Mark Sermon Week 15 - Power and Persecution

Intro/Welcome

Welcome

My name is Justin, one of Pastors here

Good to be with you

Welcome Online

Christmas

Merry Christmas, almost right?

Don’t you love Christmas?

Lot’s of joy, good memories

But if we’re honest, often there is sorrow mixed in with joy.

Maybe that’s strained relationships

Maybe it’s a reminder of a loss around this time.

maybe that’s gathering with family, that doesn’t go as you had hoped

or unfortunately goes how you thought it would

And we are all busy right?

last week of Christmas, got to get that shopping done

thank God for amazon.

Target

It’s all ‘supposed’ to be joyful right? but the stress, the busyness

some of us our miserable.

There is often the mixture of JOY and SORROW in our lives

Its seems as if the most joyful moments always have a tinge of sorrow

and on the flip side

sometimes our most difficult moments are laced with some joy.

The Disciples

The Disciples are released today to finally get to do some ministry

They are commissioned by Jesus to do the very works he has been doing.

Yet, Mark records this momentous occasion, in such as way as to draw attention to not just the comissioning/calling of discipleship, but the cost of discipleship.

In fact, what we’ll see today is that

when we truly follow Jesus

we’ll not only experience the power of God

but also the persecution

Not just for the 12, but for us

As we saw the last two weeks, this training of the Twelve isn’t just for them

But it is for all disciples that would follow.

The Apostle Paul puts it this way:

2 Timothy 2:2 (CSB)

2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

It is Jesus disciple-making strategy

We know this b/c

in Luke 10 it is given to the 72

In Acts others are declaring and demonstrating the power of the Gospel.

This is what the Great Commission is right?

All authority given to Jesus

therefore we go and make disciples

and he is always with us

So let’s take a look at Jesus’ plan for disciple-making.

Bible

We’ll be in Mark 6:1-29

Pray

Luke 4:18–19 (CSB)

18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The Power for Disciple-making

Today is the day!

Jesus called the Twelve back in Mark 3:13, today they get to get in the game.

Mark 6:7–13 (CSB)

7 He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt. 10 He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11 If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

What se see here is:

The power for disciple-making

The plan for disciple-making

The resulting persecution for disciple-making.

Power for Ministry

Jesus gives authority

He gives them His Authority to do the very works he is doing.

“authority over unclean spirits”

Luke, the Theologian of the Holy Spirit, adds ‘power’ he says:

Luke 9:1–2 (CSB)

1 Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 2 Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

and that’s exactly what they do.

going to do this three fold kingdom ministry

Declaring the kingdom of God

Demonstrating it’s power

calling disciples

They go out with the Authority of Jesus

and do the very things Jesus was doing

healing the sick

casting out demons

preaching repentance

Mark 6:12–13 (CSB)

12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Can you imagine that?

Like you just go around your neighborhood and are healing people and freeing them from demonic deception and addiction.

that’s pretty awesome

I mean, that’s real power right?

over disease and demons.

When we truly follow Jesus into making disciples we will experience power as well.

Power over demons

power over sickness

power to share the gospel message.

As we saw the last two weeks, this power and authority isn’t just given to the twelve,

in Luke 10 it is given to the 72

In Acts others are healing, freeing people and teaching (Paul, Philip)

and I believe this authority and power are given to the church today for the very purpose of expanding his kingdom

for making disciples.

This is what the Great Commission is right?

All authority given to Jesus

therefore we go and make disciples

and he is always with us

POWER FOR YOU

Do you experience that kind of power in your life?

Do you need that power in your life?

Power to share the gospel with friends, with family?

As you are spending time with your family and friends this Christmas, don’t you need power to share the gospel with them?

Jesus died and rose to give us that kind of Power

Courage to share

Words to speak

Eyes to see the opportunities

To advance His Kingdom on Earth.

“Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”

Summary

So Jesus gives the authority and power for disciple-making

but he also gives them a plan for disciple-making

The Plan for Disciple-making

Mark 6:8–9 (CSB)

8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.

What is he saying here?

he saying not only do you have power from on High

But God will provide for all your needs.

Total dependance on God

He is instructing them to totally depend on God for provision.

They will be provided for along the way, this is an act of faith

which unless they do it, will never experience it.

To experience the same kind of power from God, we need to be willing to let God provide

to let him show up

this means letting him provide financially for some of us

but also providing the opportunities and circumstances to take a step of faith

We may need to risk some things,

But if we never take that risk, we will never experience God’s provision right?

Some of you right now, may be wrestling with this very question:

Perhaps you feel God is calling you to something, but you are afraid he won’t provide

then perhaps this message is for you.

Take that step of faith.

It means that when we take that prayerful step to share the gospel with someone, he will provide the strength

He also provides the salvation

right?

It’s not our job to convert anyone, that is the Holy Spirit’s role

our job is to share.

One of the things he says to look for is what have called person of peace

Person of Peace

Mark 6:10–11 (CSB)

10 He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11 If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

In Matthews version we get a little more detail:

Matthew 10:11–15 (CSB)

11 When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

What Jesus is saying is, look for those who are open to the gospel.

the only way you are going to find out is to ask.

In Mission Literature this is called “person of peace”

Meaning, look for the person is who is open and receptive to the gospel and could be influential in bringing others to the gospel.

In other words, look to where God is already at work and join him there.

Understanding that:

some will respond to the gospel.

others will not.

How do you find a person of peace?

One simple thing we can do: Ask God

Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you, to speak to you, to guide you to see those whom he is already working in.

Then have the courage to take that step of faith

and see what the Lord will do.

What if we actually prayed and believed that God had some people out there right now,

whom he was already working in and all we had to do was just knock and they would open the door.

My car sales experience again

We know that this is God’s heart and it is his desire

1 Timothy 2:3–7 (CSB)

3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

2 Peter 3:9 (CSB)

9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Ezekiel 33:11 (CSB)

11 Tell them, ‘As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?’

Ezekiel 18:23 (CSB)

23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?

Application

“Go” - One Hope Opportunities

We also want to provide opportunities to have spiritual conversations.

We want to be church that is out there among the lost

praying and looking for where God might already be at work

And then, we will need to take a risk

We’ll need to have a conversation.

We want to give opportunities to do this:

this week, be out at Jay Blanchard talking to people.

Welcome at UCF and I want to see a regular outreach on campus.

Look for those opportunities on Church Center.

Join us.

We’ll train on it

We’ll go two by two

And see what the Lord might do.

“As you go”

but this isn’t just intentionally going out to reach people, it is also being intentional as you go through life

This is something we want to do more in our groups — pray

But look around you, your neighborhood, your office, your zoom meetings, your classroom, you co-workers

Your dinner table this Christmas

your Christmas tree.

and pray (ask God) where are you already at work?

Where can i join you?

Then you got to take a risk.

Ask the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you, to lead you, to give you the words to say, the questions to ask

You might be surprised that the Holy Spirit will answer you!

So let’s try that this week right?

in fact, let’s just pause for a moment right now

and ask the Holy Spirit to answer that question:

Exercise: Close Eyes

Holy Spirit, God of the universe, would you speak to us right now

Bring to mind the faces, names of those in our lives that you are already at work in

where can we join you?

bring a face or a name to mind.

Give us the courage to take a risk and go.

Summary

Step #1 — Be with Jesus, learn from Jesus (Mark 3:13-Mark 6:6)

Step #2 - So just as the Disciples are given power and authority and are sent out to go make disciples

you and I are also given power and authority and are sent out to make disciples.

Three Responses:

Some will receive the message

some will not

and let’s face reality:

some will become hostile.

The Persecution of Disciple-making

We’ve seen the Power that Jesus gives the twelve

and even the plan

Mark does something very interesting and very intentional here.

notice in Mark 6:12-13 it says the Twelve went out and did ministry

and then in Mark 6:30 we read this:

Mark 6:30 (CSB)

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.

17 verses later they come back and report to him.

What happens in between?

This story of the death of John the Baptist

Why?

is this a scribal error?

No, it is a very intentional structure that Mark uses to reveal his theological purposes

it’s a sandwiching technique, we’ve already seen it twice in mark (Mark 3:20–35; 5:21–43)

btw: when we were reading the Gospel of Mark as a family a year or so ago, once my girls found out that John the baptist were beheaded in Mark 6 they would ask me every week if we were in mark 6 yet.

they were fascinated with this gruesome story

So what is Mark’s purpose for including this story here?

Let’s read it

Mark 6:14–17 (CSB)

14 King Herod heard about it, because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.” 16 When Herod heard of it, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!” 17 For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.

What’s happening?

Word is getting out.

Jesus AND his followers now have a following

They have power

And Kingdom Power always threatens the Powers of this World

John the Baptist is one example of that:

Let’s read the account.

Mark 6:17–29 (CSB)

17 For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

21 An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24

She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said. 25 At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter immediately.”

26 Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her. 27 The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.

This is the man whom Jesus calls the greatest man to ever live

Matthew 11:11 (CSB)

11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

This great man of God dies in a humiliating way:

at the whim of a teenage girl

b/c of a grudge held by the wife of a king

and the cowardice of that drunken King

John the Baptist head is brought on a plate in the middle of a party.

Why does Mark include this here?

B/c when you truly follow Jesus you get both POWER and PERSECUTION

What might that look like for us?

not killing yet but....

When you take that step of faith and share the gospel:

you may be ridiculed and rejected

Ben Kandt’s sharing on UCF

When you stand for what is right in the sight of God

you may be persecuted and called a bigot.

John and Jesus

What they did to John the Baptist

they will also do to Jesus.

what they do to Jesus they will also do to his followers.

Jesus rejected in Nazareth

John 15:18–25 (CSB)

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

Why is this?

Because this world is not our Home.

Because Jesus came to start a war

Matthew 10:34 (CSB)

34 Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Our battle is not with flesh and blood

Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

Closing

We are celebrating Christmas this week

the incarnation

the moment that God entered into Human History as a man

subjected himself to rejection and humiliation

took upon himself what he didn’t deserve

and bestowed mercy and grace on all those who would believe in His Name

the greatest Gift we could ever receive and the greatest gift we could ever give

When we believe this something else happens.

not only do we experience power and persecution

but we will experience POWER IN PERSECUTION

b/c Jesus has gone before us, he will meet us in the pain

He will walk with us through it

He will give us power to endure

and to praise His name.

So are you ready to come off the bench?

Not by your power, but by His

praying for his leading and provision

Ready to endure what may come?

Will you accept both the power of God and persecution for God in your life?

Will you take that risk?

Join us in outreach

have the conversation

pray for power, pray for insight

pray for words

and watch God work

Let’s see what the Lord will do.

Who would God have you take a risk with this week?

Who can you take that step of faith?

Let’s ask the Lord to go before us

To guide and lead us

To give us courage and to empower us.

when we truly follow Jesus we will get the power and persecution.

Let’s Pray

Being a fool for Christ

There’s this great story of an evangelist preacher who upon his conversion remembered a scene from earlier in his life

he had seen someone wearing one of those sandwich board signs

and on one side it said:

“I am a fool for Christ”

and on the back side it said

“Whose fool are you”

I think that is so great.

Whose fool are you?

Are you ready to be a fool for Christ?

so what does that mean?

When we step into the power of God we also step into persecution

But we have to take that risk

We’ve got to risk sharing the gospel with our friend, neighbor, spouse

We’ve got to risk talking spiritual things with people

We are going to have to risk rejection, and the scorn of people.

Illustration: My conversation on spiritual warfare

We’ve got to take a risk of asking God to speak to us about people and then acting on that.

Do i have a word of knowledge?

Because if we don’t we will never know, and we may never experience the power of God

But if we do we will experience it

and when persecution comes, and it will sooner or later,

we will not only have power and persecution

but we will have power in persecution

We will be able to endure in ways we never thought imaginable.

This is walking in the power of God

this is what the disciples experienced

This is what you and I are called to as followers of Christ.

anybody get healed last week?