Gospel Living

Learning from Christ's Ministry | Mark 3:7–12 Shaun Marksbury | Morning Service | 22 April, 2017 This passage gives us a review of all that we’ve seen in the ministry of Christ until this point.  It will serve as a launching point for the disciples in the next passage, for Christ is about to send them out in His Name.  Just as they still had to learn from His ministry, so do we, if we are His disciples.  We will see the wisdom of our Lord, the wonders of our Lord, and the warfare of our Lord. Video: https://youtu.be/ZGhyQaeYjuM Audio: http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=426171114484 Notes PDF: http://playpdf.sa-media.com/media/426171114484/426171114484.pdf Sermon Notes Learning from Christ's Ministry | Mark 3:7–12 Shaun Marksbury | Morning Service | 22 April, 2017 I.                Introduction Steve Lawson, preaching on this text, notes that this is the mi...

And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. … 12  So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13  And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. God announced His message with miracles, both in Jesus Christ and in His apostles.  Jesus appointed these twelve back in chapter three, and now we come to the reason He originally called them (3:13–15).  They’ll be His “sent ones” (or the apostles from the Greek).  While other apostles appear in Scripture, these are in that special category of specifically being sent by Jesus Christ, those who would later be witnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:22).  As such, Jesus would give them authority that no other disciple would have.  His apostles could work supernaturally.   Throughout the Book of Mark, we’ve seen the wonders of Jesus, but the idea that He could distribute His p...

3            When my enemies turn back,             they stumble and perish before your presence. 4            For you have maintained my just cause;             you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. 5            You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;             you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6            The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;             their cities you rooted out;             the very memory of them has perished. ...

11  And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12  And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. Popular cinema and other forms of media have portrayed spiritual warfare as a mystical extension of human conflict.  Humans fight with swords and fists in the mud, while angels might do so in aerial displays of grace and power.  Christians are taught to involve themselves by speaking words binding evil spirits until supernatural authorities can cart away the tempters.  When compared to such rhetoric, true spiritual warfare may not seem as spectacular, but it is far more effective. It’s the presence of Jesus that brings demons to their knees.   True spiritual warfare is fought by Christ and His Word.  That is why we are commanded to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph 6:10).  We can stand only in the armor He provides us (vv. 11–13).  Our only...

“ 23  And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24  ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.’ 25  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ 26  And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27  And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ 28  And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.” Mark’s Gospel is shorter, but it doesn’t lack in supernatural accounts.  This section demonstrates the truth we highlighted yesterday—Jesus is authoritative, and Mark records Jesus's first miracle as authority over demonic forces.  The Romans knew of demonism, and Jesus wields command over th...

The black-and-white elements of 1 John will help us in spiritually confusing times.  According to John, we must test to know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.  As such, I have two simple main points from the text: 1) we must test the spirits, and 2) we can know the difference.  Pastor Shaun Marksbury | Cornerstone Church of Savannah |  http://cornerstonesavannah.org/

The good folks at the Master's Seminary want to see the Christ's church as biblically-oriented and God-honoring as possible. As such, they have been placing their class lectures online for free.  This act of love provides wonderful opportunities for discipleship, training, and review. This post highlights the second of four theology classes offered by the seminary (the first is here ). Here are a few questions these videos will help you answer: Who was Jesus of Nazareth? (Christology, the largest section) What claims did He make? Why did He come to earth and die? What false beliefs and heresies about Christ have arisen over the years? What prophecy points to Him? Who is the Holy Spirit? (Pnuematology) Or, should the question be what is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? What does it mean to be indwelt by the Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit work through the Charismatic-type churches? What are angels and demons? (Angelology) Who is Satan, for th...

Can Believers Bind Satan? http://www.gty.org/Blog/B130528 There is pervasive confusion among many modern evangelical churches—especially those that are charismatic—regarding Satan's activities and operations. Modern worship anthems that are focused on spiritual warfare tell Christians to go to "the enemy's camp" and take "back what he stole" from them. Prayers are offered up to put hedges around believers. Furthermore, it is widely thought that the louder and more fervent the prayer, the more effective it is for binding Satan. But is this really the true role of Christians in the realm of spiritual warfare? In the following audio, John MacArthur shares from his own experiences with bizarre spiritual warfare and provides valuable biblical insight into how Christians should, and should not, respond to the satanic realm. The Strange Fire conference will provide much-needed clarity and correction to the mass confusion on the evangelical landsc...