TEW Part 3

Mark 7:21–23 ESV

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Our response to Jesus reveals the enemy within.

Mark 8:27–28 ESV

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

The enemy within is willing to see Jesus as a teacher or prophet, but not as a king or a lord.

Mark 8:29–30 ESV

And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

Mark 8:31–32 ESV

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

The enemy within is willing to see Jesus as the conquering Christ, but not as a suffering servant.

Mark 8:33 ESV

But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

In these partial confessions of Christ, Jesus heard the selfish insincerity of Satan rather than the devotion of faith.

Mark 10:17 ESV

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Mark 10:18–20 ESV

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

Mark 10:21 ESV

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

In this young man’s words, Jesus heard the enemy within rather than faith and devotion.

Mark 10:22 ESV

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Romans 8:7 ESV

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

The enemy within will never follow Christ. Will you?

Mark 8:34 ESV

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

Psalm 51:10 ESV

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

We must deny the enemy within, and invite God to fulfill our need for life and peace.