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Mark 6
Feb 10, 2007 12:58:18 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Feb 10, 2007 12:58:18 GMT -8
2/19/06:
Demon Hunting
I like how Jesus tells the 12 not to take provisions for their 'demon hunting'. It seems so like God to put us in situation where we must depend on Him utterly.
Still, He does send them in pairs, which reminds us that there really is no such thing as an effective "lone ranger Christian".
A Quiet Place
I love how in verse 31 Jesus is so excited to hear what the disciples have to say that he says, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest"
They've just been on a grueling, intense mission. And it just goes to show that God Himself knows our need for rest, and furthermore he hungers for conversation with us.
Walking on the Water
I've always wondered why, if Mark is primarily writing down Peter's recollections (as early Church tradition tells us, and anyway, we know that Mark was Peter's spiritual son), Mark doesn't include the Peter walking on the water part in his account of Jesus walking on the water. Instead, we find that part in Matthew.
Of course, a biblical critic would say Matthew just made that up, but, alternatively, could it be that Peter was embarrassed by the story? Or perhaps he didn't want to be boasting? It just doesn't seem possible that Mark wouldn't have known about the incident.
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Mark 6
May 22, 2007 21:14:33 GMT -8
Post by michelle on May 22, 2007 21:14:33 GMT -8
2/19/06: Walking on the WaterI've always wondered why, if Mark is primarily writing down Peter's recollections (as early Church tradition tells us, and anyway, we know that Mark was Peter's spiritual son), Mark doesn't include the Peter walking on the water part in his account of Jesus walking on the water. Instead, we find that part in Matthew. Of course, a biblical critic would say Matthew just made that up, but, alternatively, could it be that Peter was embarrassed by the story? Or perhaps he didn't want to be boasting? It just doesn't seem possible that Mark wouldn't have known about the incident. I don't think it was because Peter was embarrassed because Mark did write about Peter, John and James fallling asleep while Jesus was praying and he write about Peter denying Jesus 3 times. I doubt those would in there if Peter were trying to keep from being embarrassed. My thought is that Peter/Mark wanted the act of Jesus walking on water and calming the winds to be the focus of that story instead of Peter walking on the water to Jesus or Jesus saving Peter in a time of need. I know that when I read Matthew's account of this story that what always sticks out to me is how Jesus saved Peter. In Mark's version I think about the miracle of Jesus walking on water. Perhaps Peter/Mark wanted to stick with the theme he had going of concentrating on Jesus' miracles instead of the disciples shortcomings.
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Mark 6
Feb 15, 2010 18:16:38 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Feb 15, 2010 18:16:38 GMT -8
So, a question for believers:
Have you hunted any demons lately? If not, why not?
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Mark 6
Feb 15, 2010 22:25:16 GMT -8
Post by christopher on Feb 15, 2010 22:25:16 GMT -8
This outta be good...I see a movie in this somewhere.
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Mark 6
Feb 17, 2010 21:05:59 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Feb 17, 2010 21:05:59 GMT -8
Matthew Henry's commentary makes a great point about how far Jesus went out of his way, and through a storm, just to deliver one (or two) demon-ravaged soul.
About the way the demon tormented the man:
"The effect [of these demons] was not, as in many, a silent melancholy, but a raging frenzy"
In reference to the demon-possessed man's self-mutilation:
"The voice of God is 'Do thyself no harm; the voice of Satan is, Do thyself all the harm thou canst'"
About the response of the people to the exorcism:
"All men did marvel, but few went any further. Many... cannot but wonder at the works of Christ, yet do not, as they ought, wonder after him"
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Mark 6
Feb 19, 2010 0:35:23 GMT -8
Post by carebear on Feb 19, 2010 0:35:23 GMT -8
You know demons can seem daunting and powerful and scary and hard to fight. I think only when we utterly depend on God can we even begin to have confidence to search out a demon-ravaged soul. The more time I spend in His presence the more fear melts and His love empowers me to seek out the tormented soul. I see why you said that trailer for furious love tied into your sermon. When I watched that movie and heard about this woman Angela Greenig, a minister with Set Free Ministries International, delivering a young woman who was born into a family who believed she was the 5th bride of Satan, I was shocked Angela had the guts to even attempt to pray for this girl. The girl was 20 or so when she finally came in for help and she had literally seen the worst a human could see in life and she had multiple demons inside her, giving her power to even open the door to the church without using any part of her body (talk about intimidating). And actually, when she flung the door open like that, Angela said, "I don't think so babe!!" I thought, "wow, to have the confidence and authority in Christ to not only stand up to the demons who were literally 'showing off' in front of her, but then to cast them out is amazing!" God is showing me how much power we have over Satan. He is so puny and helpless, and His love is so strong.
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Mark 6
Feb 19, 2010 15:45:30 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Feb 19, 2010 15:45:30 GMT -8
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
CS Lewis, Screwtape Letters
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Mark 6
Feb 21, 2010 20:28:57 GMT -8
Post by carebear on Feb 21, 2010 20:28:57 GMT -8
so what was talked about in church today?
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Mark 6
Feb 22, 2010 8:53:52 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Feb 22, 2010 8:53:52 GMT -8
Well, Chris didn't see the connection to my reference to "demon hunting" ;D, but it was clear to me!
The main thrust of my message was taking the spiritual battle to the enemy's own territory- becoming true disciples who are mission-minded and engaged in healing, teaching, and fighting in the dark, difficult, even dangerous places, in the battleground for people's very lives.
That was the essence of Jesus sending out the 12 in chapter 6, and it's still the essence of what mature discipleship is all about today.
I challenged people to identify their battlegrounds in the hopes that more focused action will result.
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Mark 6
Feb 22, 2010 9:26:40 GMT -8
Post by carebear on Feb 22, 2010 9:26:40 GMT -8
Interesting Maybe sometime in the future ACF will want to go out and pray for people in the dark places in portland That interests me.
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Mark 6
Feb 25, 2010 17:09:44 GMT -8
Post by carebear on Feb 25, 2010 17:09:44 GMT -8
Anyone? (not sure what I'm getting myself into, but anyone?)
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Mark 6
Feb 25, 2010 17:43:03 GMT -8
Post by Josh on Feb 25, 2010 17:43:03 GMT -8
What would be the plan?
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Mark 6
Feb 25, 2010 19:24:10 GMT -8
Post by carebear on Feb 25, 2010 19:24:10 GMT -8
Well I guess a dark place could be right next door or a dark place could be the typical "visibly dark" place like downtown or something. Plan? What does demon hunting make you think of? Or rather, how can we go out on the streets and pray for people to receive more of the love of God? To receive healing physically, emotionally, etc.?
We could go out in groups and pray ahead of time for God to give us pictures of people or something about them maybe to recognize so we know who to pray for. And we could get filled up ahead of time so we go out in His power rather than our own.
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