Mark 4

Jesus teaches by seaside verse 1

And HE began again to teach by the seaside

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

Parable of four soils verse 2- 9

AND HE taught them many things by parables

and said unto them in HIS doctrine

Hearken – BEHOLD – there went out a sower to sow

and it came to pass – as he sowed

some fell by the WAYSIDE

and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up

some fell on STONY GROUND

where it had not much earth

and immediately it sprang up

BECAUSE it had no depth of earth

BUT when the sun was up – it was scorched

BECAUSE it had no root it withered away

some fell among THORNS

and the thorns grew up

and choked it

and it yielded no fruit

Others fell on GOOD GROUND

and it did yield fruit that sprang up and increased

and brought forth

some thirty – sixty – hundred

And HE said to them – He that has ears to hear

let him hear

Disciples ask the meaning of soils verse 10

And when HE was alone

they that were about HIM with the twelve

asked of HIM the parable

Jesus fulfills prophecy verse 11- 12

And HE

said to them

Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God

BUT to them that are without

all things are done in parables

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

Jesus gives interpretation of parable verse 13- 20

And HE said unto them

Know you not this parable?

And how then will you know all parables?

The sower sows the word

And these are they by the wayside – where the word is sown

BUT when they have heard – Satan comes immediately

and takes away the word that is sown in their hearts

AND these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground

who – when they have heard the word

immediately receive it with gladness

and have no root in themselves

and SO endure but for a time

AFTERWARD when affliction or persecution arise

for the word’s sake immediately they are offended

AND these are they which are sown among thorns

such as hear the word and the cares of this world

and the deceitfulness of riches

and the lusts of other things entering in

choke the word

AND it becomes unfruitful

AND these are they which are sown on good ground

SUCH AS hear the word and receive it

and bring forth fruit – some thirtyfold

sixty – hundred

Jesus states secrets will be revealed verse 21- 23

And HE said to them – Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel

or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

FOR there is nothing hid – which shall not be manifested

neither was anything kept secret

BUT that it should come abroad

IF any man have ears to hear – let him hear

Jesus wants HIS disciples to listen verse 24- 25

And HE said unto them – Take heed what you hear

with what measure you mete it shall be measured to you

and to you that hear shall more be given

FOR he that has – to him shall be given AND he that has not

from him shall be taken even that which he has

Parable of growing seeds verse 26- 29

And HE said – So is the kingdom of God

as if a man should cast seed into the ground

AND should sleep – AND rise night and day

AND the seed should spring and grow up

he knows not how

FOR the earth brings forth fruit of herself

first the blade – then the ear

after that the full corn in the ear

BUT when the fruit is brought forth

immediately he puts in the sickle

BECAUSE the harvest is come

Parable of mustard seed verse 30- 32

And HE said – Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God?

OR with what comparison shall we compare it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed

which – when it is sown in the earth

is less than all the seeds that be in the earth

BUT when it is sown – it grows up

and becomes greater than all herbs

and shoots out great branches

SO THAT the fowls of the air may lodge

under the shadow of it

Jesus had ministry of parables verse 33- 34

And with many such parables spoke HE the word to them

as they were able to hear it

BUT without a parable spoke HE not unto them

and when they were alone

HE expounded all things to HIS disciples

Storm on the lake verse 35- 37

And the same day

when even was come

HE said unto them

Let us pass over unto the other side

And when they had sent away the multitude

they took HIM even as HE was in the ship

And there were also with HIM other little ships

and there arose a great storm of wind

and the waves beat into the ship

so that it was now full

Jesus is sleeping verse 38

And HE was in the hinder part of the ship asleep on a pillow

and they awake HIM – and say unto HIM

Master – care YOU not that we perish?

Disciples wake Jesus verse 39- 40

And HE arose – and rebuked the wind – and said unto the sea

Peace – Be still

And the wind ceased – and there was a great calm

Disciples feared Jesus verse 41

And HE said unto them – Why are you so fearful?

How is it that you have no faith?

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 2 And HE taught them many things by parables and said to them in HIS doctrine. (1322 “doctrine” [didache] means teaching, instruction, content of what is taught, or precepts.)

DEVOTION: Doctrine seems to be a bad word today. The Greek word for doctrine is the same as our word for teach. Jesus was teaching doctrine to HIS disciples for the three years they were together.

HE used parables to teach doctrine because HE defined HIS teaching as only for those who were followers of HIM. HIS doctrine or teaching would only be understood by those who were believers. Those who rejected HIM would wonder about what HE was teaching but never understand what HE was teaching.

Why did HE teach doctrine in parables? HE states that the mysteries of the kingdom belong only to believers. So HE wanted them to understand what the parables meant.

The same is true today. The only ones who can really understand the teachings or doctrines of the Bible are those who are believers. We are supposed to understand and want to learn all we can about what the Bible teaches.

The problem is that many who call themselves Christians don’t want to study doctrine or the teachings of Jesus because they would have to take a stand against those who didn’t teach what they believed to be true. They would rather not know so there would be no conflict with others.

For this reason many individuals can change churches and denominations without regard to what they teach because that isn’t important. It is whether they have good music or a charismatic speaker or a good children’s program. They don’t want to dig any deeper because they might find that the church is not really teaching the Bible.

I have the twelve basic doctrines covered in each chapter to show how a Biblical Theology is formed. Those who take the Biblical Theology from each book of the Bible and form it into a Systematic Theology teach us what the whole Bible teaches regarding a certain doctrine. We are not just using proof texts but the whole Bible to teach the truths the LORD wants us to understand.

Once we understand what all of the Bible teaches on a given subject, we should form our belief and then judge a church as to whether they teach what you have learned from your study.

CHALLENGE: Going from church to church because it meets our needs rather than teaching the truth of Scripture should cause us to stop and make sure we are changing for the right reason. Doctrinal truth is more important than itching our ears.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 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 becomes unfruitful. (175 “unfruitful” [akarpos] means without fruit, barren, useless, not fruit bearing, useless, or unproductive.)

DEVOTION: There are four types of soils mentioned in this parable. They represent four responses to the gospel. The first three responses to the sowing of the seed of the gospel were negative. The fourth response was positive and the person was someone who produced fruit and became a genuine follower of the LORD.

Part of the way to identify a genuine believer was that they were fruitful. All those who are genuine believers are fruitful. Some are more fruitful than others but all believers are to be fruitful. Some will be saved yet so as by fire. Most of their works will burn but they will still be considered genuine believers. These could include those who become believers in the hospital just before they die. The thief on the cross could fall into this category. Believers today are to be producing fruit for the kingdom of God.

The other three soils are those that look like they might be believers but they show that it is something that doesn’t last. The one in this verse looks around him and sees more profit in earning money to buy things than to win souls to the LORD.

The normal tendency of all humans is to be selfish and lazy. If someone claims to be a believer and is only thinking of themselves and what they can get out of others they are not genuinely saved. We have people who look at believers as targets to take advantage of when they meet them. Some people go to church to promote their business rather than the LORD.

We need to examine our motives for serving the LORD. Is it for our glory or benefit or to glorify the LORD? Is money more important to us than witnessing for the LORD? Are our possessions more important than helping others? Are we accumulating things rather than praying for souls? The only one who can answer these questions is us.

CHALLENGE: Ask yourself these questions on a regular basis to examine if we are genuinely a believer. Remember to some who think they are believers Jesus will say “I never knew you.” Don’t get choked out of heaven.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

34 But without a parable spoke he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. (1956 “expounded” [epiluo] means to unloose, untie, to clear (a controversy), decide, settle, interpret, to solve or to explain (what is obscure and hard to understand)

DEVOTION: Jesus was speaking in parables to those he was teaching. Why? Because they were not listening to what HE was really saying or didn’t care to listen. The disciples were willing to listen to Jesus. If they had known what he was talking about they would have been converted. The disciples cared and wanted to understand what they meant.

There is a difference between those who followed just for the show and those who followed and wanted to understand HIS purpose for coming to this earth.

Many of those in our churches come just for the show. Some come to understand their responsibility to the LORD. Jesus wanted to explain to them and we should want to explain to those who want to learn what Christianity is really about. Most of those who say that they are Christians are walking around in a fog. It is sad but true. They say that doctrine is not important. They say that church name is not important. They say that we are all going to the same place when we die. Denomination don’t mean anything when it teaches the truth of the word of God but does mean something when that truth is not being taught. There are some denominations that are not even trying to teach the truth of the word of God. They are causing people to walk around in a fog and believe that they are Christians.

We need to be ones who daily search the Scriptures to see what is so. Those who are in a teaching or preaching positions are responsible to teach people the truth of the Word, so that, they understand their responsibility and understand the plan God has for this world and their life.

Jesus gives the formula: First the people have to see. Then the people have to hear. And finally they will be converted. If any of these steps are missed there will not be a Christian. There will be people who are wandering around in the dark.

We have a responsibility to spread the Word so that people perceive the truth of the Word of God and understand which will cause them to be followers of the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Do we really understand the TRUTHS of the Word of God? If not, STUDY!

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: 40 And HE said to them, Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith. (1169 “fearful” [deilos] means timid, cowardly, ignobly lacking courage, miserable, one who always runs, one who runs away at nothing, afraid, or faithless)

DEVOTION: Jesus had no problem confronting people. HE would confront the religious leaders on their teachings. HE would confront people who wanted to be healed. HE would even confront HIS disciples.

Here is an occasion when HE confronted the disciples concerning their fear. They were in the middle of the sea when a storm came up and they were afraid with Jesus sleeping in the boat.

Remember that the many of the disciples were fishermen and used to being at sea all hours of the day. They had been through many storms but this one scared them. They went and woke up Jesus.

Jesus got up off HIS pillow and spoke to the storm. HE simply said “Peace, be still.” Three words stopped the storm. The sea became calm. The disciples were amazed that HE had control over the weather. They didn’t really understand who HE was. They knew HE was a great teacher. They knew HE could heal those who were sick but to control the weather was beyond their ability to think.

Jesus confronted them by asking them two questions. HE wanted to help them think through what was going on. HE wanted them to understand who HE was. HE wanted them to realize that they had God in the boat with them and nothing was going to happen that HE didn’t allow.

Secondly, HE wanted them to realize that when they faced future storm it took faith to believe that the LORD would protect them. They were going to face future storms after HE ascended into heaven and they needed to be prepared to pray and ask HIM for deliverance from all the trials HE allowed in their life.

We have to do the same today.

CHALLENGE: When storms come into our life, do we have enough faith to realize that the LORD is by our side to help us through them all? If not, we need to develop it through our understanding of who we are serving.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

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)

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Word verse 14- 20

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Kingdom of God verse 11, 26, 30

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Teacher verse 1, 2

Parables verse 2, 33, 34

HIS doctrine verse 2

Parable of the sower verse 3- 25

Stony ground – no root

Fell among thorns – unfruitful

Good ground – good fruit

Disciples were to know the mystery of the

Kingdom of God verse 11, 34

Parable of harvest verse 26- 29

Parable of mustard seed verse 30- 34

Expounded all things to disciples verse 34

Asleep during storm verse 38

Master verse 38

Nature obeys Jesus verse 39- 41

Rebuked the wind

Spoke to the sea – great calm

Asked disciples:

“Why are you so fearful verse 40

How is it that you have no faith? verse 40

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 verse 11, 26, 30

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world

Good and Evil) Satan – takes away the Word

that was sown in their hearts verse 15

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Multitude verse 36

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Not perceive verse 12

Not understand verse 12

Sins verse 12

Cares of this world verse 19

Deceitfulness of riches verse 19

Lust of other things verse 19

Unfruitful word verse 19

Fearful verse 40, 41

No faith verse 40

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Teach verse 1

Doctrine verse 2

Fruit verse 8, 20

Hear verse 9, 20, 23, 33

Know the mystery verse 11

Perceive teaching of Jesus verse 12

Understand teachings of Jesus verse 12

Converted verse 12

Forgiven verse 12

Receive the word verse 20

Expound the Word verse 34

Faith verse 40

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Church (New Testament people of God)

Twelve = disciples verse 10, 34, 40 41

Feared exceedingly

Asked themselves:

What manner of man is this,

that even the wind and

the sea obey HIM?

Last Things (Future Events)

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DONATIONS:

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QUOTES regarding passage

Perhaps the best way to understand v. 12 is as an authentic saying that simply teaches that one reason Jesus taught in parables was to conceal the truth to “outsiders” (which I take to mean “persistent unbelievers”). Even a cursory reading of the Gospels reveals that Jesus’ parables were not always clear. The disciples themselves had difficulty understanding (cf. Mark 7:17). So Jesus taught in parables (at least on some occasions) so that his enemies might not be able to comprehend the full significance of his words and bring false accusations or charges against him. He knew that in some cases understanding would result in more sin and not in accepting the truth. Furthermore, it is not foreign to the teaching of Scripture that God in his wisdom hardens some (again, I understand these to be “persistent unbelievers”) in order to carry out his sovereign purposes (cf. Rom 11:25–32). Marshall strikes a good balance when he says, “By this method of teaching in parables Jesus not only invited his audiences to penetrate below the surface and find the real meaning; at the same time he allowed them the opportunity—which many of them took of turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the real point at issue” (Commentary on Luke, p. 323). For an in-depth treatment of the purpose of parables in the teaching of Jesus, cf. R. Stein, An Introduction to the Parables of Jesus (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1981), pp. 25–35. (Wessel, W. W. (1984). Mark. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 649–650). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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The basic “secret,” common to all the kingdom parables, is that in Jesus, God’s rule (kingdom) has come into human experience in a new spiritual form. The disciples had believed in Jesus. God had already given (dedotai, perf. pass.) them this “secret,” though so far they understood little of its full impact.

On the other hand those blinded by unbelief saw in Jesus nothing but a threat to their existence. They rejected Him and did not come to know the “secret” of God’s kingdom. Jesus’ parables served to conceal its truths from them.

They were like the Israelites in Isaiah’s day (Isa. 6:9–10). Isaiah said that this spiritual blindness and deafness that comes to people is God’s judgment. He particularly referred to Israel as a nation (cf. Mark 6:9, “this people”) for rejecting God’s revelation, especially as expressed in Jesus. They would see or hear the imagery of a parable but they would not understand its spiritual meaning. Otherwise (mēpote, “lest perhaps”) they might turn to God (repent) and be forgiven by Him.

Jesus’ audiences were not denied the opportunity to believe in Him. But after they persistently closed their minds to His message (cf. 1:15), they were excluded from further understanding of it by His use of parables. Yet even the parables, which veiled the truth, were meant to provoke thought, enlighten, and ultimately reveal it (cf. 12:12). They uniquely preserved people’s freedom to believe, while demonstrating that such a decision is effected by God’s enabling (cf. 4:11a). (Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 119). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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It was in the quiet of the evening in all probability, after the day’s activities were ended, that the disciples and some others, who had been pondering in their hearts the story of the sower, came to Jesus privately and asked for light on its meaning. He at once expounded it to them, assuring them that the message He had to proclaim was not to be hidden from them unto whom it was given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; although to those who were content to remain in ignorance He would teach in parables without explaining their meaning, in order that they might go on in their self-chosen path of blindness and indifference to spiritual verities. If they had no desire for instruction they were to be left in ignorance. This was the righteous judgment of God upon those who refuse to turn to Him and so find forgiveness of sins.

By the expression, “The mysteries of the kingdom of God,” we are to understand the secrets concerning the coming days when the rejected King would return to heaven, but as the principles of His kingdom were diffused through the world there would be developed in the earth a system where Christ would be recognized as the rightful King, and His Word acknowledged as the rule of the kingdom. This is the sphere of profession commonly called Christendom, which means, literally, Christ’s kingdom. In it are found those who are real and unreal, who profess subjection to His authority, whether truly born of God or not.

He explains the parable by saying that the seed referred to is the Word—the truth He came to proclaim. The wayside hearers are those who are utterly without exercise as to spiritual things. They hear the Word with the outward ear but are so under the control of Satan that he takes away all consideration for the seed sown in their hearts. The stony ground hearers seem at first to give evidence of real conviction but, like Bunyan’s Mr. Pliable, they are easily persuaded to make a Christian profession and just as easily turned from it when difficulties arise. They are stumbled because they have no root in themselves.

The thorny ground hearers apparently receive the Word even with joy, but the quest for wealth and the desire for worldly advantage choke the Word so that it becomes unfruitful.

The good ground hearers are such as not only hear the Word but also receive it in faith in their hearts; and these bring forth fruit unto God, thus manifesting the reality of their confession. It is true that all do not produce to the same degree; but all bear fruit to some extent: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

In considering the work of preaching the gospel we must take into account God’s blessed purpose of grace and the condition of the hearts of men to whom the message comes. To some it is a matter of no moment. They are indifferent to it from the first and never become concerned. Some are interested for a time. Their emotions are stirred, but there is no depth of exercise. Others, again, have a measure of concern, but they are men of double mind. They would like to make the best of both worlds, and so they never give eternal things their proper place. Others, prepared by the Spirit’s convicting work, are eager to know the way of life, and so receive with “meekness the engrafted Word” (James 1:21) and bring forth fruit unto God.

Following this explanation the Lord gives further instruction stressing the necessity and importance of reality. (Ironside, H. A. (1948). Expository notes on the Gospel of Mark. (pp. 65–67). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)

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Ver. 14. Then the Pharisees went out, &c.] Of the synagogue, being, as Luke says, filled with madness, at the unanswerableness of his arguments; and because of the violation of the sabbath, as they thought; and most of all, because of the miracle wrought by him; and which was so glaringly a proof of his being Lord of the sabbath, and could not fail of creating him esteem among the people: and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. Mark says, the council was held by them with the Herodians; of whom, see the note on Matt. 22:16. who, though they differed from them both in religion and politics, yet might be thought very proper persons to advise with about this matter; and especially, as they might have a greater interest at court, than they had. Nor did they scruple to enter into such a consultation, though on the sabbath-day, and about the taking away of the life of an innocent person; which shews what seared consciences, and hard hearts they had, and how full of hypocrisy they were. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 129). London: Mathews and Leigh)

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4:12 hear but not understand. Since Isa. 6:9–10 describes the hard-heartedness of Israel, its citation here emphasizes the fact that Jesus speaks the parables to outsiders as a form of prophetic warning. Jesus warns of the serious consequences for all, both Gentiles and Jews, who do not open their hearts to him. And yet, there is still room for repentance (see note on Mark 4:33). (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1900). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)

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12.] We must keep the ἵνα strictly to its telic meaning—in order that. When God transacts a matter, it is idle to say that the result is not the purpose. He doeth all things after the counsel of His own will. Matt., as usual, quotes a prophecy; Mark hardly ever—except at the beginning of his Gospel; Luke, very seldom.

ἀφ. αὐτ. = ἰάσομαι αὐτούς Matt., it should be forgiven them; i.e. ‘forgiveness should be extended to them:’ no need to supply any thing, as the gloss of the rec. does: the expression is impersonal. (Alford, H. (1976). Alford’s Greek Testament: an exegetical and critical commentary (Vol. 1, p. 333). Grand Rapids, MI: Guardian Press.)

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Each of the three fruitless hearts is influenced by a different enemy: the hard heat – the devil himself snatches the seed; the shallow heart – the flesh counterfeits religious feelings; the crowded heat – the things of the world smother the growth and prevent a harvest. These are the three great enemies of the Christian: the world, the flesh and the devil (Eph. 2: 1-3)

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FROM MY READING:

Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe

When Moses sent the spies into the land of Canaan, ten of the spies gave an accurate description of the land but left God out of the picture? Two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, saw the land from God’s point of view and encouraged the people to enter the land and claim their inheritance. The ten unbelieving spies died, and during the next thirty-eight years of Israel’s wandering, every Israelite who had been twenty years of age and older died in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua. Unbelief is a dangerous sin (Num. 13-14). (p. 134)

Malachi 3: 16-18 clearly describes the remnant as a small group that fears the Lord, fellowships together, prays together, meditates on spiritual matters, ministers to one another, and exercises spiritual discernment as they bear witness to the lost. (p. 135)

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The Radical Pursuit of REST by John Koessler

Rest refreshes; sloth drains our vitality and depletes energy. (p. 65)

Sloth may not turn us into atheists in the technical sense, but it does make practical atheists of us. Even when we continue to believe in God’s existence and power, we lose confidence in his willingness to act on our behalf. This means sloth is more a failure of faith than the onset of laziness. We have no taste for the challenge before us because we have lost sight of God’s goodness. (p. 68)

The ancients called sloth “the noonday demon” that makes the day drag and disquiets the soul. Sloth thrives in an atmosphere of boredom. (p. 69)

One reason we so easily yield to sloth during prayer is that we do not feel a sense of God’s presence. In reality it is we who are absent. Another reason is that we think the world cannot get along without us. We are uncomfortable during prayer. We do not feel

like we are very good at it. While we struggle, precious time seems to be slipping away, along with the opportunities it provides to accomplish our goals. (p. 71)

True visionary leadership is a function of time, discipline and attending to the ordinary as much as it is a function of a leader’s big idea. Time and discipline in particular are required because “correct discipline cannot be hurried, for it is both the knowledge of what ought to be done, and the willingness to do it – all of it, properly. (p. 73)

If pastors dream of elegant ministry structures, congregations fantasize about omnicompetent pastors. (p. 74)

Some are looking for a Moses to lead them out of the current wilderness and bring them inot the land of promise. This is a land that looks suspiciously like the church as it was twenty, thirty or even fifty years ago. Or else their promised land looks curiously like the “successful” church across town. (p. 74)

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Family Worship by Donald S. Whitney

Even unbelieving men often sense the need for the family to spend more time together but are unsure of how to make it happen. (p. 53)

In that case, the mother should institute and lead family worship herself, being careful that neither the way nor spirit with which she conducts family worship causes unnecessary offense or turns the children against their father. (p. 53)

If we could put his or her infant thoughts into adult language, they might be something like this: I don’t know what it is we do here every night – Dad reads things I don’t understand from a big book, then everyone closes their eyes and talks, and after that everyone sings (I like that part) – but whatever it is, it must be important, because we do it every night. (p. 54-55)

We need to accept the fact that in this sinful world, challenges to family worship arise regularly in every home. The blessing of family worship are too dangerous for Satan to let pass unopposed. Nevertheless, we must stand on this bedrock truth: God deserve to be worshiped daily in our homes by our families. And for that reason, start today. (p. 57)

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TOZERSPEAKS (volume two) by A. W. Tozer

I know that I talk a lot about God – about the triune God, because I still believe in God. I believe in Him as God Almighty, the Father, and Jesus Christ, His Son, and our Lord, and the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. (p. 541)

So it is with everything – wisdom, being, power, holiness and every quality God bestows upon men. God is constantly giving of Himself to us, because God is life! (p. 542)

Wherever there is bloodguiltiness anywhere in the world you may be sure that society is in trouble. (p. 543)

Bloodguiltiness lays a great and ruinous burden upon human society, for the voice of blood is the voice of life and the voice of shed blood is the voice of violated life. (p. 544)

I have little fear that any nation or combination of nations could bring down the United States and Canada by military action from without. But this I do fear – we sin and sin and do nothing about it. There is so little sense of the need of repentance – so little burden for the will of God to be wrought in our national life. I fear that the voice of blood will become so eloquent that God Almighty will have no choice but to speak the word that will bring us down. (p. 544)

This is the theology that tell me that Christ and I are united, so that when He died I died, and when He arose I arose! This is the doctrine of spiritual victory and there is no other way that consistent victory can be found. (p. 548)

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2 Corinthians 9
Christians should give generously as God has prospered them.
INSIGHT

God asks for your money, not for His sake, but for yours. What God wants is your heart, and one measure of how much of your heart He has is how willing you are to give your money back to Him. Two of God’s reasons for asking Christians to give to other Christians are to foster mutual unity and concern among believers, and to show the love of God to the unsaved. Remember, it is not the amount but the willingness that counts. Give as God has prospered you. (Quiet Walk)

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NOT ASHAMED

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:28
John has been teaching, in effect, “Beloved people, don’t believe the lie. It not only robs you of doctrine, it robs you of life; it is that which robs you of God’s greatest gift that has been made possible by the incarnation of His Son. If the eternal son had not come from God and been made flesh, if there is no union between human nature and the Son of God, how can we have a new nature?”
In 1 John 2:28 John emphasizes one final thing: “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” “Don’t believe that lie,” says John in effect, “because if you do, you will find yourself face to face with it as a fact. These people have denied the truth,” says John; “don’t believe in a kind of phantom body and that the eternal God came upon a man and then left him. It is unreal,” says John, “don’t believe it. The day is coming when you will face the fact—the God-Man is coming into this world. He will come again, and then you will see Him; and if you believe that lie, you will be ashamed when you see Him.”
Writing in the Apocalypse, John says, “Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him” (Revelation 1:7). And when they see Him they will cry out “to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us . . . from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16). That is a fact; this is not fancy. The God-Man will come again, and if you want to rejoice in that day, if you want to have confidence when you look at Him, and if you want to say, “Even so come, Lord Jesus,” then avoid this lie, beware of these liars who deny that Jesus is the Christ.
A Thought to Ponder: The God-Man will come again, and if you want to rejoice in that day, beware of these liars.

(From Walking with God, p. 140, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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The Power to Edify
“Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” (2 Corinthians 13:10)
The Greek word oikodomos (translated as “edification”) pictures the building of a house. We still use the word edifice to describe a structure of some importance. Paul specifically said he had the “power” to edify and later called himself a “wise masterbuilder,” an architekton, who laid the foundation on which we would later build (1 Corinthians 3:10).
When Jesus used oikodomos to depict those who might build their house on a rock (His Word) or the sand (the ideas of men), He was painting a picture of how we should edify each other (Luke 6:48-49). The various gifts of leadership are to be used to “perfect” the saints in the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12), using the living “stones” that will build the “spiritual house” of God (1 Peter 2:5).
And like any good builder, the Christian carpenter has tools of the trade to assist the process. There are “things which make for peace” that must be employed (Romans 14:19). Most certainly “charity” is a major tool (1 Corinthians 8:1), along with good communication that does not “corrupt” the building work (Ephesians 4:29).
Since “all things” are to be done so that the church is edified (1 Corinthians 14:26), it surely follows that “fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions” are not helpful (1 Timothy 1:4). Effective communication demands that those with whom we are speaking understand what is said, hence a mysterious “tongue” does not publicly edify like prophecy does (1 Corinthians 14:2-4).
An “edified” church walks “in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:31). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke pledged Thursday night to end the tax-exempt status of churches and religious organizations that oppose same-sex marriage if he’s elected, saying it’s a necessary step to promote human rights. O’Rourke, a former U.S. representative from Texas, made the comments during CNN’s town hall on LGBT issues. Eight other candidates participated, although only O’Rourke and Sen. Cory Booker were the only ones asked the tax-exempt question.

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DAILY HOPE

Today’s Scripture

Exodus 22-24

When God speaks it is wise to listen! The people of Israel had found this to be true as they have journeyed from Egypt to Mount Sinai. Throughout the journey, the Lord had been directing them and leading their way with a cloud and a pillar of fire.

In Exodus 19:3, God spoke to Moses and commands him to come up on the mountain to behold His presence. Mount Sinai became a pulpit of sorts for God to command and give ordinances to the people of Israel that they might live righteously before Him.

In the chapters of Exodus 19-23, God graciously presented to the people a set of standards or laws that they were to observe among the tribes of Israel. Each of these laws were instructions on how to live and conduct their lives.

Before the leaders began the ascent in Exodus 24:1, Moses presented the covenant of the Lord to the people of Israel. With one voice the people stated, “All the words which the Lord has said we will do” (24:3). After completing the sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood upon the people, Moses and the leaders climbed the mountain (24:9), where they could see God and dine with Him. Moses then is separated further and spends an additional forty days and nights with God on the mountain.

It is a critical moment when man makes a covenant with God as the Israelites did.

Although we may not see the mountain quake or the fire descend as Moses and the people of Israel did, God has not changed. The people of Israel needed to do more than just listen to God. They had made a covenant with God to obey His commandments. May we have an ear to hear and a will to accomplish that which we covenant before Our Savior (Revelation 1:3).

Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller

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We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.

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Not sure why this didn’t come yesterday. Hope it comes today.