Monthly Archives: March 2019

Intercession

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So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Numbers 21:7

Sin is what separates people from God. In order for us to be brought back into the presence of God, we need an intercessor. Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites. During this story, because the Israelites continued to rebel and sin against God, he punished them with poisonous snakes. After the Israelites repented of their sins, Moses interceded for them for God to forgive them

We seen this at Mt Sinai also, when the Israelites created a Gold Calf to worship, God was obviously furious and wanted to wipe them all out. However Moses interceded for the Israelites that were still righteous and God forgave them.

So how and why can Moses intercede for the Israelites? Because Moses is a shadow of Christ to come!

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5

The Apostle Paul teaches us that Jesus is the mediator between us and God. The original Greek word for Mediator is “mesites” meaning reconciler or go between.  Even though “Mediator” and “Intercessor” don’t mean exactly the same thing, it’s the same concept. Christ has mediated between us and God.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Romans 8:26

Here we see the Holy Spirit interceded for us to speak to God when we don’t know what to say. Again we see the Holy Spirit intercedes between us and God. Just as Moses was a foreshadow of Christ to come, the Holy Spirit completes us through sanctification Amen!

Demons Tremble

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and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; Mark 5:3

In this healing Jesus not just dealing with a man who needs healing, this man is possessed with demons. How do we know this man has demons? Lets look at some of the characteristics of his behavior, living in a cemetery (worship of the dead) cutting himself with stones (Mark 5:4) (self hatred, mutilation)

God is Light, the opposite of God is darkness. Those who are obsessed with darkness, death, hatred, ect. are driven by demons. What compels someone to love death? Only someone who is manipulated by Satan

Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” Mark 5:6-7

Notice the man with demons reaction to the presence of Jesus Christ. He bowed down on his knees and begged Jesus not to throw them into Hell. Demons tremble at the name and sight of Jesus. There is no greater force than the Great I AM. Whatever demon may be influencing your life, it can be cast out in Jesus name!

Notice the demons acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God. Even demons, that hate God, are smart enough to recognize the Lord of Lords. Don’t be dumber than a condemned demon!

For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Mark 5:8

With One command Jesus drove out the demon, but it wasn’t just one demon but many. As the demon revealed to Jesus that his name was “Legion” because there were many demons living in this man. (Mark 5:9) And the demons begged Jesus not to cast them out (Mark 5:10)

Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea. Mark 5:13

A lot of interesting symbolism going on here. First the demons ask Jesus to allow them to enter pigs. Jesus allows them, and the pigs horrified by these evil spirits kill themselves off a cliff. Now remember pigs are considered “unclean” animals in Jewish culture. So its interesting unclean spirits would enter unclean animals.

Second the pigs plummeted down a cliff or an Abyss. Remember demons begged Jesus not to send them to the Abyss (Luke 8:31) Abyss is also symbolic for Hades.

And He did not let him, but He said to him, “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.” Mark 5:19

Regardless of how possessed or messed up this man was, Jesus was able to cleanse him of all evil and sin. Jesus can do the same for all of us, there is power in the name and blood of Jesus Christ Amen!

Calm In The Storm

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And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Mark 4:37

The disciples were caught in a fierce storm, they all believed they were going to die. When they looked at Jesus he was sleeping in the boat. What? How can Jesus not care? How can he just sleep while we are dying here?

We probably sometimes feel like the disciples in this boat. When were going through a storm in our life, we question “Where is God”? We question “How can God allow me to go through this?” But notice Jesus response

And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40

Jesus response to them was “What’s wrong with you guys, don’t you know who I AM”? We say that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but do our actions reflect that? When life gets tough , do we panic or do we have faith knowing who Jesus is?

Jesus asked his disciples “Do you still have no faith”? The disciples have witnessed many miracles and heard the teachings of Christ directly, yet they still had doubts when the Storms of Life come rolling through

They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:41

With just one word Jesus rebuked the Storm and everything became calm and still again. If there is any question about Jesus deity, look at what Jesus just did here. He has complete control of the entire world , even the wind and seas obey him.

Don’t lose your faith during the Storms of Life, know that Jesus is with you in that boat, and know that Jesus has the power and authority to calm that storm Amen!

Mustard Seed

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And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? Mark 4:30

When we think about the Kingdom of God (Heaven) how can we even begin to fathom? The book of Revelation gives us more description on Heaven , however Jesus is giving us a parable for us to ponder.

Through the parable of the Mustard Seed, we can see the Kingdom of God has grown from One man taking on the wages of the sins of the world, and has grown into the largest religion in the world

“It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.” Mark 4:31-32

When we think about Christianity, its still the largest religion in the world. Over 2 billion people declare themselves Christian, and by 2050 its estimated to be over 3 billion. Now we can debate whether all these people are truly “Christian”, however you get my point, the Body of Christ is large even in a depraved world like today.

But now lets think about how it all began, the Son of God born in a stable. Born to poor parents in a small town. Yet this one man, Jesus Christ, changed the entire world one disciple at a time. Before there was great Cathedral Church buildings there was the “Upper Room” of Jesus modest home where he taught the Word of God and broke bread with his disciples.

Jesus planted the Mustard Seed, and it grew into the Body of Christ today. So whatever your doing today for Jesus, don’t think its too small to make an impact. Think about the Mustard Seed, and plant it and let God grow your ministry with the Holy Spirit Amen!