Mat 8:28-34; Storms Are Outside and Inside.

Class Outline:

Thursday October 31, 2024

 

Main idea: Jesus has the authority to calm the sea and the soul. 

 

Intro: The Bible is a story about creation, loss, and redemption - about the plan that God is carrying out to restore all of fallen creation to its original perfection. It is for us to walk into that story and live amongst it all. 

 

Jesus is not concerned with how little your faith is - He is concerned that, with it, you come to Him and see more of the grand story.

 

The miracles on the sea and the casting out of the demons are related.

 

In the first, nature is calmed. In the second, a soul is calmed. 

 

Jesus’ authority over chaos in nature and in man PSA 89:9-10. 

 

All have a measure of troubled soul and body. 

 

Our trouble is not always demons (possess, influence, meddling), but the power of Christ is sufficient for all trouble.

 

There is no doubt about demon possession. Jesus acknowledges it. There is a legion of demons (Roman legion: 5000) in these men. 

 

Jesus’ power as an exorcist already mentioned (4:24; 8:16). This is the first of 5 specific exorcisms (9:32-33; 12:22; 15:21-28; 17:14-20). Three are background while 17:14-20 is specific. (He will give His disciples this power.) 

 

Demons are able, for a time before the judgment (second coming of Christ) to trouble men. 

 

Can believers be demon possessed? My opinion is that believers in the church cannot be possessed by demons. My reason is that we are indwelt by God and therefore become the temple of God, are children of God and the bride of Christ.

 

The NT epistles warn us of demon influence.

 

We are told to resist the devil, flee from him, put on the armor of God to protect ourselves from him. We read that he disguises himself as an angel of light and that he has ministers (people) who do the same and he prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. We must be very careful of the influence of falsehood, fueled by pride, or we too can become so miserable in our hearts, self-centered, self-willed misery, that we’re greatly in need of the calming authority of the Son of Man. 

 

The demons recognize who He is and seem shocked that He has come upon them.

 

The demons know that judgment is coming and they know that it is to be yet future. 

 

They acknowledge that Jesus has complete power over them, “if you are going to cast us out …” 

 

Jesus’ one word in Matthew’s account - “Go!” [Move! Beat it!]

 

The whole city comes out to meet Jesus and they entreat Him to leave. 

 

The same verb the demons use to entreat Him to send them into the pigs, the people use to entreat Jesus to leave their land. 

 

The Lord concerned about the salvation of all and a city concerned with their pigs. 

 

Jesus goes to the Gentiles: all are welcome to the banquet by faith. 

 

Jesus brings calm to the men, freeing them from their slavery. ROM 5:6, 8, 10. 

 

The people care more about pigs (mammon) than they do the restoration of their neighbors. 

 

How many more might have been healed and what a boost to the economy that would have been in the long term. 

 

People cannot look at the bigger and longer picture when all they care for is self in the present. It is little faith that worries.

 

Application: You have troubled people in your corner of the world. Does God want you to seek them out?

 

You do realize that you have the power of Christ in you, in the gospel that is in your lungs. You will be used by Christ to free people from their bondage.

 

The troubled people in your life will have lives you do not like. They will live in places you do not care for. Are you willing to go to them?