May 29
Mark 1:29-34
Oh no! More demons? These verses continue to show us the power of Jesus. He has the power to cast out demons, as we learned yesterday, but also the power to heal sickness. Did anyone else catch the part where after he heals Simon’s mother-in-law, she began to wait on them? The NLT version says “Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.” (1:31b) He didn’t just take away her pain; He completely restored her! Every single person reading this has needed healing at some point in his/her life. In fact, I bet the majority of people reading this need some kind of healing right now! So I’m just going to list some verses straight from God’s word. I hope they will be encouraging to you.
Isaiah 57:18 – “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him.” (NIV)
James 5:15 – And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (NIV)
Psalm 73:26 – My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (NLT)
Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (NIV)
Are you sick? Are you struggling with demons? The good news is God has the power to heal us. The GREAT news is…
Romans 8:37-39 – In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)
Principle: Jesus has the power to heal and cast out demons.
Application:
1. Which needy person am I praying for and trusting the Lord to respond with compassion?
2. Do I need healing? What is making me “feverish”?
3. How am I fulfilling the purpose for which Christ has healed me?
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Psalm 73:26 is just the verse I need to pass on to someone else today. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSounds like they all wanted what Jesus had to offer - the whole town gathered at the door! Though we know the rest of the story, it is hard to believe they could witness all this amazing work of Jesus and miss the real point - that he wanted to heal their souls.
I want to make certain that amidst all the work of serving Him (like getting ready for VBS), I don't forget to really focus on the bigger picture. How he will be using that work to change hearts. Asking him to do it, and to bring the whole town to the door!
I have observed that after being sick and then being restored to health I feel even more energetic, enthusiastic and thankful to be healthy than before I was sick. Lord, give me an urgency to share with the spiritually sick so they can also have that joy and restoration.
ReplyDeleteThe whole town came and many brought people that needed healing. He did not heal just one type of sickness. He can take care of anything that is troubling us, if we will just have the faith and believe that He can take care of all our needs.
ReplyDeleteThis is a timely passage for me. A woman in our church has requested that we pray over her (the James passage above) and we have made arrangements to do that after church on Sunday. The verses you listed reminded me that there is a spiritual aspect of healing which is too often neglected. I also noticed that after Peter's mother in law was healed, she immediately started serving. Jesus has healed me...am I using the strength He has given to serve?
ReplyDeleteTwo things:
ReplyDelete1) Jesus wasn't overwhelmed with the task of healing the whole city. I've shared already that I feel overwhelmed; I'm so thankful that through these verses God has reminded me that the feeling is not mutual. He's big enough to get the job done...to heal all diseases, to take a few loaves and a few fish and feed thousands, to take the weight of the world's sins, and to offer salvation. God is big enough to deal even when I feel overwhelmed.
2)The demons couldn't speak! I love that! They had ZERO authority in the presence of Jesus. But I wonder about the reasoning that is offered? They knew who Jesus was, and therefor, were not allowed to speak? Maybe this is a reminder to me that God's ways are not mine. At the perfect time, in the right way, God would fully reveal His Son and the reason for His Son's journey wrapped in flesh. Jesus served in the waiting, but He waited for God's way. I need to be serving when I don't fully get everything, but I also need to seek God's will, and sometimes, I just need to wait.