Let's finish up Mark 1.
Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
During my walk/run everyday I take time out for a few minutes to go and sit on an abandoned dock to watch and hear the water and pray. There has always been something about the sound of water that completely relaxes me and draws me close to talking to God. At that place, I can tell Him anything and everything and it seems all the trials of life are put back into perspective during those times. Even Jesus needed time alone to speak with His Father. It also said that his friends went out to look for Him. So many things pull at us each day, when we try and have quiet time with God. We get interrupted and we miss that time with God. Its important to have those places where your kids, friends, family, cell phones, and yes, even your husband can't interrupt your time with Him. Go find that place and sit and spend some time with your Heavenly Father today.
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Filled with compassion, He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
I heard a friend teach on this lately, and he pointed out that Jesus did not have to touch the man in order for him to be healed. Jesus could have just spoken the man's healing. In the Jewish times, when someone had leprosy, no one could touch them, they were sent into exile to live with other lepers. This man probably had not been touched in years because of his disease. We all need physical touch in our lives, and it is most certainly a sign of affection. Can you imagine not being touched for years? Yet Jesus, even though in the people's eyes he would become unclean, knew this man's need, not only to be healed, but to reach out and touch him for the first time in years, and cleanse him of his disease.
God always knows exactly what we need when we need it. He simply asks us to believe Him and trust Him to accomplish His will in our lives. And at those times when He touches us and we feel overwhelmed by His mercy and grace to once more touch us, we can't help but share with others what He has done in our lives.
He touched me
Bill Gaither
Shackled by a heavy burden
'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
Now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, oh He touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met the blessed Saviour
Since He cleansed and made me whole
I will never cease to praise Him
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
What does your worship cost you?
I read a book by Darlene Zschech (Hillsong Music) on the true value of worship. Buddy and I have been in many churches and it has always saddened me when we go into a church where the choir is singing with absolutely no emotion in the words they are singing. Contemporary and traditional alike. I turned on the tv one Sunday morning and some local church was on and the choir that was singing did not have one member with a smile on their face. I asked Olivia, my youngest, if she thought these people were joyful or were happy to be singing about Jesus. Of course she replied, "no, they look sad Mommy." And here they were on TV singing about God. How can a world full of sin, look upon sad, unemotional faces and determine that we love and serve a mighty God.
My passion is to share with churches what it means to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Psalm 34:1-3 says “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together." The Word tells us to come together and praise him and bless His name together. It is the sound of one voice, the song of the heart not the mouth, a sound that is more spiritual than musical, a sound of grateful hearts… the sound of the church at worship.
Darlene states that the act of worship is “giving due worth to God.” She explains that the root word of worship is “worth ship.” "It is the created catching a glimpse of the Creator and then responding to His awesomeness." Rick Warren, in his book the Purpose Driven Life says, "the most common mistake with Christians is that they come to worship with the attitude of seeking after an experience, or an event instead of seeking to honor and glorify God." Amos 5:21-24 says "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." You see its not about style of worship, whether contemporary worship songs or the hymns of the faith, its about the attitude of our hearts. Its about remembering the cross and what He did for us by giving us the gift of salvation and sacrificing ourselves to worship in Spirit and in Truth, to put on the garment of praise. Romans 12:1 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” In view of God’s mercy. Have you looked around at the world lately? Have you seen the deprivation of sin and what it does to people? How wondrous is the mercy God gave us to redeem us to have freedom from sin and the consequences of sin. This world looks at us as a people full of do’s and don’ts, but God has delivered us from tremendous heartache. Have you ever met someone who has lived in sin all of their lives and known them to be truly joyful?
In view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices. To offer all of our being to worship Him, to have a relationship with him, to serve him. If you want an experience, seek the relationship with Him through His Word and through prayer, and the more you learn and develop that relationship, the more you will respond to Him in true heart worship. I Sam. 24 tells of David when Araunah offered to give him the offering to give to God, David says, Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.”
I have to admit I have caught myself before looking at those who seem to be a bit extreme and thought it was strange, but first of all, I don't know what that person has been delivered from. I know when God healed me of cancer, my song and my worship went to a whole other level because I was so thankful, so blessed, delivered. But part of the problem is that many of us are so consumed about what others think of us instead of what God thinks of us that we are not willing to give the sacrifice of praise. I remember one particular Sunday, God clearly spoke to me to bow down before Him in worship. We were singing a song in the choir speaking the many wonderful names of God and who He is. But I disobeyed. I said to myself, people will look at me like they think I am trying to draw attention to myself, especially being on the front row of the choir. I immediately regretted not obeying when my pastor got up and reprimanded the church (but God was speaking directly to me) when he said “ let me teach you something church, you either bow down on your face before the presence of God or you stand to your feet and worship Him, you don't just sit there." It wasn’t about the act of bowing down, it was about the sacrifice of obedience. It was about the sacrifice of worship. I don’t always come into church ready to worship. As we have always said, it seems Satan really gets in your way on Sunday morning. But it seems when I close my eyes and remember the cost of the cross and the cost of my redemption, I find myself responding to Him in worship every time.
I ask you, what does your worship cost you? When you sing a great song like "How great thou art," do you sing it in true worship with your heart to our God? What about “Great is thy faithfulness” and so on. Do you worship Him with your life?
My passion is to share with churches what it means to worship God in Spirit and in truth. Psalm 34:1-3 says “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together." The Word tells us to come together and praise him and bless His name together. It is the sound of one voice, the song of the heart not the mouth, a sound that is more spiritual than musical, a sound of grateful hearts… the sound of the church at worship.
Darlene states that the act of worship is “giving due worth to God.” She explains that the root word of worship is “worth ship.” "It is the created catching a glimpse of the Creator and then responding to His awesomeness." Rick Warren, in his book the Purpose Driven Life says, "the most common mistake with Christians is that they come to worship with the attitude of seeking after an experience, or an event instead of seeking to honor and glorify God." Amos 5:21-24 says "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps." You see its not about style of worship, whether contemporary worship songs or the hymns of the faith, its about the attitude of our hearts. Its about remembering the cross and what He did for us by giving us the gift of salvation and sacrificing ourselves to worship in Spirit and in Truth, to put on the garment of praise. Romans 12:1 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” In view of God’s mercy. Have you looked around at the world lately? Have you seen the deprivation of sin and what it does to people? How wondrous is the mercy God gave us to redeem us to have freedom from sin and the consequences of sin. This world looks at us as a people full of do’s and don’ts, but God has delivered us from tremendous heartache. Have you ever met someone who has lived in sin all of their lives and known them to be truly joyful?
In view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices. To offer all of our being to worship Him, to have a relationship with him, to serve him. If you want an experience, seek the relationship with Him through His Word and through prayer, and the more you learn and develop that relationship, the more you will respond to Him in true heart worship. I Sam. 24 tells of David when Araunah offered to give him the offering to give to God, David says, Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing.”
I have to admit I have caught myself before looking at those who seem to be a bit extreme and thought it was strange, but first of all, I don't know what that person has been delivered from. I know when God healed me of cancer, my song and my worship went to a whole other level because I was so thankful, so blessed, delivered. But part of the problem is that many of us are so consumed about what others think of us instead of what God thinks of us that we are not willing to give the sacrifice of praise. I remember one particular Sunday, God clearly spoke to me to bow down before Him in worship. We were singing a song in the choir speaking the many wonderful names of God and who He is. But I disobeyed. I said to myself, people will look at me like they think I am trying to draw attention to myself, especially being on the front row of the choir. I immediately regretted not obeying when my pastor got up and reprimanded the church (but God was speaking directly to me) when he said “ let me teach you something church, you either bow down on your face before the presence of God or you stand to your feet and worship Him, you don't just sit there." It wasn’t about the act of bowing down, it was about the sacrifice of obedience. It was about the sacrifice of worship. I don’t always come into church ready to worship. As we have always said, it seems Satan really gets in your way on Sunday morning. But it seems when I close my eyes and remember the cost of the cross and the cost of my redemption, I find myself responding to Him in worship every time.
I ask you, what does your worship cost you? When you sing a great song like "How great thou art," do you sing it in true worship with your heart to our God? What about “Great is thy faithfulness” and so on. Do you worship Him with your life?
Friday, November 18, 2011
Mark 1:21-34 - Jesus Casts out an Evil Spirit
Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
We get a glimpse of Jesus teaching here in Capernaum. I posted a picture of Buddy and I standing really on top of that very temple where Jesus taught in Capernaum. This was one of my favorite places we visited because it was mostly still original. A temple is built over the synagogue but the rest of the town was still like it was 2000+ years ago. I cannot tell you how much it meant to me to be able to see these places where Jesus walked and talked and healed and cast out evil spirits. It has done so much for my Bible Study.
I love reading Mark's version of Jesus' story because he is dramatic. He speaks of the people being amazed at the authority Jesus spoke with. The people of Galilee could see the difference, perhaps because they were simple people, fishermen, common everyday people. When you go to Galilee, there is such a difference than Jerusalem. Its like going to farm country opposed to a big city like Atlanta. Its quiet, peaceful, serene as opposed to bustling, hectic and busy, no wonder Jesus loved it there and spent a lot of time there.
But can you imagine being there when the evil spirit spoke up and even called Jesus out by the "Holy One of God." How could you not believe in Christ when even the demons are calling him who He is.
He goes on and heals many people in the region and casts out more demons in the next few verses but at the end of verse 34 it says, "and Jesus healed many with various diseases. He also drove out many demons but He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." I love this verse because so many times people can get fearful of what Satan and his demons will do to us, looking around every corner for a demon of this and that, but this verse tells me I don't have to fear satan because Jesus has authority over demons and they can do nothing to us without permission from God if we are under God's authority. Everything that happens in this life is filtered through the hands of God for His good purpose in us, if we are His children. I take comfort in the fact that yes, "sometimes bad things happen to good people" but to know God has control over it in my life brings great comfort to me and I look for what He is trying to teach me through it. Yes, satan is always looking for a way to trip us up and he can tempt us and oppress us, but he cannot touch us when we are God's Children. "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." I John 4:4
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Attempting normal again
I keep trying desperately to get back to normal and I know it will come soon, but I am still in the middle of getting my internet provider to do what they are supposed to do to get me online, I have stacks of papers I need to go through. Trying to get back to my exercise routine. However, I have just unpacked my books after 11 months and I found some great resources for my blog.
Mark 1:14-20
Jesus Announces the Good News
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
I just unpacked my Phillip Yancey book called "Meet the Bible" He notes that Mark is written like a newspaper with headlines and giving you just the facts. He also notes several things about Jesus' ministry as opposed to John's. John was a typical prophet with the message of judgement, dressing weird and eating strange insects which clarified him as a prophet, but what is interesting is that Jesus was totally different, clarifying him not just another prophet. Jesus ate with people, talked to people, healed the sick, raised the dead, and as stated in verse 14, brought the good news of God to them.
One of my favorite characteristics of Jesus is that he ate with sinners. I, ashamed to say, don't usually want to hang out with people different than me with different view points than me, I like to be with people who agree with me, laugh at my unfunny jokes, and believe like me. I especially don't like confrontation so its a natural response from me to want to avoid people who are opposed to Christ or my Christian walk. But Jesus loved sinners, ate with normal everyday people. He called normal everyday fisherman to be his disciples. But unlike the religious leaders of the time, the fishermen "left their father in the boat," "Jumped ship" so to speak, to follow Jesus. May I always strive to "jump any religious ship" to follow and know relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mark 1:14-20
Jesus Announces the Good News
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
I just unpacked my Phillip Yancey book called "Meet the Bible" He notes that Mark is written like a newspaper with headlines and giving you just the facts. He also notes several things about Jesus' ministry as opposed to John's. John was a typical prophet with the message of judgement, dressing weird and eating strange insects which clarified him as a prophet, but what is interesting is that Jesus was totally different, clarifying him not just another prophet. Jesus ate with people, talked to people, healed the sick, raised the dead, and as stated in verse 14, brought the good news of God to them.
One of my favorite characteristics of Jesus is that he ate with sinners. I, ashamed to say, don't usually want to hang out with people different than me with different view points than me, I like to be with people who agree with me, laugh at my unfunny jokes, and believe like me. I especially don't like confrontation so its a natural response from me to want to avoid people who are opposed to Christ or my Christian walk. But Jesus loved sinners, ate with normal everyday people. He called normal everyday fisherman to be his disciples. But unlike the religious leaders of the time, the fishermen "left their father in the boat," "Jumped ship" so to speak, to follow Jesus. May I always strive to "jump any religious ship" to follow and know relationship with Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Blogs could be sporadic for a week or two.
Just to let you all know. I am moving houses right now and this week and next week are just overwhelming with all I have to do. Somehow, its going to get done, I keep telling Buddy and myself, its going to get done. I feel like the little engine that could. I think I can, I think I can.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Mark 1:9-11 - The Baptism of Jesus
One more note on Verse 8. We talked about repentance on Friday and I just looked up the note on Matthew 3:11(which refers to verse 8 in Mark 1). It said that John's baptism "presupposed repentance" and that he would not baptize the Pharisees and Sadducees because they failed to give any indication of repentance. It also pointed out that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was promised in Joel 2:28-29.
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
This is said to mark the beginning of Jesus' public ministry at age 30. The NIV Study Bible says that there were several reasons for his baptism: "to fulfill all righteousness" in other words, the baptism indicated that he was consecrated to God and approved by Him and re-emphazied by the descent of the Holy Spirit on Him and the words of God the Father. It was a clear testimony to all the witnesses there that day that Jesus Christ was God's Son.
I always try to put myself in the time I am reading, especially when it is a fictional novel. I like to imagine I was there. Its a lot of the reason why I like to read. I like to escape into another time and place and not think about the current stresses and issues of the day. What would it have been like to stand on that shore of the Jordan river on that day. When we went to the Jordan River in Israel, it was not anything extraordinary. There were beavers and muskrats swimming all over that place. When you walked in, there were fish nibbling all at your feet, and it was a very narrow river, almost Alabama "creek-like." Now I am sure there are other places maybe more magnificent than that area of the Jordan, but it was very simple. Just like many things in Christ's ministry, the extraordinary didn't lie in the details surrounding Christ, the extraordinary came from Christ alone. He was born in a humble poor manger with cattle and sheep, he died on a thieve's cross, he was baptized in a common river by a man, and a strange one at that. The God of the universe humbled himself and came to us humbly to give us His most incredible magnificent gift. Imagine with me. When you observe the most incredible sunsets, the most spectacular starry night with a full moon, the most beautiful field of flowers at the base of a vast snow covered mountain peak, when you gaze into the eyes of your newborn child, can you imagine that the Artist of all that beauty, stooped down to your level and offered you His gift? So, on that shore that day, observing John the Baptist, baptizing Jesus, I am standing there and suddenly the heavens are torn open and a beautiful white dove descends from heaven and a voice came from that heaven saying "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." I think I would have no problem believing that this man standing in front of me was Jesus Christ, the most important person that has ever lived, because God Himself called down from heaven and said "this is My Son."
How it applies to me today? God continually gives me gifts of His great love every day, the gift of life, healthy children, a loving husband, a wonderful family, beautiful sunsets, etc. I spend most of my days enjoying these gifts and somehow my focus continues to waver off of Him to my own selfishness, pride and arrogance to think I know how to handle my situations better than He does. I have often teased, "well if God wants me to do that, He is going to have to send me a letter from heaven, and I am going to need to see it drop." Well, on that day, He sent so much more than a letter from Heaven, His audible voice said it, This is My Son in whom I am well pleased." I can trust that Jesus is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
This is said to mark the beginning of Jesus' public ministry at age 30. The NIV Study Bible says that there were several reasons for his baptism: "to fulfill all righteousness" in other words, the baptism indicated that he was consecrated to God and approved by Him and re-emphazied by the descent of the Holy Spirit on Him and the words of God the Father. It was a clear testimony to all the witnesses there that day that Jesus Christ was God's Son.
I always try to put myself in the time I am reading, especially when it is a fictional novel. I like to imagine I was there. Its a lot of the reason why I like to read. I like to escape into another time and place and not think about the current stresses and issues of the day. What would it have been like to stand on that shore of the Jordan river on that day. When we went to the Jordan River in Israel, it was not anything extraordinary. There were beavers and muskrats swimming all over that place. When you walked in, there were fish nibbling all at your feet, and it was a very narrow river, almost Alabama "creek-like." Now I am sure there are other places maybe more magnificent than that area of the Jordan, but it was very simple. Just like many things in Christ's ministry, the extraordinary didn't lie in the details surrounding Christ, the extraordinary came from Christ alone. He was born in a humble poor manger with cattle and sheep, he died on a thieve's cross, he was baptized in a common river by a man, and a strange one at that. The God of the universe humbled himself and came to us humbly to give us His most incredible magnificent gift. Imagine with me. When you observe the most incredible sunsets, the most spectacular starry night with a full moon, the most beautiful field of flowers at the base of a vast snow covered mountain peak, when you gaze into the eyes of your newborn child, can you imagine that the Artist of all that beauty, stooped down to your level and offered you His gift? So, on that shore that day, observing John the Baptist, baptizing Jesus, I am standing there and suddenly the heavens are torn open and a beautiful white dove descends from heaven and a voice came from that heaven saying "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." I think I would have no problem believing that this man standing in front of me was Jesus Christ, the most important person that has ever lived, because God Himself called down from heaven and said "this is My Son."
How it applies to me today? God continually gives me gifts of His great love every day, the gift of life, healthy children, a loving husband, a wonderful family, beautiful sunsets, etc. I spend most of my days enjoying these gifts and somehow my focus continues to waver off of Him to my own selfishness, pride and arrogance to think I know how to handle my situations better than He does. I have often teased, "well if God wants me to do that, He is going to have to send me a letter from heaven, and I am going to need to see it drop." Well, on that day, He sent so much more than a letter from Heaven, His audible voice said it, This is My Son in whom I am well pleased." I can trust that Jesus is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Mark 1:1-8
Okay I already have to back up and tell you that John was a disciple of Christ. Matter of fact, he was the "disciple who Jesus loved. " These are things that make me wonder if I should do this, at the same time, I am learning right along with anyone who reads this and maybe you didn't know these things either.
Okay here we go. Mark 1:1-8(NIV)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
First of all, Gospel comes from the word "godspel," which means good news or good story which as we all know is the good news that God provided salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Mark begins though by cutting to the chase, skipping the birth and growing up years of Christ to talking about John the Baptist. Then, to make sure people know John the Baptist was legit, he refers back to the prophet Isaiah in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 who foretold that there would be a messenger to come and prepare God's people for the coming of the Messiah.
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”— (Malachi 3:1)
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”(Is. 40:3)
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
A baptism of repentance, which involves a deliberate turning from sin to righteousness. According to the NIV study bible, the emphasis John placed on repentance recalls the preaching of the prophets. God always grants forgiveness when there is true repentance.
5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
When he says the "whole" Judean countryside, he was indicating that John had a huge following. They had not had a prophet for centuries, so they were looking for a messenger of God. A personal note, I was able to visit the Jordan River and Buddy baptized people from our church for the first time as a ordained minister. It was a special moment.
6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
I did a little research on this. When we visited the holy land, they showed us a tree that was called a locust tree and told us that the plant is actually what John ate, not the insect. However, when I looked it up in my study bible, they referred me to Leviticus 11:21-22 where the law indicates that it is okay to eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. So the next time you see any chocolate covered grasshoppers or locusts, go ahead, God said it was okay to eat them. So glad we are no longer under the law, aren't you? I think there is a good chance that John was actually eating locusts, the bugs! I also wondered why we are given a description of the camel's hair and the leather belt, it was another reference to the fact he was a prophet because Elijah and other prophets wore these same things.
7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
How it applies to me today? In relation to repentance and forgiveness, I believe we live in a society who confuses tolerance with forgiveness. Christians are said to be judgmental and unforgiving of those who are not living the way we think they should. This is not true of most of us and I hate it when we are lumped into the same category as some extremist who says or does something Jesus would have never done. Jesus preached forgiveness and showed us by example to forgive because He forgave us. But our society wants us to tolerate sin, to accept it and not tell them that the Bible teaches that it is sin. Christ teaches us to hate sin, but to love all, even our enemies, and I am sure, because we are human, we are guilty of getting that line confused sometimes, but to ask us to say that people are "born this way" or "its not a life" or "God is a loving God and this is okay" is inaccurate. Repentance is required for God to forgive the sin, including our own sin.
However, the beautiful statement is that God always grants forgiveness when there is repentance. So we must stand strong on requiring repentance, but we must also love and go to extremes to help those who are trapped in a way of life that satan has deceived them into believing is okay.
The truth is, in relation to verses 7-8, if John the Baptist was unworthy to stoop down and untie Jesus' shoelaces, so much more am I unworthy of the gift He granted to me. I did come to a place of repentance for my sin and made Him Lord of my life, I have been baptized with water, and baptized with the Holy Spirit, who makes me aware when I need to come back to repentance for things I have done wrong. That includes the soul sins that no one really wants to talk about of pride, selfishness, unforgiveness, etc. We have no right to hold unforgiveness over anyone's head, that is God's job as our righteous judge. We are supposed to be like John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord into people's hearts so that He can transform them.
Okay here we go. Mark 1:1-8(NIV)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
First of all, Gospel comes from the word "godspel," which means good news or good story which as we all know is the good news that God provided salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Mark begins though by cutting to the chase, skipping the birth and growing up years of Christ to talking about John the Baptist. Then, to make sure people know John the Baptist was legit, he refers back to the prophet Isaiah in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 who foretold that there would be a messenger to come and prepare God's people for the coming of the Messiah.
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”— (Malachi 3:1)
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”(Is. 40:3)
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
A baptism of repentance, which involves a deliberate turning from sin to righteousness. According to the NIV study bible, the emphasis John placed on repentance recalls the preaching of the prophets. God always grants forgiveness when there is true repentance.
5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
When he says the "whole" Judean countryside, he was indicating that John had a huge following. They had not had a prophet for centuries, so they were looking for a messenger of God. A personal note, I was able to visit the Jordan River and Buddy baptized people from our church for the first time as a ordained minister. It was a special moment.
6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
I did a little research on this. When we visited the holy land, they showed us a tree that was called a locust tree and told us that the plant is actually what John ate, not the insect. However, when I looked it up in my study bible, they referred me to Leviticus 11:21-22 where the law indicates that it is okay to eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket or grasshopper. So the next time you see any chocolate covered grasshoppers or locusts, go ahead, God said it was okay to eat them. So glad we are no longer under the law, aren't you? I think there is a good chance that John was actually eating locusts, the bugs! I also wondered why we are given a description of the camel's hair and the leather belt, it was another reference to the fact he was a prophet because Elijah and other prophets wore these same things.
7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
How it applies to me today? In relation to repentance and forgiveness, I believe we live in a society who confuses tolerance with forgiveness. Christians are said to be judgmental and unforgiving of those who are not living the way we think they should. This is not true of most of us and I hate it when we are lumped into the same category as some extremist who says or does something Jesus would have never done. Jesus preached forgiveness and showed us by example to forgive because He forgave us. But our society wants us to tolerate sin, to accept it and not tell them that the Bible teaches that it is sin. Christ teaches us to hate sin, but to love all, even our enemies, and I am sure, because we are human, we are guilty of getting that line confused sometimes, but to ask us to say that people are "born this way" or "its not a life" or "God is a loving God and this is okay" is inaccurate. Repentance is required for God to forgive the sin, including our own sin.
However, the beautiful statement is that God always grants forgiveness when there is repentance. So we must stand strong on requiring repentance, but we must also love and go to extremes to help those who are trapped in a way of life that satan has deceived them into believing is okay.
The truth is, in relation to verses 7-8, if John the Baptist was unworthy to stoop down and untie Jesus' shoelaces, so much more am I unworthy of the gift He granted to me. I did come to a place of repentance for my sin and made Him Lord of my life, I have been baptized with water, and baptized with the Holy Spirit, who makes me aware when I need to come back to repentance for things I have done wrong. That includes the soul sins that no one really wants to talk about of pride, selfishness, unforgiveness, etc. We have no right to hold unforgiveness over anyone's head, that is God's job as our righteous judge. We are supposed to be like John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord into people's hearts so that He can transform them.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Book of Mark
Things I didn't know: First of all, for some reason, in spite of my Bible education both in Christian School and at Liberty University, I always thought that the four gospels were written by disciples of Jesus, especially Matthew, Mark, and John. I did know that Luke was a physician and not one of the disciples. But only Matthew is thought to be an actual disciple of Jesus. "Mark was a close associate of Peter, from who he received the tradition of the things said and done by the Lord" (NIV Study Bible) Mark's account is thought to be the earliest written gospel. He is also considered to be the "John Mark" of the new testament. It is thought that he wrote these accounts in Rome, Italy to the Gentile church in Rome. He explains Jewish Customs, translates Aramaic words and has a special interest in persecution and martyrdom, "Subjects of special concern to Roman believers"(NIV Study Bible) The NIV Study Bible says that "Mark's gospel is a simple succinct, unadorned, yet vivid account of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing more what Jesus did than what he said."
Why all this is important in studying the gospel of Mark? I think we need to understand where the writers were coming from. I think it is very interesting to know that Mark was following Peter around and his message must have been so compelling. In a way, we are looking at the life of Christ in the same way Mark did. He didn't know Jesus first hand, he was learning about him from Peter who had lived life with Jesus.
What it says to me? We never know who is learning about Christ through us. It could be a close friend, it could be someone we don't know, but they knows us. It could be a waitress in a restaurant who knows I am a Christian, but I don't know anything about her. What is she learning about Christ through me?
I am trying to keep these posts very short both for my sake and for yours. We will sink into Mark's gospel tomorrow.
Why all this is important in studying the gospel of Mark? I think we need to understand where the writers were coming from. I think it is very interesting to know that Mark was following Peter around and his message must have been so compelling. In a way, we are looking at the life of Christ in the same way Mark did. He didn't know Jesus first hand, he was learning about him from Peter who had lived life with Jesus.
What it says to me? We never know who is learning about Christ through us. It could be a close friend, it could be someone we don't know, but they knows us. It could be a waitress in a restaurant who knows I am a Christian, but I don't know anything about her. What is she learning about Christ through me?
I am trying to keep these posts very short both for my sake and for yours. We will sink into Mark's gospel tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Takin a new approach.
I have decided this morning to take a new approach to writing. What am I most passionate about? God, and wanting others to know my love for Him and to know they can have the love of their life as well when you are in relationship with Him. I also think there are a lot of people in the church that have no idea what having a relationship with God the Father, God, the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit (the Comforter). Its more about the do's and don'ts of going to a church than it is about having relationship with Him. I have said for a long time now, You cannot be passionate about someone you don't know. I think we require people to get involved with so many things in church before we actually try to find out where they are in their spiritual relationship with God.
I have been writing a monthly devotional for 11 or 12 years now for a newsletter started for my husband's ministry. Its mostly been about what God was currently teaching me. Some have told me that I am a gifted writer and so if I have a talent for that, I don't want to bury a gift God has given me to reach others. I have a desire for people to know God and what better way for me to communicate that to others than through writing about Him. I am no Bible Scholar. I am a plain, everyday, Southern girl who has recently acquired a real hunger to study God's Word. After a tour in the Holy Land this past summer, I came home wanting to learn about details in the Bible because now I can picture the places where events in the Bible took place. I have read through most of the Bible ( I always get bogged down in Deuteronomy, don't judge me), but now I want to study it.
So this blog will become about an everyday daughter of the King on a journey through the Bible. I will probably use different versions of scripture, although my favorite Bible is my NIV Study Bible.
I would love it if you care to join me on this journey. Pastors, Pastor's wives, Bible teachers, I would love your insight and to keep me accountable for anything I say wrong.
God Bless,
Kerri
I have been writing a monthly devotional for 11 or 12 years now for a newsletter started for my husband's ministry. Its mostly been about what God was currently teaching me. Some have told me that I am a gifted writer and so if I have a talent for that, I don't want to bury a gift God has given me to reach others. I have a desire for people to know God and what better way for me to communicate that to others than through writing about Him. I am no Bible Scholar. I am a plain, everyday, Southern girl who has recently acquired a real hunger to study God's Word. After a tour in the Holy Land this past summer, I came home wanting to learn about details in the Bible because now I can picture the places where events in the Bible took place. I have read through most of the Bible ( I always get bogged down in Deuteronomy, don't judge me), but now I want to study it.
So this blog will become about an everyday daughter of the King on a journey through the Bible. I will probably use different versions of scripture, although my favorite Bible is my NIV Study Bible.
I would love it if you care to join me on this journey. Pastors, Pastor's wives, Bible teachers, I would love your insight and to keep me accountable for anything I say wrong.
God Bless,
Kerri
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