A Warrior Messiah
Text: Matthew 8:28-34
Introduction
1. Illustration: In his book Fuzzy Memories, Jack Handey writes: There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started taking karate lessons. But then the karate lesson guy said I had to start paying him five dollars a lesson. So I just went back to paying the bully. Too many people feel it is easier just to pay the bully than it is to learn how to defeat him.
2. Unfortunately, this is also true when it come to spiritual warfare - we would rather give in to the devil than to fight him.
3. When it comes to spiritual warfare there are a few things we need to come to grips with:
a. We have a powerful enemy
b. We have an All-Powerful Messiah
c. Unfortunately, too many people reject his power
4. Read Matthew 8:28-34
Proposition: We have been given authority over Satan, but we have to choose to use it.
Transition: The first realization we need to come to grips with is...
I. We Have a Powerful Enemy (28)
A. Two Men Possessed By Demons
1. As you might recall, at the end of the text we examined last week, the disciples asked the question "Who is this man?" In today’s text, Matthew answers that question.
a. If you remember way back when we started this series, we said that one of Matthew’s prime objectives in writing this Gospel was prove that Jesus was both the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah.
b. In our text today he show that in a very vivid and powerful way.
2. The text begins with, "When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes..."
a. The group arrives "at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes."
b. Jesus is now in the predominantly Gentile region of the Decapolis, which explains why pigs are being raised, an animal unclean to Jews.
c. "Gadarenes" refers to both the village of Gadara, located about five miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee, as well as to the surrounding region, which probably included the little village of Gerasa, which lay on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee (Wilkins, NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Matthew, 352).
3. Matthew continues the story saying, "two men who were possessed by demons met him."
a. Daimonizomai (demon-possessed) simply means to be demonized, to be under the control of a demonic spirit, without regard to the kind or degree of control (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
b. There are some that believe that this is just a story to illustrate a moral truth, but they are sadly mistaken.
c. The Bible is clear that there is a Satan, he demons, and they do take over and attach themselves to people’s spirits if they allow them to.
d. Just as there is a God, there is a Satan, and he is alive and active on planet Earth.
4. Matthew adds that, "They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area."
a. They moved, breathed, walked, and talked.
b. But they lived among the tombs. They were as good as dead, for they were totally dominated in body, mind, and spirit by demons.
c. Actually, the tombs in those days were natural or artificial caves cut in the solid rock of the hillsides. Thus they were available for shelter (Horton, Complete Biblical Library: Matthew, 159).
5. But the mention of tombs also casts an ominous pall of death and evil on the scene.
a. The danger is heightened by noting that these two men are "so violent that no one could pass that way."
b. Apparently they are well known among the populace and feared (Wilkins, 353).
c. It shows us that demons are real and they are powerful.
B. Don’t Underestimate or Overestimate
1. Illustration: Francis MacNutt quotes theologian Walter Wink in his book “Deliverance from Evil Spirits" and writes: "...if you want to bring all talk to a halt in shocked embarrassment, every eye riveted on you, try mentioning angels, or demons or the devil. You will quickly be appraised for signs of pathological violence and then quietly shunned. Angels, spirits, principalities, gods, Satan – these along with other supernatural realities, are the unmentionables of our culture" (McNutt, Francis, Deliverance from Evil Spirits).
2. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NLT)
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
3. There are two major problems in dealing with the Devil.
a. Underestimation
b. Overestimation
4. We cannot underestimate his power.
a. One of his greatest weapons is getting people to think that he does not exist.
b. People say there is no real being named the Devil or Satan, that he is just an illustration of the force or power of evil.
c. He wants us to think this because we see no need to fight someone we have convinced ourselves doesn’t exist.
d. When we do this we drop our defenses and we are a prime target for his attacks.
e. He is powerful, a formidable enemy, and if we are not careful, he will lull us into a spiritual sleep and crush us.
f. I am not the kind of person who sees a demon under every rock, but neither am I a person who ignores the presence of Satan in the world.
5. On the other hand, we cannot overestimate his power.
a. It is a mistake to assume that the Devil is any match for God.
b. There are not two equal powers on different sides of the fence.
c. Satan is no match for the power of Jesus!
d. We must not fear him, but we must stand and fight him.
e. Ephesians 6:10-11, 13-14 (ESV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil...
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness...
Transition: The reason we should not overestimate him is because...
II. We Have An All-Powerful Messiah (29-32)
A. Jesus Commanded Them
1. Satan is no match for the strong Son of God, and this can be seem by what Matthew tells us happened next.
2. He tells us, "They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”
a. They sought to gain power over him by calling out his name.
b. Isn’t it odd though that these demons recognized Jesus, but his own disciples still wondered about him?
c. One would think that now their question had been answered.
d. They tried to stop him also by telling him the time of their judgment had not yet come (Horton, 159).
e. But from the demons, the use of the title trumpets their recognition that another stronghold of Satan, the sphere of the spirit world, is being invaded and overpowered.
f. These demons apparently know quite well an appointed time when the forces of Satan will be judged (Wilkins, 353).
g. The demons here, believing they are free to torment people until the final day and expecting eternal torment in the day of judgment, recognize that their judge has just shown up, before the appointed time.
3. Knowing that they are no match for the strong Son of God, they begged Jesus, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
a. If you cast us out was not a statement of uncertainty or mere possibility. The idea is, "In light of the fact that You are about to cast us out,..."
b. They knew that Jesus would not permit them to go into other people. They also knew that they were totally powerless before the Son of God (Horton, 161).
c. The demons’ plea to be sent into a nearby herd of swine would not be an unhappy thought to Jews, who considered swine and demons of the same order.
d. But since the east shore of the Sea of Galilee is a Gentile region, this was not a wild herd but pigs being raised for market.
e. Their owners would be upset at the loss of this large herd, which Mark numbers at about two thousand (Mark 5:13) (Wilkins, 354).
4. Jesus deals with the demons distinctly and with authority, “All right, go! Jesus commanded them."
a. Jesus never spoke to the people who were demon possessed. He always spoke directly to the demons (Horton, 161).
b. It is interesting that up to this point the demoniacs had done all the speaking, and Jesus response is essentially one word "Go!"
c. However, that one word is enough. Their response to Jesus one word command underscores his authority (Turner, 133).
d. He gave permission to the demons in the form of a command which they were powerless to disobey, and immediately they came out of the men, and entered the pigs.
e. The Lord’s supreme purpose in casting out the demons and Matthew’s purpose in reporting it were to demonstrate Jesus’ authority and power over Satan and his forces.
f. The fact that the demons went into the pigs and the pigs reacted in the frenzy they did was dramatic and convincing evidence that they had left the two men (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
B. The Power of Jesus
1. Illustration: Theologians tell a story to illustrate how Christ’s triumph presently benefits our lives: Imagine a city under siege. The enemy that surrounds they city will not let anyone or anything leave. Supplies are running low, and the citizens are fearful. But in the dark of the night, a spy sneaks through the enemy lines. He has rushed to the city to tell the people that in another place the main enemy force has been defeated; the leaders have already surrendered. The people do not need to be afraid. It is only a matter of time until the besieging troops receive the news and lay down their weapons. Similarly, we may seem now to be surrounded by the forces of evil -- disease, injustice, oppression, death. But the enemy has actually been defeated at Calvary. Things are not the way they seem to be. It is only a matter of time until it becomes clear to all that the battle is really over ( Mouw, Richard J. Uncommon Decency, pp. 149-150).
2. Matthew 28:18 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
3. Satan is no match for Jesus Christ, the strong Son of God.
a. Jesus defeated him in the desert.
b. Jesus defeated him in the garden.
c. Jesus defeated him on the cross.
d. Jesus defeated him at his resurrection.
e. Jesus will will bring an end to Satan’s reign of terror when he comes again to bring final judgment.
4. Jesus Christ, the strong Son of God, has already defeated Satan.
a. Colossians 2:15 (NLT)
In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
b. When on the cross Jesus said, "It is finished!," Satan was finished.
c. He was defeated by the blood of Jesus!
d. He was humiliated by the power of the cross.
e. He fate was sealed by Jesus victory.
5. Jesus Christ, the strong Son of God, has passed his authority on to us - his Church!
a. Mark 16:17 (NLT)
These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.
b. We have authority in the name of Jesus!
c. We have power in the name of Jesus!
d. We have the victory in the name of Jesus!
Transition: The sad irony of all this is...
III. Unfortunately, Many People Reject His Power (33-34)
A. Begged Him to Go Away
1. The next thing that happens in this narrative is the sadest reality of all - people turn down Jesus power.
2. Matthew tells us, "The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men."
a. These heardsmen were probably stunned as if they had been hit on the head, but once they got themselves together they ran to town to tell everyone what had happened.
b. It was probably the most exciting news the citizens of the town had ever heard! Those demon-possessed men had been a threat to them all for a long time (Horton, 161).
c. It is very hard to refute a personal testimony, which is why they are so powerful.
d. I’ve actually had church people tell me, "Pastor, you really shouldn’t share your testimony. You shouldn’t tell these young people that God delivered you from drugs and alcohol."
e. Oh, really?? As long as there is breath in my lungs I will never stop testifying to what Jesus has done in my life.
f. Revelation 12:11 (NLT)
And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
g. Our testimony is one of the greatest weapons we have against Satan - use it!
3. However, when the people heard what had happened "the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone."
a. We are not told exactly what the people from the city thought of Jesus.
b. We only know that they had a glimpse of the supernatural and it caused them to panic.
c. They saw One who could control demons, who could control animals, and who could restore shattered minds to sanity—and they wanted nothing to do with Him (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
4. The destruction of the pigs leads the Gentiles of the region to ask Jesus to leave (8:34).
a. This response is a sad commentary on the perversion of their values, for one would think they would rejoice at a victory over Satan’s demons.
b. But as one commentator states, "all down the ages the world has been refusing Jesus because it prefers the pigs."
c. The darkness of the scene implies that the legion of demons go from the drowned pigs looking for others to inhabit, an ominous thought for these people who have rejected Jesus.
d. Jesus does not destroy the demons; rather, he allows evil to run its course in this world until "that day" when all will be rectified (Wilkins, 354).
B. Refusing His Power
1. Illustration: Refusal to hope is nothing more than a decision to die.
2. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV)
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
3. Refusing Jesus power is like saying I want to lose.
a. It is like having first and goal at the one yard line and deciding to punt!
b. It is like having an uncontested layup and calling a time out.
c. It is like finding exactly what you are looking for on the clearance rack and deciding you really want to buy something more expensive.
d. It is like finding the job of your dreams but choosing to dig ditches for minimum wage.
4. Refusing the power of Jesus means saying no to the best thing that has ever happened to you.
a. It is like being offered a Porterhouse and choosing Alpo.
b. It is like being offered a Hummer but deciding to drive a Pinto.
c. It is like being offered a mansion and choosing a cardboard box.
d. Too many people, including some Christians, are rejecting the power of Jesus and living in defeat.
5. We need to accept the power of Jesus given to us.
a. Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
b. The power of Jesus will set you free.
c. The power of Jesus will open doors for you.
d. The power of Jesus will put an end to Satan’s control over you.
Transition: When it comes to the power of Jesus just say "Yes!"
Conclusion
1. Satan is a powerful enemy.
2. However, he is no match to the strong Son of God.
3. The question is do you prefer Jesus or the pigs?
