Monday - The Gospel According To Mark
Welcome to Daily Prayer. Today we are looking at how Jesus multiplied the sowing of the seed by the sending out of the 12. As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.
Father, you are the Lord of the Harvest. Jesus you are the Lord and Sender. Holy Spirit, you empower us for the mission.
Lord, I belong to you. I draw near to abide in you and to be sent out in your name.
Shine on me and empower me to be a witness for you.
O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.
A Scripture Reading from Mark 6:6b-13
And he went about among the villages teaching. 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.[b] 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
By the time Jesus sends out the Twelve in Mark 6, they have already spent a year or two with Jesus-learning his teachings, witnessing his authority and miracles, and experiencing both enthusiasm and opposition.
Early in his ministry, Jesus choose the apostles to be with Him in order that they would be prepared to be sent out. Now their season of apprenticeship turns into participation in the mission. As Jesus says, “those who are fully trained will be like their teacher.”
His hometown rejected him but every community in Israel will have an opportunity to hear and welcome the Word. Jesus multiplies the scattering of the seed by sending out more sowers. He sends them out two by two as extensions of his authority calling for repentance and demonstrating the kingdom through healing and deliverance. They were to provide one another with support and accountability and they functioned as a legal testimony for and against communities. Every village and community is accountable for how they receive the message.
A Prayer of Adoration:
Father, I worship you for keeping your promises at just the right time. Jesus, you were sent for us and for our salvation. You preached that people should repent and believe in the gospel. Lord, you are the Savior and the Sender. This passage reveals that it was your plan from the beginning to send out fisherman to catch fish and to send out sowers to sow seed. You equip and you send out disciples to make disciples. Lord, we worship you for sending people to share the good news with us and then including us in your mission. We honor and adore you.
A Prayer of Confession:
Lord, forgive us for hindering the growth of your kingdom by the shallowness of our faith. Forgive us for believing the lies of the enemy about who we are and what we can do with your authority.
We have allowed doubt, fear and love of comfort to keep us from welcoming your Word and moving forward in obedience. Lord, forgive us when the fear of rejection has kept us from obedience. We do not want the life of your kingdom to be scorched or choked out in us or around us. Forgive us for hesitating when you call us to step out in faith. We repent and choose to believe and follow you today.
A Prayer of Trust:
Lord, you gave the apostles authority to proclaim the kingdom in word and deed. Later on, you sent the seventy with authority to proclaim, heal, and bring deliverance. You have commissioned your church to be ambassadors and make disciples. We trust that you still give your people authority to proclaim your kingdom, cast out darkness, and bring healing
A Prayer of Intercession:
Father, send laborers into the harvest. Empower your church. Let the signs of your kingdom follow your Word. Lord, today we pray today from 1 Thessalonians 3, “that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
Lord, we want to be about kingdom business in our community. We pray for your salvation to come to families. Lord, we pray for those in the church who have been sent to proclaim the gospel in challenging areas. Protect them Lord. We particularly pray for believers in the middle east right now. Lord, would you strengthen and uphold them. May miracles and deliverance take place and may many repent and believe in the gospel.
Lord, we particularly pray for muslims during this season of Ramadan. Would you open the eyes of many to honor you as more than a prophet but as the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins.
As we listen to the passage again, let’s listen for a word or phrase that the Holy Spirit may want to say to us from todays verses.
"And he went about among the villages teaching. 7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”
And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize together:
Mark 6:34
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”
Let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer together as we close:
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread and
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever
amen