When Jesus Comes To Church
Mark 1:21-28
Last year I was privileged to worship at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola Florida. On that Sunday morning they had a sanctuary filled with thousands of people. The building had stained glass windows, padded pews and a cross above the baptistery. They have a top notch sound system and large projector screens. There was a piano, organ, drums, guitars and even a small orchestra. They had a choir, a praise team, and a very talented worship leader. Pastor Ted Traylor got up, stood behind a large pulpit and preached from the Bible. God is doing great things through that ministry.
Some time ago I was privileged to preach for the Alabama Raceway ministry at the Talladega Superspeedway. We met that morning in a small tent. Our music was provided by a young man with a guitar. We sat on metal folding chairs. The sound system was basically a karaoke machine. There were approximately 30 people in attendance. That day one man was saved. And each year there are several who come to know Christ through that ministry.
If you tune in to RFD TV you can sometimes catch the worship service from several cowboy churches throughout the country. These folks may meet in a rodeo arena or a barn . They may be sitting in chairs and or on square bales of hay. They may do things a little different than we do, but they are reaching people for Jesus that we never will... And God is using them in a mighty way.
Our church would be considered a medium sized, traditional Southern Baptist church. We have padded pews, hymnals, stained glass windows and a choir. Some would call us "old fashioned" or "behind the times" but God is still doing a great work through this church.
We are blessed with great facilities and all of the tools that we need to function. But there are other churches who are thriving with much less. There is a local church plant that is just getting started and they are reaching people for Jesus while meeting in the banquet hall of a hotel. There is another new plant meeting in a strip mall that is having a great impact for the Lord. Some of the missionaries that we support are meeting in 3rd world countries in sheds that are not as nice as the places where we park our lawn mowers. A church can have multi-million dollar facilities with all of the amenities, state of the art equipment and thousands of people and be a complete failure in Gods eyes. While another small group of believers can meet in an abandoned warehouse and do great things for the Kingdom. The key is whether or not JESUS IS IN THE CHURCH!!
Have you ever noticed that sometimes we come to church and the presence of the Holy Spirit is so real that you can barely stand it. Then there are times where we leave and say "boy... something was missing today." This proves that a crowd of people meeting together does not guarantee that Jesus is in the midst. If that was the case revival would break out at baseball and football games. Likewise... songs and sermons do not guarantee the presence of Jesus!
But when we meet together with the right mindset... when we gather with prepared hearts... when we forget about ourselves and focus on the Savior, Jesus will show up and meet with us! I think we would all agree that there is nothing sweeter than those times when Jesus shows up at church!
In our text, Jesus entered a Synagogue and taught with power and authority. He cast a demon out of a man who was possessed. We are told that when this took place - v27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”
I would like to take a closer look at these verses and see what happens "When Jesus Is In The Church”. Notice first of all:
I. When Jesus Comes To Church, People Will Be Amazed -v21And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
The crowd in the Synagogue was “astonished” at His doctrine and teaching. They were amazed by the substance of His teaching. They were also amazed by the power and authority of His delivery. Verse 22 says “he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes"
How could Jesus teach in such a way? Because of His knowledge and experience. Jesus taught with authority because He was there from the beginning - John 8:58 Jesus said …Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
- Imagine you are looking for a new home. You go to the open house and the realtor begins to point out the high points of the house. She tells of you of all the bells and whistles and the issues that would normally entice you to buy that home. She knows a great deal because she has studied that home and walked through it to familiarize herself with it. But you have had problems your current home with foundation and structural issues. You begin to ask those questions and she stutters and tries her best to answer you questions but there are some things she just isn’t sure about. About that time in walks the homebuilder and he pulls out the blueprints and begins to tell you about the inner workings of that home and reveals all of the precautions that were taken concerning the structural issues. He has information that the realtor doesn’t because He was there from the beginning.
I spend many hours studying the Word each week. I know a great deal but my knowledge is still limited. You may ask me a question and I may have to go look at "the blueprint" before I can give you an answer. But Jesus is the Word and He has all of the answers! He has blessed us with 66 books that cover all that we need to know!
The Word of God is essential in the lives of the people of God. The scriptures correct, encourage clarify, instruct and comfort. The Bible is God’s way of speaking to His people! If you get anything out of any sermon that I preach it will be because God reveals His truth to you from His Word!
People need to be taught what is right and taught what is wrong. The lost need to be saved and the saved need to be Discipled. People not only need to believe, they need to know why they believe what they believe! How does this happen? - Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- Just as the people were astonished at the teaching of Jesus in the synagogue... When Jesus comes to church People Will Be Amazed. As we continue we see that...
II. When Jesus Comes To Church, People Will Be Changed v23-26
During His earthy ministry everywhere Jesus went He encountered with troubles. Some were sick, blind, deaf, dumb and paralyzed. He met people who were consumed with leprosy, possessed with demons and some were even dead. People were hurting then and there is no shortage of folks hurting today. Notice:
A. The Trouble - v23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
There was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. This man was not just oppressed by this demon, he was possessed by it. This man “cried out saying, Let us alone what have we to do with thee” . - Notice this man refers to Jesus as “thou Jesus of Nazareth”. This was a phrase of derision. He was essentially saying "get away from me you Nazarene". He was possessed by a demon and could not help himself.
There are people here today who have troubles and cannot help themselves. People are facing, mental, physical, marital; financial issues. But the most serious issues are those of a spiritual nature. Doctors may help the mental and physical issues, counselors may help the marital issues, getting a part time job may solve the financial issues... but the spiritual issues can only be solved by God! Jesus helped this man and He can help you. Notice:
B. The Transformation - v25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
Jesus spoke to this demon and it had no choice but to flee. The demon “cried with a loud voice and came out of him” . This cry was the sound of forced submission and utter despair on the part of the unclean spirit.
We are not told how this man responded to his deliverance. But if this event caused those spectators to be astonished, it is safe to assume that this man was overwhelmed with joy! His life was completely transformed! He went from bondage and oppression to peace and liberty. I am glad to report that Jesus is still transforming lives, delivering captives and saving souls today! When Jesus comes to church, PEOPLE WILL BE CHANGED! There will be visible evidence of transformed lives.
The Key to a successful church is not programs, ministries, activities or gimmicks. You can tear down buildings and build bigger ones. You can then fill those buildings to capacity, but without Jesus it is all an exercise in futility! But when Jesus comes to church "People Will Be Changed".
- If you will look with me to verses 27-28 we will see that
III. When Jesus Comes To Church, People Will Be Excited v27-28
News travels fast. In our day it travels faster than ever before. I can go home and literally share something with people all over the world in mere seconds. Have you ever noticed how much faster bad news travels than good news? Let a pastor resign a church, or let there be some conflict in an assembly, or let someone get their feelings hurt during worship service and with140 characters on social media they can destroy the reputation of that church within mere hours.
But in churches all over the country revival is breaking out, lost souls are being saved, backsliders are being reclaimed, rebellious prodigals are coming home, marriages and families are being restored... yet we rarely hear about it. When this good news is shared, it doesn't seem to spread as quickly. Even though it doesn't spread as quickly as gossip or tragic news.... the word will get around! In fact, the good news that happens when Jesus is in the church travels far too. How far? Look to Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
When Jesus comes to church there will be lives that are transformed and other people will take notice. That is what happened when Jesus changed this man's life - v27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Those that were present took notice of what happened. They were amazed... they witnessed first hand the power of Jesus Christ. When Jesus is in the church... His presence will be known. When Jesus’ moves in the life on one person in the church, others will take notice. When one is transformed this brings excitement. This excitement is contagious. When God's people get excited about Jesus they will be willing to tell others about his wonder working power! That is what happened after this miracle - v28 and immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Jesus worked a miracle and many were there to see it. These people went out and told others what they had seen. Have you ever seen something so amazing, something so out of the ordinary that you couldn’t wait to tell some one what you saw? That was the case for those who were present in the synagogue that day. As a result Jesus’ fame spread throughout the region.
When Jesus is in a church today it will not be a quiet thing. Lives will be changed, people will be amazed, the good news will spread, more people will be changed, the Church will grow, Jesus will be praised and God will be glorified
All of this is possible "When Jesus Comes To Church"
