Breaking the Huddle: Faith in Action

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Jesus Over Evil

Description: The story of the demon-possessed man in Mark 5:1-20 vividly illustrates Jesus' supreme authority over demonic forces. When Jesus and His disciples arrive at the Gerasenes, they are confronted by a man tormented by a legion of demons. Despite the man's terrifying condition, the demons within him immediately recognize Jesus' power and submit to His authority. Jesus commands the demons to leave the man, and they enter a herd of pigs, which then drown in the sea. This miraculous event demonstrates that no matter the chaos or evil we face, Jesus has the ultimate authority and can bring deliverance and peace into our lives. [05:48]

This story is a powerful reminder that Jesus' presence can transform even the most desperate situations. The man, once tormented and uncontrollable, is found sitting in his right mind, fully restored. This transformation underscores the immense power of Jesus over evil and His ability to bring healing and restoration. As believers, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus has the power to overcome any evil we encounter and bring peace into our lives.

Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

Reflection: Think about a situation in your life where you feel overwhelmed by chaos or evil. How can you invite Jesus' power and authority into that situation today?

Day 2: The Importance of Spiritual Vigilance

Description: The demon-possessed man's torment serves as a stark warning about the dangers of opening ourselves up to harmful influences. This man had allowed demonic forces to take control of his life, leading to his suffering and isolation. This story highlights the importance of guarding our hearts and minds against spiritual dangers. Engaging in harmful activities or consuming negative media can open doors to spiritual attacks. Instead, we should fill our lives with God's Word and His presence, which fortifies us against the enemy. [07:11]

Spiritual vigilance involves being mindful of what we allow into our lives. Just as the demon-possessed man experienced torment due to his openness to evil influences, we too can face spiritual challenges if we are not careful. By immersing ourselves in God's Word and maintaining a close relationship with Him, we can protect ourselves from spiritual harm and remain strong in our faith.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."

Reflection: Are there any activities or influences in your life that may be opening doors to spiritual attacks? How can you replace them with practices that draw you closer to God?

Day 3: Faith Requires Action

Description: James 2:14-26 emphasizes that faith without works is dead. Just as a football team must break the huddle and run the play to score, Christians must put their faith into action. This means actively living out our beliefs, helping those in need, and sharing the gospel. Our faith should be evident through our actions, demonstrating the love and power of God to the world. [19:07]

Faith is not just about believing; it is about doing. The demon-possessed man, once delivered, wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus instructed him to stay and testify about the mercy and power of God. This man's testimony became a powerful witness to his community. Similarly, we are called to move beyond the comfort of our spiritual huddles and actively engage in the mission God has set before us. By living out our faith in tangible ways, we can make a significant impact on those around us.

James 2:17 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to demonstrate your faith? How can you help someone in need or share the gospel with someone in your life?

Day 4: God's Strategic Plan

Description: Like an offensive coordinator in football, God has a strategic plan for our lives. He sees the bigger picture and knows the best routes for us to take. We must trust His guidance and avoid calling audibles based on our limited understanding. By following His direction, we align ourselves with His perfect will and experience His protection and provision. [29:17]

Trusting God's strategic plan requires faith and obedience. Just as a football player trusts the coach's playbook, we must trust that God knows what is best for us. His plans are designed for our good, even when we do not fully understand them. By surrendering our own plans and following His guidance, we can experience the fullness of His blessings and the assurance that He is leading us on the right path.

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are struggling to trust God's plan? How can you surrender your own plans and seek His guidance today?

Day 5: God as Our Defender

Description: When we step out in faith and run the play God has given us, He acts as our offensive line, blocking and defending us against the enemy. We are not alone in our spiritual battles; God goes before us, fights for us, and ensures our victory. This assurance should embolden us to take bold steps of faith, knowing that God is with us and will not forsake us. [30:49]

God's role as our defender provides us with the confidence to face any challenge. Just as a football player relies on the offensive line for protection, we can rely on God to defend us against spiritual attacks. His presence and power give us the courage to take bold steps of faith, knowing that He is with us every step of the way. This assurance allows us to live fearlessly and pursue the mission God has set before us.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV): "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

Reflection: What bold step of faith is God calling you to take today? How can you trust in His protection and presence as you move forward?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Happy Father's Day to all the dads! Today, we continue our "One Hit Wonder" series, focusing on individuals in the Bible who appear briefly but make a significant impact. Our biblical one-hit wonder today is the demon-possessed man from Mark 5:1-20. Jesus and His disciples arrive at the Gerasenes, where a demon-possessed man confronts them. This man, tormented by a legion of demons, lived among the tombs, unable to be restrained by any human means. When he encounters Jesus, the demons within him bow down, recognizing Jesus' authority. Jesus commands the demons to leave the man, and they enter a herd of pigs, which then drown in the sea.

This story illustrates the immense power of Jesus over evil forces and the transformative impact of His presence. The man, once tormented, is found sitting in his right mind, fully restored. However, the townspeople, fearful of the supernatural change, ask Jesus to leave. The man, now delivered, wishes to follow Jesus, but Jesus instructs him to stay and testify about the mercy and power of God.

The key message is about breaking the huddle and running the play. Just as in football, where the huddle is a place to receive instructions but not to stay, Christians must take their faith and put it into action. Faith without works is dead. We are called to move beyond the comfort of our spiritual huddles and actively engage in the mission God has set before us. This involves sharing our testimonies, helping others, and living out our faith in tangible ways.

###

Key Takeaways

1. possessed man in Mark 5 demonstrates Jesus' supreme authority over demonic forces. When the man, filled with a legion of demons, encounters Jesus, the demons immediately recognize His power and submit. This reminds us that no matter the chaos or evil we face, Jesus has the ultimate authority and can bring deliverance and peace into our lives. [05:48]
2. The Importance of Spiritual Vigilance: The demon-possessed man had opened himself up to demonic influences, leading to his torment. This serves as a warning to guard our hearts and minds against spiritual dangers. Engaging in harmful activities or consuming negative media can open doors to spiritual attacks. Instead, we should fill our lives with God's Word and His presence, which fortifies us against the enemy.

3. Faith Requires Action: James 2:14-26 emphasizes that faith without works is dead. Just as a football team must break the huddle and run the play to score, Christians must put their faith into action. This means actively living out our beliefs, helping those in need, and sharing the gospel. Our faith should be evident through our actions, demonstrating the love and power of God to the world.

4. God's Strategic Plan: Like an offensive coordinator in football, God has a strategic plan for our lives. He sees the bigger picture and knows the best routes for us to take. We must trust His guidance and avoid calling audibles based on our limited understanding. By following His direction, we align ourselves with His perfect will and experience His protection and provision.

5. God as Our Defender: When we step out in faith and run the play God has given us, He acts as our offensive line, blocking and defending us against the enemy. We are not alone in our spiritual battles; God goes before us, fights for us, and ensures our victory. This assurance should embolden us to take bold steps of faith, knowing that God is with us and will not forsake us.

### [05:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - Introduction to One Hit Wonder Series
[02:46] - Football and Training Camp Analogy
[04:33] - Story of the Demon-Possessed Man
[07:11] - Spiritual Vigilance
[08:26] - Jesus' Authority Over Demons
[09:56] - Structure in Chaos
[11:13] - Demons' Request and Jesus' Response
[12:34] - Jesus' Interaction with the Delivered Man
[15:16] - People's Fear and Rejection of Jesus
[17:54] - Faith and Action
[19:07] - James 2:14-26: Faith and Works
[22:20] - The Huddle and Spiritual Assignments
[23:41] - Breaking the Huddle
[25:04] - Being on the Clock
[26:17] - Life's Shortness and Urgency
[29:17] - Trusting God's Strategic Plan
[30:49] - God as Our Offensive Line
[32:05] - Knowing the Playbook
[33:23] - God's Assurance and Our Response
[34:52] - Taking Faith into Action
[36:26] - Call to Action and Prayer
[37:55] - Prayer for Salvation and Empowerment

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the initial reaction of the demon-possessed man when he encountered Jesus in Mark 5:1-20?
How did the townspeople react to the transformation of the demon-possessed man?
According to James 2:14-26, what is the relationship between faith and works?
What specific instructions did Jesus give to the man after he was delivered from the demons?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the demons immediately recognized and submitted to Jesus' authority?
What might the townspeople's fear and request for Jesus to leave indicate about their understanding of His power?
How does the story of the demon-possessed man illustrate the concept that faith requires action, as discussed in James 2:14-26?
What does Jesus' command to the delivered man to stay and testify suggest about the importance of personal testimony in the Christian faith?

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by chaos or evil. How can the story of Jesus' authority over demons in Mark 5:1-20 encourage you in those moments?
The sermon emphasized the importance of breaking the huddle and running the play. What is one specific action you can take this week to put your faith into practice?
The townspeople were fearful of the supernatural change in the demon-possessed man. Have you ever been hesitant to accept or believe in someone's transformation? How can you overcome this hesitation?
Jesus instructed the delivered man to stay and share his testimony. Who in your life needs to hear about the transformative power of Jesus, and how can you share your story with them?
The sermon warned against opening ourselves up to spiritual dangers. Are there any activities or media in your life that you need to avoid to protect your spiritual well-being?
The concept of God as our offensive coordinator was discussed. How can you better trust and follow God's strategic plan for your life, even when it doesn't align with your own understanding?
The sermon highlighted the urgency of taking action. What is one area of your life where you have been procrastinating in your faith, and what steps can you take to address it this week?

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "If you open yourself up to demonic things, then those things are going to begin to get in you, and begin to get on you, and the devil's going to begin to attack you, and fight you. But listen to me. If the power of God is within you, and you do not open yourself up to garbage coming in, hear me, child of God, you quit watching those movies, you quit being a part of those things, you quit doing those things, then the devil will not help you. The devil cannot, the devil cannot be, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. That's where your strength comes from." (33 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Why is it that Christians are so fine with hanging out with people and being around people who cuss, and swear, and gripe, and complain, and do this, and do that, and we laugh at it, and we think it's funny, but then someone comes into the church, and we know their life. We know their past. We know their situation, and yet we won't talk with them. We won't love them because we think, oh, something ain't right. This ain't them. They should be cussing and everything else right now, and I'm not going to get close to them because I'm not going to get close to them. I might get something on me. I don't know what's happening over there. Amen?" (32 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Faith is the root that anchors us. I'm anchored. There's an old hymnal. It says I'm anchored in Jesus. I'm anchored. I'm solid. And the Bible says that I'm a tree and a tree is supposed to produce fruit. Faith is the root that anchors us down, but action is the fruit of being anchored. When I'm anchored, I'm going to produce good fruit. And therefore people are going to be able to eat and enjoy that fruit. This week, my challenge for you is this. You need to go do something. You need to do something with your faith this week. You've got faith. You need to go do something with it." (37 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You need to ask God to forgive you. You need to go and forgive somebody and quit letting the poison of their action. Hear me. You forgiving them doesn't justify their action. It just cleans up the poison that's in your life. Amen. It'll make you, it'll, look, you're letting them live rent-free in your mind, thinking about them and what they did to you your whole life. God, I forgive them. It's not right what they did, but I forgive them, Heavenly Father. And you are my judge. You are my offensive line. You'll take care of me. You'll defend me. You'll watch out for me. So God, I give it to you." (42 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Some of you need to help somebody. Oh, but that guy, he sits by the road all the time and he's begging for money. He probably doesn't need it, but maybe it's your five dollars that could tip the scales. Maybe it's your stopping and praying with him that could tip the scales that makes him realize he needs to have Jesus in his life. Amen. Maybe you need to go buy a bag of groceries for somebody. Oh, but they got a job. That doesn't mean anything. Maybe you need to go get their car and say, hey, I'm going to go fill your car up and I'm going to go wash it for you. What for? Because God is good and I want to bless you." (42 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Jesus steps out of the boat, the demon-possessed man runs to him, and the demon stops and bows at his feet. Now, this man was filled, the Bible says, with the demon. He was so strong that there were men could not control him, or they could not contain him. He lived among the tombs, and among the caves, and he lived where they would bury bodies, and he would run. The Bible said he would run around naked in that time, kind of like my kids when they were younger, okay? Just running around the house, living in holes, and caves, and everything else. They ran around. They would tie ropes to him. They would tie chains to him. They would try to bind him, and try to help him, but nothing would work. The demon in his body would cause him to cut himself, and wound himself, and hurt himself. And the man could not control this, because the demon had possession over him at that time." (52 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The now-delivered man, as Jesus was getting in the boat, looked at him and said, please take me with you. He didn't want to stay there. He didn't want everyone looking at him. He didn't want... He had done so many things, hurt so many people, wounded so many people, and here's what Jesus said in verse 19. Mark, 5, and he did not permit him and said to him, go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has mercy on you, and he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. What did he do? He had faith in Jesus, and Jesus said, you have faith, and now I want you to have action. Everyone say action." (48 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The huddle in football is a place where we get a plan of action. It's where we get an assignment to run, a route to run. It's where we get clarity on what everyone else is doing and what they need to do. A huddle for us within our life is simply this. Sunday morning is a huddle. We're in a huddle right now. You're about to get an assignment. You're about to get a route that you need to run. You're about to get a plan of action that you need to go out and do this week. Life group is a huddle, and if you're not signed up for a life group, sign up for life group. Go talk to our life group leader. If you're praying about starting a life group, in Jesus' name, start a life group so you can begin to pour into people's life." (39 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When you run the play, God is your offensive line. Run the play. God is your offensive line. He will block for you. He will defend you. He will go to battle for you. He is working on your behalf. He is working for your benefit and you don't even know it. Now listen to me. If that running back gets in that huddle and the offensive coordinator calls down and says, we're going to run this play and that quarterback steps up and says, okay, we're going to run this play. And he calls out that play and he calls out those numbers and he calls out that, that, that code. If that running back or that wide receiver, if they have not studied the playbook, then they have no idea what the play is. Amen." (51 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Why is it? And why do we push you to read your Bible? Why do we push you to go to God and find the answers? Because this is the playbook. I'm feeling depressed and broken in my spirit. What does God have to say about it? Go to the playbook. I mean, me and my spouse, we're fighting and we're arguing and we just can't seem to get on. Go to the playbook. My kids are this and that. Go to the playbook. My boss and my go to the playbook. What does God say about you dealing with people and loving people that are hard to love? Amen. If you don't know the playbook, then you can't run the play that's being called." (41 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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