Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 5:1-20"

     It is once again time for the Weekend Sermon. Thanks for taking the time to read it. I hope that you are all well. 

     We are in Mark once again this week. We are starting a new chapter, and I have to say, this is a story that has some difficulties in it. I will tell you what I think. Some may not agree. That is OK. 

     As we saw last time, Jesus and His disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake. They had now come to the area of the Gerasenes which was a Gentile area. When Jesus and those with him got out of the boat, they were met by a man who was violently demon possessed. He spent his time among the tombs and could not be contained even when chained up. He/the demons asked not to be tormented. 

    Jesus asked the demon his name, and they said Legion because there were many of them. Jesus commanded them to leave the man. The demons asked to be allowed to go into a herd of pigs grazing nearby. Jesus gave them permission, and when the pigs realized they were possessed they ran themselves off the cliff into the lake. 

    The man was free, but the people of the area didn't care. They asked Jesus to basically get out of town. 

    The man who was freed asked Jesus to let Him follow Him. However, Jesus said no. He told the man to go and tell others what God had done for Him. And that is what the man did. 

    So, what are we to make of all this? What is the lesson for us today? First of all, did this man actually have thousands of demons in him? The Bible is clear that he did, so I will go with that. However, this story is using symbolism to make a much broader point. 

    When Jesus asked the demon its name it said Legion. This is a direct reference to Rome. Rome was introducing the worship of idols into the entire area. That area where Jesus was was a hotbed for idolatrous religious practice which used pigs as a sacrificial animal. 

    By casting out a demon or demons named Legion, the story is letting us know that Jesus and His message is more powerful than the evil forces of the Roman Empire as well as more powerful than even a legion of thousands of demons. No power of evil can withstand the power of the Lord. 

     Now to the pigs. Did Jesus directly send the demons into the pigs? He did not. Also, the demons did not drive the pigs into the sea. The pigs did it themselves to prevent the demons from possessing them. Some will disagree with this interpretation. 

    The pigs are in this story to demonstrate the power of the Lord over the power of the gods worshipped by the Romans and other pagan peoples. They were left with nothing to sacrifice. 

    The reaction of the townspeople is also highly symbolic. Their reaction shows us the attitude of so many who care about profit over people. They were more worried about the bottom line of their loss of profit now that their pigs were gone than the fact that a man was freed from torment. They were also afraid of Jesus, and they wanted Him gone. 

    People today who care more about profit over people have the same attitude. They do not want to be confronted by the Jesus who calls us to care for the least of these. 

    Now, what about the man wanting to follow Jesus? Jesus said no. Why? Jesus wanted him to be His witness to his own people. And who could have been better? He was a walking and talking testimony to the transforming power of God's grace. 

    This account has a lot to teach us. Jesus has more power than any power of darkness. When we are in Christ Jesus, we are safe in Him. No power of hell can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus will be the ultimate victor over every force of evil and darkness. It cannot and will not stand. 

    Our job as believers in Jesus is to care about people and to love others. We are to tell others about the wonderful things that the Lord has done for us so that their lives might be transformed by His forgiveness, love and grace. Amen

Prayer Requests

    Unless something changes, I am about ready to sell my house. Please pray for me. 

    Please pray for my sister-in-law as she is recovering from an operation. 

    Continue to pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak as well as hantavirus. 

    Keep praying for peace. Pray that peace comes in the Middle East situation and that the peace holds. We need to keep praying for peace in Ukraine and in Sudan. 

    For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Uzbekistan and Cambodia. Pray that many will come to know the love of the Lord. 

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

     

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 33:18 -- "But the eyes of the Lord are on all who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. "

Jeremiah 17:7 -- "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him."

Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 4:35-41"

     Today is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for reading the message. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to post it. 

     We are back in the Gospel of Mark this week. We are going chapter by chapter and verse by verse through this book to see what the Lord would have us to learn. 

     For our message today, we are going to focus on the account of Jesus calming the storm. After the Lord had had an extended period of ministry, He told His disciples that He wanted to go over to the other side of the lake. This was the sea of Galilee, so it would have been about a seven mile trip give or take. 

     Jesus was in one boat, and there were other boats going over to the other side as well. Jesus went over and went to sleep. He was exhausted from ministering to all the people, and He was sleeping very soundly. 

    As they were making there way over to the other side, a huge storm came up. The waves were large and water was coming into the boats so much so that they feared they might drown. All the while, Jesus was still asleep. 

     Deeply troubled, the disciples woke Jesus up and asked if He even cared about the fact that they were drowning. Jesus got up and said, "Peace! Be still!". The winds and the waves quieted down right away. Jesus asked them why they didn't have any faith. 

    This astonished the disciples who wondered who Jesus was. Even the wind and the waves obeyed His commands. 

    So, what does this all mean for us living today? The first thing I want to focus on is the disciples wondering if Jesus even cared during the midst of the storm. Many of us wonder about this when we are facing the trials and difficulties that we encounter in our lives. We are really hurting, and we wonder if Jesus even cares what happens to us. 

    Jesus does care. In this account, Jesus wondered where was the disciples' faith. He was not going to let something happen to them. They needed to trust in Him that with Him in their midst, all was going to go just as it should go. He had it all under control. 

    When we are facing hard times and difficulties, we need to rest in the knowledge that Jesus does know and care. The Bible tells us that we can cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. We have not been left alone. Jesus said that He would never leave us, and He will not forsake us. When we are anxious, we can turn to Him and ask Him to help us make it through and to make a way where there is no way. 

     Jesus is the one who has the power to stop the storms in our lives. He told the waves to be at peace and be still. When we are facing hard times, Jesus is the one who speaks peace into our hearts. He gives us the awareness of His presence. We can rest in His promises. No matter what befalls, He is watching over us and doing all things in accordance with His will. We don't have to have anxiety with the peace of the Lord that passes all understanding within our hearts. 

    When facing hardships, Jesus is the one who can provide the fix and the answer. He is the one who has all power in Heaven and on earth. We don't need to go to others to get the answer to the problem, Jesus is the answer. He has the power. Look to Him and Him only. 

     The disciples wondered who this man was. Jesus was and is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. The Eternal Son of the Father. The God man. All things were created by Him, through Him and for Him. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is on our side. He is our peace. He is our Rock. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am getting ready to sell my house. I need wisdom from the Lord on this. Please pray for me. 

    Pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. Pray that those who are sick will make a full recovery. 

     Keep praying for peace. Pray for peace between US and Iran. Pray for peace in Lebanon and Gaza. Pray for peace in Sudan and Ukraine. Wherever there is war, let there be peace. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Burkina Faso and Brunei. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

    Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Isaiah 46:9 -- "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like me."

Psalm 143:5 -- "I remember the days of old, I meditate on all that you have done, I ponder the works of your hand."

The Weekend Sermon -- Mark 4:26-34

      Thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. This has been a very busy week for me. I have a lot going on, and I will ask for your prayers on some matters latter. I do hope and pray that all of you are doing well. 

     We are back in Mark this week studying what the Lord has to teach us through this Gospel. In our passage for today, we have Jesus comparing the Kingdom of God to sowers and seeds and to mustard seeds. 

     In the first illustration, Jesus says that the Kingdom is like a man sowing seeds. He does not know how the seed grows, but it does and produces fruit. In the second illustration, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is a tiny seed, but from that tiny seed a large plant grows. 

     What does this have as far as a meaning for us today? Let's look at the first illustration. I believe that Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God is built on this earth by those of us who follow the Lord. What do I mean? We are the ones who have to be out planting the seeds. What are the seeds? First and foremost I believe that the seed being planted is the word of the Lord being sown into peoples' hearts. The seed is sown and planted when we tell others about the fact that they can have a life-changing relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

    Seed is also sown when we do good in this world. When we feed the hungry and clothe the naked and help those who are in distress we are sowing seeds that help to build the Kingdom of God. 

     Now, we have to be careful. We are the ones who are sowing the seed. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that gives the increase. He is the one who changes people's hearts and lives. Not by might. Not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. We can do nothing in our own strength nor through our own effort. It is the Spirit working in and through us. 

     The second illustration I think is a little different. I believe what Jesus is saying here is that the Kingdom of God begins like a tiny seed such as a mustard seed. That tiny seed is planted and then sprouts and becomes a huge bush. Who would have believed it!

     That is what the Kingdom of God is like. It has a small beginning. First of all it had the small beginning in the Upper Room, and now the Gospel has gone around the world. Also, when we spread the message and sow the seeds, it may seem like a small thing. But God, in His power uses that small thing and makes something great. 

    So, what is the take away from all this? We have to be out sowing the seed and doing the work of the Kingdom all the time. What we are doing may not seem like a lot in the scheme of things. However, the Holy Spirit by His power takes what we do and does great and mighty things by His power. It is our job to do what we can, and we rely on the Spirit's power the whole way. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I am probably going to sign a contract to sell my house next week. Please pray for me in this matter. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I need your prayers. I need to find out just what I am supposed to do in the next portion of my life. Pray that I will know the Lord's will in all things. 

     Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak. Pray that the sick will recover. 

     Keep praying for those affected by natural disasters. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

     Pray for peace. Ukraine, Sudan, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza all need to be at peace.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Bahrain and Bangladesh. Pray that many will come to know the love of the Lord Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Remembering -- To You Old Friend

      This week marks for me a terrible anniversary. This week it will be thirty years since my best friend Toby passed away. I can hardly believe it, and I can hardly stand it. I am having a really hard time with the whole thing I have to admit. I miss him more each day. 

     On this anniversary I want to say a couple of things. First of all, Thank you Lord for bringing the two of us together. Neither one of us would have made it if you hadn't made it all happen. 

     Toby. Thank you for all the years of joy and fun. I love you and miss you. 

     I know that he is in heaven with my mom and dad. I don't have any doubt about that. I know we will be together again someday. It is just hard right now. If was still alive, my life would be so different and so much better now. 

     Jesus and a corgi dog named Toby made my life all that it is today. Without the Lord I am nothing. Without Toby I would not be here today. I hope we can be together soon. 

Verses For The Week

 I Peter 4:8 -- "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

I Corinthians 16:14 -- "Let all that you do be done in love."