Nothing Could Stop Them

Acts 5:12-20 KJV

Help My Unbelief!

".... but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24

 

Can you imagine telling Jesus, "if you can." There's is no "if" to it. He can do all things! He is true God. We know this; yet, we don't know it. Our faith is lacking.

 

Because we are not able to do something in this world, our faith or lack of faith does not allow us to believe that Jesus can do it. It may well be that our faith is lacking because our view of him is only of a man who walked this earth 2000 years ago.

 

Jesus, as true God, can do all things. But, that does not mean he will do all things. He serves according to the will of our Father in heaven; just as we should. Pray then for all things to come about according to God's will. Trust that God has had pity on us, has helped us and will help us according to His good will.

 

Let us not pray, "If you can." Let us pray that God would help us to believe and trust Him even in our unbelief and that His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Demons Recognized The Power Of Jesus

    

The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go

into them.” 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.

Mark 5:12-1

     When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 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!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

     Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

     “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”  And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. (Mark 5:6-10 NIV)

In the Gospel of Mark, it is the demons, not humankind, who first recognize Jesus. They recognize that he is the Son of God and has power over them. They know that he has all power over them. In the demon possessed man, they beg him to allow them to enter into a herd of about 2000 pigs. This herd of about 2000 then rushed over a steep bank and drowned themselves in a lake.

You would think, the people would be happy that these 2000 demons were no longer in their presence. They were no longer torturing the man that they had come out of. But, no! They are not happy at all. They want Jesus to go away. The man who was healed of the demons is pretty happy though. He recognizes who this Jesus is and he wants to follow him. Jesus said no. "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." (Mark 5:19)

The demons recognizes the power of God in Jesus and were afraid. The man who was healed recognized his power and honored him, wanting to follow him. But, the people who were afraid because personal property; their pigs were lost wanted nothing to do with Jesus.  

When was the last time we chose unclean personal property over Jesus?

May God help us to understand the real power of Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J