Big Idea: Because Satan is a powerful and sneaky predator, we must resist Him through faith.
Satan is powerful
Revelation 12:8-9
Satan is a “great dragon” and an ancient serpent.
He leads ⅓ of the angels (fallen) - v. 4
He “deceives the whole world” - that is powerful.
He is a defeated foe (v. 8), and yet he can still cause some carnage until his days are up.
Satan is sneaky
2 Corinthians 11:13-15
“super apostles” are false
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (makes sense if his goal is to “deceive the whole world”)
Some of his servants are disguised as “Christians leaders”
Things are not always as they seem...
Satan is a predator
1 Peter 5:8-9
The devil is a roaring lion who prowls around for someone to devour - he simply wants to chew us up and spit us out (like a venus flytrap)
John 10:10
Some people’s lives are destroyed by harmful things - drugs and alcohol, pornography, depression and suicide. (self-destructive)
Others lives are destroyed by seemingly good things - success, wealth, popularity (self-righteous)
And so… We must resist him through faith!!
According to v. 8 part of it involves being sober-minded and watchful.
sober-minded - we like to have fun and be entertained, but we overdo it.
watchful - Being on the lookout.
Eph. 6:13
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
1 John 4:4
As powerful and deceptive as Satan is, God’s power is greater.
High School - "Sight to the Blind" (Mark 8:10-9:29)
Big Idea: When we follow Jesus, He allows us to really see!
When Jesus gives us sight we...
See progressively (8:22-26)
7 different Greek words involving sight (in vs. 23-25)
This stands in clear contrast to the disciples as we will see in a moment...
Flow of the text: disciples blindness → Peter’s confession (true statement but his understanding still blurry) → misunderstanding Jesus’ death → transfiguration (veil removed) → (centurion’s confession)
See spiritually (8:10-21, 27-33; 9:1-13)
Pharisee’s blindness (read 8:10-13)
The Pharisees cannot see spiritually. They demand a sign from heaven.
We see that there is unbelief not only in the Pharisees, but also in the disciples.
Disciples’ blindness (read 8:14-21)
The road to Caesarea Philippi seems to have been a turning point for the disciples...
(8:27-30)
But… just when the disciples are starting to show some progress, they have a little setback…
Peter’s blindness (read 8:31-33)
This showed that while Peter and the other disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah, there idea of the Messiah was still very blurry…
Their concept of The Messiah was focused on his earthly reign and majesty, and so Jesus’ words of death and resurrection made no sense to them.
(They are thinking from a human perspective, and not from God’s perspective - v. 33)
The Veil is Removed (9:1-13)
The transfiguration is simply a clearer display of Jesus’ authority and power that He has been exhibiting all throughout Mark’s gospel so far.
See selflessly (8:34-38)
Read 8:34-38
A proper view of Christ will allow us to view ourselves properly!
Flip side...
A wrong view of Christ will lead to a wrong view of ourselves!!
A wrong view of Christ will lead to a wrong view of discipleship!!
He is teaching the disciples what their call to follow Him really means!
- self-denial
- suffering
- total commitment (whole life)
- Great Paradox!!
See confidently (9:14-29)
There is a theme of faith in this portion.
The Father - 9:22-24
Our faith and confidence is at times very fragile and is a work in progress
The Disciples (lack therein)
The disciples show a lack of faith because they did not rely on God in prayer like they should have.
Questions for thought...
For those of us who are believers are in progress. Are you a believer?
As a work in progress, are you seeing things from a spiritual perspective? Do you look at your life through the lens of Scripture??
As a work in progress, are you becoming more selfless?
As a work in progress, is your faith and confidence in Christ growing stronger and deeper?
As a work in progress, are you seeing things from a spiritual perspective? Do you look at your life through the lens of Scripture??
As a work in progress, are you becoming more selfless?
As a work in progress, is your faith and confidence in Christ growing stronger and deeper?
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