Power Over Sin and Satan

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

6 May 2018

Updated: May 5, 2018

By:

Boyce Belt

Power Over Sin and Satan

Opening:

• Handouts: Parallel Passages
• Prayer

Text:

Mark 1:21-45 (KJV) And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. 29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

Introduction:

In the passage we have read we find Jesus healing the sick and delivering those possessed by demons.  Those with disease was not a result of sin in their lives or demonic activity (at least it is not recorded).  Yet we find a spiritual warfare taking place surrounding these events even when the forces of the enemy are not seen to the natural eye.

1. The Devil Goes to Church (vv. 21-28)

1. The Revelation of the Word
2. The Authority of the Word
3. The Deliverance of the Word

2. Silencing the Enemy (vv. 29-34)

1. Raised to Serve
2. A Crowd Gathers — a crowd can sometimes distract from truth
3. Truth from a Liar

1. (V. 24) I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
2. (V. 34) and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
3. Acts 16:16-18 (KJV) And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

3. Spreading the Gospel (vv. 35-39)

1. The Purpose of Christ

1. Jesus’ purpose was not popularity and political insurrection but discipleship and ultimately the cross.  This point is particularly central to Mark, so Mark includes several instances when Jesus ordered those whom He healed not to tell others about it.^[1]
2. Jesus refused to have His agenda dictated by the demands of the people.^[2]
3. He chose to pursue the unpopular course and keep the emphasis of His work on preaching the gospel.^[3]

2. The Necessity of Prayer

1. Even though Jesus had demonstrated power over demons and disease, He shows the need of prayer for sustained spiritual effectiveness.^[4]
2. The verb tense indicates Jesus prayed continuously.^[5]  This was His habit to rise early, before dawn, and pray.
3. Jesus prayer life was successful because it was:^[6]

1. Planned
2. Private
3. Prolonged

3. The Preparation of the Heart — Ezra 7:10 (KJV) For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

4. Cleansed (vv. 40-45)

1. A Compassionate Healer

1. With Compassion
2. Willing
3. Touching Him

2. A Disobedient Leper

1. The leper’s disobeying Jesus’ command indicates that although he was cleansed physically, he remained uncleaned inwardly (spiritually).^[7]
2. While he was praising the Lord by telling of what Christ had done it was an unacceptable form of worship for it was out of disobedience just as Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted while Able’s sacrifice was.
3. 1 Samuel 15:22 (KJV) And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

3. A Disrupted Minister

1. Jesus’ first year of public preaching had borne little visible fruit but His miracles of healing were drawing huge crowds and bringing Him recognition.^[8]
2. The leper’s broadcasting his healing would have aroused an excitement that would have interfered with the preaching of Jesus.^[9]
3. Jesus’ purpose of preaching in the next towns was frustrated by the leper’s disobedience.^[10]

Conclusion:

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  The victories we win in the Christian life are not because of our own abilities but because the power of Christ works in us.  

Next Week: The Real Need of Humanity — Mark 2:1-17

Prayer