THOUGHTS- MARK Saturday, May 29 2010

Thoughts on Mark gospel

By Prithvi / prithvionnet@gmail.com / www.prithvionnet.wordpress.com   

Mark 1               

At the baptism service of Jesus in river Jordan , three persons of trinity were visible. Jesus in the water, Holy Spirit descending down and the voice of the father. Trinity is the essence of God and not man made theology.

Immediately after the glorious experience at the baptism service, Jesus was led to be tempted in wilderness. Time of godly fellowship, fasting and prayer and outstanding ministerial experience does not guarantee temptation free life. Even though we can pray to lead us not into temptation, we ought to be prepared to face and overcome all type of temptations.

Jesus set an example in prayer life. Despite busy and tight schedules, Jesus maintained the discipline to be alone with God in prayer. The preachers who gain mighty results for God are the men who have prevailed in their pleadings with God. The preachers who are the mightiest in their closets with God are the mightiest in their pulpits with men. (E.M.Bounds)   

Mark 2

Jesus after seeing the faith and efforts of those carrying the paralytic in unusual way, He appreciated them and answered their request. They did not wait for the crowd to dispose to bring the needy to Jesus. When we see those in need we have to make every effort to bring them to Jesus without delay (for the saving of their souls and the healing of their body). God will honour our faith and will reward publicly.

Pharisees separated themselves from the tax collectors and publicans. Jesus mingled with them. His holiness and purity did not stop Him to associate with sinners. He has condemned the sins not the sinners. We also have to be compassionate and merciful upon those whose are condemned and considered less privileged.   

Mark 3

God created Sabbath for our own good to rest from the routine work and to be restored physically and spiritually. When we apply a law to other people we must ensure that we do not make harmful or inappropriate judgments.

Anger is a emotion created by God. Jesus was angry because of the uncaring attitudes of Pharisees. Anger by itself is not sin. The intentions behind anger and its consequences would decide if the anger is sinful. Our anger has to be for constructive purpose and should not cause any negative impact.

Evil spirits confessed that Lord Jesus Christ as the son of God, but His family members remarked that Jesus is out of mind, while the teachers of the law stated that Jesus is possessed by Beelzebul. Deliberate ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy spirit is blasphemy and the person who commits it guilty of eternal sin.   

Mark 4

Jesus taught many things through parables. One of such parable is the parable of  sower. Through the parable of sower, He outlined the reasons for our unfruitfulness. The same seed (Word of God) is sown in to all the hearts but we differ in bearing fruits and in most cases we could not bear fruit because of the following reasons - Not understanding the word of God – Due to the lack of spiritual discipline/strength to withstand persecution/suffering – Worldly worries, Deceitfulness of riches and the lust for worldly pleasures. God expects us to hear the word of God, make it grow in us and to spread out to others like a mustard seed.   

Mark 5               

The demon possessed man surprisingly found a new life and new hope after meeting Jesus. Jesus healed him from Legion of demons attack. The intervention of Jesus in our lives would bring new rays of hope and happiness. The delivered person clanged to Jesus and wanted to be with Him, but He sent him to his own community to witness what God has done to Him. He obeyed and the result is Decopolis (10 cities) came to light. Each one of us is unique in His sight. Let us resolve to be willing and obedient to do what God wants us to do in His way in His time. 

Jarius loved his daughter very much. The news about her death brought him grief and depression. In the hopeless situation, Jesus asked Him not to be afraid but to believe in God. He did obey and trusted the words of Jesus and he could see the miracle of God. It is impossible to please God without faith.   

Mark 6

Despite Jesus doing mighty and miraculous works, he selected 12 disciples and delegated works to them. He did not depend on the individual work but on the team work. The significance of team work in the kingdom of God cannot be understated and is acknowledged by Jesus by sending two-by-two for ministry and by delegating various responsibilities. Team work would strengthen, encourage and edify each other in times of trouble and difficulties.

On seeing the multitudes, he had compassion and taught them many things related to their spiritual life. When they are tired and hungry, He wanted to feed them and entrusted the responsibility of feeding the 5000 plus to His team. Disciples reacted to that as an impossible task. When faced with impossible tasks, we can to do our best and leave the rest to God. He can make the impossible possible.   

Mark 7

After observing pharisees and the teachers of the law (religious leaders) who stressed the traditions of the elders  and their life styles, Lord Jesus Christ commented that they set aside the commands of God in order to observe their tradition. 

Lord Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of purity in our thought life. Evil and sinful actions stem from Sinful and evil hearts. Allowing our thoughts to dwell in lust, envy, hatred or revenge will lead us astray and make us useless. Traditions in our religion are good but should be a substitute for the command of God and holy life.  

Mark 8

After teaching and preaching for long hours, Jesus understood the tiredness in the delegates and asked His disciples to feed them. Jesus was not only concerned about the spiritual aspect of our life but also about our physical needs. When we fear and obey Him, He will guide us and meet our needs in time. Jesus is more interested to know “What do you say who Jesus is?” rather than “What do people say who Jesus is?“. Is Lord Jesus Christ acknowledged as the Lord, Christ and Savior in our life?

Christian Life is always about making the right choices. Is our World Centric or Christ Centric? What good is for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit His soul? What can a man give in exchange for his soul?    

Mark 9

Prayer is the key that unlocks faith in us. Effective prayer needs both complete dependence in God and asking. Prayer shows our reliance on God. There is no substitute for prayer.

Victory over sin and temptations comes through faith in Jesus Christ while we put our best efforts. Jesus told to cut off hands, pluck out eyes, cut off foot etc., if these cause us to sin. He used this startling language to stress the importance of eliminating sin out of our lives. Painful discipline is required. Giving up a relationship, job or habit that is against God’s will seem painful but we have to give up to save our lives.

Jesus asked His disciples to be like salt. Like salt we should make difference in the flavor of the world we live in just as salt changes meats’ flavor. We should counteract the moral decay in society just as salt preserves food from decay  

Mark 10

While replying to the queries of Pharisees regarding Divorce, Jesus clarified and stressed on the commitment, one has to have in marriage. Marriage is an institution ordained by God. Marriage is not an act of convenience. It is covenant (cannot be broken) not contract. Women were often treated as subjects. Marriage and divorce are considered as transactions similar to buying and selling land. Jesus condemned this attitude and clarified that God’s original intention in marriage is oneness and not separation.

James and John came to Jesus with an uncommon prayer request (to grant them sit on both sides of Jesus as a mark of popularity and greatness) Jesus denied their request and made them understand that true greatness comes from serving others. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.  

Mark 11

Jesus saw the fig tree filled with leaves and with no buds. The tree was expected to have the buds during that season. The tree looked promising from outside but no signs for fruit inside. It may happen in our lives as well. We may be looking good outside through our busy schedules and all activities but would have failed to live up to the expectations of God. We need to maximize our efforts to build up the godly characters in us.

Next day, when the disciples saw the tree dried up, they have learnt the power in the words of Jesus. Words of Jesus are powerful enough to do miracles in any situation. Jesus reminded that the prayers offered in faith with forgiven heart (also stressed forgiving others as condition to receive forgiveness from God) will bring unusual answers.   

Mark 12

Jesus referred to Himself as the corner stone. The corner stone was used to make sure the other stones of the building were straight and level. Like wise, the life and teaching of Jesus Christ should be the foundation of our life and ministry.

By Jesus’ time the Jews had accumulated hundreds of laws – 613 by a historian’s account. Some are minor and some are major laws. Jesus summarized these laws in to two - Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with your entire mind and with all your strength; Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Let these two laws of Jesus rule our thoughts, decisions and actions.   

Mark 13

Every true Christian hopes and looks forward for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. To a question from His disciples about the signs of His second coming, Jesus replied them with few signs and precautionary notes. He advised his followers to be alert about the possible deception to the elects by the false prophets and teachers through convincing signs and wonders. He also exhorted them to be watchful and to be obedient to the written word of God. We are reminded to live a holy and right living in the world where the God is largely ignored.   

Mark 14

The woman in Bethany at Simon’s house broke the alabaster jar (cost is about one year wages of a person that time) and anointed Jesus Christ. To an outsider (even to some disciples) it seemed like wasting money. But Jesus acknowledged her sacrifice. The essence of worshiping Christ is to regard Him with utmost love, respect, devotion and be willing to sacrifice the most precious things for Jesus Christ.

We have in us an ongoing battle between the desires of flesh and the willingness of the Spirit. To overcome the weakness of the flesh, which pulls us away from God, Our Lord Jesus Christ prescribed the constant and consistent prayer as the solution.

Peter and Judas, both denied their Lord and leader at the last minute. Jesus forgave both of them. Both of them felt bad for their faults. But Peter bounced back while Judas committed suicide. The way we react to the messages and mercies of God has a long lasting impact in our lives and others.   

Mark 15

During the trial, Pilate asked Jesus many questions. Jesus did not answer to most of the queries. At times, when faced with difficulties, the best way to defend/respond is by maintaining silence. Jesus died like a slave, criminal and cursed. Disciples deserted Him and none came to help Him. The religious leaders wrote Him off. But today, more than 1/3 of the world confesses the Son ship/Lordship of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus died, many events happened in this world. One of the significant incident was that the curtain (separating the holy and most holy place) in the temple of God was torn into two, symbolizing the removal of mediation between the God and mankind. Everyone have free access to God by the death of Christ. How sad it is to notice that many Christians are still looking for mediums/mediators to approach the living God?  

Mark 16

As foretold and fore written, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. The disciples did not believe the news about His resurrection when the women (who met risen Jesus in the tomb) and two disciples (who met Jesus on their way back to home) told them. But they believed when Jesus appeared to them. Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief. The belief that we confess should have its root in the heart and its fruit in the life.

Jesus asked his disciples to go into the entire world and preach the good news. The disciples went out and preached every where and the Lord worked with them. What is my/your role in the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ?

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Be Filled With the Holy Spirit Friday, May 28 2010

Be Filled With the Holy Spirit ( By F.B. Meyer)

 We cannot expect to have the Holy Spirit’s fullness in our lives if we are quite content to live without it. Our Father is not likely to entrust this priceless gift to those who are indifferent to its possession. We must, therefore, stir up the gift that is within us by a quiet consideration of all that is meant by becoming Spirit-filled. No book will move us in this direction more than the Acts of the Apostles. Cowards became brave. Those who had stumbled at the simplest truths suddenly awoke to understand the Master’s plan. Many whose hearts had heaved with rivalry, suspicion and desire for earthly power now sought to excel in humble ministry to the saints. Christ’s murderers became His worshipers and friends. Councils of clever men were not able to withstand the simple eloquence of indisputable facts. Countries were shaken and yielded thousands of converts to the unlearned but passionate preachers of the cross. As we contrast their triumphant success to our halting progress, shall not we be filled with uncontrollable longing that God should work similar results through us? Rivers of water should flow from us. We should never need to be anxious about our words, because they will be given to us. We will be taught all things and led into the whole circle of truth. We will know Christ and be changed into His image. If we seek the Holy Spirit merely for our own happiness or comfort or liberty of soul, it will be very unlikely that He will be given. His one passion is the glory of the Lord Jesus, and He can only abide with those who are willing to be at one with Him in this. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3, KJV). But if you are motivated simply by the desire that the Lord Jesus may be magnified in you, whether by life or death; if you long above all that men should turn away from you to Him, then rejoice, because you are near blessing beyond words. If your motives fall below this standard, trust Him to enlighten and purify them. Offer Him free entrance to your heart. It will not then be long before there will be a gracious response. We must not be content to have the Spirit without the Word or the Word without the Spirit. Our lives must travel along these two, as the locomotive travels along parallel rails. It is only by our devout contact with the Bible that we shall be able to detect the Holy Spirit’s voice. It is by the Word that the Spirit will enter our hearts, as the heat of the sun passes into our homes when its beams of light enter the open windows. We need a widespread revival of Bible study. These mines of Scripture, lying beneath the surface, call loudly for investigation and discovery. Those who shall obey the appeal shall be soon aware that they have received the filling that they seek. There is no better way of communing with God than to walk to and fro in your room or in the open air with your Bible in hand, meditating on it and turning its precepts and promises into prayer. The Holy Ghost is in us, and by this means Christ is in us, for He dwells in us by the Spirit, as the sun dwells in the world through its rays of light. But we must perpetually yield to Him, as water yields to the vessel that holds it. This is not easy. It can only be accomplished by incessant self-examination and putting to death our self-life [that is, making self, rather than Christ, the focus of our life]. We have chosen Jesus as our substitute, but have we also chosen Him by the Holy Spirit as our life? Can we say, like the Apostle: “Not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20, KJV)? If so, we must be prepared for all that it involves. We must be willing for the principle of the new life to grow at the expense of the self-life. We must allow the One to increase, while the other decreases. We must be ever on the alert, hastening the processes of judgment, condemnation and crucifixion of our fleshly desires. We must keep true in our allegiance to the least request of the Holy Spirit, though it cost us tears of blood. There is nothing trivial in this life. A look, a word, a refusal, may be enough to grieve Him in ourselves and to quench Him in others. Do not shrink back afraid of what He may demand. He is the Spirit of love, and He loves us too well to cause grief unless there is a reason. And we would approve, if we knew as much as He does. Receive Him by Faith “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him” (Colossians 2:6, KJV). Just as you once obtained forgiveness and salvation by faith, so now claim and receive the Holy Spirit’s fullness. Wait quietly but definitely before God in prayer, for He gives His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Then reverently appropriate this glorious gift, rise from your knees and go on your way, believing that God has kept His word. There may not be the sound of rushing wind or the tangible feeling of His presence. Do not look for these any more than the young convert should look to his feeling as an evidence of God’s acceptance. But believe—in spite of how you feel—that you are filled. The feeling will sooner or later break in upon your consciousness, and you will rejoice with exceeding great joy; and all the fruits of the Spirit will begin to show themselves in your life.

(Author and pastor F.B. Meyer was born in London in 1847. He was a contemporary and friend of D.L. Moody, and was known as a crusader against immorality who preached against drunkenness and prostitution. He is said to have brought about the closing of hundreds of saloons and brothel)

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The justice of God Tuesday, May 25 2010

The justice of God  (by Dr. Billy Graham)
Modern man does not like to think of God in terms of wrath, anger and judgment. He likes to make God according to his own ideas and give God the characteristics he wants Him to possess. Man tries to remake God to conform to his own wishful thinking, so that he can make himself comfortable in his sins.
This modern god has the attributes of love, mercy and forgiveness, but is without justice. Man doesn’t want to be judged and punished for sin. He “reconstructs” God along the lines of tolerance, all-embracing love and universal goodwill.
In this picture of God, there are no laws that demand absolute obedience and no standards to which man must adhere. For example, more than 900 clergymen and students gathered some time ago at Harvard Divinity School to ponder the so-called “new morality” and its significance for the church.
One professor of divinity said that premarital sex between engaged couples was all right, that God would “understand.” A professor at another theological school thought that no sexual relationship should be absolutely condemned by the church. Thus many church leaders continue to reconstruct God according to the secular and humanistic trends of our times.
However, this kind of god would make a preposterous world. It would be chaotic, irresponsible, self-destroying. It would be impossible to live with certainty in that kind of world. To have meaning, life must be based upon law and a lawgiver.
The Psalmist said: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:7-8).
The Bible warns that “evil men do not understand justice” (Proverbs 28:5).
Jesus Himself put His stamp of approval on the law when He said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail” (Luke 16:17). The Law of Moses and the Sermon on the Mount are standards that can never be changed. No clergyman has a right to lower them in the name of God; to do so is to be in danger of defiling the law, blaspheming God and becoming guilty of heresy.
The Bible declares that God is a God of judgment, wrath and anger. Time after time Jesus warned of judgment: “Every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).
“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42).
The apostles taught throughout the New Testament that judgment will come. The Apostle Paul said: “He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:31).
The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote, “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
They “will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead,” said Peter in 1 Peter 4:5.
The Apostle John expressed it this way: “The kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’” (Revelation 6:15-17).
Hundreds of passages point to a time of judgment for every person who has ever lived—none will escape. If you took all the references to judgment out of the Bible, you would have little Bible left.
God has offered His love and mercy and forgiveness to men. From the cross, God has said to the whole world, “I love you.” However, when that love is deliberately rejected, the only alternative is judgment.
The great judgment of sinners is recorded in Revelation 20:11-13, where the Apostle John says, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works.”
Here is the judgment toward which every person outside of Christ is headed. God has already set the date. All people, of all races and nationalities, both past and present, will be there. You may make and break appointments in this life, but this is one appointment you are going to keep.
In “that day” the books will be opened, the Bible says. Those who have not accepted Christ—whether they were rich or poor, titled or common, old or young, healthy or ill, sound of body or crippled, famous or obscure—will be revealed for all to see. What a terrifying moment for millions when the books are opened at the judgment!
This is the day that Jesus referred to in the Sermon on the Mount: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Even people who did the work of the Lord will be included. They were busy in the church. They did many wonderful works. But Jesus Himself will say, “I never knew you.” What a dreadful thing! They thought their own good works would save them. It should sober us to realize that some day Jesus Christ will be Judge. “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
When Warren Candler was a young man practicing law, he defended a man accused of murder. The young lawyer went all out in his effort to clear his client of the charge. There were some extenuating circumstances, and Candler made the most of them in his plea before the jury.
Also, the aged father and mother of the defendant were in the court, and the young lawyer moved on the sympathies and emotions of the jury by frequent references to the God-fearing parents.
In due course, the jury reached a verdict: not guilty. The young lawyer, himself a Christian, had a serious talk with his cleared client. He warned him to steer clear of evil ways and to trust God’s power to keep him straight.
Years passed. Again the man was brought into court. Again the charge was murder. Candler, the lawyer who had defended him at his first trial, was now the judge on the bench. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury rendered its verdict: guilty.
Ordering the condemned man to stand for sentencing, Judge Candler said, “At your first trial I was your lawyer. Today I am your judge. The verdict of the jury makes it mandatory for me to sentence you to be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”
Today Christ is our lawyer, pleading on our behalf. He is our Savior, willing to forgive and cleanse and forget. However, there is coming a fearful day when He will be the Judge.
Are you prepared to meet God? The Prophet Amos, in warning the people of judgment in his day, used the expression, “Prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4:12). Are you prepared to meet God at the judgment? Because, you see, we don’t have very much longer to live.
Even a full life of 70 years is just a moment in eternity. Life is passing fast for all of us. It won’t be long until we stand before God to give an account of how we have lived in this life. Are you prepared?
You ask, “What do I have to do to prepare?” The Bible says that you must repent of your sins. Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will … perish” (Luke 13:3). Second, you must receive Christ as your Lord and Savior.
And you can receive Him right now and trust Him at this moment. The Bible says you are to receive Him now— “Now is the accepted time” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t put it off. Don’t say, “I’ll think about it.” Don’t say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Do it right now. At this moment, say yes to Jesus Christ

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