(October 7, 2009)

Prayer House News!

There are no classes tonight due to Family Week.

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I am doing a one-day prayer conference in Lodi, WI this coming Saturday. I will be leaving from our church at 6:00am and will be returning at 4:00pm. I'll be back in time for SNS. If you are interested in going with me - give me a call at the church office.

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Intimacy With God

continued from yesterday

In the next few verses the scene changes. It’s almost as if a new chapter should start here.

(30) The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

It goes directly from talking about how John the Baptist lost his head over a girl to Jesus’ disciples coming back from a time of ministry. However, from verse thirty on, it’s a continuation of verses 7-13.

Mark 6:7-13 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. (8) These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. (9) Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. (10) Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. (11) And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." (12) They went out and preached that people should repent. (13) They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Actually the account of King Herod’s birthday was interjected. The chapter is more so about the disciples going out in the name of Jesus.

(30) The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. (31) Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (32) So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Here is where we begin to really see the difference between the world of darkness and the world of light. Actually John gives a great description of the world of darkness.

1 John 2:15-16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
NAS

There are three facets of the world of darkness.

1.The lust of the flesh. This was manifested when Herodias’ daughter danced seductively for the King. This spirit is what ultimately cost John the Baptist his head. Lust is the mistreatment of other people.

2.The lust of the eyes. This is materialism. The need to

see things is what captures the heart of the material man. Men love to just look at what they possess. There have been times when I have purchased a car and for a few days I like to just look at it. Women love to window shop. There is something about looking – with the possiblility of one day possessing that really captures our hearts. The is most likely the reason the King threw a party at his palace. He was showing off all of his material goods.

3.The boastful pride of life. Pride is an incredible spirit that can capture a heart. One of the reasons the king had to keep his word and kill John the Baptist was because his dinner guests heard him make the pledge. Now his pride would not allow him to back away from a foolish statement. It is quite common to hear people stand by a rather stupid statement they made because of a refusal to humble themselves and admit to their error.

continued tomorrow

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Medication: A Merry Heart