Luke 8:22-40 The stilling of two STORMS

 

INTRO: Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, & forever.

  1. AGAIN - This verse is interesting - in the Greek. - it means - Jesus .. Forever / WOW

B) Now this is a very strong statement that scripture makes w/ a defined purpose .

God wants us to be certain of the fact that His Character / Conduct /

Position & Power DOES NOT CHANGE

  1. The reason we need to know this & realize this deep w/ in our hearts / is THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TO COUNT ON AS CHRISTIANS
  1. His Position/ His Power / His Character / His RELIABILITY / His AVAILABILITY / ARE unchanging !!!!
  1. If the scriptures gave us a picture of a God who changed / then His love for me would be one way / one day - another way the next .

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, w/ whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

  1. Guys, that is meant to give us great strength & sturdiness in our walks w/ the Lord !!

 

Now I prefaced the area of scripture we are looking at today w/ those thoughts because we are going to see / there are others things in life that do not Change

  1. That is STORMS that come into our lives - we all face them

TITLE : STILLING OF TWO STORMS
  1. One was natural - something which happened regularly on the Sea of Galilee / The other was Unnatural - DEMONIC
  1. One involved wind / waves / & Water /

The other Anger / Torment & confusion READ V. 22-25

 

HERE WE SEE A STORM OF NATURE -

It was very common for storms to suddenly spring up on the Sea of Galilee / come out of no where/ wind of MTS- appear suddenly w/out warning

  1. The same thing is true in our lives as well / there are storms that we all go thru & often times they appear suddenly w/out warning
  1. You lose your Job / financial Crisis / a death in the family / a sudden sickness that means your life is going to be altered forever
  1. Those things are a part of life / and we don’t escape those types of situations just because we are believers !
    1. Matt. 5:45 declares that it rains on the JUST & THE UNJUST ALIKE
  1. We all go thru storms of varying size & degrees / But this story gives us

some insight into how we are to weather the storms we find ourselves

NOTE SEVERAL THINGS

1ST v.22 Jesus says, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out. RESULT A STORM - Now this is interesting

Because Many people have the idea that storms come to their lives only when they have disobeyed God, but this is not always the case.

  1. Jonah ended up in a storm because of his disobedience, but the disciples got into a storm because of their obedience to the Lord.
  1. Jesus said - Let’s CROSS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE - so they got in the boat and began to cross over ! RESULT STORM!!!!
    1. So In the Storm Perfectly in God’s will !!! But they were AFRAID
  1. 2nd we see 3 reasons why they shouldn’t have been afraid - which are also the same reasons why we shouldn’t fear in the mist of storms

1st The command that He gave them Let us cross over

  1. Guys we need to understand that when Jesus says let us cross over - we are not going to go under !
  2. He did not promise an easy trip, but He did promise a guaranteed arrival at their destination.
  1. Lord’s promise to us - Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of JC

Jude 24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

  1. Guys we have no reason to fear !

2nd Jesus was w/ them in the storm - He was there in the boat

  1. Listen when you are going thru the trial - when the waves are crashing down - GOD IS NOT ON VACATION - Playing golf w/ Peter

a) Hagar at Beer La ho Ri - God who sees

B) Jesus says in Heb. 13:5,6 "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.

C) A woman said to D.L. Moody, "I have found a wonderful promise!" she quoted Psalm 56:3, "When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."

  1. Moody responded "Let me give you a better one," & he quoted Isaiah 12:2, "Behold God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid."
  1. LISTEN It is fine to say that whenever I am afraid I will trust - but it is better to say I will trust & not be afraid

UNDERSTAND that faith & fear will sail into the harbor of every persons heart - Just don’t let faith ANCHOR THERE How ?

  1. FEED YOU FAITH - Faith comes by hearing & hearing by the word of God - you stay in the word you feed on the word
  1. You cling to the promises - FEED YOUR FAITH - SO KEY - Because if you feed your FEARS your faith will starve !!!!

YOUTH PASTOR STORY -

  1. So the 2nd Reason Jesus was w/ them -

 

3rd Reason Why they shouldn’t have been afraid - BEACAUSE OF WHAT JESUS WAS DOING - ASLEEP / HE WAS AT REST

  1. Guys I have news for You / our Lord is at Rest / Sitting on the throne
  2. Listen Jesus is not up in Heaven Pacing back & forth when it relates to your life - or the storm - you are in. BITING HIS NAILS
  3. He is at rest - because He is in control - Nothing passes into my life w/

out His knowledge

    1. He is praying - ever lives to make intercession
  1. Since He is at REST we should be AT REST !!!!!!! Because Jesus was in the boat sleeping the disciples should have been at rest
    1. Instead - freaking out & filled w/ fear!

 

NEXT NOTICE THEIR RESPONSE - V.24 "Master, Master, we are perishing!"

A) Mark’s gospel adds Don’t you care - we are perishing / going to die

B)That is so like us/ the very fact that we find ourselves in a storm causes us

to think - God doesn’t care about me / DOUBT GOD’S CARE

  1. When in reality the Storm is the very tool of the Lord for building our faith & trust in Him / the method for growing us up .
  1. The Father is always thinking future / Grow us up - mature us / make us

more like Jesus

    1. We do the same thing w/ our kids - sometimes you just have to step back & let them work things out -
  1. God does that w/ an ever watchful eye He just wants to see us stand - hold our ground & stand - knowing that He is watching !!!! He is there !!!

LASTLY JESUS RESPONSE : V.24 Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.

25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"

  1. Guys that is such a good question for us to ponder today - WHERE IS YOUR FAITH ?
  1. Is your faith in an organization - Calvary Chapel
  1. We have Doctrinal statement - on the back of the bulletin - We believe - Well I know what my Church - believes/ PERSONALLY -

b) Is your faith in a person CHUCK / BILLY / GREAT LEADER

    1. If Chuck Smith or Billy Graham 2 great men of God did something really stupid & sinned in a big way -
  1. Would you say - The heck w/ it I am not being a Christian anymore - they let me down - PEOPLE WILL - JESUS DOESN’T
    1. Where is your faith?
  1. Sad I ran into a young girl who used to go here / many yrs. Ago - / left because something happened didn’t like - people let down
    1. Now they are not in fellowship - not walking SAD

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH ?

 

Now before we move on I need to make this comment / Jesus doesn’t still every storm :

  1. You may not see a let up in the storm here on earth - it might go on & on

if sick - you may never get healed - ( not get good job)

  1. But know & understand this there can be peace in the mist of the storm in knowing: Jesus said that we are going to make it on the other side

v.26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, KJV THEY ARRIVED

  1. Listen : One day we are going to arrive - one day we are going to make it on the other side ! Heaven - hear - well done !!!!

And there can be peace in the mist of the storm knowing That Jesus is w/ us for He said I will never leave you nor forsake you

And there can be peace in the storm - knowing He is at REST He is in control

A) So that is the 1st Storm / lets look at the 2nd - entirely different in nature

  1. Storm was UNATURAL - not on the Sea / but inside a man -

TOTALLY DEMONIC IN NATURE

.

27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time .NOW NOTE the DESCRIPTION And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!"

29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

We see in this scene three different forces at work: Satan, society, and the Savior.

A)These same three forces are still at work in our world, trying to control the

B) First, we see a vivid picture of what Satan can do to people.

  1. Satan we are told in the Bible is a thief & a robber whose ultimate purpose is to kill / ROB / destroy (Jn 10:10)
  1. And Because of Satan’s power in the mans life he lost everything , he lost his home and the fellowship of his family and friends.
    1. he lost his decency as he ran around naked in the tombs
  1. he lost his self-control and lived like wild a animal, screaming, cutting himself and frightening the citizens.
    1. he lost his peace & purpose for living,

 

Guys this is what the Devil seeks to do - leave men naked / bound / tormented and on the run

AND We must Never underestimate the destructive power of Satan. He is our enemy and would destroy all of us if he could.

  1. I also want you to notice where this Demon possessed man was living - in the tombs - they are hanging out in a CEMENTARY -
    1. Demons are comfortable around that which is DEAD
  1. Now I don’t know about you & your wife ( or if single - that special person in your life )
    1. But when Denise I want to spend some time together & go for a walk - we don’t go to the Cemetery - Eternal Hills
  1. Hey honey - want to go walk around the tombstones or go hang out at the morgue
    1. When I was younger I did go sled riding in a Cemetery in Pittsburgh. / the only place that still had snow - great until ran over a tombstone
  1. Listen the Cemetery / the morgue is not really a place that I feel real comfortable - in Because I am alive -
    1. I really don’t want to be surrounded by that which reminds me of death But this man is living amongst the tombs

 

 

  1. notice also it says that the demons DROVE HIM INTO THE WILDERNESS

Now I find this interesting because we are told that Jesus is the good shepherd who leads the sheep to still waters / green pastures / who is there protecting us when we have to go thru the Valley of shadow….
  1. In Jesus day - you would never see shepherds - driving sheep - always leading them.

a) In fact if you ever saw sheep being driven - You Knew it wasn’t by the shepherds but the BUTCHERS - SLAUGHTER HOUSE

  1. I find that interesting in light of fact that here we see the demons led this man out into the wilderness / to destroy him
  1. PAUSE CONSIDER A QUESTION Is Demon possession real - today - YES Heinous crimes - so demented see in court - seem somewhat normal

1) work is done / life is ruined / move on to the next victim.

So 1st we see Satan / alive & working his work of destruction

 

Next force we see at work in this story is society

  1. And when it came to society they didn’t know what to do w/ these guys -

their response was LOCK THEM UP - CHAINS / KEEP BOND

 

  1. Same is true today - our society doesn’t know what to do w/ those who seem out of Control
  2. Our Youth Culture is out of Control - our society says - Lets build some gyms - moon light basketball
    1. More prisons / YOUTH OFFENDERS
  1. We see teenagers acting like animals in regards to one another -ANSWER wear uniforms & metal detectors at schools /
  1. We see teens acting like animals as it relates to sexuality and our society

says give them a condoms / " safe sex "

  1. Our society is so much like the people seen here - trying one thing after another until they threw up their hands & said we don’t know what to do
    1. RESULT - the people lived in fear because of these men & That is what we see so much of that today
  1. We will Come back to the society - but look at what happens when the Savior enters the scene.

Please note v. 28 again 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!"

 

  1. Now I ask you this question - WHO IS IN CONTROL HERE ?
  1. Guys listen Jesus hasn’t said a word here - He just shows up on the scene and the Demons are freaking out over His mere Presence
    1. Here He comes - we are in trouble - Please Jesus don’t hurt us don’t torment us
  1. Guys this should really solidify our stance of the Power of Jesus over Satan / over DEMONIC FORCES
  1. Sometimes People wonder - Can a Christian be demon possessed/
    1. Answer is NO - reason is simple - HOW CAN JESUS & A DEMON CO- EXIST IN THE SAME - BODY - IMPOSSIBLE
  1. The bible declares /God is light & in Him there is no darkness at all !!!! And we see from here that the Demons don’t want to be where Jesus is
    1. And they are in total submission to Him !!!!!

Now if you are a Christian / that means the H.S. lives in your heart - He will not allow a Demonic force to co- exist there / really that simple

  1. Jesus & Demons Can’t co- exist so NO JESUS - open game -

B) KNOW JESUS KNOW PEACE / NO JESUS / NO PEACE

 

NOW NOTICE ALSO THAT These DEMONS are scared to DEATH OF JESUS - Don’t torment us

v.3130 Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

A)Legion was 6,000 Roman troops - 6,000 demons begging Jesus for

mercy Should I ever DOUBT HIS POWER IN MY LIFE

    1. Guys this should also reassure us that the Devil has no power in our

lives / only what we give him by listening to his lies .
  1. Wait doesn’t the Bible say that He is a raging roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour -
    1. Yes that is true but as it relates to the Believer - he is a toothless Lion who has been declawed !

Col. 2:15 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

A) Disarmed - public spectacle

  1. 1JN 5:18 he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
  1. 2 Tim. 4:18 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.

There are so many Bible verses that allow us to see our position & Power in Christ - have to ask who are we really fighting

  1. James declares in Ch. 4 :7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
  2. 1st be submitted to God - 2nd RESIST THE DEVIL - DON’T LISTEN

tune out

  1. Paul declared We Don’t wrestle against flesh & blood / not a physical battle - battle that takes place mostly in our minds
  1. Told in Eph. 6 be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might /

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD …. ABLE TO STAND
  1. That ARMOUR IF YOU REALLY STUDY IT /LARGELY DEALS W/ OUR POSITION & POWER IN CHRIST !!!!!
  1. Because that is an area that Satan constantly - is seeking to rip us off in!

Doubt saved / doubt called / doubt the Lord’s presence

 

WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SHARE W/ YOU DON’T SHARE W/ MANY

BECAUSE PERSONAL / VULNERABLE

  1. I have pretty much always been a pretty even keeled - level thinking person - but there was a time / when in OR. Battled ending it all
  1. Low point in the ministry - we all have them - I was discouraged -
    1. Started getting these thoughts - Maybe you are not called to be a Senior pastor - ( again normal - everyone faces - )
  1. Now I Should have applied the armor went back to truth - but instead I started mulling over those thoughts - MAYBE THAT IS RIGHT
    1. progressed - maybe you are not called to be in ministry at all
  1. Your whole life has been a fraud - God hasn’t really been working - not God who was really using you
    1. Married the wrong person - should have never moved to OR. You are worthless / Just end it all ( Driving Semi / cliff )
  1. Sometimes take everything in my power to stay on the road - CRAZY

 

CALL FROM GOOD FRIEND - LARGE CHURCH - WOKE ME UP -

I WAS DEALING W/ THE SAME THING 2 WEEKS AGO

A) You are under attack & the enemy wants you to quit

  1. Suddenly like a V-8 commercials I am in a spiritual battle/ war
    1. Got down on my knees - LORD FORGIVE ME FOR NOT FIGHTING
  1. Charging ever since - Guys we have the Victory - We just need to stand in it !!!! Be Strong in the Lord …… might

FINISH UP

32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them.

NOTE THIS : These demons say - if we can’t be in a person - can we please go into the pigs - ( makes no difference to them- people / or pigs

A) INFACT Demons seek to get people to act like pigs

33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.

34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.

35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.

  1. Guys this is amazing - This is what Jesus can do for those in the mist of a Satanic storm - touches you -

1) RESULT sitting at His feet clothed in right mind

  1. But here is what is really perplexing - people saw and were afraid

and asked Jesus to leave

36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear And He got into the boat and returned.

Jesus radically touches this guy that they couldn’t do anything for - and instead of praising God they were afraid - asked Jesus to leave

He is a threat to our pig industry

  1. They were more concerned w/ money than mercy / pigs than people
  1. But Jesus on the other hand was demonstrating the Value of a person / that people are much more valuable than pigs
  1. Our society - teaches our kids that they came from monkeys - then they act surprised when young people act like Apes
    1. If you teach a child that he came from an animal you can’t expect him to act like much more than an animal
  1. But if you teach him he was made in the image of God you are teaching him that he is uniquely & infinitely more valuable than animals
    1. He has a unique origin & Destiny - made by God for the glory of God to live forever - w/ God When Realizes / Sees I am important
  1. But these people like those in our culture valued pigs more than people so they asked Jesus to leave

V.38

38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you." And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

Now I love this Jesus says YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL SO GO & SHARE IT

  1. Hey so do you Some pulled out of the pit - others saved from it
  1. Regardless you have a story to tell !!!!!!!

In the paper a few weeks ago it was reported that Gov. Wilson is giving 2.5 million to schools abstinence based curriculum. APLAUD THAT

  1. But teaching Abstinence apart from Jesus will not be that effective as it relates to the masses - ( it is better but there is still a problem)
  1. See our teenagers need to understand that it is only in Christ that they can have the power & self control to resist sexual temptation/ hormones
    1. PURPOSE & IMPORTANCE OF THE PURITY CONF.
  1. And at that Purity Conference - several thousand kids in right mind -

make a stand for Purity - make a stand for Jesus -

    1. Hurting healed / bondage released / clothed & in right mind - even

learning about proper ways to dress -

  1. But know this there will be those who make a fuss / why ?

Well if their kids are in their right minds / RIGHT W/ GOD - they might tell them to stop looking at porno / stop drinking

  1. If they start preaching this God stuff - then that reminds me there is a God that I have to answer to & I don’t want to deal w/ that !
  1. So whenever this type of thing goes on - ACLU / JANE FONDA / HOLLYWOOD - GETS OFFENDED -
  1. Says like these people - Jesus we don’t want you here!!!!

**** LORD RAISE UP AN ARMY OF YOUNG PEOPLE -STAND

Few Questions before we go - Not saved

  1. Where is your faith ? Believe in something - What do w/ my Son?

 

If Saved - KNOW THIS - In the storm

Jesus promises to keep you / He is w/ You / He is at Rest

 

 

SPIRITUAL BATTLE He is our VICTOR

Stand strong in Him !!!!!!