Winter Sermon Series

When the Devil Goes to Church

Mark 1:21-28

Opening Words The three hundred pound gorilla sitting in the middle of the text for this morning is the demon possessed man. I have always tried to read the Bible consistently. If the Bible says Jesus was resurrected after three days then Jesus was resurrected after three days. If the Bible says that the man is demon possessed then the man was demon possessed. I am noting going to walk down the road where we try to apply modern science to the ancient text. I do not have a problem believing that the man was demon possessed because even the Devil believes there is a God. However, I will say the text is not simply about demon possession. The text is about a man in need, the text is about ministry. I believe it is with this understanding that the text begins to speak to us today. Let us hear this morning’s scripture lesson from the first chapter of Mark, verses twenty-one through twenty-eight. May God give you ears to hear. Let me call this message this morning When the Devil Comes to Church.

Mark 1:21-28 21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at20his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" 25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

I love the story of the group of ministers and a salesman's organization, who were holding conventions in the same hotel at the same time. The catering department had to work at top speed to serve dinners. For desert the salesmen were having spiked watermelon. But the chef discovered that it was being served to the ministers by mistake. "Quick!" he commanded a waiter. "Bring it back!" The waiter returned, reporting that it was too late. The ministers were already eating the liquor-spiced treat. "Do they like it?" asked the chef. "Don't know," replied the waiter, "but they're putting the seeds in their pockets."

Today’s message is not about ministers, those who are divinely called into Christian leadership. Today’s message is about ministry,20responding to human need in the name of Jesus. A select few are called to be ministers but God expects all believers to minister, to serve Him in this world. Let me say this clearly. I don’t want you to miss this point. I want you to listen as if your very souls were dependant on it because they do. Your good works will not save you. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. However, your service or ministry will do two things. First, it will show God that you are thankful for your salvation through Christ. Second, it will show the world that you are sincere about your Christian convictions. That is why this morning’s scripture lesson is so important. It is a wonderful model of Christian ministry.

We find ourselves today once again in the first chapter of Mark. Jesus along with Peter, Andrew, James and John are in Capernaum. It is Saturday, the Sabbath. To no one‘s surprise they go to the synagogue. Jesus uses a long standing custom of welcoming visiting preachers and teachers to address the crowd. The congregation knows very little about Jesus. However, the Master makes a quick impression. According to verse twenty-two everyone is amazed because he taught with authority. He did not quote human authorities; it was as if he quoted God, directly. Everyone reacts to Jesus but one man’s reaction stands out. Verse twenty-three tells us a demon possessed man is in the congregation. The demons address Jesus through him and Jesus comma nds them to come out. Verse twenty-six tells us the demons leave with a big show, the man shakes and shrieks. If you want the story to speak to you then don’t think of the man as just a demon possessed man. Think of the man as a person who is in need.

How many needy people do you know? I will be the first one to admit that I have a good life. Every evening I walk into my house at 9:30 and look at my wife and say, “Kathy, we have no problems. “ I am qualified to make that statement because I have heard countless problems throughout the day. I am not alone you have heard them. How many people do you how are struggling with a physical problem? Does anyone not know someone who isn’t dealing with cancer? How many people do you know are dealing with a broken relationship? Their brother lives around the corner but they haven’t spoken for years. Does anyone know someone with a financial problem? Do you know someone who is facing bankruptcy? Do you know someone who is struggling with their parents? You know Dad shouldn’t be driving but you can’t take the keys. Do you know anyone who is struggling with their children? They are approaching forty and they still can’t live with you. Do you know someone with a legal problem? Do I have to go on? I don’t know anyone who does not know someone, who is in some kind of need.

The question is not if the re are needy people in this world. The question is how do we respond to those people who are in need? Today, I am not going to tell you how to solve all their problems. There is no easy answers. But I am going to give you some pastoral advice on how to work with the needy in your life. These three pieces of advice are not original. They are modeled for us in this morning’s scripture lesson. Jesus knew a thing or two about people who were in need. Maybe you can learn something. So you are ready to be more effective in your ministry in this world say, “Amen!”

With Direct Contact

This is pastoral advice number one: help people directly. In other words we need to get involved in people’s lives. The people who helped me the most in life didn’t just write me a check or gave me a can of food. They got involved in my story and gave time. In the scripture lesson Jesus didn’t just send this poor fellow to a mental health professional. He got involved directly and spoke to him. Verse twenty-five says, "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" If you really want to help someone then give them some time.

In the 1950s, Stanley Arnold was asked to develop a marketing campaign for men’s shavers’ manufacturer, Remington Rand. Chaired by retired General Douglas MacArthur, the company was known as one of the most among the most conservative in America. The project intimated Arnold at first but then came up with a magnificent idea. He went to the New York offices of Merrill and Lynch and placed the ultimate odd-lot order: "I want to purchase," he told the broker, "one share of every single stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange." It came to more than $42,000 for one share in each of the 1098 companies listed at the time. Arnold took his diversified portfolio into a meeting of Remington Rand's board of directors, where he argued passionately for a sweepstakes campaign with the top prize called A Share in America. The conservative old gentlemen shifted around in their seats and discussed the idea for a while. "But Mr. Arnold," said one, "we are not in the securities business." Said another, "We are in the shaver business." "I agree that you are not in the securities business," said Arnold, "but I think you also ought to realize that you are not in the shaver business either. You are in the people business."

May we never forget we are in the people business. May we never forget we are in the people business because Jesus was in the people business. Jesus came into the built to be the bridge between God and man. We are in the disciple making business to maintain that bridge. We are not in the restaurant business, the building business, the education business or the keeping dead traditions al ive business. We are in the ultimate people business, the disciple making business. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Pastoral advice number one is help people directly.

With Immediacy

This is pastoral advice number two: help people with immediacy. In other words, help people now! The people that helped me the most were those people who made their agenda second to my need at the moment. In the scripture lesson Jesus went to the synagogue to preach and teach. An exorcism was not on the agenda. However, an exorcism took place because Jesus made this poor fellow’s need his top priority. When you help someone now you are telling them they are important.

That great missionary to India, William Carey, became deeply concerned about the attitude of his son Felix. The young man, a professing Christian, had promised to become a missionary. But he broke his vow when he was appointed ambassador to Burma. Carey requested prayer for him: "Pray for Felix. He has degenerated into an ambassador of the British government when he should be serving the King of kings." It is a question of priority. Where are your priorities in life?

Let us be honest life is hard. How many people do you know feel think they just don’t matter? When you address their need now you are telling them something they haven’t he ard in a long time, they are important! Never forget you are important to God. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Pastoral advice number one deal with people directly. Pastoral advice number two is deal with people with a sense of immediacy.

With Authority

This is my third and final piece of pastoral advice for today. When you deal with someone in need speak with authority. What does that mean? There are many sides to of the word “authority.” One of the sides is simply telling people the truth. How many people do you are haunted by problems of their own making. They simply make poor choices. When you are working with people in need respect them enough to tell them the truth. Don’t tell them things that will make them feel better for the moment. Don’t tell them what they want to hear. That is the cowards way out. It is your place if they ask you for help to tell them the truth. How many people do you know are living a fantasy because no has told them the truth? Speak with authority and tell them the truth. Don’t worry about short range emotions, focus on long term results. Jesus always told people the truth. In the story the demon possessed man called out to Jesus and Jesus told him the truth.

I am not a great television watcher but my televisio n at home had been dominated lately by American Idol. You know the show. It is a singing competition. Simon, Randy, Paula and some new judge evaluate the contestants. I get bored with it in the long run but I like the early rounds. People wait all day to sing for few seconds. Every believes they are going to be the next American Idol but some of them are just horrible. I like Simon the best because he tells them the truth. I know he is harsh but he is telling them the truth. He tells them they are horrible to their face and they are shocked. I don’t know why they are shock because they are horrible. The routine is always the same. The judges ask, “Who told you can sing?” They will answer their mother or their girlfriend. Sometimes they will say everyone at church. Simon will say, “They are wrong. You are horrible. You have future in the music industry. Good luck, now get out!”

How many needy people in your life need to hear the truth? They are the source of their own problems and they have no one else to blame. You don’t want to hurt them but they need to learn. Respect them enough to tell them the truth. Does someone in your life need to hear they are a financial disaster because you need to get a job or spend to much? Tell them the truth. Does someone in your life need to hear they are lonely and without friends because they are selfish? Tell them the truth. Does someone in=2 0your life need to hear you have done nothing with their life because they lack ambition and drive. Tell them the truth. Does someone in your life need to hear their health is poor because you weigh to much? How many donuts have you eaten this morning? Tell them the truth. Does someone in your life do poor in school and says the teachers are poor and don’t like them. Tell them the truth. They are lazy. Does someone in your life need to hear the truth? You don’t tell them the truth because you don’t want to hurt. Tell them the truth so they can make the adjustments in their life that they need to make. The needy people in your life deserve to be respected so speak with authority. Tell them the truth. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this story.

An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them. His ministry had touched the lives of many!

How many people are you touching? The world is filled with needy people. Be like Jesus! Work with them directly. Work with the now. Work with them in full authority and respect them enough to tell them the truth. And all of God’s minister’s said, “Amen!”