Post by Woody Williams on Jul 5, 2006 7:13:01 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Mark 9:14-29
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When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them,
and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him,
they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to
greet him. He asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?'
Someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought you my son;
he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it
seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and
becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they
could not do so.' He answered them, 'You faithless generation, how
much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with
you? Bring him to me.' And they brought the boy to him. When the
spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he
fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus
asked the father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he
said, 'From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into
the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have
pity on us and help us.' Jesus said to him, 'If you are able!-All
things can be done for the one who believes.' Immediately the father
of the child cried out, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' When Jesus saw
that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit,
saying to it, 'You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and
hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!'
After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the
boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, 'He is dead.' But
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to
stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him
privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said to them, 'This
kind can come out only through prayer.'
Devotional
----------
This is a very instructive text on the nature of Jesus' ministry of
healing and deliverance. The disciples were unable to minister
effectively with this boy. The father pleads with Jesus and asks him
in a very conditional way if he can heal him. Jesus upbraids him for
using "if", reminding him that all things can be done by God for the
one who believes. Later, Jesus says prayer and fasting are necessary
for delivering from that kind of spirit that was in the boy. The
disciples were still learning, as we are.
Prayer
--------------
Thank you, God, for the opportunity to minister in your name. Keep me
prepared to serve. Amen
----------
When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them,
and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him,
they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to
greet him. He asked them, 'What are you arguing about with them?'
Someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought you my son;
he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it
seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and
becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they
could not do so.' He answered them, 'You faithless generation, how
much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with
you? Bring him to me.' And they brought the boy to him. When the
spirit saw him, immediately it threw the boy into convulsions, and he
fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus
asked the father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he
said, 'From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into
the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have
pity on us and help us.' Jesus said to him, 'If you are able!-All
things can be done for the one who believes.' Immediately the father
of the child cried out, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' When Jesus saw
that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit,
saying to it, 'You spirit that keep this boy from speaking and
hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!'
After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the
boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, 'He is dead.' But
Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to
stand. When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him
privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said to them, 'This
kind can come out only through prayer.'
Devotional
----------
This is a very instructive text on the nature of Jesus' ministry of
healing and deliverance. The disciples were unable to minister
effectively with this boy. The father pleads with Jesus and asks him
in a very conditional way if he can heal him. Jesus upbraids him for
using "if", reminding him that all things can be done by God for the
one who believes. Later, Jesus says prayer and fasting are necessary
for delivering from that kind of spirit that was in the boy. The
disciples were still learning, as we are.
Prayer
--------------
Thank you, God, for the opportunity to minister in your name. Keep me
prepared to serve. Amen