Evil Afflictions and Jesus (Luke 4:31-37)
Gary McManus, 04/18/2021Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
April 18, 2021 Luke 4:31-37 Evil Afflictions and Jesus
Sermon Series Goal
1. There is evil in the world and Jesus has overcome it.
2. Sin remains in the world and in us (as faithful followers).
3. The difference; faithful followers are forgiven.
4. With the Holy Spirit we shall wrestle SUCCESSFULLY
against these powers of darkness in this world. (Matthew 24:13)
AND Jesus will see to it that we do good despite the evil in the world.
(Titus 2:14, Colossians 1:9 ff.)
Example: the ten Boom Family of Holland in WW2.
Today’s God’s Word: Jesus casts out a demon.
Problem: we don’t believe in demons anymore.
We do believe in: souls/spirits, not all spirits are in
bodies, not all spirits are good—some are evil.
Our job is to test the spirits (1 John 4:1)
Three possibilities for modern Christians:
1. Accept demons (but that won’t work).
2. Reject demons (but if they don’t exist, what I s
Jesus doing and what are WE doing? [See Jesus’
instructions (Luke 9:1, Luke 10:17) ]
3. Think about demons differently:
causes of affliction, brain issues, diseases,
that threaten our relationship with God.
Example: leprosy in the Bible
Example: some Christians diagnosed with terrible or
terminal illness.
Jesus came to make right our relationship with God—
a new covenant ((Jeremiah 31:31, 2 Corinthaisn 3:6)
Afflictions = loss of control = addictions, brain
“damage”, brain pathologies.
As much as we DO KNOW about the human brain,
we STILL don’t know much about the human brain.
As many as 400 mental health therapies work. . .
for someone(s). We develop new medications.
They work for some people for awhile.
See Kevin Hines, “Cracked, Not Broken”
Pastor suffers from Essential Tremor.
It isn’t a demon, it’s neurological.
We may dismiss the demons, but that doesn’t
change the fact that there are evil powers at work
in this world.
We are afflicted, we don’t know why and we don’t
know what to do. Exactly how ancients experienced
demons.
[Evil is also oppressive.]
Remember, the whole earth is fallen (Genesis 3).
The world is broken EVERYWHERE
but Jesus could set things right.
Jesus could set ALL things right!
Whatever the problems were that plagued
Bible people, Jesus of Nazareth set things right!
(Refer to John 9:2, Luke 13:4, Luke 9:45)
Still today, some Christians believe that people
with mental health problems lack faith.
Remember what Jesus told people who were healed:
“Your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2)
“Wash in the pool of Siloam.”
“Show yourself to the priest.”
“This kind comes out with prayer.” (not more faith)
We can SUFFER evil. Even as followers of Jesus,
can be AFFLICTED and oppressed.
We are not abandoned. (2 Corinthians 4:9,
Matthew 28:20) No darkness can overcome
the light of Christ. (John 1:5) Amen.
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