We Are Not Saved To Sit

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 Mark 16:15-18

God never intended for us to receive salvation unto ourselves only?  Jesus started off by Himself and added 12 other men to follow Him.  And not just to follow Him for the sake of following Him but so that they could be trained to continue the work He started once His purpose on this earth had been completed.  During His 3 years of ministry, He gained many followers who were able to testify of Jesus.  

Immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter and the other disciples entreated others to accept Jesus.  On the day of Pentecost, Peter evangelized the word in such a way that immediately the body of Christ tremendously increased: 
    
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  Acts 2:41

In the account found in Mark 5:2-20; even though the account is about a man who was plagued with demons whom Jesus delivered, it is a powerful example of evangelism and healing working together; just as God intends.  God would that we be whole not only spiritually but also physically.  

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  3 John 1:2

In God's word; in studying the scriptures, we find that healing, deliverance and salvation go hand in hand.  This particular account solidifies the command to go forth and preach the gospel and demonstrate the authority given in the name of Jesus.

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.  Mark 5:19

In Mark 16:15-18, Jesus gives the command for the disciples to go out into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

 . . . and these signs shall follow:

        ®         In my name shall they cast out devils; 

        ®          they shall speak with new tongues;

        ®           they shall take up serpents; 

        ®           and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; 

        ®          they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

In this instance, Jesus commanded the man who had been possessed and was not in his right mind until he had an encounter with Him, to go and share his testimony of the compassion and goodness of Jesus.

Telling of God’s goodness and the sharing of our testimony does not always bring about an immediate change in people.  Our sharing of the word may be the beginning of a work God is doing in preparing someone’s heart to receive Him.  When the townspeople initially heard the good news from the herdsmen, it did not produce the expected result.  The townspeople upon hearing and seeing what should have been good news to them – the formerly possessed man now clothed and in his right mind  - 

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.  Luke 8:35

 - went to Jesus and begged Him to leave!  Why do you think they did that?  

         *        Were they so comfortable in their own sins that they didn't want to be exposed?  
         *       Did they not recognize the saving grace of Jesus or 
         *          Were they so carnal that they saw lost profits because of the loss of the swine?  

No doubt, their hearts and minds were not right.  

Indeed,  we give God praise because we have a sound mind; meaning that we know how to tie our shoes, we know how to put on our clothes and we know how to function at the very least according to the norms of society.  However, the Word says that when the man was delivered of the demons and clothed; meaning he now had a sound mind, and in his right mind, his desire was to remain with Jesus. 

My question to you is what does it mean to be in your 'right' mind.  There is definitely a difference in having a ‘sound’ mind and having a ‘right’ mind.  Having a right mind has absolutely nothing to do with our level of sanity but rather our conscious decision to recognize, and believe in the gospel of Jesus.  That is having a ‘right’ mind, but we have to take it a step further and follow Jesus’ command to publish the word; the good news of Jesus and what He has done for us. 

Jesus told him:

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.   Mark 5:19

Whatever the case was with the townspeople, when the formerly possessed man began to testify of the goodness of Jesus; how he was delivered from a legion of demons and now possessed a right mind – as he published this, many believed and were able to receive Jesus upon His next return.  In this case, Jesus laid the ground work for the formerly possessed man to share the good news of Jesus.  That demonstrates evangelism at its best!  The power of his testimony moved the townspeople to believe in Jesus!  After all, the townspeople initially heard the account from the herdsmen who did not have the experience that the formerly possessed man had; in other words, there was no power or authority in their words.  But when the one who's life had been turned around by the power and authority of Jesus finished evangelizing, when Jesus returned, 

• He was sought out to heal a little girl who died before He could get to her, but He raised her from the dead!  
• The woman with an issue of blood for 12 years had gained enough faith that she felt that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus garment she could be made whole.  And it was so!  

Think about it, Jesus prepared the formerly possessed man to prepare the city to receive Him on His next return!  

Oftentimes, we are like the man that was possessed in that we feel that our service to God is contained within the church.  After being delivered, the man wanted to stay with Jesus, but Jesus expressly told him to go abroad and share the good news!  

We don't keep the wonderful news of Jesus Christ confined within the walls of the church.

Apostle Paul lets us know that our witness is not just in our word but also in the power of the Holy Spirit.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:   1 Corinthians 2:4

Are we leading others to conversion by telling of God’s goodness in our life through the power of our testimony and by the authority given us in the name of Jesus?

(Biblical Studies)





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