The Sustainable Fruit of the Sower
by Rev. Kirby Williams
From demoniac to evangelist! Jesus reveals the battle plan of His sustainable Kingdom.
Text: Luke 8:32-39
Date: 11/27/2022, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 84
Description:
Throughout our discussion of the Parable of the Sower and the soils, the trip to the "other side", and the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac-- we have regularly stated that this represents the "battle plan" of the Kingdom. The epic story that we will conclude in this message is a vital part of that plan. For the Kingdom Jesus envisions is "sustainable" in the sense that born again believers will bear spiritual fruit, and as part of that fruit become the "sowers" of the next generation. In this message we will analyze the aftermath of the dramatic exorcism of a host of demons from a pathetic man living naked in the tombs. We will first notice the profound difference in the man himself, and then turn our attention to the reaction of the townspeople. Confronted with the clear presence of the supernatural in Jesus' manifest Deity, they choose proactively to beg Him to leave so they can return to their mundane "status quo". We will look closely at this decision, the fear that underlies it, and consider the consequences when Jesus simply gets in the boat and leaves. But that is not where our study will end. For even though Jesus leaves, He gives us a shining example of how the Kingdom will grow when He mercifully commissions the ex-demoniac to be... the sustainable fruit of the Sower!
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I. Introduction, John 3:3, 16-21.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 8:32-39.
A. Context
1. Returning to the parable of the Sower and soils.
2. The voyage to the "other side".
3. The healing of the demoniac.
B. The aftermath of the healing of the Gerasene demoniac.
1. Setting the scene, vs. 32-33.
2. The reaction of the townspeople, vs. 34-37.
a. The reaction of the herdsmen, vs. 34.
b. The townspeople arrive, vs. 35-36.
i. What the people found, vs. 35a.
1) Finding Jesus.
2) Finding the healed man.
a) Visualizing the scene.
• The demons were gone.
• Sitting at Jesus' feet.
• Fully clothed.
• In his right mind.
b) An amazing regeneration.
ii. How the people reacted, vs. 35b-36.
1) The source of their fear, vs. 36.
2) A focus on fear, vs. 35b.
a) The circumstantial fear of the disciples.
b) The disciples' fear of the Holy.
c) The fear of the demons, Luke 8:28, James 2:19.
d) The fear of the townspeople.
• Fear of the supernatural.
• Refusing the supernatural.
• A demonic fear?
c. The tragic rejection, vs. 37.
i. The townspeople reject Jesus, vs. 37a.
1) Choosing "the natural".
2) Irrational behavior.
ii. Jesus leaves the townspeople, vs. 37b.
1) The nature of His departure.
2) A failed expedition?
3) An expedition fully accomplished.
3. The reaction of the new-born man, vs. 38-39, Mark 5:20.
C. Interpretation
1. The evangelistic and missionary outreach of the church.
2. The abysmal state of humanity, Rev. 3:17.
3. The picture of salvation.
4. What it means to be born again, John 3:5-7.
a. A personal relationship with Jesus.
b. Clothed in righteousness.
c. Sane again.
5. The insanity of unbelief.
a. The irony of their irrationality, John 3:18-19, Luke 8:10, Rom. 1:24-25.
b. On justice and mercy.
i. God is fair and just.
ii. God's merciful solution.
c. The tragedy of "tolerance".
III. Application
IV. Conclusion
