Loud & Chaotic

 

     Temper tantrums can be funny and cute with kids at times. I remember one time Ben, who was only five or six at the time, got a Disney princess in his Happy Meal. He looked at it, then threw an eighty-mile-per-hour fastball back into the box because he got a girl toy. He got in trouble, although Nicole and I had to hide our laughter. But most of the time, tantrums are not something to be tolerated. When it comes to adults, they are never cute and always reveal selfishness in the heart that causes harm.

 

     In most cases, these tantrums are venting emotions in an unhealthy way having no intention to harm. But when tantrums are intended to cause harm, they become sinister. It is a reaction to superior authority, seeking to undermine or hold on to one’s power. Such reactions do come from the spiritual realm. This is what we will see in today’s passage.

 

     Mark 1:21-28(CEB):

 

     21 Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. 22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. 23 Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”

 

     25 “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.

 

     27 Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” 28 Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     On the Sabbath, Jesus went to the synagogue. The synagogue was a place where the Jews gathered to worship, like you and I gathering for service on a Sunday except the Jews gathered on Saturday. A Jewish official ruled over the synagogue, but they could select anyone to share from the scriptures. Jesus was chosen on this occasion.

 

     Verse 22 says, “The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching with authority, not like the legal experts.” The legal experts were students and teachers of the law, but when they taught their practice was to quote respected and influential scribes to bolster their authority. Jesus did not do that, He simply read the text and shared the words of God.

 

     Jesus goes to Capernaum on the Sabbath, goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath, and He is teaching in the synagogue. People are responding to what He is sharing. All seems to be going well when “a person with an evil spirit screamed” in verse 23. We do not know if this person was a regular attendee or a guest who was there to challenge Jesus. But make no mistake, someone with an evil spirit was sitting in this church service. Is this not the hope though?

 

     “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God?” This is what the response from this person with an evil spirit to Jesus and His teaching. The response uses the word “us.” Are there multiple demons in this person? Or is this person working in full surrender or complacency with the evil spirit inside them? Regardless, the forces of evil know that Jesus is the Son of God! In this response, we can sense fear and defiance at the threat of evil’s power.

 

     Jesus responds in verse 25 with “Silence!” This is the same Greek word the gospel Mark will use later in 4:39 when Jesus speaks to raging wind and sea. It means to “hold thy peace,” “be silent,” “muzzle it,” or in our modern slang “shut up.” Then with no special trinkets or song and dance, Jesus uses words to free the person from the evil spirit.

 

     Verse 26 continues with, “The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.” The evil spirit obeyed the words of Jesus, but not without a loud and chaotic temper tantrum. Where the CEB has “screamed” your translation may have two words like “loud voice.” There are two words in Greek to describe this sound, which looks like our English word “megaphone.” If the loudness was not enough, “the unclean spirit shook him.” The evil spirit sent the man into convulsions. They could have been like epileptic seizures or the term could be referring to convulsions of the stomach as if the person was attempting to vomit. Either way, the evil spirit’s response was begrudging obedience. It had no choice.

 

     What does this teach us? First, is this not the point of gathering with one another in the presence of God? We want to see people set free from the chains of sin and darkness. The person with the evil spirit was in the synagogue, listening at the feet of Jesus. 1 John 3:8 says, “God’s Son appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil.” In this case, Jesus did that. Our church is here so anyone, regardless of race, gender, social status, and appearance can encounter the transformational grace of Jesus Christ.

 

     Second, verses 27 and 28 record the response of the people to this event, “Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, ‘What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!’ Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.” They were in a worship service receiving teaching that they had never heard before from the mouth of God’s Son. As God’s Word penetrated their hearts, evil was stirred up because its dominion was being threatened. These people watched as evil was powerless to withstand the authority of Jesus over it. When the evil spirit sent the person into convulsions, the people got to see the loud and chaotic temper tantrum as evil was forced to flee. This shook them with amazement at what Jesus did and could do.

 

     The point for us in this is when God moves evil will respond. Whenever God stirs in the hearts of people, the enemy is forced to submit to God’s power. But if evil can be loud and chaotic enough, then perhaps it can influence the hearts involved to choose the chains over freedom. We do not have to choose the chains but choose freedom in Christ because His power in us is greater than all the loud noises and chaos the enemy can send at us.

 

     When trials and difficulties confront us as a church, it is not a sign to turn back or remain complacent. It is evil’s loud and chaotic temper tantrum as its power is being washed away in the might of Jesus. This does not mean the battle will be easy, but it does mean we keep pressing forward. The Bible refers to keeping our faith as a race and spiritual battle because endurance is required. Not endurance reliant on our strength, but strength that flows through us by the Holy Spirit.

 

     Over the last month or so, we have experience so many incredible moments together. Gathering at a camp for worship, parties, and celebrating achievements, all great moments of God’s people rejoicing in worship to God. But at the same time we have endured losses, a broken church van, and outbreaks of sickness. Yes, all those things can be explained in human terms. Some of them could have been prevented. However, I ask you what would those preventions have prevented? I am not saying the devil is in my Big Mac, but do we think for a second all these happened at this precise moment by accident? Rather than despair, we can rejoice because God has counted us worthy to endure such things because of our faith.

 

     As we dwell on this thought, I invite you to examine your own life. Are you wanting to be free from sin? It is possible through faith in Jesus, but the removal of evil from your heart and mind is going to be loud and chaotic. Do you trust Jesus to have the power despite all the noise? Are you trying to break free from habits and attitudes? It is possible through faith in Jesus. There will be an internal struggle as we yield up our sinful patterns to make way for God’s ways, but He who is calling you is faithful. And He will do it. Do not let evil’s temper tantrum scare or fool you, it has no choice but to submit to His reign.

 

If I find

     Abraham and Sarah have just had a wonderful conversation with three visitors. They shared God’s promise about a son, even though they were both well past childbearing age. It was a terrific promise, one full of hope. A hope that extends from them to Jesus, then to you, me, and everyone.

 

     But that is not where the story ends. As the visitors turn to leave, they share troubling news concerning two cities on the verge of destruction. This news puts Abraham’s nephew, Lot, in jeopardy. And it is in this story we find a message for us today.

 

     Genesis 18:20-33(CEB):

 

     20 Then the LORD said, “The cries of injustice from Sodom and Gomorrah are countless, and their sin is very serious! 21 I will go down now to examine the cries of injustice that have reached me. Have they really done all this? If not, I want to know.”

 

     22 The men turned away and walked toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing in front of the LORD. 23 Abraham approached and said, “Will you really sweep away the innocent with the guilty? 24 What if there are fifty innocent people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not save the place for the sake of the fifty innocent people in it? 25 It’s not like you to do this, killing the innocent with the guilty as if there were no difference. It's not like you! Will the judge of all the earth not act justly?”

 

     26 The LORD said, “If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will save it because of them.”

 

     27 Abraham responded, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with my Lord, even though I’m just soil and ash, 28 what if there are five fewer innocent people than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city over just five?”

 

     The LORD said, “For the sake of forty-five there, I won’t destroy it.”

 

     29 Once again Abraham spoke, “What if forty are there?”

 

     The LORD said, “For the sake of forty, I will do nothing.”

 

     30 He said, “Don’t be angry with me my Lord, but let me speak. What if thirty are there?”

 

     The LORD said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty there.”

 

     31 Abraham said, “Since I’ve already decided to speak with my Lord, what if twenty are there?”

 

     The LORD said, “I won’t do it, for the sake of twenty.”

 

     32 Abraham said, “Don’t be angry with me, my Lord, but let me speak just once more. What if there are ten?”

 

     And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it because of those ten.”

 

     33 When the LORD finished speaking with Abraham, he left; but Abraham stayed there in that place.

 

This is the word of God

For the people of God

Thanks be to God

 

 

     The conversation has taken a dramatic and dark turn. And keep in mind, all these events are not far removed from the events of the Flood, when God destroyed the earth due to humanity’s wickedness and violence. Our sinfulness unchecked will always lead to pain, suffering, and injustice. They are all opposites of God’s design for us.

 

     In verse 20, God said to Abraham, “The cries of injustice from Sodom and Gomorrah are countless, and their sin is very serious!” The sin in these two cities involved the oppression of others, implied by “cries of injustice.” God has heard the cries of those injured by the wickedness of these two cities.

 

     God continued in verse 21, “I will go down now to examine the cries of injustice that have reached me. Have they really done all this? If not, I want to know.” Our God is all-knowing, so He knows and sees what is happening in these two cities. These social atrocities being committed have not escaped His sight. He is just. The language used by God is to help Abraham understand He is not basing His sovereign decision on hearsay from anyone else but Himself as a witness.

 

     Verses 23 through 32 share an incredible dialogue between Abraham and God. The main highlight of this negotiation is in verse 23 when Abraham says, “Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty?” Abraham knows God through his faith, and what he knows about God cannot be reconciled with the judgment mentioned to him. God is good and just, but to Abraham that does not mesh with the God he knows.

 

     Throughout Abraham’s conversation with God, he is humble. In verse 27 Abraham said, “I’m just soil and ash.” Some translations use “dust” instead of “soil.” Abraham is acknowledging he is dirt with God’s breath in his lungs, with no right to be making such demands. But Abraham also recognizes God as a Father who allows His children to ask such things.

 

     The negotiations end in verses 31 and 32, with God agreeing to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if ten people can be found. Abraham is dirt and Sovereign God agrees to spare the cities based on Abraham’s boldness to request. Hebrews 11 has Abraham listed in the Hall of Fame of Faith amongst other important people of faith, but Abraham is an incredibly flawed person. But God agrees to this deal with Abraham based on faith.

 

     If we were to continue reading, Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed with fire from the sky. It would appear that God did not find ten righteous people there, but Lot and his family were spared. The sin of humanity reached a point that the most just thing our holy God could do was annihilate it.

 

     On that cheerful note, what does this have to teach us? God sees the oppression of sin today as He did in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. What is keeping God from destroying it? Those who are righteous. They are living in the world, witnessing to it, holding it accountable, interceding on its behalf, and demonstrating to it the Kingdom of God. Those people are you and me.

 

     In Matthew 24:21-22, Jesus said, “There will be great suffering such as the world has never again see. If that time weren’t shortened, nobody would be rescued. But for the sake of the ones whom God chose, that time will be cut short.” Jesus, who is fully human and fully God, is telling us there will be a time when humanity’s sinfulness is so great that the suffering will be unbearable. This is when Jesus will return to rescue those who have faith in Him. But at the same time, Jesus will bring the world to judgment. It will be a time when the wickedness and violence of human hearts are so intense, that God will not be able to bring it about for good. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, and also like the time before the Flood. Only this time it is impossibly worse.

 

     What this teaches us is a terrible truth, despite our best efforts of holy living and attempts to influence the culture of the world, the human nature saturated in sin will not be cleansed. This world is not salvageable. Despite all the goodness in the world and at work in and through believers, the evilness will not be pursued.

 

     With so many mass shootings, genocides, sex trafficking, and so many more human atrocities going on now, what is God waiting on? The suffering is intense right now, why is God lingering? If the culture war is unwinnable based on end-time prophecy, why would God not win it now?

 

     This is the good news our passage in Genesis teaches us. Abraham succeeded in his negotiations with God because there was the possibility of ten righteous people being found. God’s delay is telling us there is hope. Not a hope of winning a culture war or succeeding in outlawing sin, but in rescuing individuals from remaining victims of it.

 

     That is our mission! Our mission is to rescue individuals who might be incredibly flawed, but their hearts are open to the message of Jesus. There might be ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or millions more! We are to have faith in Jesus like Abraham had faith in God to believe they are out there in our community.

 

     We find them through prayer. We find them through living holy lives that intersect with those living in brokenness and hopelessness. Our holy lives are grounded firmly in Jesus and holding to His kingdom values, while simultaneously reaching out in love to anyone and everyone that we can.

 

As we reflect on Abraham's boldness to intercede for Sodom, let us consider our own role in the world today. Just as Abraham stood in the gap, pleading for mercy, we too are called to stand as intercessors—praying for our community, our neighbors, and our families. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah reminds us that God is just, yet His mercy is great, and He listens to the prayers of the faithful.

 

Even in the midst of a world filled with injustice and sin, God has placed us here as lights, to live holy lives that bear witness to His kingdom. Our mission is not to win culture wars but to reach individuals, to rescue those who are lost, and to lead them to the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

 

So, as we go from this place, let us commit to being those who pray fervently, live righteously, and love deeply. Let us trust that, even in the darkest times, God is still at work through His people. And let us never lose sight of the hope that there are still those out there who need to hear the good news, who need to experience the love and grace of Jesus.

 

Today, I invite you to be that person of faith, to stand in the gap for others, and to commit to the mission of reaching those who are lost. The world may seem beyond saving, but God’s grace is sufficient, and through Him, lives can be transformed. Will you be that intercessor? Will you be the one who stands in the gap? The altar is open for you to come and commit to this mission today.