Healing Waters

This is the time of change

Resolutions

One guy made this resolution: “This year I will not sit in my living room all day watching TV.” So instead, he moved his TV into the bedroom.

Wife to husband: “I don’t want to brag, but here it is February, and I have kept every one of my New Year’s resolutions. I’ve kept them in a manila folder in the back of my desk!”

Be Healed by Repentance

Mark 1:4

Mark 1:4 NIV

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

1. What televangelist Jimmy Swaggert said to his congregation when he was caught in the company of a prostitute in 1988: “I have sinned against you.”

2. What Swaggart said to his congregation when he was again caught with a prostitute in 1991: “The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business.” (Dallas Morning News, 9/1/01. Cited in Paul Grobman, Vital Statistics an Amazing Compendium of Factoids, Minutiae, And Random Bits of Wisdom (New York: Penguin Group, 2005), p. 21.

Terry's Illustations REPENTANCE

There is a story of a young man who was part of the IRA, the Irish Republic Army, and had been guilty of bombings and shootings from the age of 14. He had repented of his ways and come to church for the first time since he was a child. As he came forward for Communion, he brought the bread to his mouth, and then pulled it back. He did this several times until the Irish priest gently put his hand on the man’s shoulder and said, “Take it laddie, it’s ‘fer sinners.” --

Be Healed by Forgiveness

Be Healed by Forgiveness

Mark 1:5 NIV

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Confession

Terry's Illustations CONFESSION

What does it mean to confess? The word in Greek literally is the word homologeo. That’s what “confess” means in Greek. Homo means “same”, like homosexual or homogenized milk – the same. And logeo means, “to speak.” So homologeo literally means “to speak the same about my sin that God does.” It means I agree with Him – God, you’re right. It wasn’t a faux pas. It wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t a peccadillo. It was a sin.

AA program, “Hi my name is Bob and I am an alcoholic.

Terry’s Illustations. N. p. Print.

Terry's Illustations CONFESSION

Augustine said, “The confession of bad works is the beginning of good works.”

Augustine said, “The confession of bad works is the beginning of good works.”

Terry’s Illustations. N. p. Print.

Be Healed by Obedience

Be Healed by Obedience

Mark 1:

Mark 1:6 NIV

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Terry's Illustations SERMONS ON OBEDIENCE

One writer has said it well: two of the greatest “battles” of human history were fought in gardens. In the Garden of Eden, the first Adam chose to disobey God, bringing sin to the human race. He did not resist temptation, but chose his will over the Father’s.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, chose the Father’s will over His own (human) will. Although the pain and spiritual misery of the cross awaited Jesus,the internal battle was fought in the Garden. Just as Adam’s decision in Eden affected all who are related to Adam, so Christ’s decision in Gethsemane affects all who are related to Him by faith.

One writer has said it well: two of the greatest “battles” of human history were fought in gardens. In the Garden of Eden, the first Adam chose to disobey God, bringing sin to the human race. He did not resist temptation, but chose his will over the Father’s.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, chose the Father’s will over His own (human) will. Although the pain and spiritual misery of the cross awaited Jesus,the internal battle was fought in the Garden. Just as Adam’s decision in Eden affected all who are related to Adam, so Christ’s decision in Gethsemane affects all who are related to Him by faith.

Terry’s Illustations. N. p. Print.

Two Baptisms

Baptism with Water

Mark 1:8 NIV

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Terry's Illustations BAPTISM

Martin Luther was plagued at times by a sense of unworthiness and despair. To drive back those demons, he kept an inscription over his desk that read, “Remember, you have been baptized.” Often, he would touch his forehead and remind himself, “Martin, you have been baptized.”

Martin Luther was plagued at times by a sense of unworthiness and despair. To drive back those demons, he kept an inscription over his desk that read, “Remember, you have been baptized.” Often, he would touch his forehead and remind himself, “Martin, you have been baptized.”

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Terry’s Illustations. N. p. Print.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Mark 1:8 NIV

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Mark

Our priest wanted to keep the church open all day Sunday, but was wary of theft and vandalism. His solution was to put an intercom between the church and rectory so he could monitor what went on inside the church from the rectory.

One afternoon, he heard a metal-against-metal sound and figured someone was trying to break into the poor box. In his deepest voice, he spoke into the intercom. “Hello,” he said calmly. “This is the Holy Spirit. Can I help you?”

There was a yell and the sound of a dropped tool. The pastor looked out the window and saw the would-be thief in full flight. – Catholic Digest

Terry’s Illustations. N. p. Print.