Title: THE LIFE-CHANGING POWER OF GOD’S WORD

Focus: By yielding to the life-changing power of God’s Word, we encounter Jesus’ daily presence, wholeness, and guidance.

Function: To encourage the people to yield daily to God’s powerful Word and Spirit, so that the spirits of darkness will have no sway over us.

Text: Mark 1:29-39

When the Word of God with Jesus at its center enters our hearts, we must get ready for the Spirit of God to do a ruinous work in our lives. For example, when the Son of God stopped the raging persecutor of the early Christian Church in his tracks (that persecutor called “Saul”), Jesus brought Saul to his knees.

The Son of God de-constructed or broke down Saul’s resistant heart to the gospel, and Jesus transformed or reconstructed Saul’s heart into love and obedience. Ruined by the Spirit of Christ, the old man called “Saul” became the new man called “Paul.” Could it be that God’s Spirit is doing a ruinous work in our lives?

As a nation, we are going through a severe economic crisis. Layoffs are “knocking on our doors;” company downsizings and bankruptcies are on the rise; home values are crashing; foreclosures are smashing, and unemployment figures are dashing old records. And we are all holding our breath: “When will this stop?” people ask.

I think that God’s Spirit and Word are doing a ruinous work in the lives of many people today. Economic circumstances are forcing us to ask some very basic questions such as: What is the purpose of my life? What role does money play in my life? Where, really, is my security in life—and in death? And what future does God have in store for me?

I believe that God’s Spirit and Word can bring new life, new perspectives, new opportunities, and a new path to follow as we go through hardships in life. The ruinous work of God’s Word and Spirit gets us on our knees, brings us to our senses, and creates within us new hope, new vision, and new direction.

I believe that the same thing can happen and is happening in the community of faith. Many churches, including Calvary, are looking at diminishing resources that lead to tough decision-making and belt-tightening measures such as downsizing of staff and the merging of ministries.

In Calvary’s case, I observe, for example, that we have come a long way these last 5 or 7 years. We have moved from a period of instability, stress and pain to a period of healing, wholeness, harmony and stability. By the grace of God, and by the good will and spiritual maturity of you, the congregation, the gospel is preached, taught, and modeled by you in Word and deed.

And by the power of God’s Word and Spirit we have experienced grace, and fellowship, and wellness. We also have moved from one pastor to three pastors, providing leadership in ministry.

Oh, to be sure, we are not a perfect community, but we are (and have become more so) a gracious and grateful community, where we are learning the meaning of Christian love, care, and service. This is the work of God’s Word and Spirit in our midst.

But now we are entering a stretch in Calvary Church’s journey, where fundamental questions must be asked, including the question about downsizing of the pastoral staff. How will we conduct ourselves as we struggle with such questions? And will we dare to open ourselves to the ruinous work of God’s life-changing Word and Spirit? What is God saying to us today?

I want to encourage all of us to yield daily to God’s powerful, life-changing Word and Spirit, so that the spirits of darkness will have no sway over us. In fact, we can face the future with confidence and deep trust, for by yielding to the power of God’s Word, we encounter Jesus’ daily presence, wholeness and guidance. So listen to God’s Word as found in the Gospel of Mark today!

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Let’s begin by paying attention to the details in the story of Jesus’ power encounter with a demon-possessed man. Mark mentions the day: It’s the Sabbath. On the day of rest, when all God’s people are called to rest from their labors and to reflect upon God’s saving acts in the life of Israel, Jesus does something remarkable: he brings rest to the demon-possessed man.

On this particular Sabbath day in Capernaum we note that Jesus reveals himself as the Giver of Rest. The shadow and promise of God that is hidden in the Sabbath commandment is now becoming a reality. True rest, offered by the Restgiver, is coming to the world.

Also note the place. The Restgiver comes to the gathering place of God’s people—to the synagogue. In the synagogue God’s people read the Torah—the Holy Scriptures, and Scribes or teachers explain these Scriptures to God’s people, so that they are shaped with the mind and will of God. Over the centuries, these interpreters of Scripture have come with many tedious explanations and laws by which they tried to regulate and control the religious life of Israel.

But today is different. This Jesus speaks with authority. He is not relying upon interpretations and wise sayings and teachings from rabbis or scribes who have gone before him. No, Jesus’ teaching is new, unlike the teachings of the rabbis. Jesus speaks with authority. The Word of God read and the Word of God explained are truly authoritative—from one and the same source. Jesus embodies the divine, authoritative Word of God!

In that synagogue, there is a man who recognizes the divine authority of Jesus. Actually, it is a demon that possesses the man. The evil spirit panics and openly confronts Jesus, crying out: “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!”

Now note what this evil spirit does. The people are amazed at Jesus’ authority, reading and explaining the Word of God. They are wondering: Who is this Jesus?

Well, this evil spirit tells them. This Jesus is a real human being—he is from Nazareth, from an insignificant town. But he is also truly divine; he is the Holy One of God! You must take this Jesus seriously, for though truly human, Jesus is the Son of God as well.

The evil spirit recognizes Jesus as an enemy. He fears Jesus’ authority or power, because that power will be unleashed against the powers of darkness in due time. “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” This evil spirit represents all the spirits of darkness. He knows the rule of God has come to earth. And he knows that Jesus embodies that rule and is about to destroy the rule of the devil and all his angels.

One final detail: Jesus shows his divine authority and his true identity as the Son of God by speaking two words: He shuts up the evil spirit saying, “Be quiet! And he brings healing to the demon-possessed man by commanding the evil spirit to “Come out of him!” Jesus is doing a ruinous work—not only in regard to the evil spirit, but also with regard to the people in the synagogue: he shakes them up; he confronts them with his divine authority; and Jesus forces them to make up their minds about him: “Do we pay attention to him and his Word? Or shall we ignore him as a religious cook or imposter?”

Now as we observe the details in Mark’s gospel story, let’s go deeper and draw insights from the story—these insights are relevant to our daily living as Christians:

(1) Jesus shows up wherever the Word of God is proclaimed in truth. Here’s why: The Word of God centers on Jesus; the Word of God reveals Jesus; the Word of God—in all its fullness—is enfleshed, embodied in Jesus. For Jesus is the Word of God in the flesh. (John 1:1,2,14) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning….The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

We should not be surprised, therefore, that when we come to church and hear the Word of God proclaimed in truth, we will encounter Jesus in our life. And we should not be surprised that Jesus might do some ruinous work in our lives and community. He is prone to deconstruct us, to drive us to our knees, and in the process to reconstruct us more and more in his image. Clearly, when we yield to the life-changing power of God’s Word, we encounter Jesus’ daily presence, wholeness and guidance in our lives. For Jesus shows up wherever the Word of God is proclaimed and embraced in truth.

(2) Jesus’ exorcism of the evil spirit points forward to his victory over sin, Satan and death. When Jesus began his ministry at the time of his baptism near the River Jordan, Jesus had a power encounter with Satan in the desert for 40 days. Tempted by Satan, Jesus stood firm on the Word of God. And Satan lost the battle. That was the beginning of the end of Satan’s dark domain here on earth. The prince of darkness knew that his time was running out.

Jesus showed his power over evil and evil spirits all throughout his earthly ministry. And when he entered the realm of death on Good Friday, Jesus broke the back of Satan. He conquered the power of death, so that on Easter Sunday, the Restgiver rose unto eternal life and opened the door of forgiveness and eternal life to all who turn to Him. This is why the Scripture says (in Hebrews 2:14) that Jesus shared in our humanity “…so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Jesus’ exorcism of the evil spirit points forward to his victory over sin, Satan and death.

(3) Even though the devil’s back is broken (he lost the battle), he still is engaged in opposing God’s rule and God’s people. Christians are involved in mop-up battles, called to daily spiritual warfare. When Jesus comes again in glory, then Satan’s dominion will be annihilated all together. So, we should not be surprised that the devil does show up—and sometimes in the least expected places, such as in the church and such as in our homes and in our hearts.

Think about it: Did not Jesus rebuke Peter at one time, saying: (Mark 8:33) “Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” And did not Jesus say to Peter, in response to Peter’s acclamation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah…I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Clearly, Jesus reminds us here that the powers of hell unleash their fury in particular against the church. That’s why we do well to yield to the life-changing power of God’s Word, so that we encounter Jesus’ daily presence, wholeness and guidance.

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I began my message by touching upon our present circumstances. We are going through rough, economic times. This is happening on a national and individual basis; it’s also happening on a church or communal basis. In such a difficult context, we should not be surprised that anti-Christian forces are tempting us and knocking on the doors of our hearts.

These anti-Christian forces are spirits that dwell among all people. There are the spirits of fear, of doubt, of negativism. These spirits can paralyze us and drive us to do things that are irrational, painful and harmful to the name of Christ. Beware of those spirits. And do not yield to them. Rather, be led by the Spirit of Christ.

There are the spirits of anger, of distrust, of discontent. These spirits can wreck our relationships at home and also in the church. Beware of those spirits. And do not yield to them. Yield to the life-changing power of God as found in Jesus Christ and his Word.

There are the spirits of divisiveness and greed and self-interest. They drink from the waters of narcissism, and they have nothing else in view but the self—the “I”, “Me” and “Myself.” Beware of those spirits. Yield to Jesus and his Word; let him cast out these spirits within us and around us. Let us be, and become more so, image bearers of Christ, ambassadors of his rule; and instruments of his love and care.

Your pastors are well aware of what is at stake: First of all, what is at stake is the name and work and presence of Christ in our community. Along with Christ’s honor and presence in our midst, there is also the stake of the spiritual health and ministry direction of our church. In the midst of difficult circumstances and choices, will we do what is wholesome and uplifting and edifying and honorable to Christ and to one another?

Oh yes, there are other “stakes” as well: the future of your pastors; their sense of calling; their family’s need for stability and security. And no doubt you can identify some more stakes.

As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and as your lead pastor, I ask all of us to yield to the life-changing power of God’s Word, so that we may encounter Jesus’ daily presence, wholeness and guidance.

Your pastors are committed to seek and serve Christ first and foremost, and to seek the well being of Christ’s body—Calvary Church. We are aware of the evil spirits of fear, divisiveness, doubts, anger, selfishness, and greed that will tempt us, especially in times such as these. By the grace and power of God, however, we are committed to model to you and to one another the mind and Spirit of Christ.

We ask you to do the same in the days and weeks to come. We need each other to live the life of Christ and to model to the world that Christ and his Word cast out the spirits of evil and instill within us the Spirit of love and self-sacrifice.

So then, let God do a ruinous work in our midst. And may that work be to his glory and honor, and to our individual and collective well being as followers of Christ and children of our heavenly Father.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.