Survival of Evil

~~~ 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 ~~~ Psalm 3 ~~~
~~~ Mark 5:1-20 ~~~

Who does Jesus heal?
Who does Jesus seek out?
Who is Jesus drawn to hear?

Jesus steps out of the boat on the other side of the sea.
Jesus crosses to the other side...
he is not content to remain in one location.

As soon as his feet touched the dry land
he encounters a possessed soul.

Catching sight of Jesus from a distance,
he ran up and prostrated himself before him,
crying out in a loud voice,
“What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

The man ran up to Jesus, but it was the evil spirit
 within his soul that recognizes Jesus.

Physically this man has lost control over his own bodily movements.
No one has been able to subdue his out of control actions.

Do you find it odd that the evil spirit pleads to be spared by Jesus?

Evil in our own lives nags at our soul
 to be allowed to stay in place.

The evil in our own soul presents seemingly valid
arguments to be left alone...becoming more and more
comfortable in our heart.

Evil is determined to survive at any cost.
Examine what is less than good in your own life.
Does it quietly convince you that it is not that bad?

Jesus sent the legion of dark spirits into the swine...
the swine plunged themselves down the ravine into the sea.
They sentenced themselves to death by drowning.

It was best for Jesus to leave the area.
The people could not understand what they had witnessed.
They were filled with fear.

Odd that they feared the gentle power of Jesus
more than the violent power the evil spirits held within their host. 

“Go home to your family and announce to them
all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”

Jesus heals all ills...he heals all peoples...he heals
without concern for your state in life.

Never be fearful to approach the Lord.

Blessings into the depths of your soul.

~~~Peace~~~

Claimed to be His Own

~~~ Ephesians 1: 11-14 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ Luke 12:1-7 ~~~

 

The readings today speak of our heavenly inheritance

beginning by being sealed with the Holy Spirit. 

 

Our very existence was deigned to give praise to God.

We often lose sight of that part of our life.

We think we are here for our pleasure and entertainment.

"...the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory."

 

Have you ever thought about what it means to be sealed

with the Holy Spirit?

When an envelope is sealed it encloses the contents.

The contents are protected inside the sealed envelope.

 

Perhaps when we are sealed with the Holy Spirit it is a kind of protection too.

The Holy Spirit inspires us to keep the content of our salvation close to our heart...

namely Jesus Christ.

 

Being sealed also represents a certain ownership.

If you have imposed your seal upon a letter

you are claiming it as your property.

 

So whether or not we are consciously aware of it;

believers are claimed for God

with the seal of the

Holy Spirit.

We are destined to be his...we belong to him...

he is our creator...he gives us every breath we take.

We are his possession claimed and sealed with

his Holy Spirit.

 

If God cares even for the smallest sparrow how much more

does he care for those he has claimed for his own.

 

"...Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows."

 

Do not be afraid of believing.

Do not be afraid to speak loudly what you may have whispered.

Do not be afraid to come into the light and be heard.

Do not be afraid to be seen

as one claimed for God.

 

 

Give thanks and praise with song and dance

before the Lord...

for he has done great things for you and me.

 

Rejoice because we have been chosen and sealed,

belonging to the Lord.