// Work that Makes a Difference.

http://www.challies.com/christian-living/work-that-makes-a-difference

Work That Makes a Difference challies.com - Informing the Reform... by Tim   I once had a job I hated. Day after day I sat in a windowless basement office surrounded by hot, noisy computers. Day after day nothing happened. I had no major projects to inspire me, no big goals to work toward, no clear mission to fulfill. It was a bland and boring existence down there, just waiting for something interesting to happen. But nothing ever did, at least until the day came when they laid me off. I hated that job. I hated going to that office. The eventual pink slip, though intimidating and humiliating, was also something of a relief because at least it promised an end to those days. I have thought about that job many times as the years have passed. Sometimes it is in the context of periods when the job I do now, a job I love, seems dull and insignificant, when pastoring involves more paperwork than people. Sometimes it is in talking to Aileen who often struggles with the humdrum nature of the work she does in keeping house and raising family. Sometimes it is in talking to other people who feel their skills exceed their opportunities, or who believe their training ought to take them beyond the tasks that consume their working hours. And then I think back to that job in network administration, to the grumbling and discouragement, and in retrospect, and upon further reflection, I have to own my guilt in it. What I see more than anything, and what concerns me more than anything, was my utter lack of joy in what I was doing. I fully believe that job was my calling, my vocation, at that time in life, and yet I did it without any passion, any drive. I did it without any joy. I failed at my calling in that time and in that place. I deserved to be laid off! But the job wasn’t the problem. I was the problem because I refused to attach any significance to the work I was doing. The work was boring and mundane, dull and tedious, because I allowed it to be that way. I wasn’t thinking Christianly about that job or the work I was meant to do there. My lack of joy in doing my job was a direct result of the lack of significance I attached to it. Here’s the thing I had to see, and the thing I still need to call to mind: Work is not significant only when it utilizes my full capacity or full capabilities. Work is not significant only when it offers unusual challenge or special opportunity. Work is not significant only when it is measurable in dollars and cents or praise and compliments. Work has intrinsic significance because it gives me the opportunity to do something with joy—with joy in the Lord. I can do my work in such a way that it glorifies God, or I can do it in such a way that it dishonors him. Anything I can do to God’s glory has significance. It has great significance! How do I do my work to the glory of God? I embrace that task, no matter how menial or insignificant it may seem. I do it when I’m told to do it, I do it to completion, and I do it with joy. When I do it this way, I am glorifying God. I think of Jesus the carpenter. The Son of God had created humanity, he had created the earth, he had created the cosmos, and for most of his life on earth he created household furniture. But I don’t think he grumbled about it. I think he did it to the glory of God. I think of Paul, the great intellectual, the brilliant scholar, the pastor and church planter, who was content to stitch together tents. I don’t think he grumbled about it either. He did it to the glory of God. I think of that same Apostle writing to slaves in Colosse and telling them, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” By definition such people were unpaid and disrespected, and yet Paul could tell them that their work was full of significance because it gave them the opportunity to serve and glorify God. Every day and every moment I have the choice before me: Will I do my work in such a way that it glorifies God? Or will I do my work in such a way that it dishonors and displeases him? In the face of such questions, I know my work matters. No matter what my work is, it matters. It matters because my work is a stage to bring glory to my God. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

// Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers?

http://www.westernseminary.edu/transformedblog/2014/01/27/why-doesnt-god-answer-my-prayers/

Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers?

By J. Carl Laney | Bible, Discipleship, Featured, Theology

After nearly two years of battling lymphoma, my friend asked to return home from the hospital and died two days later. I had prayed countless times for God to grant remission of the cancer. My family had prayed. Gary’s wife and family prayed. Our church family prayed. We all believed that God would be most glorified by allowing Gary to continue his life and witness here on earth. But our prayers were not answered.

Many people have wondered why our all-powerful and loving God doesn’t answer the prayers of His people. Of course some people view prayer as a potential way to get things, manipulate people, avoid unpleasant consequences, and maintain a certain level of happiness. And when God does not seem to produce the desired outcomes, they are disappointed and disillusioned. The main problem here is that such people have an inadequate view of prayer.

Prayer is a means of communicating with God, expressing our love through adoration, confession and thanksgiving. Yes, petition has its place in prayer. But the great prayers in the Bible focus more on the development of spiritual qualities rather than personal, material gain (Eph. 1:15-23, 3:14-21, Col. 1:9-12).

Yet I certainly believe that God can and does answer prayer. During my life as a Christian, I have seen God answer many of my petitions in ways that evidence His supernatural intervention. But if God is able to answer all of our prayers, why doesn’t He do so? Since Gary’s death I have been thinking about some reasons why our prayers sometimes seem to fail.

1. Sometimes God does not answer our prayers because of the littleness of our faith. When the disciples asked why they were unable to deliver a boy from demonic bondage, Jesus explained, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you” (Matt. 17:20).
2. Sometimes God does not answer our prayers because of sin in our lives. The psalmist wrote, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, Yahweh will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18). There is no point in seeking God’s help if there is known sin in our lives that we are unwilling to acknowledge.
3. A third reason God may not answer our prayers is because of unreconciled relationships. The apostle Peter instructed believers to live with their wives in an understanding way, granting them honor as fellow-heirs of the grace of live “so that your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Pet. 3:7).
4. A fourth reason why our prayers don’t seem to be answered is that God has delayed the answer for a more appropriate time. Solomon wrote, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecc. 3:1). In some cases it is not that God won’t answer our prayer, but that the answer will be forthcoming according to God’s timing.
5. A fifth explanation for why our prayers are sometimes not answered is that God’s greater purposes are sometimes accomplished through unanswered prayer. Paul prayed three times that God would deliver him from “a thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7-8). But God didn’t answer Paul’s prayer. Instead, God taught him an important lesson, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Unanswered prayer may help us learn of the sufficiency of Christ in a troubling situation.

At times there is no apparent reason why God would not answer our prayer. We firmly believe that the answer would bring about His glory and our good. But no answer is forthcoming. These are opportunities for us to demonstrate patience, persistence, and persevering faith–to the glory of God.

Sunday Morning IBC. 1/26/2014. Acts 16:6-10.

Aligning our Will to God's Will. Acts 16:6-10.
Pastor Wayne Hu.

This passage is an encouragement to me [Wayne], because it redirects my thoughts to God and His purposes for my life. Allow yourself to be used by God, for His purposes.

Paul's 2nd Missionary Journey.
Acts 16:6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man ofMacedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Flashback and Recap. Paul's 1st Missionary Journey.
Acts 13:4 [Paul curses a Magician and he goes blind. But all the proconsul becomes saved in verse 12.]
Acts: 16-41 [Paul preaches and the people (Jews) ask him to return to preach more.]
Acts 14:9 [Paul heals a man healing a cripple from birth. Crowds then want to worship Paul and Barnabas.]
Acts 15:12 [All assembly fell silent as Paul shares after returning from their journey.]

Now our text for today: The 2nd Journey.
Two failed attempts.
1. Failure to get from east to west, Lystra to Asia.
2. Failure to go north to Bithynia.

Paul's plans were blocked. Things didn't go his way. 
Paul's strategy for advancing the gospel was practical: maximum impact where many people are.

God said "no". What can you do when God is the one in your way?
Why not Asia? Why not Bithynia?
God leads them on a journey that doesn't make sense to us humans at all.
Imagine having to walk mountainous terrain from San Diego to San Francisco. 
They had no idea how long they were to walk. They were going through trials but didn't know why they were suffering. No converts along this path. Confused and discouraged. 
Yet they entrusted themselves to being faithful. Faithful and not just successful. Concerned with pleasing God and not men. They denied themselves and made decisions to follow Christ.

Acts 16:8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man ofMacedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 
- The reason God said no to Asia and Bithynia: Because Macedonia (modern-day Greece) needed the gospel.
- Churches established all over Macedonia: Philippi, Thessalonia, Corinthians..
- Gateway for the gospel to Europe.
- I'm glad the Lord said no to Asia and Bithynia.

Application to our lives in general. Sometimes we get discouraged, but it's only when we look back do we understand, to a degree, what God's purpose was. And we won't know until we get to Heaven.

Saying: "God never does only one thing. In everything He does, He is doing 1,000's of different things. In every situation, a 1,000 different things that you do not see, and that you do not know."
Our circumstances may seem difficult, but God has an eternal purpose for His glory. And we must be ready to immediately obey.

"The way I do not know, but well I know my guide.
I don't know where I am going, but I know the one who is holding my hand."
- Martin Luther.

We can have great peace because we know that God knows.
God is our security.
Our security is not in our circumstances.

As Christians, we know.
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
- We believe that suffering for the Christian is never pointless but always has a God-ordained purpose.

"The more you become aware that He knows all things, the less likely you will be to ask Him questions." - CJ Mahaney

As Christians, we can say, just like Joseph to his brothers... (after being sold to gypsies, thrown into prison, being forgotten by the man he saved for more years)
Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

God is sovereign over successes and failures.
Like Paul Silas and Timothy, we are to keep trusting God.
Let us seek to be faithful in 2014, not successful.

"Our goal must not be a certain city or state, but to follow Jesus.
Our goal must not be a desired activity or ministry, but to follow Jesus.
Our goal must not be success in whatever we do, but to follow Jesus.
Our goal must not be to receive only good things in life, but to follow Jesus."
- Greg Harris, The Cup and the Glory

// The Proud Pursuit of Humility

http://www.gospelcentereddiscipleship.com/prideful-pursuit-humility/

// The Proud Pursuit of Humility

By Greg Willson

These days, I have a constant, repetitive prayer to God. One that asks for God to remove my pride and my self-doubt. It’s a prayer for humility, something I feel more in need of now than ever before. Pride and self-doubt are really two sides of the same coin. One believes that we know better than God does, the other believes that he isn’t good or powerful enough to change us. Neither makes much of God, effectively bringing him down below us. The prideful and the self-doubters both believe they’re better than God, they just show it in different ways.

PRIDE AND SELF-DOUBT

Pride is more of an obvious manifestation of a lack of humility. It’s easy to spot most of the time. Some of those who struggle with pride link their own lives to their success. And when they don’t succeed, it probably wasn’t their fault. When things go well, pride points the finger inward; when they don’t go well, the finger points outward. Their eyes are horizontal, not vertical.

Self-doubt is a cloaked version of humility’s lack. It’s not so easy to identify, as cynicism can sometimes be seen as merely a need for gentle encouragement. We shouldn’t forego being gentle, but a rebuke is also needed for self-doubters. We self-doubters understand well our failures but struggle to see God as more gracious, loving, and forgiving. Essentially, God isn’t enough to change us. He doesn’t have enough power or goodness. Unlike the prideful, a self-doubter struggles to accept any form of praise. When things go well, their finger points outward, when they don’t, the finger points inward. Again, like the prideful, their eyes are locked horizontally.

Sometimes the prideful are looked up to because of their confidence, albeit broken. Sometimes the self-doubter is looked up to because of their humility, albeit broken. But both really are living lives out of themselves. Neither has “considered the lilies of the field” and looked up to God as provider. One thinks man primarily provides, one denies provision altogether. None asks with the author of Psalm 26, “Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and mind.” One doesn’t examine enough; one examines, but without God.

True humility asks the God of the universe to gaze into ourselves with his unflinching eye, that he might examine us and illuminate our shortcomings. Of course he can do this (and does) on his own without our requests, but there’s something important about that desire coming from us. In our request for God to examine us, there is an implicit acceptance of our faults, the drive to not stay the same, and the belief that God in his goodness can do something about it.

When confronted with the desire for real humility, we tend to fall into two categories: the anxious and the accepted. The stem of anxiety comes from knowing we’re not where we should be, but thinking we can get there on our own. It’s a prideful chase of humility. Our eyes are locked towards others or ourselves, never looking up to where our hope comes from.

The stem of acceptance comes from knowing that we are God’s beloved children. In Matthew 3:17, Christ is baptized and God declares, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This same declaration is now directed to those who have faith in Jesus. How can this be? Having faith in Christ means our lives are woven into his. his life becomes our life. his goodness becomes our goodness. Romans 6:4 tells us that Christ’s death and his new life become our own. This means it is only by the power of Christ that we can participate in anything like humility. The gospel puts that which is wrong in us to death and brings that which is good to life.

DOING AND BEING

Our doing comes from our being; what we do arises from who we are. And if you are a disciple of Christ, you are, first and foremost, the radically accepted son or daughter of the King. You have flaws and shortcomings, baggage and sins. He has welcome arms. You have brokenness, hurt, pain and unfulfilled desires. He has a loving embrace.

It is only because of our acceptance with our Father that we can be obedient. Our obedience is our acceptance lived out. And one of the bi-products of this kind of life is humility. It’s tricky: searching for humility first attracts pride. But searching after God himself will attract humility. Christ himself embodied this example. Paul teaches us about the Incarnation in Philippians 2:8 and says he “humbled himself.” How did Christ do this? By “becoming obedient.” Christ, knowing his acceptance in the Trinity, knowing the Father’s love towards him, submitted his own body in obedience, in turn bringing about humility. If there was anyone on this earth who could have looked within and mustered their own humility outside of the Father, it would have been Christ. But he was obedient to the Father and that’s where Christ’s humility shines.

More than merely our example, Christ himself is our means for humility. The Philippians 2:8 passage says that Christ’s obedience led to his death, “even death on a cross.” Christ’s death on the cross was an act for us. Because Christ died, our pride can die. Not because we’re good enough, but because Christ has put an end to it. Because Christ died, our self-doubt can die. Not because we’re self-effacing, but because Christ looked our sins in the face and took them on, putting them to death. And now, being accepted by our Creator, we can live the new life that Christ rose again for. He walks in resurrection life so that we can. We don’t have to be primarily prideful or self-doubting (though we’re not perfect… yet), but we can live in the freedom of being an accepted son or daughter of our loving Father.

THE COURAGEOUS SERVANT

Our new freedom takes on the character of a courageous servant. Psalm 116:16 says, “O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.” We are not kings, we are servants, not slavishly serving ourselves, but freed to serve the King. Our identity as such does not afford pride. But we servants aren’t weak, either. Psalm 31:24 exhorts us to “be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!” We are servants and we are rooted in a strength outside ourselves. This is a vertical orientation.

Both the prideful and the self-doubter need to take courage by waiting on the Lord. If you are tempted to overshadow your inadequacies with pride, take courage. The life you now live is marked by our acceptance by the Father. Run to him, confess, and ask him to change you. If you are tempted to believe that God isn’t good enough to change you, run to him, confess, and ask him to change you. This is what waiting on the Lord looks like. This is the obedient life and true humility. We are saved from pointing the finger inward, saved from pointing the finger outward, freed to live with our hands outstretched heavenward, to our loving Father.

_

Greg Willson is the Church Planting Resident at Riverside Community Church. He likes creating music, and writes about art and the church at gregwillson.com. Follow him on Twitter: @gregoriousdubs.

Sunday Morning IBC. 1/19/2014. Luke 8:26-39.

Master of Spirits Part II. Luke 8:26-39.
Pastor Nam Park.

A story with a level of discomfort; because I believe what the scriptures say. A demon was running around and that's not a normal thing. The scriptures report it and thus it is genuine and true. The one that we worship is more powerful that storms... than demons.

Come away from this passage, not with the "craziness of demons"... the point is that Jesus is the Master over the storms, over sickness and death, and over the supernatural. Jesus has absolute control.

Luke 8:26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. 28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, 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 seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. 30 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

32 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. 33 And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

Luke 8:34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. 35 The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. 36 Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. 37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. 38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

We think upon our Savior and that He has absolute dominion and right to rule over even the demons. We know little about this but we trust in the scriptures concerning. We have no control. Help us to not be men and women who just fear, but who fear with great love. Help us to accept the testimony of the word of God. And to be astonished at the ability of Jesus to save us from the difficulties of this life: storms and death. Feed us with a deeper appreciation of Jesus Christ. Amen.

They were using chains to bind him. He was walking amongst the dead bodies in tombs. And something has taken hold of him so that they feared him, would beat him and bind him. He comes to Jesus screaming. Powerful, frightening, yet these demons verify theological truth to Jesus. The demons acknowledge: “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me."

Theologically, there is only one God and the rest (demons). No competition. There is no yin and yang. And one day there will be only God.

They feared something real. We normally fear things not imminent, ghost stories. And how this fear directs us and how it controls us is the issue of the people. 

Luke 8:35 The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. 
- Preconditioned. What they see confirms what they had heard. These descriptions tell us that he is the exact opposite of what he had been with the demons.
- Instead of praising God, or thanking Jesus for healing the man, they became frightened. Thankfulness? No, fear. Their fear started at that point. "They were afraid."
- Good had triumphed over evil. Why Fear? 1. A guilty conscious maybe (dealing with pigs) and not living according to the law (not probable). Or 2. Because they are preconditioned to remain fearful of all supernatural items (demons and Jesus who can overcome demons). They are a fearing people. They didn't want to deal with any of it.

The locust of their fears: "Leave our lives as it is. This is my life, it's not perfect, but it's my life. And control of my messed up life is better than no control at all"
Why won't you give up your life to Jesus Christ? A: I would rather still be in control.

The Rich Young Ruler
Matthew 10:17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

In the face of the greatest good, the preconditioned nature of our hearts is still the fear of losing control. I'd rather not have demons, but I'd rather not have you here either. What do I do with you? Yet such fear is irrational.
This reminds us that knowledge is not sufficient to grant salvation. Knowledge and fear is not sufficient unto salvation. They were dominated by their fear.

Their reaction, to ask Him to leave.
Luke 8:37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. 
- Why do people no accept Christ? They are gripped with fear. Trying to keep control.
- Our fears can be consuming and irrational.
- Consider the greatest good: Letting go of control of this life.

GK Chesterton once said that "if people stop believing in God, they don't believe in nothing, they believe in anything."

People think: If Jesus has all the power, does He have the power to do what I want. Because I'd rather have my good life now, apart from Him, now.

The People: Fear without love.
The Demoniac: Love without fear. He just wanted to be with Jesus, the man that rescued him. He recognized that Jesus was the only hope in his life. Begging that he might stay with Jesus. Surprisingly Jesus sends him away. But Jesus gives him a commission. 

The commission would require a reconnection to his family.
Return to your home. Of all the mission fields, going back home is one of the hardest. A bit of fear because these people knew how bad your fall was. They knew your sins well. Proclaim what God has done for you.

"Proclaiming" is different from just narrating. To proclaim was to preach. Proclaim with an anticipation that there must be a response to it. The goodness of God in the face of Jesus. And that Jesus had done great things for him. He told of the great things done. He understood that Jesus had a direction connection to God, Himself. He was an evangelist amongst those that knew his sin best. The man went back home to be a genuine missionary. His love casted out fear.

It is only when we come to the end of ourselves. Our sins are absolutely visible. The one who can rescue my soul is worthy of all my affection and worship. This man understood enough of Jesus to become an evangelist of Christ.

What should our Reaction be to Him?
1. We still want control
2. We ascribe everything to Christ and then seek to follow Him.
The main thing: To reshape how we live, even the mundane things, to be lived for Him.

Our commission might not take us to unreached people groups. But for the most of you, your call will be similar to this man's: Acknowledging your sinfulness, recognizing Jesus as Salvation, and accepting His charge to return to your house to describe what great things God in Christ has done for you.

The most amazing work: Saving us from our Sinfulness so that we might serve Him, and serve Him well.

Sunday Morning IBC. 1/12/2014. Luke 8:26-39.

Master over Spirits. Luke 8:26-39.
Pastor Nam Park.

CS. Lewis writes: "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight."
- We don't plan to run into demons, but scripture tells us that these things exist. Throughout church history, demonic activity is concentrated in the gospel accounts. Why? A: Because Jesus became God-incarnate. 
- Let's not fall into the error that they don't exist today.
- How would we react if we were there to see this story unfold?
- The focus isn't on the demons, but on the Master that can control these demons.
- He is Lord over storms, Lord over demons, Lord over death itself. He is the absolute Lord over everything we see, touch, beyond all things that humans want to control (weather, disease, death, etc). 

The Demoniac Cured

Luke 8:26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. 28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, 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 seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. 30 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

32 Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. 33 And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. 35 The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. 36 Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. 37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. 38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Prayer: Help us to live for our Savior, because He deserves it and is compassionate towards us. The Lamb of God, slain on our behalf. May we learn more about Him who has saved our souls today. Amen.

Right on the heals of Jesus calming the storm.
They are fearful of who He is and immediately when they land, they meet a demon possessed man.

Luke 8:25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 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?”

The demon possessed man. We normally put the possession by the demon. This man was purchased by the demons. He's a man "having demons." Maybe there was something this man did that had done that the demons would enter him. He had not put on clothing for a long time, living among the tombs (homeless). 
- He's so distressed to have no hope.
- A person that no longer fits under the category of person: "filth."
He falls down prostrate, a position of absolute and full submission. 
Full knowledge of Jesus Christ and their sins.
Not bowing of reverence, but more a bowing of forced reality. 

Luke 8:28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.” 
- Statement of fear.
- What must happen now that we are both here?

James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
- They know who Jesus is, but it doesn't change them.

Luke 8:29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert. 
- In order to help this man, they bound him. 
- With many men they would beat him, bind him, and then put him under guard. Then the demon drives him into the dessert.
- This is what sin and filth does to an individual.

Why are demons concerned with degrading human life?
- A: Because we're made in the image of God. Killing a mammal feels weird because of the spark of life within them. Animals don't think about purpose of life. As humans, we do think about purpose. Demons are about crushing that "image of God" in you. Demons try to eradicate any semblance of human potential. To act like the animals.

Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.
- "Legion" is used for a grouping of Roman Soldiers.
- The demons kept asking (imploring) that they would not be tossed into the abyss.
- "Abyss" in revelation is related to cells of tormenting. 

The parallel account in Matthew.

Matthew 8:29 And they cried out, saying, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

- Demons have better theology than we do.

We have the volition to bow willingly. 
This man wants to go with Jesus Christ. 
We realize that he is just a man, just like us.
And even this disfigured and sorrowful life, is not beyond redemption.
This is the power of the gospel. The power of God in the face of Christ.

Sunday Morning IBC. 1/5/2014. Luke 8:22-26.

Jesus Christ is the Master of the Storms. Luke 8:22-26.
Pastor Nam Park.

The End of Chapter 8 is a series of narratives that highlight Jesus' Lordship/Mastery, He is in absolute control in areas that it is IMPOSSIBLE for humans to have control in. Today, we are looking at His control over literal storms. Later: control over demons. Later: ability to heal those that are far away and ailments. Ultimately: He has control over life/death itself. Learn to exalt Him. With dependence upon the Father, He can do miraculous things upon His will. 

Naturalism: Theory denying that an event/object has a supernatural significance, specifically that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomenon. Believing that all things can be explained by scientific living.
(As Christians we are not Naturalist, since miracles happen outside scientific explanation.)
- Death shouldn't scare a pure naturalist. Death is just data.
- Not only are we not naturalist, we are supernaturalist. We believe that there is a God and that He CAN act wherever and whenever He chooses. 
- Jesus touches the supernatural. He has given sight to people that have been blind their whole lives. He's healed dead people. Miraculous. If we except these, then the other things that follow are not as miraculous. Then scripture will point to the question: Who is this Man?

Jesus Stills the Sea

Luke 8:22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 23 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. 24 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, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 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?”

Prayer: We thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ, the God-man, who came to earth, lived a perfect life, and laid down His life, so that we would have the debt of our sins paid for on the Cross. Indeed, we worship a God who is worth of worship because our Savior lives and is in absolute control over all things. We praise you as we look to you in this new year as the Lord over storms, sickness, demons, death, over ALL things... knowing that your Lordship matters; because if you are the sovereign God in control over all things of this world, then we really do have nothing to fear. We tremble and shrink back of the difficulties that may come in the course of our lives, teach us to grow in trust and to grow in the ability to endure more; To believe in the power, willingness and compassion of our God to rescue us. We praise You for your mercy. Please unfold this passage so that we might learn to grow in depth of our appreciation and trust in You. Amen.

There will be storms in 2014 in your life (metaphorically).
This isn't twisting the reality of this story to saying "Live Your Best Life Now" and that Jesus will be there for you in your storms. But, that we can trust the Lord in the Storms of our lives and even in the small moments of our lives as well.

A literal story about a literal storm. A normal day of ministry.
Luke 8:22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. 

Parallel account in Mark calls it a hectic day.
Mark 3:20 And He *came home, and the crowd *gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 21 When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.” 22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”
- Busy in terms of the strain of people, family matters, and the accusation of the scribes...
- Jesus wants to get away from the crowds for a moment.

Luke 8:23 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. 
- It is appreciated that we see that Jesus is exhausted, it's part of His humanity. He falls asleep.
- The Sea of Galilee is below Sea Level. Deeper than a Crater lake. High Jagged Mountains are around it. It's only 13 miles long, and 5 miles wide. Area around the water is tropical/warm. Thus cold air from mountains and tropical air mixing creating wind storms similar to hurricanes.
- Like an "earthquake" or a "water-quake."
- Verse 23 shows these men in a panic in contrast to Jesus' behavior.

Luke 8:24 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, and they stopped, and it became calm. 
- They had to wake Jesus up. Shouldn't Jesus have the same sensibilities as us? How is it that Jesus doesn't wake up.
- He sleeps with PERFECT DEPENDENCE on the Father. Deep and true sleep.
- If there are anxieties upon your heart, it affects your ability to sleep. [[Sigh, I know this is true.]]
- The sleep of a righteous man is restful.

Mark 4:38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they *woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

- Mark records the words of the disciples in a more dire place.

The disciples were right to feel the burden of their anxiety. They were in imminent danger.

On the flip side, we tend to be over dramatic in our lives today: "Lord, don't you care?"

The mark of our immaturity is that it feels like "the end of the world" to us.

Like not having a gf or bf. Having this kind of a car or not.

We laugh at the disciples, but look at our immaturity.

We are so immature that every slight disappointment is cause for us to abandon all hope.

The scriptures argue with us. If you are a child of God, you have been redeemed/purchased even though you don't deserve it. You have been cleansed from your sin. Recreated in the image of God, and adopted into His family. With the promise of Eternal Life, not just a life, but an ETERNAL life. And not just an Eternal life, but an ETERNALLY FULFILLED, Satisfied, and Blessed life with the God who has created you. If that is our reality in Salvation, it is a bit silly that we are talking about life/death and "perishing" over money issues... relationships... work... friendships... etc.  Sometimes it demonstrates that we are not in tune with who Jesus is. 

He is not just a good teacher (although he cares for them).

Jesus then rebukes the wind.

Luke 4:39 [Jesus rebukes a fever: Fever, get out of here.]

Luke 4:35 [Jesus rebukes a demon: Demon, get out of here.]

Luke 8:24 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, and they stopped, and it became calm. 

- Perfectly still. Like a sci-fi movie.

- The disciples were fearful and amazed.

- It's a miracle. And our God is behind each miracle.

Luke 8:25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 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?”

- It's a teaching moment: Where is your faith? The equivalent as saying, "You should have trusted."
- As storms hit, we might find ourselves lacking in the trust we should have in the Lord for all things?
- His expectation of them: Was to rest in the sovereign hand of God. He demonstrated this by sleeping in this storm. Encouraging them to find rest in the wisdom of God. In the howling storm, there is reason to trust in a God who is greater still. Later, they would be hunted as disciples. And hopefully they learned to trust in a God who is greater still.

Think of Job who lost his 10 children and all his earthly possessions.
This was Job's reaction:

Job 1:20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

- To this point, Job demonstrated why he was a righteous man. 
- The key isn't that God will fix any bad thing. He will not deliver us from all bad things. But He will deliver us through these things.

Whatever you trust in, Jesus is more than capable of them. He keeps His promises.
In the presence of God, stand amazed.
They might recognize, that He is like YHWH in the scriptures:

Psalms 65:7 
Who stills the roaring of the seas,

The roaring of their waves,

And the tumult of the peoples.

Psalms 89:9

You rule the swelling of the sea;

When its waves rise, You still them.

Psalms 107:24-30

24 They have seen the works of the Lord,

And His wonders in the deep.

25 For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,

Which lifted up the waves of the sea.

26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;

Their soul melted away in their misery.

27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken man,

And were at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

And He brought them out of their distresses.

29 He caused the storm to be still,

So that the waves of the sea were hushed.

30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,

So He guided them to their desired haven.

This Jesus is more than a man. We appreciate the fact that He is human, very human. But we should acknowledge that He is also God, very God. And God very God knows all things, has the ability to do all things, and has compassion to know what is best for us in any given moment, so that the best is accomplished in all things.

What an amazingly large universe we live in. In a place like this, how ridiculous to think that little us matter at all. Our God controls it ALL. The numbers of atoms that we are composed of... He is also in control of the minuscule items as well.
He knows about the sparrows, He cares about you. His omniscient care for you.
He has the divine love that would rescue you from yourself and from your sin.
The key: We worship a God that is WORTHY of WORSHIP. 
There will be storms.
But the question: What would make you lose faith this year?
Unless the answer is nothing, then we are in danger.
Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ, the one whom he has sent.

*hm. wow. thankful for the redirection of focus. where is my faith?