The Realms of The King - Part 2

Bryan Chapell: Many churches are simply afraid to talk about spiritual warfare, but the battle over souls is being raged in the heavenlies. It's our seeing with gospel glasses, not being limited to the world that's just before our eyes, but seeing with the spiritual eyes of the scriptures. What is actually going on? And God is revealing that to us so that we will turn and seek his help and believe that there is hope because listen, if you don't believe there can be a victory, you've already lost the battle.
Guest (Male): So glad you joined us for today's Unlimited Grace, the audio broadcast ministry of Pastor and author Bryan Chapell. In today's lesson, Pastor Brian continues his message from Mark Chapter 5, where we see the ways in which Jesus Christ holds power over all the realms, physical and spiritual. You can find this lesson and many others when you visit unlimitedgrace.com, and while you're there, look for Pastor Brian's book, Unlimited Grace. Dr. Chapell reminds us of the power and mercy of God's grace that motivates and inspires us to serve our Heavenly Father. Let's hear now from Dr. Bryan Chapell as he shares the second half of the lesson, The Realms of the King.
Bryan Chapell: You know, every church age has its particular challenges. The Reformation, it was all about what saves you. Your works or Christ's work? We recognize that there was a time that Christians so dealt with is if you affirm faith in me, you die. Or your family is left destitute and courage will be required such as you never imagined to claim the name of Jesus Christ. And in our age, it's the sexual challenges so that as others have said, we're the new moral outlaws by saying, I believe what the Bible says. And it's so difficult that we have a common mistake often even in the church, because it's fed by news and philosophies and college classrooms and entertainment world. That if you're struggling with something that you did not choose, you're not guilty. It's okay. As long as it was not your choice, that lifestyle, that decision, the way you live. Well, it wasn't your choice, so it's okay. And we with polite boldness have to say humbly with the scriptures, how far are you willing to take that? If you did not choose it, it's okay. So if your child hits and lies, you didn't teach him that. There is something about what the psalmist said, in sin did my mother conceive me. This is my fallen nature. Well, hey, it's just your fallen nature, so go ahead and lie. Hurt other people. It wasn't your choice, so it's okay. What about the priest or the pastor who says, I lust for children? I don't even want to. But you know, I was just born this way. I just made this way. Is it okay with you? If we deal with the abuser who says, it was just the way I was raised. I don't know any other way. Not my fault. It's what my dad did to me. Do we say, it's okay, you didn't choose it. That torturous childhood in which you you didn't choose it. So it's okay. No. We are believers and what we believe is what the Holy Spirit is revealing to every single one of us is a broken fallen nature. Not to make us feel guilty, but to say, there is hope for you. Greater is he that's in you than he that's in the world. So we repent of our struggles and we seek Christ for strength. The one who promises us that he will give us gospel hope and gospel power, that we don't just say we're sorry, we say there is hope for the future. Tomorrow does not have to be like yesterday. I I I can be changed, I can be renewed. And so I repent of what is not right in me and by the way, that is every single one of us who have things that are not right in us that we did not choose and we still say, God forgive me and God change me. By the power that is in your son, Jesus Christ, indwelling me by the spirit, so change me. Just one more word on this. I mean, we have a parents conference later this week and because of some dynamics in my extended family, Cathy and I were talking just to ourselves in the kitchen just a few days ago and and we said, you know, as much as we see these struggles, here's what we know. Virtually every parent does the best they can. I mean, nobody holds up an infant and says, you know, how can I mess up this baby's life? People do the best they can, but they can make wrong choices. They can have disordered thoughts. Praise God, he has given us his word to say, here's what a sound mind is. Here are solid answers. And a parenting conference, it's not going to solve every problem, it won't have all the answers, but at least we say, we are not left helpless. Here's here's biblical instruction, here's the sound mind of God that he has given to his people. So I'm not left to my own wisdom. I'm not less my own devices. Here's how God is providing for us. There is there is hope for us and we claim it. What does that peace and that dignity and that hope for the future look like? I think of the recent testimony of Lindsay Snyder, the CEO of In-N-Out Burger, the fast food chain. She's only 37, but ranked number three among CEOs in this nation for product and culture of her company. No one would have imagined it just a few years ago. After the untimely death of her father, she struggled with alcohol and addictions and abusive relationships, three marriages trying to make it right, none of it did. Finally she said, I found the deep need in my heart can only be filled by Jesus. And my identity in him. Not what I've done. Not what I accomplish. My identity in him. She writes, I I've learned so much through my brokenness along with the ups and downs that come through the marriages that have been ruined. I I've been the one to hurt people and I've been hurt. And I have gained insight and growth through both sides of the coin. But says the mother of four, many churches are simply afraid to talk about spiritual warfare. But the battle over souls is being raged in the heavenlies. It's it's our seeing with gospel glasses, not being limited to to the world that's just before our eyes, but seeing with the spiritual eyes of the scriptures. What is actually going on? And God is revealing that to us so that we will turn and seek his help and believe that there is hope because listen, if you don't believe there can be a victory, you've already lost the battle. And so we're being told, he's here and he's active and he's powerful and he loves you and he enters your world. But what if it's just all kind of ethereal, spiritual churchy stuff? Well for that reason, the Savior says, no, the physical realm is mine too. You know what happens next, I think, there's a synagogue ruler who comes to Jesus. Verse 23, he says, my little daughter is at the point of death. Come, lay your hands on her so that she can be made well and live. Now, now put yourself in the position of the disciples. Jesus. Temple ruler coming to get your help. This is opportunity. I mean, we we we've been following this this outcast rabbi for so long. And now he suddenly got credibility. The synagogue ruler comes to Jesus. And he asked for healing, help for his daughter. And what's better? We know he can do it. Isn't this great? We'll get credibility and people will pay attention to us and we'll have significance, no more Motel 6. No more eating out of dumpsters and wheat fields. I mean, this is our moment. And and and they encourage Jesus and Jesus begins to follow the temple ruler and then and then and and then. Verse 25. There was a woman who had a discharge of blood for 12 years, suffered much under many physicians and spent all that she had and was no better but rather getting worse. I now you know, that day, that age, that time, this was not just embarrassing. This was declaring her impure. You cannot worship God. The reality is there is some hidden sin in your life that is causing this affliction or everything would be right. You are to blame, you cannot worship with us, you leave what you're around us. And in her isolation, verse 28, she says, if if I touch even his garments, I will be made well. And immediately the flow of blood dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, who touched my garments? And his disciples said, you see the crowd pressing around you and you say, who touched me? Translation. Jesus. Temple ruler. Let's get going. What do you mean who touched you? And Jesus, the creator of the universe, turns to find a woman outcast, ostracized, impure and trembling. And says, sister, be at peace. There it is again. You can be at peace, knowing that God is at work.
Guest (Male): You're listening to Unlimited Grace, the audio broadcast ministry of Pastor and author Bryan Chapell.
Guest (Male): Change, real change is hard. In fact, some people would claim that no change is really possible, but the truth is, it is possible. You can be different. You can overcome your struggle with sin or that addiction, but it won't be happening simply by turning over a new leaf or trying a little harder. The real power of change is ignited when we take hold of God's amazing grace. And in the book, Unlimited Grace, by Pastor Bryan Chapell, he shows you how. Unlimited Grace takes you on a journey to discover how grace not only frees you from the guilt and shame of a sinful life, but also provides the daily fuel needed for joy and strength in your Christian life. Take hold of God's grace and it is the key to finding true life change. Request your copy of Unlimited Grace, that's the title of the book, when you go online to unlimitedgrace.com. And the web address again, unlimitedgrace.com.
Guest (Male): And now more from Bryan Chapell on today's Unlimited Grace.
Bryan Chapell: I've mentioned to you before, I heard a sermon some years ago by David Jeremiah and he said something in the moment I thought, I'm not sure that's right. But the more that I've experienced pastoring, I think he is right. And here's what he said. He said, if you're a believer and you knew everything that God does about your circumstances, what led to them, what's happening now, and the impact for eternity of how you will handle those circumstances, that nothing will enter your life that you yourself would not choose if you knew everything that God does. Now I really struggle with that. But then I recognize this woman through all the pain becomes a witness of the power of Christ for centuries to come. God has not abandoned you. He is working in and with and for you. I think of some of our wheelchair greeters in this sanctuary whose whose smiles will not be pushed from their faces as they testify of the glory and the goodness of this place despite the damage to their bodies. And I say, what's God doing? But bringing glory to himself by those who understand God has purpose yet. And we well, that's just your explanation for your no miracles because you haven't got one today. Hey, well that's that's not true. I mean, we look at the Bible and we just have this perception, these miracles are just happening all the time. Just one after another there's miracles all over in the Bible. We don't have to believe that's happening. Well, that's actually a false perception. Again, I've said to you before, the the miracles of the Bible are happening in bursts of roughly 400 to 500 year cycles. And when Matthew and his genealogy explaining where Jesus comes, talks about those 14 generations between the major eras of the Bible. And the first major era, where the first burst of miracles are occurring is where God is establishing his people through the patriarchs. I will create a people to love, not because they deserve it. These are after all the most stiff-necked and ugly people in the world in his time. And I'm going to save them. If I could save them, I could save anybody. And and and Jesus is showing us to confirm that reality. The great outpouring of the miracles and and what's going to happen next? When he delivers those people and shows them the law, the safe path, through which they can walk for all their lives. The next great series of miracles that accompany the Exodus. And and and then there's the next great burst when the kingdom begins to be established and God is saying, not only have I sent a deliverer for you, not only have I shown you the way to go through the law, but I'm going to establish a kingdom through you and it will ultimately become an eternal kingdom. And the next great burst of miracles, when is that? It's right here now. Jesus has come. And there's this burst of miracles to authenticate who he is. I believe there's going to be one more great burst. When do you think that might be? When he returns. Now when I'll be good, right? We are told at that point there will be miracles performed by charlatans and evil of such great magnitude that even the elect would believe if what? If it were possible. I mean, I'm I'm recognizing the great spiritual battle is always going to be occurring. But what that means is I'm not just looking for a miracle every day. I recognize God is authenticating what he has needed in his word for his people of his grace, for his law, for his son. But that doesn't mean I don't believe God is working now. Listen, all things are still being conformed to good for those who love God and are called according to his praise. That's that's an even greater miracle. It's not it's not local. It's the universe being conformed to the will of God for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Does he work really? Now you know I was pretty much in a lot of pain last week and and that pain kept me from going to Australia, where I was supposed to be teaching over the last two weeks, and I was disappointed. But in this last 10 days, there has been a major project of the church that we didn't know was coming and I'm speaking in code for some of you in the room. If if I had not been here, I cannot imagine trying to navigate what we have been navigating from the other side of the world. Could it be possible that the king of the universe knew what was best, knew what was right, and he was working far beyond my wisdom or even my desires? So as we think about what what David Jeremiah would say, there's nothing that happens in life that you yourself would not choose if you knew all that God knows. Protecting you from harm, maybe great spiritual harm that you may not even be aware of. Preparing you for future battles, using you to proclaim the reality of his power and his love, so that even you look back in the rear view mirror and say, look what God did. I had no idea what he was doing through the worst of things to bring about all things together for good. What a blessing. What what a matter of faith in what God is doing. And when I think about that, I think, he's not just working on the physical plane, he's not just working on the spiritual, he is working for eternity. His his vision is from eternal past to eternal future and he is orchestrating all of that. So you recognize this eternal realm is just kind of unveiled for us. As the woman is healed and Jesus goes on to Jairus's house, the temple synagogue ruler. Verse 35 and 36, but as they are going, word comes, your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further? But over hearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, don't fear, believe. And of course the people didn't believe, they laughed when Jesus said the child is not dead, but sleeping. Now he's not even there yet. How he gets that diagnosis is, he knows who he is and what he can do. Verse 41, taking her by the hand, he said to her, Talitha cumi, which means, little girl, I say to you, arise. And immediately the girl got up and began walking, for she was 12 years of age and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And Jesus said verse 43, give her something to eat. She's whole again. And and they're amazed but they're at peace, now the our daughter's back. God is doing amazing things. And and even as that girl is awakened, in the language of the current time, some of us just need to get woke again. Just just wake up. There is more than the world that is before your eyes. Beyond your math and beyond your test tube, there there is a spiritual that deep down in your heart, you know it. And when you know it, you just see things differently. I think of New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis, who some of you know, wore a headband under his helmet a few weeks ago in a game that said, man of God. I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, man of God. And was fined $7,000 for breaking the NFL dress code for not patriotic, not charitable, not political messages. So so how did he respond with his gospel glasses on, seeing beyond the immediate? He said, nobody wants to lose money. But I think anytime the conversation about God is brought up, especially in these times, it is always positive. If he can get glory from it, he is in control of the whole situation. God and I are still good. I love it. It's not just resentment, it's not oh, we're just victims of our times. It's the powerful belief that all the realms are in Christ's power. He is he is over the spiritual, he is over the physical, and and in the strange conflation of those reality, he is moving the eternal. And when we believe that, we we go through trial and difficulty and things we can't explain and we say, this is my father's world. And to my listening ears, all nature sings and round me rings, the music of the spheres. My God is at work, I believe it. And it gives me hope to keep walking and keep moving through the most awful things when I put on my gospel glasses and I see what God is teaching me by the reality of the realm control of his son. God teach us. You've not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind. Make us proclaimers for this king of the realms, we pray in Jesus name.
Bryan Chapell: Friend, this is Pastor Brian with a final word of encouragement for you. If you don't have a church home currently where people are regularly praying for you, I would love to pray for you today, even as I encourage you to find the place where you can worship and pray for others in the same way. Heavenly Father, your word tells us that your eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth to show yourself strong in behalf of those who love you. That means that your eyes are on me and my friends right now. And just as your eye is on the sparrow that needs your provision and care, your eye is on this child of yours for whom I am praying. You showed that love most surely when you sent Jesus to love us and to die for our sins. If you paid such a high price to claim us for your heart, then there is no way that you won't care for us now. So no matter what sin or trial is in our past, no matter what temptation or challenge is ahead of us, please take care of us, as you know is best, for then we will be most truly blessed. Help us to trust your wisdom more than our solutions, your grace more than our achievements, your love for us, more than our love for you. We turn to you now because there is no one and nothing better to trust. We trust you to love us well and to guard our hearts no matter what happens now. So we claim the peace of Jesus and we pray to you in Jesus name. Amen.
Guest (Male): That's Pastor Brian Chapell and you've been listening to Unlimited Grace. If you've missed anything that you'd like to hear once again, just visit unlimitedgrace.com. And when you do so, you can sign up for Pastor Brian's daily devotional sent right to your inbox. While you're there, also be sure to request a copy of the book from Dr. Brian Chapell called Unlimited Grace. We'll send you a copy right away as our way of saying thank you for your most generous financial support. Please be sure to join us next time as once again, we endeavor to put Christ at the center of our efforts so that lives might be transformed by his unlimited grace.