Do Not Stop Them

Numbers 11:1-30; Mark 9:38-41 / Philippians 1:12-26

I. Those People Belong to the Wrong Denomination

A. John was more concerned about credentials than about the spread of the gospel. “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.” (Mark 9:38)

1. John seems to have been dealing with the genuine article; the magical or medical use of the name is a different matter and would appear in Acts. “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.” (Acts 19:13-14)

2. Casting out devils is a good thing, but is not in itself evidence of salvation. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23)

B. John is known historically as the apostle of love but Jesus named John and his brother James “Boanerges.” “And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:” (Mark 3:17) “Firebrand” would be a contemporary equivalent designation.

C. The conflict of status and service is much older than this event in Mark; Moses faced it in the Exodus. “But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.” (Numbers 11:26-28)

D. People easily mingle their own interests with the glory of God; believers must rejoice as God’s word is being distributed even when “the wrong people” are doing it. “And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29)

II. The Church Is More than an Institution

A. Do not stop what is inherently right; John was showing more concern for his own status in the church than for the work of the gospel. “But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.” (Mark 9:39)

B. In contrast, when Paul was struggling with people who were preaching the gospel primarily to hurt him—while Paul was in prison and unable to preach—he summarized the proper attitude. “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18)

C. Anyone who does not impede the gospel is a friend of the true church. “For he that is not against us is on our part.” (Mark 9:40)

III. God Knows and Remembers His Friends

A. The work God assigns—even when it is very small—is more important than the status of the person doing it; all the friends of the gospel will be remembered in due time. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:41)

B. God keeps His own accounts; Heaven’s records are far better than those of any human central office. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)

C. The poor widow who gave only a small amount gave more to God than the rich who dipped into their abundance. “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:41-44)

D. Practice seeing life from God’s perspective. “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)