According To Luke
“Power, Authority, & Presence”
April 27, 2025
Alan Scott - LBCC

BOTTOM LINE: To see and experience Jesus’ power and authority, we must spend intimate time in His presence.

Read…Luke 9:37-48.

INTRO: (whiteboard: What’s the difference between power & authority? PIX) Power is the ability; authority is the right. (car & driver’s license)
(illus. - Weedeater… I have the authority to use this because I bought it… i have the receipt and owners manual / my battery gives me the ability to use it – BUT the battery has to be in close proximity… a gardening intimacy, to be effective.)

To see and experience Jesus’ power and authority, we must spend intimate time in His presence. Does anyone need or want to see Jesus move? Perhaps the problem is not a lack of power and authority, but rather a lack of presence.
John 15:5.

CONTEXT: Luke 9:1-2; Last week… Luke 9:29-30.

I. Why do my outcomes often fall short of my expectations of Jesus? PIX

(illus. - YouTube turned 20 - first VIDEO - low expectations - a dating site - 20 billion videos… 20 million uploaded each day - $ millions are being made) Have you ever seen a social media influencer PIX who’s not influencing anyone? It’s sad… awkward and embarrassing – falling way short of their video expectations.

You ever feel like the stuff of your life falls short of the expectations you have/had of Jesus?

Luke 9:37-41… walk through. (What were the expectations in the text?)

When your Jesus expectations aren’t met, then questions and doubts start. Is he really good? If Jesus is all-powerful and good, how can he allow the bad stuff? How DO you answer this? (morality of good & evil; God’s power; the Gospel… Jesus doesn’t just give an answer, he becomes it!)


II. Does practicing God’s presence bring back Kingdom power and authority? PIX

Last Sunday was amazing… But, as Mark Galli notes, “The resurrection without the crucifixion is empty optimism...”So many want resurrection benefits without crucifixion submission. And submission is longing for and wanting to just BE with Jesus. The work is for us to believe (John 6:29).

Luke 9:42-45… walk through.Mark’s version has the father asking Jesus IF he can heal his son. Jesus responds: “If you can?” “Bring the boy to me.” Does Jesus say to you, “Bring your ________ to me.” What would you ask of Jesus? Having a big need for larger faith only requires a mustard seed amount. Not having a big need for larger faith means you probably don’t even have a small amount.

Michael Burruss - “I want to make sure I’m seeking God’s face, and not just His strong right hand.”
Disciples asked Jesus (in Mark) why they couldn’t heal the boy. Jesus says, You have to pray (and fast). For some, this takes us right back into our DOING. But prayer and fasting is about our BEING in His presence and wanting HIM more than His stuff.

They don’t get this because they are so enamored with miracles and power and an earthly kingdom. To see and experience Jesus’ power and authority, we must spend intimate time in His presence.

Jesus re-emphasizes the mission… the Gospel.Psalm 103:10. Thank God. We keep focusing on winning; Jesus calls us to die.

CONCLUSION: Practice the presence of Jesus.
(Brother Lawrence’s book…)
How do we do this? (illus. - Elders fasting…) Back on the mountain, “... listen to Him!”

Luke 9:46-48. At the very least this is a humility lesson. But it might be more. It might be about emptying (“least”) ourselves of ego, power, control, status… so that we can just BE, and sit in the presence of Jesus.

(illus. - Naaman in the OT; Moses - “I don’t want to go without your presence)

Alistair Begg PIX - “Until we can’t, we never can. To imagine that God’s power is at our disposal and under our control is tantamount to unbelief because it’s actually to trust in ourselves rather than trust in God.”

Ephesians 1:4-6.
Sitting in the presence of Jesus is sitting in your identity. It’s soaking on grace throughout the day.

We’ve been singing…
“It's never been about performance, perfection,
Or striving for acceptance
Let me tell you, it's only by the blood
It's never been about deserving or earning
It's a gift that's freely given
Let me tell you, it's only by the blood”

Listen to Him. It’s only by His blood.

What if last place is about Jesus having first place in our lives with His presence.Anybody hungry to see God’s power and authority in your life, our church, this world?

Become like a little kid, and sit… in His presence.
Would you commit to sitting for 15 minutes each day this next week… no phone, still, quiet, TV off, no distractions… just listening IN THE SPIRIT.

Read a short bit of scripture out of the Psalms, and then listen – don’t even voice prayers. Listen to Him. To see and experience Jesus’ power and authority, we must spend intimate time in His presence.

Anointed and set apart to BE in Jesus presence…

LIFEGROUP QUESTIONS:
1. Expectations vs. Reality
Read: Luke 9:37–41; Ephesians 3:20–21
Question:
When have your expectations of Jesus fallen short of reality? How do you wrestle with disappointment without losing faith?
Follow-up:
How does God's ability to do "immeasurably more" reshape your expectations?

2. Power vs. Authority
Read: Luke 9:1–2; Matthew 28:18–20
Question:
In what areas of your life do you have "power" but lack "authority," or vice versa?
Follow-up:
How does being close to Jesus (abiding presence) restore both power and authority in us?

3. Presence Over Performance
Read: John 15:5; ohn 6:29
Question:
Why do you think so many believers focus more on doing for God than being with God?
Follow-up:
What practical changes could you make this week to prioritize presence over performance?

4. Small Faith, Big God
Read: Mark 9:22–24; Luke 9:42–43
Question:
When have you hesitated to bring something to Jesus because of doubt?
Follow-up:
What "small" mustard seed step of faith could you take right now?

5. Humility and Kingdom Power
Read: Luke 9:46–48; Philippians 2:5–11
Question:
How does true humility open the door to experiencing Jesus' power and authority?
Follow-up:
What part of your ego, control, or status might Jesus be inviting you to lay down?

6. Listening as Spiritual Warfare
Read: Psalm 46:10; James 4:7–8
Question:
Why is stillness and listening such a powerful way to resist the enemy and draw close to God?
Follow-up:
Would you commit to 15 minutes a day of silent, undistracted presence this week? How could your group help each other actually live that out?

Challenge:
Practice 15 minutes each day this week in stillness: no phone, no TV, just you, Scripture, and God's presence. Listen. Then, share next week what you heard or experienced.