These Things Defile A Person

Almost everyone has ears, but Jesus knew that not everyone listens or understands.  In fact, in many cases, the people were not even trying to understand.  They were there for the show, for healing and deliverance, fish and bread, but not to learn the lessons that could set them free. I’ve been to church services where the people shouted from start to finish, and a good time was had by all, but when I asked them afterward what the message was about, they had no idea.  I’ve heard people say, “I don’t know what he said, but I sure liked the way he said it!”

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Multicultural Sunday: From Tribe to Kingdom

MULTICULTURAL SUNDAY: FROM TRIBE TO KINGDOM By Mark E. Hardgrove, PhD Revelation 5:8-10 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new...

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Cancelling the Critics

Mark is warning believers to remember that God’s Word is God’s Word, and nothing that deviates from or violates the Word of God is from God.  To put the commandments of men, the teaching of infidels, or policies of political parties ahead of God’s Word exposes people for what they really are.  They can claim to be devout Christians, but Jesus said they are hypocrites.

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The Fire Beneath the Flesh

Frankly, there are still people who run to Jesus but do not know or care who He really is.  For some, He is a symbol of peace and love, but not the Son of God.  For others, He is the One they believe will provide health and wealth and make all their dreams come true.  Some recognize Him as a historical figure, but they don’t know who He is.

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How You Like Me Now?

We cannot surrender to the culture and allow the currents of moral decline drive us away from our God ordained destination. Instead, we must “fight the good fight of faith [and] lay hold on eternal life “(1Ti 6:12). Don’t stop pressing, don’t stop pushing, don’t stop rowing in the right direction because deep in the midnight hour, God’s gonna turn it around. You are not alone. God sees you and He will come swiftly to your rescue.

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First Things First

Jesus said they were like sheep without a shepherd, and then Mark records, “So He began to teach them many things” This brings us back to the topics of priorities, goals, and training.  Jesus saw the spiritual need of the people and moved with compassion He began to teach them.  They were walking in spiritual darkness and His teaching was the light that could lead them out of darkness and into a new life of significance and purpose.  They were wandering around without spiritual direction or focus, so based upon His priorities and goals, before doing anything else, Jesus taught them.

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Courage and Cowardice

In the text we see a stark contrast between two men—one was courageous and the other a coward. One stood up for what was right, but the other capitulated to his guilt and fear of public opinion and did something terribly wrong. One thing we know for sure is that it takes courage to be Christian in a world that increasingly embraces all manner of evil. It is a world wrestling with its guilt by blaming others and pointing fingers rather than looking in the mirror and accepting personal responsibility for the choices they’ve made or the consequences of those choices.

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Empowered to Proclaim

In the text, we read that the Twelve men Jesus recruited back in chapter 3 verse 14, He empowered to go out into towns and villages as His ambassadors.  An ambassador has conferred authority and power from the person he or she represents.  Jesus called the Twelve, He trained them, taught them, and then He sent them out with the spiritual authority and power to do what they were asked to do.

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Faithless Familiarity

Mark recorded that Jesus “could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them” (v. 5).  Why so few?  It is probably because only a few were willing to come to Jesus.  The people could not set aside what they thought they knew about Jesus to believe that He could actually minister to them.

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Do Not Fear; Only Believe

In short, when Jesus told Jairus “Do not fear; only believe,” Jesus was saying a mouthful: Don’t despair, only believe.  Don’t give up, only believe.  Don’t quit, don’t stop, don’t worry, don’t throw in the towel … ONLY BELIEVE because Jesus is on the way with authority over death, hell, and the grave!  Only believe, because all things are possible in the name of Jesus!

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