Mid-Week Moment

April 29, 2012

Pastor R. Greene

“The Marks of the Kingdom”

Mark 1:40-45;  Mark 3:1-6

SOAP:      S:  Scripture     O:   Observations    A:  Application   P:  Prayer

IS THERE ANY PLACE IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEEDS HEALING?            

·      God is the Great Physician

·      He can heal any disease

·      God uses many means for healing us.

S:   Mark 1:40-45

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”⁴¹ Jesus was indignant.   He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴ “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Observations: 

·      Need for healing:  numbness,  unfeeling,  lacking compassionate

·      The leper was an “untouchable”; alone, lonely,  distressed.

·      The leper got down on his knees;   he called on the name of the Lord.

·      The leper believed that Jesus could heal him. (v. 40)

·      “You will never know what God can do until you ask Him. “  (Pastor R.)

·      Jesus was angry at the disease, at sin, at the effects of sin.

·      Jesus was compassionate at the same time.

Mark 3: 1-6

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. ² Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³ Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone”.  ⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Observations: 

·      Jesus’ enemies were looking for something to accuse Him about

·      Jesus was bold in asking the man to stand up in front of everyone.

·      Jesus was angry at the hardness of the Pharisees hearts.

·      The man had to admit his need “He stretched out his hand”.

Application/Action

·      Are you willing to stand up and admit you have a need?

·      Are you willing to pray for others who have needs?

IS THERE ANY PLACE IN YOUR LIFE THAT NEEDS HEALING?

ARE YOU READY TO PRAY OVER THOSE WHO NEED HEALING?