King Jesus: Healer, Reject, & Sovereign

Kate Stevens • January 6, 2021

Summary of sermon on Matthew 12:22-32 from Pastor Randle Bishop of Trinity  Gospel Church on January 3, 2020.

The story of Jesus never ceases to amaze - it always speaks to the truth of who He is.

Matthew gives a unique perspective of who Jesus is.

  • Chapter 1: Jesus is the Christ, Immanuel, because He has come to us
  • Chapter 2: He is a child refugee, a Nazarene
  • Chapter 3: He is the perfect baptismal candidate
  • Chapter 4: He is the tempted one
  • Chapters 5-7: He then delivers the wonderful Sermon on the Mount where we can be citizens of heaven. And He teaches as one with great authority!
  • Chapter 8: He calms the sea with His words, “peace be still”
  • Chapter 9: He calls sinners to follow Him
  • Chapter 10: He calls 12 specific men to follow him, all known sinners
  • Chapter 11: He offers rest for the weary
  • Chapter 12: He is Lord of the sabbath
  • Now in vv. 22-32, we come to this controversial passage about the Holy Spirit


All these things Jesus has displayed, yet the pharisees still oppress Him.  He heals one with a demon, yet they call Jesus demonic. He isn’t demonic, He is King! And He is a healer—it’s what He does...He heals!  He demonstrates His very divine nature in front of the pharisees. 


So then, how do we see Jesus? How do we experience Him? Are we like the pharisees here? 


Jesus came and fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy—He is the Son of David.  They stood in amazement of this, of him, yet they were not fully convinced.  They won’t come to Him, submit to Him.  They take his provisions and leave. They wanted him on their own terms, on their own notions of who the Messiah would be. 


He came meek and gentle (Isaiah 42), but they wanted a conqueror.  So much of their understanding is blocked because they did not submit to His word. 


How much of your understanding is blocked because you do not submit to His word?


And those standing against him saw this as a power of Satan, but Jesus flips it on them. Why would Satan cast out his own demons? He knows their thoughts because of his divine wisdom from the spirit. He is more powerful than the one who came to overcome Him! The power of the kingdom is strong! How is the kingdom of God coming on the people here unless He is king? Because He is King Jesus! He has the authority to bind—this is our King.

Sovereign here means there is no authority, territory or power above Him.  So, He replies in verse 30 with, “Whoever is not with me is against me.” He is asking them to choose sides: are you gathering or scattering?


So look at your own life: what do your words do? How has the Spirit equipped you to gather? This church is gathering for the sake of the Lord’s Name! Others should see the Lord through you.


Jesus says to take sides. What they have done by speaking against Jesus is demonic. It is calling out every healing, miracle, prophecy fulfilled that Jesus has done and calling it false. It is not recognizing him as King Jesus—and this says it will not be forgiven. 


Let’s look at exactly what they are blaspheming here because they also speak against “the son of man.”

“I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

    there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

    and was presented before him.

And to him was given dominion

    and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

    should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

    which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

    that shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14).

This is who the pharisees are speaking against!

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength (Revelation 1:12-16).”

The pharisees are blaspheming against this sovereign Lord! 


Even though He was a reject, He was still a healer because he is King. 


Are you siding with Jesus? Are you against the controversial parts of Scripture? If so then go sit down with a fellow believer and ask hard questions! Our King, our Lord of Life is powerful! 


Let’s side with Him. God is good and has given us the Son so that we might worship him. 



..


Watch this sermon here.

The God of All Grace

July 16, 2025
Notes from Zach Snow's sermon on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:8-14 Why is the lion roaring? Wouldn’t it be a better strategy to be quiet…subtle…sneaky, in an attempt to “devour” Christians? I think that Peter, led by the Holy Spirit, was very intentional with his description here of the devil being a roaring lion. Went into a rabbit hole on a lion's roar…there are some spiritual applications to these: Can reach up to 114 decibels…almost as loud as a jet engine taking off They roar for social reasons (territory, create bonds, locate other members of their pride) as well as for purposes of intimidation. One of the primary purposes of the lion's roar is to strike fear in the heart of their prey. The lion will always start with a psychological advantage Fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hatred - these things can absolutely paralyse you spiritually The lion is not necessarily trying to kill you, but to destroy your faith Prayer: Be sober-minded - Have a clear and self disciplined mind - Titus 2 Exercise self control in thoughts, words, and action this is the 3rd time Peter has said this to us in 1 Peter - 1:13, 4:7 - it’s a call to remain alert and focused Being sober-minded means waging war against the things that are detrimental to the mind: fear, hatred, anxiety, depression, anger I believe these are specific things the enemy uses to derail our mental health and cause us to take our guard down Be watchful - this is the same word that Jesus used in the garden before he was arrested and crucified - this is a call to pray Prayers for others - Eph. 6:18 - Ephesians 6:18 - [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Prayers for yourself - James 1:5 - 5 j If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. So here’s the question… Do you believe in prayer? How much do you trust that God can do the things that you are not able to do? Do you trust God with the big stuff AND the small stuff? Discipleship Questions: 1.) In your personal life, what does being sober minded and watchful look like to you? 2.) Who are the people who help you stand firm in your faith the most? 3.) As a CG look at each of the points of the Theology of Suffering and find Scripture to support each one of those statements: God is ALWAYS good God is ALWAYS enough God will ALWAYS love you 4.) Discuss ways that the God of all grace has restored, confirmed, strengthened, and established you.

Anxiety v Humility

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Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, July 6, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:5-7 Main Idea: God opposes the proud This is a warning that should shake our souls. There is a way of living that draws God’s opposition. Proverbs 3:34 "Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor" "Be not wise in your own eyes." Garden Connection. No guidance. No exaltation. No refreshment in our souls. God gives grace to the humble The grace of guidance The grace of peace that exceeds understanding The grace of lifted burdens God cares for us Application: You who are younger, be subject to the elders Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God Consider what it means to place yourself under the mighty hand of God! It is to lay hold of the reality that God is actively involved in the details of your day. It is to surrender the false and flawed thinking that we are in control. Cast your anxieties on God Being told, "Don't be anxious," can often feel the same as being told, "Don't be tall... or short.... or bald...." Some may say, "That's just who I am..." "One cannot truly humble oneself under God’s protection while racked with fear. Handing over fear to God and humbling oneself under his mighty hand happen together." -Barnett Anxiety is a form of pride Discipleship Questions: Why should we tremble at the reality that there is a way of living that draws the opposition of God? Anyone want to share about experiencing this? How would we know if God was opposing us? What are some things that will be seen in a life that is truly marked by humility? What is the difference between trying to do humble things and clothing ourselves in humility? What are the specific burdens/cares/anxieties that you are carrying that you need to cast upon the Lord? What are some actual action steps that would indicate that we are casting our anxieties on God? Why is anxiety a form of pride? How does humility change our relationships? Recount the deeds of the Lord! What are some ways that God has cared for you and your loved ones?

Shepherds & Sheep

July 2, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 5:1-4 Gen. 1:1-2 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Churches should be led by a plurality of elders. Acts 11:30, Acts 14:23, Acts 15, Acts 16:4, Acts 17:1, Acts 20:28, Acts 21:17, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Timothy 5:17, Titus 1:5, Titus 1:7, James 5:14 Instructions for Pastors: Shepherd God’s flock The words “God’s flock” remind the elders that the congregation does not belong to them. It is God’s church, and they are given the privilege and responsibility of shepherding it. -Thomas R. Schreiner Exercise oversight Oversee willingly (not under compulsion) 1 Cor. 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! Oversee eagerly (not for shameful gain) 2 Cor. 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. Lead by example (not domineering) Strive for Humility 1. Pure Christian humility disposes a person to take notice of everything that is good in others, and to make the best of it, and to diminish their failings. - Jonathan Edwards The Chief Shepherd is Coming Shepherds God’s flock Exercises oversight 1 Peter 2:25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Oversees willingly (not under compulsion) Oversees eagerly (not for shameful gain) 2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Leads by example (not domineering) Hebrews 2:8b-9 we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Discipleship Questions: What are some of the benefits of having multiple elders? How would you define the job / responsibilities of an elder? If you were to move to a new area tomorrow, what would you be looking for in a new church? Why, do you think, the “younger” are specifically instructed to be subject to the elders? How does someone who is “clothed in humility toward one another” behave in the church? Out of the five pastors at Crosspoint, who is your favorite? (just kidding, don’t ask that).
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