Mark 9
Jesus predicts Transfiguration verse 1
And HE said to them – Verily I say to you
That there be some of them that stand here
which shall not taste of death
till they have seen the kingdom of God
come with power
Jesus speaks with Moses and Elijah verse 2- 4
And after six days Jesus takes with HIM
Peter – and James – and John and leads them up
into a high mountain apart by themselves
and HE was transfigured before them
And HIS raiment became shining – exceeding white as snow
so as no fuller on earth can white them
And there appeared unto them Elijah and Moses
and they were talking with Jesus
Peter wants to build tabernacles to each verse 5- 6
And Peter answered and said to Jesus
Master – it is good for us to be here
and let us make three tabernacles
one for YOU
one for Moses – one for Elijah
FOR he wist not what to say – FOR they were sore afraid
God the Father speaks verse 7- 8
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them
and a voice came out of the cloud – saying
This is MY beloved Son – hear HIM
And suddenly – when they had looked round about
they saw no man any more
save Jesus only with themselves
Jesus commands their silence verse 9- 10
And as they came down from the mountain
HE charged them that they should tell no man
what things they had seen
till the Son of man
were risen from the dead
And they asked HIM saying with themselves
questioning one with another what the rising
from the dead should mean
Disciples ask question verse 11
And they asked HIM saying
Why say the scribes that Elijah must first come?
Jesus answers question verse 12- 13
And HE answered and told them
Elijah verily come first – and restores all things
and how it is written of the Son of man
that HE must suffer many things
and be set at nought
BUT I say to you
That Elijah is indeed come
and they have done unto him
whatsoever they listed
as it is written of him
Disciples arguing verse 14- 15
And when HE came to HIS disciples
HE saw a great multitude about them
and the scribes questioning with them
And straightway all the people – when they beheld HIM
were greatly amazed and running to HIM saluted HIM
Jesus asks what the question concerned verse 16
And HE asked the scribes
What question you with them?
Man in crowd gave the answer verse 17- 18
And one of the multitude answered and said – Master
I have brought to YOU my son – which has a dumb spirit
and wheresoever he takes him – he tears him
he foams gnashes with his teeth – pines away
and I spoke to YOUR disciples that they should
cast him out – and they could not
Jesus called HIS generation faithless verse 19
HE answered him – and said – O faithless generation
How long shall I be with you?
How long shall I suffer you?
bring him unto ME
Demon possessed boy brought to Jesus verse 20- 27
And they brought him unto HIM – and when HE saw him
straightway the spirit tare him
and he fell on the ground
and wallowed foaming
And HE asked his father
How long is it ago since this came unto him?
and he said – Of a child
And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire – and into the waters
to destroy him BUT if YOU can do any thing
have compassion on us – and help us
Jesus said to him – IF you can believe
all things are possible to him that believes
And straightway the father of the child cried out
and said with tears
Lord – I believe – help you mine unbelief
When Jesus saw that the people came running together
HE rebuked the foul spirit saying unto him
You dumb and deaf spirit – I charge you
come out of him
and enter no more into him
And the spirit cried – and rent him sore – and came out of him
and he was as one dead
insomuch that many said – He is dead
BUT Jesus took him by the hand – and lifted him up
and he arose
Disciples wondered why they lacked power verse 28- 29
And when HE was come into the house
HIS disciples asked HIM privately
Why could not we cast him out?
And HE said unto them – This kind can come forth by nothing
BUT by PRAYER and FASTING
Jesus tells of HIS coming death verse 30- 32
And they departed thence – and passed through Galilee
and HE would not that any man should know it
FOR HE taught HIS disciples – and said unto them
The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men
and they shall kill HIM
and after that HE is killed
HE shall rise the third day
BUT they understood not that saying
and were afraid to ask HIM
Disciples discuss greatness verse 33- 35
And HE came to Capernaum
and being in the house HE asked them
What was it that you disputed
among yourselves by the way?
BUT they held their peace
FOR by the way they had disputed among themselves
who should be the greatest
And HE sat down – and called the twelve – and said unto them
If any man desire to be first – the same shall be last of all
and servant of all
Jesus brings child into their midst verse 36- 37
AND HE took a child – and set him in the midst of them
and when HE had taken him in HIS arms
HE said unto them
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in MY name
receives ME – receives not ME
BUT HIM that sent ME
Disciples confront someone verse 38
And John answered HIM – saying – Master
We saw one casting out devils in YOUR name
and he follows not us
and we forbade him
because he followed not us
Jesus tells them to not stop those who serve HIM verse 39- 41
BUT Jesus said – Forbid him not
FOR there is no man which shall do a miracle in MY name
that can lightly speak evil of ME
FOR he that is not against us is on our part
AND whosoever shall give you a cup of water
to drink in MY name
Because you belong to Christ – verily I say unto you
he shall not lose his reward
Jesus deals with personal offenses verse 42- 48
AND whosoever shall offend one of these little ones
that believe in ME
It is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck
and he were cast into the sea
AND if your hand offend you – cut it off
it is better for you to enter into life maimed
than having two hands to go into hell
into the fire that never shall be quenched
where their worm dies not
and the fire is not quenched
AND if your foot offend you- cut it off
it is better for you to enter halt into life
than having two feet to be cast into hell
into the fire that never shall be quenched
where their worm dies not
and the fire is not quenched
AND if your eye offend you – pluck it out
it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God
with one eye
than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire
where the worm dies not
and the fire is not quenched
Believers are to be at peace with each other verse 49- 50
FOR every one shall be salted with fire
and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt
Salt is good
BUT if the salt have lost his saltness
wherewith will you season it?
Have salt in yourselves – and have peace one with another
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And HE said to them, Verily I say to you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. (1089 “taste” [geuomai] means experience, partake of, make trail of, to come to an inward awareness of, or eat)
DEVOTION: This verse has caused many to have a problem understanding what Jesus meant by this statement. Was HE talking about HIS second coming with HIS angels to rule and reign here on the earth?
When was the kingdom of God going to arrive? Had it arrived when Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Had it arrived with the power that Jesus manifested in HIS ability to heal the sick and raise the dead? Had it arrived when the three disciples went up into the mountain to see Jesus become transfigured before them and they saw Moses and Elijah? Finally, did the kingdom of God come when Jesus was raised from the dead and the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples to start the church?
A lot of questions asked with many scholars each taking their pick of which one they liked. One of the main thoughts is that Jesus was talking with HIS disciples and giving them the thought of a future plan of God. HE was announcing the fact that there is power in serving Jesus.
HE wants them to realize that they were part of a great new event happening in history that would bring in the kingdom of God. These men were going to reach a world for Jesus. They were going to have the power to heal, cast out fallen angels and many other things that they could have never down without the strength of Jesus.
Jesus promised power that would come with the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
CHALLENGE: These things all happened in the lifetime of the eleven disciples that served the LORD until their death.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 19 HE answered him, and said, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him to ME. (430 “suffer” [anechomai] means bear with, endure, to hold up, to sustain, be patient with, accept, to accept a complaint, or forbear.)
DEVOTION: How would you describe our generation? Most of those receiving these daily meat devotionals live in America.
We have seen individuals go into clinics to have abortions for many years now. There have been millions of babies aborted mainly for no reason except personal selfishness. They didn’t want to raise a baby and didn’t want anyone else to raise their baby. When we read about Abraham and Sarah lying one time we find the LORD telling a king that HE was going to kill a nation. How was HE going to do it? HE was going to do it by closing the wombs of all the women in the nation. We are not closing the wombs but we are ending the lives of many children.
We see that marriage is under attack in our society. God created one woman and one man to be married for life. This is the standard that is set throughout the Bible. There have been people who have tried to cut out all the verses that say anything against a different lifestyle. In fact, recently there has been another “bible” published that takes the verses right out of their bible completely. Many churches have become politically correct rather than Biblically correct.
What about the people who attend Bible believing churches? Are they out reaching their neighborhoods for the LORD? Could we walk up to the pastor and ask if their neighborhood understands that they are loved by the church and welcome to the church? Do people next door to the church understand what the church believes about eternity? Most in most Biblical churches think they are doing God a favor by showing up to church each Sunday and giving them an offering.
CHALLENGE: Could we call this generation in America a faithless generation? If so, can we change this? With the help of the ministry of the Holy Spirit all things are possible. Nothing is impossible with the LORD!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 23 Jesus said unto him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. (1415 “possible” [dunatos] means to be able, to be capable of, one who has the ability, powerful, mighty, strong, mighty in wealth and influence, strong in soul, or to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience.
DEVOTION: The three disciples returned from the mount of transfiguration to find the other disciples unable to heal a boy with that was demon possessed.
Jesus is challenging this man whose son was demon possessed to believe in HIM and HIS power. The father responds “Lord, I believe; help THOU mine unbelief. The father was honest. He believed that Jesus was able to deliver his son from the demon but he also knew that his belief was not as strong as it should be.
Jesus took the father at his word and healed his son. The demon didn’t leave without crying. When he left the boy, it appeared as if the boy was dead. BUT JESUS took by the hand and delivered him to his father. Praise HIS name.
The disciples asked why they couldn’t cast out the demon. Jesus told them that they lacked power. The power to do this type of miracle only comes to those who fast and pray. Fasting is going without food or drink for a period of time to get closer to the LORD. Prayer is communication with the Father regarding a circumstance here on earth. We are to close our prayers in “Jesus name.”
The challenge for us today is to take the LORD Jesus Christ at HIS word and believe that if we want to see great things in our lives, we have to pray and fast. Not for our glory but for the LORD’S glory. Our motive has to be pure.
HE is challenging us today to believe that HE is still powerful enough to do the impossible. Many will say that they believe HE is powerful enough today, but when it comes to waiting on HIM they fail the test. Many still doubt that the LORD is able to do the impossible. The father was honest with the LORD. He admitted to the LORD that he needed more power to believe. He asked the LORD to help him in his unbelief. Are we willing to do the same? Are we honest with the LORD? Are we willing to practice prayer and fasting to help our unbelief?
These disciplines are necessary to receive power from the LORD to do the impossible. Is there any impossible things happening in our lives that need that kind of power? We need to challenge each other to practice these disciplines. Praise the LORD this power is available even today.
CHALLENGE: Add the disciplines of prayer and fasting to your life. If we can do it at least once a month – imagine the power for the work of the LORD!!!
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: 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. ( 514 “peace” [eireneuo] means harmony, to live in prosperity, to live in community, or to reconcile.)
DEVOTION: The LORD wants those who claim to be believer to live in community always with an attitude of reconciliation if there ever happens to be something that might cause them to not get along with one another.
There are many “one another’s” in the New Testament. The LORD has a purpose for the church. That purpose is to live together in harmony with one another.
How is this possible? From a human perspective it is impossible for people to be in harmony with one another all the time. Each of us struggle with the fact that we are selfish and lazy. If we don’t work at relationships they will fail. If we work at them ourselves they will fail. The only way that we can be in harmony with one another is for us to continually go before the LORD in prayer asking for the Holy Spirit to work in our midst to end disputes.
There are disputes that we can live with and there are disputes we can’t live with according to our thinking. The disputes we can live with are those that don’t deal with major doctrines or teaching in the Bible. Those disputes that deal with major doctrinal disputes are not easily handled. There has to be searching of Scriptures together and a dependence on the Holy Spirit to give wisdom when we come to a conclusion.
There are always going to be false teachers in our churches. But not everyone is a false teacher. There are three types of Christians in every church: little children, young men and fathers according to I John. So there is growth involved with every dispute. Each of us is at a different age in our spiritual life. Sometimes there needs to be an attitude to agree to disagree until more growth can happen in a group.
We are not to be hotheads. We should have a goal to always be available for reconciliation with another genuine believer. Don’t close doors to fellow believers. The only ones who should be out of the church are false teachers.
CHALLENGE: Don’t lose your saltiness. Always be available for reconciliation with a fellow believer. Remember the age of those we have disputes with over doctrine.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Fasting needed for power verse 29
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer needed for power verse 29
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Sacrifice verse 49
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Elijah verse 4, 5, 11- 13
Moses verse 4, 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Voice: This is MY beloved Son hear HIM verse 7
Sent the Son verse 37
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 1, 4, 5, 8, 23, 25, 27, 39
Transfigured verse 2- 8
before Peter, James and John
Master verse 5, 17, 38
Beloved Son verse 7
Son of man verse 9, 12, 31
must suffer many things
be set at nought
Resurrection verse 9, 10, 31
Healing of son with foul spirit verse 14- 29
dumb spirit
foamed and gnashed with his teeth
Compassion verse 22
Lord verse 24
Taught the disciples verse 31
He was going to be delivered into hands
of men – they would kill HIM,
would rise the third day
Asked disciples “What was it that you disputed
among themselves by the way verse 34
Called the twelve verse 35- 37
Set a child in the midst of them
Stated that whosoever received HIM
also receives HIM that sent HIM
Christ verse 41
Give a cup of water in MY name
he shall not lose his reward
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Kingdom of God come with power verse 1, 47
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Dumb spirit verse 17, 18, 20, 25
Foul spirit verse 25, 26
Deaf spirit verse 25, 26
Casting out devils verse 38
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Afraid verse 6, 32
Faithless verse 19
Unbelief verse 24
Understood not verse 32
Dispute over greatness verse 34
Speak evil of Jesus verse 39
Offend little one that believes in Jesus verse 42
Hand offend verse 43
Foot offend verse 45
Eye offend verse 47
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Power verse 1
Believe verse 23, 24, 42
Prayer verse 29
Fasting verse 29
Taught verse 31
Understand verse 32
Servant verse 35
Miracle in Jesus’ name verse 39
Peace verse 50
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Elijah – talking with Jesus verse 4, 5, 11- 13
Moses – talking with Jesus verse 4, 5
Scribes verse 11, 14, 16
questioning with Jesus
People greatly amazed and
running to Jesus verse 15
Father wanted help with his unbelief verse 25
Galilee verse 30
Capernaum verse 33
Every sacrifice shall be slated with salt verse 49
Church (New Testament people of God)
Peter up a high mountain verse 2, 5
wanted to build three tabernacies
James up a high mountion verse 2
John up a high mountain verse 2, 38
Said we saw one casting out devils in
YOUR name and forbad him
Jesus said “Forbid him not”
Miracle in MY name that can
speak evil of ME verse 39
Disciples verse 14, 18, 28, 29
could not cast out dumb spirit
told it took prayer and fasting
Disciples didn’t understand Jesus verse 32
Twelve verse 35
Have salt in yourselves
and have peace one with another verse 50
Last Things (Future Events)
Rising from the dead verse 10
Hell verse 43, 45, 47
Fire not quenched verse 43- 48
Kingdom of God verse 47
Hell fire verse 47
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QUOTES regarding passage
43–48 The main point of vv. 43–50 is that it is so important to enter into life—i.e., eternal life, eschatological life—that radical means must be taken to remove what can prevent it, viz., sin. Here sin is connected with the physical self—the hand (v. 43), foot (v. 45), and eye (v. 47). Jesus is not demanding the excision of our bodily members; he is demanding the cessation of the sinful activities of these members. Radical spiritual surgery is demanded. Nothing less is at stake than life, eternal life (cf. v. 47, where “kingdom of God” stands in parallel to “life” in vv. 43, 45).
The word translated “hell” is gehenna, a Greek form of the Hebrew words gê hinnōm (“Valley of Hinnom”). This was the valley along the south side of the city of Jerusalem, which was used in OT times for human sacrifices to the pagan god Molech (cf. Jer 7:31; 19:5–6; 32:35). King Josiah put a stop to this dreadful practice (2 Kings 23:10); and the Valley of Hinnom came to be used as a place where human excrement and rubbish, including animal carcasses, were disposed of and burned. The fire of gehenna never went out, and the worms never died. So it came to be used symbolically of the place of divine punishment. Isaiah 66:24 may reveal the beginning of this use, but it becomes much clearer during the intertestamental period, e.g., in the Book of Enoch: “This accursed valley is for those who are accursed forever; here will all those be gathered who utter unseemly words against God, and here is the place of their punishment” (1En 27:2). “Alike abyss was opened in the midst of the earth, full of fire, and they were all judged and found guilty and cast into that fiery abyss, and they burned” (1En 90:26; cf. 48:9; 4Ezra 7:36; M Pirke Aboth 1.5; 5.19–20) (Wessel, W. W. (1984). Mark. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 708). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Their worm (ὁ σκωληξ αὐτων [ho skōlēx autōn]). “The worm, i.e. that preys upon the inhabitants of this dread realm” (Gould). Two bold figures of Gehenna combined (the gnawing worm, the burning flame). No figures of Gehenna can equal the dread reality which is here described. See Isa. 66:24. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Mk 9:48). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
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9:43–48. These strong words warn disciples about the danger of letting themselves be led astray. Jesus reinforced the demands of discipleship (cf. 8:34–38; 10:24–31) in hyperboles (cf. tdnt, s.v. “melos,” 4:559–61).
If (ean, “whenever,” indicating a real possibility) the activity of your hand, an instrument of inward inclinations (cf. 7:20–23), causes you to sin (skandalisē, “should entice you to fall away”; cf. 9:42) then cut it off. Jesus meant a disciple should take prompt, decisive action against whatever would draw him away from his allegiance to Him. The same is true of the foot and the eye, for temptations come through various means. Whatever tempts a disciple to cling to this world’s life must be removed much as a surgeon amputates a gangrenous limb.
It is better to be a disciple and to enter eternal life (cf. 10:17, 30) in God’s future kingdom (9:47), and to do so maimed, minus earthly possessions that have been renounced, than to be an unbeliever. An unbeliever retains his allegiance to this world, refuses eternal life with God on His terms, and so will be thrown into hell (geennan; vv. 45, 47).
The Greek word geenna (“Gehenna,” trans. “hell”) is transliterated from two Hebrew words meaning “Valley of Hinnom,” a place south of Jerusalem where children were once sacrificed to the pagan god Molech (2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6; Jer. 7:31; 19:5–6; 32:35). Later, during the reforms of Josiah (2 Kings 23:10) the site became Jerusalem’s refuse dump where fires burned continually to consume regular deposits of worm-infested garbage. In Jewish thought the imagery of fire and worms vividly portrayed the place of future eternal punishment for the wicked (cf. the apocryphal Judith 16:17 and Ecclesiasticus 7:17). Jesus used the word geenna in 11 of its 12 New Testament occurrences (the one exception is James 3:6).
Where the fire never goes out is probably Mark’s explanation of Gehenna for his Roman readers. The worm (internal torment) and the unquenchable fire (external torment) (quoted from the LXX of Isa. 66:24) vividly portray the unending, conscious punishment that awaits all who refuse God’s salvation. The essence of hell is unending torment and eternal exclusion from His presence.
9:49. This enigmatic statement, unique to Mark, is difficult to interpret. About 15 possible explanations have been suggested.
An explanatory “for” (gar, not trans. in the niv) and the word “fire” link this verse to verses 43–48. Everyone may be explained in one of three ways: (1) It could refer to every unbeliever who enters hell. They will be salted with fire in the sense that as salt preserves food so they will be preserved throughout an eternity of fiery judgment. (2) “Everyone” could refer to every disciple living in this hostile world. They will be “salted with fire” in the sense that Old Testament sacrifices were seasoned with salt (Lev. 2:13; Ezek. 43:24). Disciples, living sacrifices (cf. Rom. 12:1), will be seasoned with purifying fiery trials (cf. Prov. 27:21; Isa. 48:10; 1 Peter 1:7; 4:12). The trials will purge out what is contrary to God’s will and preserve what is consistent with it. (3) “Everyone” could refer to every person in general. All will be “salted with fire” in a time and manner appropriate to their relationship with Jesus—for nonbelievers, the preserving fire of final judgment; for disciples, the refining fire of present trials and suffering. This last view seems preferable. (Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 147–148). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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This solemn message about hell carries a warning to all of us to deal drastically with sin. Whatever in our lives makes us stumble, and therefore causes others to stumble, must be removed as if by surgery. The hand, foot, and eye would be considered valuable parts of the body, yet they must be removed if they are causing sin. Of course, the Lord is not commanding literal physical surgery, since He had already made it clear that sin comes from the heart (Mark 7:20–23). What He is teaching is that sin is to the inner person what a cancerous tumor is to the body, and it must be dealt with drastically.
Some people are shocked to hear from the lips of Jesus such frightening words about hell (see Isa. 66:24). Jesus believed in a place called hell, a place of eternal torment and righteous punishment (see Luke 16:19ff). After an army chaplain told his men that he did not believe in hell, some of them suggested that his services were not needed. After all, if there is no hell, then why worry about death? But if there is a hell, then the chaplain was leading them astray! Either way, they would be better off without him!
The word translated “hell” is gehenna. It comes from a Hebrew phrase “the valley [ge] of Hinnon,” referring to an actual valley outside Jerusalem where wicked King Ahaz worshiped Molech, the fire god, and even sacrificed his children in the fire (2 Chron. 28:1–3; Jer. 7:31; 32:35).
Some manuscripts do not have Isaiah 66:24 quoted in Mark 9:44 and 46, but the statement is quoted in verse 48, and that one verse is sufficient. Hell is not temporary; it is forever (see Rev. 20:10). How essential it is for sinners to trust Jesus Christ and be delivered from eternal hell, and how important it is for believers to get the message out to a lost world!
“But isn’t that too great a sacrifice to ask from us?” someone might argue. “To deal that drastically with sin would cost us too much!” In Mark 9:49–50, Jesus used the concept of “living sacrifices” to illustrate His point (see Rom. 12:1–2). The sacrifice ends up on the altar and is consumed by the fire. Would you rather endure the fires of hell as a lost sinner or the purifying fires of God as a sacrifice for His glory? Remember, Satan promises you glory now, but the pain comes later. Jesus calls us to suffering now, and then we will enjoy the glory.
The Jews were not allowed to put leaven or honey on their sacrifices, but they were required to use salt (Lev. 2:11, 13). Salt speaks of purity and preservation. It was used in Old Testament days in the establishing of covenants. The disciples were God’s salt (Matt. 5:13), but they were in danger of losing their flavor and becoming worthless. Our salt today is purified and does not lose its taste; but the salt of that day contained impurities and could lose its flavor. Once you have lost that precious Christian character, how will you restore it?
Instead of rebuking others, the disciples should have been examining their own hearts! It is easy to lose our “saltiness” and become useless to God. Christians will experience the fire of trials and persecutions (1 Peter 1:6–7; 4:12) and they need to stand together, no matter who is the greatest! Commitment and character are the essentials, if we are to glorify Him and have peace with each other.
The three lessons Jesus taught in this section are basic to Christian living today. If we are yielded to Him, then suffering will lead to glory, faith will produce power, and our sacrificial service will lead to honor. In spite of his impetuousness and occasional mistakes, Peter got the message and wrote: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever” (1 Peter 5:10). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 143). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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FROM MY READING:
Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe
Anything in our lives that replaces the Lord and enslaves us, anything for which we sacrifice so we can have the satisfaction they offer, is an idol and must be abandoned. No idol can do for us what the Lord can do through Jesus Chrsit! (p. 142)
If we have idols in our hearts, our affection for the Lord and our allegiance to him will be divided and we cannot please him. (p. 143)
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TOZERSPEAKS (volume two) by A. W. Tozer
I am sure that this is the hour when the soul of man is getting less attention than it has since the beginning and rise of revealed religion. (p. 577)
There are differences in the concepts but most people throughout the ages have accepted the fact that there is an essential something that lives within the inner nature of man and that the outward, physical body is only the tabernacle in which the living soul dwells. (p. 577)
The Bible teaches that man has a responsibility in the saving of himself, that he must take advantage of the fountain that was opened in the house of David. It is the fountain for sin and uncleanness that flowed from Emmanuel’s veins.
We should realize that a man can cause his own soul to perish through negligence. Man is prone to neglect and to procrastination and they are among the enemies of the soul. It would be wonderful indeed if everything in our world could be geared to the salvation of man’s souls, but everything is geared in just the opposite direction. (p. 582-3)
Brethren, in these days we must stand fast in witnessing and living forth the evangelical gospel. We believe in the purifying power of the blood of Jesus. We believe in the grace and mercy of God. We believe in the power of Christ’s gospel to make a bad man good and a dirty man clean; to make the evil man righteous and the sinful man pure. (p. 587)
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1 Kings 18
The prophet Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
INSIGHT
The confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal is one of the most exciting chapters in the Bible, with fire raining down from heaven — consuming meat, water, and stone! Then after Baal worship is defeated, it rains, signifying an end to that judgment. Elijah prays, “Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again” (v. 37). God does not punish His children for sin but rather chastens them in the hope that they will repent and return to Him.
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TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 3:5
Why did the Son of God ever come into this world? When we think about the Lord Jesus Christ and especially about His death on that cross on Calvary’s hill, what is its purpose? Is it just something about which we sentimentalize? What does it represent to us? What is the explanation of it all?
That is the question that John answers here, and let me put the answer in a negative form. Our Lord did not only come to give us a revelation of God, though that is a part of the purpose. He said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9), and we also read, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18). But that is not all, though He indeed revealed the Father and has come to do that. In the same way, He has not only come to teach us about God. There is incomparable teaching there, such as the world had never known before and has not known since, but He did not come only to do that. There is also, of course, the example of His life, a matchless one, but He has not come only to give us an example of how we should live in this world. He is not just a teacher or a moral exemplar; He has not come merely to give us some kind of picture as to the nature and being of God. All that is the re, but that is not the real reason, says John.
He has really come, he says, because of our sins, because of the predicament and the position of men and women, because of this whole question of law. He has not come only to instruct us and to give us encouragement in our endeavor and a great example. No; there is a fundamental problem at the back of it all, and that is our relationship to God in the light of God’s holy law.
A Thought to Ponder: He has not come only to instruct us and to give us encouragement in our endeavor and a great example.
(From Children of God, pp. 51-52, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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It Is Christ
“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.” (Romans 8:34)
In our text, Paul asks if there is anyone who can issue a guilty sentence against believers. In light of all Christ has done and the fact that the Father “hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22), only Christ has the authority to condemn. Will Christ condemn those for whom He died? Obviously not, and Paul gives four reasons why the very suggestion is absurd.
First: “It is Christ that died.” He is the very one who left heaven to die as a substitute for us. True, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), but “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Certainly, the one who bore condemnation for us will not turn and condemn us.
Second: He “is risen again.” He did not stay in the grave but rose victorious, proving that God the Father had accepted His sacrifice. Certainly “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18) who desires “that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29) will not turn and thwart His own work and plan.
Third: He is even now “at the right hand of God,” where He is, among other things, preparing a place for us (John 14:2-3). He intends for us to join Him and will not condemn us. One would think He had done enough for us, but no.
Fourth: He “also maketh intercession for us.” As long as we, His “brethren,” still live, He is interceding to God on our behalf. He asks the Father for our acceptance, not for our condemnation.
If the only one with authority to condemn will not condemn, then we have the assurance that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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It is remarkable how many churchmen today in posts of leadership minimize the importance of the Biblical virtures in the lives of believers, as if the doctrine of personal sanctification were somehow to be left to the “purity nuts,” while they excuse transgression of God’s commandments in the name of the new morality or telescope social ethics to the realm of political pressures. (p. 76-77)
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Recent ecumenical conferences that are concerned for modern man’s material betterment more than his moral and spiritual betterment reinforce the notion that abundant life is to be found in the possession of things. (p. 77)
(Evangelicals At The Brink Of Crisis by Carl F. H. Henry)
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DAILY HOPE
Today’s Scripture
Exodus 36-38
When God calls us to do a special work for Him, we often will be amazed at how He opens and prepares ways for us to labor for Him. For many people going to the mission field, the question often arises about how finances or facilities can be generated. Amazing testimonies are revealed when the Lord abundantly provides for a task to be completed.
Moses had been instructed to build a tabernacle to the Lord. He had been given the dimensions and the materials needed for the project (Exodus 30-31). It was truly to be a magnificent structure in the wilderness that the people of God would daily see and be reminded of God’s greatness. Not only did God give the design and the list of materials but He also assigned men and gifted them as master builders (36:1).
Prior to the Lord’s selection of these men (Bezalel and Aholiab), nothing is known of them or the skills they possessed as craftsmen. From what I can gather, they were normal, everyday Jewish men in the tribes of Judah and Dan traveling with their families and friends. Suddenly, that all changes as Moses spoke their names and they were thrust into the spotlight of creating this special venue for God to dwell in, at the center of their nation.
Together, with a team of specially gifted and motivated people, this work of God was begun. The materials and the precious metals were given by the people of God until Moses had to speak to the people to stop giving! More than enough raw materials were available for the project! It was Hudson Taylor that stated, “God’s work done in God’s ways will never lack God’s supply.”
We often face what appears to us to be impossible situations. The price is too great, the numbers do not add up, or the work is overwhelming. Take heart and spend some time before the Lord to assure your endeavor is what He desires. Chuck Swindoll has stated, “Great opportunities are brilliantly disguised as impossible situations!” When it is His will, nothing is impossible and the materials, manpower and the finances are closer than we realize.
Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller
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