The Question

THE QUESTION

Here is an excerpt from the sermon "Are You Resting in the Sovereign King? An Exposition of Luke 8:1-56": 

"Think about Luke 8. The disciples, and the demoniac, and the diseased woman, and the dead girl and her family, all experienced a momentous miracle in verses 22-56. But the first part of Luke 8 has already trained us not to over-emphasize these moments. So what if you “receive [the word] with joy” but eventually throw in the towel and “fall away”? So what if you are impressed by Jesus at a down-on-your-luck moment but in due course worldly cares sweep you away? 

The question is whether the powerful word of the sovereign King is the governing reality of your heart.

The question is whether His word has taken root, so that when times of testing come, you press on.

The question is whether His word holds sway, so that when “the cares and riches and pleasures of life” show up vying for your distraction, you are not impressed, because you have found Jesus – or rather, Jesus has found you, and you’re not moving!

The question is whether His word – which of course is His Father’s word – has so defined you that it marks you out as a member of His family: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

The question is whether His word is generating peace in your heart and life. The calming of the sea and the re-humanizing of the demon-possessed man are pictures of the peace that Jesus brings. Chapter 7 concluded with the words of Jesus to a woman known for her sin but who had received forgiveness: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50) Likewise the words of chapter 8: “Daughter, you faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:48) Peace! “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) Here in the Lord Jesus Christ there is peace with God and salvation from sin and life under the Father’s smile and fellowship with the sovereign King who is with us in the storm!

What should you do in response to Luke 8? If you are one of His, then you should always trust Him, continually hold fast to His Word, and keep on “[bearing] fruit with patience.” Say: “Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know / His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.”[2]

On the other hand, if you are an outsider to “the good news of the kingdom of God,” then I urge you to be like the father of the dying girl or like the woman with chronic illness: go to Jesus, fall at His feet, reach out to Him for mercy, and see what He will do."