The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse reading– Mark 5:1-20 (day seven)

“And they came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind”–v 15

There are two sides of the Christmas message.  The first is that Jesus is LIGHT.  We celebrated it last night in the Christmas Eve service.  The second is the Jesus is LORD. GOD with us!  He doesn’t just show the way, He makes it possible for us to walk it. He has power over dark forces  we struggle with every day.

In some ways, the demonized man in Mark 5 is a strange story to tell on Christmas morning.  In another way, it is perfect!  Until life is transformed by the power of Christ,  Christmas hasn’t come, no matter what the calendar says.

Christ has come!  We should all rejoice in this truth.  Come to Christ!  We should all obey this truth and find power for holy living.  Then, it will be Christmas!

 

 

 

Re:Verse reading– Mark 5:1-20 (day five) 

In an unprecedented move, Jesus tells the demon possessed man to, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” Earlier (Mark 1), Jesus forbids people to tell others. So, why does this man get a different response? Why is he told to go preach when Jesus didn’t yet trust His disciples who had “little or weak” faith (Mark 4:40).

Maybe better questions for us to consider would be: How much do you need to know before God will desire to use you for His Purpose and Glory? Do you need seminary? Evangelism training? (Answer- All you need is your testimony (your life before you encountered and surrendered to Christ, how and when you encountered and surrendered to Christ, and what your life has been like since you have encountered and surrendered to Christ.) How long do you have to wait before God will use you? (Answer- God can use you immediately).

Do you have a testimony? Will you ask God to use you today?

Re:Verse reading– Mark 5:1-20 (day four)

“What can God do with me?  I’m just one person!”  Have you ever said this…or at least thought it?  What a great answer to the question is found here in Mark.  The Decapolis, home of the Gerasenes, was a pagan land.  There were no God-followers in this region.  It was what we would call an UPG (Unreached People Group) today.  When they saw Jesus and what He had done, they asked Him to leave immediately.

After Jesus’ encounter with the demoniac, it was natural that the man who was formerly possessed by legions of demons would want to go with Jesus.  In V. 19, Jesus gave him a command…very similar to our Great Commission…to ‘go and tell’.  In Mark 7:31, we see the results of this man’s obedience.  Jesus and His disciples returned to the region of Decapolis.  Multitudes were now seeking Jesus…from one man’s witness.

Back to our original question…”what can God do with me?”  Go to your people and tell and let’s see what God can do!

Re:Verse reading– Mark 5:1-20 (day three)

“The herd…rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.” Jesus did not roll into town as an expert from the wild blue yonder, dispensing advice while remaining above the fray. He lived with people, and his nearness involved messy work: blood and bone, anguish and anger, spit and sweat, demons and decisions. We like our miracles clean; Jesus uses saliva and dirt. We want divine intervention in our squabbles; Jesus says “Who made me an arbiter between you?” We like a good rescue story, but in this fallen world, God’s rescue will result in collateral damage. Miracles aren’t magic. God in his activity leaves a footprint in the world of men. When you pray for deliverance, are you prepared for what God will destroy in the process?

Re:Verse reading– Mark 5:1-20 (day two) 

Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him. Vs 6

It strikes me to read of this reaction by evil (demons) toward Jesus. How did Legion recognize the Son of God? Was Jesus so pure, so radiant that he was instantly recognized? What does that say about us? When evil looks at us what is the reaction? Oh, look here, a sympathetic soul. Or, He’s been down this road before this should’nt be difficult. How about, Hey, this guys on our team already. We are not Jesus, but don’t we want to live a life that make evil beg for mercy when we are around? I’d much rather be an unyielding force than an easy target. Pray for God’s strength to fill you in those places that are prone to get you into trouble. Anger, fear, lust – actively give those to Jesus each day, and let evil deal with him rather than you. A herd of pigs might not appreciate it, but you certainly will.

Re:Verse reading–Mark 5:1-20 (day one)

“Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region”–v 17.

It surprises me every time I read it.  Shocks and saddens me.  They want Jesus to leave!

They’ve just seen a miracle (or heard about it).  Rather than be attracted to the purity and power of His life, they are offended and threatened.

Was it the pigs?  It’s possible.  Animals in the ancient world were currency, wealth, livelihood.  To suggest that God would sacrifice a fortune just to save a man was an unacceptable notion!  Like the Rich Young Ruler in Mark 10, God is fine until He begins to mess with your finances!

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ “–Hebrews 13:5.

Hmmm. . . do I want the Lord, do I rejoice in Him alone?  Or am I a pig person?

Re:Verse reading–Mark 3: 20-35 (day seven)

“Whoever does the will of the Lord is My brother and sister and mother”–v 34.

Family of origin is God’s choice.  Without consulting us, He assigns us to a particular family.  Dad.  Mom.  Brothers.  Sisters.  Crazy cousins.  His decision, entirely.

Along the way, however, a different family develops.   Drawn to Christ,  our hearts change to a new priority ( doing God’s will).  As we surrender to this new purpose, we discover others who have the same heart.  God is our Father.  We are family, and often closer to each other than to our blood relatives.

In Acts 9, Ananias goes to see Saul.  When he enters the room, he says, “BROTHER Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road. . .has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Ananias understood.  New birth means a new brother.  God calls us to a new family.

Re:Verse reading–Mark 3: 20-35 (six)

This chapter is full of opposition, and some from the most unexpected places. Every which way he went he faced those who would keep Him from fulfilling His mission. The establishment opposed him, demons opposed him, and even his family opposed him, although in a different way from the first two. Here’s the thing, following Jesus is not the most socially or culturally prudent thing to do; it makes you abnormal, like you are “losing your mind.”

But remember what Jesus said, “whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39) So go ahead, “lose” your mind; go crazy for Jesus’ sake; upend the status quo. Will you find opposition? Yes, from some unexpected places even, that mean well (just like Jesus’ family meant well), but like many before you, you will discover that real life is not found in the opposition but in Jesus alone.

Re:Verse reading–Mark 3: 20-35 (day four)

They must have been listening to the mainstream press…even Jesus’ own kinsmen thought He was misguided.  His mother and brothers did not yet understand Jesus’ mission.  He knew it very clearly…Jesus knew why He had come to earth.

By the time we get to Acts and witness the starting of the church, James…the brother of Jesus…has figured it out.  He has witnessed the resurrection and understood who Jesus was.  In Acts 12:17, we find he is a leader in the church.  James had known Jesus…as a brother…but he had to know Him as his redeemer before he found truth.

Being from a ‘christian’ nation, we could mistake knowledge of Jesus for a relationship with Jesus.  Jesus said, “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother…”  Just like James, we not only have to know the will of God…we have to obey it!  Head knowledge will not suffice… we must move that knowledge to our heart.