Mark 5:6-8
"When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw Him, ran to meet Him, and bowed down before Him. With a shriek, he screamed, 'why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don't torture me!' For Jesus had already said to the Spirit, 'Come out of that man, you evil spirit."
What is amazing about this is that the evil spirit in the man still made the man run to meet Jesus and bowed in honor. We have a choice to listen and believe (allowing God to transform u, or know and not let go of ourselves and have no change in our lives.) In Mark chapter 4 verse 24 Jesus says, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given - and you will receive even more." When we pay close attention we are purposely trying to learn, we can remember what is said and we can show our understanding by our actions. The evil spirit knew who Jesus was but didn't care enough to "Listen Closely."
Look at Mark chapter 4 and see in verse 20 how important it is to hear and accept God's words. "And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" We can say a prayer, we can go to church, we can know the Lord, but until we listen and accept our heart doesn't open to believe and change. In Romans chapter 12 verse 2 it says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
It is not about what we think about Jesus, it's that we can know about Him. The more we seek the more we can understand and as we understand we become more like Him. If we try and hold onto our old selves we struggle letting our new selves grow. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10 verses 38-39, "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." (Also look at Mark chapter 8 verses 34-35) It is not about us having the strength to do things, it is about us realizing that we need Jesus and then letting the Holy Spirit in us lead us to what is right. We can't just have the knowledge to know Jesus like the evil spirit did, we must open up our hearts and love Jesus and have the faith to listen to what we hear from Him. Amen
"When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw Him, ran to meet Him, and bowed down before Him. With a shriek, he screamed, 'why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don't torture me!' For Jesus had already said to the Spirit, 'Come out of that man, you evil spirit."
What is amazing about this is that the evil spirit in the man still made the man run to meet Jesus and bowed in honor. We have a choice to listen and believe (allowing God to transform u, or know and not let go of ourselves and have no change in our lives.) In Mark chapter 4 verse 24 Jesus says, "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given - and you will receive even more." When we pay close attention we are purposely trying to learn, we can remember what is said and we can show our understanding by our actions. The evil spirit knew who Jesus was but didn't care enough to "Listen Closely."
Look at Mark chapter 4 and see in verse 20 how important it is to hear and accept God's words. "And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" We can say a prayer, we can go to church, we can know the Lord, but until we listen and accept our heart doesn't open to believe and change. In Romans chapter 12 verse 2 it says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
It is not about what we think about Jesus, it's that we can know about Him. The more we seek the more we can understand and as we understand we become more like Him. If we try and hold onto our old selves we struggle letting our new selves grow. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10 verses 38-39, "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." (Also look at Mark chapter 8 verses 34-35) It is not about us having the strength to do things, it is about us realizing that we need Jesus and then letting the Holy Spirit in us lead us to what is right. We can't just have the knowledge to know Jesus like the evil spirit did, we must open up our hearts and love Jesus and have the faith to listen to what we hear from Him. Amen
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