Alright guys, I take your Bibles go back to Luke chapter 8 and
As Caleb said it is a great chapter as we're reading through it. It's pretty chunky how many verses?
56 verses and there's a lot of stories, so I'm going to try my best to get through the whole chapter
If I can't get through it would be in a reasonable time. I'll save it for some other sermon
But look at verse number 12 Luke 8 verse 12
It says those by the wayside are they that hear then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts
Lest they should believe and be saved
Lest they should believe and be saved the title of sermon this morning is believe and be saved
Believe and be saved verse number one Luke 8 verse 1 and it came to pass afterward that he went throughout every city and village
Preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God and the twelve were with him
Hey, what's another way to explain or express the glad tidings that Jews is preaching?
What's a word that we're very familiar with when we talk about glad tidings or good tidings it me
It's the gospel the gospel means glad tidings
I'll just quickly read to you from Romans 10 15 the Bible says and how shall they preach?
except they be sent as it is written how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
Gospel pay attention to that word the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things
So there we have in Romans 10 15 the gospel of peace is
Compared as the glad tidings of good things now Romans 10 15 it says it is written
Where is it written y'all need to turn there to Isaiah 52 verse 7?
Isaiah 52 verse 7 which says how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
Tidings that publish of peace. Hey, what did Romans 10 15 call it the gospel of peace?
What does Isaiah 52 7 call it the good tidings that publish us peace
then it says that bringeth good tidings of good and
publisheth
Salvation that saith unto Zion thy God reigneth. Hey, what is the gospel it is publishing?
Salvation. All right. The gospel is not feeding the poor
The gospel is not looking after the widows. The gospel is not coming to church. The gospel is not get baptized
The gospel is preaching salvation. It's preaching the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
But I want you to notice there in verse number one
That it says that he went throughout every city and village
Hey, what was the purpose of Jesus Christ?
Was it to go to some cities and some villages?
No in his ministry his purpose was to go to every city of Judah and preach
Okay, now look at the last verse of Luke chapter 8 look at the last verse
Because we're gonna see this pattern many times in the Bible and he might throw you off a little bit
But verse 56 after he heals the little girl the 12 year old girl from death. He brings her back to life
it says here and
Her parents were astonished
But he charged them that they should tell no man what was done
So it seems like it was you read for the Gospels well, hold on many times Jesus look don't tell anyone what's going on
Don't tell them and then I say well, hold on Jesus. Are you trying to hide something? Are you trying to hide the gospel?
Are you gonna are you trying to hide yourself from other people that they would not know you or follow after you or believe in you?
Whatever. No, we see there in verse 1 that his purpose was to go to every city every village making self available to everyone
But as you've seen as we go through the chapters, there are great multitudes following him
All right, if he had everybody of Julia following him
He wouldn't be able to service each person each village and every each city. Okay, so Jesus had order
He wants an order in the way he would go and approach every city. His heart was to reach everybody
Okay, but it was to be done orderly not out of control with these mass, you know crowds even though that still happened
He had literally had thousands of people following after him
So I don't want you to get the idea that Jesus trying to limit himself
it's not his purpose is to go into every city and every village verse number two and
Certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities
Mary called Magdalene out of whom went seven devils now Mary Magdalene gets a lot of attention, you know
From from certain Christians and I don't know if you've heard this but a lot of people believe Mary Magdalene was a was a prostitute
Let me just say there's nowhere in the Bible that says that this is the first mention that we have with Mary Magdalene following Jesus
Christ and what do we learn about her that out of her Jesus Christ healed her healed her from the evil spirit
She was possessed by devils and it says out of whom went seven
Devils so she was possessed by devil
She had seven devils in her and Jesus Christ had healed her as he had done to many other people and cast at those devils
But now we have a certain group of women
Following Jesus and his disciples look at verse number three
not just Mary Magdalene verse number three and Joanna the wife of chooser Herod's steward and
Susanna and many others which ministered unto him of their substance
So you see there are some ladies mentioned with Mary
Joanna and Susanna and many others the Bible says okay, so there was a group of ladies that would follow after
The ministry of Christ and what was their job? What were they doing?
You know were they were they standing up before the ground the masses and preaching the gospel
Not because Bible says that women are to remain silent in the churches right, but hey were they important to Jesus Christ
They are absolutely important right they even mentioned in the Word of God and what were they doing they were ministering unto
The preachers with their substance so I assume they were doing the cooking they were hoping maybe so
You know when the clothes were ripped or whatever they were helping fix up the the garments
Hey
They were doing what they could to ensure that the men of God the leaders of the preachers were able to do the job at hand
Okay, so that is the role there of a woman
I'm not saying that it's never the role of woman to go and preach the gospel it absolutely is okay
But it's not the role of the woman to stand before men in masses like in a church and preach as we see many many
Today you know Joyce Meyers and other women like that. You know they are doing things contrary to the Word of God all right
verse number four and
When much people were gathered together and were come to him out of every city
He spake a parable now this parable that we're about to read is the parable of the sower
It's probably one of the most popular parables that people preach on I would say this one and the Good Samaritan are
Probably the two top parables you often hear most popular ones that you hear preached in church
Now what's interesting about this parable of the sower is that?
It's it's interpreted different ways by different preachers, okay, then let me just say this
How they interpret this parable will give you a pretty good indication of what they believe about the gospel
Okay, if they believe it's by grace through faith on Christ, or if they believe it's by works
And you'll have preachers that will still say yeah, I believe it's by faith
But when you ask them about the gospel
They'll still throw in the works all right and this parable is a good way if you if you know the preacher that preaches on this
Parable listen to what they're saying and that would give you a really good indication does this person believe the gospels by works
Or does he believe it's by faith alone all right, so let's have a look at this parable verse number five a
Sower went out to sow his seed and as he sowed some fell by the wayside the wayside is like a footpath
And it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it
So you know a wayside a footpath obviously you have the concrete back then
But even if you were to walk on soil and like you'd have masses of people walking on soil
The soil will become compressed will be hardened so if you're going to try to plant seed and throw seed on it
It's not going to get into the soil. It's not going to get into the ground
It's just going to sit there on the top and then as people go by the wayside. They're going to tread on that seed
It's going to be destroyed or the birds will be able to come down easily and eat that for themselves, okay?
let's go, let's go to verse number six and
Some fell upon a rock
Now if you were to take the book of Luke alone
It's a bit confusing like why would some seed fall on a rock?
Well the book of Matthew when he can when he talks about this parable. It says it fell on stony places
Okay, so it's ground. That's rocky, but it has some soil
Okay, it's rocky. It's hard, but it still has some soil
And then it says and as he sowed sorry and sorry as soon as it was sprung up
It withered away because it lacks moisture so because it's a rocky soil
Yes, it can receive the seed yes
It can spring up
But because it's hard you know when it rains the moisture is not going to be ready to retain in that area very well
And so it withers away with a lack of water with a lack of moisture
Verse number seven and some fell among thorns and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it
Verse eight and
Other fell on good ground now
This is this is the interesting one this is the ground that we want our hearts to be when we hear the Word of God
either as an unsafe person
With a good heart or just as a church member
Coming to church and being ready to receive the preaching being ready to receive the teaching from God's Word
We want to have hearts that are good and ready to receive but look at verse eight the context of this will see is
Preaching the gospel and other fell on good ground and sprang up and bear fruit and hundredfold and
When he said these things he cried
He that hath ears to hear let him hear
Hey, so he tells this parable and Christ and cries out. You know he that have ears let him hear now
I would say everybody has got ears right. Do you think it's Jesus's intention that we would know this parable
Absolutely, it's his intention. He says he that have an ears let him hear he wants to explain this parable
This shouldn't be a parable with multiple interpretations. This shouldn't be a parable. I'm not sure what this is talking about
Jesus wants to reveal this to us okay verse number nine and
His disciples asked him saying what might this parable be now?
This is a really interesting reply from Jesus Christ
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 Wow
You see that so there are certain people that Jesus you're going to understand this parable
Because yours is the kingdom of God, but for others they'll see they hear, but they will not understand
alright
So think about the nature. I don't want to go into the topic of reprobates today, okay?
But there are some people that are so hardened that God himself has had in their hearts to receive his word
They can see they can see they can hear but they cannot understand what is being preached from the Word of God
Okay, obviously those that can hear and understand are those that are saved those that have received Christ as their Savior
And they have the Spirit of God in them, and they can discern the scriptures all right
Verse number 11 now Jesus explains this parable to us verse number 11 now the parable is this
The seed is the Word of God
Okay, so now we're going to have a parable of the preaching the gospel
Okay, what are we to do when we go and preach the gospel?
You know are we to tell them hey?
You know we have a good church, and we have good activities, and we have good people is that preaching the gospel
Or no it says we need to go with the Word of God when we sow the seed
We need to take the Word of God with us okay
I would strongly encourage you to memorize the verses of salvation
Memorize the verses about the gospel so you can be an effective
Sower because there are times and people will not allow you to even open this Bible
But they will allow you to speak the words of God and that's a great opportunity for you to sow seed
Even without opening the Bible, but you can still speak the Word of God. It's essential
I'll just read to you quickly from 1st Peter 123 1st Peter 123
Talking about believers it says being born again
not of corruptible seed but of
incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth
Forever, so how are we born again by the seed the Word of God not of corruptible seed hey?
There's a reason why we go with the King James Bible
Okay now if your Bible has an error in it if your Bible has an inconsistency
It's a corruptible seed all right, so we need to make sure when we go with the Word of God
We take something that's perfect
That's pure, and I make no apologies to believe the King James Bible is the English is a perfect
Translation in English for us that we can use to go and preach the Word of God
I mean, it's um it amazes me. It's not a question
I used to ask but when I would go Jason
Parkin when we would meet someone that's already saved
And they'd give us the God they tell us he adds my faith can never lose its eternal life
They've been resurrection of Christ not my works
You know one question that Jason would often ask is you know when did you hear this you know you say on this church?
I was this young whatever, and you know what Bible. Did you read that from what Bible?
You know they say I mean most often it surprised me the King James Bible
It's the King James Bible, and then you go to others that would read from other translations
And you ask them what must you do to be saved?
I got to live would be a good person go to church
You know live a good life, and it's like what why were you reading? It's some modern corrupted translation
Okay, so it's interesting. I didn't expect to have that response, but I've seen that in the last few months or even the last year
I should say of the responses people that actually know the gospel have heard it from the King James
I'm talking about English speakers here all right
Let's move on verse number 12 verse number 12
Those by the wayside are they that here now pay attention to this
The wayside remember the footpath the hard ground with it with it with a seed would not be planted into the soil
Are they that here?
Then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts
lest they should believe and
Be saved hey how could have these people been saved
By believing the Word of God by believing the gospel they heard it did they believe it no
Satan sent his messenger whatever it was to take that word away, and they would not believe us
Okay, this is one group of people that we can preach to they hear the gospel
Do not believe it or you know I would even I wouldn't even associate this
When you when you're preaching the gospel and someone seems to be really receptive
Yeah, you get it, and then somebody in the family yells out. We're not interested
Hey, that's a messenger of Satan. That's someone that's trying to pluck the word out of their heart
So they would not believe it's such a sad thing all right
Let's go. Let's move on so this person does not believe and does not get saved does that make sense she makes sense
Right is not saved this person because they did not believe
Verse 13 now. Let's read this slowly verse 13
They on the rock are they which when they hear they receive the word with joy
Did they receive the seed?
Yes, they receive it with joy actually and these have no roots
Which for a while believe now? Let's stop there for a minute do they believe?
The Bible says they did for a while believe and in time of temptation
fall away
So what did the previous verse say to be saved you have to believe does this next group believe?
Yeah, they believe what does that mean like without me trying to give my?
thoughts on this if the previous verse says they believe in a saved and this person believes it means they're saved because
Salvations by faith and not by works and yet this represents many
Christians today they believe they're faithful for a while they rejoice even
But then the temptations come the trials the difficulties of life
Maybe just standing up for Jesus Christ becomes too difficult
Maybe they have families that turn against them because you know that they receive the gospel they turned away from the false religion
Or their first gods or whatever and they fall away because of temptation
Hey that can be any of us that can be any of us today you might be filled with joy absolutely amen praise God
Tomorrow when you face the trials and difficulties standing up for Jesus Christ
You might be tempted to just fall away and be quiet and just you know what you know
I'm saved good, but I'm not going to really stand up for the Lord God anymore
Verse 14 and
that which fell among thorns are they which when they heard go forth and
are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life and
Bring no fruit to perfection
Now Bob doesn't say here if they believed or not, but think about just the context right these see fell amongst thorns
They go forth, so there's there's a there's a produce there
I would say these people are saved as well that they believe because there's been something that's come out of that seed
it's been brought forth, but a choked with cares and riches and
pleasures of this life and bring no fruits to
Perfection no fruit. We'll talk about what the fruit represents in a moment okay, but these people get saved whoo
Okay, but their eyes are not set on eternity their eyes are set on temporal things their eyes are set on the temporal riches
Of this life. You know the big house the second car
Whatever whatever it is that you know you can enjoy your the holidays. They'd rather put all these things first
Than Jesus Christ then the kingdom of God and they're choked
Whilst as they are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life
You know it sounds like these believers are really enjoying life
But from God's perspective. They're being choked. They're being choked, and they're unproductive
They're not bringing any any fruits to perfection all right. They're not achieving great things for God
They're achieving great things on this earth
It's only got temporal value. There's nothing eternal for them
Verse 15 verse 15, and this is the best one right, but that on the good ground are they?
Which in an honest and good heart have been heard the word keep it and bring forth fruits with patience
So here we have another group here that that believe they receive the word
They keep the word and they bring fruit with patience
All right now let me just reach you from Proverbs 11 verse 30
Proverbs 11 verse 30 the Bible says the fruit of the righteous is
A tree of life and he that win of souls is wise
Hey, if you want to be fruitful if you want to be a tree of life
The Bible says that's the one that wins souls
Okay, what is the fruit?
We were reading the Bible a lot of people think of the fruit of the spirit, and that's okay
I understand that okay, but the fruit of the spirit is a fruit of the spirit
What is the fruit of the believer? What is the fruit of the righteous if you're going to reproduce?
What are you reproducing other?
believers
Okay, we're mums and dads when they reproduce they reproduce other
Children okay other human beings you know when churches reproduce they reproduce other churches
Okay, and so when the spirit reproduces when you're born of the spirit it reproduces the new spirit in you
Okay, but when believers reproduce we're reproducing new believers, okay?
Now let me just quickly say this I'll just read to you from Matthew 13 verse 8
Because you might remember that it mentioned the hundredfold fruit that was produced
But in Matthew 13 verse 8 it says this but other fell into good ground and brought forth fruits
some and a hundredfold
some 60 fold some 30 fold
Do you think God gives us these numbers for no reason?
Some have fruit of 30 some have fruit of 60 some have fruit of a hundred
If we tie this together about bringing forth fruits bring in preaching the gospel the word of God and and having that fruit
There are some people that will get 30 people saved there are some that will get 60 people saved
There are some that will get a hundred people saved
Hey, but it's the fruit of the season. You know trees reproduce
You know in its season, so let's say it's it's a spring and a tree
Producers in spring that means next year in spring. It's going to produce once again
Okay, so it's not limited to these numbers, but limited to the season that tree is fruitful think about that for a minute
there are some of us that in our lifetime are going to get 30 people saved 60 people saved a hundred people saved and
Beyond I mean that these are good targets to aim for these are numbers that God has given us for a reason
I don't believe it's just a
Nonsense number that Jesus froze at us there. No, so what you'd be thoughtful about this
Are you?
Reproducing are you bringing forth fruits can you say to me?
I've had 30 people saved and that's the small number not 60 or 100 if you get to 30 people say praise God
That's awesome. That's been productive. That's been fruitful. You know it's possible to do this. That's our yeah
I've got my family safe. That's awesome
It's good that you got your family saved, but you can go beyond that into this community
Preaching the Word of God and having a heart to receive the truth and being saved these are possible numbers
there was a time in my life when I used to read this ago this impossible 30 people saved in my lifetime and
Then I think I got about 30 people saved in one year once you know when I put a lot of effort into saw
So can I get I'll get my boys Matthias Nicholas Christian and Sebastian
Can you guys come up here?
Just stand in from the pulpit here all four of you
Face that way in front of the pulpit
Alright, so
We'll start off with Sebastian over here, so let's say I'm the sower right I go and sow the seed of the Word of God
I come preach in the gospel. I knock on their doors. They're not brothers. They're at separate doors
I knock on their doors, and I come to
The one whose heart is like the wayside. It's being compressed. It's been hardened
I come preaching the Word of God he hears us he understands it maybe
Okay, but it doesn't receive it. It doesn't take any
Any plantation at all in his heart then the devil comes along and snatches that word away and?
Sebastian unfortunately is not saved is not saved he represents that first one so you can sit down
All right
Unsaved we've got three left though three left in the parable now
This is what I'm talking about whether you believe salvation's by faith alone, or whether you believe it's by works
Because the one that believes it's by works this one
That's fruitful a hundred fold sixty fold thirty fold the one that believes in works when they interpret this parable
They'll say he's unsaved. He's unsaved, but he's saved why because look at his works look at how much he's done
Look how fruitful he is
But because these guys don't have any fruit because these people don't have any works
They must be unsaved meaning in their in their ideal ideology of the gospel
That you must also have the works in order to be saved
Now if we're honest with ourselves you talk about when you got saved when you receive Christ as your Savior
Have you always been this productive fruitful Christian?
Always in your life, or can you say sometimes in my life? I've been represented by these other guys as well
I think you know if we're honest
We've been represented by maybe any of these three guys at different stages in our life
Okay, you might be the one that was the next one on the rock yeah on the stony places
You might be the one that receives that we've joy, but there's a lack of moisture
You're not going to church not reading the Word of God. You're not having fellowship with the Lord. You're not growing
Okay, and then in times of temptation when he has to stand up for God because he has so little faith
You know he perishes he moves away, but he's still saved
He's saved you receive that with joy because salvation is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, so that's that's Nicholas okay
Go sit down
Then we have Christian you're represented by the the one who had cares of the life right Christian represents
So the believer who's just about the holidays just about money. How much can I make how much can I earn you know?
You know can I climb the corporate ladder and Mike make my name for myself in the world
Rather than make a name in the kingdom of God. It's just a name in the world
Yeah, you can be a believer like that. I mean I I've been there
I've been safe since I was four years old and there's a time in life
Where I'm just more focused on work making money buying a house doing these kinds of things and when your heart set on that
You're just not being productive. You're being choked by the world, and you go no. I don't have time to serve the Lord
I don't know how I don't know I just don't have time
What's because your time is spent watching TV and and and feasting on the lusts of the flesh and all those kinds of things
so you know that's Christian and
Then we have Matthias who says hey, you know what I can't keep these words to myself
I've been saved I received that I need to go out there and preach to other people because they're lost and dying and going to
Hell without the gospel and so he makes it his job
I'm gonna go out every week once a week
52 weeks a year and preach the gospel and it said with patience
Is he going to get the first person the first door someone saved no could be a hundred doors
But patience a hundred doors eventually one day
He's going to get to somebody that's ready to receive it ready to believe and call upon the name of the Lord to be saved
Okay, let's sit down
My point is it's the first one
That did not receive the word and did not believe
Okay, the other three received it was saved, but they represent believers as you know
I'm sure you know many believers that you could say yeah, they easily represent one of these three
Okay, and you might in your life. You might go through different phases in your life and represent each one of those
All right, let's move on
Actually, no, let's not move on yet
Keep your finger there keep your finger there in Luke chapter 8 and go to Revelation chapter 3
Revelation chapter 3
Because I want to give you guys just a bonus. I don't know what I call it
but bonus material on this
Revelation chapter 3 verse 10 Revelation chapter 3 verse 10
Try to remember what we've covered in this parable and now we look at this this our passage Revelation chapter 3
verse 10
the Bible says
Because thou has kept the word of my patience patience of these words I
Will also keep thee from the hour of temptation
Which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth?
Now you might say what does that have to do with this power of the sower?
Because a lot of people use this passage that those that believe in a pre tribulation rapture
They take this passage, and they read it this way
Because thou has kept the word of my patience
Whatever that means I will also keep thee from the hour, and then they'll replace our we have seven years of
temptation
They'll replace temptation with the great tribulation all right
So they interpret it as whatever the word of patience means
Will be kept from the seven years of tribulation look at this the pre-trib rapture in the Bible, okay?
Now we don't believe in the pre-trib rapture here
We believe in a post-trib pre-raff rapture, but now that we have scriptures we can compare scripture with scripture
I think revelation 310 makes a lot more sense now when we understand this parable of the sower. Let's look at revelation 310 again
Because thou has kept
Now what did it say in in Luke 8?
15 but on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word
Keep it
Okay, and bring forth fruits with patience
Let's look at revelation 310 because thou has kept the word of my patience
What is what are these believers doing? What are they patiently doing and
Keeping the word of God in patience. What are they doing?
They're sowing the seed
They're being fruitful
Christians they're going out knocking doors preaching the gospel
And it's because you're one of these people in in revelation 310
I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation
Think about the parable of the sower
Which is the one that fell into temptation?
The one that was on the rocky ground the one that would fell upon the rock remember they receive that we enjoy
But then came temptation and they fell away
Alright, so you say I don't want to be that Christian. What do I do?
Revelation 310 gives us the answer you keep the word of his patience you go and you preach the Word of God you patiently do
It and you serve God and you be fruitful and if you do that Jesus Christ promises that he's going to keep you from temptation
He's going to keep you from falling away
It's a wonderful thing when we have scriptures and we can compare those two things right compare scripture with scripture
Anyway, that's just extra. Let's go back to Luke chapter 8 Luke chapter 8
Luke chapter 8 verse 16
No, man when he have lighted a candle cover fit with a vessel or put a foot under a bed and set up on a
candlestick
That they which enter may see the lights for nothing is secret that should not be made manifest
Neither anything hid that shall not be known and come abroad
now know what your thoughts are on these these passages I
Used to think this this in particular was about preaching the gospel
About you know the lights shining the light in the in the in the community with a lot of the gospel
That's what I used to think it meant, but now when I understand it in the context of this chapter
I realized that it's something else because remember what did Jesus Christ start off saying?
That hey to his disciples to his believers they're going to understand the parable
But to those that are potentially reprobate or just aren't ready to receive Jesus Christ right now. They're going to hear, but they're not going to
Understand they're going to see see it, but they're not going to you know they're not they're not going to understand the parable all right
So think about this look at verse 16
Who are those that saw the light in verse 16?
So if you light a candle in your house for example who's going to see the light
Look at it
The second part of verse 16, but set up it on a candlestick that they which enter
May see the lights
Who sees the lights in the house?
Those that enter the house those that are outside the house would not see the lights
Think about this in the context of this parable who's going to understand the parable the disciples of Christ
Those that belong to the kingdom of God
Why because they've entered in they've entered into that house
They see the light they understand the parable
But those that have not entered into Christ those that have not received Christ as their Savior
They are not going to understand this parable
alright
Verse 17 for nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest
Neither anything hid that shall not be known and come abroad so it's our job
For those that that are blinded to this teaching that are blinded to the gospel that are blinded to salvation by grace through faith
It's our job to take that light then and go and make it known
Okay, so you see that two part those that understand are those that are saved that have entered in and then we need to broadcast
That understanding broadcast that light verse 18
Verse 18 take heed therefore how ye hear for whosoever hath to him shall be given and whosoever
Have not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have so it's sort of playing on that same idea there
So whosoever hath are those that are saved
Whosoever hath not are those that are unsaved and especially the reprobate
Okay, they're not going to be able to it seems like they understand it there right at the end of it for him that shall be
taken
Sorry from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have
So there are people that seem to have the gospel
There are preachers that seem to have the words of God that seem to understand and seem to teach
But it's taken away from them because they're not in the kingdom of God. They're not even saved
Can you believe that there are preachers throughout Australia that seem to be saved seem to be spiritual seem to be Christian
But they do not have the words of life. They do not have the light of understanding the scriptures
verse 19
Then came to him his mother and his brethren and
Could not by the way his mother did not remain a virgin
Yes, he was born of a virgin, but she was married to Joseph, and they had children so here in verse 19
We have the brothers that I guess the half brothers even call it that way and and sisters of Jesus Christ coming to him as
Well as in his mother
Sorry it then came to him his mother and his brethren and could not come at him for the press
I couldn't make their way
There was just so many multitudes trying to hear Christ
And he was told by told him by certain which said thy mother and thy brethren stand without
desiring to see thee
Now look I don't believe Jesus Christ was disrespectful to his family at all okay as we read this
He's continuing the teaching that we've had before
Okay, let's let's look at this verse 21
And he answered and said unto them my mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God and
Do it
If you want to be counted close to Christ, but Christ says yeah, this is my mother
He's my brethren. You know I'm related to them. I'm close to them
We have to be people that not only hear the word of God, but do it
What's the context of what we're just reading about here of knowing the gospel preaching the gospel being fruitful?
Doing these things that Christ wants from us, and if we do that he sees us as his mother and brethren
Okay, more important to him than his blood relative now. They were important don't misunderstand of course right
But more important those that were closest to Jesus are those which kept his commandments
John 14 15 says if you love me keep my commandments
Those are the words of Christ if you love Jesus
Keep his commandments, and you know as we're going through this the commandment here is to be fruitful to multiply
to be to be a tree of
Righteous the righteous the tree of life preaching the word of God and seeing souls saved
That's who Jesus wants to fellowship with that's who Jesus wants to be close to those that hear and do his commandments
Okay
Verse 22
Now it came to pass on a certain day that he went to 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 and
as they sailed he fell asleep and they came down a storm of wind on the lake and they were filled with water and
We're in jeopardy and they came to me 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
It's an amazing story here when we see that dual nature of Jesus Christ
You know that he was definitely a hundred percent man. You know he was tired
He was weary you know after doing all this work or this preaching
He just wanted to get into the ship and have a sleep and have a snooze
He needed to recharge his you know the flesh right, but at the same time
He awakes and he stops the storms and the winds and brings peace
And you see the nature obeys the words of Jesus Christ
And then we hear see these reflection of God the deity of Christ that is God Almighty as well
It's amazing you see that too that dual nature right there with him, right?
and
it's I feel sorry for the disciples because
You know I'm not the best swimmer so if I was in a ship and those storms and like it was water and like sinking
Down I'd be freaking out. I'd be the one going master master. You know we perish
That'd be me and then look look how Jesus responds in verse 25, and he said unto them. Where is your faith?
What a rebuke
Well look don't you know I'm with you in the ship
That's what he's saying. Where's your faith haven't you seen me do all these miracles?
You know raise the dead and heal the the blind and the lame cast out devils and do all these wonderful things
Hey, I'm with you in the ship
Where is your faith?
But that's like us we can be that way we can go through life. We're in Christ Christ is in us
We're saved and we have the turmoils of life. We have the storms beat down
We have Christ, but we can still panic
We can still you know worry and and and and and be bogged down with the cares of this world and
All Jesus would say to you is where is your faith?
That's that's what he wants because he wants you to rely on him to know that he's there that is near you
And he won't let you go through something that you cannot face. He'll be there to help you through the storms of life
So if that's you today guys you're panicking about some situation in life
Jesus says where is your faith?
Okay, believe on him trust him take your cares to him rely upon him rely on his strength verse 25
I didn't finish it and they were afraid and they being afraid wondered saying one to another
What manner of man is this for he commandeth even the winds and waters and they obey him?
I'm a bit embarrassed by the winds and the waters because Jesus asked them to do something and they obey
But us Jesus asked us to do something. We don't always obey all right
I mean even the winds on the waters are more obedient than our sinful flesh many times right that should embarrass us a little bit
there
But verse 26 and they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes which is over against Galilee
So this country of the Gadarenes these are not Jews these are Gentiles now
okay, and you'll probably recognize this because they're they're like they've got a farm of
pigs and obviously
For the Jews and the commands of Moses that the the swine or the pigs were considered an unclean animal
So you wouldn't eat them, but here we have a gentle nation and as we go on we'll see that they are they're farming pigs
Verse 27 and
When and when he went forth to land there met him at the city a certain man
Which had devils a long time and wore no clothes neither a boat in any house, but in the tombs
You know what this reminds me of?
Just like a few weeks ago was it two or three weeks ago. We had Halloween
okay now
in Sydney I
think maybe once one year I
Barely ever see anybody
Doing the trick-and-treat all right the kids going out from house to house dressing up as Devils
Dressing up as ghosts or whatever and doing trick-and-treat now
Maybe part of the reason is because it's Sydney
You know I wouldn't be comfortable with my kids going out door to door either. You know alone. You know collecting candy or whatever lollies
But here on the Sunshine Coast when I first arrived back in October last year
I saw it happening and then again this year again a bunch of kids going out dressed up like Devils
Doing the trick-and-treat, so it's definitely something that is going on more in Queensland than it is in New South Wales
And maybe even more on the Sunshine Coast
Maybe people feel more comfortable with their neighbors than in the bigger cities potentially
But one thing that I noticed is you've got these teenage girls I
mean
They're not even really they're not even dressed. I mean, it's almost like how whorish can I look?
You know and look like a devil at the same time
Okay, it's like this man is possessed by many Devils for a long time, and it doesn't wear any clothes
It's completely naked. I mean that's what you're just driving to traffic
Yeah, it was church meeting on Halloween day. We're driving down. We see all these kids and these teenage girls
It's like man, you know you've been are you trying to be a prostitute are you trying to be look?
You know as naked as you possibly can and then it says neither boat in any house in verse 27
But in the tombs hey this man that was possessed of Devils was preoccupied with death was preoccupied with the graves of the tombs
you know so I
Truly believe that Halloween is a holiday of the devil
Okay, I mean if you're gonna open up your children to Satan and Devils yeah, Halloween's probably the way to do it
Okay, because they just reflect what this possessed man is
Okay
verse 28 and
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
Hey, the Devils know who's in charge
It's not Satan. They know Jesus is in charge, and he's being him look torment me not
Don't cast me into hell. You know leave me alone Jesus. You know. What are you doing here verse 29?
For he that commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man
For oftentimes he had caught him and he was kept bound with chains and with fetters
And he break the bands and was driven of the devil into the wilderness
So we see somehow that being possessed by Devils
Gives that gave this man anyway
Supernatural strength that he can be chained up
You know like with handcuffs or chains or whatever and we had to break free from that
You know these these people this person at least
had supernatural strength, but still
Even with the supernatural strength of the devil that was still afraid of Jesus Christ because ultimately guys
You know great is he that is in you than he that is in the world
Okay, we have the Holy Spirit in us
Even if we were to see the devil himself or a man possessed by the devil
It's not something we ought to be necessarily afraid of because we have Christ in us and Christ is in charge of all things
Okay, here's the boss
verse 30 and
Jesus asked him saying what is thy name, and he said legion because many Devils are entered into him
Now I looked up what Legion means Legion is a military term a legion of soldiers and basically a legion is about
5,000 men
Anyway between three thousand to six thousand men, but roughly five thousand men
So if we were to take this at face value this man may have very well been possessed by five thousand Devils I
Mean that's that's pretty crazy. That's probably why he had this supernatural strength. He had all this power
Given to him through the devil
Verse 31 and
They besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep
All right, so where they didn't want to be tormented. They didn't want to be cast into the deep
So what does this talk? What is this about? This is help?
Okay, they would not they they were still roaming the earth and did not want to be cast into hell
Okay, they knew their judgment. They know that God would eventually cast him into hell
They know that's where they're going to end up, but they were begging Jesus
Please not now right don't cast me into that deep and let me just clarify one thing about hell
That's misunderstood by a lot of Christians
Hell is not the kingdom of Satan
Satan and his Devils do not rule and reign hell they have no power in hell
Okay hell is the place of God's righteous judgment and wrath on
The unbelievers on those that reject the Lord Jesus Christ the Bible says it was prepared first for the devil and his angels
Okay, don't misunderstand. What hell is hell is actually a good place. It's a place that God created
So that he's the fires of his wrath would bring torment on those that reject and hate God
Okay, and that is the ultimate destination for Satan and his angels and his Devils in
The lake of fire in hell and they're not going to be ruling and raining and tormenting people
They will be tormented by the wrath of God by the fires of hell. Okay, please don't misunderstand that
I've seen that so many places in in some gospel tracts, you know
Representing hell as Satan's kingdom. It's not you know right now
Satan's kingdom is on this earth and
Okay
At some point he's going to be cast when we know we know where that is
that's after the millennium, but we're going that's a different topic for another time verse 32 and
There was an herd of many swine
So these are pigs feeding on the mountains and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them and he suffered them
So Jesus says all right
you want to go into the pigs leave this man alone and go into the pigs and
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
When they had fed them sorry when they that fed them
So saw what was done they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country
So again, this just confirms that it's a gentle nation
They've got these people feeding the swine farm and the swine
Farming these pigs was most likely used as a food source. Just like we use it today
And you might say well these poor pigs
This poor swine that you know the Devils went into them this legion of Devils
And they ran down the hill into the lake and were drowned the poor swine. You know the poor animals
We see in Christ how important the soul of a man is
It's more important than an animal. It's more important than a herd of swine
Okay, Jesus would rather those just pigs just be drowned
Being being possessed by those Devils and see that to have this man's soul saved to have him redeemed from the power of the devil
Okay, again. We're not animals. Okay. We're not you know evolved animals. We went apes once and became human beings no
God holds man will create it in the image of God
Okay, we have a soul
Spirit and body and animals are lower a lower animal you know and so the value of one man's soul guys is
Worth more than whatever the cost was for these men to lose. You know their swine to lose their animals verse 35
Then they went out to see what was done so the people of the city went to have a look
What's going on and came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the Devils were departed?
Sitting at the feet of Jesus so this represents that he was sitting there. He was listening to the teaching of Christ he had received Christ
Clothed hey put in clothes
All right now think about this you know if you're somebody and I guess maybe the ladies
You know I'm talking to you, but the men as well, and if you're someone that would rather parade
You know with as little clothes as you can what does that represent?
The devil the influence of Satan in your life, we have this man who's delivered now
He's fully clothed standing or sitting at the feet of Jesus Christ
Okay, now. I've not taught him clothing, but I will at some points, but be mindful about the clothes you wear
You know does it reflect Satan and his Devils are going to reflect deliverance by Jesus Christ
Clothed
Was I up to
Verse 35 and in his right mind
The guy's not crazy anymore. I he's not he's not mad. He's clean. He's sane. He's understanding
What has been told of him, and they were afraid the people city were afraid they should be happy
They should be rejoicing this man. It was a wild man. They could run around in the tombs
He's delivered. They should be like wow this is awesome. You know look at the power of Jesus Christ look what he can do
They're afraid. What do they do in verse 36?
They also which saw it told them by what means he would that he that was possessed of the Devils was healed
So they even told me it was Jesus that healed this man
Then the whole multitude of the country of the gatherings round abouts besought him to depart from them
For they were taken with great fear, and he went up into the ship and returned back again
So we see this city the people see they just rejects Christ. He does that amazing
Miraculous work in their land these are Gentiles this time right we can blame the Jews for rejecting Christ
But we have an example of Gentiles afraid of Christ and reject him they can't see the good works
You know and they're more afraid and they tell him to leave and he does
Look at look at verse 38 the man that was possessed of the Devils now the man out of whom the Devils were departed
Besought him that he might be with him
But Jesus sent him away saying so this man that was possessed and now is now is good now believes in Christ
He wants to continue on with Christ
Jesus says no you need to stay here all right. Let's look at this
saying verse 39
return to thine own house and
show how great things God have done unto thee and he went his way and
Published that's proclaimed preached throughout the whole city how great things
Jesus had done unto him so we have Jesus who's been rejected by the city
He just goes back into Judah, okay, but he leaves the man to be a witness for him
He says look the city rejects me
But they know who you are you know you go you stay in your city
And you proclaim the great works that God has done in your life
So Jesus even though he left he left them a sole winner
He left them someone that was going to be fruitful preach in the gospel is this possessed man in the past
If it's going to get anyone's attention in the city be him right this man's now preaching Jesus Christ
so look
Jesus needs to use us you know don't get into the mindset well
You know I don't have to preach the gospel you know Jesus can do it on his own
Hold on in this case the people rejected Christ
But he needed a man to stand in there preaching and representing being an ambassador of the kingdom of God all right today
We don't have Christ on this earth physically
But we are left here for our community for our city to be that witness
That we would proclaim the great works that Christ has done in us all right
verse
40
And he came to pass that when Jesus was returned the people gladly received him so he goes to a place now
you know people are glad he received him that's good for they were all waiting for him and
Behold there came a man named Jairus
And he was a ruler of the synagogue and he fell down at Jesus's feet and besought him that he would come into his house
For he had only one daughter
About 12 years of age and she lay a die in
but as he went but as he went the people
thronged him so Jesus alright yep I'll
come to your house Jairus I'll come to
see your daughter but on his way he gets
distracted right he gets delayed because
of the amount of people that are around
him verse 43 and a woman having an issue
of blood 12 years which had spent all
her living upon physicians neither could
be healed of any came behind him and
touched the border of his garment and
immediately her issue of blood stanched
so means it stopped and Jesus said who
touched me have you ever wondered about
this story this woman she sees Jesus
passing along she can't even reach him
because the amount of people what he's
able she's ever reach and touch his
garments just a bit of his clothing okay
and now she's healed from the issue of
blood that she had okay and then Jesus
says who touched me this woman probably
just wants to be hidden just wants to
keep it a secret I've been healed thank
God you know and go about her way sort
of thing Jesus and who touched me right
he wants to make this public when all
denied so she's not saying a word
everyone else you're not it wasn't me
wasn't me when all denied Peter so these
are disciples Peter and they that were
with him said master the multitude
thronged thee and passed and pressed thee
and sayest thou who touches me doesn't
look there are there's so many people
Jesus they're all touching you they're
all passing by you they're all trying
to get a hold of you and you're you're
one who's you're asking this question
who touched you verse 46 and Jesus said
somebody have touched me for I perceive
that virtue is gone out of me so Jesus
had healed somebody look Jesus knows who
touched him okay Jesus knows somebody
was healed he knows very well who this
individual is what is he trying to do
he's trying to make this individual
speak out this is not something worth
being afraid or hearing about that you
were healed by Jesus Christ all right
now verse 47 and when the woman saw that
she was not hid so you see she was
trying to hide when she realized 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 and he said unto her
daughter be of good comfort thy faith
your faith hath made thee whole go in
peace hey it's a faith on Christ that
saved her that made her whole and healed
her from this problem guys look the
lesson here is this if you've been saved
if you've touched the hem of Jesus
garment believed on him and you're now
you're saved it's not time for us to
hide in the multitude it's not a time
for us to be silent about what Jesus has
done for us all right Jesus is asking
you the question who touched me are you
going to come before the people and
proclaim the great works of Christ
that's what he wants he doesn't want
this woman to just hide and be ashamed
and be afraid no he wanted to stand up
and proclaim how she had put a faith on
Jesus Christ just like the man that was
possessed of the devil's is now going
out and proclaiming to his city the
great works of Christ and so you might
say I'm shy I'm timid who touched him
who touched Jesus you need to speak out
you know when you get an opportunity to
preach the gospel you need to take it
take it with both hands be of good
comfort Jesus says you know don't be
afraid verse 49 yeah 49 while he yet
spake they come off one from the ruler
of the synagogue so he's you know he's
making his way to Jairus house there
comes someone from from the synagogues
house saying to him thy daughter is dead
trouble not the master so Jesus because
he was delayed because he was you know
there's so many people around him he
doesn't make it in time to heal this
this girl this twelve-year-old girl and
she dies but when Jesus heard it saying
he answered him saying fear not believe
only and she shall be made whole 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 and all wept and bewailed her
notice that about Jesus you know he's
not so he's not prideful at all you know
he comes with all humility it says there
in verse 52 and all wept that includes
his disciples that came with him that
includes Jesus Christ Jesus came in a
situation and recognize this little girl
had died and he saw the morning that the
sadness of sorrow of the family and
before Jesus even heals the girl he
weeks you know he's touched by the
emotion you know he feels what they feel
it's not like hey just get over it I'll
raise it from the dead no he sorrows
with them okay he cares about their
feelings he cares about their sorrows
I'm sorry and all wept 52 and bewailed
her and he said weep not she is not dead
but sleepeth she's she's not there she's
just sleeping now think about this I'll
just read to you from 1st Thessalonians
4 14 which is about the rapture the
resurrection of the Saints it says for
if we believe that Jesus died and rose
again even so them also which sleep in
Jesus will God bring with him you know
the Bible talks about death in many
times as sleep it's not soul sleep the
soul goes to be with the Lord if you're
saved but the body is sleeping if you're
saved or if you have loved ones that are
saved and they died physically they're
not really dead in the eyes of Jesus
Christ in the eyes of God they're just
asleep they're just asleep and they're
coming back okay when Christ returns
gives them those new resurrected bodies
without sin they're going to be awakened
in their bodies and be with the Lord
forever and so the fact that he says
that this girl is asleep to me anyway
I'll get your opinions later on is that
she too was a believer in Christ for
Christ to be able to say that she
sleeps does that make sense anyway let's
move on verse 53 and they laughed him to
scorn knowing that she was dead and he
put them all out and took her by the
hand and called saying made arise and
her spirit came again so she was
definitely dead her spirit had left the
body but verse 55 and a spirit came
again and she arose straightway and he
commanded to give her meat and I love
that about Christ when he healed
somebody who raises them from the dead
it's not like all right you know just
take it easy have your rest you know
you've just come back from the dead
that's like you know what yes you're
healed now you've been raised from the
dead can you go and serve me some food
I'm hungry because it's it's a full
recovery you know she's got all her
energy back you know she's back on her
feet she's probably better than she's
ever been right she's had a good sleep
and Christ has woken her up brought her
back from the dead and commands her to
to give her meat and let me just say
this I look she's 12 years old she was
12 years old and you know parents we
can't baby our children forever at 12
years old she was old enough to cook
she was old enough to serve you know if
you've got children that are at least
12 or over and they're not doing
anything around the house then you're
failing as a parent okay for Jesus hey
you're 12 you should be old enough to
cook you should be old enough to
minister and serve and let me just you
know this is just another point but let
me just say guys you know parents if
you've got children and they're and
they're off in a certain age you should
instruct them teach him you know direct
them to serve the house you know so if
Jesus Christ comes one day that your 12
year old daughter is ready to be able to
cook and bring him a meal all right
anyway side note verse 56 and her
parents were astonished but he charged
them that they should tell no man what
was done and again we understand this
hey he wants people to proclaim his name
we saw this in this chapter we know that
it was his heart to go from city to city
from village to village he even goes and
spends time with a gentle people all
right he was that man that was
possessed of the devil all right but
understand that Jesus was someone that
wanted to work orderly he wanted order
and not you know make all this fame
known about him to be then you know a
have so many people follow after him
where it would prevent his ministry from
being successful so we'll leave it there
guys I hope you take this into
consideration especially especially how
important it is for us not to give into
that hour of temptation what's the
promise that God gives us that if we
would preach his word that we would keep
his word that we would be fruitful and
preach the gospel that he would do that
for us he would keep us from temptation
and we would not be believers that would
fall away you know if you've got some
concern I don't know I might not you
know I'm out I might not live for Christ
all my life then start with the basics
you know the gospel you know how you got
saved you know it's my grace through
faith on the death bearing resurrection
of Christ take that to your neighbor take
that to your friends and God says hey he
will increase your faith God will
strengthen you so that you would not be
able to give in to that temptation and
fall away from the faith let's pray