Missions Paul

12 years

Luke 8 v 41 –50 Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

 

12

 

12 years of family stories are now fading away.

12 years of hope as her father but now all he has is despair.

 

12 years and she has now reached the accountability age where her Bar Mitzvah at the synagogue would take place and she would lead part of that service.

12 years and from that moment of the special service she would step out of the control of her father. It doesn’t look like she will be attending that service.

 

12 years losing blood and not being able to stop it.

12 years of searching for help but finding no one could.

 

12 years.

The synagogue ruler.

The daughter of the synagogue ruler.

The other was restored as a daughter of Israel.

But there is another link.

The woman with an issue of blood was unclean (Leviticus 15:19-27) and possibly an outcast, this could have been for the whole 12 years.

The father has been a father all the time the woman has been unclean. But even more importantly he has been the synagogue ruler responsible for making sure this woman and others did not enter and make it unclean. Maybe he has been responsible for the whole 12 years that this woman could not enter his synagogue to worship God.

 

So here is the story:

Jairus policing his synagogue and having Scripture to support him is preventing impurity entering.

His daughter not able to come to her father’s synagogue, not able to step into a new season of life.

This woman rejected by society and this synagogue because of what she had become.

 

2019:

Discussions are being had with Scriptural guidance on who can come to Church and if they come what they can do when they get there. Jairus is still alive. What is your position on LGBTQ? What is your position on Islam? What is your position on …? The list goes on.

But at the same time the younger generation have left and those who haven’t are dying spiritually and will leave soon because Jairus’ daughter is still here but only just.

And the woman? Yes she is definitely still here! Who will help the outcasts? They have tried to fix their lives. They have nowhere to go.

This is quite a mess. 

My position is this: the man on the cross. Jesus is a healing river that is not afraid of ethnic, gender or sickness boundaries. It takes courage to carry the cross through a divided world. No Fear is his message. Just believe. Jesus redeems, restores and transforms our lives. No matter who we are. Whether a religious person who has been ungracious, a child who is dying or a woman who is not welcome. Jesus is here for them all. I have a better position once people have found their Saviour, the Lover of their souls, the Healer of their bodies and who becomes the Orientation of their lives. Nothing is fixed until then. But let’s not take 12 years to have a move of Jesus in our land.

 

 

 

Jesus will return

Luke 8 v 40 “Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.”

They were waiting for Jesus. They had seen him leave for the other side. They knew he would come back they just didn’t know when that would happen. But it would be soon. They needed him back. He had touched their hearts and transformed their lives. They wanted more of him. It was hard to dance without Jesus. He had changed the landscape of their homes. He had given them hope for a future. He had spoken of a Kingdom to come and they wanted to be people of that kingdom.

When would he be back?

They didn’t know but they lived their lives waiting. Some people wait and die but others who wait for Jesus’ return wait with expectant hearts. He will be hear real soon. Living with waiting expectation was like living with Jesus present. Their plans changed. This was not the time to go for an excursion. This was not the time to live unruly, selfish lives. This was the time to let the light that Jesus gave them shine like a lamp on its stand. This was the time to make sure their hearts were that of good soil, to deal with the desire for riches and the stronghold of worries. To be different. To be ready.

Then they saw him and they ran to meet him. The biggest crowd that anyone had seen before. Every eye upon Jesus, hands raised in joy, welcoming him back to them.

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev 22:20)

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. (Matt 24:42)

And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28)

He will return. Will we welcome him? Are we expecting him?

This is what Jesus does to the towns and regions.

 

Luke 8: 34-39 “When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.”

 

1. He has an impact on the economy.

That day the entire pig industry collapsed as every pig drowned in the lake. Those who are more interested in the fate of the pigs than the freedom of the man will not understand the Sovereignty of God when life is not perfect for them. That Jesus purposely brings down an economy is hard to accept, especially if you are affected by it. What other destruction is Jesus going to bring for the sake of one man?

2. He disturbs the people to the core.

Never think that all your town needs is a healing or a deliverance for whole-scale revival. The result was that they preferred keeping the demons than have Jesus stay.

3. He gives them what they ask for.

Jesus will not stay where He is not wanted. He leaves. Can you imagine a different scenario? Can you imagine if they begged Jesus to stay? Who else would have been set free? There is a price to pay for a move of God and there seems to be a lot of churches in my nation not wanting to pay that price. They would prefer not to have a move of God and keep the violent demoniacs than have change.

4. He leaves them an evangelist.

Jesus so loved the people of the Gerasenes that he wouldn’t take the man with him as a disciple. He left him as an evangelist. “Go home. Let people see the changed man and tell them who did this to you.” That message is still as important today as then. The power of testimony can change and win hearts for the Kingdom

Thank God for Jesus!

 

 

This is what Jesus does to the demons

Luke 8: 30-33 “Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

1. He brings into the light what is hidden.

The man is a good man with a bad problem. Jesus exposes the man not to shame but that what is causing him shame.

2. He commands to know their name.

This is not because he doesn’t know. It is because at his feet everything has to bow. To reveal your name is to surrender your identity.

3. He permits them to beg.

They begged repeatedly and they begged again. If a legion is up to 6,000 Roman soldiers in a unit then the begging would have been very loud indeed! Hell is begging Heaven. What an amazing sound that is!

4. He does not give them what they want.

It may look like the demons have got what they wanted but Jesus was playing a better game. The demons wanted to temporarily enter the pigs so that somehow they could return to some other human. They didn’t want to go into the Abyss. They got what they wanted to a point, but they didn’t account for the pigs choosing the wrong route!

5. He shows them that the sanity and welfare of this man is more important than their destruction and that of the pigs.

The removal of the oppressing, possessing and controlling spirits is a demonstration to the forces of evil that Jesus in a human being is far more powerful than 6,000 demons.

Thank God for Jesus!

 

 

This is what Jesus does for you!

Luke 8: 26-29

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. ²⁷ When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. ²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” ²⁹ For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

The devil will humiliate you, but Jesus clothes you with righteousness.

The devil will make you homeless, but Jesus invites you to come home.

The devil will make you dangerously free, but Jesus sets you completely free. Free indeed!

The devil will break any authoritative figure from you, but Jesus gives you friends of accountability.

The devil will make you isolated, but Jesus places you into His family.

Thank God for Jesus!

Just have faith

Luke 8: 24-25 “The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’

Faith isn’t only the ability to rebuke and calm the storm.

Just have faith. “Only believe and you will be healed, provided for and blessed”, that’s what we hear so often. This is faith. But is it?

Thousands wake today with the thought, “If I just have a little more faith then my situation can be changed.”

I wonder if you need more faith not to wake Jesus up and be prepared to capsize with the boat.

Maybe faith is not panicking even if it looks like you are going to drown.

Faith is not to prophecy our doom.

If we go down we go down with the Lord of the Resurrection. That is a great position to be in.

I think that’s the faith that is missing today. Faith to lose knowing we always win.

God never makes mistakes

Luke 8: 22-23 “One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.”

Has Jesus not checked the weather forecast? It would appear so.

Is Jesus tired? It would appear so.

Is Jesus not aware of the danger the boat and the disciples are in? It would appear so.

Is this a dreadful mistake by the Son of God? It would appear so.

Today you may need to make a decision on what you are going to hold on to.

Does God know all things? Then He has known all along the storm that you may be in right now.

Does God go quiet when we want Him to be loud? Then He is confident about the circumstance we find ourselves in.

Is God certain all the time? Then He remains constant even when life is uncertain.

God never makes mistakes. That’s what we hold on to today. Appearances can be deceptive.

What opposes our potential?

Luke 8: 19-21 “Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’

 

Jesus has just finished the parable of the sower and Luke positions this awkward story immediately afterwards. It makes sense that he does that because Jesus still refers to the Shema, listening, hearing and doing God’s word.

There is nothing more upsetting than seeing someone not reach their full potential. Whether that be ministers or marriages, there are times when you roll your eyes at another collapse, another breakdown. You hear of another outburst from some respected person and you wonder if it is possible to ever be who we are called to be.

The key to success of potential lies in the following 3 areas:

 

1. Context

The context for Mary and her sons according to the other gospels was that they were increasingly concerned over Jesus and had come to take him to task over his lifestyle balance.

The context for Jesus is he has been teaching on the sharing of the gospel, whether the scattering of the seed or being the light in this world.

Which context is more important? Our contexts and justifications have to bow the knee to the context of Jesus and the Gospel.

 

2. Expectation

The expectation from Mary and the brothers was that because they couldn’t get through to Jesus they expected him to get through to them. “We think it is a lot easier for you to come outside than we come inside.” Are we today desiring God to move upon us more than we desire to move towards Him in the obedience of gospel sharing?

Which expectation is more important? The next move is not God’s it is the Church’s, ours. God is waiting and so is our world.

 

3. Entitlement

The invitation to become the mother and brothers of Jesus when biologically you already are was not a rebuke but grace. They invited Jesus on their terms but he invited them into a new relationship. The spirit of entitlement was as prevalent as today. Entitlement because of history, of family ties, qualifications, experience, work done, gifting and skill, the list goes on. Entitlement kills a surrendered heart. Jesus invitation was gracious. “Mary and my brothers you are invited to move from being in my biological family to my spiritual family.” That is what Jesus offered them and offers everyone still today. You see, his heart is always the good news. It is always to scatter seed and to be the light in dark places. To welcome all into the Kingdom of God.

It is these 3 things we need to surrender continually in order to become all that we can become.

THE LIGHT AND lists (not capitals because they’re not important)

 

Luke 8: 16-18 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. ¹⁷ For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.¹⁸ Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

 

Many simply interpret this passage of Jesus with the filter of avoiding sin, secret sin, exposing sin or the judging of sin. I think we have missed what Jesus is saying. I also think when we become so engrossed in eradicating sin from this world through placards and outspoken tweets and enraged arguments then we have lost sight of the Saviour.

Why do so many Church people become fixated with sin?

Why do the world know more about what we are against than what we are for?

Why did Jesus seem to spend more time with sinners and talked more about the sin of those who thought they were not sinners than those he was eating and drinking with?

I truly believe Jesus wouldn’t get accepted in many pastoral search committees.

There’s a Jesus we don’t want.

We all have our own Jesus, made in our own image. (Is that blasphemy?!)

Why do we talk about sin so much? We have lost the smell of sinners in many quarters of the Church. We describe this as purity but I don’t think it is.

Recently I have been discovering a world of hate on twitter. But I have been weeping over where this world is staged, within the kingdom of Christ. Anger expressed over women preaching, anger because someone dared suggest we should love muslims and gay people, such anger that it feels like a kingdom of darkness. Where is the light? Where is the joy? Some of these angry people I would not want at one of my parties that’s for sure!

One of my pet hates is going into a smoke-filled room as a non-smoker because the smell is on my clothes and in my hair etc. Those who are also not smokers will come near me and turn their nose up and say, ‘Paul you stink, have you been smoking?!!’ It is hard to defend because I certainly smell like I have!

The truth is, I took on the effects of sin in that atmosphere. Isn’t that the incarnation? Jesus became one of us and he smelled of sin so much so that when he took on our sins at the cross people accused him of being the worst sinner, cursed by God! You see the true battle with sin is when we embrace the sinner, when we love our way through the pain and effects of sin and we run the risk of being judged by man for being soft on sin. That’s when the battle intensifies. In some places the most ruthless battle over sin is not on the cross as much as at the church door.

So what is this text about? This will help …

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” (The Message).

It is about the LIGHT not lists. His LIGHT. We don’t have a problem with darkness when JESUS is here. This is how Luke ends the parable of the sower and the reason Jesus gives for him coming to the towns and villages.

Basically it is this …

Jesus is the LIGHT, this amazing new kingdom announcer, revealing a kingdom that no one has known. It is not a hidden kingdom, it is not a cult with secret practices that no one knows. No, it is a wide-open invitation to the whomsoever kingdom. The parables that Jesus tells are the unlocking of the mysteries and secrets of this kingdom. So, if you can hear then Shema! Listen, hear and do. Copy. Give this same LIGHT to others, don’t give them lists of what they cannot do, encourage them into what they can do and who they can be in this kingdom. Let the world know what you stand for. Be generous with what you have. Of course if you don’t have this LIGHT then you cannot give it. If you do have it and don’t share it then you will become poor and it will be taken from you, the LIGHT will die.

So with all my heart I plead with the Church to please put the lists down and shine Jesus

Gospel stories are gracious

Luke 8: 19-20 “His disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”

Do you really want to be a preacher when you only have 25% chance of any lasting fruit from it?

Do you really want to be a witness when 3 people out of every 4 people will make you feel disappointed?

What Jesus says may at first glance cause some confusion.

Everyone would know he is quoting the prophet Isaiah who was sent to preach to 4 major kings in Judah. Isaiah knew this would not be a successful appointment because of the hardness and apathy of their hearts. In fact his preaching would make it worse, for he would make their hearts even harder.

Jesus is explaining to the crowd what he has been doing. He is scattering seed, but the people need to hear and understand. Yet understanding the secrets of the kingdom hidden in a parable is a work of God in a heart that is willing to be open to receive the truth. For others, Jesus hasn’t come to condemn, so if they reject the kingdom then to lessen their guilt they are actually only rejecting a story that they didn’t understand.

As we scatter seed, let’s not be as focused on our ability and skill in doing so but in prayer that there be a move in their hearts to hear and understand.

Yet in scattering seed we must acknowledge that it will have the effect of the hardening of hearts in some people. So the sharing of the gospel may not bring results but it is always effective because it will at the very least bring judgment. And maybe that is the uncomfortable truth. You share a story of your life to witness to someone the gospel and they receive it gladly, they get it completely. What a great story and presentation! You do exactly the same thing to another person and they look at you with a blank face. Don’t worry, it’s okay, there may be nothing wrong with your presentation, it is just that on this occasion not only did they not take the opportunity to hear and understand they became more entrenched in their position yet they did so in the most gracious way possible, because all they heard was a story of your life, the meaning was hidden from them. Parables are gracious. Judgment doesn’t have to come in hard knock-out blows.