The Weekend Sermon -- Mark 4:26-34

      Thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. This has been a very busy week for me. I have a lot going on, and I will ask for your prayers on some matters latter. I do hope and pray that all of you are doing well. 

     We are back in Mark this week studying what the Lord has to teach us through this Gospel. In our passage for today, we have Jesus comparing the Kingdom of God to sowers and seeds and to mustard seeds. 

     In the first illustration, Jesus says that the Kingdom is like a man sowing seeds. He does not know how the seed grows, but it does and produces fruit. In the second illustration, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is a tiny seed, but from that tiny seed a large plant grows. 

     What does this have as far as a meaning for us today? Let's look at the first illustration. I believe that Jesus is saying that the Kingdom of God is built on this earth by those of us who follow the Lord. What do I mean? We are the ones who have to be out planting the seeds. What are the seeds? First and foremost I believe that the seed being planted is the word of the Lord being sown into peoples' hearts. The seed is sown and planted when we tell others about the fact that they can have a life-changing relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

    Seed is also sown when we do good in this world. When we feed the hungry and clothe the naked and help those who are in distress we are sowing seeds that help to build the Kingdom of God. 

     Now, we have to be careful. We are the ones who are sowing the seed. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that gives the increase. He is the one who changes people's hearts and lives. Not by might. Not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. We can do nothing in our own strength nor through our own effort. It is the Spirit working in and through us. 

     The second illustration I think is a little different. I believe what Jesus is saying here is that the Kingdom of God begins like a tiny seed such as a mustard seed. That tiny seed is planted and then sprouts and becomes a huge bush. Who would have believed it!

     That is what the Kingdom of God is like. It has a small beginning. First of all it had the small beginning in the Upper Room, and now the Gospel has gone around the world. Also, when we spread the message and sow the seeds, it may seem like a small thing. But God, in His power uses that small thing and makes something great. 

    So, what is the take away from all this? We have to be out sowing the seed and doing the work of the Kingdom all the time. What we are doing may not seem like a lot in the scheme of things. However, the Holy Spirit by His power takes what we do and does great and mighty things by His power. It is our job to do what we can, and we rely on the Spirit's power the whole way. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I am probably going to sign a contract to sell my house next week. Please pray for me in this matter. I have a lot on my plate right now, and I need your prayers. I need to find out just what I am supposed to do in the next portion of my life. Pray that I will know the Lord's will in all things. 

     Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak. Pray that the sick will recover. 

     Keep praying for those affected by natural disasters. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

     Pray for peace. Ukraine, Sudan, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza all need to be at peace.

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Bahrain and Bangladesh. Pray that many will come to know the love of the Lord Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Remembering -- To You Old Friend

      This week marks for me a terrible anniversary. This week it will be thirty years since my best friend Toby passed away. I can hardly believe it, and I can hardly stand it. I am having a really hard time with the whole thing I have to admit. I miss him more each day. 

     On this anniversary I want to say a couple of things. First of all, Thank you Lord for bringing the two of us together. Neither one of us would have made it if you hadn't made it all happen. 

     Toby. Thank you for all the years of joy and fun. I love you and miss you. 

     I know that he is in heaven with my mom and dad. I don't have any doubt about that. I know we will be together again someday. It is just hard right now. If was still alive, my life would be so different and so much better now. 

     Jesus and a corgi dog named Toby made my life all that it is today. Without the Lord I am nothing. Without Toby I would not be here today. I hope we can be together soon. 

Verses For The Week

 I Peter 4:8 -- "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

I Corinthians 16:14 -- "Let all that you do be done in love."

The Weekend Sermon -- Mark 4:24-25

      Thank you for taking the time to read the message this week. I am trying to get back on track. There have been so many storms and other difficulties. A lot has been going on. Hopefully, we can stay on track with our study of Mark. I hope and pray that you are all doing well. 

     Our verses for today present us with more difficulty than one might think. Depending on which version of the New Testament you are reading, you get a different reading in many of them. After reading many different ones in preparation for this message, I think the text of the New Living Translation gets at what Jesus is saying. It reads, "Then He added, Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given -- and you will receive even more. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

     What Jesus is saying hear the way I understand it is that our growth spiritually is dependent on hearing and doing what He has said. When we do listen to Him and follow Him, we will grow and learn and we will receive more understanding and grow in the Lord. On the other hand, if we do not listen and practice the teachings and the commandments of Jesus, we will not grow spiritually. In fact, those who do not listen to the Lord will face condemnation. 

     We can see this in a way with a none spiritual example or two. When I was in college, we were presented with the facts of a course. What you got out of the course would pretty much be in line with the effort you put in. If you used the course information as a springboard to learn more about the subject, you would get more out of the experience than those who just wanted to get through it and get the grade. After the course was over, they more or less forgot about it. 

     Human relationships are like this. If we put in the effort of knowing and understanding another person, we will have a better and a deeper relationship. If we don't, at best we will just have a very superficial friendship. 

     So, what does this all mean? The way I see it is that we need to be those who are committed to hearing and implementing the teachings of Jesus. When we hear His words and do what they tell us to do, we grow closer to the Lord Jesus. We then learn more about Him and we keep becoming more and more like Him for His honor and glory. 

     James tells us about this. He admonishes his readers to be doers of the word and not forgetful hearers only. 

     We have to be committed to reading and studying the Word of the Lord. We need to be passionate about obeying the Lord and following His teachings and commandments. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I need your prayers on two important things. I am seriously considering selling my house. Pray that things will go well in this manner. Also, pray about my job. It isn't great there right now. 

     Please pray for an end to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. 

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine, Sudan and the entire Middle East area need our prayers. I am so tired of all the war and fighting. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Kyrgyzstan and Somalia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I we will continue in Mark. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Psalm 105:2 -- "Sing to Him, sing praise to Him, tell of all His wonderful acts."

Psalm 101:1 -- "I will sing of Your love and justice, Lord I will sing praise."

Weekend Sermon -- A Message From Several Years Back

      This has been a really hard week. We have had bad storms again. I am just going to post a message from the past this week. Please pray that things will get better. Thank you. Also, keep praying for peace.

  Today, I want to talk about the compassion of Jesus.  While He was ministering on this earth, Jesus showed His compassion for people in a number of different ways.  Let's look today at the places where the Scriptures say that Jesus demonstrated compassion.
     The first instance in Scripture that reveals the compassion of Jesus is found in Mark Chapter 1 verse 41.  Jesus is approached by a man who is covered with leprosy.  The leper says to Jesus, "Lord if you are willing, make me clean."  The Bible says that Jesus was moved with compassion, touched the man and healed him.
     This isn't the only instance in Scripture that reveals Jesus' compassion for the sick.  Mark 9:14-29 records Jesus having compassion on a boy who was possessed.
     Matthew 14:44 says that Jesus felt compassion for the people and healed the sick.  And Matthew 20:34 records that Jesus had compassion on two blind men by the side of the road.  Jesus gave them back their sight.
     Jesus had great compassion on the sick and afflicted.  He was deeply moved by the suffering of humanity.  Jesus healed the sick and freed them from their pain.  People who suffered for a lifetime were delivered by the touch of the Savior.
     These instances of Jesus' compassion for the sick mean a lot to me.  I've struggled with illness my entire life.  Sometimes, you feel isolated and that no one cares about your suffering.  When I was a young boy in Christian schools, the kids and teachers often made fun of me because I was sick so much.  I learned that Jesus cared about me.  He loved me and had compassion for me.  He gave me an awareness of His presence letting me know that I was never alone and that He understood what I was going through.
     Unlike the people in the Bible, I was not healed of every affliction.  However, Jesus did heal me of vitiligo.  I know that Jesus will restore me to perfect health when I come into His presence face to face one day.
     Because of much of the emotional suffering that I had to go through at school, I believe that is why Jesus sent Toby to me.  Toby did not leave me when I was sick.  We helped each other.
     Just as Jesus showed His great compassion for those who were sick, we as His followers should do the same.  We should try to help people that don't feel well with their daily needs if at all possible.  If someone can't afford medical care, we as the church should help them out.  We should reach out to the sick and hurting in our circle of influence and around the world.
     One of the great stories of Jesus' compassion is found in Luke 7.  Jesus was traveling around the country when He approached the city of Nain.  As Jesus approached, He encountered a funeral procession for a young man who was the only son of his mother who was a widow.  Jesus saw the boy's mother weeping, and He was moved with compassion.  He told the mother not to cry and then raised her son to live again.  Jesus was moved with compassion at the sight of a grieving mother.
     Many people in our world today are hurting.  They grieve over the loss of a loved one.  It's been three years now since my mom and dad died, and it still hurts me deeply.  Many people is our society suffer from depression and anxiety.  As followers of Jesus, we can be a force of compassion by speaking words of comfort.  We can meet the needs of others by being the best friend that we can be.
     Jesus also demonstrated compassion for the hungry.  Matthew 15:32 says that Jesus had compassion on the multitudes because they had followed Him and now they had nothing to eat.  Jesus took five loaves and two fish and feed 5,000.  Jesus cared that people were hungry.
     Thank God for the compassionate people who work to combat hunger in this country and around the world.  Many churches operate food banks, and I think that every church should do this.  As followers of Jesus, we can donate food, time and resources to help alleviate hunger and food insecurity in this nation.  There are also many excellent groups to support who help feed people across the globe.
     Finally, Jesus showed His compassion on those who needed a Savior and a shepherd for their souls.  Matthew 9:36 says, "And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd."
     Jesus is the Good Shepherd.  He came to seek and save the lost.  Jesus will forgive and save from sin anyone who repents and accepts Him into his life as Savior and Lord.
     As His compassionate followers, Jesus calls us to share the message of the Gospel with others.  Jesus calls us to show compassion on the sick, the hurting and the hungry.

Verses For The Week

 Amos 5:15 -- "Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gates."

Romans 12:9 -- "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."