Snakes And Scorpions Series

FAITH OVER FEAR - Snakes and Scorpions

Luke 10:13-24 February 26, 2023

Introduction:

Authority is a tough word in our society today. We’ve seen people use it in horrible ways…and we have seen people reject it in protests over and over again as well.

Let me first say that power and authority are not the same things…Someone said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

But authority…real authority, is the use of power that’s been bestowed on someone…Whether it’s with people’s votes or military promotion or the wearing of a uniform or badge…and with those powers come great responsibility.

Power can be abused by those in authority…or it can be used to accomplish great things. It can be used to protect the weak and heal the hurting…or it can be used for selfish gain and oppression.

Our nation began in a reaction…a revolution to “tyranny,” taxation without representation…a reaction to King George and British authority over the American colonies.

It’s the very reason George Washington wasn’t elected as King…but as President with many checks and balances on his authority…and the authority of others in power.

History has shown us what happens in nations where someone has almost unrestricted authority…and they use their power to accomplish evil goals…It resulted in the death of 6 million Jews and 50 million people worldwide.

We currently live in a culture of division…where left attacks right and right attacks left…where half the people in America believe the other half of the people are wrong…so there is a rejection of authority…and continuous attacks of those in power…and it doesn’t matter which party holds the presidency…this is true.

So what does this have to do with those Jesus has sent out to represent Him? Whether it’s the 72 we talked about last week who were anointed by Him to go ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to go, or those who represent Him now in this divided culture? How do Jesus’ disciples “promote peace” to houses that are so divided? How do we live lives of faith in a world so enveloped in fear?

First of all our text teaches us…

I. GOD WILL BRING JUDGMENT ONE DAY

Jesus says “woe” to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethesda! And Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you’ll go down to Hades.” (v. 13, 15)

Woe is not a good word! It’s a word that warns of impending doom. It’s a word that says “Watch out, consequences are headed your way buddy!”

Jesus talks about the miracles these people have witnessed…dead people raised to life, blind people given their sight, lepers cleansed, thousands fed.

He says if Tyre and Sidon or Sodom and Gomorrah had witnessed these miracles they would have repented and put on sack cloth and ashes in mourning!

Jesus says, “It will be more bearable for these cities that God totally destroyed in judgment than for Chorazin, Bethesda, and Capernaum at “The Judgment.”

That’s an amazing statement if you think about it…Sodom and Gomorrah were famous…or infamous for their sexual immorality and refused to repent…and Jesus says, “it’ll be easier on them at the Final Judgment than you!”

Why? Because God’s Son is not present…God in the flesh has shown up. The Messiah that has been prophesied through the scriptures has come…and the people of Chorizan, Bethsaida, and Capernaum witnessed his power and said no to His authority.

Jesus says, “Whoever rejects me rejects Him who sent me.”

Believing in God and accepting the authority of Jesus in your life are two radically different things…most people, Jew and Gentile, black and white, rich, poor…old and young have no problem saying “I believe in a higher power…I believe in a concept of God (yes, I know some reject this concept) but when it comes to Jesus, things change dramatically…because that loose concept of a creator becomes a specific surrender to His Lordship in our lives.

REREAD VERSE 22

And John 3:16 & 17 tells us “That God so loved us He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life…for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him.”

This is God’s plan of salvation for every one of us…a plan formulated before creation, but if you reject Jesus’ salvation and Lordship…when He returns again you will face His authority as Judge…Sodom and Gomorrah never experienced God’s Son…Chorizan, Bethsaida, Capernaum and all of us have.

Let me give you a future glimpse into that judgment…and Jesus’ authority and power.

REVELATION 20:11-15

Jesus turns privately to His disciples in our text and says, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you many prophets and Kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”