Bible Lesson: Miracles Of The Power Of The Holy Spirit- Evil Spirits Cast Out By An Unknown Follower Of Jesus.
Bible Text: Mark 9:38-40 KJV (Luke 9:49-50)
38 And John answered Him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me.
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Mark 9:38-40 NLT
38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”
39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in My name will soon be able to speak evil of Me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us.
The beloved John, a Son of Thunder, was so very eager to tell the Lord, of his encounter with an unknown exorcist.
Mark 9:38 KJV
“...Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us.:”
This occurrence is so like that of another Son of Thunder, and his zealousness.
Matthew 18:21,22 KJV
21 Then came Peter to Him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Oh how the flesh, loves to glorify itself! And not just in the presence of men, but before the very presence of God.
Isn't there something intrinsically wrong with that?
The “one,” who should receive “any,” praise and glory, is certainly not man, but God!
Psalm 69:34 KJV
Let the heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
Psalm 107:32 KJV
Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.
Psalm 117:1 KJV
O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people.
Psalm 135:1 KJV
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise Him, O ye servants of the LORD.
Psalm 150:1 KJV
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power.
Revelation 19:1 KJV
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God:
The mote (spec of dust) versus the beam, the cart before the horse, flesh always gets it wrong.
As the people of God, we are always in danger of becoming a spiritual body of do gooders, doing more harm than good, when and if we are in the “flesh, and not in the “spirit.”
This was John's enigma, seemingly doing God's service, while doing the Kingdom of God harm.
Matthew 26:41 KJV
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Who was this “non-credentialed” itinerant preacher? John knew, he certainly was not part of the disciples, or followers of Jesus, that he knew of!
He was a man, who knew two things.
One, he believed Jesus to be the very Son of God.
John 3:2 KJV (Nicodemus)
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him.
Two, he knew by the power of Jesus name, even the evil spirits that bound people in illness, had to obey! This man, saw the great need of many, and so by faith ministered to them in the name of the Lord.
What denomination, what church had sponsored him, who did he represent? Answer, he represented the Lord, and His great empathy towards hurting humanity.
Well, what was Jesus' reply?
Mark 9:39-40 KJV
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in My name, that can lightly speak evil of Me.
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
The well meaning flesh of man, had failed, again.
Jeremiah 17:5 KJV
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
When we depend upon our own fleshly thinking, our own fleshly aggrandizement, we shall fail, and great shall be our fall for it shall affect untold others beyond ourselves.
Question: Of what faith is God?
Take time, read it again, and think on it for awhile.
Is He Southern Baptist (Largest Protestant Church in America.), Catholic, Lutheran, some other denomination, some other theology, perhaps from your country?
Answer: He is “none,” of the above!
He is God, many try to put their brand on Him, claiming Him, for their own, but all is but puny, fleshly thinking, at best.
No, John, “... he that is not against us is on our part. Mark 9:40 KJV).
Our Lord, has His servants scattered all over this world. Who are they, they are humble ones ascribing no attention to themselves, humbly, honorably doing the work of Christ. And one day, great will be their “unsought,” reward.
Selah
