March 27th, 2022 SUNDAY MESSAGE
JOIN US AT 10 AM TODAY!
Transcription Notes:
Series on RR bigger than we thought and we wanted to see disciplines of RR and look to Jesus’ life to see where HE engaged in it.
Story of Kathleen…
It told me things about my life that the woman did not know
It threatened to tell everyone in the room about
Now, I am aware that we all HAVE
PROBABLY NOT had experiences like this, right??
I believe is more common that we may realize because things like this typically go unnoticed in a western context,
SO, I don’t say this story for shock factor or to scare you, because “Greater is He who is in YOU than He who is in the world”.
My point is this:
that the separation between unseen and seen, tangible and intangible, spiritual and material is NOT as separate as you might think…
WHEN I jumped into the car to leave this woman's house, I had to pull over a few blocks away, because I had experienced a breakdown in my minds perception of these things and realized it was SOO much closer than I had ever thought before.
On one hand I had been in the presence of a woman who served at our church and, as far as we could tell, love the Lord and followed him
On the other hand, I had been in the presence of a liar, something haughty, disgusting, and unclean and it was so much more REAL than I had ever imagined.
SO, I put on worship music, prayed in the car, and thought, “if the evil I encountered was THAT real, how much more real, tangible, and present LOVE and POWER of the God of the universe?!?!…and I just BURST OUT in praise thanking God for:
His protection
His guidance during the session
BUT MORE THAN THAT, I THANKED HIM FOR THE REALITY OF HIS PRESENCE right then and there!!
And we need to realize that our mental separation between these two aspects is NOT reality. Reality is that we exist in both the material and the spiritual SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Two things before we start:
FIRST, I owe much of the perspective and research for this sermon to Pastor GABRIEL SALGUERO who spoke at a conference hosted by a guy named Albert Tate called Discipling Out Racism.
I want the lesson to overflow into other areas of our lives including but not limited to racism.
SECOND, is to remind you that, a few weeks ago, when we looked at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the book of Daniel, I tried to get you to see that there were unseen spiritual forces working behind the PHYSICAL presence of the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar and the Idol that they refused to bow down to and so when we engage in physical righteous resistance, we are also engaging in unseen resistance but today I want you to see the exact opposite is true as well:
When we engage in overt spiritual opposition we are also engaging in physically tangible, and often systemic, opposition as well.
While you may not have noticed it before, these connections are very clear when we read about Jesus’ encounter with the Gerasene demoniac - so open your scriptures to the Gospel of Mark chapter 5…
The story happens immediately after Jesus calms a STORM on the Sea of Galilee. So He has demonstrated sovereignty over NATURE, He will do the same for the SPIRIT realm, but, I want to suggest to you as well, He is asserting His power over GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.
Mark 5:1-20
1 They (that’s the disciples) went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.
Before we get too deep into the details of the man in the tombs, I want you to note the area to paint the picture a little better! Check out this quick <MAP OF THE AREA>
The boat makes landfall in Gentile territory—on the southeast shore of the Sea of Galilee, in a region called the Decapolis.
The word “Decapolis” means "10 Cities." and the number of cities may have changed from time to time, but it’s a group of cities connected similarly to the way suburbs do and we will often call the “Metro area.”
Since it is NON-JEWISH area:
farmers raised pigs (which is forbidden for Jews) making the area, in general, unclean
and it had thoroughly pagan-cultic practices, as well as greek and Hellenistic influences.
AND when it was founded, it was intentionally kept separate from the Jewish territory on the west side of the sea by a group of Military Veterans who were formerly part of Alexander the Great's army
These armies were organized in units of thousands (2000 to 5000) called what? ________ - “LEGIONS!”
As you would imagine, military life flowed into the rest of the city with its ranks and authority structures in place socially and politically.
It created a hierarchical CAST SYSTEMS called “Patron/ Client” and it harbored social and economic abuses!
Here is a quote from a scholar who studies the area named Ray Vanderlaan. He says:
“These towns typically had Hellenistic designs, with theaters where lewd plays were performed, temples where sacrifices were offered to pagan gods, and coliseums where nude athletic games and gladiatorial contests took place. Each city controlled the areas surrounding it, spreading their Hellenistic philosophy and religion. The farmers of Galilee could see the sophisticated Gentile world barely eight miles away, and the steep cliffs of the Eastern Shore…and the riotous lifestyle and pigs could certainly be found there.”
<Grandview Lodge and hearing the parties over the water>
Vanderlaan continues saying the Jews: “viewed the land as the place of the "expelled ones," the worshipers of Baal…(Jesus’) disciples probably hesitated when he suggested they row there.
Alright…let’s get into this! Verse 3…
3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
That’s weird, right? Why would Jesus ask the impure spirit its name? Why would that matter?
Pastor GABRIEL SALGUERO points out that, when Jesus says “what is your name?” - Jesus wants to know the IDENTITY of the thing (or things) which are INFLUENCING this man. Pastor SALGUERO digs even deeper likening this to a “discipleship.” So…
What has influenced this man to become the person he is when Jesus encounters him ?
What FORMED your decisions?
to LIVE in the tombs
to CUT himself
In this case, it is a heavily wicked and highly influential Spirit!
Then, Pastor SALGUERO urged his audience to ask ourselves the same questions…what’s INSIDE of you?
His direct words were, “Rediscipleship begins with asking the question, “What’s already in there?”
Again, the context of the conference: was for pastors learning about, preaching about, and engaging racial dynamics and he wanted us to ask:
if the only resources, commentaries, books, institutions, and pastors you follow, are mostly (or ONLY) white
OR had elements of racism in them, then THAT’S whats inside of you, building your theology, and fortifying who you are as a leader and a preacher!”
This is a worthwhile challenge for all of us to consider but I don’t just want you to stop there! What other influences are inside you and have formed your ideas on…
The Society we reside?
The Citizenship we hold in America
The economic systems we operate?
What influences do you allow to form your decisions?
The news sites you listen to?
The talk radio you internalize
The music, magazines, media, social media sites and people you follow, etc
These things are FORMING YOU and making you who you are…stop and let Jesus’ words ask you the same question: “who - are - you?”
Continuing on…Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
The spirit replies:
“My name is (…what is it?)
Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”
That term should be familiar, because it would have been obvious to the disciples who are well aware of Roman Legions who make up the Military Colony just over the hills!
Then THIS happens in Verse 11:
11 A large herd of (what?) ____…PIGS was feeding on the nearby hillside.12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the ____…PIGS; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the ____…PIGS. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
So…what’s with the pigs? Well many of us can put together that
These unclean spirits are sent into the unclean animals who are drowned in the sea!
You should ALSO note that the wording is eerily reminiscent of the moment when Pharaoh's Army is drowned in the sea in Exodus...the paramount example of Righteous Resistance from the Old Testament!
You also may have realized that the herd is a part of the gentile economy to feed the people throughout the Decapolis
…and that’s a LOT of livestock to lose in one fell swoop…or one single splash - as the case may be (Bad joke? Too soon?)
BUT THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST A SOURCE OF INCOME and FOOD for the Romans,
in fact, they are a representation of the foundations of the Roman Empire who even printed them on various COINS!
<Pic of COINS>
We’re going to take it one step further…
William R. Harwood (a scientist and author - not a Christian) writes in Mythology's Last Gods:
"Since the fall of the city a few months earlier [in 70 C.E.], Jerusalem had been occupied by the Roman Tenth Legion, whose emblem was a pig. Mark's reference to about two thousand pigs, the size of the occupying Legion, combined with his blatant designation of the evil beings as Legion, left no doubt in Jewish minds that the pigs in the fable represented the army of occupation. Mark's fable in effect promised that the messiah, when he returned, would drive the Romans into the sea as he had earlier driven their four-legged surrogates."
And as we remembered God did to Egypt!
Maybe you already see where this is going: Mark has pointed out a series of connections to the Legion and the Pigs to the ROMAN EMPIRE!
SO, Jesus’ actions here are kind of prophetic threat!
Look man, I disrupted the spiritual occupation of this man and gave you a sample of what I can do to you economy in a single move”
but it is nothing compared to what I am about to do the principalities, dominions and powers that fuel your worship, social structures, and economy!
Jesus is saying: “The legion that empowers your legion, is powerless compared to me.”
And I have a new system to establish, for this is what it means when Isaiah wrote:
“For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Jesus isn’t just freeing a man, or just asking you and I to confront the EVIL THINGS that reside in us…
he is showing us HOW to confront the social and systemic EVILS as well because if the devil is up in one, he is up the other too, and God is preparing to bring it all down in order to establish HIS RULE with true power and true authority, perfect economy and perfect government
…AND THIS is why the people respond like this in verse 14:
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to LEAVE their region.
Notice the contrast that takes place,
a man whose life is ravaged by a wicked spirit, living in turmoil is MOVED from chaos into peace and is now in his right mind because of the presence of Jesus BUT
those who are benefiting from a wicked social system are MOVED from peace and into turmoil because of the presence of Jesus…and they want him to LEAVE!!
..and they are like: “You gotta go, things were FINE before you got here.”
Fine for who?!
We must be aware that, for some, the presence of Jesus is peace, restoration, and deliverance but for others, the upending of spiritual and physical strongholds comes at a cost and the cost will be too high…
& they will ask Jesus to move on
OR create a version of Jesus in their image so they can ignore the wickedness that they participate in.
Let’s finish the text:
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
SO, what does Jesus do with the man at the end?
After, Jesus expels a legion out of one man, he…
sends him BACK like a spiritual torpedo into the heart of a city of legions to bring them the message of a new power, new authority, new economy, new society, and a new system we call the Kingdom of Heaven!
But instead of destroying them, their social systems, their economy, and their cultic practices (HERE IS THE TWIST), he makes them an OFFER!!
He offers them a seat at the table for this alternative community…
to become saved and WILLINGLY join His Kingdom
BUT, remember, if they say YES, it will cost them something…because reckoning unjust systems benefits SOMEBODY and they will be asked to lay down those benefits.
Some will say,
“Nah, what I got is better” or
“I like philosophies and ideas so I take a little of this Kingdom too” or
“Sure, but I can keep doing the things I’ve always been doing, and benefitting from the old system, right?”
Perhaps you’ve said the same at some point.
All of these are different versions of “Jesus, I’m going to need you to move on to the next town.”
AND for those who follow Him now, calling Him “Lord”, Jesus gives an example of what it means to love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly in the context of an empire that exploits the vulnerable and takes advantage of the marginalized.
Once again my hope is that your awareness is raised and that the veil we’ve created between spiritual and material, seen and unseen is a little thinner because
we are the Righteous Resistance standing between the world as it is and the world as it should be in the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven.
These spiritual realities are embedded into our day-to-day lives, it’s interactive with our systems, it’s intertwined with the governing structures of our world, it takes advantage of the economies of our day,
whether your preference leans towards socialism or capitalism or any other “isms” out there.
There is an organized spiritual effort by the enemy scheming and intending to thwart God’s people, to steal, kill and destroy.
This is why Paul, over and over again, tries to remind us about this reality and to stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians says, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
and we are meant to RESIST this as God’s RIGHTEOUS people this is why Peter says: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 RESIST HIM, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
So, Common Ground Northeast, the questions for APPLICATION are these:
WHO ARE YOU?
Who has formed you?
What is forming you?
Is there a part of your discipleship that needs to be discipled out??
AND, WHAT KIND OF SYSTEMS ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN AND BUILDING?
What SOCIETIES, what ECONOMIES and how does it evaluate people or CARE for them?
If changing, challenging, or correcting COSTS you something, are you willing to do it??
In light of the Perfect Governing structure of the Kingdom of Heaven, nothing escapes scrutiny between the events of the Fall and before the restoration of all things!
Here’s a quick litmus test:
If things feel right now, you can be somewhat positive that you are on the benefiting side of the equation.
You may need to ask around, talk to those who live in a different neighborhood, part of the city, or look different than you.
You need to diversify your worldview!!
The vision is both the end AND the beginning! The renewal of all things back to Jesus’ created order where are things work properly, equitably, and human flourishing is found on every inch of this world and we are given power and called to participate in it here and now…
May we RESIST LEGION no matter what FORM it takes to see the Kingdom established on earth as it is in heaven.
COMMUNION:
(1 COR. 11:23B-26)
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
PRAYER REQUESTS:
We are hosting prayer team meetings for both the congregation at large and individuals to sign up for individual prayer.
SUGGESTIONS FOR WORSHIP:
“Praise & Worship” Spotify playlist and “Praise & Worship” YouTube playlist (slightly different from each other), both of diverse music that are being constantly updated!
Bethel Music :
Bethel Music’s hours of live music YouTube Playlist, also being constantly updated
Bethel provides chords to most (if not all) of their songs here (just have to register email, but free!)
Live worship moments from the Upper Room YouTube Playlist
Journal writing! (I’m a writer too, so sometimes creative writing and writing my thoughts to God is my form of worship.)
Declare and worship with truth by singing and praying scriptures.
WORSHIP NIGHT! Dedicate a night to worship with friends and family, your house church or neighbors, those who need prayer, love worship, or just enjoy music through a video chat platform like Zoom. You can have one person leading at a time (switching off to whoever else wants to lead) while others sing along, pray, or prophesy, etc.
Serving your community, both online, in person, or both, is a great way to worship God, from spreading encouragement and God’s Word online to physically serving food to others. If you are able to go out and serve, click here for opportunities.
COMMISSIONING:
As Jesus said in John 20:21,
"Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Go, be the Church!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.