Sermon Notes - May 5, 2024
Follow Me / Mark 1 / The Re-Creation Story
Pastor Chris Pletcher
Intro // A Window into History
History also belongs to the eye-witnesses. By the grace of God and the faithful work of the saints, we have 4 detailed, eye-witness accounts of the remarkable and revolutionary life that Jesus lived. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But what was their purpose in writing? John says it like this…
1 John 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
For the next 16 weeks, we are going to corporately read through the entire Gospel of Mark. One chapter per Sunday, 16 chapters in the book. The title of this series captures the goal of this season… 2 words that shape the invitation of Jesus’ remarkable life: FOLLOW ME.
The Gospel of Mark // Background
Reliability: Are the Gospel accounts reliable records of Jesus’ life?
Many scholars claim that the events of Jesus’ life were not written down until over 100 years later, therefore they cannot be trusted as eyewitness accounts. These claims have sadly convinced many over the years that we cannot really know who Jesus was.
But within the past century, historical evidence has become overwhelming that the Gospels were written down much earlier, within the lifetime of many of the eyewitnesses to His life and death!
Author: So who is Mark?
He wasn’t one of the 12. His name doesn’t appear in any of the miracle stories. But history tells us that Mark had been a translator and secretary for Peter, who we know to be among the first of Jesus’s students. Mark was credited as the one who “wrote accurately all that [Peter] remembered.”
It’s interesting to note that Mark mentions Peter more than any other Gospel. As we go through the book, we will notice that nothing happens in which Peter is not present. How cool!
For this reason, it seems that the entire Gospel of Mark is almost certainly the EYEWITNESS testimony of Peter.
Emphasis: What is unique about Mark’s gospel?
It is ACTION-packed… literally. More than any other narrative, Jesus is seen as a man of mission and action, moving quickly and decisively from one event to the next.
There is relatively little of Jesus’ teaching; Mark is packed full of Jesus doing. Therefore, it is impossible for us to remain neutral… we are invited to step in and FOLLOW HIM.
Mark 1 // NEW Beginnings, NEW Authority
His IDENTITY
Jesus Christ - Yeshua Ha'mashiach
Yeshua = YHWH is SALVATION
Ha’mashiach = The Anointed One, The Messiah King
The Son of God - this was a BOLD announcement of divinity
The Lord - YHWH Himself has come down
His MISSION
Recreation and Renewal
Jesus’s Baptism: Father, Son and Spirit… together at the dawn of the NEW Creation.
Then He immediately enters the wilderness to do the ONE THING that no other man in history has ever done… stare down every temptation of the Devil and SUCCEED where all of us have failed.
This is the Story of the Second Adam. It is breathtaking!
Romans 5:12,15,17 (full text at end of post)
Set the Captives Free
Isaiah 61:1
Galatians 1:3-5
Empower Others to DO THE SAME
From the get go, HE IS CHOOSING STUDENTS. This was not the norm. Students chose rabbis. But this rabbit was different…
And they DROPPED EVERYTHING to follow Him
His AUTHORITY - Mark 1:21-28
A different kind of rabbi with a NEW teaching… He wasn’t simply re-stating lessons from the Torah. He was revealing NEW truth.
But it wasn’t just words… it was an AUTHORITY to shift things. It was an Isaiah 61 ANOINTING to set people free…
Unclean spirit/demon is mentioned 7 times in chapter 1
Akathartos = not cleansed, unclean, filthy
32 times in the NT, 25 directly referencing unclean spirits or demons, which are used interchangeably
Demon = daimonion, Greek derivative of the word for devil (63 times in the New Testament)
a divine power, deity, divinity
a spirit, a being inferior to God, superior to men
evil spirits or the messengers and ministers of the devil
Do you see why it is important that we recover a supernatural worldview?
Last week we talked about idolatry, and we reference the first commandment… “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Other gods?
YHWH = The MOST HIGH God, but throughout human histroy, rebellious people have engaged in the worship of thousands of other gods. Is this just mythology? Or are there actually lesser spiritual authorities, created by YHWH, that have rebelled against Him. This seems to be the story of the Scriptures, as well as the explanation for why turning back to YHWH puts you in the middle of a WAR.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (full text at end of post)
Spirituality 101
Humans are flesh and spirit.
Your body of flesh is a temple, or a house that can and will be indwelt by a spirit or spirits… we see people in the Bible indwelt by multiple evil spirits.
Spirits are invited through worship and obedience.
John 14:21-23
“Healing Through Deliverance” By Peter Horrobin (pg. 93)
You were created from dust to be INDWELT by spirit. And you will be indwelt by the spirit of the one you worship and obey.
Demonology 101 - FAQ
Can a Christian be tormented by a demon? Possessed by a demon?
The Gospel (joyful proclamation) of Jesus is that all of us are unclean. When we hear the message of the CROSS, believe that only Jesus’s blood can clean us, and receive the gift of God’s grace, we become CLEAN in a miraculous moment.
The Bible says that, through faith, you were purchased by God. You now belong to Him. So who owns you? God possesses you, and the Spirit dwells within you. But that does not mean that you become invincible or impervious to the influence or oppression of unclean spirits.
Illustration: A robber hiding in your basement.
Ownership may have changed, but the old tenants, who are now trespassing, MUST BE EVICTED.
It’s worth noting that the first recorded deliverance happened in a synagogue, not out on the streets. The most “religious” among us can often be at the greatest need for freedom.
How do demons gain access?
Through sin and rebellion… which puts us in agreement with darkness. Any time we choose partnership with sin, we open ourselves to the influence of demons. We give them an invitation that gives them legal access to mess with our lives.
This is why repentance is the key to the Kingdom. If you sin and quickly turn, walk in the light, and repent, then boom… you have just closed the door to the unclean spirit. You didn’t give it time to get cozy in your house. But if you continue to choose sin and refuse to repent (break agreement with a partnership) then that spirit is allowed to remain… it digs in, gets comfortable, and builds a stronghold in your life. You belong to Jesus, but you are carrying something else with you as well.
1 John 1:5-9 (full text at end of post)
Through familial lines…
Generational sins passed down (family strongholds)
Involvement with the occult, false religions, secret societies, etc.
Through sins that were committed against you...
Some of us have struggled with demonic oppression that entered through childhood trauma, abuse, etc.
Through unforgiveness and offense…
How might I know if I am under the oppression of an unclean spirit?
Look for cyclical sin patterns that nothing seems to break, especially generational patterns. If you regularly struggle with ungodly behavior that you inherited from your parents, you may have a stronghold that needs deliverance.
If you are practicing the spiritual disciplines of devotional life, community, confession and reading the word, but some particular area stays really unhealthy and dysfunctional, there is probably an oppressive influence there.
GOD HIMSELF HAS BROKEN INTO HUMAN HISTORY AS THE DELIVERANCE KING! THE SECOND ADAM HAS COME TO RENEW CREATION AND SET THE CAPTIVES FREE!
Response
If you have never dropped your nets to FOLLOW the King, I want to invite you to the altar today.
If you are being tormented in any way by an oppressive influence or unclean spirit, I am here today to tell you that the DELIVERANCE KING has come for you! He loves you, He broke into history for you, and you can come to Him today.
Scripture References from today:
Romans 5:12,15,17
Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned… 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Galatians 1:3-5
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 6:1-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
John 14:21-23
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
1 John 1:5-9
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.