Author: missionspaul

Get out of the boat

Mark 5:2 “When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.”

There are times to teach from the boat, to journey on the boat and of course to fish from the boat, but there are definite times to get out of it.

Many rightly know that getting out of the boat is to step out of comfort zones when the boat is going through the storm and there is the opportunity to walk on water. But maybe we need to say we have had enough knowledge being given, we have been on enough pilgrimages and we have also grown our businesses and lives enough. Now is the time to step out of the boat for one reason only and that is to make ourselves available to people.

The shock is who it was who came towards Jesus when he stepped out of the boat. Was it going to be someone from the mixed sub-culture of the Decapolis? Surely that was on Jesus mind to advance the kingdom into those ten cities where the Hellenistic Jews lived? None of those came. However Mark focuses on a man who would be going into the Decapolis as an evangelist after he met with Jesus. One life can be changed by Jesus who can transform a region. But who is this man? He has an impure spirit, he is demon-possessed and he came to Jesus from the tombs. There are still many people who come to the body of Christ from dead places once the Church has got out of the boat.

Get past those contradictions to see human beings who need Jesus.

Mark 5: 1 “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.”

The contradiction of origin:

It was the region of the Gerasenes. Matthew says it was the region of the Gadarenes and some translations have Gergesenes. All 3 are the same place. It is like I say I am from England or I could say Great Britain and I could also say the United Kingdom. The Sea of Galilee was also called the Lake Gennesaret and also the Sea of Tiberius, it is the same place. Whether you were local or someone from a far off place may determine what name you know the area by.

The contradiction of demograph:

The critics will talk of another contradiction in that Mark and Luke tell the story of one man, Legion, but Matthew tells of two men. The contradiction is easily understood depending on where the focus is. If the point of the story was to accurately tell of the number of demon-possessed then there is a contradiction. But if it is to tell of the fact that there Jesus was more powerful than the demons then there is no contradiction. There were two men, but the point is Jesus was confronting not one demon but a plurality of demons. The story passed down to Mark and Luke focuses on one man and the story passed down to Matthew focuses on two and that is okay. The point is that what is in common is that Jesus has the power over the demonic. So if you stall on the number you have missed the whole point.

The contradiction of culture:

They sailed across the Sea of Galilee to a place occupied by Hellenistic Jews. These people were Jews but were heavily influenced by the Greek language and culture. There was such a blending together of Jewish and Greek cultures that it formed a sub-culture. The region was also known as the Decapolis, simply meaning ten cities and Mark is the only gospel that says one of the men that he focuses on became an evangelist in those cities. If you came from that region then you were not a pure Jew like those found in Jerusalem and Judea, you came from a different school of thought, you had a mixture of belief.

So what does all that mean, what am I thinking?

Many may get hung up on details and treat people as only a number or want to talk about their history, trying to categorise them, but Jesus doesn’t think like that. That’s not what he wants us to focus on.
Everybody deserves to take the journey themselves no matter who they are, where they come from or what has happened.
Yesterday someone was telling me how their gospel work was small. I told them it is huge to those who receive it.
No doubt the disciples wondered why they had decided to travel to this region. But Jesus knew. Let me suggest what he was saying:

“We are going into a place of contradiction and a place that will forever have confusion attached to a story that we will make. Many will miss the point because they will look at the contradiction and the confusion. But there are two men underneath all that discussion who are real and who God loves that are on the edge of society that not even history will be kind to them because they will be argued over. But it is to them that I have come.”

Today we can easily look at people in a certain way and focus only on the contradiction of their life. Or we can cross the lake and go to a small group, to two, or even one and change their world. Everybody is worth the journey. Get past those contradictions to see human beings who need Jesus.

A waste of pork chops??

Mark 5: 1- 20 “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes^] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him.³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. ⁴ For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him.⁵ Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. ⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him.⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!” ⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. ¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. ¹⁴ Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. ¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

 

This could have been a waste of pork chops?

A group of demons equals a legion.
A group of pigs equals a herd.
Gerasa also known as Gadara was the capital of the Gerasenes. Though it was known as one of the proudest cities of Syria it is now called Jerash and is a deserted ruin. Remove the body of Christ from a place and not long later it will become a ruin.
Jesus gave the legion permission to enter the pigs because the disarming of all demonic power to take place on the cross was not ready yet.

The people didn’t mind that this man had legion.
Nor did they mind the pig farmers possessing a herd. (Pigs are an abomination to the Jews).
But when the body of Christ moves in the supernatural and turns the tables on evil making wrong things right, then the towns will sit up and their response may not be what we expect.
Jesus cast legion out of the man and the town cast Jesus out of their vicinity.
Leave our town not because you are boring, ineffective, dwindling, non-relevant to our generation. No.
Leave the town because this supernatural activity is too much for us.
This is a sleepy town. We need a sleepy Church.
Let’s stop giving what our towns want and give them what they need.
Some Churches leave a town because they fall asleep.
Other Churches leave a town because they wake everyone up.

Let us leave Jesus as He is

Mark 4: 35-41 “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” ⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Let’s leave Jesus as he is.

They took him just as he was (teaching in the boat) and they sailed across the lake. But they didn’t leave him just as he was (they woke him up almost furiously).
Why? It was the change of their circumstances and their fear.
These 2 elements tempt us to move Jesus from where He is to where we want Him to be. Or where we think we need Him to be.

Faith says whatever you are doing Jesus, wherever you are, I know I am safe just because you are on this boat with me.

I will do what I think I need you to do.

I will be what I think I need you to be.

I can do this because you are here.

You can be quiet.

I am strong in your stillness.

 

Who is on the branches?

Mark 4: 30-34 “Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” ³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.”

 

One of the many Messianic prophecies can be found in Ezekiel 17: 22-23 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. ²³ On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.”

It is this kind of OT prophecy that Jesus has in mind when he gives this parable. Judah is small and is planted but from this tribe will come a branch where the birds will perch, not to swoop down and take the seed as in the other parable, but that they themselves will find security from their own dangers.

Jesus is speaking about himself. He is the Messiah branch of Judah. The birds are people, nations, maybe for that generation the Roman oppressors. The image is that the kingdom of God is peaceful. It has turned enemies into participants of the kingdom. It all happened from the smallest of seeds.

Our application would be this: Whatever you are trying to do for God, it may look really insignificant, so small that nothing good looks like it will happen. Yet from that act of kindness, that spoken word, your testimony shared, this gospel that we live for, then from that can grow something beyond our imagination.

Yesterday I visited Tamworth Elim Church which has so far provided 17 tonnes of food for local people who are struggling financially. Where did that mountain of provision come from? It was an idea sown into the mind of the Pastor in 2011. An idea, that is all!

Today you may only have an idea. You may only have your testimony. You may only be … you finish the sentence off. It doesn’t sound much at all. But out of this small thing you are doing for God then it can surpass your wildest dream. So much so that it can impact today the robbers of yesterday (the birds) and the miracle will not be just the growth of the seed but who sits in the branches! This is the kingdom!

The patience needed with the gospel

Mark 4: 26-28 “He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

There are things that you can do, you can scatter the seed, you can spread the gospel, speak words of life and of hope. But that’s it. You can only do so much. You have to wait for the harvest.

The partnership with God involves waiting.

Digging the seed up to inspect it isn’t going to help.

“All by itself…” Without you God does the important work and you will never be able to explain it except it is a miracle of life.

First the stalk. That is all. There is no harvest. There is just a sign of a potential one.

The partnership with God involves waiting.

Second the bud shows. There has been growth. The seed has nearly accomplished its work. But try harvest now and it will be of no use. It is still too early.

The partnership with God involves waiting.

Finally the blossoming bud and yet even then there is a waiting time until it is fully ripened. At last the harvest has come and it is time for reaping.

Around your life there should be fields of stalks, buds showing, blossoming buds and ripened buds ready for harvesting and of course fields ready for the seed.

Out of your mouth comes the words of God, the seed, you may not think of it like that but it is true. You scatter all day long to everyone you meet. Wait patiently; the seed will do the work. God partners with what comes out of your mouth.

5 laws for Bible reading

Mark 4: 24-25 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. ²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

The Amplified Bible: “Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides. ²⁵ For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”

The law of focus: For that generation they were hearing Jesus tell parables and he tells them to pay attention. For us it is to read the Bible every day. We do other things daily so why not read the Bible also? It may have the power to accomplish much but the law of focus opens the door for that accomplishment.

The law of searching: Use other translations, if you cannot understand what is written then it is hidden so pray, ask God to reveal to you the mystery of what you have read. Search for the life application of what you read, use other people, discuss with them. Above all just because you have been given revelation of what you have read does not mean you have exhausted the revelation, there is more to that what you have read. The law of searching will cause you to say, “I have read that a hundred times and not seen it that way.”

The law of correction: Be ready to be corrected and then make the changes necessary. A teachable heart is not one that is good at storing knowledge but one that will implement what has been heard or read. Some people do not understand this law because although they are in a fix they think it is someone else’s fault, they are hard done by and the voice of complaint is more comforting than the voice of correction. In every difficulty there is a lesson.

The law of more: Today you have a greater depth of understanding and wisdom than ever before simply because your attitude towards paying attention to Him perpetuated the ability to understand further revelation. Your responsibility is the attitude and it is the Spirit’s responsibility to give understanding. The Spirit will give lavishly more than you can ever imagine.

The law of loss and gain: Live with such expectation and excitement for the Bible so that you never get tired of it. Whereas some will gain because of their approach, others will lose what they have gained because they stop paying attention, they stop reading the Bible, they drift and the teachable life seems to be a million years away.

Where is the lamp?

Mark 4: 21-23 “He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? ²² For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Mark has this saying coming straight after the parable of the sower. Jesus has been saying the gospel is for everyone. Now he continues. The gospel is not only a seed to be planted but a light to shine so that everyone can see what is hidden and concealed. The gospel discloses and brings out into the open the purpose of life.

Would anyone put a lamp under a bowl or in some translations a washbasin? Well there are some who think the gospel is for themselves, a set of rules that keep them clean, a list of do’s and do not’s that if they only keep each one they will be righteous and receive favour from on High. So yes let us put the lamp under the washbasin as we wash ourselves from the dirt of this world.

Would anyone put a lamp under a bed?

Well there are some who think the purpose of the gospel is to make their life more comfortable, that the good news is actually that their life is now central, He will care, He will make us lie down, He will comfort and give us peace. He will cause us to rest and not have any worries or wars or wounds. So yes let us put the lamp under the bed as we lay down and go to sleep in our many comfort zones.

But this is not the purpose for the lamp. It has to be on a stand for all to see. It has to light up the whole room. No shadows, nothing hidden, everything to be seen. The gospel is not for us to make us be better people or to comfort us in our daydreams. It is for the world. It is for those who are searching, hoping that there is meaning in life, it is for the pilgrims who want more in this life.

That is the power of the gospel, the power of the lamp!

The gospel is not a forensic science

Mark 4: 13 – 20 “Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? ¹⁴ The farmer sows the word. ¹⁵ Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. ¹⁶ Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ¹⁸ Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Don’t you understand? Always think of the parables in this way …

The Word, the message from heaven, the gospel, words of hope and life are given to …

Some people v 15

Others v 16

Still others v 18

Others v 20

Some that bring a 30% return in their life

Some that bring a 60% return in their life

Some that bring a 100% return in their life.

Everyone deserves to hear. Don’t decide who you will share the good news with beforehand. Share it liberally. Don’t focus on those that you think will benefit the most, the 100% return people.

Don’t focus on the hard ground, the rocky places, the thorny soil and not even the expected return from people on who will produce the most for you. Focus on people and people need to hear the gospel. Get the gospel out far and wide. Stop studying who will receive it. Stop trying to efficient. Be outlandish, be wasteful with the gospel. It is not complicated. There is little to work out when everyone deserves to hear. It is not a forensic science. You will not be judged for being lavish with the gospel.

Searching for God

Mark 4: 10 – 12 “When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables ¹² so that, “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!”

Jesus didn’t come with 10 commandments, he taught with parables. These are not illustrations to help the teaching he had given, they are far more than that.

The parables of Jesus were given to create a search from within the hearer and a longing for more. Through them they are the beginning of the desire for the Spirit which is needed in all followers of Christ. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6 where the prophet is starting out on his ministry to a people who are blind and not searching for God. The search is important. It is not about following rules. It is about the desire and passion of the heart not to lock them out of the kingdom but to entice them into it. If God simply told the people the secrets and then they rejected them then their judgment would be even greater. So in His love He dangles imagery in order for them to search. They can at least say ‘we didn’t respond because we didn’t understand’ rather than ‘we understood but we didn’t want you’.

The parable is the key and once the person begins to ask questions and as they ponder and think through the parable then the key is being turned in the door.

Therefore the key (the parable) opens the door to the secret or also known as the mystery. The secret/mystery is the revelation from God; you would only have known this because God had revealed it to you.

For example in the parable he has just given, the key is: what is the seed? Search for that, find that and it unlocks the whole secret/mystery of the kingdom.

The gospel is an invitation for a pilgrimage. Rule-keepers are one thing but pilgrims are better.

Let’s make sure we are still searching today.