“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 this sermon, God demonstrated his power over Satan. God was able to free and cast out evil spirits away from a demon-possesed, self-destructive (Mark 5:25) and an uncontrollable (Mark5:4)man who lived in a cemetery (Mark 5:2-3). “And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, they were about two thousand; and were choked in the sea.” (Mark 5:13).
Then Jesus sent the man “home” to show what had happened to him. “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” (Luke 8:39).
Question: “WHY DID JESUS SENT THE DELIVERED MAN HOME?
I – HOME IS THE FIRST FRONTIER OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH - “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”(Deuteronomy 6:4-8).
LESSON:
Every member of the family are to love God and think constantly about His commandments, teach God’s commandments and live daily by the guidelines of His Word. Eternal truths are most effectively learned in the loving environment of a God-fearing home. It is easier and better to build boys than to repair men. You cannot change your ancestors, but you can do something about your descendants. Don’t let your desire to do your work cause you to neglect God’s will at home. If you do your family will suffer the consequences of your neglect.
Illustration:
A little girl, with shining eyes and little face aglow, said: “DADDY, IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR CHURCH! LET’S GO!” Daddy said: “Oh no, not today! I have worked so hard all the week, I am going to the woods, and to the creek. There I can relax and rest, and fishing is fine, they say. So run along. Don’t bother me. We’ll go TO CHURCH SOME OTHER DAY!” Months and years have passed, but Daddy hears that plea no more: “Let’s go to church!” Those childish years are over and Daddy is GROWING OLD, when life is almost through, he finds time to GO TO CHURCH. But what does daughter do? She says, “Oh, Daddy, not today. I stayed up almost last night, and I’ve got to get some sleep! Not TODAY DADDY!” What an AWFUL RESULT!
He who provides for this life, but takes NO CARE for ETERNITY, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.
Poem:
How God must love a Christian Home
Where faith and love attest
That every moment, every hour,
He is the HONOURED GUEST!
Our families should be the first to know our FAITH is real.
Illustration: “Three Hairs and Lost Influence”
A strange dog came to a DEACON’S HOUSE, and his three sons soon became quite fond of it. It so happened that there were three white hairs in the animals tail. One day an advertisement was seen on the newspaper about a lost dog which fitted that description perfectly. In the presence of my three boys, said the church deacon, “we carefully separated the three white hairs and removed them.
The real owner discovered where the straying dog had found a home and came to claim him. The dog showed every sign of recognition, so the man was ready to take him away. Quickly the church deacon spoke up, “Didn’t you say the dog would be known by THREE WHITE HAIRS in its tail?” The owner, unable to find the identifying feature, was force to leave. The church deacon said later, “We kept the dog, but I lost my three boys for Christ.” His sons no longer had confidence in what their father professed. He hadn’t practiced what he taught.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”(Joshua 24:15).
Don’t forget : HOME is the first frontier of the Christian Faith. When the family centres upon God, God will see to it that the family business does not suffer. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). God must be FIRST, self must be second. God’s work must increase – God will prosper the work of the Christian.
Then Jesus sent the man “home” to show what had happened to him. “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.” (Luke 8:39).
Question: “WHY DID JESUS SENT THE DELIVERED MAN HOME?
I – HOME IS THE FIRST FRONTIER OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH - “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”(Deuteronomy 6:4-8).
LESSON:
Every member of the family are to love God and think constantly about His commandments, teach God’s commandments and live daily by the guidelines of His Word. Eternal truths are most effectively learned in the loving environment of a God-fearing home. It is easier and better to build boys than to repair men. You cannot change your ancestors, but you can do something about your descendants. Don’t let your desire to do your work cause you to neglect God’s will at home. If you do your family will suffer the consequences of your neglect.
Illustration:
A little girl, with shining eyes and little face aglow, said: “DADDY, IT IS ALMOST TIME FOR CHURCH! LET’S GO!” Daddy said: “Oh no, not today! I have worked so hard all the week, I am going to the woods, and to the creek. There I can relax and rest, and fishing is fine, they say. So run along. Don’t bother me. We’ll go TO CHURCH SOME OTHER DAY!” Months and years have passed, but Daddy hears that plea no more: “Let’s go to church!” Those childish years are over and Daddy is GROWING OLD, when life is almost through, he finds time to GO TO CHURCH. But what does daughter do? She says, “Oh, Daddy, not today. I stayed up almost last night, and I’ve got to get some sleep! Not TODAY DADDY!” What an AWFUL RESULT!
He who provides for this life, but takes NO CARE for ETERNITY, is wise for a moment, but a fool forever.
Poem:
How God must love a Christian Home
Where faith and love attest
That every moment, every hour,
He is the HONOURED GUEST!
Our families should be the first to know our FAITH is real.
Illustration: “Three Hairs and Lost Influence”
A strange dog came to a DEACON’S HOUSE, and his three sons soon became quite fond of it. It so happened that there were three white hairs in the animals tail. One day an advertisement was seen on the newspaper about a lost dog which fitted that description perfectly. In the presence of my three boys, said the church deacon, “we carefully separated the three white hairs and removed them.
The real owner discovered where the straying dog had found a home and came to claim him. The dog showed every sign of recognition, so the man was ready to take him away. Quickly the church deacon spoke up, “Didn’t you say the dog would be known by THREE WHITE HAIRS in its tail?” The owner, unable to find the identifying feature, was force to leave. The church deacon said later, “We kept the dog, but I lost my three boys for Christ.” His sons no longer had confidence in what their father professed. He hadn’t practiced what he taught.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”(Joshua 24:15).
Don’t forget : HOME is the first frontier of the Christian Faith. When the family centres upon God, God will see to it that the family business does not suffer. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). God must be FIRST, self must be second. God’s work must increase – God will prosper the work of the Christian.
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