Lectionary Calendar

Saturday, December 21st, 2024
the Third Week of Advent

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Luke 8

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Introduction

Introduction
READ: Luke 8:1-8
1. Our passage today begins with a section I call being rich towards God… and then we will look at the parable of the soils:

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Introduction

Introduction
READ: Luke 8:1-8
1. Our passage today begins with a section I call being rich towards God… and then we will look at the parable of the soils:

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 1-18

The Parable of the Sower
1. Rich Towards God
  Luk 8:1-3 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
  1. Luke 7:41-47 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
  2. In addressing this passage last week…we said, “People who recognize what Jesus has truly done for them love Him much!”
  3. Chapter 8:1-3 are a demonstration of this great love…they are rich towards God as they are supporting His ministry out of what they have.
  4. Out of the abundance of our hearts…we should give – Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
2. The Soils
  Luk 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
  1. “Para” means to come along side – a parable is a way of depicting a truth in terms that the people you are speaking to can understand.
  2. Sowing and reaping in a society like this would quickly be understood – if the people wanted to…
  3. Yet…down in verse 9, Jesus says, “Luk 8:9-10 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”
  4. In the Bible, a mystery isn’t something you can’t figure out. It is something that you would never know unless God revealed it to you. In the Biblical sense of the idea, you may know exactly what a mystery is, yet it is still a mystery, because you would not have known unless God revealed it.
  5. The Soils…
    1. The Pathway
      Luk 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
      1. V. 11 tells us that the seed is the Word of God.
      2. Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
      3. This speaks to those people who have a hard heart and a closed mind…they don’t want to hear; therefore they don’t hear. Satan has successfully blinded them and stolen the Word from their ears.
    2. Rocky Soil
      Luk 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
      1. Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
      2. This is the person who, in following their emotions, professes Christ yet only in their mind and not their heart. To “quickly fall away” means that there was no true faith.
      3. (v.6) says it withered because it lacked moisture – meaning it wasn’t truly connected to the true vine. Jesus is the true vine and He is perfect and will not let us die.
      4. Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    3. Weedy Soil
      Luk 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
      1. Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
      2. The weeds that choke are the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. What are these?
      3. They are not necessarily sin items, rather they are things that we allow in our lives to distract us and divert us and cause us to choose them instead of God.
      4. One way to tell what your distractions are is to look at your thought life and your checkbook. Are your thoughts on yourself; on what you want or what you think you need or your hobbies or your job? Where does your money go? Outside of necessities like rent and food, where does the majority of your money go? Hobbies? Toys?
      5. God desires your relationship with Him to be more important that your cares, pleasures and riches! Our focus should always be first and foremost on His will and His Kingdom.
      6. Mat 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
    4. Good Soil
      Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
      1. Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
      2. Good soil requires a heart that is allowing God to transform it – a heart that desires and tries to obey faithfully over the long-haul.
3. Our Choices
  Luk 8:16-18 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
  1. Take heed – we are not to cover our light – and we can’t hide our hearts from the Lord!
  2. This parable can be received in two different manners – to the lost world it speaks to those who reject the Word, those who only receive on an emotional level, those who receive but don’t really repent from the world and those who follow Jesus with their whole heart.
  3. It can also, however, speak to the believer and the condition of his heart.
    1. Do we hear the Word of God and reject it out of the hardness of our hearts?
    2. Do we jump on the latest bandwagon and then jump back off the minute things don’t work the way “WE” think they should?
    3. Do we walk through life allowing all the cares of the world, the lust of our flesh and eyes and our pride keep us in a state of immaturity in the Lord,
    4. Or, do we seek to follow the Lord with our whole heart?
  4. This passage clearly shows us that we have a responsibility to the Lord…
  5. If you are the person with the hard heart – it’s time for you to repent and turn back to the Lord! It’s time to humble yourself and ask the Lord to both forgive you and renew your heart! It’s time to ask Him to give you the desire for Him…He is faithful!
  6. If you are the emotional “jump here and there” person – it’s time for you to buckle down, slow down, seek the Lord and stay with what He shows you and quit following your flesh!
  7. We are called to continually evaluate our lives, our walk with the Lord and the leading of our flesh as compared to the Spirit. Do we find our walk with Jesus choked out by the cares of the world? If so, we are called to lay them aside…
  8. Heb 12:1-2 …let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  9. BUT…Jesus said at the end of the parable – let him who has ears, let him hear. Thus, the real question for each of us is this: “Do I want to be good soil for Jesus?”
  10. If we want to be people who honor God and please Him…we need to cultivate a live-style of walking, talking, loving, listening and obeying Jesus. This is the idea behind “Abiding”.
  11. God’s heart is that we seek Him first…and that we love Him most – His heart is that we desire to find our help and hope from Him alone.
  12. If we desire to be good soil, we will ask our heavenly Father what His desire is for every decision, for every direction and even for every word we speak.
  13. God’s heart is that we get to know Him – He has given us His Word to provide the opportunity for us to know His character, to hear His thoughts and to know His desires for His people. He has given us the history of Israel – the Old Testament – so that we might learn from it and not repeat the mistakes but seek to emulate the successes.
  14. God has given us the New Testament so that we might see His great love, know His great salvation and seek a relationship with Him like no other.
  15. If we desire to be good soil we need to not only be open to hearing the Word, we need to be reading the Word EVERY DAY – man doesn’t live by bread alone but by every Word the proceeds out of the mouth of God. We need strong meat!
  16. Finally, to be good soil, we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit – the 3^rd person in the Trinity. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would lead us in all truth. The baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sin, it empowers us to minister grace and He will speak truth to our ears – truth that will never contradict the Word.
  17. Read through the book of Acts – the disciples didn’t accomplish anything outside of the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit!
Conclusion
1. As we conclude…have we received the forgiveness of sins that only Jesus can provide? Have we considered the magnitude of our sin as it relates to our sinless and Holy God?
2. We can only be forgiven, find our salvation, and go to be with God forever through faith in Jesus. There is no other name in Heaven or Earth by which we can be saved.
3. If we’re saved…what does our soil look like? Are we good soil, weedy soil, rocky soil, or hard ground?
4. What kind of soil do we desire to be? Will we come to the altar and lay down all our cares, hindrances, weeds and thorns of life and ask God to make us good soil?
5. Jesus is waiting at the door of your heart…and knocking – how will you respond?

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Verses 1-18

The Parable of the Sower
1. Rich Towards God
  Luk 8:1-3 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
  1. Luke 7:41-47 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
  2. In addressing this passage last week…we said, “People who recognize what Jesus has truly done for them love Him much!”
  3. Chapter 8:1-3 are a demonstration of this great love…they are rich towards God as they are supporting His ministry out of what they have.
  4. Out of the abundance of our hearts…we should give – Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
2. The Soils
  Luk 8:4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
  1. “Para” means to come along side – a parable is a way of depicting a truth in terms that the people you are speaking to can understand.
  2. Sowing and reaping in a society like this would quickly be understood – if the people wanted to…
  3. Yet…down in verse 9, Jesus says, “Luk 8:9-10 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? 10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”
  4. In the Bible, a mystery isn’t something you can’t figure out. It is something that you would never know unless God revealed it to you. In the Biblical sense of the idea, you may know exactly what a mystery is, yet it is still a mystery, because you would not have known unless God revealed it.
  5. The Soils…
    1. The Pathway
      Luk 8:5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
      1. V. 11 tells us that the seed is the Word of God.
      2. Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
      3. This speaks to those people who have a hard heart and a closed mind…they don’t want to hear; therefore they don’t hear. Satan has successfully blinded them and stolen the Word from their ears.
    2. Rocky Soil
      Luk 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
      1. Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
      2. This is the person who, in following their emotions, professes Christ yet only in their mind and not their heart. To “quickly fall away” means that there was no true faith.
      3. (v.6) says it withered because it lacked moisture – meaning it wasn’t truly connected to the true vine. Jesus is the true vine and He is perfect and will not let us die.
      4. Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    3. Weedy Soil
      Luk 8:7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
      1. Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
      2. The weeds that choke are the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. What are these?
      3. They are not necessarily sin items, rather they are things that we allow in our lives to distract us and divert us and cause us to choose them instead of God.
      4. One way to tell what your distractions are is to look at your thought life and your checkbook. Are your thoughts on yourself; on what you want or what you think you need or your hobbies or your job? Where does your money go? Outside of necessities like rent and food, where does the majority of your money go? Hobbies? Toys?
      5. God desires your relationship with Him to be more important that your cares, pleasures and riches! Our focus should always be first and foremost on His will and His Kingdom.
      6. Mat 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
    4. Good Soil
      Luk 8:8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
      1. Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
      2. Good soil requires a heart that is allowing God to transform it – a heart that desires and tries to obey faithfully over the long-haul.
3. Our Choices
  Luk 8:16-18 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
  1. Take heed – we are not to cover our light – and we can’t hide our hearts from the Lord!
  2. This parable can be received in two different manners – to the lost world it speaks to those who reject the Word, those who only receive on an emotional level, those who receive but don’t really repent from the world and those who follow Jesus with their whole heart.
  3. It can also, however, speak to the believer and the condition of his heart.
    1. Do we hear the Word of God and reject it out of the hardness of our hearts?
    2. Do we jump on the latest bandwagon and then jump back off the minute things don’t work the way “WE” think they should?
    3. Do we walk through life allowing all the cares of the world, the lust of our flesh and eyes and our pride keep us in a state of immaturity in the Lord,
    4. Or, do we seek to follow the Lord with our whole heart?
  4. This passage clearly shows us that we have a responsibility to the Lord…
  5. If you are the person with the hard heart – it’s time for you to repent and turn back to the Lord! It’s time to humble yourself and ask the Lord to both forgive you and renew your heart! It’s time to ask Him to give you the desire for Him…He is faithful!
  6. If you are the emotional “jump here and there” person – it’s time for you to buckle down, slow down, seek the Lord and stay with what He shows you and quit following your flesh!
  7. We are called to continually evaluate our lives, our walk with the Lord and the leading of our flesh as compared to the Spirit. Do we find our walk with Jesus choked out by the cares of the world? If so, we are called to lay them aside…
  8. Heb 12:1-2 …let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  9. BUT…Jesus said at the end of the parable – let him who has ears, let him hear. Thus, the real question for each of us is this: “Do I want to be good soil for Jesus?”
  10. If we want to be people who honor God and please Him…we need to cultivate a live-style of walking, talking, loving, listening and obeying Jesus. This is the idea behind “Abiding”.
  11. God’s heart is that we seek Him first…and that we love Him most – His heart is that we desire to find our help and hope from Him alone.
  12. If we desire to be good soil, we will ask our heavenly Father what His desire is for every decision, for every direction and even for every word we speak.
  13. God’s heart is that we get to know Him – He has given us His Word to provide the opportunity for us to know His character, to hear His thoughts and to know His desires for His people. He has given us the history of Israel – the Old Testament – so that we might learn from it and not repeat the mistakes but seek to emulate the successes.
  14. God has given us the New Testament so that we might see His great love, know His great salvation and seek a relationship with Him like no other.
  15. If we desire to be good soil we need to not only be open to hearing the Word, we need to be reading the Word EVERY DAY – man doesn’t live by bread alone but by every Word the proceeds out of the mouth of God. We need strong meat!
  16. Finally, to be good soil, we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit – the 3^rd person in the Trinity. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would lead us in all truth. The baptism of the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome sin, it empowers us to minister grace and He will speak truth to our ears – truth that will never contradict the Word.
  17. Read through the book of Acts – the disciples didn’t accomplish anything outside of the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit!
Conclusion
1. As we conclude…have we received the forgiveness of sins that only Jesus can provide? Have we considered the magnitude of our sin as it relates to our sinless and Holy God?
2. We can only be forgiven, find our salvation, and go to be with God forever through faith in Jesus. There is no other name in Heaven or Earth by which we can be saved.
3. If we’re saved…what does our soil look like? Are we good soil, weedy soil, rocky soil, or hard ground?
4. What kind of soil do we desire to be? Will we come to the altar and lay down all our cares, hindrances, weeds and thorns of life and ask God to make us good soil?
5. Jesus is waiting at the door of your heart…and knocking – how will you respond?

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Verses 19-21

Introduction
READ: Luke 8:1-8
1. Last week we looked at the parable of the Sower…it’s really a message about what kind of soil we want to be…
  1. There was rocky soil which spoke to emotionalism and not of faith;
  2. There was weedy soil: this represented people who had true faith in Christ but allowed the cares of this world to hinder the work that God wants to do in them and through them;
  3. And there were people who were good soil – v.15 says they heard the Word and kept it and bore fruit through their lives.
2. Luk 8:18 Also tells us: “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”
3. This speaks to us that we become accountable to the Word; so we must take care how we hear.
4. Our passage today begins with Jesus reiterating the idea that we are to choose obedience to the Word…and we are accountable to the Word;
5. We’ll then move to the sea of Galilee and watch Jesus take His disciples through a “Real-life Test” to show them how they’re doing.
Jesus’ Brethren
Luk 8:19-21 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
1. The culture is key to this context…to the Jews in the 1^st century, family was everything. You weren’t asked first what you did or where you lives but “What tribe are you in?” and “Who’s your father?”
2. You remember that Saul of Tarsus was from the tribe of Benjamin, Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, that was how they were known.
3. So…as we look at this statement of Jesus – He is discounting family line and looking at actions as the statement of family.
4. We are in the family of God – we have been adopted (as gentiles) by the God of Heaven and Earth – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…the God who sees and the God who knows!
5. And, because of His great love for us – through Jesus we find acceptance, forgiveness and eternal life.
6. What is required to access His family? Understanding that this is NOT legalism…what is required is that we “DO” the Word of God which we hear…again, responding to the call of God is of foremost importance in our lives.
7. But, what is the first command that Jesus tells us we must follow?
  1. Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
  2. Why? John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
  3. The Father in Heaven wants us to be with Him forever!!
8. Secondarily to that: we find the question posed by the rich young ruler…
  1. Mat 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
9. Love – faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is LOVE.
10. If you want to be part of the family of God…you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, that He rose up from the dead to bring us hope and He is making a place for us now that where He is, one day we will be with Him.
11. BUT! …if you are saved yet struggling, you may ask: “how do I find the power to “DO”?”
12. The Answer: Relationship! You have victory over sin through relationship with Jesus…as you abide in the true vine (who IS Jesus (John 15 tells us)) the Holy Spirit flows in you, and, if you ask, He will flow upon you to empower you to have victory over sin – to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil! 2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
13. Realize this…The more you fall in love with Jesus, the less you will lose the battle between flesh and Spirit in your life! à the less you will sin!

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Verses 19-21

Introduction
READ: Luke 8:1-8
1. Last week we looked at the parable of the Sower…it’s really a message about what kind of soil we want to be…
  1. There was rocky soil which spoke to emotionalism and not of faith;
  2. There was weedy soil: this represented people who had true faith in Christ but allowed the cares of this world to hinder the work that God wants to do in them and through them;
  3. And there were people who were good soil – v.15 says they heard the Word and kept it and bore fruit through their lives.
2. Luk 8:18 Also tells us: “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”
3. This speaks to us that we become accountable to the Word; so we must take care how we hear.
4. Our passage today begins with Jesus reiterating the idea that we are to choose obedience to the Word…and we are accountable to the Word;
5. We’ll then move to the sea of Galilee and watch Jesus take His disciples through a “Real-life Test” to show them how they’re doing.
Jesus’ Brethren
Luk 8:19-21 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. 20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
1. The culture is key to this context…to the Jews in the 1^st century, family was everything. You weren’t asked first what you did or where you lives but “What tribe are you in?” and “Who’s your father?”
2. You remember that Saul of Tarsus was from the tribe of Benjamin, Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, that was how they were known.
3. So…as we look at this statement of Jesus – He is discounting family line and looking at actions as the statement of family.
4. We are in the family of God – we have been adopted (as gentiles) by the God of Heaven and Earth – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob…the God who sees and the God who knows!
5. And, because of His great love for us – through Jesus we find acceptance, forgiveness and eternal life.
6. What is required to access His family? Understanding that this is NOT legalism…what is required is that we “DO” the Word of God which we hear…again, responding to the call of God is of foremost importance in our lives.
7. But, what is the first command that Jesus tells us we must follow?
  1. Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
  2. Why? John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
  3. The Father in Heaven wants us to be with Him forever!!
8. Secondarily to that: we find the question posed by the rich young ruler…
  1. Mat 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
9. Love – faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is LOVE.
10. If you want to be part of the family of God…you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, that He rose up from the dead to bring us hope and He is making a place for us now that where He is, one day we will be with Him.
11. BUT! …if you are saved yet struggling, you may ask: “how do I find the power to “DO”?”
12. The Answer: Relationship! You have victory over sin through relationship with Jesus…as you abide in the true vine (who IS Jesus (John 15 tells us)) the Holy Spirit flows in you, and, if you ask, He will flow upon you to empower you to have victory over sin – to overcome the world, the flesh and the Devil! 2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
13. Realize this…The more you fall in love with Jesus, the less you will lose the battle between flesh and Spirit in your life! à the less you will sin!

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Verses 22-25

He Hears Our Voice
1. Now…we have had a teaching – Jesus spoke of our faith metaphorically as soil, He reiterated our accountability towards our obedience to the Word…
2. And we know that every good teacher will give a test to reinforce the teaching points that have been brought forth…let’s see what Jesus does…
3. Luk 8:22-25 Now it came to pass on a certain day That he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
4. (Let’s Pause for a moment…) The Inductive Bible Study steps are:
  1. Observation: What does it say?
  2. Interpretation: What does it mean?
  3. Application: How can I apply this to my life? (It’s the “So What” principle)
5. Looking at this inductively, the observation asks: Who is involved: Jesus and His disciples; What is happening: they are on a boat ride on a stormy night; Where is it happening: the sea of Galillee; When is it happening: we don’t know other than it is subsequent to the teaching; Why is it happening: to grow their faith; How is it happening: Jesus is using a storm.
6. The interpretation is a little deeper into the text: Jesus takes them into a storm, and when things look their worst – we find Jesus is sleeping.
7. Now, this must have been some storm at there are at least 4 seasoned fisherman on board who would have said, upon setting off and seeing Jesus lie down, “No problem Lord, we’ve got this!”
8. Yet, we find them scared they will die and waking Jesus – but, Jesus knew they wouldn’t die. He knew they still had much ministry left to do, many miracles, many healings, much love to pour out on people …
9. Upon waking, Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves and it says that there was “immediately a calm”. Mark 4 tells us the words Jesus spoke, (in the Greek) “Silence, be muzzled!” …and Luke tells us the calm came immediately!
10. The sea of Galilee is a great body of water (8x13 miles) – and even immediately stopping the wind would not have allowed the waves to stop – the momentum would have had them bouncing back and forth between shores for hours…yet, with a word – all is calm!
11. Why? Jesus is the Lord over the winds and the waves. He is the creator of the universe! He spoke and something was created from Nothing! He is GOD!
12. The application: Jesus is with us in the storm (Heb 13:5 tells us He will NEVER leave us)…and storms, quite often, are designed by God to grow our faith and make us look more like Jesus. Note, He didn’t react to the sound of the winds of the motion of the waves…He responded to his disciples crying out to Him! How often, when we are in the storm, do we forget to call out to Jesus till we think we’ll die!
13. Yet, Jesus loves us and hears us when we cry out to Him! 1Pe 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
14. It’s been said of the Christian…that we are either going into a storm, coming out of a storm or walking through a storm! And realize, too, that Jesus went with them through the storm...He didn’t keep them from the storm.
15. Now…a last thought: How should we react to the storms of life. Should we freak out, assume we will die and give up?
16. No! Jesus tells us that in this world we will have tribulations…but, be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. James tells us to take joy when we encounter trials of various kinds…Paul tells us in Romans to glory in our tribulations, and Peter, in
  1. 1Pe 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
17. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Conclusion
1. As we conclude…let’s remember what the apostle Paul wrote in 1Co 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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Verses 22-25

He Hears Our Voice
1. Now…we have had a teaching – Jesus spoke of our faith metaphorically as soil, He reiterated our accountability towards our obedience to the Word…
2. And we know that every good teacher will give a test to reinforce the teaching points that have been brought forth…let’s see what Jesus does…
3. Luk 8:22-25 Now it came to pass on a certain day That he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
4. (Let’s Pause for a moment…) The Inductive Bible Study steps are:
  1. Observation: What does it say?
  2. Interpretation: What does it mean?
  3. Application: How can I apply this to my life? (It’s the “So What” principle)
5. Looking at this inductively, the observation asks: Who is involved: Jesus and His disciples; What is happening: they are on a boat ride on a stormy night; Where is it happening: the sea of Galillee; When is it happening: we don’t know other than it is subsequent to the teaching; Why is it happening: to grow their faith; How is it happening: Jesus is using a storm.
6. The interpretation is a little deeper into the text: Jesus takes them into a storm, and when things look their worst – we find Jesus is sleeping.
7. Now, this must have been some storm at there are at least 4 seasoned fisherman on board who would have said, upon setting off and seeing Jesus lie down, “No problem Lord, we’ve got this!”
8. Yet, we find them scared they will die and waking Jesus – but, Jesus knew they wouldn’t die. He knew they still had much ministry left to do, many miracles, many healings, much love to pour out on people …
9. Upon waking, Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves and it says that there was “immediately a calm”. Mark 4 tells us the words Jesus spoke, (in the Greek) “Silence, be muzzled!” …and Luke tells us the calm came immediately!
10. The sea of Galilee is a great body of water (8x13 miles) – and even immediately stopping the wind would not have allowed the waves to stop – the momentum would have had them bouncing back and forth between shores for hours…yet, with a word – all is calm!
11. Why? Jesus is the Lord over the winds and the waves. He is the creator of the universe! He spoke and something was created from Nothing! He is GOD!
12. The application: Jesus is with us in the storm (Heb 13:5 tells us He will NEVER leave us)…and storms, quite often, are designed by God to grow our faith and make us look more like Jesus. Note, He didn’t react to the sound of the winds of the motion of the waves…He responded to his disciples crying out to Him! How often, when we are in the storm, do we forget to call out to Jesus till we think we’ll die!
13. Yet, Jesus loves us and hears us when we cry out to Him! 1Pe 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
14. It’s been said of the Christian…that we are either going into a storm, coming out of a storm or walking through a storm! And realize, too, that Jesus went with them through the storm...He didn’t keep them from the storm.
15. Now…a last thought: How should we react to the storms of life. Should we freak out, assume we will die and give up?
16. No! Jesus tells us that in this world we will have tribulations…but, be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. James tells us to take joy when we encounter trials of various kinds…Paul tells us in Romans to glory in our tribulations, and Peter, in
  1. 1Pe 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
17. Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Conclusion
1. As we conclude…let’s remember what the apostle Paul wrote in 1Co 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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Verses 26-29

Introduction
READ:
1. Last week we finished by watching Jesus give His disciples a test…they got onto a boat and set out across the lake. A storm brewed up while He was sleeping that made them fear for their lives…and so v. 24 continues…
2. Luk 8:24-26 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" 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?" 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!" 26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
3. The lesson was about trusting Jesus…not just in the good times, but in the storm.
4. As the chapter continues…we are going to see how Jesus responds to people in the midst of various storms in their own lives – remember, 1Peter exhorts us that Jesus cares for us!
Worship in the Storm
Luk 8:26-29 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
1. The parallel account in found in Mar 5:6 says, “When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.”
2. Worship comes from seeing worthiness: This man, even in the midst of demonic possession saw Jesus, and ran to worship Him – where do we turn in the storm? à JESUS
3. Mat 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
4. Does our life reflect dependence upon Jesus and continual worship because of His worthiness?

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Verses 26-29

Introduction
READ:
1. Last week we finished by watching Jesus give His disciples a test…they got onto a boat and set out across the lake. A storm brewed up while He was sleeping that made them fear for their lives…and so v. 24 continues…
2. Luk 8:24-26 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" 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?" 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!" 26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
3. The lesson was about trusting Jesus…not just in the good times, but in the storm.
4. As the chapter continues…we are going to see how Jesus responds to people in the midst of various storms in their own lives – remember, 1Peter exhorts us that Jesus cares for us!
Worship in the Storm
Luk 8:26-29 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
1. The parallel account in found in Mar 5:6 says, “When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.”
2. Worship comes from seeing worthiness: This man, even in the midst of demonic possession saw Jesus, and ran to worship Him – where do we turn in the storm? à JESUS
3. Mat 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
4. Does our life reflect dependence upon Jesus and continual worship because of His worthiness?

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Verses 30-33

The Adversary
Luk 8:30-33 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
1. Demonic possession – it happens today just as it did then. Our world, however, shies away from the idea and labels it many other things but also know this can’t happen to a Christian…
2. 1Jn 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
3. Darkness can’t coexist in the light – what happens to a dark room when you turn on the lights?
4. We do need to walk with the understanding that Satan and his demons are out to destroy us…
5. We must remember who he is:
  1. The name “Satan” means adversary – he is our adversary and God’s
6. 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
7. He’s also a Liar: Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
8. And He seeks to deceive: 2Co 11:14-15 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
9. Therefore…our response needs to be well defined and appropriate:
10. Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
11. Luk 9:61-62 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
12. Looking back at the old life, the old stuff and not looking forward to what God had for us…opens us up to destruction: as there is no spiritual armor for our backs -- we have to continually face the enemy!
13. 2Ti 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
14. Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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Verses 30-33

The Adversary
Luk 8:30-33 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. 31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. 32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. 33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
1. Demonic possession – it happens today just as it did then. Our world, however, shies away from the idea and labels it many other things but also know this can’t happen to a Christian…
2. 1Jn 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
3. Darkness can’t coexist in the light – what happens to a dark room when you turn on the lights?
4. We do need to walk with the understanding that Satan and his demons are out to destroy us…
5. We must remember who he is:
  1. The name “Satan” means adversary – he is our adversary and God’s
6. 1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
7. He’s also a Liar: Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
8. And He seeks to deceive: 2Co 11:14-15 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
9. Therefore…our response needs to be well defined and appropriate:
10. Eph 6:10-18 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
11. Luk 9:61-62 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
12. Looking back at the old life, the old stuff and not looking forward to what God had for us…opens us up to destruction: as there is no spiritual armor for our backs -- we have to continually face the enemy!
13. 2Ti 2:3-4 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
14. Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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Verses 34-37

Rejecting the Truth
Luk 8:34-37 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
1. The people wanted Jesus to go away…they were afraid and didn’t want any part of the miraculous. Their livelihood could be affected, their lifestyle challenged…it was too much!
2. 1Co 1:18-21 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT." 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
3. 1Ti 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
4. 2Ti 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5. Today is NO DIFFERENT!

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Verses 34-37

Rejecting the Truth
Luk 8:34-37 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
1. The people wanted Jesus to go away…they were afraid and didn’t want any part of the miraculous. Their livelihood could be affected, their lifestyle challenged…it was too much!
2. 1Co 1:18-21 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND BRING TO NOTHING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRUDENT." 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
3. 1Ti 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
4. 2Ti 3:1-7 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5. Today is NO DIFFERENT!

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Verses 38-39

Sharing God’s Goodness
Luk 8:38-39 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
1. This is the message that Jesus has for us…to proclaim the great things that God has done for us!
2. Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
3. Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
4. 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
5. “Tell them of the great things God has done for you!” -- Will you?
Conclusion
1. Conclude with Communion…
2. Mat 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

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Verses 38-39

Sharing God’s Goodness
Luk 8:38-39 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
1. This is the message that Jesus has for us…to proclaim the great things that God has done for us!
2. Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
3. Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
4. 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
5. “Tell them of the great things God has done for you!” -- Will you?
Conclusion
1. Conclude with Communion…
2. Mat 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

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Verses 40-42

Introduction
READ: Matt 11:28-30
1. Do you believe this? Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2. Now…do I put faith in an apple so that it will play tennis with me next week? NO! Why? Apples can’t play tennis.
3. BUT…do I believe that Jesus is the God of the universe? Do I believe that He can heal, cast out demons, part the Red Sea, heal a leper and feed 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fishes?
4. Then, there is reason to place my faith in Jesus because He is not only able but He is faithful. We need to understand that faith is not only placing our hope in what we currently don’t see, but that it is a reasonable hope towards the source of our substance.
5. What we will read and study about today is based upon reasonable faith in the source: Jesus. It is not unreasonable faith in faith as a source. Faith is only unseen hope – the key is the direction of the hope…do you see?
A Ruler’s Faith
Luk 8:40-42 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42 For he had one only daughter (meaning she was an only child), about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
1. Jesus returned from the Gadarenes… Luk 8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
2. Returning back to the area of Capernaum…Jesus leaves a crowd that didn’t want Him and returns to a crowd excited and waiting for Him…
3. And He was met by a man of notoriety – the ruler of the Synagogue – Jairus. Now, the ruler of the Synogogue was responsible for the facility, picking the texts of scripture, inviting visiting rabbis and was overall responsible – he was, in essence, the under-shepherd of the Jew’s “church”.
4. We find this man asking Jesus to come to his home and heal his 12 yo daughter…You recall back in Luke 7 that the centurion didn’t ask Jesus to come to his home, rather to just say the word and it will be done…and Jesus marveled at his great faith.
5. Here, Jesus isn’t rebuking him for less faith or expecting more faith…He honors the faith that he does have and goes with him towards his home. Jesus accepts him and responds to him with the faith that he DOES have…
6. But look at v. 32 – it says “but the people thronged Him” – meaning the crowd was great and pressing in on Him…
7. And at this point, we pause, the scene changes, and we focus in on woman in need…

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Verses 40-42

Introduction
READ: Matt 11:28-30
1. Do you believe this? Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2. Now…do I put faith in an apple so that it will play tennis with me next week? NO! Why? Apples can’t play tennis.
3. BUT…do I believe that Jesus is the God of the universe? Do I believe that He can heal, cast out demons, part the Red Sea, heal a leper and feed 5000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fishes?
4. Then, there is reason to place my faith in Jesus because He is not only able but He is faithful. We need to understand that faith is not only placing our hope in what we currently don’t see, but that it is a reasonable hope towards the source of our substance.
5. What we will read and study about today is based upon reasonable faith in the source: Jesus. It is not unreasonable faith in faith as a source. Faith is only unseen hope – the key is the direction of the hope…do you see?
A Ruler’s Faith
Luk 8:40-42 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42 For he had one only daughter (meaning she was an only child), about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
1. Jesus returned from the Gadarenes… Luk 8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
2. Returning back to the area of Capernaum…Jesus leaves a crowd that didn’t want Him and returns to a crowd excited and waiting for Him…
3. And He was met by a man of notoriety – the ruler of the Synagogue – Jairus. Now, the ruler of the Synogogue was responsible for the facility, picking the texts of scripture, inviting visiting rabbis and was overall responsible – he was, in essence, the under-shepherd of the Jew’s “church”.
4. We find this man asking Jesus to come to his home and heal his 12 yo daughter…You recall back in Luke 7 that the centurion didn’t ask Jesus to come to his home, rather to just say the word and it will be done…and Jesus marveled at his great faith.
5. Here, Jesus isn’t rebuking him for less faith or expecting more faith…He honors the faith that he does have and goes with him towards his home. Jesus accepts him and responds to him with the faith that he DOES have…
6. But look at v. 32 – it says “but the people thronged Him” – meaning the crowd was great and pressing in on Him…
7. And at this point, we pause, the scene changes, and we focus in on woman in need…

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Verses 43-48

A Woman’s Faith
Luk 8:43-44 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
1. This woman having an issue of blood – it is presumed that it a menstrual issue…perhaps, some type of hemorrhage; regardless, according to the law, she was deemed “UNCLEAN” and therefore anyone who touched her would also become unclean.
2. This woman, because of her situation, was broke, isolated and probably treated much like a leper (imagine: if she was single, she couldn’t get married; if she was married she couldn’t experience the loving touch of her husband; if she had children, she couldn’t hold them and love on them…this woman was (and had been) suffering like this for 12 years!
3. So, what did she do? In desperation, the woman sought out Jesus – the creator of the universe, the lover of our souls, the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
4. She pushed through the crowds knowing she was ceremonially unclean and didn’t care – she wanted to be healed and she had faith that Jesus could heal her!
5. This woman, because of her situation, was broke, isolated and probably treated much like a leper (imagine: if she was single, she couldn’t get married; if she was married she couldn’t experience the loving touch of her husband; if she had children, she couldn’t hold them and love on them…this woman was (and had been) suffering like this for 12 years!
6. So, what did she do? In desperation, the woman sought out Jesus – the creator of the universe, the lover of our souls, the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
7. The Gospel of Mark gives us a bit more insight…Mark 4: 25-29 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
8. Luk 8:45-47 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
9. Jesus made a big deal out of the fact that “VIRTUE” left Him…literally, dunamis power left Him – the same power that we receive from the baptism of the Holy Spirit…2Tim 1:7 God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear but of POWER!
10. Why did He make a spectacle of this? Perhaps because He had to correct her thinking about touching His garment like a lucky charm – it was faith in the fact that He could heal her that healed her.
11. Perhaps to demonstrate to the crowd that a woman, even an unclean one, could come to Him and be healed and that an unclean woman’s faith was just as good to Him as a man’s?
12. Possible, as well: Jesus wanted to make public the healing that would not have been noticed otherwise…people could not have known without someone telling it that she was either sick or had been healed.
13. Look how Jesus responded to her personally…
14. Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
15. Daughter – a familial term similar to our speaking kindly using dear, or dear lady…He clearly identified what had healed her…it was her faith!
16. Understand though: this is NOT faith in faith, this is faith in Jesus alone. (By His stripes we are healed – Isaiah 53).

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Verses 43-48

A Woman’s Faith
Luk 8:43-44 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
1. This woman having an issue of blood – it is presumed that it a menstrual issue…perhaps, some type of hemorrhage; regardless, according to the law, she was deemed “UNCLEAN” and therefore anyone who touched her would also become unclean.
2. This woman, because of her situation, was broke, isolated and probably treated much like a leper (imagine: if she was single, she couldn’t get married; if she was married she couldn’t experience the loving touch of her husband; if she had children, she couldn’t hold them and love on them…this woman was (and had been) suffering like this for 12 years!
3. So, what did she do? In desperation, the woman sought out Jesus – the creator of the universe, the lover of our souls, the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
4. She pushed through the crowds knowing she was ceremonially unclean and didn’t care – she wanted to be healed and she had faith that Jesus could heal her!
5. This woman, because of her situation, was broke, isolated and probably treated much like a leper (imagine: if she was single, she couldn’t get married; if she was married she couldn’t experience the loving touch of her husband; if she had children, she couldn’t hold them and love on them…this woman was (and had been) suffering like this for 12 years!
6. So, what did she do? In desperation, the woman sought out Jesus – the creator of the universe, the lover of our souls, the King of kings and the Lord of lords!
7. The Gospel of Mark gives us a bit more insight…Mark 4: 25-29 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
8. Luk 8:45-47 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
9. Jesus made a big deal out of the fact that “VIRTUE” left Him…literally, dunamis power left Him – the same power that we receive from the baptism of the Holy Spirit…2Tim 1:7 God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear but of POWER!
10. Why did He make a spectacle of this? Perhaps because He had to correct her thinking about touching His garment like a lucky charm – it was faith in the fact that He could heal her that healed her.
11. Perhaps to demonstrate to the crowd that a woman, even an unclean one, could come to Him and be healed and that an unclean woman’s faith was just as good to Him as a man’s?
12. Possible, as well: Jesus wanted to make public the healing that would not have been noticed otherwise…people could not have known without someone telling it that she was either sick or had been healed.
13. Look how Jesus responded to her personally…
14. Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
15. Daughter – a familial term similar to our speaking kindly using dear, or dear lady…He clearly identified what had healed her…it was her faith!
16. Understand though: this is NOT faith in faith, this is faith in Jesus alone. (By His stripes we are healed – Isaiah 53).

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Verses 49-56

Fear Not, Only Believe
Luk 8:49-50 While he yet spake (to the woman), there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
1. This is a message for us today…when circumstances are hard, scary, hurtful, or confusing…we need to not fear but believe that Jesus has it handled.
2. No matter what is going on in our lives…it doesn’t catch God by surprise and we must place our hope in Him…we must place our trust in our Lord, and we must believe that God is still on the throne!
3. Luk 8:51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
4. Peter, James and John were Jesus’ inner circle…this was another teaching time in learning who Jesus really was – and how He interacted with others…
5. This miracle was going to be so big…it didn’t need to be validated by spectators and nay sayers…
6. Luk 8:52-53 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
7. The Talmud required even the poorest people to hire professional mourners for someone who had died. Jairus was the leader of the synagogue – well known and probably there were already many mourners at his house.
8. They laughed Him to scorn because they were pros…they had seen many dead and knew this girl was not sleeping!
9. Luk 8:54-56 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
10. The next thing that Jesus did that was uncommon was to take the girl’s hand. It made a person unclean to touch the dead, yet Jesus had no qualms – remember, Jesus cares for each one of us…
11. So, He lovingly took her hand and spoke to the girl, “Maid, arise” – the equivalent of one of us speaking to a young person, “Sweetheart, get up”.
12. And then the coolest thing happened…her spirit came again to her, and not only that – she was healed of her sickness as she immediately got up and went to eat.
13. Jesus never did anything to make Himself famous…remember, He was meek and lowly of heart: thus the “don’t tell” statement.

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Verses 49-56

Fear Not, Only Believe
Luk 8:49-50 While he yet spake (to the woman), there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
1. This is a message for us today…when circumstances are hard, scary, hurtful, or confusing…we need to not fear but believe that Jesus has it handled.
2. No matter what is going on in our lives…it doesn’t catch God by surprise and we must place our hope in Him…we must place our trust in our Lord, and we must believe that God is still on the throne!
3. Luk 8:51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
4. Peter, James and John were Jesus’ inner circle…this was another teaching time in learning who Jesus really was – and how He interacted with others…
5. This miracle was going to be so big…it didn’t need to be validated by spectators and nay sayers…
6. Luk 8:52-53 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
7. The Talmud required even the poorest people to hire professional mourners for someone who had died. Jairus was the leader of the synagogue – well known and probably there were already many mourners at his house.
8. They laughed Him to scorn because they were pros…they had seen many dead and knew this girl was not sleeping!
9. Luk 8:54-56 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
10. The next thing that Jesus did that was uncommon was to take the girl’s hand. It made a person unclean to touch the dead, yet Jesus had no qualms – remember, Jesus cares for each one of us…
11. So, He lovingly took her hand and spoke to the girl, “Maid, arise” – the equivalent of one of us speaking to a young person, “Sweetheart, get up”.
12. And then the coolest thing happened…her spirit came again to her, and not only that – she was healed of her sickness as she immediately got up and went to eat.
13. Jesus never did anything to make Himself famous…remember, He was meek and lowly of heart: thus the “don’t tell” statement.

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Brown's Commentary on the New Testament is reproduced by permission of author. All other rights reserved.

Bibliographical Information
Brown, Jim. "Commentary on Luke 8". "Brown's Commentary on the New Testament". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnc/luke-8.html. 2017.

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Luke 8