The Marks of Faith: The Marks of Deliverance
SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.
Mark 7:30

Recommended Reading: Mark 7:24-30
It comes with a jolt to realize Jesus once left Israel and ventured into modern-day Lebanon, effectively becoming a foreign missionary. Most commentators believe He traveled there for rest, privacy, and quiet instructional time with His disciples.

A Greek woman came asking Him to cast a demon from her daughter. Jesus’ reply was odd: “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” (Mark 7:27). This was probably an old proverb and wasn’t as harsh as it now sounds to us. Christ was telling her His primary mission was to the Jews. But the woman replied, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs” (verse 28). When the woman returned home, her daughter was healed.

The Gospel of deliverance is for all the world. It is for us all. Deliverance is one of the marks of faith, for the power of Jesus alone can free us from all the bondages of the evil one.

Each new day is another chapter in the unfolding promise of deliverance and life.
Elizabeth George

A Kindred Spirit

September 23, 2023
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Scriptures: 1 Samuel 18:1–4
After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. (1 Samuel 18:1–4)

God knew that David needed an intimate friend to walk with him through the valley that was ahead of him. Intimate friends are rare in life. Often we have only one, occasionally two, usually not more than three in our entire lives. There's something about an intimate friend that causes your souls to be knit together. It's what we call a kindred spirit.

You don't have to beg a close friend for a favor, which was certainly the case with Jonathan. "Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt" (1 Samuel 18:4).

He wanted to give David something that belonged to him and was meaningful to him. Friends do that. They're never stingy with their possessions. Later, Jonathan says to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you" (20:4). That's the promise of an intimate friend. You can hardly impose on an intimate friend. He doesn't keep score. An intimate friend is there to assist whenever and in whatever way is needed. Unselfishness prevails.

An intimate friend is a loyal defense before others. He's not a fair-weather friend. He won't talk against you when you're not around. It says, "Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father" (19:4). That was very significant, because Saul was not only the king and Jonathan's father, but also, by that time, Saul had determined to be David's enemy. Yet Jonathan stood up to his father and said, "Dad, you're wrong about David." In fact, he not only defended his friend, he also rebuked his father for his attitude toward David.

What a friend Jonathan was! No pettiness, no envy, no jealousy. After all, Jonathan, as Saul's son, might have been the heir apparent. He might have wanted the praise of the people, yet here was this kid from the hills of Bethlehem, garnering all of it. Still, Jonathan stood in defense of his friend against his own father, who was ready to take David's life. This is what we might call bottom-line theology. This is putting shoe leather to your belief, to your faith. He stood in his defense because he was his friend.

Prayer - September 23, 2023
Rev. Thomas O'Hara, C.S.C.

Lord, you explained the meaning of the parable so the disciples could understand more fully. This day some things may happen that we do
not fully understand. But as did the disciples, let us trust you and put our faith in you. Open our hearts and minds so that we, even with our lack of complete understanding, know you are guiding us and leading us this day. We pray this to you our God, forever and ever. Amen.

U humanity (USA-globally) R playing with, etc understatedly very literally unholy - FAITH & misc of Holy Bible & OH nevertheless ain't the Holy truth a bitch (a hard pill 2 swallow); MORE SO - likely the whole SELF damn capable adult species is likewise understatedly B-ing worthy of literal CEASEMENT! Gotten EVERYTHING past historically 2 date wrong ie: so called twistable fact's, misc info & have damn audacity (the nerve) 2 deem God ain't done nothing so HE must B ok with ALL exhibited, but U no or don't care? WRONG! HE'S not done nothing cuz nothing has been HIS responsibility, it's always been ours WITH our need 2 daily B Holy counseled ie: like a student but like failing student's = NOTHING is as it should B cuz we overall as a species FAIL HIM!

& talk about (adult excluding the disabled & kid's-children) humanity (itself) having literally NO regard 4 NOTHING human - NON human (other life form's on Earth) - Earth (itself) - off Earth (unholy violation & we're NOT EVER suppose 2 B off Earth)! Just because of & with = Luke 9:24 (NONE SELF own NOTHING, NOT (human) breath (coming in & out momentarily of YO - you're dust & ash corpse mouth) NOR eternal energy Soul temporarily powering YO - you're dust & ash corpse like a AAA battery - Hebrews 11:1 (WHAT faith IS) - John 3:16 (Jesus temporarily died 4 ALL) - Luke 12:51 (Jesus temporarily 4 a Time came 2 DIVIDE us humanity, NOT bring (give so called peace on this dying NON human innocent Earth).