I AM AMAZED
Luke 4:31-36
INTRO. I have been frightened several times, startled many times and stunned a few times; but I am amazed each time I read in the Holy Book about the love, compassion and power of the Son of God. Our text says "And they were all amazed". Jesus had just demonstrated again that He had power over the Devil and sin.
I. I AM AMAZED AT THE POWER OF JESUS OVER SATAN.
A. Peter said that Satan is like a roaring lion that goes about seeking whom he may devour.
1. Paul said that the devil is the prince of the power of the air and the god of this world.
2. In our text is a man who is completely possessed and controlled by an agent of the devil. (Vs. 33)
B. Some people say the devil is not real, that he does not exist. The man in our text could tell you that the devil is real. The devil was real to him and he is real to me. [A man may beleive rattlesnakes don’t exist; but that does not make him immune to their venom.]
1. There was a time when my life was at the mercy of Satan -- who has no mercy.
2. Eph. 2:1-3
C. But Jesus showed that he had power over the devil.
1. That is shown by the devil’s own admission (v.34)
2. He obeyed the command of Jesus (v. 35)
3. Knowing the terrible power that Satan has in the lives of men....knowing the lives he has wrecked and homes he has destroyed....the wars he has caused; I am amazed at the power of the Son of God over Satan. Amazed and thrilled.
4. Satan would fill my heart with hate for my enemies, but Jesus takes it away; Satan would load me down with sin and bring me into condemnation before God, but the blood of Jesus blots out my sin. Satan would bring me down into the pits of an eternal hell but like David, I can say of Jesus (Psa. 40:1-3).
II. I AM AMAZED AT GOD’S LOVE FOR ME.
A. The man in our text could not save himself. He was under the spell and power of the Devil, and while he was under Satan’s power he did and said many mean and hateful things to Jesus. (Vs. 34)
1. How many times have I almost shouted to the heaven "Leave me alone thou Jesus of Nazareth!"
2. When someone tells me that they don’t like me and that they don’t want to be around me, it causes me concern because I don’t like to not be liked.
3. But it is easy to hate someone who does not like you and it is equally hard to love someone that hates you.
B. Jesus did not get angry with the poor man in the text, but He did rebuke the devil.
1. God knows that when we say we want to have nothing to do with Him that it is not us but the devil who is influencing us to say the awful things we say. (Rom. 5:8) - "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2. Even though I have said mean, hard and cruel, unjust things against God....yet he loved me and sent His own precious Son to die in my stead.
3. I am amazed at such love (Jn. 3:16).
III. I STAND AMAZED AT THE THRONE OF GRACE.
A. Two women came to King Solomon with a problem. They both claimed the same child. Solomon’s answer to the problem left all the people amazed at his great wisdom.
B. Jesus said, "Behold, a greater than Solomon is here."
1. I freely admit that there are problems that I have that I cannot answer, but when I go to God in prayer I am amazed at how really small and insignificant my problems are.
2. I am amazed that I have the privilege to approach God’s throne. (Heb. 10:19-22) Could you go the president with your problems?
3. Not only am I amazed that I may approach the King with my problems but I am even more amazed that He has promised to hear and answer when I pray. (Jn. 14:13-14)
IV. I AM AMAZED AT THE FELLOWSHIP I AM PERMITTED TO KEEP WITH GOD.
A. Someone wrote a song that had the words in it, "The best things in life are free."
1. The very best thing in life after salvation is the companionship a born-again believer can have with Jesus Christ.
2. You may walk with the rich and the great but how much sweeter is the walk you can have with the Lord.
3. No matter how deep we plunge into God’s love, it is always deeper yet.
B. Think of your earthly friends....is there one that you can tell all your secret thoughts to and know that he will keep them secret and more important, that he will continue to love you?
1. Jesus is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, he will still love you even though he knows the very worst evil in your heart No, we have no friend like Jesus, he knows all about us and still we can have sweet fellowship with Him.
2. I am amazed that he continues to love me, knowing me as I really am.
V. I AM AMAZED AT THE FUTURE THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME.
A. I know that I shall die someday and I don’t need the Bible to tell me that. Every time I drive past the graveyard I see evidence that I will die.
1. And if I knew that when I die that would be the end for me; that my bones would rot in the cold earth....that my eyes would no longer see and my ears no longer hear....that my mind would no longer think and all the dreams I once held dear and the hopes I once built upon were gone in death....I would be terrified.
2. But God has amazed me by telling me in His Word that I shall not die and cease to be, but that by dying I shall live forever.
3. (ill.) -- Scars in the sand at the beach. The ocean waves come in and wipe out any sign of the scars. Life is full of scars and troubles but Heaven will wash them all out.
VI. I AM AMAZED AT THE SINNER THAT WILL NOT BE SAVED.
A. I can not understand what would prevent him from salvation.
1. The harlot woman that the town elders wanted to stone for her sins. Christ saved her.
2. Saul of Tarsus, who killed God’s people because they didn’t worship as he did. Christ saved him.
3. The thief who spent his life in crime and was being executed for it. Christ saved him.
4. The woman who had five husbands and was living in adultery. Christ saved her.
B. Romans 5:8-13 -- God’s salvation contract. Written in blood and sealed with love.
