Today's Reading: Mark 9: 14- 9: 29
**For a simple and good way of Daily Devotion method please click this link: Subject Shifting Devotion.pdf.
Please click this link to read Mark 9: 14- 9:29
Bible Study
This section is the first one since chapter one telling us that Jesus' disciples could not drive out demons and they did not know why. Before this chapter Jesus' disciples just did what they learned from Jesus and they were fine. But now, they just could not do it!
N. T. Wright says, "People today often suppose that the early years of a person''s Christian pilgrimage are the difficult ones, and that as you go on in the Christian life it gets more straightforward The opposite is frequently the case. Precisely when you learn to walk beside Jesus, you are given harder tasks, which will demand more courage, more spiritual energy. Did we suppose following Jesus was like a summer holiday?"
Jesus says in verse 23 a very strange word, " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." The harder tasks challenge us with more faith. And this is exactly what Jesus had been teaching His disciples - to have more faith, and more!
The boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" What does that mean? What much unbelief we have deep down in our soul that we really can't believe?
Have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to God as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: More closer to Jesus, more harder tasks!
Today's stage for the disciples is like they just graduated from Elementary School and now they needed to go to High School. Do you remember the difference when you went to High School? More harder teaching, examinations and everything, right?
So, what did they need more for that upgrade to "Jesus high school"?
Jesus says, "This kind can come out only by prayer." Some manuscripts have "prayers and fasting". Well, if you want to be able to tackle for more harder tasks because you are more closer to Jesus, then you need to pray and fast more. Fasting and prayers are the most important spiritual weapons on earth! Do you know how to pray and fast? Are you willing to pray more and fast at least one lunch a week. Just one lunch a week, say every Friday, then you'll know the difference. Try it! I always fast two to three days a week.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for telling us the more we are closer to you the more harder tasks we will face. Help us to be able to pray and fast more so that we can be raised up by you to do your mighty Kingdom work. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Chinese praise song - 主你是我力量 You are my strength
You can subscribe to my podcast feed here:http://feeds.feedburner.com/discipler123
Twitter version:http://twitter.com/bishopsilasng
No comments:
Post a Comment