Loudmouth – The Call Of A Loudmouth

Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. Luke 4:38-39 NIV

This week, Pastor Jeremy Smith, of Crosspoint Church in Niceville, FL, started a sermon series called, Loudmouth – The Call of A Loudmouth, focusing on the one disciple that seemed always to be putting his foot in his mouth, Simon Peter. And these are the notes that I took from this great message.

Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. Luke 4:31-37 NIV

As we pick up the story, we find Jesus in the synagogue teaching when a demon-possessed man cries out, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!”

Jesus expels the demon from this man, and the people who were present were amazed, and the news spread throughout the surrounding area.

Simon Peter is not mentioned to have been there, but we find Jesus going to Simon’s house as this story goes on. And Simon’s mother-in-law had a high fever.

Here we find Simon, who has just attended a powerful message at the synagogue. He heard a great message from Jesus and was even there to witness a demon-possessed man healed. I don’t know about you, but I have left sermons and Bible studies that have had me on cloud nine, and I can only imagine that this was the way that Simon felt.

And he brought Jesus home with him to find his mother-in-law sick in bed with a high fever.

Simon had just witnessed Jesus healing a demon-possessed man, and that faith was enough to have him ask Jesus to heal her.

There are a couple of things to consider here:

Major Point #1 – Simon was not afraid to ask Jesus for a big thing. He saw a man healed at the synagogue; he had faith in what Jesus could do.

When we engage in the church, we will witness miracles. If we are not involved in the church, we won’t see miracles happen, and our faith will wane.

Bonus Point #1 – Simon brought Jesus home. How many times do we try to compartmentalize our lives? Do we act one way at church, another way at work or home?

Do we bring Jesus home with us?

Do our lives confirm a life changed by Jesus?

It is our faith and belief in Jesus that initiates the miracle.

Here are a couple of examples of faith-filled miracles where Jesus acknowledged the faithfulness of the person involved:

‘When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. ‘Matthew 8:5-13

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” ‘ Luke 8:40-48

And this one happened with Paul:

‘In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. ‘ Acts 14:8-10

How many more miracles could we experience if we were more faith-filled?

Major Point #2 – Simon was obedient even when he didn’t understand.

‘He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. ‘ Luke 5:2-7

Simon was a seasoned fisherman. He knew that this was not a good time to be fishing. He had been out there all night, and they caught nothing; I’m guessing he was exhausted.

Simon let down his nets because Jesus asked him to. And the catch was so big that he had to get other boats to help him bring in the fish.

Major Point #3 – Simon is repentant when faced with the Truth.

‘When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ‘ Luke 5:8

Up to this point, he witnessed Jesus heal a demon-possessed man, his mother-in-law healed, and now he was looking at a catch of fish that was so big that it was on the verge of sinking his boats.

Simon recognized who Jesus truly was, our Savior and Lord, and he realized who he was, a sinner in need of a Savior.

Major Point #4 – Simon was willing to leave everything behind to follow Jesus.

‘For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. ‘ Luke 5:9-11

Simon was Jesus’s chosen leader.

When living a life for Jesus, it’s not about what you are willing to add to our lives, but the question is, what are we ready to leave behind.

For us to be fully utilized by God, we need to be willing to leave behind what Jesus is asking us to leave behind.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word.

Thank You for having pastors who are faithful to preaching the Word of God, week in and week out.

I pray that You open my eyes to the things, You want me to leave behind to be fully utilized by You.

I know that Your plan is being worked out in this world, and I pray that You make it clear where You want me to be.

In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️