feet,

shouting at

the top

of his

voice,

what do

you want

with me?

Jesus,

son of the

most high

God,

a title

that's reserved

for God

alone.

I beg you,

don't torture

me,

for Jesus

had commanded

the evil

spirit to

come out

of the

man.

We expect

that when

Jesus meets

a demon

possessed

man,

there's going

to be some

kind of

fight,

some kind

of resistance,

that this is

going to

be difficult

and this

is going

to be

hard.

Instead,

when he

comes to

Jesus,

he falls

at his

feet in

total

surrender.

Verse 32,

a large

herd of

pigs were

feeding there

on the

hillside.

The demons

begged

Jesus to

let them

go into

them and

Jesus gave

them

permission.

when the

demons came

out of

the man,

they went

into the

pigs and

the herd

rushed down

the steep

bank into

the lake

and was

drowned.

Now,

I don't

want you

getting

sidetracked

worrying

about these

poor little

pigs and

their nice

little curly

tails.

That's not

the point.

We are

to stand

back and

be amazed

at the

power of

God.

As

satanic

forces

crumble

at the

words of

Jesus,

begging

him for

permission

and obey

him at

his command

to their

very

destruction.

You see,

if the

disciples are

asking the

question,

who is

Jesus?

Who is

this?

And the

demons get

it right by

answering,

Jesus,

son of the

most high

God,

then the

woman knows

exactly who

it is that

she must

go to.

As she

reaches out

to Jesus,

verse 46,

Jesus said,

someone touched

me, I

know that

power has

gone out

from me.

She knows

where to

run,

because she

knows who

Jesus is.

Power

flows from

Jesus.

Power over

destruction in

the storms,

power over

the devil,

power over

disease,

and ultimately

power over

death,

as Jesus

speaks,

and the

very dead

are raised

to life.

Listen to

his words.

Watch and

be amazed

that this

is God

in the

person of

Jesus Christ

intervening

into the

lives of

ordinary

people who

are hopeless

and powerless

and helpless.

Now it's

important we

really don't

miss this

point.

You see,

all that we

see Jesus

doing here,

we need to

be careful how

we think about

it for

ourselves.

This does

not mean

that Jesus

promises to

calm every

storm,

banish every

evil,

heal every

sickness,

and raise

all who

die.

We should

never limit

the power

of Jesus.

We should

never limit

his authority

over all of

these things

and at his

will to do

what pleases

him.

But he does

not promise

it in every

situation.

In fact,

as Jesus

walked this

earth,

he did

not heal

every single

person.

And every

single person

that Jesus

did heal,

well,

they died

anyway.

Even Jairus'

daughter would

have to die

again and go

through the

pain of

dying.

The miracles

of Jesus

are not a

promise of a

suffering-free

life for you

and for me.

So what

are they?

Well,

they're here

to tell

us that

Jesus

confronts

the powers

of darkness

and as

he does

so,

he displays

the power

of God

to restore

and renew

so that

in the

darkness,

in our

powerless

and helpless

state,

we will

not fear.

Instead,

we will

run to

him in

faith.

so third,

Jesus

frees us

or sets

us free

by the

power

of faith.

He sets

us free

by the

power

of faith.

God

says,

I wondered

if you

noticed

the main

emotion

or the

main

reaction

in all

of these

events

as we've

gone

through.

It's one

of fear.

There's

fear

in the

storm.

There's

fear of

this demon

possessed

man as

he lives

on the

edge of

town and

what he's

going to

do to

the people.

there's

fear for

this woman

that she's

going to

be noticed

and what

are people

going to

say if

they find

out she's

an

untouchable.

There's

fear for

Jairus

as his

daughter is

dying and

eventually

death takes

her.

This is

normal

and a

natural

reaction.

And when

we can't

control the

events or

the circumstances

around us,

we begin to

panic and

we fear.

And sometimes

fear grips us

in such a

way that it

conquers us

and controls

us.

We feel

imprisoned by

anxiety and

worry.

No way

out.

No hope.

But there's

another fear

going on.

Did you

notice that?

Look at the

disciples.

They were

afraid in

the storm.

They were

afraid they

were going

to drown.

Then Jesus

calms the

storm.

So it's

all nice

and calm.

But look

at their

response,

verse 25.

In fear

and amazement,

they asked

one another,

who is this?

He commands

even the

winds and

the water

and they

obey him.

It was the

same for the

people where

the demon

possessed man

had lived.

they were

afraid of

him.

He was

causing

chaos and

destruction.

And then

Jesus

confronts

him and

he releases

the man

from the

demon

possession.

And he's

healed and

cured and

in his

right mind.

But look

at the

response of

the people,

verse

25.

Sorry,

verse 37.

then all

the people

of the

region of

the

Gerasenes

asked Jesus

to leave

them because

they were

overcome with

fear.

So he

got into

the boat

and left.

You see,

when confronted

with God's

power,

there is

an even

greater

fear.

not just

fear of

the

circumstances

we are

in,

but fear

of an

awesome

power.

They are

so terrified

that they

want to

get rid

of Jesus.

Why?

Well,

they're

missing the

point.

They're not

grasping who

Jesus is.

Jesus didn't

come into the

world to

terrify us,

but to

save us.

Jesus

comes into

the world

to display

his power

so that

we will

run to

him and

trust him.

If we

grasp who

Jesus is,

rather than

be conquered

by fear,

we will

run to

him in

faith.

The

question

Jesus

asks his

disciples in

the boat

is the

same question

we all

need to

ask

ourselves.

do you

see what

Jesus

asked them

in verse

25?

The

beginning

of verse

25,

he says

to them,

where is

your

faith?

Where is

your faith?

Who do

you trust?

Who do

you run

to in the

chaos and

brokenness of

life?

When we're

out of

options,

when we're

powerless and

helpless,

where do

you turn?

Well,

Jairus and

the woman

show us

where we

should turn

and what

faith is

like.

First,

we need

a desperate

faith.

Verse

41,

then a

man named

Jairus,

a ruler of

the synagogue.

Now,

a ruler of

the synagogue

is a very

high position.

You are

well respected.

People kind

of tilt

the head

to you.

A ruler

of the

synagogue

came and

fell at

Jesus'

feet,

pleading

with him

to come

to his

house.

Again,

you get

the sense

that Jairus

knows something

of who

Jesus is,

and rather

than run

in fear,

he runs

in faith.

He falls

at Jesus'

feet in

desperation.

He has

nowhere else

to go

to,

no one

else to

turn to.

He

humbles

himself

before

Jesus,

throwing

everything

at him.

Everything

rests on

what Jesus

will do.

He

depends on

him and

him alone.

That's

what faith

is.

It's

saying,

without

Jesus,

I will

not get

through

this.

I need

you.

don't

be

conquered

by your

fear.

Run

to him

in

faith.

But we

also need

what I

just term

here a

touching

faith.

Look at

verse 44.

Look at

how the

woman comes

to Jesus.

She came

up behind

him,

secretly,

and touched

the edge

of his

cloak,

and

immediately

her

bleeding

stopped.

Who

touched

me?

Jesus

asked.

When they

all denied

it,

Peter said,

Master,

the people

are crowding

and pressing

against you.

I mean,

everybody's

touching you.

What do

you think?

But Jesus

said,

someone

touched

me,

and I

know that

power has

gone out

from me.

Remember,

this woman

is religiously

unclean.

Because of

her bleeding,

she's

untouchable.

If she

touches

someone,

they become

unclean.

She could

lose her

life over

this.

But when

she reaches

out and

touches

Jesus,

she becomes

clean.

Her life

and circumstances

are changed.

And in

case we

think that

somehow there's

something magical

going on,

that Jesus'

clothes have

power to

heal,

look how

Jesus responds.

He wants

everybody to

make sure

how this

healing has

happened,

including us.

Verse 47,

Then the woman,

seeing that she

could not go

unnoticed,

came trembling

and fell at

his feet,

again in

desperation.

In the

presence of

all the

people looking

in at her,

she told why

she had

touched him

and how she

had been

instantly healed.

Then Jesus

said to her,

daughter,

your faith

has healed

you.

Go in

peace.

It's her

faith in

Jesus

that heals.

Everybody

else is

crowding around

and touching

and pushing

against Jesus

but nothing

happens.

But this

woman reaches

out in

frail,

secret

faith.

faith.

That's

what faith

is.

Reaching

out to

Jesus

and simply

trusting

in him.

Don't be

conquered by

your fear.

Run to

him

in faith.

faith.

And then

last,

Jesus

gives

hope

through the

power of

his death

and

resurrection.

Jesus

gives hope

through the

power of

his death

and

resurrection.

You see,

these stories

are,

yes,

they're

amazing

stories,

but they're

stories that

push and

point to

an even

bigger

and ultimate

story.

What these

stories tell

us about

is that

what Jesus

did for

some people

here,

he has

done for

all through

his death

and resurrection.

What Jesus

has done

for some

here,

he has

done for

all who

will trust

him through

his death

and resurrection.

As Jesus

would go to

the cross,

it is at

the cross

where he

confronts

the powers

of darkness

in all

its terror.

At the

cross he

went to

war against

sin and

Satan.

And as

Jesus died,

it seemed

that evil

has won,

darkness

descended,

the demons

laugh.

But three

days later

Jesus rises

again from

the grave.

He has

defeated

sin.

He has

defeated

Satan.

He has

conquered

sickness and

death.

He has

disarmed

the evil

powers and

authority.

He has

destroyed

the devil

who holds

the power

of death.

Jesus

rose

victorious

and triumphs

over all

with absolute

power and

supreme

authority.

This is

the God

that we

are to

look to.

This is

the God

that we

can trust.

He sets

us free

from our

fear today.

and he

gives us

the hope

of eternal

freedom

to come.

This is

the God

who says

to us,

daughter,

my son,

go in

peace.

Do not

let the

fears of

the darkness

overcome

you.

Go in

peace.

and this

is the

God

who will

say to

us,

for surely

when that

day will

come,

when we

all die,

whether it

comes through

the process

of time

or whether

it comes

suddenly,

we will

hear the

words of

Jesus say

to us,

my child,

get up.

and we

will rise

and we

will live

with him

for all

eternity

in a

world

absence

of darkness

and evil

and sin

and sickness

and disease

and death.

Do not

fear.

Go in

peace.

Let's

pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Lord,

what can we

do but

other than

bow before

you and

fall at

your feet

just like

Jairus,

just like

the woman.

For we

have nowhere

else to

go.

We have

no one

else to

run to.

You are

Lord and

you are

God.

You are

powerful,

awesome,

and great.

And you

have displayed

that power

through your

death and

through your

resurrection.

salvation.

And

therefore we

stand,

not

conquered by

fear,

but going

in peace

and looking

forward in

faith.

Thank you

that you

are an

awesome God

that we

can trust,

a God

whom we

can look

to.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

We praise you

for who you

are.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.