Are they the real thing?

Mark 9:38-41

Yesterday, we read that if you want to be first, be last, and servant of all, and most of us even believers and especially American followers of Christ have been programmed with an entitlement spirit.  It’s not Christ centered, it is from the world and the enemy of your soul.

And that leads us into todays Scripture found in Mark 9:38-41, “John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.”  But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.  For the one who is not against us is for us.  For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”

Back in the 60’s I witnessed the Jesus movement but it was not happening in most churches, it was on the streets with long hair guys and gals who dressed funny and seemed to need a bath.  They made us uncomfortable, yes we were not sure if they were the real deal, and they knew we were not.  It was an awkward time for many churches, but not my friend Johnny Anderson.  Johnny was excited to see the movement and was the first to tell me this is from God, and he rented a large home that I’m not sure he could afford, but invited many to come and live there with him.

Johnny served them, he went out on the street and worshipped with them, and he brought them to the church he attended, and the pastor welcomed them.  Johnny was used by God to do a small part in helping many like me to see them as our brothers and sisters in Christ, and not as weird people.  You may be asking, were they the real thing, and let me answer that with a question; are all church members followers of Christ?

The disciples were not that different than us, this person or persons were doing what the disciples had tried and not been successful at.  We have an account in Numbers 11:26-30 that deals with something very similar.  ^26 “Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷ And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” ²⁸ And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” ²⁹ But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” ³⁰ And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice