Blog Archives

The Power of God

3/27/2022

  We’re talking about the twelve disciples here in Mark 6:52.  “For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”  Earlier in the same chapter the disciples were worried about feeding the large crowd and Jesus told them (the disciples) to feed them (verse 37).  They took the five loaves and two fishes on hand and fed 5,000 men plus women and children.
          Now they’re alone, in a boat, on rough water in the wee hours of the morning and are really starting to get worked up.  Unbeknownst to them Jesus is keeping an eye on them as only Jesus can. His eyesight reaches far beyond our 20/20 vision.
          He sees their crisis, drops what he is doing and walks on the water to them.  They are terrified, thinks it’s a ghost and start yelling.  Once he’s on ship and has calmed them down all the disciples can think is how amazed they are.  It’s like they were thinking, “What just happened?”  No wonder the Bible records that their hearts were hardened.
          Hardened is easy to understand.  It’s like people who attend church and believe all the stories in the Bible, all the miracles that have taken place; but, they just don’t believe any of that stuff works for them.  Here we are in the 21st Century and don’t believe that God will do any of those things for us.
          Pastor Josh calls it lack of faith in the power of God.  He went on to say that Mark 6:54-56 points out that everyone in Gennesaret knew Jesus.  Immediately they run through the region and begin carrying the sick into the streets.  The townspeople beg Jesus to just come close enough for the sick to touch his garment.  They had already heard the story of the woman with the issue of blood, how she had touched his garment and was healed.  They knew that if it worked for her, it would work for them.  That’s faith in the power of God.
          Our church has a revival coming up April 11-15.  Join us and watch the power of God at work.  “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.  Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:3-5)”

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Repent

3/20/2022

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   It says in Mark 1:4, “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”  Then, we come to Mark 1:15 and it says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel.”  Now Jesus is sending the disciples out two by two, and it says, “And they went out, and preached that men should repent. (Mark 6:12)”.  The message here is one of repentance.
          The sermon text is from Mark 6:7-13.  Jesus has just come back from Nazareth, his hometown.  He prepares and sends his disciples off in pairs.  Before they depart, he gives them power over unclean spirits (verse 7).  His visit to Nazareth was less than cordial (see Luke 4:29).  Hence, the motivation to instruct his disciples to take extra steps to protect themselves.  (Only stay at one place, take only the clothes and sandals you have on, and carry a staff.)
          The disciples are sent out.  They preach. They cast out devils.  They heal the sick.  Now Herod gets wind of this and thinks this might be the works of John the Baptist whom he had beheaded.  Surely John has come back from the dead.  Why did he behead him?  Herod himself believed John to be a just and holy man (verse 20).  It’s just that his present wife, Herodias, put her daughter up to having John beheaded because John told Herod it was unlawful for him to be married to his brother’s wife (Herodias).
          Three remarkable stories.  All centered around repentance.  John preached it.  Jesus preached it.  The disciples preached it.  John was beheaded.  Jesus was crucified.  The disciples all suffered.
But the story of repentance goes on.  Christian churches preach it.  Missionaries carry the messages to lands near and far.  Everyday believers carry it to friends, family, and strangers.  Bibles are given away.  Leaflets are free just by picking one up that sits on shelves and bulletin boards outside stores.--
The story of repentance, asking God to forgive you of your sins.  Wipe your slate clean.  Be born again, a new person.  The rewards here on earth may be fleeting.  But the eternal reward is just that—everlasting and in heaven.

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A Prophet in His Own Country

3/13/2022

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   Our pastor has been taking us on a trip through passages in the book of Mark.  This Sunday it was Mark 6:1-6.  It’s about the time Jesus decided to go to Nazareth, his hometown.  On the sabbath he entered the synagogue and preached.  Of course he would, he had already stated that he had come to seek and to save those which were lost (Luke 19:10).
          By the time he goes to Nazareth Jesus has quite a following.  He has performed miracles, healed the sick, and driven out devils.  He is so sought after that it’s hard for him to find enough space to stand and preach.  Now, he’s home.  To preach in the synagogue.  Friends and neighbors, perhaps family, turn out to hear him.
          But the reception turns out to be a chilly one.  The locals just can’t believe this is the same guy.  After all, Nazareth was a small town and, everyone knew everyone else’s business.  It may be the Jesus they grew up with but it couldn’t be the One spoken of by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 61).  That’s where they drew the line.
          It says in Mark 1:6 that he, Jesus, marveled at their unbelief.  Even Jesus was stunned by their refusal to believe.  There were few enough believers that only a few healings took place.  Such a sad turn of events, the ones Jesus knew from his youth had no faith that he was the redeemer.
          Then and now, not much has changed.  People have a belief in their own power, their own decisions, their own plans.  Accepting Jesus as a personal savior, deciding to be more like him, and following his will; takes an acknowledgement that Jesus is truly the Messiah.  That all power (authority) has been given to Jesus in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18).
          It’s true.  People do have personal power.  It’s also true that Jesus has authority over everything.  It’s how personal power is used that matters.  George Washington Carver answered “What is my success?  It is simple.  The Bible, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)
          “The Bible is the truest utterance that ever came by alphabetic letters from the soul of man, through which, as through a window divinely opened, all men can look into the stillness of eternity, and discern in glimpses their far-distant, long-forgotten home.” –Thomas Carlyle

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Asking Jesus to Leave

3/6/2022

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  The story of the Demoniac of Gadara is in Mark 5.  It’s not a typical story.  This guy is possessed of devils, lives among tombs, runs around naked, and no one can control him.  He probably stinks to high heaven, looks awful, and is feared.  Yet here he is.  As soon as he spots Jesus he runs and worships him.  Did you get that?  He runs and worships Jesus.
          That’s a far cry from the rich young ruler in Mark 10 or Nicodemus in John 3, 7, and 19.  These two had an encounter with Jesus and worried more about earthly matters.  And in doing so put their very souls in jeopardy.  This man, the demoniac, runs and worships Jesus.  He didn’t have time to do anything else because the devils within him were shaken by the appearance of Jesus.  They didn’t want Jesus to torment them.
          Jesus called them out.  They had a short conversation with Jesus and then were cast into the nearby pigs.  The poor old pigs were startled by the devils and ran to their deaths into the sea.  Those tending the pigs immediately ran into town and told everyone what happened.  The interesting part comes when the townspeople come out to where it all took place, spot the former demoniac sitting quietly, clothed and in his right mind.  It appears to mean very little to them.
          Stunned at their financial loss they literally beg Jesus to leave.  No rejoicing takes place because the man has been restored to himself.  In fact, the man says he wants to go with Jesus.  But Jesus tells him to stay and tell his story to his friends.  Be a witness for Jesus.
          These people needed witnessing.  First of all, it’s a pretty good guess that these folks were Gentiles.  Jews didn’t keep pigs.  More than likely, the former demoniac was a Gentile, too.  But yet, he runs and worships him.  It’s a testament to the power of Jesus.  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)”
          Two thousand plus years later, the world hasn’t change much.  We still have the same enemy, Satan.  Praise the Lord that we have a redeemer, Jesus Christ, who will be with us always. (Matthew 28:20)

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Linda Johnson

Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church. She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald.

Andrea Strong

Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.