Tag: Mark 1
Prayer, preaching, healing!
Scripture reading for February 10: Mark 1
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him, and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” And He said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out. And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. And a leper came to Him, and kneeling said to Him, “If You will, You can make me clean.” Moved with pity, He stretched out His hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” Mark 1:35-42
Jesus started each day of ministry with prayer, often alone with His Father. He did not care for popularity or fame, but had a purpose in every action of every day. He had an assignment from His Father to preach the Good News of forgiveness of sins and eternal life and to heal the sick and oppressed and cast out evil spirits, spoiling Satan’s kingdom. He was also modeling for His disciples the will of His Father to see lost and captive people set free by supernatural power.
The new disciples had experienced Jesus’ healing ministry first-hand as He had healed Peter’s mother-in-law the day before this. All those sick and demon oppressed were brought to Jesus and He cast out the demons with a word and healed the sick and hurting. Jesus was moved with pity and compassion at those hurting. In the next town He was approached by a leper asking for healing. Lepers were considered unclean and were ordered to maintain distance. No one was to touch them without defilement. Jesus stated His willingness to heal and touched this man for an immediate transformation.
Have you found your purpose and calling from God with as much assurance as Jesus had? How is your pity or compassion for those who are hurting? Do you believe that Jesus is willing and able to heal and provide?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing Your calling on my life to preach the Gospel and pray and bring healing and deliverance. Increase my compassion for the lost and hurting! Let me see immediate results as I step out in faith. Amen!
In the beginning: God! (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
Scripture reading for January 2nd: Genesis 1-2, Psalm 19, Mark 1 (5 day Chronological reading plan from www.BibleClassMaterial.cogm)
Key Scriptures: Genesis 1:1-3 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
God is there in the beginning as the great “I AM.” He created everything by His powerful Word (Son) out of nothing through the hovering Holy Spirit. At the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, thought to be the first written of New Testament accounts, we have Jesus Christ introduced by God the Father as He comes up out of the waters of the Jordan. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove fluttering from a torn-open heaven. God declares that Jesus is His beloved Son, pleasing to Him!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, Son of God, We call out to the lost world today in Your Name to hear and receive the simple truth of One true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Creator of heaven and earth. Holy Spirit, hover over Your Word and bring light in Jesus Christ.
Mark 1:1,9-11 “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. . . . .In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”
Compassion empowers ministry!
Scripture reading for February 10th: Mark 1
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:40-42 “A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy was cured.”
Leprosy is a disease of the skin that causes the skin to crust with sores and ooze body fluids. It was contagious and people with the disease had to separate themselves to keep from infecting others. Any Israelite who touched a leper would be considered “unclean.”
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus was humbly approached by a man with leprosy. This man fell to his knees and begged the Master to be willing to heal him. Mark records that Jesus was filled with compassion for this hurting man who was suffering from the disease and its lonely consequences. Compassion is love that deeply touches the heart and moves a person to take action to minister to the one that is hurting. You might call it love on steroids! Jesus reached out His hand, and touched the man. He told him that it was His will to heal and at Jesus’ command, the leprosy left immediately!
Observation for over-comers: As believers, through empowerment by the Holy Spirit, we have a river of Christ’s love and compassion flowing in our hearts. God is willing and we have authority and compassion waiting to be released for hurting people! “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, . . ..” (Proverbs 15:4)
Early morning appointment!
Scripture reading for February 10th: Mark 1
Mark’s gospel portrays Jesus as a man of action. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and confirmed by His Father, “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11) The Spirit quickly takes Jesus into the desert for forty days of temptation by Satan. Jesus returned to begin His ministry: “The time has come,” He said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) Next Jesus is calling His disciples from among the fishermen on the shores of the Sea of Galilee! On the Sabbath, Mark tells of Jesus teaching in the synagogue and amazing those gathered there by the authority He demonstrated as He cast an evil spirit out of a man. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever and Jesus went and healed her. The whole town came for healing and deliverance! His appointed time brought action and spreading fame!
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” (Mark 1:35) Mark also recorded the secret to Jesus’ great success. Jesus got up early in the morning and kept an appointment with His Father. He went to a lonely place and prayed in secret. It was there that Jesus heard what the Father wanted to do and walked in obedience.
Let me encourage you to follow Jesus’ example! The most important appointment is one that we set to meet with the Lord. If we are faithful to keep this appointment, He will give us a schedule of divine appointments where His work will be accomplished through our obedience! It is never boring to walk with the Lord through each day!