The Rescue
Luke 15:4-7 NKJV
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
The Word or God exposes the heart of Jesus. There isn’t a certain group of humanity, no special person that deserves the love of God more or less. It is not the person that prays more. It is not the person that thinks they are holier. It not the one that gives more or serves more.
The heart of Jesus is exposed to the heart that will bow down to His Love!
His love is never fully understandable.
His love is unsearchable.
His love is undeniable.
His love is everlasting.
There is not one soul that is far from His love. Jesus loves people, personally.
He had formed us from the foundations of the world. He had knitted every single one of us in our mothers womb.
His love is shown to us in the very breath we take.
Jesus will love people until they reach Heaven and He will love them until they end up in hell. Even then will He mourn?
Everything that comes out of the heart of Christ comes out of a place of love.
Love comes in compassion, in mercy, in rebuke, even in correction.
He shows His love through a sacrifice that no one else could have performed.
There is an undeniable love that He has for all of humanity.
Even if it’s for the one.
I think about the man that had an unclean spirit in the Gospel of Mark chapter 5.
Mark 5:5-8 NKJV
And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”
It is Jesus and only Jesus that offers hope to the hopeless.
We can spend so much time on the demons and the possession of this man.
We miss the point.
There is a man from Nazareth!
Some people are more afraid of what Jesus can do in His love and mercy, then have an unwillingness to change.They get used to what they have been manipulated to do by the power of the demons or by the corruption of their own sin!
There is comfort in the devil we associate with. But eventually that comfort turns to torment, and the realization of Salvation becomes apparent. Then desperation sets in.
Then the real spiritual battle starts.
You see it’s important to know about the evil of this world.
Yes, Satan comes disguised as an angel of light.
Yes, he is the tempter of the brethren.
He is the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The deceiver. The adversary the opponent of God
Yes, Satan will try to destroy every single soul that proclaims Jesus Christ of Nazareth as their Lord and Savior.
Yes, he is a liar, he is the Prince of the power of the air.
What I know without a shadow of doubt is this;
We have an adversary.
We have an enemy that hates us.
He hates our marriages.
He hates our children. He hates that we are made in the image of our Creator
The other thing about this enemy is that he’s more powerful than you.
He is smarter than you.
He is wiser.
What more do you need to know about him?
The other truth I know for sure is this,
Satan is infinitely weaker than the God we serve!
Our God’s Glorious Throne will never be overthrown by Satan! The Crown of Christ will never be tarnished or handed over!
The Kingdom of Heaven will never be invaded because no unclean, no evil can or will be in His presence.
This is why He will leave the 99 for the 1, so none will perish!
Every heart will bow down to Jesus Christ either in their rebellion or their reverence!
Every soul must hear the message of the Gospel that saves.
The message of Salvation heals the broken hearted.
It does break the chains of bondage, NO matter what that bondage is.
Everyone thought this man was too far gone. Chained and shackled to protect them from being harmed.
Sent out of society because he was a threat to himself and to others.
Living among the tombs with the dead. Because that is all he was able to associate with.
Now think for a moment to whom have you done the same?
Do you know anyone in your life that you thought would never know Jesus as their Lord? Someone that you thought would never change their ways. Maybe that was you yourself.
Then the Lord overwhelms them with His Grace. He shows His mercy.
Then it’s His Holiness, His perfection. He shows just how sinful we are in the eyes of a sinless perfect God!
Those very same people that we thought would never change their ways do, by the power and mercy of the LOVE of Jesus Christ!
This story about demon possession is more than we can ever imagine.
It is not just about Jesus having the power and authority of Legion and the demons of hell!
This is a story about the LOVE of Jesus Christ to all of humanity EVEN the demon possessed.
Know about our God!
Don’t miss the point!
Many people like the excitement of demon-possession and how to rid them but fail to see the Love of Jesus through it.
This man is made clean.
Brought from death to life. Born again in the spirit. The only thing he wants is to cling to His new master, Jesus!
Mark is teaching us what it means to follow Jesus. After the healing and the restoration this man sees first hand the power and authority of Jesus.
All he wants to do is cling to his new Master. Jesus commands him to go out to the Decapolis and let them know just Who healed him! imagine the Testimony he gave of the Love of Jesus! Theough tbat love he was healed and made well!
Never forget you are following the Most High, the Son of God, the one whom demons fear, who demons bow as soon as they recognize who He is.
You are following the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth! He has complete authority and power over the kingdom of darkness. Bringing Life back to the spiritual shackled and bound! He is the Life!
See with your spiritual eyes!
Jesus is on a rescue mission! He leaves the 99 for the 1!
No matter the background, the sin, the possession. If you’re Greeks, gentile or Jew!
My question is this.
Will you show the Love of Christ even to the ones you think don’t deserve it?
Can you see that it is the Love of Jesus that is at the center of everything He does!
Look for His Love. In that love you will find mercy, compassion and grace!
Now go and show the same love that has been shown to you! Do it with the same grace and compassion!
Remember no one is far from the love of Christ!
Pastor Ed
