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HE STIRRETH UP THE PEOPLE
LUKE 23:1-5
INTRODUCTION
When Jesus came to this earth there was something about Him that stirred a lot of folks up!
Understand that this idea of being “stirred up” can have either positive or negative connotations.
I. CHRIST STIRRED UP MANY FOLKS BY HIS APPEARANCE AT HIS BIRTH!
A1. Joseph Was Stirred Up Initially In A Negative Way–With Fear.
Matthew 1:18-20–“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”
A2. Mary Was Stirred Up Ultimately In A Positive Way–With Joy.
Luke 1:46-47–“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
B1. The Shepherds And The Wise Men Were Stirred Up In A Positive Way–With Joy!
Luke 2:20–“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
Matthew 2:10–“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
B2. Both Herod And Jerusalem Were Stirred Up In A Negative Way.
Matthew 2:3–“When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
1. Herod–With Jealousy And Hatred!
2. Jerusalem–With Worry And Fear!
II. CHRIST STIRRED UP JOHN THE BAPTIST IN A POSITIVE WAY BY HIS APPEARANCE!
John 1:29-30–“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
John 1:34-36–“And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”
III. CHRIST STIRRED UP THE SCRIBES, PHARISEES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN A NEGATIVE WAY BY HIS APPEARANCE!
A. They Found Fault With His Acquaintances!
1. When Jesus And His Disciples Sat Down And Ate With Publicans And Sinners.
Matthew 9:11–“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
2. When Jesus’ Disciples Did Not Follow The Tradition Of The Elders.
Matthew 15:1-3–“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?”
B. They Found Fault With His Actions!
1. After Jesus Cast A Devil Out Of A Dumb Man.
Matthew 9:34–“But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.”
2. After Jesus Healed A Man’s Withered Hand On The Sabbath.
Matthew 12:14–“Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.”
3. After Jesus Healed A Blind And Dumb Man Who Was Possessed With A Devil.
Matthew 12:24–“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.”
4. After Jesus Triumphal Entry, Temple Cleansing, And Healing Of The People.
Matthew 21:15–“And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,.”
C. They Found Fault With His Admonitions!
Matthew 21:45-46–“And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.”
Matthew 22:15–“Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.”
IV. CHRIST STIRRED UP THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS BY HIS APPEARANCE!
A. The Devil Was Stirred Up To Try To Defeat Him As He Began His Earthly Ministry.
Matthew 4 records the tempting of Jesus by Satan. (40 days He was tempted!)
B. The Devils And Demons Were Stirred Up As Jesus Cast Them Out.
(Mark 5:1-20)
Luke 4:33–“And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 35And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.”
V. CHRIST STIRRED UP MANY PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED HIM!
That is what our text refers to! The chief priests charged that Christ stirred up many people by his teaching!
A. Many People Followed Him.
John 6:2–“. . . a great multitude followed him. . .”
Matthew 20:29–“. . . a great multitude followed him.
B. Many People Were Taught By Him.
Matthew 13:2–“And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3And he spake many things unto them. . .”
C. Many People Were Healed By Him.
Matthew 14:14–“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”
D. Many People Were Fed By Him.
The Bible records Jesus feeding over 5000 at one time and over 4000 at another time.
E. Many People Were Amazed, Astonished, And Awed By Him.
1. When He Cast Out An Unclean Spirit.
Mark 1:27–“And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.”
2. When He Healed One Sick Of The Palsy.
Mark 2:12–“. . .they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.”
3. When He Raised Jairus’ Daughter From The Dead.
Mark 5:42–“. . .And they were astonished with a great astonishment.”
4. When The Syrophenician Woman’s Daughter Was Healed.
Mark 7:37–“And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”
VI. CHRIST’S STIRRED UP HIS DISCIPLES BY BOTH HIS LIFE AND BY HIS RESURRECTION!
A. They Were Stirred Up By His Life!
Mark 4:41–“And they. . . said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Luke 10:17–“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.”
John 20:30-31–“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
B. They Were More Stirred Up By His Resurrection!
In the Book of the Acts we clearly see the results of this stirring!
1. They Were Stirred To Obedience!
They were told to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost came and they did.
They were told to carry the Gospel to all the world and they did.
2. They Were Stirred To Unity!
Acts 2:1– “. . .they were all with one accord in one place.”
The fact they were all in one accord is found numerous times in the book of the Acts.
3. They Were Stirred To Witness!
These went throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and to the then known world at that time to such an extent that those who opposed them said of them:
Acts 17:6–“. . .These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”
4. They Were Stirred To Endurance!
They were willing to endure great persecution for the cause of Christ because they were stirred!
Conclusion
The point is this–Jesus Christ stirs people up!
Some are positively stirred and some are negatively stirred!
The same things that stir some to astonishment stirs others to wrath!
Have you been stirred by Christ? If so, has it been in a positive way?
Does it stir you to know that Christ loved you while you were a sinner?
Romans 5:8–“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Does it stir you to know that Christ was beaten, bruised, bloodied, and then buried because of your sins?
Isaiah 53:5–“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Does it stir you to know that Christ overcame death when he arose from the grave and by faith in Him we can also live forever with Him?
1 Corinthians 15:22–“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Does it stir you to know that Christ is coming again for those who have placed their faith and trust in Him for salvation?
John 14:2-3–“. . .I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Does it stir you to know that we will all stand before God one day to give an account of ourselves to Him?
Unbelievers before the Great White Throne Judgment–
Revelation 20:12, 15–“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God. . .And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Believers before the Judgment seat of Christ–
Romans 14:12–“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
We need to be stirred to obedience!
We need to be stirred to unity!
We need to be stirred to witness!
We need to be stirred to endurance!
Have you been stirred to trust Him? Or like the Pharisees have been stirred to reject Him?
Christian are you stirred to follow Him? Or have you left that first love that once stirred you?
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!