Storms

Luke 8

Storms

LUKE 8, PART 1 – THE ANNOUNCEMENT

• “The Kingdom of God is HERE!”• Growing, thriving, and very mysterious.

• Built on “The Rock” – the power of God’s Word.

• “Sower” Parable: 3 out of 4 don’t care.

• Today’s toxin: “thorns and thistles, which choke out the Word…”

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. Luke 8:22

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms Luke 8:23-25 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!"

And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves…

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

…and they stopped, and it became calm.

And He said to them, "Where is your faith?"

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

“We are perishing!”• Disciples to

Jesus

“SILENCE!”• Jesus to

Nature

“Where is your faith?”• Jesus to

Disciples

“Who is this?”• Disciples to

each other

You are not exempt from ‘Storms’

JC can lead us into ‘dangerous’ territory

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

“We are perishing!”• Disciples to

Jesus

“SILENCE!”• Jesus to the

Fallen World

“Where is your faith?”• Jesus to

Disciples

“Who is this?”• Disciples to

each other

JC holds real authority.

His Word is His authority.

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

“We are perishing!”• Disciples to

Jesus

“SILENCE!”• Jesus to the

Fallen World

“Where is your faith?”• Jesus to

Disciples

“Who is this?”• Disciples to

each other

JC holds real authority.

His Word is His authority.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

“We are perishing!”• Disciples to

Jesus

“SILENCE!”• Jesus to the

Fallen World

“Where is your faith?”• Jesus to

Disciples

“Who is this?”• Disciples to

each other

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

“We are perishing!”• Disciples to

Jesus

“SILENCE!”• Jesus to the

Fallen World

“Where is your faith?”• Jesus to

Disciples

“Who is this?”• Disciples to

each otherGod causes everything to work together for the

good of those who love God

Romans 8:28

…because he chose us to become like his Son

Romans 8:29

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

“We are perishing!”• Disciples to

Jesus

“SILENCE!”• Jesus to the

Fallen World

“Where is your faith?”• Jesus to

Disciples

“Who is this?”• Disciples to

each other

They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. “LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. Psalm 107:27-29

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

“We are perishing!”• Us to Jesus

“It is FINISHED!”• Jesus to the

Fallen World

“Where is your faith?”• Jesus to us,

today.

“Who is this?”• The big

question

The King Enters Our StormsThe Spiritual Storm

The OccultReligions are not ‘the same’

Primitive religions concern evil spirits

People held in bondage.

Today: fear-based Postmodernism

Part 2 – The King Enters Our StormsSo they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him.

• …people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease—if they were demon-possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. Matthew 4:24

Bible distinguishes

between “demons” and

“sickness”

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms…a man who was possessed by demons came out...

Spiritual Bondage

Not all ‘spirits’ are the same.

Satan is “the

destroyer”

Fear, deceit, manipulates

, murders

Today: Postmodern

blindness

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms…a man who was possessed by demons came out...

Modernism• Denial

Postmodern• Spiritual

vacuum.

Future:• ‘Signs and

wonders’

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

Bond

age • For a long time he had been homeless and naked,

living in a cemetery outside the town. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. Luke 8:26-29

As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him.

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. Luke 8:30-32greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. Luke 8:33

Part 2 – The King Enters Our StormsWhen the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Luke 8:34-36

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. Luke 8:37

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

Bondage

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

• Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. Luke 8:37

Part 2 – The King Enters Our Storms

The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.”

So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Lk. 8:38-39

1. Canada – 96%2. Australia – 93%3. Great Britain – 90%4. Germany – 86%5. Japan – 83%6. France – 75%7. India – 75%8. Israel – 71%9. Greece – 62%10. Mexico – 51%11. Russia – 50%12. Egypt – 47%

13. Saudi Arabia – 42%14. China – 41%15. Cuba – 37%16. Libya – 25%17. Iraq – 24%18. The Palestinian Authority – 19%19. Syria – 17%20. Pakistan -15%21. Afghanistan – 14%22. North Korea – 13%23. Iran – 10%

PRAY FOR GUIDANCE! “A whopping 96% of Americans have a generally favorable view of Canada, while 3% view it unfavorably,” Gallup reported on its website. “The favorable rating is the highest Gallup has measured for any country in more than 20 years of asking this question.”