For He Who Is Not Against You Is For You

For He Who is not Against You is For You

Luke 9:50

Aug. 12, 2007 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

A There are a lot of things done in Jesus’ name that He has nothing to do with.

1 Jim Jones, David Koresh...actions of church people, too.

2 Not all church splits, policies, attitudes, spirit glorifies God

3 Jesus’ name is used, but He’s no where around.

B Other times, God’s moving/blessing/anointing us, & we discount the move/blessing/anointing because it doesn’t have a particular brand on it (SBC).

1 God only moves with/blesses/anoints Baptists!

2 Sadly, many Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, Assembly of God, non-denominational, Pentecostals probably believe the same thing (God only blesses their group).

a Feel threatened by perceived competition

b Maybe feel a sense of self-importance brought on by spiritual arrogance (intellectuals vs. emotionals)

C A similar thing happened with Jesus’ disciples.

1 And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing. Luke 9:1-2 (NASB) Given authority & power over all demons & to heal.

a If demons still exist, would Jesus give His followers any fewer weapons to battle the enemy today?

b I believe if you are following Jesus, that anointing/power/ authority over demons & disease is still a weapon against the enemy today.

2 In 9:28, Jesus takes 3 disciples up the mountain & leaves 9 at a base camp (remember what He gave them: authority & power over demons & disease). Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. Luke 9:28 (NASB)

a The 3 had a moment with God (Transfiguration), the 9 had a fight with each other (pride, greatest, most important, top dog, running the show).

b I believe they were so busy with pride, they couldn’t operate in the authority, blessing, power, Jesus had given them.

c After Jesus & the 3 come down from the mountain, a man told on the disciples!

aa And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy, 39 and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves. 40 "I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not." Luke 9:38-40 (NASB)

bb The boy’s need is to be released (obviously), the father’s need is to get his son healthy.

cc Your people couldn’t do anything for me! Why?

I believe there are two reasons (transitional sentence)

I Out of focus

A Jesus healed the boy & the people were amazed at the greatness of God. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. Luke 9:43 (NASB)

1 What an atmosphere for revival, evangelistic harvest

a Jesus tells His disciples about the cross. "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." Luke 9:44 (NASB)

b It should have driven them to their knees, humbled, stirred them-NO!

c Arguing about which of them was the greatest.

2 They were so worried about where they ranked & so unconcerned about how to serve others who needed God (out-of-focus).

a Inward focus (them, maintaining their spot)

b No outward or upward focus

B Instead of focusing on the greatness of God, "Aren’t we great?"

II Spiritually arrogant (John, no 3rd string disciple, speaks in v. 49). John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us." Luke 9:49 (NASB)

A If anyone had a right to be spiritually arrogant, it’s John! But not even John had that right.

1 The man casting out demons wasn’t "one of the twelve."

a In John’s mind; "not fit for ministry", "not qualified", "not one of us."

b No kidding, if he was he’d been there arguing about who was the greatest instead of meeting people’s needs in Jesus’ name.

2 But Jesus said to him, "Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you." Luke 9:50 (NASB) Jesus said not to get in his way.

a I like the way he’s ministering (casting out demons) much more than how you’re not casting them out.

b I just talked to this dad who had a son you couldn’t help...

c "Whoever is not against you is for you"

aa Not against doesn’t mean neutral, undecided-in Jesus’ name!

bb He’s on the team