Rev. David Holwick ZL The Quest for the Real Jesus, #11
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
November 30, 2008
Luke 10:17-20
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I. Evil is fashionable again.
A. The terrible Mumbai terrorist attack.
National Public Radio commentator Scott Simon (11/29/08):
I get increasingly uncomfortable with the convention of
journalism that requires us to say that so far, we don't
know the motives of the people who carried out this week's
attacks in Mumbai.
A word like "motive" seems to imply there was reason or purpose.
It suggests that, however profane their actions, the terrorists
had the incentive of some goal in mind.
But after covering too many killings, as a reporter or host, in
Bosnia, Kosovo, Oklahoma City or Somalia, I've come to the
conclusion that the perpetrators of such crimes might just
be ... evil.
Evil is a word that many people of my generation shrink from
using.
It seems so imprecise and uneducated - biblical, rather than
cerebral and informed.
But there are times and crimes that remind me how often the
Bible gets it right.
#24425
Perhaps President Bush should be credited for labeling terror
as evil, which he did after the 9-11 attacks.
B. Terror has a long history as policy.
1) As we begin the Christmas season, keep in mind how it
ended - King Herod and slaughter of innocent babies.
2) The latest National Geographic has a long article on
Herod and considers that event a legend.
a) No one else records the atrocity.
b) But it also notes that Herod killed many of his own
family and was widely hated.
C. How should modern people handle evil? How did Jesus?
1) It is a major theme in the gospels.
a) Many of his miracles involve exorcism of demons.
b) He passed this ministry on to his disciples.
2) Jesus himself had conflict with Satan, either directly
or through people Satan had influenced.
3) If Jesus is who he says he is, we should pay close
attention to his teaching on supernatural evil.
II. Jesus at war with demons.
A. Exorcisms abound.
1) When I first read the gospels in 1973, I was somewhat
startled by the number of exorcisms.
a) I had not known Jesus did such things, much less
so many of them - about as many as his healings.
b) (This was just before "The Exorcist" was released.)
2) Modern people don't know what to do with them.
a) Was he just catering to current tastes?
b) Or is supernatural evil something we ignore to our
peril?
B. Jesus also spoke of demons in his teaching.
1) They can possess humans and animals.
2) They can inflict illness and personal harm.
3) They are in league with Satan.
4) They are powerless before God.
a) Ironically, demons know exactly who Jesus is.
b) They fear him, and obey him.
C. The only protection from demons is being filled with God.
1) Those who are cleaned of demons cannot remain a
vacuum. Luke 11:24-26
III. Jesus' on-going conflict with Satan.
A. His temptation. (Satan leaves till a better time) Luke 4:13
1) Satan appeals to his human nature:
a) Doubts play a large role. "if"s Luke 4:3,7,9
b) Physical hunger.
c) Desire to rule in glory.
d) Desire to overcome doubt with miraculous display.
2) Jesus defeats him by relying on God's word.
B. The Satanic manipulation of his disciples.
1) Peter confesses Jesus, is called the Rock, then he
rebukes Jesus, is called Satan. Matt 16:23
2) The bickering and thickheadedness of the disciples
may also indicate Satan's influence.
3) Ironically, Jesus was so good at miracles that his
opponents suggested HE was allied with Satan. Luke 11:15
C. The Last Supper.
1) Satan enters into Judas. Luke 22:3
2) He sifts Peter. Luke 22:31
D. The Crucifixion.
1) The hour of Satan's reign. Luke 22:53
IV. Jesus wins in the end.
A. Jesus wounded Satan by means of his ministry.
1) This is probably what Jesus means in Luke 10:18 when he
says he saw Satan fall from heaven.
2) Satan is not yet defeated completely, but the disciples
have the power to overcome him.
B. The cross was a further defeat for Satan.
1) Colossians 2:15 suggests the crucifixion disarms Satan
and his forces.
2) 1 Corinthians 2:8 says "the rulers of this age" would
not have crucified him if they knew what it meant.
C. Jesus will utterly destroy him, at the Second Coming.
1) Interestingly, the book of Revelation mentions
Satan being bound before he is destroyed.
2) His eternal destiny is the Lake of Fire.
V. You can share in Jesus' victory.
A. The disciples continued the struggle against evil.
1) They had the same power that Jesus had.
a) People must see that there is real power in the gospel.
b) Power to change lives, not just do's-and-don't's.
2) Later generations seem to have lost interest.
a) Abuses like the Salem witch trials give people doubts.
b) Demons exist, but they are not everywhere.
1> Don't give Satan too much credit.
c) Nevertheless, do not ignore him, either.
3) Does our lack of faith in supernatural evil parallel our
lack of faith in supernatural good?
B. Evil is strong, but Jesus is stronger.
1) He can deliver you from evil.
a) Many can testify about deliverance from habits and
addictions.
b) It is an ongoing struggle.
C. S. Lewis once wrote:
"Good and evil both increase at compound interest.
That is why the little decisions you and I make
everyday are of such infinite importance.
The smallest good act today is the capture of a
strategic point from which, a few months later, you
may be able to go on to victories you never
dreamed of.
An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or in anger
today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or
bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an
attack otherwise impossible."
#1645
2) He can also deliver us from our fears.
a) Even death loses its sting to a Christian.
b) As Jesus says, Satan can kill you but only God
can save you. Luke 12:5
C. Being saved is most important of all. Luke 10:20
1) Is your name written in heaven?
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 1645 "The Compound Interest Of Good And Evil," by C. S. Lewis, Dynamic
Preaching (www.sermons.com) Disk, Fall 1991 "A", October 1991.
#24425 "The Bible Gets It Right," by Scott Simon, National Public Radio,
"Simon Says... Evil In Mumbai," broadcast November 29, 2008.
These and 30,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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