Verses For The Week and An Update

    First the update. An answer to prayer. I found a new home. Thank you. 

I Peter 5:7 -- Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." 

Matthew 6:11 -- "Give us this day our daily bread."

Update and prayer request

     I am not posting the verses or sermon this week. They will resume in September. I am busy with selling the house and moving.  Please pray I will get the apartment I have applied for. Thank you. 

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 7:1-23"

    Thank you for joining me for the message again this week. It is always a privilege and a pleasure to post these messages. I hope that everyone is doing OK. 

     We finally made it through Mark 6 last week, so that means we start chapter 7 this week. Our passage today is long, but it contains two core messages. 

     The religious leaders of Jesus' day were always trying to trap Him or get Him in trouble so as to discredit Him in the eyes of the people. On this occasion, they observed that Jesus' disciples did not do the ritual hand washing before they ate. They saw this as a grave violation, and they brought it to Jesus' attention. 

     Jesus used their criticism to launch a message about what was really important. He started by telling them about the importance of really following the way of the Lord verses simply following a tradition. Jesus used the example of the religious leaders saying that if something had been pledged to God they couldn't even use it to help their father or mother. Jesus said that this was a clear violation of the commandment to honor father and mother in the Ten Commandments. 

     Jesus made it clear that what goes into a person from the outside is not what spiritually defiles a person. On the contrary, what defiles a person are the actions that are manifested from a spirit that is not aligned with the Spirit of the Lord.  Jesus then finished His discourse by saying what the behaviors were that demonstrated the true defilement that comes from within. These include greed, slander and arrogance. 

     The first thing I want to point out in Jesus teaching is what He said about people following traditions instead of the clear teachings of the word. There is a lot of that that goes on today. People condemn others and make rules and regulations that don't have any basis in the Scriptures. 

     In the churches I grew up in as a boy, the tradition that was taught and enforced is that is was wrong for a man to have longer hair or a beard. There is nothing in the Bible about this. It is man made rules. Also, many churches I knew back then had a rule or tradition that the pastor had to be married. This is actually in contradiction to the teachings of Jesus and Paul. 

     What we need to do in our lives is to concentrate on putting into practice the things actually taught by the Lord. We could all do well to live according to the Golden Rule and the Great Commandment and the second commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself. If we would focus on those, the other things would all fall into place. 

     I also want to point out what Jesus was saying about what defiles a person. There aren't many places in the Gospels where Jesus outlines things that are sinful. This is one passage. Jesus says clearly, that adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly are sins. We would all do well to heed the words of Jesus and make sure that these behaviors are not a part of our lives. When Jesus speaks about things like this, we need to pay very close attention. 

     If we focus on following the exact and clear teachings of the Lord Jesus, we will not go or be led astray. Let us all follow Him and His Way until we see Him face to face. 

Prayer Requests

     I have sold my house, and things are progressing. However, I am having an issue finding a new place to stay. I get the money for the sale on Monday. Then, I am going full bore into finding a place. Please pray I will find one quickly. 

     Keep praying for an end to Ebola and Cyclospora outbreaks. Pray that the sick will recover. 

     Remember to keep praying for peace. The Middle East and Ukraine and Sudan all need our prayers. 

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

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

Verses For The Week

 Ecclesiastes 3:1 --"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."

Galatians 6:9 -- "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

The Weekend Sermon -- "Mark 6:45-56"

     Thank you again for reading the sermon this week. I really do enjoy posting these messages, and I hope that you get something from reading them. I am particularly enjoying going through Mark as this is the first time on the blog I have gone through a Gospel chapter by chapter and verse by verse. 

     As I am sure you are aware, we are studying through Mark. Today, we are going to be finishing up chapter 6. We have been in chapter six for quite some time. 

     In our passage for today, we see the miracle of Jesus walking on the water. Jesus had just performed the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. The crowd had dispersed. The disciples got into some boats to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. However, Jesus did not join them. Instead, He went out into a lonely place in order to spend time in prayer. 

     During the course of their trip, the disciples ran into a big wind and they had to row against it in order to make progress on their journey. While they were rowing, Jesus was walking along the water. He was going to go right by them, but He heard the disciples cry out in fear because they thought that He was a ghost. 

     Jesus told them it was Him, and that they did not need to be afraid. He came over and got into the boat, and immediately the winds and the waves died down. The disciples were amazed. They still didn't understand who Jesus really was. 

     When they all came to the other side, the people were wanting to see Jesus. Whoever even touched His garment were healed and delivered. 

     The first lesson I believe that we have from this story is that Jesus is able to overcome the problems and storms of our lives. In this story, Jesus walked right on the stormy waters. He was able to calm the raging seas. 

     There are a lot of bad things that we go through in this life. We can face sickness, depression, loneliness and financial devastation. Jesus has the power to help us to make it through all of the things that life can throw at us. He delivers us through the storms of this life. 

     One way or another. Now, or in eternity, we will be delivered by the power of the Lord if we are in Him. Nothing can separate us from Him. Things may look bleak and dark, but He has the power to make sure that we will ultimately be with Him for all eternity. 

     While we are here on this earth, Jesus tells us to not be afraid. He is looking out for our best interests. He is helping us, leading us and showing us the way. He is guiding us in the way that is right for us until we see Him face to face in that place that He has gone to prepare for those who love Him. 

     We are in His hands. We need not fear. Jesus has the power, and His love and presence will get us through. 

     The final thing I want to point out today is that Jesus cared about everyone. The people came from all over and He ministered unto them. He loved everyone, and He loves you. He understands what you are dealing with. He is Savior, Lord and King. What is so amazing is that He wants to be with us and help us. He cares. Amen. 

    Prayer Requests. 

     Please keep praying about the house sale. Pray that everything will go right. Thank you. 

     Keep praying for peace. Ukraine is where I want us to focus our prayers this week. 

     Remember to keep praying for an end to the Ebola and cyclospora outbreaks. 

     Pray for those dealing with natural disasters. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that the need. 

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

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

Verses For The Week

      Hebrews 9:24 -- "For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one, He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 

     Philippians 3:20 -- "But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."