Apprentice2Jesus

Ramblings of a Confessing Pentecostal

Archive for the tag “Gospel of Mark”

28 Jan 2012

The Willingness to Give Up the Distractions

When the Kingdom of God invades your life there is a decision to be made. The disciples hear the call of Jesus in Mark 1 and by the time he calls to them, they have determined he is worth it. They set aside the distractions of nets, and boats, and servants. Jesus was worth their full attention.

The Kingdom comes calling. The Kingdom invades our world. Are we ready to give up the distractions to give him the attention he deserves? He is worth it.

16 As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,”he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 18 Right away, they left their nets and followed him. 19 After going a little further, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. 20 At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. (Mark 1:16-20, CEB)

Posted in Common English Bible, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual hunger and tagged , , | Leave a Comment
27 Jan 2012

Demons and Authority

In Mark 1 there is the story of Jesus casting out the demon in the synagogue. While we focus on the power encounter, Mark focuses on the authority. Twice in the same story he mentions the authority of Jesus to teach.

22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts.

27 Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! (Mark 1: 22,27, CEB)

When we walking in the authority of the Kingdom, the enemy recognizes it. Jesus never went hunting for a power encounter. Power encounters found him.

The apostles never went hunting for power encounters. So it is with us.

When we are walking in the authority of the Kingdom, our priority is Matt. 6:33. Whatever happens after that is something we are truly prepared for. We need not worry or fear. The tools have been given.

When the people of God show up and are walking in authority, just know that sometimes that means the spiritual waters stir. Don’t seek it out specifically. And don’t shy away from it when those waters stir.

Posted in Common English Bible, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Spiritual Formation and tagged , , | Leave a Comment
25 Jan 2012
5 Comments

The Leading of the Spirit

12 At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him. (Mark 1:12-13, CEB)

The Spirit did not lead very softly. The same Greek word for “force” is the same word used to talk about Jesus casting out demons.

We may not always understand that “force.” I have met many who do, and the stories they tell are amazing. When there is a compelling of the Spirit they know it.

One missionary I knew was under the direction of the Spirit to go to a village hostile to the gospel for several days. Every day he went they would physically harass him in some way. He would often come home bloody. The next day the Spirit would compel him to return to that village and stay at the task.

In so many ways we are just too soft in our culture. It is so hard to rise up and sense a compelling Spirit leading us into hard areas to go through something so necessary. Jesus was “forced” into a wilderness experience that empowered him for ministry.

Where are those areas in our own lives where the Spirit is truly compelling us… driving us… to move into a whole new realm of spiritual depth and insight?

Posted in Common English Bible, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Formation, Spiritual hunger and tagged , , ,
18 Feb 2011
1 Comment

Sudden Winds

I met with my spiritual mentor yesterday and we both found ourselves in awe of the Word of God yet again. It was one of those times where I think, “Good grief! How many times have I read that and NOT seen this?!”

The text was the end of Mark 4 and the beginning of Mark 5. The chapter break hurts us. We see the story of the disciples in the boat in Mark 4. The storm comes. Jesus is asleep, they wake him up… you know the story. And we leave it there.

Then, we pick up with Mark 5. Jesus sets the Gadarene demoniac free. Separate story.

What we pondered yesterday was how the stories were the same story, and the repercussions of that fact. The storm… sent by Satan? Why not? What was on the end of that journey? The Gadarene demoniac. A man who was tormenting an entire region. Satan had a stronghold. If Jesus gets there, the demoniac would be set free. The region would be loosed of its grip, possibly. (Now, the region still chooses to fear. They chase Jesus away, which is another sermon altogether!)

But Satan could see the pattern.

Thus, the storm.

The storm could be seen as “normal,” or it could be seen as a direct attack. A way to keep Jesus from reaching the demoniac.

It’s a powerful thought. What are the times in my life when I’ve identified “storms” and missed something? Was it an attack instead? The enemy blowing me off course so I didn’t reach some destination? I can look back and see some points in life where I could use 20/20 hindsight. There were times I was blown off course but at the time didn’t see it.

It’s a good way to stay alert. My own life needs to be able to discern those sudden storms. It’s not that they’re all “the devil.” But it’s not always “just a storm,” either.

Posted in Bible Study, spiritual warfare and tagged ,

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