Scripture Luke 8:19-21
VIDEO - History of Halloween
Luke 8:26-39 LEGION (Demons)
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, (SLIDE 1) 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. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it 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.
Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.
A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he 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.
When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 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. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 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.
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
They can’t believe that Jesus is God!
Luke 8:22-25 EVEN THE WINDS AND WAVE OBEY HIM (Storm)
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, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; (SLIDE 2) the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
They can’t believe that Jesus is God!
Luke 8:40-56 JAIRUS’S DAUGHTER/BLEEDING 12 YEARS (Illness & Death)
Now when Jesus returned, 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 twelve, was dying.
As Jesus was on his way, (SLIDE 3) the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, (SLIDE 4) 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."
But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." She began to believe that Jesus is God!
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 any more."
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."
When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."
They laughed at him They can’t believe that Jesus is God!, knowing that she was dead. But he took (SLIDE 5) her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. The parents believed that Jesus is God!
PUTTING GOD’S WORD IN TO PRACTICE
These three stories began with a thesis: Luke 8:19-21 Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
What good are piano lessons if you never play for anyone? What good is a college degree if you never get a job? What good is having children if you don’t take responsibility for them and raise them well? What good is putting your faith in Jesus, if you don’t allow him to do something NEW in you? What good is learning God’s word, if you don’t put it into practice? What good is the power of God if you never experience it?
Do you have demons in your life? Those things internally that keep haunting you? Those things you can’t seem to shake, or get rid of? They keep begging to stay? Jesus was kind to the demons, he didn’t send them into the abyss, but he did make them leave his beloved child they had been tormenting. OK, he only gave them a momentary reprieve and were sent into some pigs that transported them into the abyss.
Do you have storms in your life? External circumstances like hurricane Michael that hit the Florida Panhandle as a category 4 storm with a death toll of over 30 and rising? Or maybe your storm is only a category 1 or 2 but still brings destruction. And just when you think you have made it through; a thunderstorm with lightning, high winds and lots of rain hits. Jesus commanded the storm to be still, and it was. Sometimes Jesus does that for us whether we know it or not. Other times, he lets the storm take its course, but offers us a calm within its destructive path.
Do you believe that Jesus is God?
Do you have an illness that has no end or seems to have no end? Do you have physical limitations that could be overcome by a change in your habits; or an illness that you are unable to do anything about? Do you have hope in the midst of your illness or have you lost hope of ever being better? Do you sometimes feel desperate? The woman bleeding for 12 years tried everything and was desperate. In her pain and desperation, she literally reached out to Jesus and she was healed. Again, sometimes healing may be of the body but also may be of the mind, the spirit or the soul. Jesus is full of caring and compassion and the ability to heal and why physical healing doesn’t always come is a mystery, but in every case, he does respond and promises to be with us in the pain even if the healing we are looking for does not come.
Have you experienced that Jesus is God?
Do you grieve over someone who has died? I do. I miss my mom so much and wish she were still here - in part because she would be thrilled to be living in her childhood hometown but moreso because I loved spending time with her. She not only loved her baby boy, she loved doing the things with me that I did with her - going golfing, boating, out for a cup of coffee or just spending time with family. Maybe you have a parent, sibling, spouse, child or other loved one who has died that you wish you could see just one more time. Jairus and his wife had a daughter they couldn’t imagine life without and Jesus came and raised her from the dead. But Jesus didn’t raise my mom from the dead or your loved one form the dead. Or did he? He promised eternal life to all who put their faith in him. It is far better to know that a person put their faith in Jesus, but if you don’t think a person did, keep in mind that God, not you or I are the judge. In Christ, there is hope for life everlasting.
Do you have hope that Jesus is God?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
We will experience that Jesus is God!
(Slide 6)
This sounds like a Halloween sermon:
All Saints Day (Night before is All Hallows Eve) revolves around "giving God thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints", including those who are "famous or obscure".
“Demons, Storms, Illness and Death!” SONG: “I will rise” 2008
There's a peace I've come to know (Demons)
Though my heart and flesh may fail (Illness)
There's an anchor for my soul (Storms) I can say "It is well"
Jesus has overcome - and the grave is overwhelmed (Death)
The victory is won - He is risen from the dead
And I will rise when He calls my name - No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings - Before my God fall on my knees - And rise - I will rise
There's a day that's drawing near - When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear - And my faith shall be my eyes (Resurrection)
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