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Seems easy enough to say we are servants, but are we truly that serving heart? Was surprised how many today want to be celebrities and not servants. They want servants, but they themselves want to be the celebrity in whatever category they have chosen. Now some say they can sing, but I differ with them because they can carry no tune.They may say they can dance but cannot take the first instruction in the moves of that particular dance. In watching the group the Jackson's when they were younger, no doubt who the gifted and talented one was. In any group of children, you can find the one or two who stand out in that field of soccer, basketball or swimming. But what about discernment concerning the servant in your life? Is your spouse one who will step up in need when your own health is being questioned by the best "doctors" or those practicing as doctors?
Was hearing of a lady in Florida who wanted to run again in her district and she stole money from FEMA. She is being brought up on charges of fraud. In her speaking, she charges those listening to heed other people's offenses and leave her alone!
Another celebrity brought low by their "bad" behavior, in another state of N. Carolina, specifically Charlotte, a church leader spent this last weekend teaching his followers to blow whistles against I.C.E. agents. Oh please know if you are aiding and abetting a known criminal, you can be charged as well! People speak they know these people and they are fine folks, just trying to make a living. YOU might well learn who lives in your community. Know their names, and where they work and make connections finding out if they are the "criminal". Becoming a citizen is like that of God's kingdom, you must know who the foundation is as is Jesus. Blowing whistles at agents like there in N. Carolina is no way in helping them or you. What if your child showed up at your work place and blew a whistle all day long?
As
believers today, you and I are to heed that instruction to test worldly
philosophies, foreign doctrines, and even new perspectives and ideas that come
out of the mouths of politicians, celebrities, community leaders, and even
pastors and religious leaders. We are to test everything that comes through our
television sets, over our radio waves, and across our laptops and phone
screens. Am appalled at what is being telecast as news when it is more toward culture and entertainment instead.
To have the
spirit of discernment is to possess the ability to judge well. We get our
English word "aesthetic" from the Greek word for discernment, meaning
moral perception, insight, and the practical application of knowledge. None of us feel about God and his world as we
should. And so none of us do for God, in his world the things we
should. When was the last time we thanked God for His mercy?
The celebrity will see money not as a means of displaying God's worth to
the world, but see it as a means to further selfish ends. The celebrity will turn from seeing new life in a womb as gift, to viewing it as an unfortunate grouping of
cells that creates a baby. How would a celebrity view the opposite sex, as children of God or as only objects and body parts for selfish desire.
In today's speaking, whether movies or just news casts, speech is four lettered words. It is the very change to gossip, to slander a President , and even devour others with hate speech that "mature" people use. (Yeah, right?) The past summer revealed people who came from way down south of U. S. and stated that America lost at the Alamo. They waved their Mexican flags! ( In truth, the Alamo came under seige in March 1836.) What took several days, it fell to Santa Anna March 6, 1836. I beg to differ on that take that the win went to Mexico. Take a look at the Battle of San Jacinto, a battle where Santa Anna was challenged again. On April 1836, General Sam Houston, took men and surrounded Santa Anna's army, even took the leader Santa Anna as captive on April 21. So it was not much time from the Alamo, Texas took down Santa Anna. General Houston made Santa Anna sign the decrees of his fall to United States, (the Texans) and the region was free from tyranny. Go read the history of this nation including Texas, and you might learn something new!
Instead of
seeing the unpopular kids at school as a great opportunity to show the radical
nature of God's love for us we see them as ways to prop up our own shaky
self-esteem. Do we note that anger responses are giving way to the advancement of evil? Yesterday it was to change genders, now it seems losing weight for healthy reasons gives way to those who call it a "bad" thing and they the haters hit on those who have lost a lot of weight only now to be weighed down with hate messages, and school kid harassment!!!
The Servant was this: The Gospel
of Mark emphasizes the servant-hood and the sacrifice of Jesus. In Mark He faces those with hardness of
heart and unbelief. All the way to the cross on Calvary, Jesus carried burdens.
He was seen and is seen as the long-suffering servant. The sacrifice presented
by the face of an Ox: Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.
Jesus’
ministry from miracles, table-fellow-shipping with sinners, choosing His
disciples and teaching on the kingdom of God set a momentum of displaying the
self-giving love of the Son of God, that was climaxed in the Cross and the
Resurrection. Mark 8:34-35 “Whoever
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
Me. For
whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s
will save it.
1. Jesus speaks that He
and the Gospel are of equal importance.
2. Loyalty to Christ, not
changing sides every couple of days.
3. Not a liberal one day and a conservative the next day.
Knowing Jesus represented His Father in heaven,
the foundation of truth was seen. Seen by those with a willingness to
lay down the world’s demands and receive God’s, we see Jesus is Identified in His confessions: Man shall not live by bread alone
but by every word of God. “Get behind Me Satan! For it is written you shall
worship the LORD your God & Him only you shall serve.” “It has been said,
You shall not tempt (test) the LORD your God.”
In the Gospel of Mark: Jesus emphasized in His authority as
Teacher: Mark 1:22 & they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught
them as one having authority & not as the scribes. The “scribes” were known for repeating what others had said. It was
both the substance & the manner of the Lord’s teaching that was different
from what the scribes gave or represented!
Jesus strongly condemned them: Mark 12:38-40 Then
He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go
around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 “the best seats " in
the synagogues, & the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widow’s houses, &
for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.
1. Scribes taught what they mastered in
the Torah; they treasured traditional interpretations or what is oral
traditions.
2. In the Gospel of Mark, the scribes
were Jesus’ fiercest opponents seen in Mark 2:6-7, 16-17 NKJV 6 And some of the scribes were
sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7”Why does this Man speak
blasphemies like this?” Who can forgive sins but God alone?” …16 And when the scribes and Pharisees
saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples,
“How is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When
Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a
physician, but those who are sick, I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance.”
3. In this day, those with
vocations and life-styles that violated God’s laws & were held in contempt. But Jesus did not condone their
acts but came to save “sinners”. (Thinking of Matthew the tax collector!)
4. Mark 11:27 Then they came
again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the
scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what
authority are You doing these things?
And who gave You this authority to do these things?” 29 But Jesus answered and
said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will
tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The
baptism of John----was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” 31
And they reasoned among themselves saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did
you not believe him?” 32 But if we say, ‘From men”---they feared the people, for all
counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to
Jesus, “We do not know.” ‘Neither do I tell
you by what authority I do these things.”
The
Book of Mark Underscores the need for faith in Jesus, the Message of Jesus and
the power of Jesus: Mark 1:15 …and saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom
of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark
2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, He
said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Standing Against hardness of
hearts, Jesus’ authority is both aggressive and deliberate! A Healing on the
Sabbath: Mark
3:1-6 & He entered the synagogue again & a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they watched Him
closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse
Him. 3 & He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.”4
Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to
save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 & when He had looked around
at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to
the man, “Stretch out your hand.” & he stretched it out, & his hand was
restored as whole as the other. 6 Then the Pharisees went out & immediately
plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. Mercy of God can cause
evil men to react against God; The Herodians, a minor political party, favored
continuation of the dynasty of Herod. Being archenemies of the Pharisees, here
they unite against Jesus: their purpose, to destroy Him; Unrighteousness as
well as righteousness can
unite a group of people
For
those in need of healing, but He encountered those in unbelief! Mark 6:5-6 Now He
could not do mighty work there, except that he laid His hands on a few sick
people and healed them. 6 and He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He
went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
A Shameful Tribute to Unbelief: Luke 22:52-53 NKJV 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests,
captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out,
as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in
the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power
of darkness.'
1. The
destructive and the cruel showed up in the Garden of Gethsemane. God allowing
the enemy a temporary authority.
2. Jesus
the Servant, who possessed all power to serve, to heal bringing peace to man
yet he was seized.
3. The
good of God suppressed: yet Jesus was crucified, died and rose
again……resurrected to life and be seated at the right hand of God the Father. He waved the flag of victory!
4. Jesus
sent to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, & the
opening of the prison to those who are bound.”
5. But
those set as the slayers, in their ungodly malice, could see His good words
& works only as threats and Him only as an enemy, a man to shame, to
critically wound by a cat-of-nine tails and kill by nailing to a Cross.
Unbelief is Rampant Today: Christians are
prohibited from praying in many government buildings or at public gatherings,
and they are sometimes prevented from speaking the truth because man's laws
have, in effect, seized and bound such activity. What is good is
now evil and what is evil is counted as the good! Today, unbelief is used by
the powers of darkness………..to hinder and persecute Christians just as Christ
was. Just in the last few days, the 10 Commandments are mentioned by those who do not want them displayed at schools in the United States!
A tribute to unbelief found in Romans 1:18-22 NKJV For the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because
what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20
For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made; even His eternal power and
Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God,
they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their
thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they
became fools. ( these today want to connect with "furries" and women who work out on all kinds of weights)
Had they truly known Him and the truth He brought, “they
would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:8).
Jesus
Gives Warning of TRUE Defilement from an Attitude of the heart: Mark 7:14-23 When He had called all the multitude to
Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, & understand: 15 “There is nothing
that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come
out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 “If anyone has ears to
hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His
disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive
that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him. 19 because it does
not enter his heart but his stomach, & is eliminated, thus purifying all
foods?” 20 & He said, “What comes out of man, that defiles a man. 21 “For from within, out of the
heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22
thefts, covetousness, wickedness deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy,
pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within & defile a
man.”
1. Jesus was proclaiming
the Kingdom of God: it was the age of salvation
2. Calling the multitude
to Himself, he wants to clearly state that it is the heart and the will where
ungodly thoughts, words, desires and motives spring from
3. Jesus points to the
disciples as those with the spiritual dullness: Spiritual insensitivity builds
through this section of Mark 6:7 to Mark 8:26
4. Mark 6:7-13 Jesus
sends out the Twelve disciples, His instruction to them was concerning their
provisions and their public acceptance or rejection, then sent them on their
mission delegating His power to them
5. John the Baptist is
Beheaded in Mark 6:14-29 ….It was John’s preaching that prompted Herod’s
concerns. When Herod entertains in the banquet hall, where his eye is on the
young daughter of Herodias. Conversation to the point of offering up half his
kingdom which was not his to give is now on the momentum of John losing his
head. Reluctantly, Herod does give way to the young girl’s request and he now
thinks that he will have not further worries with John out of the way. But
Jesus sent out the 12 disciples and now this ministry is stirring up Herod’s
memories of John the Baptist.
6. The banquet of debauchery
given by Herod was noted by those who attended, but there was the Feeding of 5 thousand….in it is the
glory of God unveiled through the abundant provision of bread in the wilderness
7. Jesus taught them and
then their bodies were fed!
Jesus
walks on water seen in Mark 6:45-52 Immediately He made His disciples get into
the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida while He sent the
multitude away. 46 And when He had sent them away, he departed into to the
mountain to pray. 47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the
sea; and He was alone on the land. 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for
the wind was against them. Now about the 4th watch of the night He
came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49 And when
they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;
50 for they all saw Him & where troubled. But immediately he talked with
them and said to them. “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. 51 Then He
went up into the boat to them & the wind ceased. And they were greatly
amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled. 52 For they had not
understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
1. What is noted: the
disciple had not understood about the loaves when feeding the 5 thousand
2.
Their heart was hardened. Mark 8:17 “Why do you reason because you have
no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened.
18 Having eyes, do you not see? & having ears, do you not hear? & do
you not remember? 19 When I broke the 5
loaves for the 5 thousand, how
many baskets full or fragments did you take up?”They said to Him, “12.” 20 “Also, when I broke the 7 for the four thousand, how
many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?” & they said,” 7.” 21 So He said to them,
“how is it you do not understand/Jesus disappointed that His disciples lacked
spiritual perception! On hearing, He referred to the healing of the deaf man in
Mark 7:32-37 & anticipation was in full view for the next healing that would be seen in Mark
8:22-26 of the blind!
Then Jesus gives the Yeast of the Pharisees
and Herod: Mark 8:14-21 NKJV
14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, & they did not have more
than one loaf with them in the boat. 15 Then he charged them saying, “Take
heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And
they reasoned among themselves, saying, “ Why do you reason because you have no
bread?17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because
you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand?
Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears,
do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for
the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?” They
said to Him, “Twelve.” 20 Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand,
how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up? And they said,
“seven.” 21 So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”
1.
Another
boat ride for the disciples: Jesus warns of the contagion of unbelief in the
Pharisees….it is a corrupt and evil thing of the worldly man.
2.
Of
the Pharisees and Herod, the leaven is their persistence in unbelief and in
their opposing Him and His mission.
3.
For
the disciples, their focus should have been on the witness of the miraculous
multiplication of the bread provided to the 5 thousand and then to the 4
thousand.
4.
What
is more advantageous in this account, is that focus on the feeding miracle
than the satisfying of hunger. Jesus answers hunger and thirst by the spiritual in us.
In a telecast last night, they mentioned the young man Crooks who tried to take out the man running for President. They said this young one liked "furries". One reported went on to break down this concept of man loving furries as if they are one themselves. Strange!
We are made in the image of God. We do not change what God has created.Father
created us in His spiritual image to have the qualities of heart and character
as He does. He has given us qualities that enable us to provide leadership as
members of His government. Slipping spiritually comes because of misplaced
faith. Faith in ourselves, or in our own works cannot save. We must see Him, know
Him clearly enough, for when there is an absence of Him a certain void is
created , we are quickly and easily filled by these false ideas. Today we should serve as Jesus served. Although the Lord does not ask you to be crucified, but certainly our flesh must be crucified daily. Serving is not taking sides in this world, but is aligning with the Kingdom of God. It is His government where His authority is clearly seen in us.
So what will it be today: celebrity or servant? Foolish or the Wise? Strength in Jesus to stand in a collapsing world will forever propel us into the future where the light grows brighter unto the full light of day!
Teaching at: Voice of Prayer
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