Pastor Cal Lord's Recent Sermons
"Wonderful Words of Power and Grace"
Mark 1:21-28 February 1, 2009
There is a song that I love. We’ve sung it here before but it’s difficult to sing because it moves
right along. It goes like this:
Sing them over again to me - Wonderful words of life.
Let me more of their beauty to see - Wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
You know we live in a world of words. Words are all around us. We used to have television in our
house that was on 24 hours a day. There was always some chatter.
The truth is that you can’t get away from the words. Whether it is on the television, or online
through the internet, or in your favorite magazines, words are everywhere.
But most of these words do not have the power to save you. Actually, quite to the contrary, they
may put you off.
I like the cute little story told by one pastor who tells of an incident early on in his first church. He
had just started preaching when a baby started to cry down in one of the front pews. The mother,
very much embarrassed, snatched up the baby and started out the aisle.
The preacher, trying to show his parishioners that he was unflappable called out, “Madam you don’
t have to take that baby out. He isn’t bothering me.” The young mother stopped and turned toward
him as if she were going to go back, then she said, “well that may be true but your words have
certainly bothered him!” Then she turned and walked out.
Words can have a nasty effect on people. Yet, because they are so prevalent, we tend to ignore
them most of the time.
I like the story I’ve told you before about a New York columnist who set out to prove that no one
really listened to what anyone said at a cocktail party. For a year he tested out his theory. Whenever
he was invited to a party he would arrive fashionably late. As the hostess greeted him and he would
explain why he was late. "I had to stop for a moment and murder my mistress, and it took longer
than I thought." Almost every time the host or hostess would respond by saying something like "I
understand. Everyone is so busy. Forget about it now. Enjoy yourself. Have a good time."
As he mingled around the party, he would chat with the other guests. Eventually someone would
ask him what he did for a living. He’d say, "I am the executioner for the State Prisons." Without
missing a beat most people would give an automated reply such as, “Well, that must be an
interesting line of work. How does business look this year?’’
Words! We don’t listen. We’ve just been through a grueling political campaign. Did you believe
anything the candidates had to say? The candidates promised all kinds of change. Now that the
campaign is over even some of the biggest supporters in both parties are beginning to see that
change is going to be a lot harder than the candidates made it sound. It is easy to talk about
something. It is much harder to make it happen.
Yet words do have power when spoken by someone who has authority. We can shrug off a guest
at a party. We can ignore someone we work with. But when some people speak – E. F. Hutton –
we listen. That’s why the financial markets react when the President makes a statement. That’s
why the Al Queda responds when the President talks about terrorists. For you see the President has
the kind of authority that a candidate does not.
This brings me to my point today about words and authority. Our text comes from the early days
of Jesus’ ministry. Mark tells us that Jesus began his ministry in a synagogue in Capernaum. There
he met with the elders and the church leaders and they began to talk about the scriptures. He took
these words, ancient words and they seemed to come alive for the people. He painted a picture of
God and for the first time these words seemed to make sense.
And the scripture says “The people were amazed at his teaching because he taught them as one
who had authority.” I want you to think about that for a minute.
You see the teachers would quote sayings from past learned men. They would brace up their
arguments in logic and with ancient sources. They would build plausible arguments that sounded
good. But Jesus would simply tell them what it meant and it came out as if it were coming straight
from the mouth of God.
Now it is easy for us to look back and say they should have known.
In John’s gospel it says in 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we
have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
You talk about authority and Jesus’ name pops out. God’s word, the word that God used to create
- you remember Genesis “And God said let there be light… , the word of God that brought things
into existence, that word was incarnate in Jesus. Jesus was the living word. I sing the almighty
power of God that made the mountains rise. Jesus was that word with that power and authority.
No wonder they were blown away by him at the synagogue.
You see that is what the world needed then and it is what the world needs now. It is a word of
liberation, a word of comfort, a word of release, a word of pardon and grace. Jesus came speaking
those words and the whole world took notice.
But just having the authority is never enough. We know it. Our government has the power to
change things. But will they? Jesus didn’t hesitate to show that he meant business. He didn’t only
have the authority, but he came to use it.
In verse 23 a man with an evil spirit confronts Jesus and Jesus looks at the man and commands the
spirit to leave. The text reveals that Jesus said, “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man
violently and came out of him with a shriek.
Now we can debate the existence of spirits and demons all day long. But I am telling you that Jesus
did something there because that man’s whole life changed. I’ve heard people debate about Oral
Roberts and faith healers my whole life. There are frauds. There are staged shows. But there are
also real miracles every day. People are healed by the power of God and it usually comes through
the word of someone with authority.
You see Jesus does that. When he gives us his authority, when we pray for someone in his name,
people’s lives are changed. People are healed from addiction and disease. The chains of peoples
pasts are unlocked. Call it what you will, but don’t deny the wonderful words of his power and
grace.
But there is more. When Jesus spoke he drew people into a relationship with God. The hymn says
“Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the king of creation.” That’s the first line but the second speaks
of a relationship to his people. “O my soul praise him for he is my health and my salvation.”
Classical Christianity says that sin forged a gap between God and man and Christ came to bridge
that gap. He brought salvation and new life. The truth is that by giving himself over to the cross, he
claimed the authority to forgive sin and give us new life. That’s why we can sing, “On a hill far
away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross
where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.”
You see Jesus did the opposite of the teachers in his day. They pointed out the gap and turned
people away from God. He drew them in and he still wants to do that today. He has the power, it is
in his words. “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
He was the living word of God. He spoke it and you saw in him Gods power and grace.
And that brings us to the final word, the word of Hope. Because Jesus has authority, because he
has power, because his words do affect our lives, then we are people who can and do live with
hope. Hope that things can be changed, things can be different, things, lives, people can be made
whole through the authority and power of Jesus Christ. He speaks the words of power and grace
in our lives and we can live life as victor instead of victims.
Maxie Dunnam says in her book, Dancing At My Funeral, "I am dancing in the face of tragedy over
which I have no control except to trust God and life and circumstance. I am able to live in the
presence of death because I trust myself as a victor rather than a victim."
There is a hopefulness in life as we hear and become empowered by Jesus’ words. Paul said, “I
can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
A Sunday School teacher illustrated this concept of victory and hopefulness in life by drawing on
the blackboard two pathways. In the middle of one she placed a large rock, covering the entire
path.
At the end of the other path she places a stairway, going upwards, seeming over some obstacle and
she continued the pathway on from the top of the stairs.
She pointed to the large rock "All right’" she asked ’’what’s the problem." Hands went up over the
entire class "Something is in the way," one answered, another, "If people run into it, they’ll get
hurt," another, "It will turn people back."
"Good," said the teacher, "and what about this", pointing to the stairs. The children thought a
moment, then one said, "The stairway will let you keep on moving the way you want to go."
Another ,"The stairway will take you little higher than you were before." And another said, "the
stairs will let you move along one solid step at a time."
Jesus is our stairway across the brokenness of life. He is solid because of his authority and power.
He moves us a little higher, closer to him, as we allow him to bring hope, power, authority, release,
forgiveness, renewal, and cleansing into our lives.
He says the word and it is so. As we come to the communion table, it is his words that invite us to
share the bread and cup. For in them is power and grace for today and eternity.
He will cast out the demons in your life and give you new hope. For he speaks and it is so.
Amen.
Mark 1:21-28 February 1, 2009
There is a song that I love. We’ve sung it here before but it’s difficult to sing because it moves
right along. It goes like this:
Sing them over again to me - Wonderful words of life.
Let me more of their beauty to see - Wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
You know we live in a world of words. Words are all around us. We used to have television in our
house that was on 24 hours a day. There was always some chatter.
The truth is that you can’t get away from the words. Whether it is on the television, or online
through the internet, or in your favorite magazines, words are everywhere.
But most of these words do not have the power to save you. Actually, quite to the contrary, they
may put you off.
I like the cute little story told by one pastor who tells of an incident early on in his first church. He
had just started preaching when a baby started to cry down in one of the front pews. The mother,
very much embarrassed, snatched up the baby and started out the aisle.
The preacher, trying to show his parishioners that he was unflappable called out, “Madam you don’
t have to take that baby out. He isn’t bothering me.” The young mother stopped and turned toward
him as if she were going to go back, then she said, “well that may be true but your words have
certainly bothered him!” Then she turned and walked out.
Words can have a nasty effect on people. Yet, because they are so prevalent, we tend to ignore
them most of the time.
I like the story I’ve told you before about a New York columnist who set out to prove that no one
really listened to what anyone said at a cocktail party. For a year he tested out his theory. Whenever
he was invited to a party he would arrive fashionably late. As the hostess greeted him and he would
explain why he was late. "I had to stop for a moment and murder my mistress, and it took longer
than I thought." Almost every time the host or hostess would respond by saying something like "I
understand. Everyone is so busy. Forget about it now. Enjoy yourself. Have a good time."
As he mingled around the party, he would chat with the other guests. Eventually someone would
ask him what he did for a living. He’d say, "I am the executioner for the State Prisons." Without
missing a beat most people would give an automated reply such as, “Well, that must be an
interesting line of work. How does business look this year?’’
Words! We don’t listen. We’ve just been through a grueling political campaign. Did you believe
anything the candidates had to say? The candidates promised all kinds of change. Now that the
campaign is over even some of the biggest supporters in both parties are beginning to see that
change is going to be a lot harder than the candidates made it sound. It is easy to talk about
something. It is much harder to make it happen.
Yet words do have power when spoken by someone who has authority. We can shrug off a guest
at a party. We can ignore someone we work with. But when some people speak – E. F. Hutton –
we listen. That’s why the financial markets react when the President makes a statement. That’s
why the Al Queda responds when the President talks about terrorists. For you see the President has
the kind of authority that a candidate does not.
This brings me to my point today about words and authority. Our text comes from the early days
of Jesus’ ministry. Mark tells us that Jesus began his ministry in a synagogue in Capernaum. There
he met with the elders and the church leaders and they began to talk about the scriptures. He took
these words, ancient words and they seemed to come alive for the people. He painted a picture of
God and for the first time these words seemed to make sense.
And the scripture says “The people were amazed at his teaching because he taught them as one
who had authority.” I want you to think about that for a minute.
You see the teachers would quote sayings from past learned men. They would brace up their
arguments in logic and with ancient sources. They would build plausible arguments that sounded
good. But Jesus would simply tell them what it meant and it came out as if it were coming straight
from the mouth of God.
Now it is easy for us to look back and say they should have known.
In John’s gospel it says in 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we
have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
You talk about authority and Jesus’ name pops out. God’s word, the word that God used to create
- you remember Genesis “And God said let there be light… , the word of God that brought things
into existence, that word was incarnate in Jesus. Jesus was the living word. I sing the almighty
power of God that made the mountains rise. Jesus was that word with that power and authority.
No wonder they were blown away by him at the synagogue.
You see that is what the world needed then and it is what the world needs now. It is a word of
liberation, a word of comfort, a word of release, a word of pardon and grace. Jesus came speaking
those words and the whole world took notice.
But just having the authority is never enough. We know it. Our government has the power to
change things. But will they? Jesus didn’t hesitate to show that he meant business. He didn’t only
have the authority, but he came to use it.
In verse 23 a man with an evil spirit confronts Jesus and Jesus looks at the man and commands the
spirit to leave. The text reveals that Jesus said, “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man
violently and came out of him with a shriek.
Now we can debate the existence of spirits and demons all day long. But I am telling you that Jesus
did something there because that man’s whole life changed. I’ve heard people debate about Oral
Roberts and faith healers my whole life. There are frauds. There are staged shows. But there are
also real miracles every day. People are healed by the power of God and it usually comes through
the word of someone with authority.
You see Jesus does that. When he gives us his authority, when we pray for someone in his name,
people’s lives are changed. People are healed from addiction and disease. The chains of peoples
pasts are unlocked. Call it what you will, but don’t deny the wonderful words of his power and
grace.
But there is more. When Jesus spoke he drew people into a relationship with God. The hymn says
“Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the king of creation.” That’s the first line but the second speaks
of a relationship to his people. “O my soul praise him for he is my health and my salvation.”
Classical Christianity says that sin forged a gap between God and man and Christ came to bridge
that gap. He brought salvation and new life. The truth is that by giving himself over to the cross, he
claimed the authority to forgive sin and give us new life. That’s why we can sing, “On a hill far
away, stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame. And I love that old cross
where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.”
You see Jesus did the opposite of the teachers in his day. They pointed out the gap and turned
people away from God. He drew them in and he still wants to do that today. He has the power, it is
in his words. “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
He was the living word of God. He spoke it and you saw in him Gods power and grace.
And that brings us to the final word, the word of Hope. Because Jesus has authority, because he
has power, because his words do affect our lives, then we are people who can and do live with
hope. Hope that things can be changed, things can be different, things, lives, people can be made
whole through the authority and power of Jesus Christ. He speaks the words of power and grace
in our lives and we can live life as victor instead of victims.
Maxie Dunnam says in her book, Dancing At My Funeral, "I am dancing in the face of tragedy over
which I have no control except to trust God and life and circumstance. I am able to live in the
presence of death because I trust myself as a victor rather than a victim."
There is a hopefulness in life as we hear and become empowered by Jesus’ words. Paul said, “I
can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
A Sunday School teacher illustrated this concept of victory and hopefulness in life by drawing on
the blackboard two pathways. In the middle of one she placed a large rock, covering the entire
path.
At the end of the other path she places a stairway, going upwards, seeming over some obstacle and
she continued the pathway on from the top of the stairs.
She pointed to the large rock "All right’" she asked ’’what’s the problem." Hands went up over the
entire class "Something is in the way," one answered, another, "If people run into it, they’ll get
hurt," another, "It will turn people back."
"Good," said the teacher, "and what about this", pointing to the stairs. The children thought a
moment, then one said, "The stairway will let you keep on moving the way you want to go."
Another ,"The stairway will take you little higher than you were before." And another said, "the
stairs will let you move along one solid step at a time."
Jesus is our stairway across the brokenness of life. He is solid because of his authority and power.
He moves us a little higher, closer to him, as we allow him to bring hope, power, authority, release,
forgiveness, renewal, and cleansing into our lives.
He says the word and it is so. As we come to the communion table, it is his words that invite us to
share the bread and cup. For in them is power and grace for today and eternity.
He will cast out the demons in your life and give you new hope. For he speaks and it is so.
Amen.
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