This blog is about the seventh chapter in the Bible study, Spiritual Warfare, written by Jack Kuhatschek.
Revelation 12:7-12
1. “Describe everything you can about the war that is fought in verses 7-9.” Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought back. He wasn’t strong enough, so they lost their place in heaven. He and his angels were hurled down to the earth.
2. “Notice the different titles used for Satan in verse 9. What can you learn about him and his tactics against you from each of these descriptions?” He is called the ancient serpent, which refers to Eve’s temptation in the garden. This shows that Satan plans to tempt us. He is also called the one who leads the whole world astray, which plainly shows his intentions to lead us astray.
3. “Verse 10 begins with a triumphant declaration of Satan’s defeat. What words or phrases in verse 10 emphasize God’s strength in contrast to Satan’s?” The phrase “authority of his Christ” is the one that sticks out the most to me. It shows that God has power over Satan.
4. “On the one hand, the devil is described as ‘the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night’ (v. 10). But in the next breath he is described as the one who ‘has been hurled down’ from heaven. How does ‘the blood of the Lamb’ overcome all of the devil’s accusations against us (v. 11)?” When Jesus died on the cross, we were forgiven of our sins. The “blood of the Lamb” washed away our sins and made us new. If our sins are washed away, they are gone, which means the devil’s accusations won’t hold. God’s love and forgiveness is bigger than any accusations against us.
5. “When you have felt assaulted by guilt or shame, how has it helped to realize that Christ’s blood was shed for you?” I used to be really hard on myself about everything. I always felt guilt and shame for things, even if they weren’t my fault. I have learned to accept God’s forgiveness and move on, though. I learned that when I spend my time feeling guilty and unworthy, I am wasting time that God wants me to do something else with. God forgave me, so who am I to say that I’m not forgiven? It may sound like the easy way out, but nothing about just moving on has been easy for me. I just know that God wants something better for me than guilt and shame.
6. “A second key to overcoming Satan is our ‘testimony’ (v. 11). How can sharing our faith with others—even in the face of opposition—enable us to overcome the devil?” When we share our testimony with others, we are not just telling them about an experience we had. We are also reminding ourselves of all the great things God has done. We are eyewitnesses to what God has done in our lives, and no one can deny that. We overcome Satan by sharing with others what God has done because in many cases, we bring more people into God’s family. Even when the people we share with aren’t receiving what we’ve said, we are reminded of our own testimony. I’m a lot more likely to be touched by something I wrote a long time ago than by something someone I’ve never met or hardly know has written. When I read my own words about the things God has done, I go back to that feeling I had when it first happened and my faith is constantly renewed. This is a great weapon against any attack of the devil.
7. “Verse 11 implies that if we love our lives too much, then we will be hesitant to testify about Christ in the face of opposition or threats. Why would this be true?” If we love our lives too much, we wouldn’t share about things that people would kill us for. In many cases, this means even our faith in God. In some lands, talking about Christ is punishable by death. Even in the United States, there are some people who will kill those that are Christians. I think there’s more to it, though. If we love our lives the way they are, we may be afraid of changes in our lives that could be brought on by testifying to Christ’s love in the face of opposition or threats. We may not day, but our situation may change and become unpleasant. We may lose friends, lose a job, or lose our freedom. Those are all parts of our lives that we tend to love too much. We need to love God above all else so we aren’t afraid to testify to what He has done in our lives.
8. “When Christians are martyred for their faith, it appears to the world that they have been defeated rather than victorious. (The same was true of the death of Jesus.) Yet how can their apparent defeat be seen as an ultimate victory?” Death may be the physical end of one person’s journey, but there is more. That person will be with God in heaven, and the work God started in them on earth isn’t finished. Sometimes the death of one person is just the beginning of a wonderful ministry on earth. When Jim Elliot and his friends were killed in Ecuador by the Auca tribe, it opened up the opportunity for the wives of the men to reach the tribe years later. If God can use our lives for His glory, surely He can use our deaths.
9. “Verse 12 concludes by saying that the devil ‘is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.’ Why should this statement keep us from being complacent about our struggle with Satan?” The closer we get to God, the more Satan is going to attack. As long as we are growing closer to God, Satan will be adding more power to his attacks against us. He has many demons at his disposal. In his fury, he will attack anyone that follows Christ. If we become complacent about our struggle with Satan, we will put our guard down and give Satan that foothold.
10. “How can John’s vision of the war in heaven encourage you in the midst of the spiritual battles you face?” Satan already lost in heaven and his time is short here. He loses. When we are on God’s side, we are on the winning side of this war. God equips us with the power to defeat the devil, and we will.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Hearing from God Each Morning (August 23)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion is just a reminder that God is interested in me personally. He’s interested in what’s going on in my life, and He cares about me. I can take His Word, the Bible, as a personal letter from Him to me. Meyer writes that the Psalms are a great encouragement in times of trouble, especially when we keep in mind that they are true for our own lives.
I have always felt that the Psalms comfort me when I’m really upset, which is why they are probably my favorite part of the Bible. God loves me, protects me, and cares about what I go through. That is more than I could ever ask for, but He gave it all to me when I called on His name. How amazing is His love!!
Today’s devotion is just a reminder that God is interested in me personally. He’s interested in what’s going on in my life, and He cares about me. I can take His Word, the Bible, as a personal letter from Him to me. Meyer writes that the Psalms are a great encouragement in times of trouble, especially when we keep in mind that they are true for our own lives.
I have always felt that the Psalms comfort me when I’m really upset, which is why they are probably my favorite part of the Bible. God loves me, protects me, and cares about what I go through. That is more than I could ever ask for, but He gave it all to me when I called on His name. How amazing is His love!!
Hearing from God Each Morning (August 22)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion convicted me even more about not dating right now. I have been praying about being single and cutting that out of my life for the time being. Today’s devotion talks about how God’s Word works on us, as an operation of sorts. Meyer writes, “Operations of any kind are never pleasant, but they are necessary at times to maintain good health.” I feel like God is really putting it on my heart to pledge to singleness for more than just the month I have pledged.
I feel I need to spend more time in prayer over this. Cutting out dating is such a huge thing in my life, and I know it will be hard for me. I can only do it with God’s help. I also need friends to hold me accountable for this. I shouldn’t be seeking a relationship at this time, but developing my relationship with God. If I’m not comfortable with singleness and having God alone, then I will not be fulfilled in even the best of relationships.
Today’s devotion convicted me even more about not dating right now. I have been praying about being single and cutting that out of my life for the time being. Today’s devotion talks about how God’s Word works on us, as an operation of sorts. Meyer writes, “Operations of any kind are never pleasant, but they are necessary at times to maintain good health.” I feel like God is really putting it on my heart to pledge to singleness for more than just the month I have pledged.
I feel I need to spend more time in prayer over this. Cutting out dating is such a huge thing in my life, and I know it will be hard for me. I can only do it with God’s help. I also need friends to hold me accountable for this. I shouldn’t be seeking a relationship at this time, but developing my relationship with God. If I’m not comfortable with singleness and having God alone, then I will not be fulfilled in even the best of relationships.
Hearing from God Each Morning (August 21)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s verse is Proverbs 19:21, which says, “Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.”
Sometimes I make plans and then pray to God that they will work. I learned this in my most recent relationship. I know now that it was not what God wanted, and God made it fail miserably. I feel that it was God’s will that we would be separated by what seemed to be life, but I know to be God.
Relationships are a place where I haven’t been really listening to God’s voice, and I’ve felt really convicted of that lately. That’s why I’ve made a promise to God not to date, or look to date, until October. I know that is only a month and a half, but I’m taking baby steps. Maybe when October comes, I’ll be able to pledge another month of not dating. I know that I won’t enter into a relationship that I do not pray about before it starts. If the guy I am interested in (and is interested in me) does not understand or accept this, they are not putting God first, and that relationship is not of God, either.
It’s a long process, but I am learning to pray before making plans instead of making plans then praying that they work.
Today’s verse is Proverbs 19:21, which says, “Many plans are in a man’s mind, but it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand.”
Sometimes I make plans and then pray to God that they will work. I learned this in my most recent relationship. I know now that it was not what God wanted, and God made it fail miserably. I feel that it was God’s will that we would be separated by what seemed to be life, but I know to be God.
Relationships are a place where I haven’t been really listening to God’s voice, and I’ve felt really convicted of that lately. That’s why I’ve made a promise to God not to date, or look to date, until October. I know that is only a month and a half, but I’m taking baby steps. Maybe when October comes, I’ll be able to pledge another month of not dating. I know that I won’t enter into a relationship that I do not pray about before it starts. If the guy I am interested in (and is interested in me) does not understand or accept this, they are not putting God first, and that relationship is not of God, either.
It’s a long process, but I am learning to pray before making plans instead of making plans then praying that they work.
Hearing from God Each Morning (August 20)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion talks about hearing God’s Word with spiritual ears, not fleshly ears. We need to look beyond the physical situations and into the spiritual truths throughout those situations.
Something that someone said at prayer group last night sticks out to me, and this devotion reminds me of it. She said that the physical things sometimes distract her or give her doubt about the spiritual things that she knows to be true. What she said, combined with today’s devotion, reminds me that we need to look beyond the physical world that we live in, and live in the spiritual world. We need to be so in tune with the Holy Spirit that the things of this world will cease to matter.
Today’s devotion talks about hearing God’s Word with spiritual ears, not fleshly ears. We need to look beyond the physical situations and into the spiritual truths throughout those situations.
Something that someone said at prayer group last night sticks out to me, and this devotion reminds me of it. She said that the physical things sometimes distract her or give her doubt about the spiritual things that she knows to be true. What she said, combined with today’s devotion, reminds me that we need to look beyond the physical world that we live in, and live in the spiritual world. We need to be so in tune with the Holy Spirit that the things of this world will cease to matter.
Hearing from God Each Morning (August 19)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion was just reassurance that God is present in every step we take, and He will lead us. Proverbs 4:12 says, “When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” God is watching over us, and we can go in peace throughout our day.
Today I am dealing with something a little bigger than just a normal day. I need to remember that God is watching over me and is there to help me with what I need to do today.
Today’s devotion was just reassurance that God is present in every step we take, and He will lead us. Proverbs 4:12 says, “When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” God is watching over us, and we can go in peace throughout our day.
Today I am dealing with something a little bigger than just a normal day. I need to remember that God is watching over me and is there to help me with what I need to do today.
Philippians: Just Do It!
This blog is about pages 147-149 in the book The Smart Guide to the Bible: Paul and the Prison Epistles.
Philippians 1:15-18a says, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached;” (NKJV)
Paul didn’t care if people bad-mouthed him. All that mattered to Paul was that God’s Word was preached. Only God can truly know the motives of those who preach and spread the Word. Some may have obvious motives behind what they are doing, and some may have just lost touch with the original love that was in their ministry. And some, like Paul, preach with sincerity and love. It isn’t for us to judge. We should rejoice, no matter what, that the Word of God is being preached, and Jesus is being lifted up.
Sometimes we spend too much time worrying about “damage control,” trying to validate or disqualify the things that other people, churches, and ministries say. We fight and bicker over little details because we think that it is the right thing to do to present a “pure” Gospel to those that are not saved. But fighting over it is not the answer. When we fight over the little details, condemn, and call each other names, that is the image the world sees of the church. Many friends of mine that are unbelievers don’t believe or want to be a part of the church because of the fighting that goes on over stupid things. Jesus calls us to love each other, so why don’t we love each other completely? Why don’t we just forget our little differences and take the world by storm? Let’s rekindle the flame in our own hearts, and use that flame to set the hearts of the entire world on fire!
Philippians 1:15-18a says, “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached;” (NKJV)
Paul didn’t care if people bad-mouthed him. All that mattered to Paul was that God’s Word was preached. Only God can truly know the motives of those who preach and spread the Word. Some may have obvious motives behind what they are doing, and some may have just lost touch with the original love that was in their ministry. And some, like Paul, preach with sincerity and love. It isn’t for us to judge. We should rejoice, no matter what, that the Word of God is being preached, and Jesus is being lifted up.
Sometimes we spend too much time worrying about “damage control,” trying to validate or disqualify the things that other people, churches, and ministries say. We fight and bicker over little details because we think that it is the right thing to do to present a “pure” Gospel to those that are not saved. But fighting over it is not the answer. When we fight over the little details, condemn, and call each other names, that is the image the world sees of the church. Many friends of mine that are unbelievers don’t believe or want to be a part of the church because of the fighting that goes on over stupid things. Jesus calls us to love each other, so why don’t we love each other completely? Why don’t we just forget our little differences and take the world by storm? Let’s rekindle the flame in our own hearts, and use that flame to set the hearts of the entire world on fire!
Philippians: My Chains Won't Strain My Faith
This blog is about pages 145-147 in the book The Smart Guide to the Bible: Paul and the Prison Epistles.
In Philippians 1:12-14, Paul writes that the things that have been happening to him have actually turned out for good. Even though he was in chains, he was able to witness to the guards, write letters, and “speak the word without fear.” Although he was most likely upset when he was first imprisoned because he couldn’t continue to preach, God eventually showed him that good could come from this situation. God can use any situation for good.
Billy Graham said, “When you bake a cake, you put in raw flour, baking powder, soda, bitter chocolate, shortening, etc., none of which taste very good in themselves, but which work together to make a delicious cake. And so with our sins and our mistakes—although they are not good in themselves, if we commit them in honest, simple faith to the Lord, He will work them out His own way and in His own time make something of them for our good and His glory.”
That really got me thinking. There are things that have happened to me and things I have done that are terrible. When they were happening, I thought, “This is the end. How can God use this?” But looking back, I have seen how God has already used them, and I can only imagine how He plans to use them yet.
Because of the painful experiences I’ve been though, I can relate to almost anyone! God has worked an amazing work in my life, as bad as those things were, and He can do that same work in anyone’s life.
I remember hearing a woman speak at a church I went to. She was talking about an addiction her husband had. She said that all she could see what death, but God was sitting there ready to show her new life. That always stuck with me. When we see death and an end, God sees new life and a great beginning. I know it’s hard to keep such a positive attitude when we’re in the middle of a situation, but sometime’s just changing to a heavenly perspective is all we need. Our God is bigger than any situation we will ever face!
In Philippians 1:12-14, Paul writes that the things that have been happening to him have actually turned out for good. Even though he was in chains, he was able to witness to the guards, write letters, and “speak the word without fear.” Although he was most likely upset when he was first imprisoned because he couldn’t continue to preach, God eventually showed him that good could come from this situation. God can use any situation for good.
Billy Graham said, “When you bake a cake, you put in raw flour, baking powder, soda, bitter chocolate, shortening, etc., none of which taste very good in themselves, but which work together to make a delicious cake. And so with our sins and our mistakes—although they are not good in themselves, if we commit them in honest, simple faith to the Lord, He will work them out His own way and in His own time make something of them for our good and His glory.”
That really got me thinking. There are things that have happened to me and things I have done that are terrible. When they were happening, I thought, “This is the end. How can God use this?” But looking back, I have seen how God has already used them, and I can only imagine how He plans to use them yet.
Because of the painful experiences I’ve been though, I can relate to almost anyone! God has worked an amazing work in my life, as bad as those things were, and He can do that same work in anyone’s life.
I remember hearing a woman speak at a church I went to. She was talking about an addiction her husband had. She said that all she could see what death, but God was sitting there ready to show her new life. That always stuck with me. When we see death and an end, God sees new life and a great beginning. I know it’s hard to keep such a positive attitude when we’re in the middle of a situation, but sometime’s just changing to a heavenly perspective is all we need. Our God is bigger than any situation we will ever face!
Hearing from God Each Morning (August 18)
This blog is about today’s devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.
Today’s devotion is about waiting patiently on God for His promises, like Abraham did. Abraham had to wait many, many years for God to fulfill His promise of an heir, but he waited faithfully.
I am waiting on God for the salvation of a close friend. God has put it on my heart to pray constantly for him, and I will not stop until God gives me rest on the topic. In addition to praying for his salvation, I am constantly praying that God will give me the right words to tell him. Last night as I prayed, telling God all that happened and asked what I should do, I felt a gentle presence just tell me, “Love.” I don’t need to have the best theological arguments. I just need to love and live a life that is a reflection of God and His love.
Today’s devotion is about waiting patiently on God for His promises, like Abraham did. Abraham had to wait many, many years for God to fulfill His promise of an heir, but he waited faithfully.
I am waiting on God for the salvation of a close friend. God has put it on my heart to pray constantly for him, and I will not stop until God gives me rest on the topic. In addition to praying for his salvation, I am constantly praying that God will give me the right words to tell him. Last night as I prayed, telling God all that happened and asked what I should do, I felt a gentle presence just tell me, “Love.” I don’t need to have the best theological arguments. I just need to love and live a life that is a reflection of God and His love.
Spiritual Warfare - Defeating the Destroyer
This blog is about the sixth chapter in the Bible study, Spiritual Warfare, written by Jack Kuhatschek.
Mark 5:1-20
1. “What do we learn about the dark and destructive life of the man Jesus meets (vv. 1-5)?” He lived in the tombs. No one could subdue him; he could even break the chains they tried to put him in. He would cry out and cut himself with stones day and night.
2. “What do the man’s experiences teach us about the devil’s desires for each one of us?” The devil wants only bad things for us. He wants us to hurt ourselves and others.
3. “Why do you think the man speaks and acts as he does when he sees Jesus from a distance (vv. 6-8)?” The man was possessed by demons. The demons in him knew that Jesus had the authority to cast them out to the dry places God has prepared for them. They were so filled with fear that they would be cast out of this man.
4. “A Roman legion consisted of about six thousand soldiers. How does this help us to understand the pervasive nature of Satan’s control over this man (vv. 9-10)?” Satan didn’t just use one or two demons to attack this man. Satan has thousands of demons that he can use for just one person. Once he has a foothold on a person, he will spread out and overwhelm that person. He had so much control over this man. One demon is enough to possess a person, but this man had thousands of demons inside of him.
5. “Although we know nothing about the man’s life prior to his demon possession, what steps might lead an ordinary person to become increasingly controlled by evil?” I have seen a Christian friend God on her way down the road to demon possession. She doubted God on just one thing on her life. Before she knew it, it was controlling so much of her that she was having trouble sleeping and experiencing spiritual warfare during the nights. She was losing her faith, but her Christian friends were there to support her, and eventually she let God back into her life, and trusted Him with that situation. Had she not done that, Satan could have done so much more with her. Another person I knew actually was possessed by a demon. It started with him not trusting God to take care of his sister, who he wasn’t allowed to see. Over seven years it built up in him, and he became more and more possessed by demons. Although he believed in God and was a Christian, he fell away and became increasingly controlled by evil. He was violent. He killed animals and drank their blood. He cut himself and left the deepest and ugliest scars on his back. He abused people around him. One day he slammed a girl against the wall at school. Another day he got angry and hurt a friend while swimming. I could name several times I saw him hurt other people. If I went into the things he did to me, it would be so much more. He has vowed to kill his sister’s father. The evil he has done and the evil that the devil is going to use him to do is terrifying. But all it started with was not trusting God with taking care of his sister. But Satan used that to control his life. He’s going to need a huge breakthrough to turn back now. It breaks my heart to think about it. What scares me even more is that this could happen to anyone.
6. “The story of the pigs (vv. 11-13) is one of the strangest in all of Scripture. Why do you think both Jesus and the demons acted as they did?” I know the demons wanted to go into the pigs because going into the pigs was better than being sent to the dry places where they would be sent otherwise, but I really don’t know why Jesus acted as He did and cast them into the pigs. If I had to guess, I would say it was to demonstrate His power or to show the people nearby how many demons were in this one man.
7. “Describe the response of the people from the town when they see both the man and Jesus (vv. 14-17).” When they saw the man sitting there in his right man, and Jesus beside him, they were afraid. They were told about the pigs, as well, which added to the fear. “Why do they respond in fear rather than faith?” I think the fact that thousands of pigs threw themselves off a cliff might be the reason why. If I heard that Jesus cast out demons from the crazy man who ran around the tombs, and heard that they went into the pigs and the pigs threw themselves off the cliff, I think my first instinct would be fear. I also think that the people could have been upset at the loss of thousands of pigs. Pigs have some value, and if Jesus could cast demons out into the pigs, what else would He cast them into? Also, it’s not everyday that a man comes and casts thousands of demons out of a man that has been a disturbance for so long. When unusual things happen, people are usually more likely to be afraid than filled with faith. People don’t like things out of the ordinary, especially when they’re comfortable with their own little lives.
8. “Frequently in Mark’s Gospel Jesus tells people to follow him (see Mark 1:17; 2:14; 10:21). This man is eager to follow Jesus; why does Jesus send him home (vv. 18-20)?” Jesus was asked by the people to leave. This man is the only person that could witness and possibly get through to the people of this town. Jesus wanted him to stay and witness to them, instead of going to the places Jesus would be. Jesus had enough people with him and in other places to witness, but this man was the only hope for many people in this town.
9. “Who in your immediate or extended family does not know the Lord?” My sisters, my grandpa, my uncles, and my cousins. “What opportunities do you have to ‘tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you’ (v. 19)?” I usually see opportunities to share when it opens up in conversation. I posted my testimony online, which my aunt saw and read, but she believes the same things that I do. I think that now that I have a life separate from my family, I will see more and more opening to share with them the things I am learning. When I was living with them, all they saw was the worst in me, and not the things that God did in my life. I will have so many chances to share with them when I visit this Christmas.
Mark 5:1-20
1. “What do we learn about the dark and destructive life of the man Jesus meets (vv. 1-5)?” He lived in the tombs. No one could subdue him; he could even break the chains they tried to put him in. He would cry out and cut himself with stones day and night.
2. “What do the man’s experiences teach us about the devil’s desires for each one of us?” The devil wants only bad things for us. He wants us to hurt ourselves and others.
3. “Why do you think the man speaks and acts as he does when he sees Jesus from a distance (vv. 6-8)?” The man was possessed by demons. The demons in him knew that Jesus had the authority to cast them out to the dry places God has prepared for them. They were so filled with fear that they would be cast out of this man.
4. “A Roman legion consisted of about six thousand soldiers. How does this help us to understand the pervasive nature of Satan’s control over this man (vv. 9-10)?” Satan didn’t just use one or two demons to attack this man. Satan has thousands of demons that he can use for just one person. Once he has a foothold on a person, he will spread out and overwhelm that person. He had so much control over this man. One demon is enough to possess a person, but this man had thousands of demons inside of him.
5. “Although we know nothing about the man’s life prior to his demon possession, what steps might lead an ordinary person to become increasingly controlled by evil?” I have seen a Christian friend God on her way down the road to demon possession. She doubted God on just one thing on her life. Before she knew it, it was controlling so much of her that she was having trouble sleeping and experiencing spiritual warfare during the nights. She was losing her faith, but her Christian friends were there to support her, and eventually she let God back into her life, and trusted Him with that situation. Had she not done that, Satan could have done so much more with her. Another person I knew actually was possessed by a demon. It started with him not trusting God to take care of his sister, who he wasn’t allowed to see. Over seven years it built up in him, and he became more and more possessed by demons. Although he believed in God and was a Christian, he fell away and became increasingly controlled by evil. He was violent. He killed animals and drank their blood. He cut himself and left the deepest and ugliest scars on his back. He abused people around him. One day he slammed a girl against the wall at school. Another day he got angry and hurt a friend while swimming. I could name several times I saw him hurt other people. If I went into the things he did to me, it would be so much more. He has vowed to kill his sister’s father. The evil he has done and the evil that the devil is going to use him to do is terrifying. But all it started with was not trusting God with taking care of his sister. But Satan used that to control his life. He’s going to need a huge breakthrough to turn back now. It breaks my heart to think about it. What scares me even more is that this could happen to anyone.
6. “The story of the pigs (vv. 11-13) is one of the strangest in all of Scripture. Why do you think both Jesus and the demons acted as they did?” I know the demons wanted to go into the pigs because going into the pigs was better than being sent to the dry places where they would be sent otherwise, but I really don’t know why Jesus acted as He did and cast them into the pigs. If I had to guess, I would say it was to demonstrate His power or to show the people nearby how many demons were in this one man.
7. “Describe the response of the people from the town when they see both the man and Jesus (vv. 14-17).” When they saw the man sitting there in his right man, and Jesus beside him, they were afraid. They were told about the pigs, as well, which added to the fear. “Why do they respond in fear rather than faith?” I think the fact that thousands of pigs threw themselves off a cliff might be the reason why. If I heard that Jesus cast out demons from the crazy man who ran around the tombs, and heard that they went into the pigs and the pigs threw themselves off the cliff, I think my first instinct would be fear. I also think that the people could have been upset at the loss of thousands of pigs. Pigs have some value, and if Jesus could cast demons out into the pigs, what else would He cast them into? Also, it’s not everyday that a man comes and casts thousands of demons out of a man that has been a disturbance for so long. When unusual things happen, people are usually more likely to be afraid than filled with faith. People don’t like things out of the ordinary, especially when they’re comfortable with their own little lives.
8. “Frequently in Mark’s Gospel Jesus tells people to follow him (see Mark 1:17; 2:14; 10:21). This man is eager to follow Jesus; why does Jesus send him home (vv. 18-20)?” Jesus was asked by the people to leave. This man is the only person that could witness and possibly get through to the people of this town. Jesus wanted him to stay and witness to them, instead of going to the places Jesus would be. Jesus had enough people with him and in other places to witness, but this man was the only hope for many people in this town.
9. “Who in your immediate or extended family does not know the Lord?” My sisters, my grandpa, my uncles, and my cousins. “What opportunities do you have to ‘tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you’ (v. 19)?” I usually see opportunities to share when it opens up in conversation. I posted my testimony online, which my aunt saw and read, but she believes the same things that I do. I think that now that I have a life separate from my family, I will see more and more opening to share with them the things I am learning. When I was living with them, all they saw was the worst in me, and not the things that God did in my life. I will have so many chances to share with them when I visit this Christmas.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
