And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

Mark 9:14-29

And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Mark 9:20

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 9:14-29, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus wants us to have faith (v19) - we must be completely and utterly dependent on Him for all things and desperate for His healing power in all things like the boys father was here.  Jesus wants us to pray as a measure of our dependence - John Piper refers to this in this post as "no prayer no power." See also v29.  V25 reminds us that God has providence over all things including evil and evil spirits.  This is often a question for all people, including believers - if God is such a loving God why do bad things happen to good people.  We don't know specifically, but we do know that evil exists since The Fall and that it will remain with us until Jesus returns during end times when He defeats Satan and Sin for all of eternity.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The scribes were arguing with the disciples (those who remained and did not go up the mountain with Jesus for the Transfiguration).  While we don't know for sure the details of such an argument we can speculate that the scribes sought to be correct about their understanding of the law and how Jesus and the disciples were somehow violating the law with Jesus' ministry.  There will always be those who seek to challenge us about the Word.  We can stand on how the Gospel is true in our own life and how we have faith.  People, including the disciples - see vv18-19, 29 are described as faithless and lacking in prayer.  We can take notice how we should grow in both our faith and in our prayer/dependence on God. 
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): God wants us to claim the promise to believe as all things are possible for one who believes - v23. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, You are an awesome God that heals, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  You save and You provide.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You heal and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

 Mark 1:23-28

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. Mark 1:23-26

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on a commentary-assisted review of Mark 1:23-28, which is the text for the second division of the text Mark 1:21-28. Excerpts from the commentary - which poses the question "[w]hy should Jesus have absolute lordship in your life?":

• Yesterday's post provided the first reason from the first division Mark 1:21-22, and 27: because of His teachings.
• This second division provides the second reason: because of His power over demons.  
• As the commentary explores what we should understand about demons, it shares: "[t]hey have authority and can promote disunity, propagate false doctrine, inflict disease, cause mental difficulties, and hinder Christian growth....Demons can oppress but not possess believers."
• "The demon is chiefly concerned with Jesus’ intentions....[the demon] recognizes the threat that Jesus is to their authority and power.
• "Confessing Jesus as the “Holy One of God” is perhaps an attempt to gain some power over Jesus by claiming to know His name. It is more likely, however, a recognition of His deity, His sonship, and the great antithesis that exists between an unholy, unclean spirit and the Holy One of God."
• "The kingdom of God goes head-to-head with the forces of evil at the first public ministry of the Son of God. It is a “no contest” event with an immediate and devastating knockout! The “binding of the strong man” has begun (3:27). The demons are forced to acknowledge, grudgingly, what the Father declared in verse 11!"
• "[Jesus] commands [the demon], “Come out!” It only takes a few direct words from an absolute authority! No spell or incantation is necessary. He says the word and they obey."
• "The disturbance of men and demons by the Servant King of God has begun. Life will never be the same! Demons are expelled, and broken people are made whole. This is God’s kingdom. This is what the great King can do. This is why He should have absolute authority in your life, my life, and every life." 

Evil has existed since the beginning of time in the Garden of Eden where the serpent successfully tempted Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).  Yet we can take comfort that God is provident over evil, and while we may not understand the purpose of evil in a specific set of circumstances (Isaiah 55:8) at a point in time, we know that God ultimately defeats Satan and evil.  See also this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com to help us better understand why evil exists. Believers also know that He provides the "full armor of God" of God to protect us against Satan's schemes - see also Ephesians 6:10-18a.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that reigns over all the details of my life and in creation - You don't need me nor need me to do anything.  Yet You love me so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to save me and You pour out mercies ceaselessly every morning.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

[I]n this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus...both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

Acts 4:27-28

 [I]n this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus...both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. Acts 4:27-28

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. While Holy Week and Easter have passed, I do want to read to completion John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I complete the devotional by reading reason #50: To Show That the Worst Evil Is Meant by God for Good.  The devotion opens by sharing that "the most profound thing...about suffering and evil...is that...Christ entered into it and turned it into good....The heart of the Bible is not an explanation of where evil came from, but a demonstration of how God enters into it and turns it for the very opposite—everlasting righteousness and joy."  Scripture examples abound, as Piper points us to Genesis 50:20, and 1 Samuel 8:19, 12:19, where we read about how Joseph's suffering was meant by God for good, and how Israel sought an earthly king (Israel felt God was insufficient), was given one (Saul), recognized the err of their ways, but despite all of this we know that through the line David the King of Kings arrives. Piper writes that the "most astonishing thing" about evil and suffering is the method preordained and used by God to bring about victory over evil and suffering.  Jesus' death itself was evil, brutal, violent, and induced unimaginable suffering.  Yet Piper reminds us how scripture shares how "God was in it."  See Acts 2:23, 4:27-28.  Piper then shares that "[t]here is no greater sin than to hate and kill the Son of God. There was no greater suffering nor any greater innocence than the suffering and innocence of Christ. Yet God was in it all."  See Isaiah 53:10 and 5.  The devotion closes with Piper sharing that "God meant to show the world that there is no sin and no evil too great that God cannot bring from it everlasting righteousness and joy. The very suffering that we caused became the hope of our salvation."  Rejoice that we have a God that is able to use all of our circumstances, including evil - for good.  Recognize that God's thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8) are not our own and we can trust Him as our Lord and Savior. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an incredible God who reigns over all - including suffering and evil.  You defeated suffering, sin and evil through Your death on the cross.  You equip us to handle what suffering and evil we experience in this life and in Heaven there is more suffering, sin or evil - what a glorious place this will be!  Thank You Jesus for my salvation.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”

 Zechariah 3:1-10

And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Zechariah 3:2

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 3:2, which the commentary outlines as the second of six divisions for the text 3:1-10 (3:1, 3:2, 3:3, 3:4-5, 3:6-7, 3:8-10).  Building on yesterday's post (and the day before) which explored v1, v2 looks at how Jesus is provident over all sin and Satan.  So, yes Satan seeks to separate us from Jesus but for believers that remain close to God through spiritual disciplines nothing can separate us from the love of God and how He protects us (see also Romans 8:38-39).  We already know the victory over sin and death is won! God is provident over all sin and Satan.  Thank You Jesus!  Please help me remain near to You and in fellowship with You!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ar an awesome God who loves me and who protects me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and how You protect me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

James 4:13-16

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16

I continue a pause of my study of Ecclesiastes to study James 4:13-4:17.  This morning, I lean on DesiringGod.com's lab for 4:13-16 (Part 2) where John Piper takes a second pass at breaking down this text in detail.  Part 1 from yesterday focused on how God is sovereign over all, and the key question examined in Part 2 is whether God is sovereign over evil.  

First, Piper shares that this text in James is not the only discussion of God's will.  He then shares that there are two ways in which God's will is expressed in scripture:

1. Will of decree; God decrees something and then it comes to pass; see also Matthew 26:39, Acts 4:27-28, 1 Peter 3:17-18, Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 10:29, Proverbs 16:1, 21:1, Daniel 4:35, Job 42:1-2, Isaiah 53:10.  
   
2. Will of command; God commands something from us (believers); see also Matthew 7:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18, 1 John 2:17.  
   

 Below is a snapshot definition from the lab video.

 

Connecting how God can predestine his Son to be crucified (will of decree) with how God commands all of humanity to do something or not do something (will of command), by sharing the example command that shall not murder, Piper then describes how God is sovereign over evil without Himself ever sinning...."coordinating, managing, governing" but not ever sinning.  Piper then shares that people are responsible and accountable, AND that God is just.  As he concludes the lab, Piper - in response to a rhetorical question someone might have whether God willed abuse of a child - shares that God commands love and hates sin (abuse).  He could have stopped abuse but He willed not for the abuse to stop (and there are examples of this both in our earthly lives and in scripture). God has omnipotent power and "can override all pain and sorrow and turn it for good."  We should focus on how God never stops loving and caring for us and most importantly He shows amazing grace and saves us. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You hold my life in Your hands and You are so full of grace and mercy, saving me from condemnation.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and for the incredible mercies and blessings You pour out for me every single day.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.