Tag: TEMPTED

Articles, Jeanette Porter

BITTERNESS

| Jeanette

PROVERBS 14:10 – THE HEART KNOWETH HIS OWN BITTERNESS; AND A STRANGER DOTH NOT INTERMEDDLE WITH HIS JOY.

BITTERNESS IS DEFINED AS ANGER, DISCONTENTMENT, HEAVINESS, CHAFE. CHAFE MEANS ANNOYED, IRRITATED.

EPHESIANS 4:31,32 – LET ALL BITTERNESS, AND WRATH, AND ANGER, AND CLAMOR, AND EVIL SPEAKING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, WITH ALL MALICE: AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.

SO IT SEEMS, IN THESE VERSES, BITTERNESS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH UNFORGIVENESS.

IT IS STANGE TO ME THAT A WOMAN LIKE HANNAH COULD BE STRUGGLING WITH BITTERNESS:

I SAMUEL 1:10 – AND SHE WAS IN BITTERNESS OF SOUL, AND PRAYED UNTO THE LORD, AND WEPT SORE.

IF YOU RUN A WORD SEARCH, YOU WILL FIND THIS BITTERNESS IN HANNAH WAS THE SAME KIND OF BITTERNESS SCORNED IN EPHESIANS 4:31.

TO FIND OUT WHY HANNAH WAS BITTER, WE HAVE TO READ I SAMUEL 1:2-8 – AND HE (ELKANAH)  HAD TWO WIVES; THE NAME OF THE ONE WAS HANNAH, AND THE NAME OF THE OTHER WAS PENINNAH: AND PENINNAH HAD CHILDREN BUT HANNAH HAD NO CHILDREN. 

AND THIS MAN WENT UP OUT OF HIS CITY YEARLY TO WORSHIP AND TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE LORD OF HOSTS IN SHILOH.

AND WHEN THE TIME WAS THAT  ELKANAH, OFFERED (WENT TO WORSHIP), HE GAVE PENINNAH HIS WIFE, AND TO ALL HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS, PORTIONS:

BUT TO HANNAH HE GAVE A WORTHY PORTION (WE COULD SAY A DOUBLE PORTION); FOR HE LOVED HANNAH: BUT THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.

AND HER ADVERSARY ALSO PROVOKED HER SORE (TORMENTED HER), FOR TO MAKE HER FRET, BECAUSE THE LORD HAD SHUT UP HER WOMB.

AND SHE DID SO YEAR BY YEAR, WHEN SHE WENT UP TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, SO SHE (PENINNAH PROVOKED HER); THEREFORE SHE WEPT AND DID NOT EAT.

THEN ELKANAH HER HUSBAND SAID TO HER, HANNAH, WHY WEEPEST THOU? AND WHY EATEST THOU NOT? AND WHY IS THY HEART GRIEVED? AM I NOT BETTER TO THEE THAN TEN SONS?

NEITHER OUR JOYS NOR OUR SORROWS CAN BE WHOLLY SHARED WITH ANOTHER; NO PERSON STANDS IN SUCH INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH US, OR CAN PUT THEMSELVES SO ENTIRELY IN OUR PLACE, AS WE FEEL WHAT WE FEEL.

THERE ARE MANY DARK SPOTS, MANY GRIEFS, OF WHICH OUR BEST FRIENDS KNOW NOTHING; THE SKELETON IS LOCKED IN THE CUPBOARD, SO-TO-SPEAK, AND NO ONE HAS THE KEY BUT WE ALONE.

BUT WE CAN TURN WTH CONFIDENCE TO JESUS WHO KNOWS US BEST, WHO WEPT HUMAN TEARS, AND BORE OUR SORROWS, AND WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE.

HE HAS TAKEN HIS HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH HIM TO HEVEN. AND WHEN WE TAKE OUR FEELINGS AND HURTS TO THE LORD, AND BEGIN TO FORGIVE AND SURRENDER THAT THING THAT HAS WORKED ITSELF FROM UNFORGIVENESS TO BITTERNESS OF HEART, WHOLLY TO THE LORD, WE FIND JOY THAT, ALSO, NO ONE ELSE CAN SHARE.

HE IS NOT A STRANGER TO “GRIEF TURNED TO JOY.”

THERE IS A SAYING, “NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES SO WELL AS HE THAT WEARS IT;” AND ANOTHER, “TO EVERYONE, HIS OWN CROSS SEEMS HEAVIEST.”

WHEN A PERSON’S MIND IS SENSITIVE IT IS EASILY DEPRESSED BY GRIEF; BUT WHEN IT IS ELATED BY JOY, IT SHOULD RECEIVE IT’S PLEASURE AND RELIEF WITHOUT ARROGANCE AND RUDENESS.

IN CHAPTER I OF Ist SAMUEL, WE FIND HANNAH PRAYING, AND VOWING TO TH LORD IF HE WOULD GIVE HER A SON, SHE WOULD GIVE THE CHILD TO THE LORD ALL HIS LIFE. SHE WAS PRAYING, WITH ONLY HER LIPS MOVING, BUT HER VOICE WAS NOT HEARD.

ELI, WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS INTOXICATED, TOLD HER TO QUIT DRINKING, BUT SHE ANSWERED THAT SHE HAD NEVER DRANK WINE NOR STRONG DRINK; THAT SHE WAS SORROWFUL IN SPIRIT.

SHE TOLD HIM SHE WAS NOT A WICKED WOMAN, BUT THAT SHE WAS POURING OUT HER SOUL BEFORE THE LORD.

ELI RESPONDE BY SAYING, “GO IN PEACE, AND MAY THE LORD OF ISRAEL GRANT YOUR PETITION WHICH YOU HAVE ASKED OF HIM.”

VERSE 20 – HANNAH BECAME PREGNANT AND IN DUE TIME BORE A SON AND NAMED HIM SAMUEL (HEARD OF THE LORD), BECAUSE, SHE SAID, I HAVE ASKED HIM OF THE LORD.

WHEN BITTERNESS SETS IN, IT IS SEEN AS A VIOLATION TO THE WAYS OF GOD, FOR GOD HAD A PLAN AND PURPOSE. 

WHEN IN HER TROUBLE, HANNAH WAS LED TO PRAY FERVENTLY, AND HER PRAYER WAS ANSWERED: GRIEF AND SORROW AND BITTERNESS GAVE PLACE TO REJOICING. THE FAMILY WAS BENEFITTED; AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD WERE GREATLY BLESSED. 

SO IN HIS WONDERFUL WORKING, GOD “TURNED THE CURSE INTO BLESSING”!!

    *Part II coming soon.

 

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Articles, Roy Porter

BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED

| Roy

1ST PETER 2:24   WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE , BEING DEAD TO SINS, SHOULD LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS: BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.

WHAT A POWERFUL VERSE, JESUS BORE OUR SINS ON THE CROSS.

THE POWER OF THIS ACT ON THE CROSS GAVE US POWER OVER SIN.

WE WERE OFFERED FORGIVENESS OF OUR SIN,IF WE ACCEPTED BY FAITH, WE WERE GIVEN GRACE TO BE DEAD TO SINS. SIN WILL NO LONGER HAVE POWER OVER US.

THIS GRACE THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING CHRIST GIVES US STRENGTH TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION.

EVER MAN IS TEMPTED WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY WITH HIS OWN LUST.

THERE IS A CURE FOR THIS, AS OUR MIND IS RENEWED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND A CONTINUAL FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

JESUS HUNG ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.

HE DID THIS FOR US BUT WE MUST STUDY THE WORD OF GOD, PRAY, WORSHIP AND PRAISE WITH A THANKFUL HEART, THATS OUR PART OF THE BLESSING OF RELATIONSHIP.

WE THROUGH HIM CAN NOW LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE.

YOU SEE, THE CROSS WAS ALL ABOUT US, JESUS CAME FOR US TO REDEEM US AND LIVE IN US.

BUT NOW ITS NOT ALL ABOUT US, BUT FOR ME ITS ALL ABOUT HIM.

HED PURSUED ME AND CAUGHT ME, NOW I AM PURSUING HIM EVERYDAY AND CATCHING HIM.

WHAT A BLESSING TO PURSUE GOD.

NOTICE THIS, THE WORD OF GOD CONNECTS SALVATION OF THE SOUL TO HEALING.

NOT ONLY DID JESUS DIE FOR OUR SINS, HE WAS WHIPPED AND BRUISED TO TAKE AWAY SICKNESS.

SURELY HE HATH BORNE OUR SICKNESS AND CARRIED OUR PAIN.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A  THEOLOGIAN TO UNDERESTAND THIS CONNECTION.

JESUS IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER.

WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS WAS NOT TEMPORARY, IT WAS A COMPLETE WORK.

SALVATION IS ALL INCLUSIVE , SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY.

JESUS FILLS OUR SPIRIT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE FILL OUR MIND WITH THE WORD OF GOD, HE FILLS OUR BODY WITH HEALING.

I HAVE BEEN HEALED MANY TIMES, MY WIFE AND I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HEALED BY THE POWER OF GOD.

YOU CAN PREACH SALVATION AND NOT ONLY TO PEOPLE GET SAVED, MANY WILL GET HEALED.

YOU CAN PREACH HEALING AND NOT ONLY DO PEOPLE GET HEALED, BUT PEOPLE GET SAVED.

THE GOSPEL IS GOOD NEWS NOT ONLY TO THE UNSAVED BUT TO THE SAVED.

JESUS LOVES US WHY LEAVE HALF OF THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION ON THE TABLE.

TAKE ALL HIS BENEFITS, DROWN YOUR RELIGIOUS IDEAS THAT CAME FROM THE PITS OF HELL.

WHO GAVE MAN THE AUTHORITY TO DENY THE POWER OF GOD .

HEALING IS CONNECTED TO THE CROSS.

GLORY BE TO GOD, BE HEALED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. IF YOU WILL BELIEVE IT GOD WILL DO IT, ITS ALREADY PAID FOR.

RECEIVE IN JESUS’ NAME, BE HEALED. CLAIM IT AND ENJOY THE BLESSING. 

 

 

 

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE FORCES OF EVIL AND HOW THEY WORK

| Jeanette

EVIL BEGAN WITH SATAN. WITH ADAM, SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD. MOST CHRISTIANS KNOW THIS, BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE MUST UNDERSTAND ABOUT OUR ENEMY, THAT KEEPS US FROM BEING THE BEST WE CAN FOR GOD. SATAN USES DEMONS, AND SHOWS UP HIMSELF, AT TIMES, AS WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

I DON’T MEAN HE CAN BE EVERYWHERE AT ALL TIMES LIKE GOD, BUT HIS DEMONS ARE DISPATCHED BY HIM TO FOLLOW US AROUND, TO SEE IF WE WILL OPEN THE DOOR FOR THEM TO ENTER.

BY THIS, I MEAN, WHEN WE GET IN THE FLESH,OR LOOK BACK TO THE WORLD, WE CAN TAKE A BACK-STEP INTO WHAT WE USED TO BE BEFORE SALVATION, AND BE TEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO OUR OLD CARNAL WAYS.

WHY DO YOU THINK GOD’S MINISTERS BACKSLIDE?—- MOST OF THE TIME, IT’S BECAUSE THEY GOT SO INVOLVED IN GOD’S WORK, AND THEY DON’T MAKE TIME TO SPEND  WITH THE GOD THEY SERVE.

WHY DO YOU THINK SO MANY OF THESE OCCULT RELIGIONS GET AS FAR AS THEY DO? —-THEY PRAY MANY TIMES A DAY TO THEIR FALSE god, WHICH OPENS THE DOOR FOR SATAN TO INCREASE THEIR GROWTH, AND SPREAD THEIR DOCTRINE OF ERROR. EVIL WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF THE CHURCH AGE, THEN IT WILL BECOME MORE FURIOUS DURING JACOB’S TROUBLE:  THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS, AND WILL APPEAR AGAIN FOR A SHORT TIME, AT THE END OF THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST.

WE AS CHRISTIANS, SHOULD GUARD AGAINST, OR BE WATCHMEN, CONFRONTING EVIL.

SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, SOMETIMES, WE AS CHRISTIANS, CAN BE INFLUENCED BY SATAN, TO DO HIS WORK.

HOW?—-HEARTS OF UNBELIEF! – HEBREWS 3:12,13 – TAKE HEED, BRETHREN, LEST THERE BE IN ANY OF YOU AND EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF, IN DEPARTING FROM THE LIVING GOD.

          BUT EXHORT ONE ANOTHER DAILY, WHILE IT IS CALLED TODAY; LEST ANY OF YOU BE HARDENED THROUGH THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN.

SOME BEGIN TO WANDER OFF FROM THE WORK OF GOD, AND GOD HIMSELF, WHEN THE FIREY TRIALS COME. THEY MIGHT GET CRITICIZED FOR THE WAY THEY DO THINGS AND BECOME DESPONDENT AND LOOSE THEIR VISION, INSTEAD OF TURNING IT OVER TO GOD. 

FEAR COULD ARISE, AND THEY MIGHT NEVER START WHAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO DO. 

WHEN WE SERVE THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, THE TRIALS WILL COME TO TRY TO STOP GOD’S WORK. I HAVE FOUND, THROUGH EXPERIENCE, THIS IS WHEN GOD IS GETTING READY TO DO SOMETHING GREAT IN THAT WORK (THEIR VISION).

STAY WHERE YOU ARE, PRAY, PUT ON SOME WORSHIP MUSIC AND BEGIN TO WORSHP GOD AND THANK HIM FOR MOVEING IN YOUR SITUATION. WAIT, AND HE WILL. —-DON’T GIVE UP, YOU ARE ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE!!!!!

WE HAVE THE POWER THROUGH GOD’S WORD AND HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER OVER SATAN AND HIS DEMONS.  II CORINTHIANS 10:3-5 – FOR THOUGH WE WALK IN THE FLESH, WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH:

(FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD THROUGH THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS;)

 CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST;

MATTHEW 16:19 –   AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.

THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN USING THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR BATTLES. THEY ARE NOT REALLY YOUR BATTLES, BECAUSE THE BATTLE BELONGS TO GOD; BUT WE ARE TOLD OT BIND AND LOOSE THOSE POWERS THAT ARE COMING AGAINST US AND OPERATING THROUGH OTHERS AROUND US; AND USING THEM THEM TO COME AGAINT US AND OUR VISION, AND GOD WILL IN TURN BIND AND LOOSING THOSE THINGS FROM OUT OF HEAVEN.

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S!!

 HE JUST WANTS US TO GET INVOLVED BY PRAYING HIS WORD, AND BELIEVING HIM TO TAKE CHARGE.

DON’T GIVE UP!! YOU’RE ON THE BRINK OF A MIRACLE!!

 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

WHAT IS THE ANOINTING?

| Jeanette

CHRIST MEANS “THE ANOINTED ONE.”

TO UNDERSTAND THE ANOINTING, WE MUST INVESTIGATE THE “ANOINTED ONE” – JESUS CHRIST.

LETS LOOK AT JOHN 1:32-34. WHEN “JOHN THE BAPTIST” BAPTIZED JESUS IN THE RIVER JORDAN  …THE SPIRIT DESCENDED AND REMAINED ON HIM…(I JOHN 1:33).

JOHN 3:34 DECLARES THAT JESUS HAD THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE. (WE DO NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE.)

LUKE 4:1,2 – SAYS …AND JESUS BEING FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST RETURNED FROM JORDAN, AND WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS, BEING FORTY DAYS TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL…

          JESUS WAS TEMPTED HERE WITH: THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYE, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, THE SAME WAY THE FIRST ADAM WAS, AND FAILED.

JESUS BEING THE SECOND ADAM DID NOT FAIL.

WE SEE HERE, AS SOON AS JESUS WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT HE FACED THE DEVIL HEAD-ON.

WE CALL THIS THE “TEMPTATION OF JESUS.”

THIS WAS IN PREPARATION FOR HIS MINISTRY TO BEGIN.

JESUS WAS ALWAYS SUBMITTED TO THE WILL OF THE FATHER.

AFTER DEFEATING THE DEVIL ON HIS OWN GROUND, VERSE 13-21 READS – AND WHEN THE DEVIL HAD ENDED ALL THE TEMPTATION, HE DEPARTED FROM HIM FOR A SEASON.

          AND JESUS RETURNED IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT INTO GALILEE: AND THERE WENT OUT A FAME OF HIM THROUGH ALL THE REGION ROUND ABOUT. AND HE TAUGHT IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES …

HE NOW GOES BACK TO NAZARETH WHERE HE HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP, …AND AS IT WAS HIS CUSTOM, HE WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE ON THE SABBATH DAY, AND STOOD UP TO READ.

(WE SEE HERE HE WENT TO CHURCH WHERE HE TOOK AN ACTIVE PART.)

SOMEONE HANDED HIM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.

HE OPENED THE BOOK AND FOUND THE PLACE WERE IT WAS WRITTEN IN ISAIAH 61:1,2:

          “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME” BECAUSE HE HATH ANOINTED ME TO PREAH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR: HE HATH SENT ME TO HEAL THE BROKEN-HEARTED, TO PREACH DELIVERANCE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERING OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET AT LIBERTY THEM THAT ARE BRUISED, TO PREACH THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD (LUKE 4:18-19).

VERSE 21,32 – AND HE BEGAN TO SAY UNTO THEM, THIS DAY IS THIS SCRIPTURE FULFILLED IN YOUR EARS.

          AND THEY WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS DOCTRINE; FOR HIS WORD WAS WITH POWER.

IMMEDIATELY, THROUGH THE ANOINTING, HE CAST OUT AN UNCLEAN DEVIL, AND HIS MINISTRY “TOOK-OFF.”

NOW, WHAT ABOUT US, AS SPIRIT FILLED BELIEVERS?

          WHEN JESUS ASCENDED BACK INTO HEAVEN, HE SENT US THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO ARRIVED HERE TO ABIDE WITH US FOREVER, AND GIVES US POWER (JOHN 14:16; ACTS 1:8).

JOHN 14:12 – VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, THE WORKS (GREEK, ERGON – TOIL {AS AN EFFORT OR OCCUPATION}; IMPLIES AN ACT, DOING, LABOUR OR WORK.)  THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO: AND GREATER WORKS THAN THESE SHALL HE DO; BECAUSE I GO UNTO MY FATHER.

JESUS SENT US THE HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTING: TO CHANGE US INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST, WHO IS OUR PATTERN, AND THAT WE MIGHT DO THE WORKS OF CHRIST. 

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Articles, Jeanette Porter

MOVER AND SHAKERS

| Jeanette

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

My husband has a name for those who get things done. He calls them “Movers and Shakers.” These are people who know what they have to do, and do it. Many are still waiting for lightening to strike, to get them going. I see those who wait for somebody to tell them what to do.
On the other hand, there are those who are always busy. These are the one’s you know you can depend on when the going gets rough.
These are the one’s, that can do just a little bit more when asked.
If you want somebody to do something, ask someone who is already doing something

Keep in mind, I am not criticizing those who move slow; it happens to be my nature too. A slow mover can move slow, but not be slow to move. This kind of mover can still be going at the end of the day, when the fast mover has run out of steam. We all know, though, some are just lazy. These are the one’s, who watch while someone else is doing it.

I never liked watching, I always wanted to get my hands into it.
Are you like that? Sometimes, people see this as taking over, but at least were doing something. The other evening, I was listening to a train horn blow near my home, I said to the Lord, “That train sounds so lonely.” The Lord answered me this way, “Well, it’s going somewhere, and it’s doing something”.

Turn with me to Mark 1starting with verse 16:
Today, we are going to be studying about some movers and shakers in the New Testament.
Now as He (meaning Jesus) walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
And straightway, they forsook their nets, and followed Him.

And straightway they forsook their nets…. Straightway is defined as immediately.
I can almost see them now, Simon and Andrew, busy, casting their nets into the sea for a catch. —- Jesus, who had just come out of His forty days of fasting and being tempted of the devil, in the wilderness, was on a mission, to collect some of the most rugged men, to follow Him, to be His companions for three years.

I don’t recall Jesus calling any who were not already doing something.
You might ask, “When is God going to call me, or give me something to do?”
My answer is, when you bloom where you are planted!
There is much to do in the kingdom of God. Get busy, take the initiative, find something to do. Ask.

Simon and Andrew were quick to respond. They left what they were doing, and followed Jesus, but not until they received the call, did they leave their business behind. Jesus had a plan for their lives and when the call came, they went, but they still had to be taught how to minister.

God has a plan for your life, but you need to stay busy, and seek Him daily, to find your intended place of service, your destiny.

In verse 17, Jesus said, … Come ye after Me….
Don’t take off and try to do it yourself; but …follow Me…and I will make you to become fishers of men. (I will shape you into, I will do construction on you, until you are fishers of men.)
I will teach you, and train you, I will spend time with you, and give you an opportunity to watch how I do it, and I will allow you “On-Hands experience”.

What would it be like if they decided to “go it on their own without the proper training? I can see them now—- Trying to do it by themselves: running here and there, exhausted, without much success.

Verse 19 —- And when He had gone a little farther thence, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were on the ship mending their nets.
James and John, had already pulled in their catch for the day, and were mending them, when Jesus arrived.
Verse 20 —- And straightway He called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with hired servants, and went after Him.
There’s that straightway word again, which means immediately.
And immediately He called them.
Jesus knew, through fasting, and spending time with the Father, what His Father had instructed Him to do, and He wasted no time.
Jesus called His disciples immediately, and they responded immediately.

They must have said, “Dad, we’re out of this kind of fishing business; here are some men to help you. We know what our purpose is. We must follow Jesus.”

Now look at verse 21 —- And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Jesus had a ministry of His own, but He went to Church, He and His four disciples or learners went with Him.

Verse 22 —- And they were astonished at His doctrine (or teachings): for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
They were amazed at the knowledge of Jesus and His authority, and we know the anointing makes the difference, but what was
Mark talking about when he
wrote…not as the scribes…? There were several things that caused His teaching to differ from that of the scribes. There was no lack of self-assertion or self-assurance in their teaching; but their words did not carry weight. Their teaching was based chiefly on tradition; but neglected judgment and mercy and faith. Christ’s teaching, on the contrary, was eminently or completely spiritual. Also, He practiced what He taught, unlike the scribes. They had religion, Jesus Had relationship with the Father.

Verse 23 —- And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
Now, this was big-time. I can see these four new disciples, standing their amazed when this unclean spirit, who was the “strongman”, began to scream out.
Verse 24 —- Saying,… (now the demons are talking)…Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God.
The strong-man, this unclean spirit, is the leader of the demons in this man. In verse 23 we read …an unclean spirit…singular; and then we read in verse 24, …Let us alone…plural, This proves

It shows the immediate effect of our Lord’s preaching. This man was possessed by these demons, and the anointing of our Lord caused the demons to manifest in His presence.
In real truth, the preaching of Jesus has already thrown the whole world of evil spirits into a state of excitement and alarm.
The powers of darkness are beginning to tremble. They feel that One greater than Satan has appeared, and they ask, …What have we to do with Thee?…Why are You trying to drive us out of our possession? We have a right to take possession of sinners.

Verse 25 —- And Jesus rebuked Him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
Jesus didn’t toy with these demons like so many think they should now, He just told it to shut-up and get out of there.
This demon was fearful, but defiant.
Look at the next verse, verse 26 —- And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
He didn’t want to come out, but he had no choice, he had met a power stronger than his; much stronger;, no comparison; he had to come out, and he came out screaming. It no longer had control of this mans vocal cords; no longer could the demon talk.

Verse 27 —- And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth He even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.
They were actually saying, What is this new revelation?”
This gave more indication, or a sign, that this must be the promised Messiah, the true God; for He alone by His power could rule the evil spirits.
I believe, this is what they were discussing among themselves.
Verse 28 —- And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
We could go on in this Chapter, in verse 31, where Jesus took Simon’s mother-in-law by the hand, lifts her up, and immediately the fever left her.
What follows is, healings and deliverance’s, every where He appears.

I read in a commentary, there are approximately 10 times where straightway or immediately is found in this first Chapter of Mark, but the most important event or outcome, is that we get a new revelation of what Jesus was like. There is no way we can know it all, but we can learn as we study and follow our Savior.

Until next week.

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