Liberty
Liberty is a big concept. We appreciate the Sabbath because it commemorates God’s creation, and what it entails. Moses also tells us additionally in Deuteronomy 5 that the Sabbath commemorates our Exodus liberty. That’s a lot to consider and we can see why it needs to be weekly. We are dense and slowly come to a proper appreciation of God’s role in our lives.
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As we investigate how creative God is we have a deeper level of appreciation to envelop ourselves with. He not only creates us, but He also creates us for liberty! We really have no clue as to how much freedom God wants us to have until Jesus shows us during His 3 plus years of ministry. He lived in the reality of the Sabbath’s message and calls us into it. The whole creation is designed to honor and yield to us. It is truly at Rest when we are properly in dominion. Jesus showed us grace on steroids is the normal Kingdom of God way.
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We are born to live in the liberty of new creation dynamics. This is our Sabbath Rest; this is where we are home. This is our best atmosphere. All discipleship is calling us into true Sabbath rest. It is where faith launches hope that journeys into community love. This gives us the access to the Spirit to exercise powerful authority. This is the air we breathe, distancing us from all unbelief. This is the Sabbath's purpose, our end goal.
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In this Scripture passage we typically see that Jesus taught that it takes extra prayer and fasting to cast out more powerful demons. But that is not what He taught. He expressed frustration over their level of unbelief. This was the same with the boy's father. This was the problem He was addressing: why can't we do what you do? The decisive distinction - I don't have the level of unbelief you do. That is what He complained about. To get rid of it takes fasting and prayer. He was frustrated that as His disciples, who lived with Him 24/7, they watched Him do this and had not followed His example. They were suppose to learn from His example. He shouldn't have to explicitly explain. They are suppose to be hungry for truth, see the distinction, asked the Father about it, and got personalized insight. He is near the end of His ministry and they should have picked up on it. They were still living in unbelief, instead of authentic faith.
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We need to be careful to not make the same mistake. We want the full liberty of a child of God.
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Mark 9:14-29
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Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit
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14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.
15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech.
18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered.
22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.
28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting. ”
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