Our Savior Lutheran at Prayer
February 28, AD 2023
Mark 3:20-30
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. 28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
In the name of the Father and the +Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. The work of the Holy Spirit is to create faith. He calls us with the Gospel and enlightens us with his gifts. He makes us holy and keeps us in the true faith. The Holy Spirit’s work is to bring you to Jesus. He is like Saint John the Baptist in that he wants to decrease or fade out of the lime light so that Jesus can shine. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to blaspheme the flow of faith—the route that faith comes to you. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to cut off the very things that we need from heaven. But the Holy Spirit has given us the Strongest Man—Jesus. He is no match for the devil, the world, our sinful nature, or any other enemy. He binds up the devil and then plunders his house—casting out demons, rebuking fevers, returning sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, and most importantly, snatching you back from death and the grave so that he can have you to all eternity. He forgives your sins by dying on the cross and shedding his blood. These gifts, rescues from death and the devil, forgives sins, and gives eternal salvation, he brings to you via the Holy Spirit in preaching and Baptism and Absolution and the Lord’s Supper. No house divided here, only united in one Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God! In the name of +Jesus. Amen.
Pastor Steven Cholak, School Chaplain and Assistant Pastor, Our Savior Lutheran Church and School
You may utilize the Order of Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pages 295-298) in Lutheran Service Book for your family prayers.
The Collect of the Week:
O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of Your majesty to defend us from those who rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Prayer for others:
For the pre-born, the weak, the sick, those in hospital, and those who cannot care for themselves;
For the shut-in and those recovering from surgery at home;
For those struggling with sin and those who are sick;
For those attacked by false teaching;
For our pastors (Pastor White, Pastor Krieg, and Pastor Cholak);
For pastors and congregations throughout the world as they begin the Lenten season;
For those who mourn;
For the Christian training of the young, especially at Our Savior Lutheran School.
StarboCho 