That's Incredible

Intro: in most of our lifetimes we are witnesses to a few things that we would consider incredible. For me, one of the most incredible things I have ever witnessed took place at an open air meeting at the football stadium. A local pastor was moving a speaker that was setting on the top of a high scaffold. He tripped on some cords and fell off the scaffolding backwards, but flipped his body backwards and landed on his feet. There was a show called that’s incredible, and if I could have got that on film, it would have surely won first place. Today, I would like to title my message, That’s Incredible

THAT’S INCREDIBLE

LUKE 4:31-36

Background: What a word is this! If you have a KJV, it has an exclamation mark after these words. After people heard Jesus teach, after they heard Jesus pray, After they saw Jesus heal, after they saw Jesus cast out demons, they said, now that’s incredible. Today, we have the same incredible Jesus, with the same incredible word, and should operate in the same incredible power, and our world should be amazed, astonished, and this word should be contagious as it is spread throughout the land.

I. Astonished—v.32 The first thing that was incredible to people was his doctrine. The doctrines of Jesus Christ were different than the words of the scribes and Pharisees.

a. they weren’t just religious jargon—people hate to hear religious truisms. The religious people had a saying for every situation, but to the sinner, to the heathen of this world, they don’t want a religious word, they want a powerful doctrine.

b. His doctrines are powerful—today people want a doctrine of deliverance, they want a doctrine that is greater than their mountains, greater than their struggles, what a word is this!

c. Doctrines aren’t just letters on paper, but are quick and powerful, sharper than a two edged sword.

Ill) yesterday at the Todd and Summer’s Wedding,( L.B and Jeannie’s granddaughter) during the Pastoral prayer, I asked everyone at the wedding to stretch their hands to help pray blessings on the Bride and Groom. At the end of the prayer, as I looked at everyone in attendance, I could tell that some people were astonished. That someone could pray a blessing on another person was beyond some of their concepts.

II. Amazing—v.36—there is a song that says, there’s no other word for grace than amazing, but we can add, there’s no other word for Jesus than amazing. When Jesus shows up anywhere people leave amazed.

1. amazed that the devil declares that he will be destroyed in the end—if you read scriptures where demons are involved, they always declare that Jesus is Holy, Jesus is Mighty, and they know the end of the book.

2. amazed at his authority—the other day in Prattville, the governor addressed our group that was attending a Republican fund raiser. When he came to the microphone he spoke with authority. He didn’t say, now you need to listen to me because I am the governor, he just spoke and people listened. With Jesus, it’s a 100 times greater, because the governor has authority in Alabama, but Jesus has authority from above.

3. amazed at how quickly he defeated the devil—no struggle, no hassle, immediate deliverance.

Ill) years ago people named their children with virtuous names, joy, prudence, comfort. One boy had the name amazing, which he resented all of his life. He was teased a lot with the name amazing, to the point he gave his wife orders not to put his name on his tombstone. She followed his directions and put on his tombstone, here lies a man that was a faithful husband for 60 years. But he couldn’t even escape his name in death, because everyone who read his tombstone said, hey, that’s amazing.

III. That’s incredible—what a word is this! v.36

a. it’s incredible how weak religion is and how powerful Jesus is. The disciples struggled to cast out devils, but with Jesus, there never was any struggle with sin, sickness, demons or any other thing.

b. It’s incredible---how when Jesus is present, the multitudes show up to be with him. I believe it isn’t about who has the best program or plan, it is having the presence of Jesus in a place that makes a difference.

Ill) a lady said to me yesterday, I want to come to your church, I want to go somewhere where you can sense the presence of God and where people express praise and worship to the Lord.

c. it’s incredible how quickly the word can be spread ( 37)

every place—you can promote the church, you can use every media outlet known to man, but the best way to fill the house with people is to fill the house with God.