A LESSON FROM GARLIC
Matthew 9:18-26
Sermon Objective: To provide an exposé of the things that keep us from the presence of Christ.
Supporting Scripture :Mark 9:23; Mark 11:23; 1 Corinthians 15:55-57; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 6:10-13; 1 Peter 5:8
Summary
We are over midway through a series called Lessons From the Garden. You are aware that there are characteristics of many fruits & vegetables which we can learn from and transfer in different ways to life.
Past sermons included:
• “A Lesson from the Onion” - Christ’s love infiltrates our environment and spreads in surprising ways, just like the smell and taste of onions.
• “A Lesson from Asparagus.,” – Like the “detestable vegetable”, real ministry and a sense of brokenness may not look good or be easy to swallow but it is sure good for our spiritual health.
• “A Lesson from the Potato.” - joy and celebration for Christ’s grace and presence have as many expressions as the ways we eat potatoes.
Our final sermon from the garden will be:
• The Strawberry (9:35-38)
Today’s sermon is A Lesson From Garlic.
Introduction
There are some garden grown products whose reputation precedes them. They are known WELL in advance of their arrival. One such item is garlic. When a person has been eating a garlic-laden food they need not tell you about it -- you know!
Yes, garlic is a food which many people enjoy eating but which other people don’t enjoy you eating. Although it adds specific flavor to foods, it puts a stench on one’s breath. It tends to repel close encounters.
In fact, that is one of the most well known trademarks of garlic; it repels. Garlic repels everything from mythical vampires to lovers to some diseases and ailments.
That distinctive element of garlic has a parallel in the spiritual realm. There are enemies and entities which need to be warded-off (repelled).
The despair and defeat which accompanies death comes to mind as a viable candidate. And Matthew 9:18-26 gives us insight about how to repel this formidable foe.
The Text
18 While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
26 News of this spread through all that region.
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We walk by faith not by sight. {2 Corinthians 5:7}
Invite the Presence of Jesus (vv. 18-19)
You probable noticed as we read this text that the PRESENCE OF DEATH IS EVERYWHERE. Not only is the ruler’s daughter dead but the hemorrhaging woman is certain to die. She is waiting on the last installment of death to arrive. But into this dark scene comes The One with the power to change it all -- Jesus Christ.
My father-in-law is particularly sensitive to garlic. It effects him adversely. He is so sensitive to it that if family members have eaten at a Italian Restaurant, for example, he can smell it on them even as they enter the room. In fact, he has a hard time being in the same room with the smell of garlic. DEATH AND JESUS HAVE A SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP. THE FEAR AND PARALYSIS THAT ACCOMPANIES DEATH AND JESUS CANNOT BE MUTUAL PARTNERS AT THE SAME GATHERING. WHEN CHRIST COMES DEATH FLEES!
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Maybe you find yourself preoccupied with thoughts of death and despair. The answer is to find life by inviting Jesus Christ to come and bring with Him certain victory and confidence. When the Savior comes He conquers the power which has overtaken you.
I am not a connoisseur of great art, but from time to time a painting or picture will really speak a clear, strong message to me. There is a picture of an old burned-out mountain shack. All that remained was the chimney...the charred debris of what had been that family’s sole possession. In front of this destroyed home stood an old grandfather-looking man dressed only in his underclothes with a small boy clutching a pair of patched overalls. It was evident that the child was crying. Beneath the picture were the words which the artist felt the old man was speaking to the boy. They were simple words, yet they presented a profound theology and philosophy of life. Those words were, "Hush child, God ain’t dead!"
That vivid picture of that burned-out mountain shack, that old man, the weeping child, and those words "God ain’t dead" keep returning to my mind. INSTEAD OF IT BEING A REMINDER OF THE DESPAIR OF LIFE, IT HAS COME TO BE A REMINDER OF HOPE!
(From “When God Was Taken Captive”, W. Aldrich, Multnomah, 1989, p. 24.)
In the midst of all of life’s troubles and failures, We need reminders that all is not lost as long as God is alive and in control of His world.
Just as garlic ward off close encounters; so God’s presence will ward-off despair and instill you with a renewed sense of strength, purpose, hope and joy.
‡ Invite the Presence of Jesus (18-19)
Invoke the Power of Hope (vv. 20-23)
The story of the hemorrhaging woman gives us a clear understanding of what draws God near and repels the gloom of death. Even though she could not explain healing she believed Jesus could and so she went to Him. She also walked by faith not by sight.
Just as a good garlic laden meal will repel your best of friends so the power of Christ-centered hope will repel the enemy.
The essence of faith in Christ is, indeed, hope.
• Hope that life can have meaning.
• Hope that sin’s consequence is not fatal.
• Hope that a restoration into the image of God is possible.
• Hope that real life is not extinguished by death.
Nothing can stop an individual who is filled with hope.
Joyce Hollyday tells the story of a school teacher who was assigned to visit children in a large city hospital and help them not fall too far behind in their school work.
This teacher received a routine call requesting that she visit a particular child. The teacher took the boy’s name and room number, and was told by the teacher on the other end of the line, "We’re studying nouns and adverbs in this class now. I’d be grateful if you could help him with his homework, so he doesn’t fall behind the others."
It wasn’t until the visiting teacher got outside the boy’s room that she realized that it was located in the hospital’s burn unit. No one had prepared her to find a young boy horribly burned and in great pain. The teacher felt that she couldn’t just turn around and walk out. And so she stammered awkwardly, "I’m the hospital teacher, and your teacher sent me to help you with nouns and adverbs."
The child was in so much pain that he barely responded. The young teacher stumbled through the English lesson, ashamed at putting him through such a senseless exercise.
The next morning a nurse on the burn unit asked her, "What did you do to that boy?"
Before the teacher could finish her outburst of apologies, the nurse interrupted her: "You don’t understand. We’ve been very worried about him. But ever since you were here yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He’s fighting back; he’s responding to treatment. It’s as if he has decided to live."
The boy later explained that he had completely given up hope until he saw the teacher. It all changed when he came to a simple realization. With joyful tears, the boy said: "They wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a kid who was dying, would they?"
(Donald William Dotterer, Living The Easter Faith, CSS Publishing Company, 1994.)
HOPE CHANGES LIFE’S PATHS AND HOPE IN CHRIST IS THE GREATEST PATH CHANGER OF ALL.
When we walk by faith not by sight we invoke the power of hope and despair is driven away. The Bible applauds such decisions. Jesus himself says,
“Everything is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
and
“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.” (Mark 11:23)
Are there things happening in your life which keep you shackled?
God in Christ has come to your aid.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
Take a cue from the hemorrhaging woman and come near to Christ. Touch the hem of His garment and let Jesus turn to you with words of restoration, comfort and hope.
Give God a chance!
‡ Invite the Presence of Jesus (18-19)
‡ Invoke the Power of Hope
Conclusion:
Incorporate Active Faith (Obedience) (vv. 24-26)
Flash back to the ruler’s daughter …
There was an enemy is this ruler’s home. This enemy wanted to put his daughter in the grave and steal everyone else’s joy.
The Bible says that Satan comes as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Did you know that a roaring lion is of not a real threat? It’s the quiet lion which is the hunter. Roaring lions are boasting of a kill or merely trying to spook others out of their territory.
The point is that Satan’s roaring is a sign that in reality he is defeated and of no great threat. When he comes in the guise of death with his two minions, despair and hopelessness, it is all a show … a lie. The battle has already been won by Jesus!
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By walking by faith and not by sight we are able to ward-off (repel) the enemy just like garlic will ward-off some diseases and ailments.
But, as you know, you must eat the garlic for it to be effective; so too in spiritual matters. It is critical that you act on your faith if you want to see death, despair, and hopelessness repelled.
These Bible passage today is living proof of what trusting and acting will do.
Take a lesson from our Bible stories this morning and give God a chance to transform your world.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
Supporting Scripture
2 Corinthians 2: 9-11
The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 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.
1 Peter 5:6-9
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
