Testimonial Power! Mark 5:1-20

Text: “...Jesus saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee...”

Mark 5:19.

Good morning, delivered Christian!  Once you were blind, now you can see.  Once you were lost, now you are found.  Once you were enslaved by sin, now - through the grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ - you have been set so truly free.  Surely that’s something to tell others about? Praise God!  (Acts 1:8)

“And they overcame him (Satan) by the Blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”  (Revelation 12:11) 

Jesus knew the power contained in a redeemed person’s spoken, or written, testimony; that is why He sent the delivered man in tonight’s Scripture passage home to “...tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”. (V.19)

The Lord could have kept the delivered man with Him and allowed him to give a word of testimony as they travelled through the various regions of Palestine - yet He didn’t, He sent the man home to tell his story.  Why?  What was Christ’s logic in working this particular way?  (Proverbs 5:1)

Testimonial power is at its most potent when given before hearers who have known the individual woman or man BEFORE that person was born again, redeemed by the Lord Jesus; BEFORE Christ Jesus regenerated that individual’s spirit.  (John 3:3-8) (1 Peter 1:23-25)

Why is this so?  Because people who have known us BEFORE we are saved, can actually see the change God has made in us by His transforming grace. 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new.”                  (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Others whom we meet and associate with AFTER we are saved, have no prior experience of us, or of the character we were before Christ Jesus called us to Him by the Gospel message of Salvation.  Therefore, they see only the transformed, regenerate, persons we now are, and have no comparison image of us with which they might evaluate the Spiritual transformation.  (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”  (1 Peter 2:9-12)

Is it any wonder, therefore, that “...all men did marvel...” when the delivered man gave his testimony throughout his home region of Decapolis? (V.20)

These people had probably thrown the demented man out of their region because of his foul spirit and untameable violence. (Vs.2-5)

Now, he was back - fully clothed, in his right mind; and telling all who would listen about the miracle that Christ had done in his life.  (V.15)

The proof of the man’s testimony was stood before them, leaving no one in any doubt of Christ’s redeeming power.  What a testimony!  What a Lord God!  Hallelujah, what a Saviour! Amen! 

“Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods (small g!)?  Who is like Thee, glorious in Holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)

“NOTHING is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“We see, in the last place, from these verses, how com­plete is our Lord’s power and authority over the devil. We see it in the cry of the unclean spirit, “I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.” We see it in the com­mand, “Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit,” and the immediate obedience that followed. We see it in the blessed change that at once took place in him that was possessed: he was found “sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind.” We see it in the petition of all the devils, — “send us into the swine,” confessing their consciousness that they could do nothing without leave. All these things show that one mightier than Satan was there. Strong as the great enemy of man was, he was in the presence of One stronger than he. Numerous as his hosts were, he was confronted with One who could command more than twelve legions of angels. “Where the word of the king is, there is power.” (Ecclesiastes 8:4)

“The truth here taught is full of strong consolation for all true Christians. We live in a world full of difficulties and snares. We are ourselves weak and compassed with infirmity. The awful thought that we have a mighty spiritual enemy ever near us, subtle, powerful, and malicious as Satan is, might well disquiet us, and cast us down. But, thanks be unto God, we have in Jesus an almighty Friend, who is “able to save us to the uttermost.” He has already triumphed over Satan on the cross.”  (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

The PROOF of the Spiritual pudding is in the actual witnessing of a Salvation miracle performed upon some soul of whom we have personal experience.  Let us, therefore, exercise this personal testimonial power at every opportunity, and win others all around us to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thought:  Do YOU think enough of your Salvation to talk about it?

 

Jesus: Ruler of the World! Mark 4:35-41

Text: “And He, (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still! and the wind ceased, and there was great calm.”

Mark 4:39.

Good morning, peace-filled Christian!  You possess perfect peace within because you are a possession of the Prince of Peace - Jesus, the Risen Christ, Supreme Ruler of the world.

Give thanks and praise today, beloved believer, our peace is Eternally secured through the Cross of Christ. Hallelujah!

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth (trusts, and continues to trust) in Thee.”  (Isaiah 26:3)

The wind is a wayward and awesome elemental force; so powerful and contrary that mankind, with all his scientific and technological advances, cannot harness such a whimsical force or deter its destructive whims.  But what is utterly impossible with mankind, is at all times possible with Christ Jesus.  Praise God!  What a Redeemer Lord!  What a Sovereign Saviour indeed!  (Mark 10:27) (Luke 1:37) (Jeremiah 32:17)

Of Will and Wind 

Hark! Hear the wild and whispering wind;

Wailing on her fluted way.

Sobbing through field, town, and grove,

Like soul, demented, from the grave.

Whistling, whispering, screaming shrill,

Rising raucous, rising still.

What awesome quill has penned your moan?

From what huge heart is your dirge torn?

What Godly bellows blasts your force -

Devoid of mercy, frosty fierce?

Who hold your reins; plots your course?

Who wills your whims or knows your source?

Here - then gone to other places,

Free from fetters, ties, or traces.

Blowing, blowing, banging shutters;

Stealing tiles, and bending gutters!

Dancing, dancing, wildly prancing;

Squealing through the knot-holed fencing!

Roaring, roaring, madly soaring;

Bearing whirlwinds - wanton siren!

Unchaste, untamed, unleashed, unnamed -

What umbral regions hast thou reigned?

Maelstrome`d maenad, bacchant blaster,

Who can chide thy blatant bluster?

“Peace, be still!”, a Voice replied!

At once, the tossing tempest died. 

Dr C.K. McClinton

(1984)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“These verses describe a storm on the sea of Galilee, when our Lord and His disciples were crossing it, and a miracle performed by our Lord in calming the storm in a moment. Few miracles recorded in the Gospel were so likely to strike the minds of the disciples as this. Four of them at least were fishermen. Peter, Andrew, James, and John, had probably known the sea of Galilee, and its storms, from their youth. Few events in our Lord’s journeyings to and fro upon earth, contain more rich instruction than the one related in this passage.

“Let us learn, in the first place, that Christ’s service does not exempt His servants from storms. Here were the twelve disciples in the path of duty. They were obediently following Jesus wherever He went. They were daily attending on His ministry, and hearkening to His word. They were daily testifying to the world, that, whatever Scribes and Pharisees might think, they be­lieved on Jesus, loved Jesus, and were not ashamed to give up all for His sake. Yet here we see these men in trouble, tossed up and down by a tempest, and in danger of being drowned.

“Let us mark well this lesson. If we are true Chris­tians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace by the way and glory at the end, —all this our Saviour has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no afflictions. He loves us too well to promise that. By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without it we should never learn. By affliction He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, makes us long for heaven. In the resurrection morning we shall all say, “it is good for me that I was afflicted.” We shall thank God for every storm.  (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900) 

Life’s storms can threaten to blow away our every hope and dream.  Yet, each time such circumstances occur, and they will occur, we have God’s sure promise of lasting stability and an overcomer’s outlook on life.

Fear not therefore, sincere, yet sorely tried Christian, the Lord is ALWAYS merely a prayer away from helping us and blessing us with His perfect peace.  Keep right on looking to Him.  (John 14:1)

Thought:  Mid the storms of life - we have the perfect peace of the risen Christ.

Shadowy Branches Mark 4:30-34

“Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the Holiness of the Lord which He loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange God.”

Malachi 2:11.

Good morning, grieved Christian!  When you visit the place of worship, you grieve.  When you attend your prayer meeting, you grieve.  When you are called to a fellowship meeting at your local church, you grieve; and when you listen to a religious broadcast on the media, you also grieve sorely.  Why do you grieve so sore?  Why is your heart broken by what should be your means of joy and Spiritual strength?  Read on, beloved friend, the Scriptures will reveal all. 

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:32)

FAITH SOWING:  Faith was given by God through the hearing of His Gospel message of Salvation in Christ Jesus Alone.  (Acts 4:12) (John 14:6) (Romans 10:17)

The Gospel seed was sown in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and faith took root and grew by God’s free grace and according to His Eternal Purpose.  We were therefore, born again of God, via the seeds of Calvary Victory, the precious Blood of Christ Jesus the Lamb of God.  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour! 

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (entire lifestyle) received by tradition from your faithers; but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who was preordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”  (1 Peter 1:18-23)

FAITH GROWING:  Believers of “...like precious faith...” began to meet together - to worship God Almighty, in and through Christ Jesus, in the manner God had instructed us so to do in His Word, the Bible. (Acts 2:41-47) (Hebrews 10:19-25)

The mustard seed of our faith began to blossom and grow in God’s grace - the Church was born.  (2 Peter 3:17-18) (2 Peter 1:1-10)

FAITH GLOWING:  The Church continued to grow and expand into every corner of this world of darkness, enlightening the way for all who were drawn to the Holy Spiritual glow.  By God’s Sovereign grace, many were gloriously saved.  Praise God!  (Acts 11:22-24)

Soon, the Church had branches everywhere - and many forgot their lowly mustard seed beginnings and became both arrogant and self-righteous with pride.   They began to go - ‘...their own way...’, seeking to please men instead of God.  (Proverbs 16:18)

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him (Christ Jesus) the iniquity of us all.”  (Isaiah 53:6)

FAITH GOING:  As today’s Bible passage depicts - soon, ‘...fowls of the air...’ began to lodge in the shadows of Church branches - and Christ interprets His own Word as to the nature of these ‘...fowls of the air...’.  (Luke 8:5;11-12)

“And these are they by the way side, where the Word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taken away the Word that was sown in their hearts.        (Mark 4:15)

These fowl birds depicted, take God’s Words out of would-be believer’s mouths and hearts - and sound Scriptural doctrines are deftly devoured by them.  All true believers grieve so very sore when this happens.  True faith must be preached/taught all over again, if these professing pests of apostasy are to be plucked out of fading church congregations.

FAITH BESTOWING:  Farmers take a shotgun to winged pests which plague the harvest crop.  In like manner, Scriptural ‘...fowls of the air...’ are soon cut down and rooted out of the Church - by preaching and teaching Bible truth; that faith-imparting two-edged Sword of the Spirit; and by use of the righteous Hammer of God’s great Word.  (Hebrews 4:12)   (Jeremiah 23:28-32)

J.C. Ryle Comments:

“The visible church of Christ has not yet done growing. Notwithstanding the melancholy apostasy of some of its branches, and the deplorable weakness of others, it is still extending and expanding over the world. New branches have continually been springing up in America, in India, in Australia, in Africa, in China, in the Islands of the South Seas, during the last fifty years. Evils un­doubtedly there are many. False profession and corrup­tion abound. But still, on the whole, heathenism is waning, wearing out, and melting away. In spite of all the predictions of Voltaire and Payne, in spite of foes without and treachery within, the visible church progresses, —the mustard plant still grows.

“And the prophecy, we may rest assured, is not yet exhausted. A day shall yet come, when the great Head of the church shall take to His power, and reign, and put down every enemy under His feet. The earth shall yet be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 2:2) Satan shall yet be bound. The heathen shall yet be our Lord’s inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth His possession. And then this parable shall receive its full accomplishment. The little seed shall become “a great tree,” and fill the whole earth. (Daniel 3:35.) (J.C. Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels 1816-1900)

With the above Biblical process in mind, and the Spiritual remedy at our faithful hand, grieve no longer, Spirit-led Christian - exercise Spiritual pest-control immediately in your location.

Thought:  Foul birds shall only lodge in Christ’s Church branches - as long as true, Bible-believing, born again Christians allow them!  Draw that Sword!  (Heb.4:12)