He helps me

 

 

Read:  Psalm 28 and Mark 5

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and He helps me.  Psalm 28:7a

 

O:  Today in the Gospel of Mark Jesus helped three people.

 

1.       The man with the unclean spirits

2.     A woman who had been sick for many years

3.     A young girl of 12 who had died and Jesus brought her back to life

 

In yesterday’s passage Jesus had told his disciples they were going to cross the lake.  We read how a storm came up and the disciples doubted that they were going to make it to the other side.  Today’s passage opens up with these words, “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.”  So the first thing we note is that they made it across just as Jesus had said they would. 

 

The word translated Gerasenes is also known in some translations as Gadarenes meaning “reward at the end”.  This is a region located off the Lake of Gennesaret east of the Jordan.

 

Jesus had special works of healing to do there – he had three appointments which drew him to this region.  His first appointment was at “the tombs” (verse 2) where he met a man who lived his life by himself in the mountains and the tombs (verse 5).  He was alone.  He cried.  He hurt himself often.  Jesus saw past the exterior of this man and dealt straight with the unclean spirit(s) that had been torturing him for so long.  After meeting Jesus this man was left in his right mind.  That word is sophroneo – to be of sound mind, to be self-controlled, to be sane, to be sober minded, to be safe.  Some of you reading this today know of people who need this kind of healing in their life.  Before meeting Jesus this man was “krazo” is the literal Greek word.  He would cry out loudly or scream or shriek or call out loudly.  He would hurt himself physically and he was alone and no other person could help him.  They even tried to chain him up to possibly protect his own self and others, but there was no help for him UNTIL he met Jesus, the Son of the Most High God.

 

Next Jesus departed from there and went on to his next appointment where he met Jairus and his daughter who was sick.  On his way to meet Jairus’ daughter, a woman came seeking healing from Jesus and she reached out in faith and touched the tzit-tzit on the garment of Jesus cloak.  This woman was so desperate to be healed.  She tried EVERYTHING!  She spent all her money and visited many doctors, but there was no healing found in those places, UNTIL she met Jesus!

 

Jesus continued on to the third appointment at the home of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue.  As they approached the house they were given the sad news that she had died, to which Jesus replied, “Be not afraid, only believe.”  Jesus came to her bedside and took her hand and instructed her to “Arise” and she got up and walked.  This little girl was sick and had died, UNTIL she met Jesus.

 

A:  Meeting Jesus changes lives!  He puts us in our right minds, He restores our health even when no one else, even doctors, do not have the answers and He restores life to us physically and spiritually.

 

 

 

P:  Our Father in Heaven, Thank You LORD that You have the power to do what no one else can do for us!  Thank You that when we come face to face with Your glory and power that we can be changed and healed and given new life!  Help us Father to recognize the many ways You work in our life and to be ready and able to give a testimony for the wonderful ways You have healed and restored us.  Father I pray for those who are sick and need healing in their minds and in their bodies.  Father there are several people who come to mind that need Your healing touch.  Father I pray that You would meet them in very real ways and touch their lives and bring healing to them and their families.  Let all those who see and hear of their healing be amazed by You!  We need not be afraid, but only BELIEVE!  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

Two steps forward, one step back

Read Leviticus 10:1-3 and Acts 16

 

“…the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word.” ~ Matthew Henry

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  Acts 16:31

 

O:  Timothy joins Paul in his missionary journeys.  As a result of the journeys many people including Lydia and the Philippi jailor and his family were brought to salvation, but not without opposition.  The people who began the revolt against Paul and his fellow missionaries were those who were angry at losing their income, but the Bible tells us we do not war against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities that rule this earth.  Paul and his friends were fighting against a very real enemy who wanted to thwart the true teaching of the gospel.  It’s as if Paul would make two steps forward seeing Lydia and her house coming to salvation and being baptized and then make a step back into a beating and jail, but then he would make two more steps forward and the jailor and his family would come to know Christ through that ordeal and then he would make another step back by having to leave that region.  But still the gospel was making headway and even with his one step back they were still experiencing victory in sharing the gospel.

 

When Paul and Silas were "one step back" notice what they did in verse 25, "But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them ..." Notice, it was in the darkest part of the night and they were "praying and praising" ... It is in praying and praising (even in the darkest moments we face) they were able to move two steps forward again ... something to ponder! The song "I will praise you in the storm" comes to mind ...

 

A:  Sometimes I feel like Paul doing this “two step dance”.  I feel like I make headway and then fall back and make a little headway and then fall back.  I am encouraged by the accounts of Paul because it shows me that even when I seem to be going backwards God is using it to work out his good will and pleasure.

 

P:  Dear Jesus,  Thank you for Your WORD!  Thank you for the examples of the real lives of people like Paul, Timothy and his family dynamics, Lydia and the jailor and all those who we read about today.  LORD, these stories encourage me in my personal walk with You.  They help me to be reminded that even when it seems like I’m going backwards that as long as we continue to stick with You that we are still in “the game”.  We are still fighting the good fight and as long as we are with You then WE ARE on the winning “team”.  God You are the Victorious One!  Strengthen us and encourage us today as we continue to keep our eye on the mark of our high calling in You.  Thank you for calling us and for letting us be a part of something much bigger than sometimes we realize.  In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Yeshua the Messiah I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

DISCUSSION QUESTION:  Paul was beaten and thrown in prison, but God used that situation for good to bring the jailor and his family to salvation.  What are you willing to go through, endure or suffer in order that one person or one family will come to the saving knowledge of Christ?

 

“…do not sin, for nothing but that can hurt thee [and] the Lord will make [you] more than conquerors in every conflict; instead of being cast down by [your] sufferings, [let them] become comforters [to your] brethren.” ~ Matthew Henry