Watch What God Can Do. . . 3
Notes
Transcript
Watch What God Can Do!
Watch What God Can Do!
Oxyclean- How many of you recall seeing the old Oxyclean infomercials? Crazy Eddy’s Warehouse- his prices are insane. Billy Fucillo- huuugggeeeeh!
Products that offer wonderful healing power and health benefits. Fountain of Youth, kind of stuff. Snake Oil salesmen.
The past couple of weeks, we’ve had the blessing of remembering the wonder working power of God.
His ability to do marvelous things with something simple, like a simple meal of 5 loaves and two fish.
Last week we took the time to observe that fact that God desires to use men and women to bring glory to Himself and that we ought to rejoice in the glory of our salvation and rejoice that He has opened our eyes and our brothers and sisters in Christ to know Him.
This morning we are going to take a look at the wonder working power of Jesus- God in the flesh
“A miracle is a less common kind of God’s activity in which he arouses people’s awe and wonder and bears witness to himself.”
40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.
41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house,
42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.
44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.
48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”
51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.
52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”
53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
Watch What God Has Done!
Watch What God Has Done!
In this historical, accurate account that is recorded for us by the work of the Holy Spirit, informs us of two wonderful examples of the Power of God.
We just read about the miracle working power of Jesus evidenced in the healing of a woman who had tried every possible means at her disposal of being healed. We also read of the life restoring, resurrecting power of Jesus, which he poured out on a 12 year old daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue, a man who lead the people of God in worship on a regular basis. So what do these two accounts teach us about God, as we watch what He has done?
Imagine being there, at the time these things took place. What would this have meant to the people present? I hope we will not only be able to answer that question, but that we will also answer the question, “what does this mean for us?”
These accounts demonstrate to us the power of God. They are both different from the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, and different than the account of Jesus sending out his disciples (the 12 & the 72) to perform miracles, that we looked at last week. But the purpose for which they happened do not differ. They were accomplished by Christ to authenticate Him as being the All Powerful, Creator God, and to authenticate His message and His messengers, the messengers of the New Covenant.
First, I believe these miracles teach us of God’s power over sin.
God’s Power over Sin
God’s Power over Sin
And the first miracle, would have very much so have proclaimed that truth to those present that day, that Jesus had power over sin and the initial effect of sin. We know that sin, causes death. That was evident since the Adam first sinned in the garden, and sometimes, that death is quick and other times it is slow, and there was a curse that was initiated upon creation as a result of sin. Here in Luke 8 we see the power of God, was put to work in counteracting the result of sin, in the life of this woman.
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”
The Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated His power over uncleaness, that was demonstrated in the life of this silent sufferer.
44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.
48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Power over Sin
Power over Sin
One could certainly understand the way this woman sought to approach Jesus quietly and somewhat secretively. She has spent the last twelve years of her life, seeking how to be freed from an illness that left her “unclean”, yet not visibly so.
But her faith, in Jesus was instrumental in paving the way for the power of God to do a work in her body. Jesus said to her, “Your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
The word “well” in the Greek, is sozo, which is the same word used to describe those whose sins have been forgiven. It is the same word used in Luke 7:50 to describe the woman who Jesus clearly says, her faith has saved her and is also used to describe the 2 lepers, in Lk 17, that returned to worship Christ, after they had been cured of their leprosy.
Jesus, healed her hemorrhaging and her sin, as she trusted in Him. Christ’s power was poured out into her life, and that same power has been poured out into the lives of all who trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, freeing them from the devastating effects of sin. We see this full extent of this power exemplified at an even more impressive fashion as we continue on in Luke 8. Look again at verse 49 & 50.
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”
Do you realize what Jesus is asking them to do? Have you ever been tested in this way? Do you trust that Jesus has the right to say such a thing?
He certainly has the power over sin and its temporary effects.
Now we see Jesus demonstrated once again, that He also has . . . The power over Death, as he demonstrates here and did earlier in Luke 7
What situation in your life is causing you to have to decide, will I trust God in this situation, or will I handle it my way, or will I just accept things, as they are? Are you finding yourself in a “crisis of faith” this week? What situation seems beyond repair, what situation are you facing that seems to be out of your control, and is likely to have a less than favorable outcome? Will you fret & fear or will you believe? Will you trust that things will be well, and that God
Power over Death
Power over Death
51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.
52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”
53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.
56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
Did you see what God has done and can do!
Power over Death
Power over Death
Power over the ultimate effect of sin, that is death. Resurrection Power.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.
17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”