Excitement in the boat, part 30: seeing is believing

The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. (Luke 8:35 NASB)

Jesus had cast the demons out of the man, they had gone into the pigs, the herd had plummeted over the cliff into the sea, and drowned. The astonished pig herders ran away as fast as they could. They wanted no part of this, and reported the events to everyone who would listen. Of course, the story was so wild that, like we are prone to do, the hearers wanted to see for themselves and headed out. 

What they saw was so dramatic and so incredible that they were frightened. The former wild man was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, sane, and learning to be a disciple. They had never seen anything so dramatic, so convincing. There was no doubt in their minds that Jesus was responsible for these events. 

When people look at us, especially in light of recent time spent with Jesus, what do they see?  Do they see a heart and life that is radically different because of Him? Does our life leave no doubt that Jesus is our Redeemer? Does the power of our unspoken testimony leave people amazed at the power of God at work in our lives?

Pray today for such abandon to our Lord that all will see the evidence of His work in our lives, as well as those of our loved ones, that they will be drawn to the Lord. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/lessons-from-battlefield-jotham-not.html

-------

The intent was to have a different terrorist group for which to pray this week, however the ongoing atrocities from ISIS/ISIL/IS demand that we continue to pray for divine intervention. There is not only an urgent need for transformation for them, but also an urgent need to pray for protection of those targeted by these radical jihadists. 

 Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the Boat, part 29: The Name

And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. (Luke 8:30 NASB)

When the demoniac met Jesus, he fell at His feet. Jesus looked down and said, "What is your name?"  The man answered, "Legion".  Of course, that wasn't the name his parents had given him. It wasn't the name by which God called him. It was actually a word that described his demon-controlled life. He had lived that life for so many years that he had become known by it. He identified with it. It was "who he was" in a terrible, sad sense, at least in his own mind. 

One of the unfortunate things about being held captive by forces other than our Lord is that we find it so hard to break free. Our failure to break free is often interpreted as an inability to be free, and that translates (in our minds) into the idea that we cannot be free. Before we realize what is happening, we begin to identify with our bondage and think, "This is who I am."  What we so often forget is that the things we do are not necessarily the things God intended for us, nor how He sees us. It is not necessarily how He intends to leave us, either. 

On this blessed day, Jesus looked down at this man and said, in essence, "Legion? No that's not who you are. I'm going to remove that and you will be a brand new man. You are about to be the man you were born to be." And so it was. With a word, the Legion was gone, the man was freed, and he was, in a spiritual sense, reborn. He had much to learn about staying free and serving his Redeener, but he was free indeed. 

How does this translate to our lives?  Look at your own life for a moment. What is the thing to which you go back, over and over? For some, it will be bigotry, a critical spirit, gossip. For others, it will be anything from gluttony to sexual sin to fiscal irresponsibility. Just because you do not have the power to break free from that which controls you, from that which is killing you, does not mean that our God lacks power to set you free. He does not. 

Even in his demon-controlled state, this man was able to take the first vital step to freedom, and so can we. He fell at the feet of Jesus, and let Him take it from there. It was an act of absolute surrender, and it was the one thing that had been missing. Neither chains nor shackles could contain him, but one word from God could set him free, and it can do the same for you.  

Today, pray that we and our loved ones will fall at the feet of Jesus in total surrender of who we have become and allow Him to transform us into who we were created to be. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/lessons-from-battlefield-part-5-uzziah.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the boat, part 28: the boat ride home

And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. (Luke 8:37 NASB)

"And He got into a boat and returned."  This little phrase might not seem momentous, but it contains a vital lesson for us. At the beginning of the passage, Jesus had invited the disciples to go for a boat ride. Jesus was the most exciting thing happening in their day, and they were up for anything.  They climbed into the boat and headed out. 

While Jesus was napping in the back, a deadly storm arose and nearly sunk the boat. The disciples, some of whom were professional fishermen, were scared out of their minds. When they awakened Jesus, He commanded the storm to stop, and it did, which frightened them even more. By this time, they were likely exhausted by emotion and the physical effort of trying to save the boat. 

Those disciples may have been ready to head back to shore, but Jesus had a destination in mind and a divine appointment to keep. They sailed on. 

When they arrived at the country of the Garasenes, the narrative changes. Until that point, the disciples were clearly along for the ride. After that, Scripture tells us that Jesus got out of the boat, the demon-possessed man met Jesus, the herdsmen saw Jesus, the townspeople sent Jesus away. There is not another mention of the disciples in this story, nor any indication that they were still there. When Jesus was ready to go home, He "got into a boat", the implication being that this was a different boat than the one in which He arrived. There is no mention of the disciples again until Jesus was enroute to Jairus' house. 

It appears that the disciples, for whatever reason, "dropped Jesus off" at the shore and left him there. Can't you just imagine that conversation? "Hey Jesus, we are just exhausted by the storm. We need to get home, get cleaned up, and get some sleep."  "Jesus, we have had all we can take. We need a break."  We don't know what they said, but Jesus probably said something like, "No problem. I've got this. Catch you later." He let them go, and headed toward the demoniac. 

Jesus didn't need the disciples to handle that legion of demons, but the disciples needed to see Him do it. If they had, perhaps they would have understood His power in the face of evil a little better. Perhaps they'd have had an easier time of it when the crucifixion rolled around. It might have helped them to be faithful. It might have prevented betrayal. Of course, we will never know about those "what-ifs", but you can be sure some things would have been different if they had stayed with Jesus. 

It's easy to look at this story and think that we would never have left Jesus. We would have been so impressed by the calming of the storm that we would have wanted the full experience. Really? Exhausted and battered, possibly injured, we would have wanted to wade into yet another battle? Probably not. 

There is a tendency to think that, once we have survived one of those horrific storms of life, we are done. Maybe that's how the disciples felt. Sometimes the storm is simply a teachable moment that brings us to an oasis of smooth sailing. Sometimes, however, the storm is a teachable moment on the path toward another huge battle (like the one Jesus had with the legion of demons) that will bring a tremendous and decisive victory. Staying the course can take us to something so momentous that it will change our lives completely. Unfortunately, stopping on the other side of the storm will have a life-altering impact, as well. 

There was no way the disciples could have known what would happen, but there is one thing they could have done, and it would have changed everything. They could have stayed with Jesus. They could have waited for Him. 

This waiting and staying is hard. There is no doubt about that. If we want all that Jesus has for us, however, it is not optional. Are you in the midst of a storm? Have you just gotten through a life-storm?  Don't become complacent, thinking the lesson is over at the end of the storm. Don't "take a break" when the storm dies down. Maybe that storm was just a stopping point on the way to something much bigger, something life-changing. The only way to know is to stay close to Jesus, all the way through. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/lessons-from-battlefield-part-4-amaziah.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the boat, part 27: The assignment

But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, "Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39 NASB)

We might well imagine that the newly freed man was eager to stay free. He had been in bondage long enough. His immediate response was to beg to stay with Jesus. He might have thought that Jesus could handle the demons again if they tried to come back, but certainly a part of his desire to stay with Jesus was pure gratitude. 

It may surprise us, but Jesus would not let the man accompany Him on the remainder of the journey. The problem this man had in the past was that, even if his demons were subdued, there was nothing to fill the void when they left. Now, he had Jesus, and Jesus was all he would need to stay free. 

It turned out Jesus had a plan for him that did not involve a boat ride. He was to go home and describe for his family the great things God had done for him. He was to share his testimony with anyone who would listen. In recounting his testimony for everyone at home, he would have repeated reminders of what God had done. 

So he went. Those three words indicate a lifetime of future faithfulness. Jesus said to go, and so he went. Oh that we would be as obedient! Oh that we would do that great work Christ has given us! His parting words were to go into all the world and make disciples, yet we are often hesitant to go to our neighbors and share the good news of Christ. It is sometimes more attractive to go around the world to serve God than to stay home and obey, isn't it?  

This redeemed man proclaimed his good news to everyone, throughout the city. He did not limit himself to the affluent sections of town, nor to the people with comfortable homes and nice children. He went everywhere. That "everywhere" included the nice parts of town as well as the "seamier side" of town. He went to the people who needed Christ the most, and to those who thought they needed Him the least, and so should we. 

How faithful are we in sharing what God has done for us? How quick are we to share His saving work with those we meet?

Pray today that we and our loved ones would be transparent and obedient in sharing Christ with all those He brings our way. 

-------

http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/scarcity-of-words.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the Boat, part 26: The Big Mistake

When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country. The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well. And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned. (Luke 8:34-37 NASB)

We look now at the most heartbreaking part of the story. When the demons went into the pigs, the pigs started running and quickly ran straight off a cliff into the sea. The herd was lost and those pig herders were likely in big trouble with their boss.  Their only defense was an unbelievable tale about a traveling preacher and a naked wild man. Who was going to believe that?  Nevertheless, those pig herders rushed around, telling everyone they saw about what had happened. 

Their story was so compelling that the people went out to the tombs to see for themselves.  Because the pigs were gone, the only evidence was the former demon-controlled man, now fully dressed, fully sane, and soaking up the words of Jesus, seated at His feet. These were likely the same people who had been part of the effort to restrain him. When they saw him fully restored, it frightened them to death. 

Eye witnesses confirmed what they had seen and the story chilled them to the bone. They were in the presence of something they did not understand. About the only thing they did understand was that an entire herd of pigs had run off the cliff into the sea and somehow Jesus was involved. The loss of the pigs was an economic loss to their owners and probably resulted in job loss for all the pig herders. It was a blow to the community as well as the owner. 

If they had stopped long enough to ask what Jesus wanted to show them, what new plan He had for them, which direction they should go, things would likely have been different. Instead, in the midst of an amazing miracle of grace, redemption, and restoration, on a day filled with miracles, an entire town and the surrounding community allowed their fear and uncertainty to lead them into the biggest mistake they would ever make. 

"You need to leave and don't come back," they told Jesus in no uncertain terms. And He did. 

What could be more tragic than to respond to confusing, uncertain, and difficult times by rejecting the One who has it all firmly under control? 

Are you in the midst of hard times? Have you suffered losses? Are there circumstances you don't understand?  It is easy to respond with fear, our only objective to put distance between us and those circumstances. We would do well to be still, sit at the feet of Jesus along with the newly healed, and listen. Dear ones, the time for rejecting is done. Be still. Know that He is God. Fear not. Embrace His plan. 

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

-------

Link to last night's Friday Night With Friends post:  http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/friday-night-with-friends-prayers-for.html

-------

Excitement in the boat, part 25: The Problem of the Pigs

Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission.And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. (Luke 8:32, 33 NASB)

In the preceding verses, we saw the destructive hold the demons had on the man. Though the enemy of our soul can be quite deceptive, yet he is ever bent on absolute destruction. We must understand this without confusion. It is Christ, and Christ alone, whose goal is freedom and abundant life. The goal of the devil is destruction and death.  

The power and the heart of Jesus are clearly demonstrated in the restoration of the possessed man. Loosed from that Legion of demons, he was free to operate from a sound mind and a heart of love for his Redeemer.  No longer was he controlled by the power of darkness, compelled to wander, naked and alone, in the tombs. 

The intent and action of the enemy is clearly highlighted by the problem of the swine. Those demons desired to possess, control, and destroy. What we do not seem to understand is that this legion of demons would find a new target. They would possess someone or some thing. They would find a new object for their terrorism. Their desired goal would be a human, of course, but, in the presence of Jesus, that was not open to them. The pigs were their next best host. In allowing the demons to enter the pigs, Jesus prevented them from entering one (or a legion) of the townspeople. 

His ways are not our ways, as is so clearly demonstrated here in the matter of the pigs. The pigs were lost, and it was a real, and significant, blow to their owner. The herdsmen were upset, and it is understandable. It is likely that none of the townspeople ever realized that, in losing the pigs, they had been spared much torment and grief. 

We have that same difficulty, don't we? Because our vision is finite, we cannot know what the future would have held if not for the intervention of God. It is a common response of mankind to view difficult circumstances with a jaundiced eye, disparaging hard times and resenting the trouble they bring. If we had a glimpse of that which those hard times spared us, we might not be so quick to complain. We might, in fact, embrace our trials with thanksgiving, just as we have been commanded. 

Though we will never know, this side of eternity, what we have been spared, we would do well to thank God for His mercy in choosing freedom for us and sacrificing "the swine" (those things that bring temporary loss, yet in that loss bring protection from something worse).  We do well to thank Him, even when we do not understand. 

As you pray today, thank God for all the things we have been spared by the circumstances God has allowed, regardless of their difficulty. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/warrior-positions.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the boat, part 24: avoiding the abhorrent

They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss. Now there was a herd of many swine feeding there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission. (Luke 8:31-32 NASB)

The legion of demons was not at all stupid. It was apparent to them that the Son of God had arrived, and He was in charge. They knew they were about to be thrown out, with no coming back. They had been commanded to leave the man before, but had always returned stronger and more numerous. There would be none of that this time.  They knew that for sure. 

Demons exist, at least in part, to torment mankind. They have rejected the service of Almighty God and have ended up serving the evil one. It seems that, in leaving the man, the demons had two options. They could go back to the pit of hell or find another being to possess. This should be significant to us, but I have never heard anyone mention this next point. Hell is a horrible place. It is so dreadful that even the Legion of demons begged Jesus not to send them back there! 

If demons abhor the possibility of going to hell, we should, too. If demons abhor the possibility of going to hell, we should be filled with such concern for those we love (as well as a lost and perishing world) that we pray non-stop that they would find a saving relationship with our Lord. 

In a time when the forces of evil have been so romanticized as to seem attractive, we need to reconsider the difference between light and darkness, good and evil. We need look no further than the naked, raging man in the tombs to see that we want no part of that darkness, and we should live accordingly. 

We are called to be the light in a dark and lonely world. Is our light a warm, welcoming glow? If it were, perhaps it would be more attractive to those who have been held captive in the darkness for far too long. Dear ones, let's be sure we live in such a way that it is obvious we believe the faith we claim. Only then will we draw others to the Lord we say we love. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-wonder-girls-take-walk.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the boat, part 23: Empty Space

Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. (Luke 8:30-31 NLT)

Legion. Any way you define that, it's a large number. The Roman military organization was built on a precise and very interesting system that is too detailed for this post. Suffice it to say that a legion, including both soldiers and the ancillary troops needed to support them, consisted of just under 6,000 men. Imagine, then, a legion of demons! 

You may be wondering how someone ends up with 6,000 demons inside, wrestling for control. Jesus' explanation for this is recorded in Matthew's gospel. 

 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45 NLT)

An evil spirit torments a person and then leaves, either because the tormented person or someone else commands it to leave. The tormented one feels great relief but does nothing to fill the void left in his heart and mind. The evil spirit, always seeking more territory, finds seven more evil spirits, invites them to join him, and returns. Finding the void left by his leaving still empty, he moves back in with all his evil companions. The next time there is a struggle to banish these spirits, eight spirits leave and return to the unfilled void with seven new companions each. Suddenly, there are not eight demons but 64. [(1+7) x 8=64] it doesn't take long to have a legion of evil spirits, does it?

There is one key factor in the leaving and returning process, and that is unfilled space. The evil spirits can return because the space they left remains empty. What then can protect the tormented one from further torment? Filling the heart-space with something more powerful is the only hope. Jesus. Only Jesus. 

When we are freed from those things that oppress us, whether it be a recurring sin or an evil spirit, the only way to stay completely free is to fill our hearts with Christ, flood our minds with the truth of Scripture, and immerse ourselves in the relationship only God can provide. 

Have you struggled with something over and over again? Perhaps the problem is empty space. Maybe what is needed is a filling of that space with all that our Lord offers us. What Jesus promised was true freedom, and it is available today. Choose freedom. 

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36 NASB)

-------

Link to last night's post is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-stepping-stone.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the boat, part 22: What Kind of Free?

For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. (Luke 8:29 NLT)

We see here that the evil spirit had such control of the man (actually spirits, as he had many spirits in him) that they could take control of him. Because he had become so demon-controlled that he was considered completely out of control and a danger to himself and others, there had been considerable effort made toward subduing him. At times, he had been under guard, both chained and shackled. Unbelievably, he was able to break the chains, escape from the guards, and run into the wilderness. Finally, it appears, those trying to subdue him gave up and allowed him to run wild among the tombs. 

In a way, the demons helped set him free from those bonds. He was free from chains and shackles and guards.  He was free to run wild and naked in the tombs. But what kind of freedom is that? He had no comfort, no love, no relationships.  He was at the mercy of the demons. 

Then Jesus came to set him free. When Jesus came, the power of those evil spirits was broken and he could be free indeed. No more tombs, no more nakedness, no more hunger and isolation. He was free to live the life he was created to have, and free to resume society and the comforts of community. He was free indeed. 

Which freedom do you suppose he preferred? Of course, the freedom only Jesus gave. That freedom came with a new Master, but One who loved him and had only good plans for him, and it was the freedom he chose to keep. 

We do have a choice about freedom, you know. We can reject the freedom that Christ offers and cling to the appearance of freedom the world offers. In so doing, we may shed some "shackles" on our behavior choices, but what we lose is so much more precious, so much more costly.  

What freedom do we choose?  What freedom do our loved ones choose?  Pray today for hearts that seek the true freedom that only Christ can bring. 

-------

Link to last night's blog: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/on-life-gaining-and-losing-it.html

-------

Our terrorist/terror group of the week is the former ISIS, now the Islamic State. Their leader is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. To learn more about them and their goal of spreading radical jihad and sharia rule throughout the world, click here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/radical-obedience-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi.html

Excitement in the boat, part 19:

And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. (Luke 8:27 NASB)

The word translated as "possessed" is echō. This is a word used numerous times throughout Scripture. The same word was used in Luke 5 to indicate that the Son of Man has (echō) authority to forgive sin. It is a word that indicates having something in such a way that it is owned or possessed. It is also used to indicate something that is held in the hand or worn (like a cloak) or something to which we are joined in such a way that it becomes a part of us. The authority of Jesus over sin was not just a momentary authority. He possessed it in such a way that it was clearly an inherent part of who He was. 

In that same way, the demonic influences had gained such control over this man that they, too, had become joined to him. It was as if they owned him. They were so joined to him that they could direct his actions and, at least to a degree, control his thoughts. In fact, they controlled him to such a point that he was living in a dreadful condition among the tombs. 

Here is the amazing thing. Even with the demons controlling him, the man met Jesus as soon as He stepped onto the land. The demons may have ripped him from his home, forced him into the land of the dead, and ripped away every shred of decency, but they could not keep him from Jesus. Demonic power is certainly real and strong, but it is not absolute. In the presence of Jesus, that power can be broken. In the presence of Jesus, that power is broken. 

The question we must answer is what controls us?  Is it the power of God manifested by His Son Jesus? Is it the power of sin and darkness exerted by those demons in the cemetery? If we allow it, we can be so echō, so possessed by the Spirit of God and joined to Him, that He becomes an intrinsic part of us, directing our thoughts and actions. Can you imagine being so filled with the Spirit of God, so filled with His love, that it is evident in every word and action?  That is exactly how we are supposed to live. But do we?  

Pray today that we and our loved ones would be so filled with the love and Spirit of God that all around us would be drawn to Jesus and that His grace and mercy would flow from us to bring healing to a wounded world. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/treasure-on-battlefield.html

-------

We are still praying for Hamas this week, as well as for the peace of Israel. One thing I'm praying for the leaders of Hamas is not only conviction and transformation but weariness in fighting and a desire to do good rather than further destruction. 

 

Excitement in the boat, part 18: Staying in the Boat

And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. (Luke 8:27 NASB)

So that we are clear on this, the demon-possessed man was not living in the kind of pastoral, garden cemetery to which we are accustomed in the rural South. This was an area of above-ground tombs consisting of pale stone boxes filled with bones. Spaced fairly close together, there was no grass, landscaping, or trees to soften the impact of the boxes of bones. It was a bleak and somewhat barren place. 

Now that you have the scenery in mind, consider the first part of this verse. When He (Jesus) came out of the boat and onto the land, He (Jesus) was met by the demon-possessed man.  Where were the disciples?  It appears that they were still in the boat!  They made the voyage, survived the storm, arrived at the destination, and missed the point of the whole journey. 

Why?? It is hard to imagine why they would endure all they had endured only to skip the best part. Perhaps they were uncomfortable with the cemetery or afraid of the wild man. Maybe they were simply worn out from the trip. There is no indication of why they stayed in the boat, but it appears they did.  How tragic to make the journey yet miss the exciting ending!

Friends, it is far too common and far too easy to be sidelined by fear and fatigue. When God calls us to something, He will carry us all the way through. We must not fail to complete that which Christ has laid out for us. 

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. (1 Corinthians 9:24 NASB)

There is no chance of the prize if we fail to finish the race, and what a tragedy to miss it!  Are you tempted to take the safe way and stay in the boat? As the disciples had already learned, the boat was not safe. The only safe place was with Jesus. 

The only safe place is with Jesus, and the only prize is at the end of the race. We must endure to the end. 

Prsy that we and our loved ones will persevere in faithfulness despite fear, discomfort, or weariness. Pray for a willingness to endure to the end. 

-------

http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/tbt-sharing-light.html

-------

We are still praying for Hamas this week, as well as for the peace of Israel. One thing I'm praying for the leaders of Hamas is not only conviction and transformation but weariness in fighting and a desire to do good rather than further destruction. 

Excitement in the boat, part 17: the Gadarenes

Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs. (Luke 8:26-27 NASB)

After sailing into the storm and watching the miraculous intervention of Jesus, the disciples may have felt they had had enough of adventure and were ready to go home. However, they were mostly young men, likely less than 21 years of age, and as young men, they were more likely ready for all the adventure Jesus could bring. Adventure was exactly what they found in the land of the Gerasenes. 

As soon as the boat landed and Jesus disembarked, a man came to meet Him. This was no ordinary man. He was demon-possessed, and had left his home in the city to live among the tombs. He was completely naked and had been for some time. 

Pause for a moment and consider the sight that greeted these young men. The man was not clean or well-groomed, and he likely smelled terrible. His hair and beard were likely disheveled, his skin not just dirty but deeply soiled and dark from exposure to the sun, with not a stitch of clothing. 

For the young men, mostly reared in small fishing villages, he must have been both a novel and shocking sight. Their first reaction might have been surprise or fear, but it was not likely one of compassion. This man, however, was the reason for their trip. He was the very unlikely inspiration for the journey through the storm and the reason they had risked their lives. They probably didn't realize this at first sight, but can't you imagine their thoughts if they had? "This?? We risked everything for this crazy man?" 

They saw the demoniac in the tombs. Jesus saw the man he would soon become. 

Most of us would have preferred to stay on the shore rather than sail into contact with the wild man in the tombs. Jesus, however, was willing to go to the extreme for this one in order to bring healing and freedom. 

What about us? What will we risk for the unlikely ones? How willing are we to reach out to those who are so very different in the name of Jesus? 

As we pray today, remember the ones in the most desperate situations, whether because of their own bad choices, demonic possession, mental illness, or unexpected circumstances that have come their way. Pray that we and our loved ones will see the unlovely with the eyes of Christ and willingly work as His hands and feet to bring hope and healing their way. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/mountains-and-valleys.html

-------

We are still praying for Hamas this week, as well as for the peace of Israel. One thing I'm praying for the leaders of Hamas is not only conviction and transformation but weariness in fighting and a desire to do good rather than further destruction. 

Excitement in the boat, part 16: the destination

Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. (Luke 8:26 NASB)

At the beginning of this passage, we saw that Jesus, on an ordinary day that was just like all the other days of His preaching/teaching tour, called the disciples to join them in the boat. The disciples went with, apparently, no knowledge of the destination. Along the way, a storm erupted and they found themselves in a fight for their lives. Before they knew it, they were brought to a deeper understanding of Jesus by the miraculous  intervention He performed when He stilled the storm. 

The story could end right there, and it would be a compact vignette with the powerful truth of God's authority and might. It was not, however, the end of the boat ride, nor of the story. When the storm was stilled, the journey continued. 

At last, they came to the country of the Gerasenes, the destination all along. The storm was just a stopping point along the way. We, too, have a destination at the end of our lives which is far different from the region of the Gerasenes, but sometimes we are so distracted by the storms of life that we forget that the storm was not our destination. On the sea of life, the other shore, our heavenly home, is the destination. That whirlwind in the midst of the sea is just a temporary pause along the way. 

We can well imagine how badly those disciples wanted out of the storm while they were in its midst. Once it was over, did any of the disciples regret going through the storm? After what they had seen, it is not likely. For the rest of their lives, it was a story about Jesus and His power that they retold time and time again. Rather than regret, they relished the time in the storm because of what they saw Jesus do on their behalf. 

Have you experienced a storm of life? Are you in the midst of one now?  Keep your eyes on Jesus and call out to Him. The Master Over Wind and Waves can handle any storm that comes your way. On the other side of the storm, you will be so surprised. The story of the storm will be like a monument to grace that you will retell for years to come. 

Excitement in the Boat, part 13: Fear and Amazement

And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" (Luke 8:25 NASB)

Fearful and amazed are not two words we usually put together. In this case, phobeō, translated as "fearful", is used to indicate the kind of reverential fear and awe that makes you want to run and hide from a holy God. When that storm stopped and calm descended, the disciples recognized they were in the presence of Someone they did not understand. Jesus was more than they thought. He was greater than they had realized. He had more power than they had imagined. 

thaumazō is translated as "amazed". They were filled with wonder at what they had seen.  The disciples had been in the constant presence of Jesus for quite some time. They had seen Him cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead. They had listened to countless sermons. Despite their familiarity with Jesus, they had not quite grasped His power nor the extent of it until that exciting boat ride. When that wind stopped blowing, they knew He was much more than an entertaining preacher. 

That day, He became their Savior for the first time.  He literally saved their physical life. Before long, He would save their spiritual life, their soul, as well. They didn't yet understand how much He would do for them, but truth began to dawn in the boat that day, and fearful reverence mingled with complete astonishment. 

We are so much like those disciples, aren't we? After years of church services and Bible studies, mission trips and good deeds, we sometimes think our Lord is limited to our routine, but He is not. Perhaps we need a little "excitement in the boat" to remind us of Who Jesus is and the power He has. It is one of the benefits of adversity. It gives us a fresh opportunity to see God at work, and provides us with a little phobeō and thaumazō of our own. 

Today, pray that, in the midst of the routines of our lives, our Lord would demonstrate His might and power in such a decisive way that we and our loved ones will be filled with phobeō and thaumazō, and that we will never be the same again. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-ripe-tomato.html

-------

The terrorist prayer focus this week is Hamas. Pray that they will begin to value life, that their efforts at terror will not prosper, and that their social welfare programs will be more important to them than their costly efforts at destruction. Pray for the kind of Damascus road experience that turned a Saul into a Paul. 

Excitement in the boat, part 12: where is your faith?

And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" (Luke 8:25 NASB)

Jesus asked the disciples an interesting question. "Where is your faith?" When the hurricane/storm threatened to swamp their boat, they were badly frightened and finally turned to Jesus for help. He moved closer to them, spoke to the storm, and calmed the seas. 

The disciples were as frightened of the power of Jesus as they were of the storm. "Who is this man?" They were asking. They had been with Jesus nonstop, heard Him teach countless times, heard Him claim to be the Messiah. They had proclaimed their faith in Him. When the hard time arrived, however, that faith in Jesus was in short supply. 

They had enough faith for listening, but not for living. When they needed their faith in Christ to see them through a crisis, they didn't seem to have enough. Why not?  Where was their faith? Their faith was in their own ability to deal with the trouble they faced, not in Jesus and His power to see them through. 

It's a good question for us, as well. Where is our faith? In ourselves or in Jesus?  

Pray today that we and our loved ones will place our faith securely in the One who has power over any storm we face, rather than in ourselves. 

-------

Link to last night's blog post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/08/friday-night-with-friends-whose-want-do.html

-------

The terrorist prayer focus this week is Hamas. Pray that they will begin to value life, that their efforts at terror will not prosper, and that their social welfare programs will be more important to them than their costly efforts at destruction. Pray for the kind of Damascus road experience that turned a Saul into a Paul. 

Excitement in the boat, part 10: Prompt Pbedience

They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. (Luke 8:24 NASB)

The amazing thing about this passage is not that Jesus took a nap, that there was a bad storm, or that the disciples were frightened by the severity of the wind and waves. It is not even that they turned to Jesus and He rebuked the storm. The demonstration of His power is in this one little word: pauō. This is the word translated as "they stopped".  The near-fatal storm stopped abruptly when Jesus commanded it to stop. How amazing is that kind of instant obedience? Very!

The thing we often overlook is our responsibility to obey in like manner. Jesus said that, if we love Him, we will obey Him. 

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. (John 14:15 NASB)

Just as the cessation of the storm in obedience to His command demonstrated His great power, our quick obedience also demonstrates the power of God in our lives. Our lack of obedience says something about His power in our lives, as well. 

The commands of Christ were not meant to be merely red letters in a leather-bound book. They are life words, and were given for us to obey. In no way are they considered optional, at least by Jesus. Things like loving our enemy, fasting, turning the other cheek, and sacrificial, suffering service are not popular today. They may not be popular, but neither are they optional for those who love Jesus. 

If prompt obedience to the direction of Jesus demonstrates not only His power in our lives but also our love for Him, what does our own obedience demonstrate? Can the world see the power and love of God in us by the way we obey? 

Pray today that we and our loved ones would be so compelled by our love for God that it is evident to all by the quality and promptness of our obedience. 

-------

Link to last night's post is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/window-seat.html

-------

The terrorist prayer focus this week is Hamas. Pray that they will begin to value life, that their efforts at terror will not prosper, and that their social welfare programs will be more important to them than their costly efforts at destruction. Pray for the kind of Damascus road experience that turned a Saul into a Paul. 

Excitement in the Boat, part 9:

They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. (Luke 8:24 NASB)

The word translated as "rebuked" is an interesting choice of words. It is epitimaō, and is defined as "to charge". It is used to mean "to show honor" or "to adjudge". Digging a little deeper, we find that it comes from two roots words. The first is translated as "chamberlain" and it indicates the one in the service of the King who is in charge of an area. The second root is used to indicate "to honor" or "to fix the value of". None of that sounds much like what we think of as rebuking, does it?

When Jesus stepped up to speak to the storm, he was announcing His authority as the One who was in charge. He was not only commissioned by the King, He was the King. In reminding the wind and the waves of Who He was, He also reminded them of the value of the cargo in the boat. In a personification of the storm, He was saying, "I'm in charge here. You do not want to mess with this boat. The price is way too high.  Stop this now."  

Let's be sure we get this, because it is breathtakingly beautiful. Jesus was the one in charge of the boat and anything that affected it. The disciples were the "cargo" for which He cared. When He addressed the storm, He was commanding it to be still on the basis of His authority and because of the high value He placed on the lives of His disciples. Of inestimable value and dearly loved, those disciples were far too precious to have the storm destroy them. 

As a disciple of Jesus today, we can put our own names in that sentence. 

Of inestimable value and dearly loved, you are far too precious to Jesus for Him to allow the storms of life to destroy you. 

He is with us, He in in charge, he loves us, and He is protecting us. 

Dear ones, trust the One who loves you most, and pray that He will still the storms that assail you and your loved ones. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-back-tree.html

-------

The terrorist prayer focus this week is Hamas. Pray that they will begin to value life, that their efforts at terror will not prosper, and that their social welfare programs will be more important to them than their costly efforts at destruction. Pray for the kind of Damascus road experience that turned a Saul into a Paul. 

-------

Excitement in the boat, part 8: He got up

They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. (Luke 8:24 NASB)

"And He got up." What beautiful words!  The disciples found themselves in a desperate situation and in grave danger. They had done all they could do and failed to turn the situation around. At last, they called on the only One with the power and authority to intervene. Jesus. 

As soon as they called to Jesus, an amazing thing happened. He got up. There was no delay and no rebuke. He simply responded by getting up from His resting place. Did Jesus need a change of position to still the waves? No, He did not. His change of position moved Him into the midst of the disciples, who were terrified and desperate. When called upon, Jesus moved to be close to them. 

Selah. Consider this a moment. 

The disciples were in the front of the boat and Jesus was in the back sleeping. When they called to Him, He got up and moved closer to them. What a relief that must have been! His presence was both reassurance and comfort. He cares. He is here. 

We, too, can experience that same comforting presence because of the Holy Spirit. Are you facing a situation that threatens to overwhelm you? Call out to Jesus.  He will respond, and the first action He will take is to move a bit closer. Pause and sense His nearness. Isn't that reassuring? He is in the midst of your situation and will move. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones will call out to Jesus in our distress and sense His comforting presence in response. 

-------

The terrorist prayer focus this week is Hamas. Pray that they will begin to value life, that their efforts at terror will not prosper, and that their social welfare programs will be more important to them than their costly efforts at destruction. 

-------

The link to last night's post is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/radical-obedience-hamas-and-khaled.html

Excitement in the Boat, part 6:

But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. (Luke 8:23-24 NASB)

There can be a vast difference between the reality of a situation and our perception of that situation.  Scripture tells us that the disciples were kindyneuō, "in danger".  This was an absolutely real danger, but what kind of danger?  Their boat was caught in a whirlwind or hurricane, and was tossed about. The waves were chaotic and water was pouring into the boat, which was beginning to be swamped. The immediate danger was that the boat would sink and they would be thrown into the water. Once they landed in the water, there would be a different set of dangers, but they were not in those dangers yet. 

The disciples' perception about their situation was apollymi. This word is translated as "perishing" but, according to Vine's Expository Dictionary, it is used to mean "ruin" or "loss of well being."  Their perception was that they were about to be utterly destroyed, not just losing their life but everything that mattered, and they were terrified. 

There is a vast difference between the risk of falling out of the boat and the risk of losing everything, including your life.  In the midst of a horrific storm, they both look very much alike. Once the falling out of the boat was accomplished, the risk would be loss of life and all that was dear. The disciples were so busy anticipating the worst that it seemed to be already upon them. A boat in danger of sinking is not yet a sunken boat, but it "felt like it".  

Why does this difference in perception matter?  The action required for a boat about to be swamped in a storm is different than that required when a boat is gone and you are tossed into the sea. Overwhelming fear and misperception can cause you to start throwing things overboard and clinging to life rafts when what is actually needed is a big bucket with which to bail the water. 

The good news is that they, in their despair, took their fears and their desperate situation to Jesus, who readily intervened. It was the right decision, and might have been made earlier.  It should have been made earlier. Regardless, once the help of God was sought, it was received, and the storm was stilled. 

When Jesus spoke to the storm, He stilled the waves and the wind. He did not miraculously empty the boat of the water with which those raging waves had filled it. The disciples still needed a big bucket with which to bail out the water, and there was more water to bail because of their delaying in calling out to Jesus. 

What does all this mean for us?  It is important that we correctly assess the danger in the midst of the storms of life so that we can take the appropriate action in response. It is even more important that we take those storms of life to Jesus, who can still the storm with a word. Stilling the storm does not mean there are no sequelae with which to deal, but the timing of our surrender of the situation can result in more (or less) "water to bail". 

Dear ones, if you find yourself in a life-storm, don't wait until you are terrified and paralyzed with fear. Take it to Jesus now, invite Him to intervene, and allow Him to quiet your storm. You may still need to bail, but the sooner you invite Him into your storm, the less water you will need to bail. 

-------

Link to last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-city-cousin-and-country-cousin.html

-------

Our terrorist prayer focus this week is Abubakar Shekau. He is the leader of Boku Haram, a radical terrorist organization operating in northeastern Nigeria. He is particularly fond of kidnapping and murder, having kidnapped nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls (many who are still in captivity). Earlier this week, his forces captured a civilian-controlled town, murdered at least 100 people, and made the town his new headquarters. More than 22,000 have been killed in battle between his forces and the Nigerian military in the last few years. Earlier this week, two bombs in Abuja killed dozen more. Boku Haram is suspected. Please pray for an end to his reign of terror and for salvation for him and his men.  

Excitement in the boat: The big storm. Part 3

Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out. But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. (Luke 8:22-23 NASB)

Sometimes we forget that Jesus was both divine and human. He had human needs like food, water, and sleep. He didn't have much time for sleep, it seems, for he was indefatigable in ministry, but the boat ride across the Sea of Galilee seemed like a good time for a quick nap. Do not forget that he was in the company of experienced and professional fishermen who had spent most of the lives in boats on that very Sea. There was little on the water that they could not handle. 

It turned out that there was something they couldn't handle, however. A storm arose that was unlike anything to which they were accustomed. The wind was so fierce that their boat was tossed about, filling with water, and about to be swamped. Despite their numbers, the disciples couldn't get the water out and they soon realized they were in serious danger. 

You may wonder why they waited so long to ask Jesus for help.  They had seen quite a few miracles by this point, so surely someone in the group would have thought, "Jesus can help!" Perhaps it was compassion for His fatigue, but more likely it was pride that prevented them from asking Him for help. Jesus was, after all, "just a carpenter". They were professionals, and in their element. They had this. Until they realized they didn't. Like most of us, for a moment, they must have forgotten that the sleeping form stretched out in the back of the boat was God wrapped in skin. He was the one who really "had this" and could deal with the danger. 

Isn't that just like us?  We start out with Jesus on what seems like a routine task. He's seemingly quiet and out of sight, (thought not out of control), and suddenly, what seems like a disaster erupts. What do we do? Try to manage it. We try every remedy we can dream up until we are exhausted and defeated. The thing that is so foolish is that the only sensible solution is right there with us all the time! Jesus. If we simply took our problems to God at the very beginning, how much suffering we could be spared! 

Dear ones, are you overwhelmed with the enormity of your problems? Do you face a task that is too big for you? Is it seemly impossible to overcome? Call out to Jesus, and let Him do what only He can do. He can help you, and He will help you. You have only to ask. 

Pray today that we and our loved ones with relinquish pride and turn to Jesus instead of ourselves, for the help we so desperately need. Pray that we will see that Jesus is the help we need. 

-------

Our terrorist prayer focus this week is Abubakar Shekau. He is the leader of Boku Haram, a radical terrorist organization operating in northeastern Nigeria. He is particularly fond of kidnapping and murder, having kidnapped nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls (many who are still in captivity). Earlier this week, his forces captured a civilian-controlled town, murdered at least 100 people, and made the town his new headquarters. More than 22,000 have been killed in battle between his forces and the Nigerian military in the last few years. Two bombs yesterday in Abuja killed dozen more. Boku Haram is suspected. Please pray for an end to his reign of terror and for salvation for him and his men.