The Power of Jesus: Faith and the Great Commission

I am a huge fan of Marvel comics. I love the Avengers. As a red blooded, bible believing American, I tend to be drawn to movies where the good guys win and not only do the bad guys loose but they lose big. I found this short clip from “The Avengers” and I want to show it to you now.

Loki: Enough! You are, all of you, beneath me! I am a God, you dull creature, and I will not be bullied by—

(Hulk grabs Loki by the legs and smashes him against the floor repeatedly, left and right, then drops him into a heap in a crater.)

Hulk: Puny god.

When I think about how God handles Satan, I like to think it is just like that from time to time. Let’s read our main text found in Mark 1.

I love the way the book of Mark is written. To me, it is like an action movie. The book of Mark is faster paced than the other Gospels, it is more action oriented and kind of does that “behind the scenes” idea from time to time. Besides, it has the best name of all the Gospels. Just kidding.

This morning, I hope to give you a little bit of inspiration about not “a” God we follow, but “The” God, the One and only big “G” God. God is not mocked. God doesn’t change. God doesn’t lie.

God doesn’t say in one generation that two dudes sleeping together is wrong, oh, I have changed my mind. Because those dudes that were destroyed in Sodom and Gomorrah, would be bummed about the idea, that it was just because of the time that they were born. God didn’t say that you need Jesus to go to Heaven, but now I have changed my mind and now you can pick another god, or religion or path, or your own truth, which is a lie.

God is the same yesterday, today and forever! Do you believe that? Do you believe that God keeps His word? Do you believe that God, who created the universe, still has the same about of power as He did 6000 years ago? Then why are we so weak in our faith from time to time? Why do we struggle to grab on to the power that God so freely gives us and know that He’s got this? Why? Because we are human and we fail, but that is not how it is supposed to be.

Maybe after we take a small look at a portion of Who Jesus was in the bible and Who He is today, maybe we will take hold with both hands and not let go.

One thing that I found in our reading….

1. Jesus healed with great power!

Mark 1:23-26

Mark 1:29-34

I really enjoy the old AT&T commercial about “just Ok” is not “Ok”. I am not promoting AT&T nor will I recommend them, but their commercials back in the day, back when they talked about their product and not other company’s product, were funny.

One of my absolute favorites is where the scene is a hospital room and there is a patient in the bed, the wife is beside the bed and asks the nurse, “Have you ever worked with Dr. Francis?” “Oh yeah, he’s ok” “Just ok” and in the distance you can hear someone say, “Guess who got reinstated? Well, not officially. Nervous?” “Yeah” “Me too.” “Don’t worry about it, we’ll figure it out.” Not really the kind of doctor that I would want to put my life in the hands of, right?

Cheryl had an MRI on her shoulder this week and we go next week to find out what the results are. I can’t imagine the doctor coming in and saying, “I haven’t seen anything like this and I am not sure if I can help you, but I will see what I can do.” “Sorry, Doc! You’re out!” “No way are you gonna ‘see what you can do’, not with my wife.”

That doctor better come in with guns a blazin’ and say, “We got this. Our success rate is 100% and we are going to do everything we can to make sure it stays that way.” That is the kind of doctor I want for my wife. Not arrogant, but determined. Not timid, but humble.

When Jesus came in the room, the demons took notice. They knew that Jesus was all-powerful and that they didn’t stand a chance. Jesus told them to shut up, they shut up. Jesus told them to get out. They got out. Jesus healed with great power! But you know what else? Here’s another one…

2. Jesus taught with great power!

Mark 1:21,22,27

If you work in the school system, please stand up! Let’s give them a round of applause? I can’t imagine the patience to deal with not only the students but the parents and administration as well. Coming up with a lesson plan, so that you know what the plan is for the day and if you have a substitute, they will know what to do also. Let’s give them another hand!

Can you imagine a teacher like the following? Okay students, get out a piece of paper and a pencil and take notes as I go over a few math problems. Let’s start with some addition, 1+1 is 2 and when it comes to 2+2 there really isn’t an incorrect answer. Maybe the 2 become one which means that 2+2 is 2. Maybe only one 2 becomes one and then 2+2=3. Does that make sense? Parents and administration, hopefully would get rid of that teacher. Right?

Staying with teachers, can you imagine a teacher that is a Christian teaching Science and making this statement. Science teaches us that like only makes like, maybe the like thing has a few defects, but it is still like what it came from.

As an example, a pear tree will make pears. The seeds from the pear will make a pear tree. A seed from a pear tree will never produce a grape nor a giraffe. The offspring of a giraffe will always be a giraffe. The offspring of a monkey will be a monkey which means that the Theory of Evolution is a big fat lie. No where is the world has there ever been anything that turned into something different. People who teach Evolution are teaching a lie. Everything started somewhere and has a Creator and the Creator of everything created you for a purpose. A teacher like that if allowed to teach could change the world.

Jesus was a teacher like that. He changed the world. He said that it is written love your neighbor and hate your enemy, I say love your enemy. An eye for and eye, I say turn the other cheek. Do not murder, I say do not hate. Do not commit adultery I say, don’t lust. Even when Jesus was 12, the teachers in the temple were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

Jesus healed with great power and taught with great power, saving the best for last…here we go with point 3.

3. Jesus gives great power!

Luke 10:18-20

Last week we talked about the weakness of the disciples. How they scattered when the going got tough. Peter even denied that he even knew Jesus and he denied it to a young girl. We all know about the times they doubted and were afraid. How will we feed such a crowd? What about this storm, don’t you care if we drown?

Time and time again those disciples were weak because they only had faith in themselves and their abilities. Follow along and listen to what it says in Acts 5:12-16.

Because the power of the Holy Spirit was upon them, the same power that Jesus had and gives us as well, these disciples were like Bruce Banner changing into the Hulk, only the disciples were not full of anger, they were full of the Holy Spirit and were so full of power that people hoped that the shadow of Peter would fall on them so they would be healed. “If I could only touch the hem of his coat.”

Come on, Church! God wants us to have that power too. Not so we can do whatever we want, but so that we will accomplish His mission for us. In Him there is no fear. In Him there is no weakness. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

As I read this next set of scriptures, I will ask the praise team to come up.

Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit are all powerful. They give power to you if you have faith. If you follow Jesus, wholeheartedly. Are you following Jesus wholeheartedly? Are you going and making disciples?

A Plethora of Profound Perfect Power