TOPIC: Assembling the Jesus team

OPENING PRAYER: Grant me grace dear Lord to apply what you will teach me today as I read this passage.

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Mark 1:14-28

QUESTION FOR REFLECTION
• Q 2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?

MESSAGE

One of the very first things Jesus Christ did is one of the last which leaders often consider: choosing those who would continue the work after them. In picking His team to fight the devil and all his agents, the choices Jesus Christ made were totally different from what we would expect. He did not go for the learned theologians of the day or their students but to the seaside where fishermen were mending their nets (vs.16-20) and to other venues where the most unlikely were plying their regular trades (ch. 2:14).

This shows us that Jesus Christ is able to call anyone into His service even today, whatever their background and profession. The question is how willing we are to follow the example of His first disciples (vs.18, 20)?

Take note of where Jesus Christ encountered the man with the unclean spirit. He did not go looking for evil spirits to cast out (v.23)! He had gone into the synagogue to worship. Sadly, even though they do not usually manifest in the same way today, people with evil spirits exist in our places of worship too. How do we recognize and deal with them?

PRACTICE/WORD APPLICATION
And so: Pray for the leadership team in your church to be equipped to recognize and to deal appropriately with evil spirits.

HYMN FOR TODAY – Praise to the Lord

1 Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him,
For he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear;
Now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

2 Praise to the Lord,
Above all things so wondrously reigning;
Sheltering you under his wings,
And so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?

3 Praise to the Lord,
Who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness
And mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.

4 Praise to the Lord!
O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath,
Come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.

Offer a prayer of faith in line with Luke 11:9 ‐ 10
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Genesis 2, Psalms 3,4.

NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Monday, 02-Jan-2023

PRAYER FOCUS
PRAY AND PLAN

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3