Good morning Jesus, this morning I choose your words of life.
“When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus *came up, and on seeing Him, *fell at His feet and *implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.” And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him…..While He was still speaking, they *came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?” But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, *said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.”….. But putting them all out, He *took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and *entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He *said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. “ (Mark 5:21-42)
In the past month I know several people who have died. Throughout the Bible, throughout the Gospels, and in our life death is the ultimate enemy. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy….” (John 10:10) And tomorrow is Ash Wednesday when we reflect on our mortality.
Death operates like an octopus, using its powerful tentacles to draw it’s pray towards its sharp beak of death and destruction. These tentacles must be seen for what they are. They are independent powers, but unified and cooperative, under the control of a single power. They cooperate with each other, often joining together to create multilayered bondages to entangle their pray as they draw them inwards towards ultimate destruction. The names of the 6 major tentacles of death are:
1. Satan and demons
2. Human structures of injustice, evil, violence, and warfare.
3. Sin itself, with its own corrupting and corrosive effects.
4. Sickness and disease of all kinds (including mental illness and addictions.)
5. Human ignorance, both in general and in relation to God’s character, God’s truth, and God’s love.
6. Nature “gone wild” in a destructive mode (storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, drought, flood…)
Death is the ultimate goal and outcome of each of these tentacles.
Yet Jesus demonstrates through the gospel stories his power to overcome and defeat all these tentacles. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). Jesus defeats them by:
1. Exorcism vs. Satan and his demons
2. Justice vs. injustice
3. Forgiveness vs. sin
4. Healing vs. disease
5. Teaching vs. ignorance
6. Rescue vs, natures furry.
Jesus’ life and resurrection functions as the fundamental reversal of death itself, not only in the raising of Jairus’s daughter as in the passage above, but also in Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead by the power of the Father through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, you ultimate goal is life, and not simply life, but abundant, full, joyous, life in which I move and breath in the world fully alive! I want that life today! I desire that life today! I need that life today! In the face of death, The world, needs me and others in Christ to be examples of that life today! Jesus reveal to me now the tentacles of death that have attached themselves to me and are drawing me in and hindering or keeping me from the abundant life you have for me. In the name of Jesus I claim complete and total release from my body, heart, mind, and soul of all demonic control and the grip of the tentacles of death. I claim the power of Christ’s resurrection over my life. “Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” (1Cor. 6:14)
My family, I pray today you will claim the power of Christ’s resurrection over your life, and release from any tentacles of death you are experiencing, and live today in abundant life, completely alive! In Jesus’name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below.
Gary Liederbach- Lead Follower
One Direction Community/ Toney UMC
Email: garyl@onedirection.community
Website:https://www.onedirection.community
Facebook: One Direction Community-ODC
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Thank You!