Mark 1:21-28
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure 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!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
“The Word Among Words”
There is a “glut of words in our day” - little of which are pure, as God’s Word is. A word of life, hope, forgiveness, love, peace.
A word powerful enough to do what it says; which is, “ living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Heb. 4:12
A word which “shall not return empty”; a word of truth, of love, a living word which became flesh and dwelt among us. A word with power and authority which can be trusted.
But how can we know it is the word of God being spoken? No preacher is perfect. God’s Word is and it will do it’s thing, even through imperfect words.
No word which is not valid on the street or in the kitchen, office, or on the job is worth listening to in church. If it cannot be lived it is just a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal.
For the word is to be lived, with power and passion among all the words of our lives.
We do not live by knowledge alone, but by the word of love which empowers us and awakens us to be sensitive to the needs of others.
Actions put words to work and make them live. Christian morality and conduct is measured by what it does to others - indifference or concern.
God’s Word is a living word which calls us to live our words. It is a word we can trust and need to return to often so it can become flesh and dwell among us - and do what it says - even in and through us!
“Where do we stand?”
Two places to stand in text: With the people who were amazed or with the man possessed by an evil spirit, who experienced the power of Jesus Words.
We probably see ourselves with the first choice - for we are not demon possessed! Yet it is the demonic who goes home with something. So what might it mean if we stood with him?
It would mean we have our own demons which need to be recognized and confessed. Obvious ones: alcohol, drugs, tobacco, caffeine, money,; less obvious: greed, pride, selfishness, dishonesty, lust for power and prestige. We need to be exorcised, cleansed, changed if we are to “put on the new nature”, that is, if we are to put on “compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, for bearing one another, and forgiving each other, ...putting on love...”
Eph. 3:12-14
With knowledge of God comes the responsibility to love for God.
Woman in NYC: “If your God doesn’t care about the rats in my apartment; I don’t care about your God.”
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