Sunday, January 24, 2021 - Luke 4:31-5:11 - Freedom Community Church - Pastor Rob Lloyd

Sunday, January 24, 2021 - Luke 4:31-5:11 - Freedom Community Church - Pastor Rob Lloyd - Battle Ground, Washington, US

Sunday Service Time: 10 AM
Sunday Service Location: 1919 SW 25th Ave, Battle Ground, WA 98604
Phone: (360) 975-9356
Email: info@freedomcommunity.church
Prayer Request: wepray@freedomcommunity.church
Mailing Address: 1400 NE 136th Ave, Ste 201, Vancouver, WA 98684

Sermon Notes:
Luke 4:31-5:11

Have you ever heard someone say the bible is irrelevant because it doesn’t address the things they’re dealing with today? Maybe you’re the one who said that at some point in your life, or even now hold that position.
• Personally, I have found the exact opposite to be true. Every time I open the word and really look at what it’s saying, I find it’s the only thing that’s relevant, and furthermore, trustworthy.
• I don’t think todays study is any different. So, let’s jump in and see what the Lord has for s today.

31 Then He (Jesus) went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

So now we add to His grace filled teaching (4:22), teaching with authority. This is not simply speaking of His confidence, or even just that they could tell in their spirit He was speaking absolute truth, but that He was living out the authority He was speaking under.
• How many voices speaking today do you see as having real authority in the things they are saying?
• Do you find that in government? Do you find that in media? Do you find it Hollywood? Or in the majority of religious leaders in the world?
• The only place of real authority is in the person of God. And anyone who speaks the word of God is speaking from the only place of absolute and unchanging authority.
o But Jesus did more than just speak with authority, He exercised it. We’ll see that next.

And I really appreciate the Lord making the point again that they gathered on the Sabbath to hear the teaching of the Word of God. This was focal, and needs to remain focal, as we follow Jesus example.

33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

Do you find it strange this occurred in the equivalent of what for us would be the church gathering? I can assure you the others in the synagogue were shocked by this revelation.
• And some might then conclude, well then there’s no safe to go. But notice that in the presence of Jesus, the demonic had no place to hide. So, the solution is to be in a church where the presence of the Lord is.
• And how do you know that? It’s not where perfect people are (they don’t exist), but where people who love, worship and serve our Lord Jesus come together. He is there/here in our midst (Matt. 18:20).
• And we should also see the demons knew who Jesus was and feared He would destroy them, because they know without a doubt He can and one day will! So how will Jesus deal with this situation?
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

So here is that authority we were just talking about. And we need to understand there were others who practiced casting out demons at that time, yet really had no authority over them. That’s why the people were so astonished when by these simple words it was done.
• Each and every one of us can expect to be pestered by demons, but as believer we can never be possessed by them because God isn’t going to share authority over us with them, when we belong to Him.
• Those unbelievers who are possessed lose their ability to do as they will. They are moved and compelled beyond their control to do the will of the one who possesses them.
• But in Jesus presence and at His command, they could no longer steal this person’s life

Now, let me apply this in a word for today. There has been a lot of talk and concern about the vaccine for COVID. For the record, I have no intent of receiving it. But I respect your right to disagree.
• But if you think the Lord would allow one of His children to be overridden in their spirit by a creation of man, when He has authority to control the higher spiritual realm, I also disagree (2 Cor. 11:2).
• And if you are concerned this is the mark of the beast, go back to Rev. 13:11-18 and see this cannot happen until the mid-point of the tribulation. Which requires some astounding things to happen first that have clearly not occurred yet (Rev.8:7-13); one being the rapture of the church. So, maybe just pray about it first and then only move as the Lord leads. That’s always the way to go in everything.

38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever (Peter was married), and they made request of Him (Jesus) concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

Other than 1) refuting the Catholic understanding that priests need to be unmarried men (which by the way in the 4th century was to stop priests from giving church property or positions to their children) and 2) claiming Peter was the first Pope, 3) this shows all Jesus did in order to heal her was speak and touch her hand (Matt. 815).
• Now if you are sick and come forward for prayer, we’re told us to anoint you with oil and pray for you (James 5:14-15). And if you ask, that’s what we’ll do.
• You won’t get some strange voice and some weirdness to freak you out. You’re going to hear us passionately praying to the Father through Jesus authority as we humbly seek His will and mercy.
• That might be strange if you’ve never experienced it, but it’s not going to be a televangelist ordeal because Jesus doesn’t need a show to judge if we are worthy. We’re not. He is and He loves us, so we just come together to make request of Him, according to His Word.

40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that 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 out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Some have read these verses and concluded that every time we pray for someone, we will always see the answer to the prayer we ask for. Is that a correct way to approach this?
• If the demon we pray against is cast out but they don’t receive Jesus afterward, the bible tells us their new condition will be worse than their previous state (Matt. 12:43-45), so maybe God is waiting until they are ready to receive Him, or at least not making their problem worse. He knows.
• And if all sickness is healed will we not all still die physically (unless raptured). So, is it possible the Lord doesn’t heal because either He is using us/them to bring others to Him, or using their illness to open their eyes to their mortality and need for Him? He knows.
The only miracles we all absolutely need in order to inherit eternal life are 1) forgiveness of sin (Eph. 1:7), 2) reconciliation with the Father (2 Cor. 5:18), and 3) an advocate forever pleading our case (1 John 2:1) at the right hand of the Majesty on High (Heb. 1:1-4), 4) who has conquered death (John 14:19).
o But that they all might know without a doubt that God had sent Jesus, a display of His absolute authority over all they feared, was being poured out (we will see in Luke 5:24).

But why wouldn’t Jesus let the demons tell everyone He was the Christ? I mean, why withhold this when people needed to know who He is in order to believe in Him and be saved? The answer is it has to do with God perfect timing. Some have said the only reason for time is to keep everything from happening at once.
• It’s kind of like cooking, certain things have to go into the pan in a certain order to make things come out right. And when it comes to our salvation and the restoration of all things, God is the chef and He created the perfect recipe.
• But we might say “I’ve never had this dish before. How do I know it will turn out like it’s supposed to or that I’ll even like it?” Here’s the answer; trust the Chef based upon His past dishes and wait with excitement and anticipation for the next.

I think it’s fair to say many of us wondering about God’s timing right now. It’s not that we think He has the timing wrong; it’s just considering the circumstances; we want to know what’s next and when.
• We’re always given what we need when we need it. We are to trust the Savior’s (master chef’s) timing. It’s perfect even if we don’t get it yet. And remember, the only time He ever burns anything is when He’s intending to (Rev. 16:8-9, 20:10-15) and that’s not the dish He’s serving us (1 Thess. 5:9)!
42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

He had just healed the entire city, so they didn’t want to let Him go because they knew where He was, there was tangible help and hope. And I totally get it. If I was in their place at that point in time, I hope I would have been no different in this regard because they wanted to be in the constant presence of Jesus.
• But things have changed since Jesus ascended and the Holy Spirit came. Now His followers, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, are to bring the presence of the hope and help He brought and brings.
• While He was here, He went. Now, we who are His are to go.
• While He was here, He led others into the synagogue every sabbath to hear and study the Word. Now, we are to be those who lead people into bible believing and teaching fellowships where the saints come together to worship Jesus.
o Jesus was sent by the Father for this purpose. And Jesus has now sent us (Matt. 28:18-20).

5:1So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

The crowd by now was growing so large it seems Jesus has to keep backing up to make room, and was coming to the point He would either have to forbid anymore to come, step into the sea, or find another alternative.
• We all know that forbidding others to come was never going to happen, just like we would never say to people truly seeking to worship Jesus, “sorry, there’s no room for you here.” If Jesus had to endure hardship to make a place for them, He most certainly would have done so.
• And although Jesus could have kept stepping back into the sea until He came to His chin, He found a way to bless to bless Peter (in asking to use what God had supplied him to serve the Lord in return) and accomplish the work of preaching to the masses.
• Folks, when we can use what God has given us for the furtherance of His work here on the earth, what we get in return is indescribable. It’s not a burden, it’s a double portion of blessing.

But before we continue with this account, we need to note the washing of their nets meant the workday was over (which happened to be during the night for them). I worked in a restaurant in high school for a short bit and I remember closing for the night, washing every last dish, cleaning the ovens, the bathrooms and so forth. When we were done, we were just exhausted and so glad it was done. So, keep this in mind for a few minutes.
4 When He (Jesus) had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

I have to tell you if anyone came in after we had done the work of closing up and asked us to cook them a steak, I believe I can honestly say the answer would have at the least been an emphatic no.
• And Peter in his natural man felt this way at this moment, but He had just heard the teaching of Jesus. And he says these words (being moved in his spirit) that need to follow every difficult thing we might want to avoid; “nevertheless at Your word…”
• There are all kind of difficult things I want to avoid, but after taking them to the Lord and seeking guidance in the Bible, something is moved in my spirit to say “nevertheless at Your word…”
There are several things I think many of us hope to not have to go through, but because we trust Jesus timing and know His ultimate plan is perfect, we need to conclude every one of those conversation with Him with those words of surrender.

6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

Even in this the Lord is working out a greater blessing. It’s the gift of being so blessed in the work of the Lord you have to ask others to come help take in the harvest He’s providing.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Folks, I think you have to rewind to see this correctly. Peter was in the synagogue listening to Jesus teach with true authority, and then watched Him cast out a demon. Then He went to Peters house and instantly healed his mother-in-law. Then Jesus healed everyone in the city and cast out every demon. And now Peter drops to his knees at a great catch of fish? Why did this bring him to this place? Why didn’t every other supernatural work bring him to this place immediately?
• I think it’s fair to say he finally came to a place where he quit resisting what he knew to be true. And when he came to that place, he realized how sinful he was, and that he had no right to be in the presence of the holy God.
• And when Peter finally humbled himself, Jesus 1) caught him, 2) calmed him (do not be afraid) and 3) called him (you will catch men).
• And how did Peter respond? “Lord, just let me take this fish to market and then I will have all the funding I need to do full time ministry”. No, it says they (including James and John) simply left it all on the shore and walked away from it for good to follow Jesus.

Folks, I’m hoping there are some today who will quit resisting what they know to be true of Jesus. You’ve known it for some time but you haven’t come to this point Peter did in this account. When you do, you will know real freedom and hope.
• For those of us who have had the moment, are we freaking out about the timing, or do we trust His plan? Maybe we need to practice concluding every conversation with “nevertheless at Your word…”
• Are we out there catching others for the gospel and lending back to the Lord the things He’s made us stewards over to further His desire that all would come to know Him? Or are we saying, Lord I just have to take in, or cash in, one more of the blessing before I can get to that?
• We are in the final stretch. The waiting is over, it’s time to go fishing for those who are lost. We’ve all been given different bait to use for those we are called to reach. Let’s get it in the water!