The Gospel Coalition - Session 3 - Jesus Transforming Power on Behalf of the Afflicted #TGC13

[My notes on Crawford Loritt's session at The Gospel Coalition 2013 Conference]

SPEAKER:  Crawford Loritts

SCRIPTURE: Luke 8:26-56

Have you ever felt beaten down and in despair?   A place where there are no good options.  Often we're smiling on the outside, but our souls are filled with shrapnel.

This text contains three stories.

STORY 1 - Demons

He was controlled by demons...a legion of demons

Legion = 6000

He could not be contained

STORY 2 - Jairus and the Daughter

Jairus is part of the ruling class, and his only daughter has become sick.  The ruling class did not like Jesus. So he's facing down possible rejection from his peers by going to Jesus.

Desperation puts status in perspective 

STORY 3 - Bleeding Woman

On his way to Jairus' daughter, Jesus encounters a woman.  She carried a secret, she was bleeding.  As a Jew, it meant she was unclean.  She's reaching out for help one more time

COMMON GROUND

1. All three did not have control of their affliction
2. They were out of options. There we no human solutions
3. Others had given up on them.  ...slider is going to die
4. All three encountered Jesus

Jesus comes and not only heals, but he restores.

What is the heart context of the passage.  This is his only child and he chooses to walk away from status because he needs his daughter healed.

Jesus is powerful over: 

• The Devil 
• Disease
• Death

100% of the people that Jesus healed died.  The purpose wasn't to extend life it was to reveal who He was.

We must focus on the Messiah not the miracle

    5.  Each of these encounters foreshadows the cross

FOUR LESSONS TO LEARN

1 - Our Faith Will Only Grow in Proportion to our Desperation

• Faith is not theoretical.
• Faith does not exist away from opposition .
• Faith is verb even when it's a noun

2 - Inadequacy and Weakness are Assets Not Liabilities

Gifts talents and abilities are all over sold.

Gods pattern isn't weakness to strength
Its strength to weakness

Brokenness is a sense of God neediness

• Your greatest friend is knowing you are in perpetual need
• Your greatest friend is knowing you can't do this

3 - Jesus Wants to Speak Life Into Our Dead Circumstances but We Want Acknowledge They're Dead

We may or may not get what we're asking for, but we will be delivered. He will give me what I need

4 - There is No Person or Circumstance Beyond the Reach of Our Savior

• God always has another move
• God is never out of options