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Mark 16:17-18 (KJV) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

Someone jokingly posted an article to my Facebook timeline about a Kentucky Preacher who died handling snakes. The article can be found at:

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/24738922/snake-handling-kentucky-pastor-dies-from-snake-bite

My friend was just joking, but I want to address this subject. Why don’t we as Christians handle snakes? The Preacher who died was on a reality show put out by National Geographic (yeah, the same people who do not believe in God nor do they believe God created the earth) called “Snake Salvation”. I never saw the show, and never will. The Preacher said that he too what Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18 “at face value”, and then revolved his preaching ministry around this. The Preacher wasn’t the first one to die at his “Church”. In 1995 Melinda Brown died while attending services at Preacher Coots Church. The District Attorney wanted to prosecute the preacher, but the Judge refused to sign off on the criminal complaint. Preacher Coots continued handling serpents until he died doing so. He told the Associated Press:

“We literally believe they want us to take up snakes. We’ve been serpent handling for the past 20 or 21 years.”

Who is the “they” that Coots was referring to? “They want us to take up snakes”. Certainly it wasn’t God. If God wanted him to “take up snakes” then Coots wouldn’t have died, nor would have Brown suffered the same fate. The reason Coots died is that he failed to READ what God said in the Scripture he quoted. This is a common problem among Christians and non-Christians alike. Let’s look at the text for just a moment.

Mark 16:17-18 (KJV) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

Jesus said that those who believe in Him would be marked by several “signs”:

1. They shall cast out devils.

2. They shall speak with new tongues.

3. They shall take up serpents.

4. If they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them.

5. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.

Two of the things in this list are deadly, items 3 & 4. Now, was Jesus telling His people to INTENTIONALLY seek out and handle snakes. No. Jesus said that these five things were SIGNS that would follow those He was talking to. Look at item #4. If Jesus meant His people to intentionally seek out to do item #3, then He would also expect the same thing of when it came to item #4. Ok you “Snake Handling Christians”, let me see you drink a can of Drain O. I’ve seen the effects of someone who drank liquid Drain-O, and what it did to their bodies. “If you drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm you”. Why isn’t National Geographic doing a show about “Drain – O drinking Christians” or “Cyanide Salvation”? Because no one intentionally drinks Drain-O, nor should they. Jesus didn’t mean that those He loves should go out and intentionally handle rattle snakes or drink Drain-O. Read your Bibles, folks. Quit listening to charletains!

Matthew 2:1-3 (KJV) 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

What makes someone WISE, and what makes someone FOOLISH? The Founder of Apple Corporation, Steve Jobs, was visionary. Everytime you see a young person walking around doing this (texting) while bobbing their heads to music you can’t hear – ear phones in place – you have Steve to thank for that. You may not have one, but I’m sure you’ve heard of the I-Phone, the I-Pod, the I-Pad, or the I-Mac. Steve Jobs was a mover and a shaker, a visionary man. But was he a WISE man? I hope he was, and I pray he was.

What makes a WISE man? Is it book smarts? Is it the ability the do things in your own power to change the world? The Bible says that a WISE man or a WISE woman is a person who is open to the Lord. The Scripture says that:

Psalms 14:1 (KJV) The FOOL hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The Bible defines the FOOL as the person who says in his heart “There is no God”. There is a God. We see the evidence of God clearly in the order and design of nature. From the tiny humming bird to the flower it hovers before, drinking its nectar, to the trees in the fields. Look up and you see thousands of evidences of God in the sky. He is there, and He is not silent. Wisdom comes from God. The Bible says:

James 1:5-6 (KJV) If any of you lack WISDOM, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

The Wise seek God. The Foolish do not. In our text today we are going to see some Wise Men and some Fools. The Fools will do foolish and destructive thiongs, but the Wise will do what they were created to do – they will worship the Lord!

1 The Wise TRAVELED Outside Of Their Comfort Zone, While The Foolish Were TROUBLED And Unresponsive.

Matthew 2:1-3 (KJV) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

The Wise Men traveled “from the east to Jerusalem”. The commentaries tell me that this undetermined number of “Wise Men” would have come from Persia, particularly from ancient Babylon. Babylon is around 800 miles from Jerusalem. Traveling by camel this was a little over a month to travel. Why did these men come that long journey? Because God called them. Three things brought these men from far off to where Jesus was.

a These Wise Men Heeded The Message Of God’s SCRIPTURE. God speaks to the world through His Word, the Holy Bible. These Wise Men asked:

Where is He that IS BORN King of the Jews?

Jesus is born King of the Jews. Herod the Great is king of Israel at this time, yet he has no right to this throne. God established that the ruler of Israel would ALWAYS be from the Tribe of Judah. We are told in:

Genesis 49:10 (KJV) The SCEPTRE shall not depart from Judah, nor a LAWGIVER from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Both the SCEPTER and the LAWGIVER was decreed to be from the tribe of Judah. The tribe of Levi brought forth the priests, but Judah alone was to be where the King came from. King David was of the Tribe of Judah. Before David’s rule ended the Lord God promised him that:

1 Chronicles 17:11-12 (KJV) 11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build me an house, and I WILL STABLISH HIS THRONE FOR EVER.

God promised that King David’s throne would be established FOREVER. God decreed that the King of the Jews would come from the line of Judah FOREVER, that is, until SHILOH or the MESSIAH came. The Messiah would come from the lineage of David. When He came the crown of Israel would not pass down from father to son, but would be on Him forever and ever.

When the wise men got to Jerusalem they were not careful in what they said. “Where is HE Who is BORN King of the Jews?” When Herod found them I want you to note that he didn’t say “But I’m King of the Jews”. He was at that time the recognized King of the Jews. But Herod had absolutely no right to the title ”King of the Jews”. He was not “BORN King of the Jews”. Easton’s Bible Dictionary notes:

“Herod the Great was the son of Antipater an Idumean, and Cypros an Arabian of noble descent. …. Herod was appointed Tetrarch of Judea by {Roman Politician and General} Mark Antony and also King of Judea by the Roman Senate.”

Herod was appointed “King of the Jews” by the powers of man, but he was not by any means the King of the Jews. The King of the Jews must be BORN the King of the Jews. His lineage must be traced back to Judah, and through the line of King David. We see that lineage in the first chapter of Matthew pointing directly to Christ. Most people skip over the genealogies in the Scripture thinking them unimportant. They are important. We read:

Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Here is the lineage of Jesus Christ our Lord. Beginning at Abraham, the founder of our faith the lineage of Christ is traced

Matthew 1:6 (KJV) And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;

through David the King, through Solomon,

Matthew 1:16 (KJV) And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

all the way up to Joseph His stepfather and Mary His Mother. Jesus Christ is Shiloh, the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When the Wise Men were led into the palace of Herod with all its regal trappings they did not hesitate. This man, this ARAB, this Idumean, he was not descended from King David. He might have been from Ishmael, but he was not of Isaac. He might have the title “King of the Jews” but he was an usurper.

God made Judah the ruling Tribe.

God made David the source of Messiah.

“Where is HE that IS BORN King of the Jews?”

You are not he. The Scripture says so.

The Scripture is the lighthouse of the Christ Follower. The Scripture establishes the Christ. The Scripture points to the Christ. Our power comes from His Word. It is our Lighthouse, our Beacon, that all Wise Men follow.

IA battleship saw another ship’s lights headed toward them. The radioman on the battleship called out. “Light bearing on our north, change your direction.” The reply was immediate. “Light bearing on our south, change YOUR direction.” The radioman called out again, this time irritated. “Light bearing on our north, change your direction. This is a BATTLESHIP!” Again the reply was immediate and sure. “Light bearing on our south, change YOUR direction. We are a LIGHTHOUSE, and we are not moving!”

The wise man or woman is the person who, like these wise men, heed the message of God’s Scripture and correct their course in life to be guided by it. Herod the usurper and his entourage of fools had access to the Scripture, but were unmoved by it.

Matthew 2:4-6 (KJV) And when {Herod} had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Scripture unapplied is Scripture denied. Scripture denied makes a fool!

b These Wise Men Heeded The Miracle Of God’s STAR. The Wise Men said …

Matthew 2:2 (KJV) 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen HIS STAR in the east, and are come to worship him.

As the wise men studied God’s Word the Lord began to interact with them, to show them signs and wonders. When you hear the Word of the Lord and act on it God will interact with you. I have read several articles on this “Christmas Star”. People argue about what this star was. Some say it was a comet, moving through our outer atmosphere. Others think it might have been a shooting star, or even a planet like Jupiter. Can I tell you what I think it was?

It was God doing a miracle, showing them the way. The Scripture tells us that the wise men left the false king Herod and …

Matthew 2:9-10 (KJV) …. lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

If this was a comet then it would have kept on moving. If it was a planet it would not have “come and stood over where the young Child was”. This was a miracle from God.

Why don’t we have miracles today? Because we do not respond to God’s Word like we used to. Faith is to HEAR and OBEY, to SEE and then DO. These wise men were studying the Word of the Lord, then God showed them a moving star to follow. Rather than sit at home and chart its course they went outside their comfort zone. They moved in response to God – and God showed them a miracle.

God wants to show us all a miracle.

These men were not raised in Church nor in the Jewish Temple. They probably came from a background that was steeped in pagan tradition. But God reached out to them – called – and they came toward Him.

When the Shepherd David stepped out in faith against Goliath he had a sling and five smooth stone – but it only took one to kill Goliath. Our God is the God of Miracles.

When General Joshua was battling the forces of evil at Gibeon and the sun started to set, Joshua spoke to the Lord saying “Sun stand still upon Gibeon, and Moon in the valley of Ajalon”. The Lord caused the sun to stand still and the moon to stay until God’s battle was fought (Joshua 10:12-14). Our God is in control.

When the Shepherd Moses stood at the Red Sea and the armies of Egypt thundered in the distance

Exodus 14:13-14 (KJV) 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

The children of God passed through the sea as if on dry land – but the foolish drowned in their unbelief. Why don’t we see miracles like this anymore? Because we as American Christians are too much like Herod and too little like the wise men. Things TROUBLE us – but we do not move. We hear His Word, but do not act on it. We are waiting for someone else to do something.

If the wise men had waited for someone else to do something, they never would have seen the star move. Herod never saw the star move. The Chief Priests and the Scribes never saw the star move. Only when the wise men moved did they see the star move! Only when you and I in faith move will we see God move.

We must go outside our comfort zone. We must HEAR and DO in order to be blessed. Like the wise men we must go TOWARD Jesus and AWAY from Herod, the Chief Priests, and the Scribes. Jesus told us:

Matthew 7:21-27 (KJV) 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

There is no blessing in sitting still. Faith must move. Faith hears God’s Word, then moves to God’s miracle!

2 Traveling Outside Their Comfort Zone, The Wise Are Blessed. They actually got to see something you and I will never see. They saw the Baby Jesus. We read:

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him…

a The Wise Person Comes Prepared To WORSHIP The Lord. When they came into the house the Bible tells us that they fell down. They humbled themselves before God the Son. Before you can ever worship God you must NOT worship yourself nor anything else. The very first two of the Ten Commandments is:

Exodus 20:2-6 (KJV) I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

God made us for Himself. He loves us. He gave His Son for us. Therefore only God is to be worshiped. Daily we are to remind ourselves that we are not to be like Lucifer, lifting ourselves up in the Presence of God.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (KJV) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The devil our adversary like a roaring lion seeks whom he may devour. How does he devour? He invites us to be lifted up with pride as he was. He invites us to death, destruction, and hell with him and his fallen angels. Wise men do not heed him. Wise men fall down, and worship Him. These wise men were prepared to worship Jesus.

b Wise Men Receive Jesus As He Is. We read:

Matthew 2:11 (KJV) …. when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

As an act of worship these wise men presented three presents to Christ. These were treasures, things of great value. Too many people say “I am a Christian” but treasure themselves above Christ. These men were believers indeed for they gave something that cost them something to Christ. They didn’t give the least, but gave the most. They gave time. They gave of their lives. They gave not just a minimal amount in the offering plate, but presented unto Him gifts. And their gifts were so appropriate.

They gave Jesus gold. God is the gift of the King, and a gift suitable to God. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold. Solomon overlaid the Temple in Jerusalem with gold. The Heavenly City of God is pure gold, and the street of that city is pure gold (Revelation 21:18-21). Gold would certainly be a gift for Him Who is:

1 Timothy 6:15 …. the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

They gave Jesus frankincense. Frankincense is a white resin that is drawn from a tree by cutting the tree – afflicting it. The resin when burned provides a pleasant smell. It was used as an offering before God in the Old Testament.

Exodus 30:34-37 (KJV) 34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these SWEET SPICES WITH PURE FRANKINCENSE: of each shall there be a like weight: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.

Frankincense was forced from a tree, drawn out through a wound in its bark. Frankincense symbolized the Cross that Christ would some day bear for us all. He would be beaten for us. Wounded for our sins.

Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; [14] Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Jesus Christ died for us. Just as Frankincense was burned by the priest, Christ died for us. Just as Frankincense was burned as a cleansing and sweet smeall to God, the Bible says that

Hebrews 10:10-12 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. [11] And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

The wise men also gave Jesus myrrh. Myrrh is a product of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same way that Frankincense was. Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. When Jesus was taken from the Cross, the Bible tells us in John 19:38-39 that Jesus was wrapped in cloth and about a hundred pounds of myrrh, and laid in a tomb. Myrrh was mixed in gall to stupefy those being crucified (see Mark 15:23; Matthew 27:34). Though offered to Christ He would not drink it. He suffered for us so that we do not have to suffer damnation.

He gave Himself for us.

Wise men – and women – still seek Jesus today. He is life. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is our Eternal Life. He is the greatest Person in all of history.

I pray that you know Him!

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Luke 2:6-20 (KJV) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I love this time of the year. Yes, it is over commercialized. Yes, a lot of people miss the fact that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Yes, the stores are crowded. But I love Christmas. Christmas is a reminder to us all that God is not an impersonal God sitting in the heavens. God loves us. God cares for us. And God wants the best for us. God made us in His image and after His likeness. God is immense! The Apostle Paul said:

Acts 17:24-31 (ESV) The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. …. 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’ …. “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

It’s ironic that God does not NEED us, but He WANTS us. God is all sufficient. He has everything He needs. Yet God WANTS us because He LOVES us. Yet sadly throughout this season we call CHRISTmas many people will have time for the parties, time for the presents and the meals and the family – but no room for God.

1 There Was No Room For Them In The Inn. We are told in

Luke 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mary and Joseph made a 70 mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. I don’t know how she made the journey, but God must have been watching over them. Mary was, the Bible says, “Great with child”, and the Child that she carried was the Messiah – God Incarnate come to this earth.

This Baby is the most important Person Who will ever live on this planet. Yet few people know who this Baby is. When Mary and Joseph come to town that night the little town of Bethlehem was packed. The little tyrant who ruled Israel was called Herod, and Herod – a puppet king – did something he shouldn’t have done. He offended the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. Caesar, in turn, demands a census and a tax on Herod’s people the Jews. Everyone must go to their home of birth, and for Mary and Joseph this is Bethlehem. Here their names must be recorded, and the name of their baby as well. When the Messiah came He was supposed to be of the line of David. What sign would show that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Savior of the world. When the Angel goes to announce His birth to the “shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night” what “sign” does the Angel tell them to look for? The Angel says:

Luke 2:12 And THIS SHALL BE A SIGN unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

““THIS” is the SIGN you shall look for. You’ll not look in the best hotel in town. You will not head to the Governor’s Mansion. You won’t even find Him in a Motel 6. No. You will find Him – the Savior of the world – lying in a manger.”

In our world today we have parking garages in the basements of hospitals, malls, and fancy stores. I have often had to visit Vanderbilt Hospital and park in it’s garages. I would not think of staying there – camping out – in that dark and dank place. In the ancient world many houses and places where people stayed had “parking garages” for their animals. This was a warm and comfortable place for the animals to be kept safe from theft or harm. The “manger” is not a place where you would normally find a baby. The “manger” is where animals rest and feed. Yet this is a perfect place for the Messiah.

His entire life there was “no room at the inn” for Him. Jesus was not received with fanfare. When the British Crown had a baby Americans talked about that child with wonder. When the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her second child at St. Mary’s hospital in London it was on every news channel and reported in every paper. Yet when Christ was born He was born in a manger.

a Jesus Was Born To Die. He was born in a manger because of what His future held. Jesus was born to be:

John 1:29 Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus came to this earth to give Himself for our sins. Throughout the Old Testament God taught two things to His people. He taught them that they were sinners in need of a Savior. And God taught them that they could not save themselves. To cover their sins, God’s Old Testament people brought a lamb or a goat without spot or blemish to the Temple. The people then laid their hands on that creature, acknowledging that they were sinners. Symbolically transferring their sins to the animal it was then killed, it’s blood collected, and the blood sprinkled on the people.

Salvation came by the shedding of blood. Yet no animal can bring about the salvation of a person. We are sinful creatures – humans created in the image of God. Christ was born to be the Savior, the Lamb of God Who takes away our sins. See Him. The Scripture says of Jesus that He was discounted from the very beginning.

Isaiah 53:2-9 (ESV2011) …. he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 ​He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 ​But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 ​All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Jesus Christ was born to die. The sacrifice of animals could not pay for the sins of man. Christ came to be our Savior. He was laid in that manger as the Lamb of God. The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was born in that manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes by His precious mother Mary. 33 years later He would be wrapped in swaddling clothes once more.

John 19:30 (KJV) (Jesus said) It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

John 19:40-42 (KJV) Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus …

Jesus was born, bathed by His mother, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lay in a borrow cradle, a manger. When Jesus died He was taken from the Cross, bathed by His friends, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lay in a borrowed tomb. Why was this Man born? To save us from our sins. Why did this Man die? To save us from our sins. The Scripture tells us …

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 10:12, 17-18 But {Jesus}, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. . . . AND THEIR SINS AND INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Praise be unto God for the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord!

b Jesus Was Born For All. If Jesus had been born in a palace or in a castle many would have thought He had not come for them. Jesus was born and lay in a manger. C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

“The manger and the cross standing at the two extremes of the Savior’s earthly life seem most fit and appropriate to each other. He is to wear through life the clothes of a peasant; He is to associate with fishermen; the meek are to be His disciples; the cold mountains are often to be His only bed; He is to say, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head;” nothing, therefore, could be more fitting than that in His time of humiliation, when He laid aside His glory, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, that He should be laid in a manger.”

Jesus would not be like that tyrant Herod or the monstrous Caesar. He was born in the lowest of places so that He could reach the lowest of people. The Angel told the shepherds that night:

Luke 2:10-11 Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

“Fear not”! Those of you in want and in pain need not be afraid. God is giving you the Greatest Gift He can give you. God is giving you HIMSELF. This is “good tidings of GREAT joy, which shall be to ALL the people”. Jesus was born for all to die for all. He is a Savior.

No one can save us but God. God tells us in:

Isaiah 43:11 (KJV) I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no Savior.

Hosea 13:4 (KJV) …. I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no Savior beside me.

Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God in the flesh. He saves His people from their sins. The Angel said “Unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord”. Jesus gave Himself for you. He came to this earth for you. He lived for you. He died for you. He rose again for you.

2 Make Room For Jesus In The Inn Of Your Hearts. God made room for you in His heart – do you have room for Jesus in YOUR hearts? When the Angel finished announcing the birth of Christ we read:

Luke 2:13-15 (KJV) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven …

The Christmas Cards and the Children’s Plays often portray the Angels singing at this point. They aren’t singing – they are PRAISING and SAYING. They are glorifying God for this wondrous gift. Do you realize that when Lucifer fell from Heaven and led a third of the angels in revolt against God, that their fate was sealed. The Bible tells us that:

Matthew 25:41 (KJV) …. everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Everlasting Fire is prepared for the devil and his angels. Hell is where fallen angels go. When Lucifer fell and recruited a third of the angels, God never reached out in love to save them. But Jesus was

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV) …. made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

God became man to die for man – but He did not do the same for the angels. When the angels saw this they glorified God, for they who have no second chance realize what a great gift this is that God offers us.

The Angels rejoiced over this miraculous manger. Yet after announcing the birth of Christ the Angels did not go door to door throughout Bethlehem and beyond spreading this good news. They told the Shepherds. Now it is up to them. Will they receive this wonderful gift or not? What will they do? We are told that:

Luke 2:15-16 (KJV) And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste …

Told of the sign of the manger the Shepherds – “who were keeping watch over their flock by night” – immediately dropped everything they were doing. They looked at one another. “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass which the Lord has made known unto us”. They don’t bother gathering up their sheep. They don’t herd their sheep back into a fenced area or into a manger. They came with haste. Everything else took second place, for seeing Jesus was first place.

They made room for Jesus in their hearts.

Luke 2:16-18 (KJV) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

I was struck by the fact that the Shepherds went with haste, and when they saw the manger they went out and told others about the Child. Yet the world just wondered at those things that was told them. Here we see the two mindsets. Those who are saved will drop everything and run to the Christ. They want to see Him, to worship Him, to be with Him. The world, however, just wonders. Though the shepherds made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child the world just wondered. There is no indication that anyone else got out of their comfort zone that night.

They just wondered.

They did not act.

True saving faith acts. It hears of Christ, and goes to Christ. The things that occupied the heart before are put out of the heart, and room is made for Christ. The Shepherds made room for Christ. Those who make room for Christ will find themselves blessed of God. If you have made room for Christ, God has made room for you. Your sins are paid for. Your eternity is sure.

The world wondered.

Mary pondered.

But the Shepherds celebrated.

Luke 2:19-20 (KJV)19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Charles Stanley wrote:

“Imagine the wonder of the shepherds when an angel of the Lord spoke to them, followed by multitudes of the Heavenly host filling the night sky with otherworldly light and music. … Yet the most life changing experience they had that night was meeting the Messiah face to face. It moved their hearts to worship. …. Likewise when you encounter Jesus and see Him for who He is, the realization of His love and glory will fill your heart with thanksgiving and make you want to know Him better.”

Make room in your hearts for Jesus this Christmas. Come to where He is. He is available for you. He loves you. Receive Him as Lord and Savior this day, and every day will be blessed.

May God touch your hearts with his Word.

“Mary Did You Know”

by Mark Lowry (lyrics) & Buddy Greene (melody)

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know – that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?

This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know – that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?

Did you know – that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

The blind will see. The deaf will hear.

The dead will live again. The lame will leap.

The dumb will speak The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know – your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary, did you know – your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know – your Baby Boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb?

The sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.

Luke 1:35-55 (KJV) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. 39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

We live in a strange but lost world. On hearing of the recent San Bernardino, California terrorist attack that took 14 lives and wounded 20 one of our Senators said:

“Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm’s way to save others.”

Under a front page banner that read GOD ISN’T FIXING THIS the New York Daily News wrote:

“Prayers aren’t working. … after yet another mass shooting in America, GOP Presidential contenders were conspicuously silent on the issue of gun control. Instead the Republicans were preaching about prayer.”

How sad that is, and foolish. The problem facing our country today isn’t guns. It is people whose hearts are mired in sin. It is people who aren’t praying, who think that yet another human solution will correct the blackness of the lost human soul. The headlines of the newspapers shouldn’t be “GOD ISN’T FIXING THIS”, but instead may I suggest the headlines should read:

“WE CONTINUE TO REJECT THE LORD,
AND REAP WHAT WE HAVE SOWN”

The Bible tells us that “the human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? I the Lord search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10 NLT)

As we come into the holiday season we call “Christmas” our misguided leaders continue to reject the Solution to our national problems. People need the Lord. They need Jesus.

In our text today Mary was told of two miraculous births – one was hers, the other birth was with her aged cousin Elisabeth. Mary was a virgin, engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. They had not yet finalized their marriage, but the Angel Gabriel came to her with some startling news.

You might be a virgin, Mary, but you’re also a mom!

The Arch-Angel Gabriel told her:

Luke 1:35 (KJV) … The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit was going to come to Mary and create in her the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perfect God was going to come to an imperfect world. “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called The Son of God”. Notice the King James Translators use “that holy thing”. The Greek here is an ADJECTIVE ἅγιος hagios (hag’-ee-os) which means “holy, sacred, set apart”. This isn’t a NOUN but an ADJECTIVE. The Angel told Mary:

Holy Shall Be Born Of You

This God coming into Humanity is not called a Holy THING – but HOLY. Holy God would become Sinless Man. God would do something utterly unexpected. Man could not fix himself, so God became Holy Man to be the means to fix us all. Poet George MacDonald wrote:

They all were looking for a king

To slay their foes and lift them high:

Thou cam’st, a little baby thing

That made a woman cry.

…

My how or when Thou wilt not heed,

But come down Thine own secret stair,

That Thou mayst answer all my need –

Yes, every bygone prayer.

1 Holy Shall Be Born Of Mary, And His Herald Shall Be Born Of Elisabeth. After telling Mary that the Son of God was coming into humanity through her, Gabriel went on to say that …

Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

God was going to perform two miraculous births so that man could be born again, which is in itself a supernatural birth. God can fix things. He can change man. But we must submit. As Mary said “Behold the handmaid of the Lord” we must SURRENDER to God to be fixed!

For years mankind had searched to become better, but year after year became worst. Our Associational Missionary Dale Ledbetter recently remarked on the destitute state of our nation, that America has “lost its moral compass”. I agree, it has. When our Senators mock God in the press and blame Him for the quicksand we have put ourselves into then we have fallen far indeed. Yet as Brother Dale said, Christ was born into the same type of world, a world with a broken moral compass.

There is no king in America today, for we as a nation have rejected God our King. There was no king in Rome yesterday, for they as a nation rejected God our King. Every man does what is right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6) then blames God for what we have done.

We need the Holy.

We need the Christ Child!

Mary told the Angel “I am the handmaiden of the Lord – I am willing”. She was available to God. The Angel left and Mary did as any of us would have done. The Angel told her that Elisabeth was in her old age having a child – that she was already 6 months into that pregnancy. So Mary went to see her cousin. Mary wanted to see this miracle child, and share the miracle that she now carried inside.

a Faith Never Sits Still And Vegetates. Faith MOVES! When the Angel Gabriel departed what happened? We read:

Luke 1:39 (KJV) And Mary AROSE in those days, and WENT INTO THE HILL country WITH HASTE, into a city of Juda;

Mary heard a beautiful thing. She heard that Elisabeth was having a child, a forerunner to the Savior within her. She didn’t wait until she started showing in her first trimester. She got up. She took a difficult journey. She wasn’t headed to the flatlands, but to the HILL country. Faith goes where God sends. Faith moves to the mountains, it doesn’t sit on it’s duff and wait for the mountain to move.

Faith stirs.
Faith stretches.
Faith strains.

She went by herself WITH HASTE. She didn’t wait for someone else to get up a crew to go see Elisabeth. She got up and went. Some people say they have faith, but barely come to Church. Some people say they have faith but live as if they are Atheists, as if God is not watching their every action. God hears what you say. James tells us:

James 2:17-24 (KJV) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

The DEVILS have more faith than many today who PROFESS that they are Christian. If you are CHRISTian then CHRIST is in you. You love. You love God. You love others. You move when God says. Mary went with haste.

b Faith Is Not Asleep In The Pew Or in The Pulpit. Faith WORSHIPS The Lord! The Bible tells us that Mary ….

Luke 1:40-43 (KJV) … entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. 41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Jesus Christ could not have been more than a few days conceived at this point. The Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary, and her virgin egg was growing into the Son of God. How big is a baby at this point? How big the fetus? Tiny. The size of a period at the end of a sentence. The fertilized egg begins to divide into groups of cells. There are no distinguishing features to that future child as of yet. The fetal size is not measurable by our standards until after the fourth week of pregnancy. Mary walks into Elisabeth’s home, and as soon as she says “Hello” tiny John the Baptist – six months old still in his mother’s womb – leaps! Elisabeth is filled with the Holy Ghost – the Spirit of God overflows her life. And immediately Elisabeth begins to worship God. How does she worship the Lord?

She starts by showing LOVE to Mary.

Mary is nervous, perhaps a little uncertain. When God came to Moses and told him that he was going to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses showed his nervousness by making excuses. He was, after all, 80 years old and returning to a Palace that was hostile to him. Mary, I’m sure, was nervous. Virgin pregnancy? If the wrong person heard this she could easily have been brought before the Priests of Israel and stoned to death for alleged adultery (see Leviticus 20:10). She was not in the wrong, but who would believe her? As she entered the home Elisabeth – filled with the Spirit of God – cries out “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Elisabeth is not worshiping Mary – she is encouraging Mary in her call. We are to encourage one another in our calls. Then Elisabeth says “Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?”.

Elisabeth LOWERS herself. You cannot worship God in a proud and uplifted way. True worship is humble. The worshiper lowers themselves before God. So often today people come to Church, sit down, stick their nose up in the air and wait expectantly, thinking “What’s in it for me?”

The world often revolves around the American and the American Christian – or so we think. Elisabeth humbled herself, and worshiped the Lord her Maker! Elisabeth went on to say:

Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Even little John the Baptist worshiped when Jesus – still just a few cells in His earth Mother’s belly – came into the room. If a BABY can worship while still in its mother’s womb, then when Christians come together we ought to have a CELEBRATION. Elisabeth confirmed Mary’s call. Notice particularly her words of Mary:

Blessed is she that believed!

How did Elisabeth know that Mary believed? Because Mary moved. She went with haste. She didn’t sit on her faith but rode her faith toward her Lord!

2 Mary’s Song Of Praise Grew Out Of Mary’s Faith. This portion of Scripture is often called “Mary’s Song” or “The Magnificat” (Which means “My Soul Magnifies”). The books The History and Use of Hymns and Hymn Tunes David R. Breed, 2009 & Favorite Hymns Marjorie Reeves, 2006 states that the following Scriptures were one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns. I do not know if Mary was singing as she made her statement – but her heart was filled with joy! She said:

Luke 1:46-47 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Illustrate The country music singer & song writer Travis Tritt in an interview revealed a little known secret from his early years. When he was first starting out he had to play his music in road houses and other “undesirable” areas. Once when a brawl broke out and the fights started raging Travis said:

“Just when [things] started getting out of hand, when bikers were reaching for their pool cues and rednecks were heading for the gun rack, I’d start playing ‘Silent Night.’ It could be the middle of July; I didn’t care.”

At that point the fights would stop. Travis said “”Sometimes they’d even start crying, standing there watching me sweat and play Christmas carols.”

The reason this worked is because Silent Night speaks of the Christ, that great Love that God has shown to us. After Mary heard Elisabeth and considered what God was doing through her she didn’t BRAG, she WORSHIPED and PRAISED the Lord!

a Mary Praised God With All She Had. Mary was raised in a poor but God fearing home. She didn’t have much to give God, but she gave God what she had.

She gave herself.

Mary honored the Lord with her BODY. Our text says “And MARY SAID”. You ARE what you DO. A lot of people SAY they are Christian, but their actions do not back up their words. MARY SAID. She spoke her faith. She was NOT ASHAMED. When God blesses you, you are NOT ASHAMED of what He has given.

Adam and Eve were NAKED in the Garden of Eden,
and were NOT ASHAMED (Genesis 2:25)

King David was NOT ASHAMED of God’s statutes and laws (Psalm 119:80)

The Apostle Paul was NOT ASHAMED of the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16)

The Christian is NOT ASHAMED to proclaim Christ and His Word

Jesus declared Mark 8:38 (KJV) Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mary was not ashamed of what God was doing in her. She praised God! She said:

Luke 1:46-47 … My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Body, soul, and spirit she praised the Lord. Mary magnified God, but did not magnify HERSELF. The essence of true Christianity is HUMILITY OF SPIRIT. Mary said:

Luke 1:48-49 For {God} hath regarded the LOW estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

God was glorified in Mary’s words. She took no credit to herself – she was the MOON to God the SUN. She reflected HIS glory, and took no credit to herself. She was blessed because GOD BLESSED HER. She was not better than anyone else. She was available, and God her Benefactor.

Has not God done the same thing to us who are Christians? We do not deserve to be called “Children of the Most High”. We deserve nothing. But because of Jesus, because God became man, then Man could through Christ become a son of God.

Hebrews 2:9-13 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

We did not deserve that Child of Mary’s. We do not deserve the life that God gave for us. But because He came through the Virgin, because He was born to die, because He gave Himself for us … because of Him God is not ashamed of us.

b God Gives Himself To The Humble, Not The Proud. We read:

Luke 1:50-55 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. 54 He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; 55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

If I were to summarize the last part of this song it would be thus:

God blesses only those who HUMBLE themselves before Him.

Jesus came for whosoever will humble themselves to Him and His Gospel. He “scatters the proud” and “puts down the mighty”. Those who self sufficient, “rich in themselves” God “sends away empty”. But those who humbly follow Him will be blessed.

A husband wanted to give his wife the perfect gift for Christmas, so he bought her the finest diamond ring he could afford. He knew she would guess what the gift was if he just wrapped the jewelry box and put it under the tree, so he put her gift inside a box of cereal and wrapped it up. The Monday before Christmas while her husband was at work she picked up the box that held her gift. Shaking it she heard what sounded like cereal. Quickly tearing the box open she saw “Kellogg’s Corn Flakes” and she went livid. She took it outside, tossed it in the trash, and went inside fuming and thinking what she was going to tell her husband when he got home. Outside she heard the sound of the garbage truck making it’s pickup.

She had no idea what she had done.

Pride has robbed many from the glorious gift of the Christ Child. Mary humbly followed God and was blessed with His mercy and grace. This is the message of Christmas. His story is Christmas. Receive Him and believe Him. Glorify Him with all that God has given you.

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Preached at Riverview Baptist, 798 Santa Fe Pike, Columbia, TN 38401 Sunday morning 8:30 & 11 AM. All are invited – come as you are!

Mark 7:14-23 (KJV)14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

1 Who Is The Real You? Are YOU Your Body – Or Are YOU Something Else? We just came from a wonderful time of Thanksgiving where we gathered with our families, stuffed our bellies – and moaned. Don’t worry, I’m not going to preach a sermon on the sin of gluttony today.

Gluttony is a sin, by the way. But the word “glutton” or “gluttons” is only in the Bible six times (see Deuteronomy 21:20; Proverbs 23:21; Proverbs 28:7; Titus 1:12 & Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34) – the latter two of those times were when the Pharisees accused Jesus of being “a glutton”. The word “gluttony” is not in the Bible at all!

Furthermore “gluttony” and “being fat” are not the same thing. Some of the thinnest people I know are gluttonous. You don’t have to be a glutton to be fat! Your body produces fat when you do not burn the energy of all the food you have consumed. You can eat normal portions of food, not be as active as you could be, and gain weight. Your metabolism could be low, and you would be fat. Of course, if you’re laying around eating and not working at all that gets to another sin called “sloth” or “laziness”.

Being FAT, By The Way, Is Not A Sin Unless You Are Fat Because Of Gluttony. The Bible promises us that:

Isaiah 58:10-11 (KJV)10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul … the LORD SHALL GUIDE THEE CONTINUALLY … AND MAKE FAT THY BONES…

Proverbs 28:25 (KJV) He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD SHALL BE MADE FAT.

Psalms 92:13-14 (KJV) Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; THEY SHALL BE FAT AND FLOURISHING;

Who is the real you? The real you is NOT what I or others see. The real YOU is the soul inside of what I see.

When the Bible says “You are made in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27) it was not talking about your body. Your body is separate from your soul. When you hit your finger YOU go ouch because that which is YOU is attached to your body. But your BODY is not YOU. Your SOUL is YOU. The Bible says that when man was made:

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL

God formed man with His hands, and breathed into us life. Man was made to be the “offspring of God” (Acts 17:26-29). When you believe on Him, God the Son remakes us with His nail scarred hands, and breathes into every one of His Faith Children His Holy Spirit. When our bodies die WE DO NOT DIE. The Bible tells us that:

Ecclesiastes 12:7 …. the dust {our bodies} returns to the earth as it was, and THE SPIRIT {OUR SOULS} RETURNS TO GOD WHO GAVE IT.

We are – the Bible says – “body, soul, and spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:33). God is “Father, Son, and Spirit” and “these three are One”. We do not see Father or Spirit. The Son is the Manifest Member of the Godhead. God is a Trinity – we are a Trinity. We are in His image. We are Outwardly Body, but Inwardly Soul and Spirit. We are in His image.

God is “the father of spirits” (Hebrews 12:9). It is God Who:

Zechariah 12:1 (KJV) 1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and FORMETH THE SPIRIT OF MAN WITHIN HIM.

When the body loses it’s ability to sustain physical life it ceases functioning – but the spirit of man – the soul – does not cease to be. Physical death is but a “putting aside of our earthly dwelling” (2 Peter 1:13-14). But your Soul, the real You, will return to the Lord.

2 It Is God Who Made Us, And We Are His. He made us to be His Vessels, To Live In His Presence. He calls all who will come to Him. He made us to be indwelt with Him, to walk with Him, to be blessed by Him. But He made us with Free Will. We read:

Mark 7:14 And when {Jesus} had CALLED ALL THE PEOPLE UNTO HIM, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

Jesus called ALL the people to Him. Not everybody came, but He called them ALL. There was no one that Jesus excluded. Jesus calls all, but we choose to come or not.

• He called first the Fishermen Peter and Andrew. “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men”. They had a choice. They could come, or not come. None were compelled.
• He called Tax Collectors. Matthew could come or no. “Follow Me”. He had a choice.
• He called Zealots, people of a political party that wanted Rome overthrown. Judas Iscariot was not forced to follow, but he chose to do so – for a while, at least.
• He called angry young men, James & John the sons of Thunder. They were called to stop their bickering and come.
• He called prostitutes and publicans. Mary Magdalene and Zacchaeus were called.

He called then told everyone a terrible truth. I have had people ask me “Why does God allow evil people in the world?” Usually this statement is made after something horrible happens. ISIS or ISIL attacks and kills. Someone molests a child, or is involved in human trafficking. A murder is committed. “Why does God allow evil in the world?” The answer is the same every time, but few want to hear it. Jesus called all the people to them and said:

Mark 7:15 (KJV) There is NOTHING from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but THE THINGS WHICH COME OUT OF HIM, THOSE ARE THEY THAT DEFILE THE MAN. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

What causes evil in the world? What defiles a person? Is it something exterior. Is evil something we can blame on the fallen angels, or on nature itself? Jesus said “it is NOT that which is without that defiles us, but THE THINGS THAT COME FROM INSIDE US THAT DEFILES US.” Evil comes from within. It comes from inside of every person.

Mark 7:17 (KJV) And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

Jesus called all the people to Him and told all the truth. Sadly, few understood. Later on when they got into the house and the crowd was gone the disciples were burning with questions. “What did you mean by that statement Jesus? Explain that to us.” Jesus told them:

Mark 7:18-19 (KJV) And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

It is not that which comes from WITHOUT that defiles us. The word “defile” is the Greek κοινόω koinoo (koy-noh’-o) which means “to make (or consider) profane (ceremonially), to pollute or make unclean”. The source of evil is not physical stuff interacting with your physical body.

Medical doctors say the pork is bad for you. I was amused as I read of Susannah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, New York. She is now 116 years old and currently the world’s oldest person. When asked “What is your secret to long life? She says “bacon!”. A sign hanging in her kitchen declares “Bacon makes everything better.” According to her niece, “she’ll eat bacon all day long.”

Now is bacon necessarily good for your body? No. But Jesus says “bacon – nor anything you put in your mouth – makes you unacceptable or defiled before God”. What you eat fuels your body, and you can eat some pretty bad fuel. But what you eat does not effect your soul, the real you.

Mark 7:20-23 (KJV) And he said, THAT WHICH COMETH OUT OF THE MAN, THAT DEFILETH THE MAN. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

“That which comes out of a person, that defiles the person”. Sin is not something OUTWARD that works INWARD to defile. Where does sin start? In the heart. Every person carries a terrible thing inside from the moment of birth. When the Scripture says:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

It means that God made us to walk with Him, to bask in His glory. But we all have a problem, for sin is resident in us.

3 God Made Us To Be His Vessels, To Be Filled With His Glory And Not With Our Own. The Pharisees did not see this, nor did they understand it. The self righteous rarely understand the true things of God. They thought that sin came from without, and defilement was from without.

Mark 7:1-2 (KJV) Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples EAT BREAD WITH DEFILED, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

They thought what defiled came from the outside inward. “Look at those disciples of Christ. Don’t they know that to eat with unwashed hands is to become unclean before God?” But Jesus said “No, that’s not where sin comes from”.

Sin comes from within. It comes from the unwashed HEART not the unwashed HAND. It comes from the heart not yielded to the Word of God in Christ.

The Pharisees would not hear the Word of Christ. They directly confronted the Savior, saying:

Mark 7:5 (KJV) Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

“The Elders” (Your Betters, Jesus) made a tradition that to eat with unwashed hands defiles you. Why aren’t You heeding this tradition? But Jesus did not back down. Quoting Isaiah 29:13 Jesus said:

Mark 7:6-9 (KJV)… Well hath Isaiah prophesied of YOU HYPOCRITES, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Turning away from God and what His Word said the self righteous developed religious things that everyone was to do, traditions that, if not done, they condemned others. Yet they rejected the Commandments of God.

The Ten Commandments were given to establish a basic rule of righteousness. I believe that the Ten Commandments ought to be posted in every public place throughout America and every nation. The Pharisees – like many children do today – routinely broke the Fifth Commandment “Honor Your Father and Mother”.

As their parents grew older and needed financial help the Pharisees – who outwardly were religious but inwardly lost – looked for a way not to spend their funds on their widowed mothers or infirm fathers. They created a tradition called “Corban!”. That word “Corban!” means “dedicated to God”. Jesus said:

Mark 7:10-13 (KJV) …. Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

When someone asked the Pharisee “Why aren’t you taking care of your elderly parents” they would say “Corban! My money is earmarked for God’s Temple”. In so saying they excused themselves from loving their aging parents as God called them to love. How did they come up with this scheme? Because “the heart is desperately wicked – Who can know it?” Evil comes from within, not without. We are all capable of sinking to the lowest place possible if we stand in this life apart from God.

People need the Lord. We don’t need more tradition – we need more JESUS! We all need the Lord. Apart from the Lord we can and will do the worst of things!

4 We Cannot Fix Ourselves. We Cannot Wash Nor Purify Our Souls. But God Can, And Jesus Will. Jesus can change the water in the well. He can fix the human heart.

As Jesus spoke to His disciples He held nothing back. Look at those words once more.

Mark 7:21-23 (KJV) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

From WITHIN, OUT of the HEART OF MANKIND. All are fallen creatures. No self help program will fix us. What is inside of every person, no matter who they are? Jesus lists thirteen things that separate us from God. The first He speaks of is “evil thoughts”. Is there ANYONE in here who has not had evil thoughts? We all have had them.

People make light of THOUGHT but much of action. “Well, you can think it, but as long as you don’t DO it you’re ok”. No, that’s not true. When you think evil thoughts, and dwell on the wrong thing long enough, it is not long before you are doing it. If you stoke the black flames of the heart, dwelling on and thinking of the wrong thing, inappropriate thought turns to godless action.

Jesus said:

Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus said “out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications”. It starts on the inside. The beautiful woman dresses in an immodest manner and goes to an inappropriate place. The wayward man looks on her, thinks on her, approaches her while hiding his wedding ring. Here is adultery. Here is a father doing what he ought not to do. A family is destroyed. An abortion is considered, and perhaps done. Why? Because out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders. I was listening to a comedian the other day who said:

“Guns don’t kill people. Husbands who come home early kill people.”

and everyone laughed at that which is profane. Why? Because the unregenerate heart, the lost heart, the heart without God is capable of the most atrocious things.

Mark 7:20-23 (KJV) And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Please note that the first seven things in this text are PLURAL not SINGULAR. What Jesus literally said was “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness,”

These evil things come from within and defile the man. What hope do we have? What self help program do we have? Listen Beloved – what is down in the well comes up in the bucket, and if the water is foul in the well it will be foul in the bucket.

This is why God gave Himself for us. Messiah came from Heaven to earth to show what is in our hearts. “There is no room in the inn – but you can have your baby Mary in the stable”. God our Messiah was born in a manger. His midwife was shepherds called from the fields. Heaven held its breath and watched as God became man, but man did not know. The politicians feared Him. Herod killed all the babies in Bethlehem, trying to stop His entrance. Growing up in Nazareth none suspected Who He was. When John the Baptist said (John 1:29)

“Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world”

No one understood. When Jesus walked and talked on this earth foretelling of His death, none understood. When He stood before Pilate and was asked “Why are You here” and Jesus replied:

John 18:37 (KJV) …. Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

What is the truth that Jesus witnessed to? See an innocent Man hanging on that Tree of Calvary. Why is He there? Because of the human heart. Because mankind is fallen, enslaved to sin. Why was Christ nailed to that Tree between two thieves? Because we have all sinned. We are the source of evil. Out of man’s heart evil comes. Our Hideous Discovery is that we were made to walk with God, we were made to be vessels of His glory, but Adam fell and we too are fallen. But God was not satisfied with that fall.

Romans 5:8-11 (KJV) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Many years ago nearly every home had some unique source of water. I talked with a man who had a cistern, an underground storage area for water. When it rained, water ran down into the cistern. Periodically, the man told me, he had to climb down into the cistern to clean it, getting mold and critters out of it. Jesus climbed down into the cistern of death for us. He Jesus died for us. He saved the unsavable. He gave to the ungivable. Sinners all, He died for us. He did not remodel us, but came to REGENERATE us, to make us born again. Once saved, Jesus through His Spirit operates in our hearts, leading us into paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. We are told:

1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (KJV) … if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

The Grand Theme of Scripture is that Jesus Christ gave Himself for “Whosoever will”. Will you not give your hearts to Him today? Let Him take the defiled, and take up residence in that soulish room. He will cleanse it. He will cleanse you. He will remake you, and bring you from lost to found, from churl to child of God, from a vessel of dishonor to a vessel that glorifies God in Christ.

Will you come? May God’s Holy Spirit lead you to Him today!

Preached at Riverview Baptist, 798 Santa Fe Pike, Sunday Evening 6 PM November 29 2015 …

Mark 7:27-29 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. [28] And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. [29] And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

Matthew 15:26-28 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. [27] And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. [28] Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

What has been advertised on television and radio for months has come and gone. No, I’m not talking about Thanksgiving, a time when we (particularly as Americans) should be thankful unto God. No, I’m talking about “Black Friday”. It didn’t seem to be as bad this year as it has in past years, I guess because I didn’t go near it until later in the day. I was looking for fruit for a fruit basket for someone in the hospital – there were no deals there. But I did see – even late in the day – a lot of people looking to consume.

I used to think the term “Black Friday” was in reference to sales that helped retailers end their sales year “in the black”. But that’s not where the phrase comes from. In the early 60s the men and women of the Philadelphia Police Department named it “Black Friday” because of people rushing around trying to find good deals before Christmas. The Police hated the traffic congestion (along with the accidents) so much they named it “Black Friday” – and the name stuck! What represented misery to one group of people represents hope to another group of people. One retailer noted “Black Friday has morphed from just a one-day event into a month-long spending circus.” People think they will find happiness in things. There is no happiness in things – happiness is only found in a life that relies on the Lord Jesus.

This morning we saw Jesus teach us where sin and depravity comes from. Jesus taught:

Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

If the bad stuff comes from within (and that’s what Jesus said), from our fallen natures, then it becomes more imperative that every person find the Lord! The life unsubmitted to Jesus can go off the rails and become a train wreck!

1 Jesus Cannot Be Hidden From The Darkness. After teaching that “out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness – all these evil things come from within, and defile the man”, Jesus left the Jews and sailed into Gentile country.

Mark 7:24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

Jesus had been healing and loving people. He had been chased by crowds, and attacked by Pharisees and Scribes. He had fed people, and done many wondrous things. And Jesus was tired. It may sound strange, for we often talk of Jesus being God – and He is God. The Bible tells us:

John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD WAS GOD.… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory…

John 5:18 … For this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD.

John 8:24 {Jesus said} I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you shall die in your sins.

John 10:30-33 {Jesus said} I and the Father are one. 31 The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, BUT FOR BLASPHEMY; AND BECAUSE YOU, BEING A MAN, MAKE YOURSELF OUT TO BE GOD.

John 20:28 {on seeing the Risen Savior} Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God!

Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son {the Father} says, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.

Jesus Christ is God, the Manifest and Visible Member of the Godhead. But in order to come and save us from ourselves Jesus had to take upon Himself humanity. In human form Jesus is confronted by something He never had to deal with. He gets tired, just as we get tired. He hurts as we hurt. He doesn’t ever sin – no, He is without sin. He is the spotless Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world – the Lamb Who will die for us sinners, Who will in agony bleed on that lonely Tree called Calvary. When He came to this earth for us He came to share in our frailty.

Jesus needed a break. This is why He went to the “borders of Tyre and Sidon”. The two cities Tyre and Sidon were ancient Canaanite cities that God gave to the Jewish Tribe of Asher. Asher was to go into these twin cities and conquer them in the Name of God. They were to chase out the idolatry and child sacrifice that was there, and establish God’s Kingdom. But Asher did not obey the Lord. They did not carry God’s light into that area. Where light is not, darkness reigns.

I saw a horror movie the other day that was actually on point with this. It was called “Vanishing on 7^th Street”. A black darkness was creeping over the city – you could actually see the darkness like an ooze – but what repelled the darkness was (can you guess) the Light. As long as you stayed in the Light you were all right. But if your candle or torch went out, your flashlight ran out of juice, or the electric grid went down — then the darkness took you! You literally vanished, leaving your clothing behind. The darkness robbed you of life.

Everyone needs the Light that is Jesus! He is “the True Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). Jesus said:

John 8:12 …. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:44-46 … He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. [45] And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. [46] I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

If Asher had done as Asher should have done, the Light of God would have doused the darkness of idolatry and evil. If the Church in America had done as the Church in America should have done, the Light of Christ would have doused the black flame of evil! But Asher didn’t do her job, and sadly the Church does not many times do it’s job. Rather than CONFRONT evil with CHRIST too often we either LOOK THE OTHER WAY or JUSTIFY EVIL. We cannot! We cannot! We must speak Christ to the darkness, and shout His Gospel into the very pits of hell!

Jesus came into Tyre and Sidon to rest. Here is an idolatrous, dark pair of cities that have never had anything to do with God. Here Asher should have gone, but did not. It is a dark place which most people would think would have nothing to do with Jesus. Jesus entered a house there, and would have no man know it. He was tired, weary to the very bones.

But even in those dark places Tyre and Sidon, even in a closed house, the Light that is Christ leaks out. “He could not be hid”.

2 Jesus Cannot Be Hidden. He Is The Light That Chases The Darkness.

a Trials Drive Us Into The Arms Of Christ. Everyone I know is either headed toward a trial, suffering in a trial, or has recently been through a trial. Trials have no preference of race, creed, or sex. Trials come to all. As Jesus rests in a home we read:

Mark 7:25-26 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: [26] The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

This woman is not of Israel. She is a “Greek, a Syrophenician by nation”. She is not an Israelite. God promised to send Messiah to Israel first, then afterward to the world. God told His people in the Prophets of a day when Messiah would come, saying:

Zechariah 13:1-2 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. [2] And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

With the coming of Christ the Prophets ceased, for the Prophets all spoke of Christ. Apostles took their places, and proudly proclaimed Jesus. With the coming of Christ the idols ceased, and the “unclean spirit passes out of the land”. Christ came to save Israel first. But here is a Greek, a Canaanite, a woman from a fallen civilization. She shouldn’t know of Christ, but does, for trials drive her to Jesus.

b Her Young Daughter Has An Unclean Spirit. We are told in Matthew’s parallel account that “the daughter was grievously vexed with a devil”. How did that child get to that state? Returning again to this morning’s sermon we remember that Jesus said:

Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Sin is in the human heart, and a tendency to sin in every person from the moment of birth. But the wages of sin is always death.

A child is innocent in the sense that the child cannot distinguish right or wrong, nor can a child even understand the concept of God until the age of accountability. We are all born with “unclean spirits” in the sense that our souls are steeped and permeated in sin. If the darkness within is not addressed by the Light of Christ the child follows their nature – and falls down a dark pit of sin. The Bible says that the parent is to teach the things of God to the child.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: [5] And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. [6] And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: [7] And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

The parent or parents are to bring the child into proximity to Christ. Jesus said:

Mark 10:14… allow the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

The child is not to be kept from Christ for sports or other reasons. One Church I pastored the Chairman of Deacons kept his children out of Church during the “soccer season”. Children are entrusted to parents. Children are blessings from God. Parents – children desperately need the Lord!

The Bible says:

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

No child is a mistake. They are precious – so precious that the parents are to care that their souls do not fall to darkness. The child is entrusted to the parent, and that child is not to run the household, but to heed the God Who rules that household. Parents are to draw lines of discipline for their children. The Scripture invokes:

Proverbs 13:24 ESV Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:15 ESV Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Just as God our Father disciplines us, the child entrusted to us is to be loved and disciplined, led from the darkness. Many people bring misery on their children by not loving and settig standards. We do not know why this child has an “unclean spirit”, but no one just falls into an unclean spirit. This child is no longer under the possession of her mother. The father of the child is not here, standing before Jesus. The child is in a terrible state.

c The Mother Cries Out In Faith To Christ. Is she at fault for the “unclean spirit” in the child? Perhaps, perhaps not. But one thing the mother knows is that she has no hope but Christ. So she cries out. The Mark account doesn’t mention this, but Matthew notes how the woman’s cries are unanswered. She cried out:

Matthew 15:22-23 …. Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. [23] But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

What does she cry out? “Have mercy on me”. Not “have mercy on my child” but “have mercy on ME”. The state of the child is causing her suffering. Perhaps the earlier actions she took as a parent are in part blame for what the child is going through. Perhaps not – the text doesn’t tell us. But SHE is suffering because her child is suffering. She is bound to that child by love, and focuses on Christ.

But He answered her not a word.

There are times when we cry out to God that He does not answer.

• Lazarus is at death’s door – let us hurry Master so he can be saved. But Jesus answers not a world, and tarries for four days. “Let’s now go to Lazarus!” But Master, Lazarus is dead. Even YOU cannot fix this! Lazarus hasn’t died – he just sleeps. I go to waken him.”
• Master, my daughter is at death’s door. Let’s go right now! But Jesus tarries in the crowd long enough for a woman – afflicted with an issue of blood for twelve years – to touch Him. Who touched Me? Our Lord tarried until it was too late. Leave the Master alone – she is dead. But Jesus says “She is not dead, but sleeps. Come Peter, James, and John – I will show you”.

As Jesus tarries with this Canaanite woman the hearts of all those around Him are revealed. Jesus often tarries so the heart can be revealed. The disciples say “Send her away, Jesus. She crieth after US.” Why are these crowds following them? “It’s because of US”. No its not. The famous preacher is not famous because of his power, but because of the glorious message of the Gospel. The Church that is filled with people, building and growing, is not doing so because of “US”. It is building and growing because that glorious banner of the Cross is being lifted up. Christ said:

John 12:32-36 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. [33] This he said, signifying what death he should die. [34] The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? [35] Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. [36] While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.

The disciples are beginning to try and take the glory of Christ. The moon cannot take the light of the sun – it can only reflect it. That poor soul was not kneeling at Christ’s feet because of Peter, James or John. She was not kneeling because of Andrew, or Iscariot. She was there calling Jesus LORD. She was looking to the Savior for salvation.

“Lord, I have not only messed up my life, but my daughter’s life. She has an unclean spirit. A devil has come to abide in her, and I ache. My sins have hurt not just me, but her. Heal, Lord. Heal my daughter, and knit together my Broken Heart!”

3 Saving Faith Displays Itself In Both Deed And Word. Jesus did not answer not because He didn’t care. He did not answer so that His disciples could see what genuine faith was. Genuine faith forgets self. It kneels at the feet of the Master, all pride put to the side. Jesus tests her faith:

Mark 7:27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

I heard a great saying the other day. It was:

Would you believe the way you believe if you were the only person to believe it?

That’s a great saying! Saving faith focused on the Lord Jesus no matter what. The disciples were discouraging her, trying to send her away. It seemed as if even Jesus was sending her away. “I came for the Jews first – not the Gentiles. The Canaanites belong on the back of the Gospel bus. They can drink from the fountain that never runs dry, but only after the Jews are satisfied.”

Many people would have went away mad. But not this woman. She was broken. Her child was broken. She had HEARD of Jesus and knew – because of what someone told her – that He could save her. Can I say YOU MUST SPEAK THE GOSPEL TO THE BROKEN. You must tell them that Jesus came to all regardless of race. You must tell everyone that Christ not only died for me, but He died for YOU. You must tell everyone that the Star of Bethlehem stood above the cradle where the Sun of Righteousness lay, that Jesus humbled Himself in the Cradle on the Cross and to the Grave for whosoever will – even the Canaanite. This woman said:

Mark 7:28-29 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. [29] And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

She said “Yes, Lord”. She said yes to Jesus. And Jesus told her “for THIS SAYING the devil is gone out of your daughter”. Because you stood up before so much resistance. Because you trusted Me even in the midst of a jeering crowd. The Bible promises:

Romans 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. [11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [12] For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. [13] For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

She called upon the name of the Lord and was saved.

A member of the Church had ceased coming to services, so the Pastor called on him. “We’ve been missing you at Church”, the Pastor said. “Well the thief that died next to Jesus didn’t go to Church, so I don’t either” the wayward man said. The Pastor told him “The difference between you and the dying thief is that he was “a dying thief” but you are a “living thief”. You have stolen Christ’s name but do not live in His light.”

If you belong to Jesus then live as if He is Lord. Kneel at His nail scarred feet. Do what He says. May God bless your hearts with His Word.

Mark 7:31-37 (KJV) And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

In August of 2003 a blackout struck the northeastern United States. Four states were without power for five hours. One of the more unlucky individuals was a man on an elevator of the Empire State Building in New York City. When the blackout struck the elevator stopped between the 52^nd and 53^rd floor. The lights went out. This man was stuck in a metal coffin hanging 525 feet above the ground. That’s about 1 ¾ the length of a Football field – vertical! When the man was interviewed afterward by CNN he said:

“I have never been so terrified or alone in my life. Those five hours were a living hell. I was trapped and couldn’t get out. That’s a horrible feeling. I was trying to open the doors with my hands, but they wouldn’t budge. I yelled, but no one could hear me. I couldn’t see anything. It was like death in there. I knew I was never going to get out. But when Detective Moran repelled down from the 57^th floor and opened the hatch on the roof of the elevator, I felt freedom like never before. All I wanted was for that door to be opened. When {I was rescued} I looked at my watch – it said 9:15 pm. I will never forget what time it was. I felt alive again!”

I can only imagine being stuck in a place like that, lonely, darkened, without hope. Then someone puts his life on the line – literally. He descends into that dark place where hopelessness and death is in the air like the scent of a skunk. He breaks open that grave, and brings light to that poor soul. You never forget that.

You never forget the day that Jesus saves you! To be lost, to be scared and lonely, then to feel His touch is just the best. To know that He risked everything for you, that He died for you. The Scripture declares that Jesus ….

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT) … died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

1 Jesus Christ Came To This Earth To Restore Us To God. As I read over this text and prayed over it in preparation to preaching, two things caught my spiritual eye. There’s a lot in this text, but before we look at the man in need let’s look at the Savior indeed. Look at verse 34. We read:

Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

What most people see in this text is that Jesus saith unto him EPHPHATHA (f-fath-a). This is an Aramaic word – not Greek but Aramaic – and the text tells us it means “Be opened”. What is interesting about this is that Jesus is speaking to a deaf man. The man can’t hear, but Jesus says to him “Be opened”. I’m going to talk a little more about this later, but what is more interesting is what happens before ephphatha. We read:

“Looking up to heaven, He SIGHED”

“Sighed” is the Greek στενάζω stenazo (sten-ad’-zo) which means “to be in distress, to hurt internally, to sigh”. A sigh signifies an inner turmoil that cannot be expressed in words, a longing, a deep desire that has not been fulfilled. We sing:

O land of rest, for thee I sigh! When will the moment come?

When shall I lay my armor by And dwell at peace at home?

We’ll work till Jesus comes We’ll work till Jesus comes

We’ll work till Jesus comes And we’ll be gathered home!

A sigh shows want, and sorrow, and a longing for what you do not have.

• As Job was afflicted he said “sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water” (NIV Job 3:24)
• The Psalmist, weighed down with life, cried out “For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away” (ESV Psalm 31:10)

As humans we sigh when we long for something we do not have.

So why was Jesus sighing? Jesus was going to heal this man, and knew it. He couldn’t be sighing over an affliction that He – through the power of God’s Spirit – was going to cast out. In just a few seconds we will read “and straightway his ears were opened”. Why sigh over this man? There is another place where you see Jesus sighing in the Bible, just one chapter over in:

Mark 8:10-13 (KJV) … straightway {Jesus} entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. 13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

Jesus sighed because of the Pharisees unbelief. He sighed in the case of this deaf man because people were missing the point.

Jesus came to this earth – being born of a Virgin, growing up among us
– so that we might be restored to God

Jesus did not come to be a medicine show. He did not come just to heal our physical bodies. He came primarily to save us from our sins so that we can live our lives as God intended them to be lived.

Resting in the hands of Grace.

Jesus said in John 10:10-11 (KJV) …. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

and in John 12:46 (KJV) I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Jesus Christ came to defeat sin at the Cross of Calvary and death at the empty tomb. He came calling a people to Himself, a people whom He would change, whom He would restore to a right relationship with God.

Jesus sighed because – though He was willing to help this poor man – He did not come just to give temporal healing. Jesus did not come to be a human band-aid put on our boo boos. He came to give us HIS life. He came to live THROUGH US. He came to give us the life that God tried to give us in the Garden of Eden, a life that Adam foolishly threw away.

After healing this man Jesus told him:

Mark 7:36 (KJV) {Jesus} charged them that they should TELL NO MAN: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

Why would Jesus NOT want them to tell how He healed this deaf man, this man from Decapolis? Jesus previously cast Legion out of another man, a citizen of Decapolis, and told that man …

Mark 5:19-20 (KJV) …. Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

But THIS man and his friends were to say nothing. Why? Again, because they misread the mission of Christ. Jesus Christ came not primarily to heal our mortal bodies, but to restore our immortal souls to God.

The shortest verse in the Bible is “Jesus wept”. WHERE did Jesus weep? Standing before Lazarus’ grave. WHY did Jesus weep? Because of the unbelief and hopelessness of those who were there that day. The people said:

John 11:37 (KJV) Could not this MAN, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus was a miracle Man, a Witch Doctor, a Medicine Man with a traveling show. They missed the point. People still miss the point today. Jesus looked up to Heaven and sighed because we still miss the point.

Christ Came To Restore Us To God

2 How Does Jesus Restore Us To God? We started out talking about Jesus sighing, but now let’s look at the Work of Christ in this man’s life. As humans we miss the point – but Christ always meets us at our point of need. How did Jesus restore this man?

a The Restoration Of Your Loved One Begins By YOU Bringing That Person To Jesus.

Mark 7:31-32 (KJV) And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

Notice that the healing of this man began by WHOLE people bringing a BROKE person to Jesus. I don’t know who these people were, but I do know that they went out of their way to get their friend to Jesus. They brought him. The took time to invite him to Church, to come be with Jesus. Once they got him into proximity to Jesus they beseeched Jesus to put His hand on him. They prayed. They worshiped. They begged God, “Please touch our friend. Please heal our child. Please restore him to where he should be but for sin.”

Oh Beloved, if we all reached out in love to the broken and brought them to Jesus, how different a world this might be!

Years ago when I pastored in West Tennessee (I hear I’m in Middle Tennessee now) every Monday morning one of my Deacons – a precious friend – would come to my office and drive me crazy. I say this in the nicest way possible. On Mondays we would drink coffee and my Deacon friend would begin with “I didn’t see ____ in Church yesterday. Wondered what happened to them?” I’d reply, “I have no idea”. Then he’s bring up someone else. “Wonder where that person is?” One day I wised up, and replied “here’s their phone number – why don’t you call them and let me know what happened.” That didn’t stop the Monday morning meetings, but it was much more productive after that. The Bible tells us that:

1 Corinthians 12:24-27 (KJV) … but God hath tempered the body {His Church} together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no {division} in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

This man was suffering. The Bible says that he “was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech”. People who are profoundly deaf not only cannot hear others, they cannot hear themselves so their speech is not right. He could not speak so as to be understood.

He was in a place of darkness. So those who loved him brought him to a place of Christ. He could not speak, so they spoke for him. Master, please touch Him. And Jesus did!

b Jesus Draws The Person He Is Going To Restore Away From The World. The man’s friends ask Jesus to touch him. What does Jesus first do?

Mark 7:33 (KJV) And {Jesus} took him aside from the multitude,

Did God save Israel INSIDE of Egypt or OUTSIDE of Egypt? He saved Israel OUTSIDE of Egypt. He took Israel by the hand and, leading her through the Red SEA, used that same SEA to destroy the Egyptian knuckleheads, don’t you SEE?

When Jesus saves us He takes us away from the world, and brings us close to Himself. The man released the multitude and allowed himself to be led aside by Jesus. We are told in:

Galatians 1:4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live.

Those who are saved by Christ are a people separated unto Christ. We belong to Him.

Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Jesus led us by the hand on the day of our salvation – and leads us by the hand still. Our strength and power come from being in union with Christ.

One of my favorite movies is called Fireproof. In that movie there is a scene where a wife considering leaving her husband goes to her lost friends for advise. Everything her friends tell her is negative. “Oh girl, I wouldn’t put up with that. I’d leave him in a heartbeat! Why are you still there?” They commiserate with their friend – but not in the right way. A true friend leads you to Jesus – ALWAYS! ALWAYS!

Then Jesus takes you away from the foolishness and foolish advice of the world!

c Jesus Opens Your Ears To His Word. We read:

Mark 7:33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears,

This man’s ears need to be opened. How does Jesus open them? He puts His fingers in his ears. When God puts His fingers in your ears it is to shut out the godless gospel of the world so you can hear the Glorious Gospel of salvation. God touched this man’s ears so he could HEAR.

In a little magazine I often read called Our Daily Bread I read:

“As important as good hearing is in life, it is even more important in our walk with God. In Psalm 40:6, David declared, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.” The word “opened” in this verse can be translated “cleared out,” and it speaks of what God desires for us. He wants our ears to be open and ready to hear Him as He speaks to us through His Word. Sometimes, however, our spiritual ears may be blocked by the background noise of the surrounding culture or the siren songs of temptation and sin. May we instead turn our hearts to the Lord in full devotion, keeping our ears open to Him so that we will be sensitive to His voice. As He speaks, He will put His Word in our hearts, and we will learn from Him to delight in His will”.

We cannot live the blessed life Jesus wants for us while our ears are opened to the world and closed to God. When I was a little boy and my brother wanted to tell me something I didn’t want to hear I put my hands over my ears and said nay nay nay nay. Two little boys were walking down the railroad track one day and one little boy did like I used to do. Wanting to win an argument with his friend he put his hands over his ears. “Nay, nay, nay nay” he said, over and over. His friend shouted, “There’s a train coming – get off the tracks”. “Nay, nay, nay, nay, nay”. Death was coming, but he couldn’t hear for his foolish pride. Thankfully his friend pushed him hard, and he was saved from death.

Romans 6:18-23 (KJV) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. … 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

d Jesus Gives Of Himself To Save Us, And We Surrender To His Lordship To Be Saved. The Gospel points us to a right relationship with God through Christ Jesus and in the Holy Spirit. But it is Christ Who opens our ears. It is Christ Who loosens our tongue. The Bible tells us that:

Mark 7:33-35 (KJV) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

No one helped Jesus save this man. Jesus did the work. Friends brought him to Jesus, but Jesus opened his ears and loosed his tongue. How did Jesus do that? He gave of Himself. He put His fingers in his ears. He spat on His fingers, then touched the man’s tongue.

Yes, that’s what the original text says. He didn’t spit on the ground. He spit on His fingers, and put those fingers in the man’s mouth. Why?

I have no idea.

I have no real idea how His saliva could loosen a tongue. I do know this – this man wasn’t blind. He saw Jesus spit on his fingers and put them in his mouth. And he submitted to this. He surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. And He was blessed.

Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.

When He saves us, He saves us from this world and to His Kingdom – blessed be the Name of the Lord. May God touch your hearts with His Word!

Storms and trials come to everyone, whether young or old, rich or poor, famous or obscure.

When I mention the names:

Scientist Albert Einstein
Writer Agatha Christie
                        Inventors Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison

were all troubled with dyslexia.

Scientist Isaac Newton
Alfred Nobel (founder of the Nobel Prize)
President Theodore Roosevelt

were all epileptics. All are tried. All go through the storms of life.

Even Missionaries, Evangelists,
Preachers and Apostles are afflicted

Baptist Missionary to India William Carey (known as the father of modern missions) spent many years learning the native language so that he could produce the scriptures in the local dialect. He translated the Bible into 44 languages and dialects. His supporters in America sent him materials and equipment to produce Bibles for distribution to the Indians.

Thomas J. Bach wrote in Carey’s missionary biography:

“For more than seven years he labored faithfully in India without the joy of reporting to friends at home that he had won a single convert. His trials were many, the opposition great. His wife was an invalid for fourteen years. He buried some of his children in India. His printing establishment, together with manuscripts—the fruit of many years of labor—was once destroyed by fire. But patiently he continued preaching, writing, and living the gospel.”

Storms come to us all. The unbeliever handles storms differently than the Christ follower. Those who have no time for Christ, no time to love God and worship Him, frantically seek peace in what they can do. But we who are Christ’s look for Jesus in the storm. He is our LIGHTHOUSE!

Mark 6:45-52 (KJV) And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

“It is I, be not afraid”.

I heard someone say once that “be not afraid” or “fear not” is repeated 365 times in the Scripture. That’s actually not true. The phrase in the intended context is only found a little over 80 times in context. Yet isn’t ONE “fear not” from God enough?

The devil uses fear and intimidation to try and discourage and depress us. Yet God tells us that

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

God does not want us to be afraid. He wants us to trust Him. Just prior to this event the disciples had had a really good day. Jesus had fed over 5000 people with two fish and five little barley biscuits. It had been a good day at Church. The disciple’s bellies were full. Jesus had filled their hearts with the good Word of God. Night was coming. Perhaps a beautiful, full moon was out, and a gentle breeze blowing in from the sea.

If You Want To Get To The Place Of Rich Blessing,
You Must Keep Your Eyes On Jesus Through The Trials.

We read that Jesus …

Mark 6:45 (KJV) … CONSTRAINED his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto BETHSAIDA, while He sent away the people.

That word “constrained” means ἀναγκάζω anagkazo (pronounced an-ang-kad’-zo) which means “to necessitate or to compel”. Jesus did not say “WILL you get in the ship and go to Bethsaida”. He said “You WILL get in the ship and go to Bethsaida”. Jesus ordered them to go.

Now look at that word “Bethsaida”. The word “Bethsaida” is from the Greek bɛθ.seɪˈiːdə/ (from Hebrew/Aramaic בית צידה beth-tsaida, and means “the house of fishing”. This was such a plentiful place – filled with fish – that it was called “the house of fishing”. Jesus just fed over 5000 people with two fishes. Now He ordered them to go to the most plentiful place they knew of for fishing, “The House of Fishing”. It was a place of bounty and blessing. If Jesus blessed with two fishes, what would He do at this place?

Jesus deliberately put His disciples in this ship, told them to go while he sent the other disciples – the 5000 + – away. He stayed on dry land, but they – His twelve – got on the ship. They had no idea how Jesus was going to meet them on the other side, and had no idea what was coming next …. but Jesus did.

Would it surprise you to know that God is NEVER surprised by anything? We are surprised. We only know our yesterdays, and our right this moments. But we do not know what is going to happen next. But Jesus knows. God knows.

Colossians 1:16 (KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

When God led Israel out of Egypt He led them to a Red Sea. They were to trust that God would bless them, to believe that the God Who did so much to save them would get them over an impossible situation for with our God all things are possible.

God lets storms come to grow our faith. They are not accidents, but God-idents! They are not mistakes, but God-stakes. He puts His children in places of trial to grow them in their faith. Just as a parent releases the child to gravity so it can walk or fail, our Father releases us to walk or fail in our faith.

This is God’s love.

Jesus released His disciples to that ship. It is not love to carry your children everywhere. If you carry a child everywhere all you eventually get is a grown up baby, a child with a male or female body.

The storm was there but it was no surprise to Jesus. The Lord sent the disciples to cross the Sea – they should trust Him in the midst of the storm. God either engineers the storm or He allows the storm. God wants us to do as the Psalmist learned to do – to

Psalms 107:28-31 (KJV) … cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. 29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

It is a shallow theology that says there will be smooth sailing all the time.We all suffer the storms of life, but God controls the storms, nay, He often engineers the storms for our good!

Evil Grows Daily. We Who Are Christ MUST Grow
in Our Faith To Combat The Evil.

You do not begin to understand WHO JESUS IS until He takes you through a storm. We read:

Mark 6:46-48 (KJV) And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He alone on the land. 48 And He saw them …

I love this picture! Jesus sent the 5000+ away, and then He went to the mountaintop to pray, to seek His Father’s will. Yet as He is praying He has not lost sight of His Children. He is alone on the mountaintop – they are toiling in the sea – but Jesus is watching all the time. He is the Good Shepherd:

John 10:10-11 … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jesus Christ gave His life for His people. He died on Calvary’s mountain. He went to a mountaintop to pray, and He went to a mountaintop to die. Christ died for me! This is the grand theme of Scripture, the point of every animal sacrifice throughout the Old Testament. He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. He died for me.

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time CHRIST DIED for the ungodly.

Christ died for me when I was ungodly. He died for me a sinner.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED for us.

The Father sent Jesus to save us, and He saved us by laying down His life. We are saved because He took our sin on Himself.

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is CHRIST THAT DIED, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

And as He was on that mountaintop that day He was praying for those disciples on board that ship. He saw them. His eyes were upon them. Praise be unto God, He our Savior watches over us. His gaze is constant. He knows our struggles, knows our needs.

Our greatest need is to reach out to Jesus in our need. Our greatest need is to call out to Him for help in the midst of trials.

Pride Says “Let’s Do It Ourselves”.
God Says “Call On Me And I’ll Show You The Way”.

We read:

Mark 6:48 (KJV) he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

I want you to carefully consider the last FIVE WORDS in this text. It tells us that Jesus WOULD HAVE PASSED BY THEM. Wait a minute! Why would Jesus walk on by?

They didn’t need Jesus.

They were toiling in rowing. The wind was against them. Jesus was praying on the mountain, God approaching God, but these men – instead of praying – TRIED HARDER. Row harder, men. Do more. Strain. We can beat the wind. We can do it. Like Nike, just do it!

I read a humorous little piece called “Letter From A Summer Camp”. It says:

Our Scoutmaster told us to write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and got worried. We are okay. Only one of our tents and 2 sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Adam when it happened. Oh yes, please call Adam’s mother and tell her he is okay. He can’t write because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search and rescue Jeeps. It was great. We never would have found Adam in the dark if it hadn’t been for the lightning. Scoutmaster Ted got mad at Adam for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Adam said he did tell him, but it was during the fire so he probably didn’t hear him. Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas will blow up? The wet wood didn’t burn, but one of the tents did and also some of our clothes. Matthew is going to look weird until his hair grows back. This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out to the rapids. Scoutmaster Ted wouldn’t let me because I can’t swim, and Adam was afraid he would sink because of his cast (it’s concrete because we didn’t have any plaster), so he let us take the canoe out. It was great. Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Andrew dived into the lake and cut his arm, we all got to see how a tourniquet works. Steve and I threw up, but Scoutmaster Ted said it was probably just food poisoning from the left-over chicken. He said they got sick that way with food they ate in prison. I’m so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster. I have to go now. Love you all! Bubba.

We get in trouble when we don’t rely on God and let pride have its way.

Pride does not cry out to God. “This is a strong ship. We are strong men. We have strong paddles. Let’s pull together, and we can do it. Let’s rely on our bank account. Let’s rely on our doctors and medicines. Let’s rely on ourselves.

God says of pride:

Proverbs 16:5 ESV Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 29:23 ESV One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Proverbs 16:18 ESV Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

In walking with God we are the followers. When we dance with the Lord, He always leads!

The Bible tells us that …

Mark 6:49-50 (KJV) 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled …

They cried out to Jesus. Maybe it was for the wrong reason for (they supposed it had been a spirit) but they cried out anyway. And Jesus answered the cry. He said:

Mark 6:50 (KJV) … And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

IMMEDIATELY Jesus spoke to them, calming their fears. The Bible tells us:

Isaiah 43:2-3 (ESV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

 The Will Of God Will Not Take You Where
The Grace Of God Will Not Keep You.

The Bible tells us that Jesus …

Mark 6:51-52 (KJV) … went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

They had forgotten the blessings Jesus poured out on them when He fed the 5000+.

“Their heart was hardened”. This is why God brings the blade of trial to the soil of our lives. We forget His blessings, so He brings yet another trial. We struggle, try to do it ourselves, then quit trying and cry out to Jesus.

And He blesses. Oh that we would remember all His benefits, the bounty He has poured on us all. Adrian Rogers once said:

“God has not promised you smooth sailing, but He has promised you a blessed landing.”

God always – ALWAYS keeps His promises.

May God bless your hearts with His Word.

Mark 6:6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Several years ago the famous atheist Thomas Huxley was in a hurry. You may not know his name, but this man was famous for attacking Christ and Christianity, and was a fervent Darwinist. Huxley was in a hurry, and leaving his apartment hailed a taxi, jumped in, and said to the driver “Hurry, I’m almost late. Drive fast!” Obediently the driver took off at top speed. Huxley laid back in his seat, closed his eyes, and rested. After a time he opened his eyes and saw that they were no where near his destination – as a matter of fact they were headed full tilt in the wrong direction. Huxley realized that he hadn’t told the driver where his destination was. He asked the driver “Do you know where you’re going?” The driver replied, “No sir; but I am driving very fast!”

This world is going very fast, but sadly, does not know where it is going. We need to slow down, look up, and reorient on faith in Christ!

In our text today we see the only two times in Scripture where it is said that Jesus marveled at anything. Saturn with all its rings are not amazing to Jesus – He made them. The moon and the sun, beautiful by night and the light of day, are not amazing to Jesus. He made them, and hold them together. The stars uncounted in the Heavens, and the planets we have never discovered but that are surely there, they do not astonish our Jesus. Jesus Christ is …

Colossians 1:15-17  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  [16]  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  [17]  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

God the Father has – according to Hebrews 1:2

“In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”

Christ is the agent of God’s creation – all things are created “through Him”. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit worked together to bring about the all creation. We are told in John that, “All things were made through [Jesus], and without [Jesus] was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3, ESV). The apostle Paul said “There is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6).

Nothing in creation causes Christ to “marvel”. What does cause Christ to “marvel” or be amazed is FAITH and FAITHLESSNESS.

Faithlessness Causes Jesus To Marvel.

Jesus calmed a storm. Jesus raised a man out of the tombs. Jesus raised a little girl from the dead, and healed a woman who had been sick for 12 years. When He goes home what does He find?

Unbelief.

Mark 6:1-2 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.  [2]  And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

As Jesus began to teach in the Synagogue of Nazareth many began to criticize – not because He was teaching badly but because they knew Jesus when He was a child.

Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He was born to Mary while she was a virgin. Joseph was His stepfather, not His father. But as Jesus grew up His deity and power were hidden. He did not start ministry until He was 30 years old, as anyone younger than that had no voice. He probably supported His stepfather in the family business, carpentry. There were glimpses as to Who Jesus was in His childhood. There was the time that Mary and Joseph went in a caravan to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. After the Feast they headed back home with a crowd of other worshipers. But getting home they discovered that Jesus wasn’t with them. The Bible tells us that:

Luke 2:45-49  And when {Mary and Joseph} found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.  [46]  And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  [47]  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.  [48]  And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.  [49]  And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?

Jesus was not just ANY Child – He is God’s Child. Mary and Joseph should have known this, for the Angel of God said of Him:

Luke 1:35 …. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Jesus is the Son of God. Crowds of people are following Him, seeking to hear His Word and feel His touch. Yet when He goes home to the Synagogue to teach people begin to ask:

Where did THIS MAN hear these things?
Who told Him the things that He knows?
How can THIS MAN do the mighty works that He has done?

And they doubted Him. They disparaged Him. They mocked Jesus because their were faithless.

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were OFFENDED at him.

They were OFFENDED at Him. This is the Greek σκανδαλίζω or skandalizō (pronounced skan-dal-id’-zo) which means just what it sounds like. They were “scandalized”. They were offended because of His TEACHING. How DARE He teach something He ought not to know! They were offended.

Here is God’s Son teaching the great truths of God’s Word, but they pay no attention to this. Why? Faithlessness has blinded their eyes and closed their ears. Faithlessness robs us of the blessings of God. Christ is not teaching in the Synagogue of Nazareth for HIS benefit. No, He is teaching to share the great truths of the Gospel with whosoever will. It was faithlessness that caused Israel, God’s nation, to fall away from God. The Lord told them:

Isaiah 30:15 GWT You can be saved by returning to me. You can have rest. You can be strong by being quiet and by trusting me. But YOU DON’T WANT THAT.

Jesus called and continues to call people to salvation in Him, to rest in Him. He says:

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   [29]   Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.   [30]   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

As Jesus heard their faithlessness and their offense He said:

Mark 6:4 …. A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

No one is called as Prophet directly from the cradle, but in time and as they grow God reveals that they are Prophets. Jesus as a baby and as a toddler did the same things that babies and toddlers did. He was without sin, but had to be cared for and had to grow up to be Messiah.

Faithlessness binds the hands of God

Mark 6:5-6  And he COULD THERE DO NO MIGHTY WORK, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.   [6]  And he MARVELED because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Jesus could do no mighty work because of their unbelief. He Himself was not hindered, but where faithlessness and doubt is God cannot work. Adrian Rogers told the following story:

“Years ago I was witnessing to a young lady in Florida. I asked her if she had received Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She became teary-eyed and said, “I just don’t seem…no…I can’t do it today.” I asked her, “Don’t you realize that if you don’t receive Him, that you’re going to deny Him?” She said, “Oh, I wouldn’t deny Him for anything.” I said, “But there’s no middle ground.” And yet she refused. I said, “Before you go, would you shake hands with me?” And she said, “Well, certainly.” And so I said, “If you’ll take Christ as your Savior, take my right hand. If you’ll take hell and refuse Christ, take my left hand.” She refused to take either of my hands.”

Sitting on the fence does not please God. It is just as much faithless to do that, as it is for the Atheist to deny God. The Bible tells us that:

Titus 1:15-16 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are DEFILED AND UNBELIEVING, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

Faithlessness or misplaced faith (putting your faith in anything other than God) leads to the most terrible state of impurity. One of the greatest men who ever lived was John the Baptist. Jesus said of John:

Luke 7:28 NASB … I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John …

John is a fantastic man, a great believer in Christ. He was not ashamed to be the forerunner of the Messiah, the Voice Crying In The Wilderness. Yet one day he offended Herod, the Governor of that area. John got on Herod’s black list when he told Herod to repent of his sexual sin. You see, Herod killed his brother Philip, and took his wife to be his own. We read:

Mark 6:17-19 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.  [18]  For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.  [19]  Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

John offended both Herod as well as his (now dead) brother’s wife when he spoke out against their sexual sins. So Herodias – Herod’s Queen – concocted a plan.

Mark 6:21-24 … when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;  [22]  And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.  [23]  And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.  [24]  And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

This is what faithlessness or misplaced faith does. Drifting farther and farther from God, Herod steals his brother’s WIFE, his brother’s LIFE, and now lusts after his brother’s OFFSPRING. Now a child – a damsel perhaps a teenager – because of unbelief entices Herod then asks for John the Baptist’s head – a terrible thing. Unbelief is a disease. The Bible says that:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is misplaced faith that attacked Paris, and faithlessness that condemns many to eternal damnation. God will not bless faithlessness. But He rewards faith in Him with the blessed life.

Faith in the wrong thing creates the evil we see in the world today. We are fallen because of faithlessness. All of the evil we have seen has brought death and destruction, and all is attributed to faithlessness or faith in the wrong thing.

Joseph Stalin murdered 42,672,000
Mao Zedong (Tse-tung) murdered 37,828,000
Adolf Hitler murdered 20,946,000
Chiang Kai-shek murdered 10,214,000
Pol Pot murdered 2,397,000

Philip and Axelrod’s three-volume ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WARS chronicles some 1,763 wars that have been fought in the course of human history. Every war noted can be traced to misplaced faith or faithlessness. Our Lord marvels.

Faith Causes Jesus To Marvel.

The other text that speaks of our Lord marveling is:

Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

What is the faith that caused the Creator of all to be in wonder. The Bible tells us that:

Matthew 8:5-6  And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,  6  And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

The Centurion – a man accustomed to giving orders to many men – lowered himself to come to Jesus. He said to Jesus – a Jew in the eyes of his word:

Lord …

The Centurion humbled himself, bending his knee to Jesus. Though considered an enemy by the Jews he nonetheless humbled himself before the Messiah a Jew. Jesus responded without hesitation, saying:

Matthew 8:7 …. I will come and heal him.

When Jairus the Ruler of the Synagogue came to Jesus seeking the Master heal his daughter, Jesus agreed to go with him. They then headed out to Jairus’ home. Yet when Jesus told the Centurion He would go home with him that faithful man said:

Matthew 8:8-9 …. Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.  [9]  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

In every instance where people sought Christ for healing He either healed them on the spot, or followed them to where He could heal them. But the Centurion said “Lord, You don’t have to come to my home. I am unworthy that You come here.”

This is what causes God to marvel.

What is the faith that God wants of us, we who have been saved? In Mark 6:7-12 Jesus sent His disciples out They were to go out two by two. They were to be totally reliant on God, not on money nor on their possessions. They were to step outside their comfort zones, and tell people to repent. They had power with God, power to cast out devils and to heal the sick. But ALL their power came from Jesus. When they returned from their faith building trip the Bible tells us that:

Mark 6:30-31 (KJV)30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Jesus said “Come ye yourselves APART INTO A DESERT PLACE and REST”. They were supposed to rest in Jesus, to trust Him. We are all called to trust Jesus in the Desert Places of life. As they are resting in this “desert place” the Bible says:

Mark 6:35-36 (KJV)35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

The disciples were to rest in that desert place. Faith is rest for the soul. They were to trust Jesus. Jesus tells them “Feed them” and the disciples, frugal but not very faithful, said:

Mark 6:37 (KJV) Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

Someone came in with two fishes and five little barley loaves of bread. What did Jesus do? He had them sit down. He took the little that He was given and:

Mark 6:41-44 (KJV)41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

A little in the hand of Jesus is enough, more than enough.But it MUST be in HIS hands!

There were twelve basket fulls of leftovers. There are twelve tribe in Israel, and those twelve baskets represented the nation. The nation that trusts in Christ shall be blessed. The community that trusts in Jesus shall be blessed. The Church that trusts in Jesus shall be blessed.

For He is marvelous!

May God touch your hearts with His Word.

Mark 4:1-14 (KJV) And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. [2] And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, [3] Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: [4] And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. [5] And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: [6] But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. [7] And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. [8] And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. [9] And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. [10] And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. [11] And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: [12] That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. [13] And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? [14] The sower soweth the word.

In order to understand spiritual truths God must be in the process.

I want to say that again.

You can hear Spiritual Truth. You can read it. But unless God explains it, unless He is present, nothing is understood.

I was listening to a well known pastor and preacher the other day explain why Jesus spoke in parables. This pastor said that the reason Jesus used parables was to make the message more understandable. But that’s not true. When His disciples asked why He spoke in parables Jesus said read verses 11 & 12 again with me ….

“Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but UNTO THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT, all these things are done in parables: [12] That SEEING THEY MAY SEE, AND NOT PERCEIVE; AND HEARING THEY MAY HEAR, AND NOT UNDERSTAND; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.”

The parable is a story given to those who have ears to hear, a story given to the Children of God by faith in Christ. Only those who stayed with Jesus – hearing His Word, feeding on His Presence – only those understood the parable. Christ gave the parable – then explained the parable. The critics – those who are without – who came, listened, and departed heard nothing.

There is no salvation without Christ.

Religion will not save, but relationship with the King of Kings DOES. Outward presence of self does not save. You must listen and be in HIS presence. You must ask HIM that He, through the Spirit, may explain the truth to you. This is why Jesus said:

“He that hath ears to hear let him hear”

Anyone can learn. Anyone can be saved. This is a whosoever will Gospel. But hearing means putting self to the side in favor of the Savior. God saves not the nominal, but the ones who love His Name. Pastor Boyd Bailey said:

“You cannot live in the presence of the Lord and not be changed. Christ is combustible. His expectation is Lordship over His followers. This is why we submit to Him each time we enter into His presence.”

God calls broken people to Himself. There will be no cultural Christians in Heaven, but only CONVERTS CONVICTED and CALLED to be CHILDREN. The parable weeds out the insincere but blesses those who are – as Galatians 3:26 – says “the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus”.

There Went A Sower To Sow

Mark 4:3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

As Jesus stood preaching on a ship out at sea a crowd listened. Jesus said Hearken – LISTEN; Behold – LOOK. Pay attention because these are God’s Words, not man’s words.

There went out A sower to sow.

Notice first of all that this is “A Sower”. Jesus came preaching and “said unto them in HIS DOCTRINE”. The Eternal Word of God came preaching the way to life, and those who follow Him love Him and His Word. Jesus is THE Sower, but every believer is A Sower. We come together and gather the seed of His Word, then we – each and every one of us – go out to sow.

We are not PLANTERS but SOWERS. Planters prepare the soil. They break up the soil. They remove the obstacles to the seed. Planters place the seed carefully so deep in the soil, water the seed, and keep weeds from the field. A planter works hard over the prospective garden. The sower however just broadcasts the seed he has been given.

Many Christians do not witness out of fear. We have been told by false feelings and false prophets that we are responsible for the growth of the seed. God gives us the seed of Christ’s Word. We take that seed and broadcast it. What we are given by God’s Spirit we share with others. We do not make the seed, but we take the seed and broadcast it.

“What if I fail” self cries out. You cannot fail. The sower sows, our God Grows. Our duty is to broadcast, to sow the ground, not to worry or work it. We unapologetically sow what we have been given. We sow HIS DOCTRINE, WHAT CHRIST HAS SAID. WE BROADCAST HIS GOSPEL. Our God Grows what we faithfully sow.

A Sower Is Someone Who Plants A Specific Seed.

The Sower doesn’t go out with just any seed. He takes the seed that is given him and sows that seed. The Seed We Christians Sow Is The Word Of Christ.

Mark 4:14 (KJV) The sower soweth the word.

The sower sows THE WORD. Not OUR Word, or MY opinion, or What Some Great Person said (even if it is Billy Graham). The “seed” that God has given us as Christians to sow is the Word of Christ.

In the Great Commission our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) ….. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

What has Jesus commanded us? We sow LOVE.

John 13:34-35 (KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

We love as Christ has loved us.

John 15:12-13 (KJV) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. [13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 13:8-10 (KJV) Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. [9] For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [10] Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

We Love God.

Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [40] On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Mark 12:30-31 (KJV) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. [31] And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

We are to love God and love others enough to where we will sow the seed of the Gospel. To tell others that the way to life is to repent – to turn from living for ourselves – and to walk following Christ. Jesus Christ died NOT to just get people to Heaven, but He died to get Heaven into people.

We sow the Gospel Christ gave us

Luke 24:46-47 (KJV) And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The Gospel seed we have been given to broadcast is that people are to …

Acts 2:38-40 (KJV) …. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (40) …. Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

God is calling a people out to Himself, a family of God, children adopted and changed, indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. As Sowers we are to preach the whole Gospel, not a partial Gospel. We are to preach and witness that ….

Acts 10:43 (KJV) … through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

God is raising up, through the sowing of His Word, a people that are found, whose sins have been remitted, who love Him and want to serve Him.

We Are To Teach Boldly That Jesus Alone Is The Way, The Truth, And The Life. That no man comes to the Father but by Him. (John 14:6). We broadcast His Word because Jesus Christ died for whosoever will believe in Him.

Romans 3:23-26 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

We Are To Teach Others That We Must DO The Things Christ Said Do. We Are To Teach Kingdom Living. Jesus taught:

Matthew 24:14 (KJV) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

There will be no end time until the Gospel is preached to all nations. The Sower – that’s you and I – must spread the Gospel thoroughly through the whole world before the end shall come.

Every Christ Follower Is To Be A Sower

We Are Responsible To Sow His Word. We GO And SOW, and God will GROW. Jesus mentions FOUR GROUNDS here that the seed is cast upon.
a Some Seed Will Be Cast Upon “Wayside” Ground. Sow Anyway!

Mark 4:4 (KJV) And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

Who are those “by the Wayside”? Jesus defined the parable ….

Mark 4:15 (KJV) And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, SATAN COMETH IMMEDIATELY, AND TAKETH AWAY THE WORD that was sown in their hearts.

Look at the word “Satan”. The name “Satan” means “the accuser”. Satan started out as “Lucifer” which means “The Shining One”. He was beautiful! He was a chief Arch Angel. But he became PROUD and tried to take over Heaven. He failed miserably.

Where ever there is light there will inevitably be darkness warring against it. As Jesus preached His Word the Pharisees came along with the Scribes and Religious Zealots. As He preached these misguided people stood against Him accusing and planting falsehood. They said “This Jesus casts out devils by Beelzebub, the Prince of devils”. They accuse, undermine. They are led of Satan.

I have witnessed Christ to people who, after the Word was broadcast, an accuser, a violator of the 9th commandment – SOMETIMES A MISGUIDED PREACHER – a testified of lies came along and contaminated the witness. The devil often infiltrates Christ’s Church like Judas Iscariot to draw souls from Christ to hell.

This has often discouraged me when a false witness tries to destroy the work of Christ. Satan came. But God is in control. Keep sowing, even though those strange birds come along.

Some Seed Will Hit “Stony” Ground. Sow Anyway!

Mark 4:5-6 (KJV) And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: (6) But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Those in Christ’s Presence heard His explanation:

Mark 4:16-17 (KJV) And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; (17) And HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES, and so endure but for a time…

Some seed landed on stony ground. The seed landed on the hard heart and the hard head. THEY HAVE NO ROOT IN THEMSELVES. Externally religious they are not internally changed. They rely on outward things. Like Nicodemus who visited Jesus by night they outwardly are moral and upright, but as Jesus said:

John 3:7-8 (ESV) Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

The Christian faith has outward rituals like baptism, Church attendance, tithing, the Lord’s Table. But these rituals are done because we love Jesus. They are not done because we are trying to earn our way to God. We cannot earn our way to Him. We love Him because He first loved us. We love Him because He gave Himself for us – and we give ourselves to Christ.

“But they have no root in themselves”. They are not bound to Jesus. They have not surrendered to Christ. They have made a TRUCE with Heaven, but have not TURNED their lives over to Him. The Savior demands unconditional SURRENDER of His subjects.

Mark 4:17 (KJV) …. afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the Word’s sake, IMMEDIATELY THEY ARE OFFENDED.

Trials come to those who follow Jesus. The world does not like Jesus. I have yet to watch the movie Moses but just finished watching the movie Gods and Generals – Hollywood’s presentation of the life of Moses. What a mess! Hollywood describing God is like a blind person describing the color “red” or “yellow”. It just doesn’t work out.

These “stony ground” hearers love Jesus as long as it is fashionable. But when their friends say “Really? You’re religious? You really believe that Jesus is the only Way to God?” they are offended. They quickly turn from Jesus. They avoid the controversy.

Loving Jesus is what the Christian does. We love Jesus MORE than anything or anyone. Jesus said:

Luke 14:26-27, 33 (KJV) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. …. (33) So likewise, WHOSOEVER HE BE OF YOU THAT FORSAKETH NOT ALL THAT HE HATH, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.

Some Seed Will Hit “Thorny Ground”. Sow what? Sow Anyway!

Mark 4:7 (KJV) And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

Mark 4:18-19 (KJV) And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, (19) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Those on the Thorny Ground hear the Word spoken, and are respectful to it. Yet they are more concerned with the cares of this world, riches, and the lusts of other things. The Gospel takes root, but these receive the Grace of God in vain, never producing any fruit for God.

Are these “Thorny Ground” believers actually saved or lost? It is often hard for us to tell. They start out looking like the Gospel has taken root. They seem to produce fruit for a time. Then they slip back into the world, following it rather than following Christ. The Apostle wrote:

1 John 2:19 (KJV) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Thorns are the cares of this world. They look good, but they prick, the cut, they destroy. Thorns and thistles came into the world when Adam disobeyed God. Thorns were forced down on Christ’s head as a crown. Thorns held Him to the cross of calvary. The thorns of our sins were put on Him and He suffered for us. For our thorns.

One Out Of Every Four Grounds We Sow Seed On Will Be Good Ground, Broken Ground, Receptive Ground. This is why we must sow.

Mark 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mark 4:20 (KJV) And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Some will receive the Word of God and be saved. Some will be good ground, broken ground, prepared ground because of the harshness of this life. Some will hear. This is why we must sow. People need the Lord. So we sow. We trust God. We seek to scatter His Doctrine of love and grace throughout our families, our workplaces, our friends. Sow His Word. Sow His Gospel. Sow it and He will grow it!