LOC #26: AVAILABLE! (Luke 8:40-56)

(This message may be used as an individual sermon or as part of the series.)

LUKE 8:40-56 – AVAILABLE!

LIFE OF CHRIST #26

In this passage we meet two needy people to whom Jesus made himself available. One was the ruler of the local synagogue and the other was a woman who had been sick for twelve years. Through studying their lives, we learn four important things about the availability of our Lord Jesus Christ.

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HEAVYHEARTED

Vs. 40 – Jesus returns by boat to Capernaum.

After Jesus had healed the man possessed with demons, he was asked to leave the other side of the Sea of Galilee. You might recall that he had allowed the demons to go into the pigs, and the pigs, 2,000 of them, stampeded and went over a cliff, into the sea, and drowned.

Instead of seeking Jesus to heal others, the people of that area asked him to go and he did.

When He returned to Capernaum, there is a totally different response to Jesus. There is a huge crowd waiting for him to land. They probably wanted to see and/or experience more miracles.

Vs. 41 – There was a noted member of this crowd. His name was Jairus. He was the ruler of the local synagogue. I imagine that he already knew Jesus. As a ruler of the synagogue he would have been responsible for choosing those involved in the services, including those who would read and speak.

Vs. 42 – Jairus didn’t come to Jesus because he wanted a speaker. Jairus came because he was heavyhearted.

He had one daughter and she was so sick she was about to die.

Mark 5:23 – And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

Jairus did the right thing. He came for Jesus. He sought Jesus’ help when he was heavyhearted.

What’s the first thing you do when you’re heavyhearted?

Do you seek God’s help? Do you seek out Jesus to go with you to face the problem? Psalm 55:22

When Jairus entreated Jesus to come, He did!

When we are heavyhearted and we ask Jesus for help, He doesn’t have far to go. He is already inside of us, through the Holy Spirit. In fact He promised that He would not leave us in John 14:18, I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Whenever we are heavyhearted, let’s not try to bear the burden alone. Let’s ask for the help of the Lord Jesus!

There is another point of interest in this verse. It is the beginning of an extra burden for Jairus. The crowd was stupendous in size, and they were going along to. The crowd was pushing in and around them. This made for slow walking, especially because the streets were narrow.

Jairus’ daughter was dying. He would have been in a hurry.

Jesus was coming, but it would have seemed to Jairus, that He was moving slowly.

There are times when you will wish that Jesus would move faster, that there weren’t so many hindrances to the problem.

But remember this – Jesus is always on time.

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HELPLESS

Vs. 43 – Here was a woman who had been hemorrhaging for 12 years. She had a severe bleeding problem.

Mark 5:26 – And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

This woman would have been considered according to the Old Testament Law ceremonially unclean. She was not even to be touched by others.

If she had been married, her husband would have likely divorced her.

She was not allowed in the temple or synagogue.

She was probably a social and religious outcast.

And she was broke! She had spent all her money on doctors.

She was helpless and she knew it.

It is good to know when we are truly helpless like this woman. When we come to the end of ourselves and all our self efforts, then we are ready to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for His help. That is exactly what this woman did.

Remember Luke 1:37, For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Vs. 44 – In her helplessness this woman did something significant. She touched the hem of Jesus’ garment by faith, expecting to be healed.

Mark 5:28 – For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

She was probably like many of her day who believed that just touching the garment of a holy person or being in their shadow could bring about a healing.

This woman’s faith was very imperfect.

This woman’s faith was not very knowledgeable.

This woman’s faith was full of flaws.

This woman’s faith was honored by God!

Jesus often rebuked the disciples for having little faith.

This woman had great faith.

Most important, I feel this woman had her faith in the right person.

Too often people put their faith in people, in circumstances, in themselves, in the government instead of putting their faith in God.

This woman was immediately healed!

Vs. 45 – Also immediately, Jesus stopped and asked “Who touched me?” Jesus knew that someone had reached out to Him in faith.

He always knows when someone reaches out to Him in faith, He’s God.

Jesus stopped and inquired in order to assure the woman that she had done nothing wrong and that God had honored her faith.

Notice she didn’t speak up right away. She was probably afraid of Jesus not liking what she had done, and taking back the healing.

Vs. 45 – Peter speaks up, and this time with a good point, humanely speaking. “There’s so many thronging around you Lord, people are going to touch you. Why are you asking ‘Who touched me.’”

Vs. 46 – Jesus insists that someone had touched Him. Jesus insisted that the person come forward!

Vs. 47 – The woman came and “fessed up”!

Was this difficult for her too do? Of course it was!

Not only had she gone in a secretive way to be healed, but her physical condition embarrassed her.

God had done a great thing for her. He should get the credit.

Vs. 48 – Notice that God honored the woman’s faith. Jesus encouraged her to be of good comfort.

Her faith in Him had caused her to be healed.

She was to go in peace.

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HEARTBROKEN

Vs. 49 – “Too late Jairus! It’s all over! She’s gone! Don’t trouble the Master any more!”

Oh, the heartache!

Oh, the agony!

Oh, the disappointment!

Vs. 50 – But Jesus is there to say, “Don’t be afraid, Jairus.”

“Just believe, Jairus!”

“I will heal her, Jairus!”

Now, what about our heartbreaks?

Does every problem get fixed?

Does every sick person get better?

Quite frankly, the answer is “no”.

However the message is the same for us as it is for Jairus.

“Don’t be afraid!”

“Just believe!”

“I will heal!”

If you trust Him, the Lord Jesus will heal your broken heart.

If you trust Him, Jesus will give you peace.

The miracle He will perform will be in your heart!

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HOPELESS

Vs. 51 – Jesus entered the house privately.

Vs. 52 – There was such a thing as professional mourners. They came in immediately to lament the death of a person. And burial would happen almost immediately.

This was a hopeless situation.

And yet Jesus says, “Don’t weep. She’s only asleep.”

Vs. 53 – They laughed Jesus to scorn, they mocked him. They knew that she really was dead.

And friends, people will mock you when you have hope in a hopeless situation.

Vs. 54-55 – He put the scorners out. They missed witnessing a miracle, because of their unbelief.

I wonder how many miracles we’ve missed because of our unbelief?

Vs. 56 – The child’s parents were astonished. You would have been too. This was a different situation than the woman with the hemorrhage. She needed to make her situation known, because she was sneaking around. Jairus had already publicly shown his faith.

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HEAVYHEARTED

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HELPLESS

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HEARTBROKEN

JESUS IS AVAILABLE TO THE HOPELESS

(This message may be used as an individual sermon or as part of the series.)

MATTHEW 9:23-27 – STORMY WEATHER

LIFE OF CHRIST #24

We all face trials and troubles often. It is what Cole Porter called “Stormy Weather” in a song that he wrote.

There were a couple of times when the disciples faced storms on the Sea of Galilee.

As we look at this story about literal storm, we also learn lessons about the figurative storms that cause trials and troubles in our lives. Let’s see what lessons we can learn this morning about stormy weather.

STORMY WEATHER IS BEST FACED WHEN JESUS IS IN THE BOAT

Vs. 23 – Think of the boat as our lives.

Although God is present everywhere, there is a special sense in which God is present in our lives. When He indwells us, He has taken up special residence inside of us. John 14:16-17

God the Holy Spirit dwells inside of the Christian.

He is there to guide us, protect us, keep us, teach us, and comfort us.

And God has promised the Christian that this presence is unending! Hebrews 13:5-6

You have heard people say, and might have said yourself, “I wouldn’t want to face this problem without the Lord!”

How true! If God is willing to take up residence in our lives through his Holy Spirit it would be dumb not to avail ourselves of His presence.

When you trust Christ as your payment for sins, you are what the Bible calls, born again, by the Spirit of God. And God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your life. Romans 8:9

If you have truly trusted Christ as your Savior, you have God’s presence in your life no matter what the storm may be. Make sure that you have Christ in the boat that is your life!

STORMY WEATHER RESULTS FROM OBEDIENCE

Vs. 23 – The Lord Jesus entered the boat. The disciples followed Him into the boat. It was the Lord Jesus who decided where they were going. Luke 8:22

The disciples ended up in a storm on the Sea of Galilee because they were following Jesus in obedience.

Of course, being obedient to God as a Christian and following Jesus’ leadership in our lives is the right thing to do. Luke 9:23-24

Following Jesus after trusting Him for forgiveness does not mean that it will be an easy life. In fact, we will have storms. 2 Timothy 3:12, James 1:2-4

The storms that Jesus leads through will make us strong and mature. And I’d rather follow Jesus in the middle of a storm than to not follow Jesus. Being in the center of the Lord’s will is always the safest place to be.

But you’ll also face storms if you’re not obedient to God.

Would you rather face storms being in the center of God’s will, or out of God’s will? Which makes the most sense?

STORMY WEATHER IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

Vs. 24 – I don’t have to tell you how dangerous storms can be. Just consider last year’s tsunami and hurricanes Ivan and Rita.

This storm was a very violent storm, and even seasoned fishermen like Peter, Andrew, James, and John were having trouble with it.

The storms of life which we face are also dangerous.

Sometimes we will be in physical danger because of persecution, accidents or illness.

Other times we are in emotional danger with our “storms” threatening to overwhelm us with fear and/or depression.

Other times we are in Spiritual danger, with Satan’s attacks challenging us to give up or to sin.

And this verse alludes to another danger. We might be concerned because in the midst of the storm God appears to be asleep. He does not seem to be responding to our problems during the storm. He seems to be silent.

Our Lord Jesus was able to sleep because He had a human body that got tired. He was also able to sleep because, being sinless, He had a clean conscience. He was also able to sleep, because He quietly allowed Himself to rest in the hands of His loving Heavenly Father.

If you are doing what is right before the Lord, confessing your sins as a Christian, and striving to live for Him, don’t panic when God appears to be asleep. He’ll show Himself to be very much alive at just the right time.

STORMY WEATHER INVOKES FEAR AND PANIC

Vs. 25 – When storms come we tend to fear. And sometimes when storms come we will go into a panic. The situation seems to be absolutely hopeless!

Humans tend to be fearful. If we didn’t tend to be fearful, God would not have put so many verses in the Bible telling us not to be afraid. I’ll just give you two samples, but there are many more “do not fear” verses in the Bible. Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 41:10

We tend to fear and worry about what might happen but hasn’t happened.

We tend to fear and worry about the future.

We tend to fear and worry about the opinions of others.

We tend to fear and worry about our children, our parents, our spouses.

Then comes the times our problems are so real to us that they tend to overwhelm us. We hit the panic mode.

Yes, many fears are justified. But there is a proper way to handle fear.

These seasoned fishermen were literally in over their heads and they knew it, coming to Jesus in panic.

STORMY WEATHER REQUIRES PRAYER AND FAITH

Vs. 25 – The disciples awoke the Lord Jesus.

Their anxious prayer was an indication that they had come to the end of themselves, and that they had at least a little faith that Jesus could help.

I personally think that they waited too long to ask Jesus for help. The moment things got a little stormy, I think they should have come to Him.

We are like that. If things seem to be just a little stormy or troublesome, we’ll just worry over it and try to solve it ourselves, instead of bringing it to God right away.

But when problems get full blown, we come in a panic with a little, but not much faith that God can help. Philippians 4:6, James 1:5-8

Vs. 26 – Note that Jesus did not rebuke the disciples for waking Him up. Like I said, I feel that He would have welcomed being woken up sooner.

Notice our Lord’s calm rebuke in the midst of the storm.

He was not in a panic. He’s totally under control. He can even take the time to rebuke the disciples before He did anything. He is master of the situation.

Let’s remember when we give our stormy problems to God He is not in a panic. He can solve the problem leisurely if He chooses to. There is no reason to get in a dither or bent out of shape.

STORMY WEATHER REVEALS THE GLORY AND POWER OF GOD

Vs. 26 – Jesus said the word and there was perfect calm. It was like there had been no storm. There was no rocking of the waves that normally follow a storm. There was perfect peace.

When Jesus speaks the Word there is perfect peace.

Sometimes the problem totally disappears, but more often than not the place where the greatest miracle has occurred is inside of us.

We are at peace.

God has calmed the ragging in our souls.

Vs. 27 – The disciples were absolutely amazed! The Lord Jesus had done what they had never seen before. A human being told the storm to cease and it did. The winds obeyed Him! The waves obey Him.

They had a new appreciation for the power of Jesus!

They had a new appreciation for the glory of Jesus!

And when Jesus calms our storms, we too, should have a new appreciation for the power and glory of the Lord Jesus.

We should be amazed!

We should be filled with praise and worship.

We should be ready to trust Him when an even bigger storm comes.