Gospel Prism

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Luke 4:38-44

Introduction

There is nothing more unnerving and humbling in our world than death. As Pastor Erwin Lutzer comments: “Strictly speaking, no one ‘dies with dignity.’ Ever since sin entered into the world and brought death with it, death has always been the final humiliation, the one unalterable fact that confirms our mortality and reduces our bodies to ashes.” (Quoted in Deborah Howard, Sunsets, 124). And just as every sickness and illness is a reminder of our mortality and eventual death, so too death itself is a reminder that we live in a world disrupted and disfigured by sin. Ephesians 2:1 observes that we are “dead in the trespasses and sins.” In other words, our closure to the Gospel is equivalent to a death that is a result of sin and rebellion against God. Sin might not be the direct cause of illness and death, but Scripture is clear that it is the ultimate cause according to Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death.”

So in Luke 4:38-44, we witness an event that is quite common in the Gospel narratives. Jesus heals people of their illnesses. It is very easy to sweep by these stories without a thought. We simply think, “Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Nice story, let’s move on.” But why did Jesus exert so much of his precious energy physically healing people? Is it perhaps that Jesus’ healing ministry was not intended to solely heal physical ailments but to give a broader message? I would say so and this text bears this out.

Jesus has come to overcome not only the physical impact of illness and death, but He has come to overcome the power of death and all of its implications, which are plenty. So to understand exactly how Jesus does this, we need to understand Jesus’ mission: 1) Jesus came to overcome the power of sickness and death, 2) Jesus came to bring healing to individuals who are subject to the power of death, and 3) Jesus came to ultimately bring eternal healing through salvation.

On Sickness And Death… (Vv. 38-41)

First, Jesus came to overcome the power of sickness and death. In our narrative, Jesus enters the home of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law who is suffering from a high fever which was often fatal in Jesus’ day. Verse 39 is interesting because Luke records that Jesus “rebuked the fever” and it left her. This verb is the same word used in Luke 4:35 where Jesus cast out the demon. I don’t think this means that the fever was caused by a demon. However, what it does show is that there is a link between illness and the reality of evil and sin. Scripture does not indicate in all instances, one’s sin directly leads to illness. But the Bible is clear that sickness and death is ultimately a result of sin (Gen 3; Deut 28:22; 2 Cor 12:7). And in many ways, the fear of death leads to our health’s debilitation far more than we realize.

Hebrews 2:15 tells us that Jesus delivered “all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” The fear of death enslaves people. Whether we consider death or not, the fear of death either leads us to consider it morbidly and with paranoia, or to avoid considering death completely because thinking about such things are too ominous and frightful. Ed Welch comments: “Avoid the horror of death if you like, but at root there is something anti-human about that avoidance. Indifference lasts only until your mother actually dies. Although some remain adamant atheists when they face death, the norm is that a sudden interest in the supernatural kicks in once we hear the news that our disease is terminal.” (Ed Welch, Running Scared, 206).

Deborah Howard, who has written an excellent book called Sunsets that I highly recommend everyone to consider reading, especially if you have loved ones facing death, is a hospice nurse who writes about grieving and death from a Gospel perspective. She recounts one story that describes so well the picture of one’s last moments of life. If you will bear with me, I’d like to read you the whole story…

As you can see, death simply cannot be glamorized when you are in your last hours. There really is no nice way to die and death usually doesn’t come in accordance with our timing. Death is as Ed Welch describes it, horrible. And so Jesus was confronting the horror of illness and death by confronting the horror of sin. Whether there was a demon or not, the fever was still ultimately a disfigurement of the reality of sin’s destruction upon the earth. Paul tells us in Romans 8:20: “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption.” And we are in that creation and sin has corrupted us spiritually which has ramifications for us physically.

But this is exactly why Jesus heals people physically. He has come to overturn and undo the power of sin and death. That’s why Romans 6:23 doesn’t merely say that the wages of sin is death, but “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And in verse 39, when Jesus rebukes the fever, Peter’s mother-in-law is not merely reminded of God’s grace over her life, the fever leaves her and she is able to immediately go back to the way she was before her illness. In other words, her life will continue (she’s serves) as if the sickness were never a part of her life. She is completely and fully free of every effect of her illness. This is the power that Jesus has over sickness. He has supreme power over not only the spiritual realm but the physical realm. Colossians 1:17 says all things are held together (including our physical bodies) through Christ.

But please note, that this healing is temporary. It is temporary because eventually the person will die. And this is what so many whom Jesus healed failed to reckon with. When Jesus healed the 10 lepers and only 1 returned to give thanks, Jesus asked: “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17) What those lepers failed to realize was that though they were cured of their leprosy, it was temporary because one day they would not be cured of their final illness which will lead to their death. And Hebrews 9:27 reminds us: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

Do you see? We will all have a time in our lives when we ourselves or our loved ones will become ill, even deathly ill. How will you respond? Will you cry out to God and pray for healing without even a concern for your soul or the soul of your loved one? Yes, Jesus came to heal and yes Jesus does heal and yes we should pray that Jesus would heal us and our loved ones. But if you stop there, you will find such healing, even if it should happen, ultimately meaningless unless there is a healing of the soul through salvation. As Jesus says in Luke 9:25: “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”

But praise be to God that sickness and death is ultimately and eternally overcome by Jesus’ blood. Jesus’ healing ministry was merely a reflection of the spiritual reality of the cross. When Jesus died on the cross, He bore every aspect of sin that is ours. He bore the spiritual reality and the physical reality of sin. Jesus was punished in every possible way our sin has affected our lives. And to look at the crown of thorns with dark blood oozing out of his head, to see the pus and green and blue coloring that surrounded the nails on his hands and feet, to hear the irregular, labored breathing of his chest gasping for every breath, to see the parched lips from a desert-like thirst, was to bear the dark physical reality of our sin. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1:9-10: “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” 2 Corinthians is a chapter that details Paul’s sufferings. And in this text, Paul tells us that it is the hope of the Gospel, Christ who has died and risen again for our sake that allows him to bear any sufferings that come his way.

Jesus’ final overcoming of sin and death and all of its effects should radically change the way we view illness. For those who know Christ and who cherish Him and who are the children of God because they believe in His Name (John 1:12), death is the doorway to eternity with the God of grace where we shall meet. Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 1:10: “When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” And because we know this to be true, we never grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13). And so how we suffer through illnesses speaks greatly about how much we believe in Christ’s overcoming sin and death. How we view suffering, illness, and death, speaks much about our view of God and our trust in Him. J. C. Ryle wrote:

There is nothing which shows our ignorance so much as our impatience under trouble. We forget that every cross is a message from God, and intended to do us good in the end. Trials are intended to make us think—to wean us from the world—to send us to the Bible—to drive us to our knees. Health is a good thing but sickness is far better if it leads us to God. Prosperity is a great mercy, but adversity is a greater one if it brings us to Christ. Anything, anything is better than living in carelessness and dying in sin. (Quoted from Deborah Howard, 140)

Sickness and death should cause us to remember that Christ has overcome sin and death. What you face here on earth is temporary. But whether you trust in God or not has eternal consequences.

On Healing For Individuals… (Vv. 40-41)

Not only did Jesus overcome sin and death, He brings healing uniquely and individually. It’s interesting that in verse 40, that Jesus lays hands “on every one of them and healed them.” Again, Jesus could have healed all of them together. But as is often the case with Jesus, he personally heals people individually. Jesus is not a miracle worker. He is a Savior who has come to save individuals to be His people. And He knows the hearts of each soul that He cares for. According to John 10:3, Jesus calls His sheep by name. Matthew 10:30 says that God knows every hair on one’s head.

So we worship a God who is deeply concerned with you as an individual. Hebrews 2:18 tells us: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” For this reason, when you are suffering and being tempted to become self-centered, angry, proud, unwilling to share your burdens with others, sullen, depressed, frustrated, you must remember that He suffered on the cross because He wanted to help you. This is our God.

One more thing from verse 41, we cannot forget is that this is a spiritual war. Jesus’ physical healing entailed spiritual healing and a fight against Satan (v. 41). I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Satan, sin, and sickness are grouped together in these texts. All are intertwined to keep God’s people from trusting in Him. And we must note that Satan can bring about physical ailments. He does so to Job and he does so to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Continue Reading »

They’re now charging for water.

Sadly, this is what too many people think. Many people feel as though they need to have the home perfect, the spread perfect, and the decor perfect in order to be truly hospitable. Sandy and Paul Coughlin in Focus on the Family Magazine in an article entitled, “Reviving Hospitality,” write:

During the mid to late 1970s, the average American entertained 14 to 15 times a year. By the late 1990s, that figure fell to eight times per year–a decline of 45 percent. If this trend continues, the blessing of hospitality will be nearly extinct in less than one generation. (July 2008, p. 12)

Not that Martha Stewart is the sole blame, but far too many women have bought into the perfection of hospitality. Many would-be hosts are paralyzed by the overwhelming pressure of providing the picturesque environment, which by the way, an environment that few guests are truly looking for. Guests usually want the comfort of fellowship much more than the extravagance of gourmet meals and matching placemats and tablecloths. Some would-be hosts are simply tongue-tied when it comes to guests and newcomers. They simply do not how to be warm and social. The Coughlin’s comment:

A reluctant spouse can be a hindrance to hospitality. Like a lot of reluctant spouses, my husband, Paul, wasn’t good at keeping conversations on course. His hands would sweat as he thought about long, awkward pauses in conversations.

So Paul read a few books that helped him become a better conversationalist. He learned that just asking a few good questions can turn an average dinner party into an evening of budding friendships. (p. 13)

Imagine studying to be a better host. What a novel idea. But this is not merely a social blessing, but a spiritual one. Romans 12:13 says: ” Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” In other words, simply by bringing a fellow brother or sister to our homes to serve them, we can and do care for their spiritual needs. Peter writes: “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:9) Hospitality is a grace and therefore grace cannot be exhibited with a grumbling heart.

So how can we apply this?

1. Forgo Martha Stewart perfectionism.

Even though Ms. Stewart’s home decor and living ‘revolution’ has changed the home world, I am afraid such a mentality has really stunted hospitality. People are so afraid of looking bad, that they would rather not host than host without such perfectionism. If you are unable to host because your place looks a particular way, because you need certain types of food, and that is what regularly keeps you from hosting, then I am afraid you have been bitten by the perfection bug. You are free in Christ. Your identity is in Christ alone (Gal 2:20), not in what your place looks like and how well you cook.

2. It’s okay NOT to have an elaborate meal together.

Sometimes people simply want to get together to receive mutual blessings. Whether the meal is meatloaf, pizza, or cookies, the guests are happy. Inviting people over for dessert or for a few pieces of fruit can bring laughter and joy. The food we eat is merely a means and not the end.

3. Don’t expect anything in return.

Peter tells us that we must show hospitality without grumbling. If we invite someone over and they don’t return the favor, to grumble negates our hospitality. God looks at the heart. Hospitality is a grace. You give it freely because it’s your joy, not because there is a direct return on your hospitality investment.

4. Invite different kinds of people.

Anyone can invite people they ‘click’ with. But to invite those who are different, lonely, or in a different life stage, is to care for the saints. If our church regularly invited all sorts of people, singles, families, newcomers, older members over one another’s homes, what a dynamic place the church would be on Sunday. New friendships would be forged. We would truly be contributing to the needs of the saints.

Please consider inviting newcomers to your home, even for a dessert. Remember what it felt like to be new to a church. Remember some of the challenges that came with that time.

5. Hospitality is not just for married people.

Shua and I have had the privilege of being invited to the homes of single men. We have gone as a family where we have enjoyed the many delicacies of our brothers. The kids have enjoyed themselves and have gotten to know their spiritual uncles in the church in a way they could not have known merely on Sundays. What a blessing it was to be cared for by single brothers.

6. Hospitality is not just for women!

Men, do not kick up your feet while your wife prepares to host. Perhaps the reason they find hospitality difficult is because when people come over, she works and prepares while you read your email or watch TV. Hospitality is a joint effort.

7. Work toward glad hearts in hospitality.

Acts 2:46 says: “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts…” What a beautiful picture of what the church should be like, a place where people are in their homes with others with glad and generous hearts. May we be outdoing one another in love through hospitality.

8. Set a goal for the year.

Consider having a goal of how many people you would like to host throughout the year. Consider people the Lord is laying on your heart, even people you barely know (which I hope is at least half of the people on your list).

9. When you meet, ask questions!

Find out who people are. Learn their stories. Listen to them share about their lives. Ask many questions. Share your stories, especially about your growth in the Gospel.

10. Pray for them.

You’re the host. What an opportune time to pray a prayer of blessing for them and for them to pray for you. Your family and they will receive grace upon grace.

I want my children to grow up believing that our home was a house where people’s lives were cherished. And by God’s grace, He has given me a precious wife who has allowed this to happen. I have seen Shua grow in her love for the Lord and people, and it has been through hospitality that God has used her primarily in the lives of people. Paul has said of widows in 1 Tim 5:10: “If she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work,” she should be cared for by the church. I believe Shua has done this since we’ve been married. But that doesn’t excuse me from doing my part as well in helping in hospitality. And it also doesn’t mean that both of us can’t grow even more in our hospitality.

I want our church to be a place that overflows with the glad and generous heart of hospitality. May Wellspring be a place where the feet of the saints are washed (feet washing was even more disgusting then, something that probably would not have fit in Martha Stewart’s schema of hospitality) through the hospitality of many. May it be a place where weary souls (and weary soles, excuse the pun) can receive refreshing through the Gospel.

Sally Michael, who ministers with her husband at Bethlehem Baptist Church in the Children’s Ministry, has an excellent article entitled, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Lousy Mom.” This is an excellent article for any mom who has the challenge of raising children and caring for a sometimes unappreciative husband (which I have certainly been). She writes:

OUR DILEMMA
Children give us the opportunity to see ourselves in a whole new light. All of a sudden when our patience is tested repeatedly daily, we realize that we are not the vast reservoir of patience we thought we were. We are not as calm or as gentle as we thought we were either.

This is easily observable in moms during supper preparation – It has been a long day, our offspring have continually “pushed our buttons” and now supper preparation is under way. At this point a member of the junior set “helps mommy” by carrying plates of spaghetti to the table – one at a forty-five degree angle. The spaghetti slides onto the floor, the oblivious child walks through it and smears it across the kitchen floor…mom YELLS…and dad chooses that moment to walk though the door.

But here’s the real clincher. Dad comforts the crying child, looks at mom and makes a comment like, “You need to learn to be a little more patient.” Dad is not trying to be mean or accusing, he just doesn’t realize that this is not an encouraging comment. This is not an uncommon scenario. The players change, the circumstances are altered, but the result is the same. Mom feels like a lousy mom. She knows she lost control; she is ashamed and saddened that she hurt her child; and she feels like a failure. She is acutely aware that she disappointed God, her husband and her child. Have you “been there, done that?” I have. And I’ve had many women cry on my shoulder and ask for counsel because of this very issue.

She then goes into the biblical answers to this scenario and then some very practical suggestions for the dad first and then the mom:

DAD:
1. Pray for your spouse. You may have married a wonderful woman but she is still a fallen creature and she needs your prayers.

2. Encourage your spouse. Dealing with young children all day long is not an easy job. Chances are when you witness your wife’s “explosion,” it is the culmination of many instances that have tried her patience. She may have handled the first sixteen with unusual grace. By number seventeen, she may have become “testy”… and you happened to walk in at the end of the day on number twenty!

3. Rather than admonish her by pointing out her sin, it would be helpful to come alongside her and help her to grow.

How much different the above kitchen scenario would turn out if you reacted like this: Gather your child and your wife in your arms and say, “It looks like you have both had a hard day and now it is time for me to help. I know it is unpleasant to be yelled at. I also know that it is difficult to be patient after a long day. We don’t want our family to be marked by yelling. We want it to be marked by how we depend on God to help us when things are hard. Can I pray for you both? Then we can work together to clean up this spaghetti mess.” These are empowering words that point to God. When David has done this for me, I feel supported, encouraged to grow and humbled before God, not defeated.

4. Give your wife a break when you are home. She needs you to take initiative in dealing with discipline issues, enforcing bedtime, etc. In one large family at Bethlehem, the dad completely takes over the bedtime routine for all the children as a way to serve his wife. Little things like this offer support and encouragement
as well as a needed break.

5. Help your wife carve out a realistic plan for her devotional life.

MOM:
1. Pray for yourself and pray for your child(ren)…continually, all day long.

2. Be sure you are spiritually armed for the day. Do whatever you need to do to preserve your time with God.

3. Take a break. You may not be able to take a “day off” but when you feel your negative emotions rising, you can walk into another room, take a deep breath, pray for yourself and your child, and reappear with your emotions under control.

4. Set aside your busyness and focus on your child. Sometimes we snap at kids because we are trying to get too much accomplished. Often it is more efficient (and certainly more pleasant) to set aside our task and concentrate on our child for a time.

5. Effectively discipline. Nip things in the bud so they don’t build all day long. Put an end to moodiness (i.e. gently say, “You need to go in another room and ask God to help you with your attitude. You may come back when you can be pleasant.”)

6. Plan ahead and plan strategically. Know your limitations and don’t place yourself in situations you cannot handle. (i.e. set out Sunday clothes on Saturday night) Some situations are a recipe for disaster (letting a small child paint while you are baking a cake and taking care of a baby). Lower your expectations and change the schedule.

7. Keep your sense of humor. Humor can carry us through the most difficult situations.

8. Put things in perspective. If I make a wonderful dinner of baked chicken, Italian salad, fried rice, broccoli au gratin, chocolate pie, and burn the rolls, I have not made a lousy dinner. I have made a wonderful dinner and burned the rolls. Realize that you are not a lousy mom because you are a fallen sinner. You may
be a great mom with opportunities to grow in grace.

9. Remember that you are not alone. Pray with other young moms. Encourage one another. Remember that you are loved by a body of believers who care about the outcome of your faith.

This is exactly why I am so thankful that some of the ladies have been willing to meet together to preach the Gospel to one another at Well Moms.

Due to the graciousness of my inlaws in watching our four kids, Shua and I had a chance to watch The Dark Knight last night. I found the movie to be a work of great acting, great storyline, and great effects. Every one told me that Heath Ledger’s role as the Joker was an acting job of the ages, and it’s hard to disagree with that assessment. People I had spoken with about the movie had told me that the Joker in the movie was so evil, that he was mentally disturbing and disrupted many a good night’s sleep. But I can tell you that he didn’t disrupt mine and here is why…

1. The Joker’s evil cannot compare to the evil of our hearts.

When I see the Joker’s evil, I know that his evil is only reflective of what sin looks like to a holy and just God. According to Ephesians 2:3, human beings are children of wrath. Romans 7:18 says that nothing good dwells in humanity. And Jeremiah 17:9 calls the heart sinful beyond cure. Those apart from Christ are darkened in their understanding according to Ephesians 4:18.

What was disturbing about the Joker, what bothered society, was that his evil was not motivated by personal greed or power. It was non-sensical evil in their eyes. He committed evil simply because he loved to. But what a non-Christian world doesn’t realize is that all people do exactly the same. According to Judges 21:25: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Joker did one thing that was consistent with the world around him; that is he did what was right in his own eyes. To a world filled with a sense of societal morality based on relativism, they failed to see that the Joker was merely living out what they ultimately believed, doing what was right in one’s own eyes as a legitimate response to ethics and morality.

2. The Joker’s evil cannot compare to the evil of Satan.

I just preached on Satan and his demons this past week. Joker is merely a caricature, whereas Satan is the reality. Human beings can only create what they believe pure evil to be. But Satan actually lives out evil. And in this way, his desire to thwart God’s kingdom advance is far more subtle, but far more destructive. The Joker’s evil merely killed the body. He slit throats and mutilated faces. He devised bombs and created mayhem and wreaked havoc. And to a world that believes that the life in the body is all there is to life, then the Joker’s evil is the greatest evil. But Jesus said in Matthew 10:28: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Hell is infinitely worse than anything that Hollywood, Stephen King, or M. Night Shamalan can dream up. The Joker was an evil character. But there is far greater evil than the Joker.

3. The Joker’s evil, our evil, or Satan’s evil will not survive the evil borne at the cross.

This thought struck me as I prepared to sleep. The cross was the place where every act of evil was and will be destroyed. Hebrews 2:14-17 declares: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” It was the propitiation of sin by Jesus that DESTROYS death, the fear of death, the power of death, and Satan himself. How can we fear death, when Christ has saved us eternally. The wages of sin have been borne by the Son of God at the cross. Death has lost its sting at the cross. The dereliction scream of Jesus, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” was the cry of every evil, evil that far far exceeds what I saw on that movie screen. Jesus bore that pain, that evil, that terror, that horror that was both physical and spiritual for every one of God’s children. So why should anyone in Christ ever be afraid. As Jesus says in Luke 12:7: “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Watching the Joker led me to see just how terrible my sin can be. It also made me realize just how futilely Hollywood tries to project pure evil. But in the end, I know that though I am a great sinner, Christ truly is a great Savior. I hope as you watch The Dark Knight (and I do think it’s worth watching), you will remember God’s grace for you through His Son. So do not fear.

And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! [2] What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
Luke 4:31-37

Introduction

Our text and next week’s text is filled with people and demons. There are people who are demon-possessed. There are sick and dying people. There are demons that are shouting, crying out, scoffing, sarcastic, angry. There are crowds of people seeking and desperate. And in the midst all of this, there is Jesus. What the people see is what so many saw in Jesus’ day. As we learned last week, He was the carpenter’s son. He was the self-proclaimed prophet. He was the miracle worker. He was the wise teacher. He was the caretaker of the downtrodden of society. But so few saw Jesus as who He truly was, the Son of God who would conquer sin, death, and Satan. Jesus would redo all that Satan and humanity had destroyed. And Jesus would overcome all of death’s consequences, fear, insecurity, worry, shame, guilt, pain, sorrow, grief, and mourning.

Luke 4:31-37 is a foreshadowing of this ultimate victory. Even though the people saw a rough-hewn young prophet, Luke portrays Jesus as someone so vastly different from anyone that the people had ever heard from that they realized his word possessed authority. Demons frothed in fear and terror as soon as they encountered Him, knowing full well their time of dominion and sheer existence had come to an end. This was the Gospel that Jesus had come to both preach and to demonstrate, ultimately through His work on the cross. This was the Gospel that was meant to transform not merely those who were sick physically, but those who wanted freedom from the consequences of sin and death. And this is the joy that He promises to you and me today if we trust and believe that He has come to give life abundantly (John 10:10). So this week we’ll be examining Jesus’ power over Satan and his dominion and next week, Jesus’ power over sickness and death.

Context

Jesus traveled about 20 miles northeast from Nazareth to the harbor city of Capernaum where once again he begins teaching at the synagogue on the Sabbath. Even before Jesus encounters the demon-possessed man, notice that the people were “astonished at his teaching” in verse 32. What do you think was so astonishing about His teaching? One thing that Jesus did that the Pharisees and Sadducees did not do in their teaching was that He taught from Scripture directly. The ruling religious leaders tended to teach from tradition. But as we learned last week, Jesus explained the Scriptures such as Isaiah 61 in view of His coming and His work. He held the actual text of God’s Word in high regard and did not surround it with empty traditionalism. In many ways, this authoritative teaching would provide the groundwork for the miracles to come.

So once Jesus has set the stage by teaching with authority, a demon-possessed man shouts out: “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Talk about disruption. Imagine if I was preaching a sermon, and someone stood up and shouted in an angry, crazy, distorted way such things. What would this place be like? You might be stunned, or angry, or scared. So what is going on? What we know is that Jesus, God the Son has broken into Satan’s dominion and a cosmic clash has ensued, where the Enemy knows this is the beginning of the end and he will not depart without wreaking as much havoc as he possibly can. Which begs the question that I’d like to answer, so what influence and power does Satan have?

Satan’s Influence and Power

First, let’s acknowledge that Satan does exist. Satan and demons are mentioned throughout the Bible and Jesus, more than anyone else speaks of Satan and encounters demons. If you do not believe in Satan or demons, then you really couldn’t believe in Jesus as God the Son since He is the one who continually refers to their reality. Satan and demons are also not a thing of the past. Nowhere in the Bible do we see Satan’s role in our lives negated simply because we live in an a-spiritual believing world. So let us first note that Satan and demons still do exist and still continue to wreak havoc in our world.

Second, Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy God’s people (John 10:10). And let us not underestimate the power of Satan whom Jesus calls the father of lies (John 8:44) and destroyer (1 Cor 10:10) and the accuser of the brothers (Rev 12:10). Satan will stop at nothing to destroy and steal everything that God does. Before Adam and Eve sinned, Satan sinned. He will murder (Ps 106:37; John 8:44). He will deceive people so that they will close their hearts to the Gospel (2 Cor 4:4). He can cause sickness, can speak words of doubt, and fear, and anxiety into people’s hearts. He can hinder the advance of the Gospel (1 Thess 2:18).

Satan has many angels who wage war against God, His angels, and His people. The demon that is speaking through this man Jesus encountered is actually afraid. Notice his second question, “Have you come to destroy US?” The ‘us’ probably refers to all of the demons (Satan’s kingdom) that Jesus encounters. But ‘us’ also can refer to the demon and the man himself. As if to say, “Jesus, if you kill me and my friends, you will kill this man as well.” Things seem pretty bleak. Satan and his demons have controlled the world since Adam and Eve so it seems. But then Jesus steps in: “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.”

Third, Satan’s power is limited. So let’s not overestimate Satan’s power either. By Jesus’ mere word, Satan and his demons are absolutely powerless. His deceptions are revealed for what they are, lies. Jesus is not fearful of hurting the man, regardless of what the demons says. In fact, Satan can only have the power that Jesus allows, which Satan knows full well. We must never believe that Satan is the anti-God, who has equal powers and authority with God. Satan can only do what God permits, as Job 1:12 points out. There is no one on this earth or in the spiritual realm who has omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence as God does (Isa 46:9-10). And the fact is, one day, Satan and his demons will receive the just punishment they deserve when they are thrown into the lake of fire eternally (Rev 20:10).

Fourth, Satan’s primary weapon is deception. When Jesus rebukes the demon, the demon is forced to flee in terror. But why would Jesus silence the demon? Satan and his demons know just enough of God’s Word to be very dangerous. This demon declares Jesus to be the “Holy One of God.” In Mark 3:11 the unclean spirits cry out, “You are the Son of God.” In other words, the demons can express theological truths about God but manipulate them in a way to serve their purposes rather than God. Be forewarned my friends, just because people or books or sermons or teachings use the same words, words like Gospel, grace, salvation, sin, does not mean the teaching is sound and God-honoring. Satan doesn’t use a whole new vocabulary to deceive people to turn from God. He uses God’s very words to distort God’s truth to make things sound correct and wise and innovative and caring and loving. Satan is only effective as a destroyer and a deceiver (Rev 12:9) if his words sound tantalizing enough to lead even so-called good and smart people astray. Don’t expect Satan to come in evil, distorted, and deformed clothing. Rather, Satan’s general modus operandi is to come in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15).

And so before the demon is forced to flee, he gives this one parting shot, to tell the world what Jesus was all about, the Holy One of God, the Messiah. Because Satan had been instrumental in creating a rouse that had plagued so much of Jesus’ society, that the Messiah would be an earthly hero who would overthrow Rome and establish a new Davidic Kingdom in Palestine, he declares to the world that Jesus has come to do just that. Satan and all of his demons knew that this is what so many people believed about Jesus. So he would stop and nothing to lead people toward that end and he would deceive many to eventually reject Jesus and the promises that His heavenly Kingdom would eternally provide. And so Jesus silences and rebukes the demon and the demon melts under the power of God the Son. Continue Reading »

A few weeks ago, I heard a story on the news that two young boys found a newborn baby next to railroad tracks.  They went in to their their parents.  After calling 911, the baby was brought to a hospital and treated for any injuries.  The mother was later found and arrested, a young woman who had falsely believed that abandoning the child would be the best thing for the baby.

The problem with youth having children is their inability to understand the gravity of the responsibility of raising a child.  The idea is so far beyond the vast majority of kids, that when things got tough, and they will, they would simply wither in the midst of such pressure.  And yet, today’s culture is continuing to embrace and possibly even encourage teen pregnancy.  Of course, such pregnancy is rarely in the confines of marriage.  Al Mohler comments on Jamie Lynn Spears, Brittany Spears’ sister, recent delivery of her daughter Maddy:

Beyond that, “commitment” is the word one uses to avoid using “marriage.” Waiting until marriage to engage in sexual intercourse is, for Hollywood, an unthinkable presumption. Teens are encouraged to establish “committed relationships” before sex. We can only wonder what kind of commitment would please Hollywood and its critics.

As for consequences, Hollywood generally abandons reality when it claims to present “reality” programming. The celebrity cult is even worse. The OK! magazine cover makes teen motherhood look positively glamorous. But, as one young woman responded to the OK! coverage, “I had a baby at 16, it was NOT easy, I did NOT look radiant and beautiful.”

Then again, that kind of honesty probably wouldn’t sell many magazines. Hollywood and the entertainment industry are selling their version of normal teenage expectation. Teen moms are, as Newsweek explained, “a hot plot device.” Parents, you have been warned.

When you look at this cover, how splendid teen pregnancy can appear.  But what about the behind the scenes looks at a baby crying at 2am and then at 4am?  What about the pains of nursing?  What about when the first signs of a stuffy nose or fever or colic appears and the baby wails uncontrollably?  What about the poopy diapers that explode all over?  What about the dead weariness that ever new mother feels after having a child?  Can a teen who can barely be responsible for herself be able to care for such a child?

I agree with Dr. Mohler.  I hope such an article would not lead girls to falsely believe that getting pregnant could actually be ‘cool’ or ‘glamorous,’ attempting to catch up to their teen stars.  Such an idea would not only be false, but foolhardy.

I love my wife, Shua, dearly and I am always proud of her. My desire is that I would lead her kindly and lovingly and would be a part of sanctifying her to grow more in Christlikeness (Eph 5:22ff.). Which is why I praise God that Shua is going to Mozambique. Some people have asked me why should Shua go to Moz when she has to care for four children. Here are my answers:

1. By her going, it is a reminder to both of us that our children are not our little gods whom we serve. Sadly far too many people worship their children, their schedules, and their education.

2. By her going, she will see the destitution of mothers and children who are dying physically and spiritually. This will give her a perspective that will greatly beneficially affect her mothering over our children.

3. By her going, she will understand what I have seen and experienced these past three years in sub-Saharan Africa.

4. By her going, she will be living out the Gospel’s concern for the poor and defenseless.

5. By her going, she will be modeling to all the mothers of our church that one can care deeply for one’s children and also care deeply for other children.

6. By her going, she will be modeling to the members of our church that a love for one’s children need not be contradictory for a love for the Gospel and Gospel concerns.

7. By her going, she will he honoring me and submitting to me in my support of her going.

8. By her going, she will be able to teach our children what good does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.

9. By her going, she places her whole trust in the Lord and not in herself.

10. By her going, she will be able to fellowship and grow together with the rest of our team and will have the joy and privilege of gladly making others glad (to use my co-blogger Tim’s expression).

Here’s what Shua wrote in her letter. I think she summarizes it best:

Preparing for this trip has become an opportunity to share with our children about God’s heart for the world and the Father’s deep compassion for the most vulnerable and truly forsaken. Our kids have been asking when they could go as well, and we have begun to pray for the orphans whom Mommy will be meeting. I am so grateful and humbled by my family’s loving support through their prayers and sacrifice!

This morning, I read from Colossians 1 in my devotions, and I want to ask if you might be willing to pray these verses for me as I go to Africa. I do feel a deep sense of my weakness, especially as I pray for my own dad who is battling terminal lung cancer. Our lives are in God’s hands, and He is sovereign and merciful. I trust in Him for every detail of my life. What an awesome privilege it is to trust in such a great God!

Check out our Team’s Mozambique website for further info.

People will ask me, “Won’t it be hard caring for all four kids by yourself.” It might be. But I look forward to an opportunity to spend time caring for and loving my children. I look forward to the time I will have in praying for mommy and the rest of the team. And even though it might be taxing, it will be a joy.

My first ministry was to Amherst and Smith College students in the Pioneer Valley in Amherst, Massachusetts. I suppose that before the time spent in the Pioneer Valley, my exposure to anything gay was limited to hearsay and third and fourth-hand myths and legends. I remember walking through the streets of Northampton and witnessing two women engaged in explicit kissing in open view. It was my first up-close encounter with homosexuality, and my shock and bewilderment then led me to believe that I had been sheltered from this unknown world. I slowly began to discover that this was true also of mainstream America and Evangelicalism.[1] Even mainline denominations had not fully embraced the gay lifestyle as it has done within the past few years.

Smith College, an all-women’s college, is a breeding-ground for the lesbian perspective. In fact, Northampton[2] was labeled by Newsweek as “Lesbiansville, USA.” In ministering to students who attended Smith and being married to one as well as having a sister-in-law who is also a Smith alumnus, I was well-informed of the indoctrination program that Smith leads all first year students through in regard to sexual orientation. The program was more than just informative. One could say that it was intended to influence a young woman to question her sexual identity, regardless of her exposure to homosexuality. Preaching, ministering, and loving during this era was a difficult challenge.

My current ministry resides in the hotbed of homosexuality, the San Francisco Bay Area. It is where homosexual advocacy is at its pinnacle, and the church is nowhere to be found. The largest and most influential churches politically (like Grace Cathedral) are bastions of the gay lifestyle themselves. But it is not just the city that is now in the control of gay advocacy, one by one the surrounding suburbs also fall to this new homosexual agenda. Hayward School District is considered to be one of the most pro-gay districts in the area. Gay dances are a regular in the Hayward schools, and gay-biased curriculum is imposed on the different students of the schools. Gay activists have taken the offensive and there does not seem to be any abatement of such activism any time soon.

The church has an enormous test ahead. Can it stand firm against the sin of homosexuality (in the devil’s lair, so to speak) and yet be a purveyor of grace and love without compromising the Gospel? This question can be the church’s blessing or bane in respect to homosexuality. In this, prayers of faith and mercy are of utmost importance.

The issue of homosexuality has pervaded every sector of life. To cast it aside as unimportant is to reject the call of Christ to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Thus, it is crucial that we realize the ramifications of homosexuality, both biblically and morally.

I would conclude that homosexuality is a sin for two obvious reasons. First, it continues to damage an already perverted image of God by neglecting the male-female nature of the imago dei. When a man has intercourse with another man, it goes against the very “nature” (cf. Romans 1:26-27) of God’s intended plan. But not only does homosexuality do this on a functional level, but also on the ontological level. The makeup of the Trinity is relational, the perfect relationship. When God created man in His image, “He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Man and woman together, in their relationship to each other, now reflects the perfect relationship of the Trinity. Thus, when there is an aberration to that relationship, like homosexuality or bestiality, there is no longer a reflection of that perfect relationship.

Second, biblical evidence clearly condemns homosexuality. Many scholars have attempted to exegete the passages to favor their position. But the end-result is either a misinterpretation of Scripture or a rejection of Scripture’s infallibility, or both. Circumvention of the passages through personal biases and forced presuppositions allows much room for contextual and exegetical mayhem. The burden of proof lies heavily with the homosexual advocates who are left with a Bible that unequivocally condemns homosexuality at all levels. The avenue of denying Scripture’s reliability, inerrancy, and validity would seem to be the only route to follow.

Yet, we must never forget that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” Evangelicals must continually balance the right condemnation that is due the gay lifestyle in light of biblical truth, and yet continue to extend the grace that Christ gives to all sinners so long as there is still time for repentance. Surely, fundamentalist Christians wearing, “God hates fags” T-shirts at rallies undermine not just any moral standing Christians can take on the issue, but also undermine the Gospel to save such sinners as homosexuals and even heterosexuals. While the church has been slow in reaching this large and growing segment of the population, it is by God’s grace that there are ministries that are doing much to stem the tide of the pro-homosexual agenda without undercutting the Gospel of grace.[3]

Stanton Jones has this important insight, a thought to the church to condemn and yet, to love as Christ loved,

Persons of homosexual inclination are under the same moral call as we all are — to respond to the offer of divine mercy and forgiveness through the gift of Jesus Christ, to offer our lives as the only gift we can give in return. If we love him, we will obey his commands. And his will with regard to our sexuality is either that we live chaste lives of dependence upon him, or that we strive to build a marriage that models Christ’s love for the church before the watching world, aided by the uniting gift of sexual intercourse. All of us should strive anew to live by this holy standard. (Stanton Jones, 23)

The answer for Christians who long to live the life our Lord calls us to live begins and ends at the cross. As sinners saved by grace alone, we have no other right response than to continue to share this good news with the lost, which of course includes homosexuals. This is not a concession to homosexual advocates in the church, who are attempting to undermine the church founded on biblical principles of God’s hatred of sin and God’s bountiful mercy to humbled sinners. God will judge sinners. Christians are responsible to show mercy to sinners as sinners saved by that very mercy. Thus, our actions, our thoughts, our compassion will be the vehicle God will use to bring even homosexual sinners to a place of saving grace. After all, it is always God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

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[1] It wasn’t too long ago that many Evangelicals believed homosexuality was a non-issue amongst Evangelical Christianity. In a paper I wrote on the subject for seminary, David Wells wrote (this was in 1993), “The Protestant world more generally [that is, has been affected by the homosexual debate] but I am not aware of too much within Evangelicalism.” At that stage, perhaps the issue did not breach the safety net of the Evangelical world. But that net has surely been stretched and I believe it is closer to snapping than ever before. The distinguished preacher of Eden Chapel in Cambridge, England, Roy Clements’ (who has also spoken at many Evangelical seminaries, including my own Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) “coming out of the closet” (see Roy Clements’ website for his current positions on his faith and his actions) was a shocker to all of Evangelicalism. In fact, in many ways it is a watershed mark because his ministry was one of complete orthodoxy and to have such a man fall into the gay lifestyle has perhaps revealed Evangelicalism’s blindness to the extent of the homosexuality as a sin and as a powerful influence over the world. Since then, Evangelical denominations (cf. the National Association of Evangelicals, www.nae.net) have taken the offensive on answering the homosexual agenda.

[2] Northampton was once Jonathan Edwards’ home town. I would imagine his heart would break at seeing what Northampton is now like in its current condition.

[3] Ministries like Exodus International, Where Grace Abounds, National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX) are those organizations that are impacting the homosexual community with an alternative besides the gay lifestyle. However, the churches themselves have not made ministry to the gay community, or even awareness of such ministry and needs a real priority.

Other arguments for gay acceptance come from the famed (or infamous) Kinsey Study in 1948. Kinsey concluded that at least ten percent of the American population (or approximately 25 million people) is gay. If this were true, most homosexuals would argue that something regularly practiced by so many people could not be morally wrong. But the Kinsey report was anything but objective and scientific. Joseph Gudel designates four reasons as to the skewed conclusions of the Kinsey report. First, 25% or 5,300 of his interviewees were prison inmates. Incarcerated individuals would obviously have no access to having heterosexual relationships even if it was that person’s desire to do so. 44% of these inmates admitted to a homosexual relationship in prison. Second, he used several hundred male prostitutes as part of his sample. Third, his methodology for choosing many of the other interviewees was on a “volunteer basis.” That is to say, most of his volunteers were already practicing homosexuals. Finally, Kinsey did not say that 10 percent of the entire U.S. population was homosexual. Rather, he affirmed that ten percent of white American males were ‘more or less’ exclusively homosexual for at least three years of their lives between the ages of 16 and 65.” (Joseph P. Gudel, “Ethical Apologetics,” Christian Research Journal 1992 Summer, 22.)

Recent developments in medical research, particularly in the field of genetic studies, have been instrumental in legitimizing homosexual behavior to the world and even to the church. Homosexual advocates in the church now appeal to these new biological and technological breakthroughs as new grounds of acceptance. An article by William A. Henry in Time underscores this finding,

Whatever its ultimate scientific significance, however, the study’s social and political impact is potentially even greater. If homosexuals are deemed to have a foreordained nature, many of the arguments now used to block equal rights would lose force.” (William A. Henry III, “Born Gay?,” Time July 26, 1993, p. 37-38.)

Thus, the logic flows, “if one is born gay, one is not responsible (even if it were wrong) for its effects.” Such thinking stands on flimsy ground because Scripture never links responsibility to genetics. Since both homosexual and heterosexual have a predisposition to sin (Romans 3:23), no person is held blameless for sin as a result of one’s sexual orientation. Heterosexual orientation too might also be genetic, especially if one argues that homosexual orientation is genetic, but that does not give license for adultery and promiscuity.

In terms of medical research, the premise of the whole argument is misplaced. There has been a shift from the classification of sin, to a justification towards “natural tendencies,” an argument homosexuals used in arguing against Romans 1:26-27. The neglect is in the underestimation of sin. It is a horrific affront to God; one that has labeled all sinners as “God’s enemies” in Romans 5:10. Thus, if one concedes that homosexuality is a sin, then even the findings of medical research are inadequate. The depraved nature of sin goes far beyond medical justification. A tendency to sin medically does not justify a continued penchant to sin. If one has kleptomania that does not mean that one can steal freely and not worry about the consequences. If one is mentally insane, then he or she is not free to kill on the grounds of mental insanity. If a heterosexual struggles lusts after someone of the opposite sex, even though on biblical and biological grounds, one could argue that this person is acting in accordance with his or her genetic makeup, this does not excuse such a person before God in acting out sexual fantasies. Morally, we are all responsible for a sinful nature. Biblically, we are condemned for the first sin (Romans 5:12-13), but we are also saved by grace despite our sinfulness through the righteousness of the second Adam, Jesus Christ (whether it can be even proved if homosexuality and heterosexuality is a genetic trait). We are all hideous before God’s eyes. Yet, forgiveness and redemption comes in Christ. Thus, it is Christ, not medical research that all sinners must turn to in humble repentance and worship.

The Kinsey study speaks for itself. Its flawed results do not leave much room for its legitimate use. Also, recent surveys have concluded that the figure for the number of homosexuals in the United States is approximately from 1 to 2% mark, sharply lower from Kinsey’s findings. However, this number will surely grow in the coming years as the media promotes gay acceptance, and as the post-modern culture no longer enforces any moral standards. Homosexuality is no longer an alternative lifestyle, but now it is the admired lifestyle [1] as it penetrates the schools[2] and is promulgated to the emerging generation.

Some have argued that homosexuals have not been granted the human rights that they deserve. This might be true, but once again the emphasis has shifted from the responsibility for sin, to human rights. Perhaps the church has neglected a critical responsibility to reject hatred and speak out against malicious and deleterious prejudice against the gay community. The homosexual is as much in need of a Savior as the heterosexual who attends an Evangelical church faithfully. Jesus did not cringe amongst the worst of sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors, beggars. He embraced them (Matthew 9:12), but never, ever embraced and condoned their sins. His loving words to the adulteress on the street was not “I accept you and I love you and your sins,” but “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11).

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[1] Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” is the preeminent example of the admired gay lifestyle. While some homosexuals frown on the television show as a proliferation of a stereotype, most homosexuals, and heterosexuals for that matter, see the show as praise for the gay community. “Queer Eye” projects gay men as being hip, cool, stylish, and in. The show has even been able to take what used to be a derogatory word, “queer,” and turn it into a word of approbation. CNN reported, “Now ‘queer’ is sneaking into the mainstream — and taking on a hipster edge as a way to describe any sexual orientation beyond straight. Jay Edwards, a 28-year-old gay man from Houston, has noticed it. ‘Hey Jay,’ a straight co-worker recently said. ‘Have you met the new guy? He’s really cute and queer, too. Just your type!’”

[2] Elizabeth Schainbaum of The Daily Review reported that in April “the school board passed a resolution supporting gay sensitivity training, classroom discussion of gay families and homophobia, openly gay staff and a safe environment for gay teachers and students.” She adds, “California laws protect gay staff and students from harassment and discrimination, and they support discussing homosexuals in a historical context or in terms of their being a minority group.” The irony is that schools are duty bound to promote homosexual agenda as a support for homosexuals. This, however, fails to recognize that those parents who do not wish such pro-homosexual bias on their children have no choice. This has been a longstanding critique of Christian ideals being introduced in schools. Today’s Christians face many points of harassment and discrimination. And yet, schools continually deem Christians a viable target. The double-standards held to by those who espouse such views are quite blatant.