Grosey's Messages

 

1 Peter 1: 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

Peter is writing to these members, the sojourners of the Diaspora of the six provinces Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. The occasion of the writing of it is very apparent. When Nero, mad, insane emperor Nero accused the Christians of burning the Imperial city of Rome in order to take away the blame and suspicion from himself, he violently persecuted, decimated, hounded the followers of our Lord, these are the ones that have burned the city and they literally took those Christians -- this is about 64 A.D., he literally took those Christians and daubed them with pitch and used them, hung them up and used them for burning torches to line the streets of the city of Rome, while he furiously drove his chariot through the streets.

It was a vicious thing that happened under Nero. Now the provinces always copied the manners and the attitudes of the imperial city; only to an extremity. They did it more so. And when the provinces saw that the Caesar and the capital city persecuted and martyred the followers of Christ, they immediately followed example; only more viciously. So the trial by fire, the testing by fire that the Christians were undergoing in Rome became even more vicious in the provinces: Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

In that terrible persecution, the Apostle Paul was beheaded and Peter was crucified with his head down. Both of these great representatives of Christ lost their lives in this trial by fire. Simon Peter, before he was martyred, and he speaks of it in the second epistle, Simon Peter knowing he was going to be martyred, he writes these letters -- two of them -- here to these in the diaspora. The disciples of Christ that are scattered abroad in what we know today as Asia Minor. He wants the bbelievers to be Survivors in their faith. Are you a Survivor?

1. The Pain of Trial

A. Trials Are Real

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials

distressing

The historian Tacitus wrote concerning the trials believers were undergoing in those years “Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered by the skins of beasts they were torn by dogs and perished, or they were nailed to crosses, or they were doomed to the flames and burned, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, which he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer, or stood aloft in a carriage. Hence even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not as it seemed for the public good but to glut one man’s cruelty that they were being destroyed.”

The word used here, grieved… tells us that a trial is something that causes us grief and sorrow.

B. Trials Are Remarkable

poikilois: manifold trials, various trials …..Varicoloured

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials

PIERASMOS.. temptation vs 6

And trials dokimos vs 7

The word for temptation in verse six and for trial in verse seven, synonymous, they are alike with this little exception. The word translated temptation is pierasmos and the word translated trial is dokimos. Pierazo, the verbal form of it is a trial, a testing that could be neutral or have either connotation. A testing and the outcome may be bad. But dokimos or the verbal form dokimazo is a testing and the outcome is going to be good.

The trials may be a tempting by Satan to do wrong. They may be a testing that God allows that is neutral. But they come. And they are varicoloured. It may be a financial reversal, or it may be a financial windfall. It may be in the form of sickness, or persecution, or marital disharmony, or accidents or tragedies of one type or another, or loneliness. The testings come in all shades and are as varied as the people they occur to. Every person has a different personality, and some testings are peculiar to our personality. They are so varied.

C. Trials Are Required

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials

The words, if need be, tell us that sometimes trials are necessary. They don’t come by accident. They come “if need be.”

As we look back over Christian history, many of the people God has used mightily have been afflicted deeply. CH Spurgeon, of whom I seem to make mention weekly, was afflicted with deep, deep periods of depression, probably severe bipolar depression. Yet God used him to win thousands upon thousands to Himself. Perhaps you need to see today that the trial that so upsets you has come as need be. God knows what He is doing. He is purposeful. He never wastes a trial. He is seeking to achieve His purpose in your life through trials. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose, For whom he foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.

When a disaster happens, I have a habit of calling it “one of those things” Its actually one of those “All” things.

D. Trials Are Restricted

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials

The time of a christian’s testing is short; you don’t have to endure it forever. The word here oligon means “a little, small , few” even though the period of testing may seem like forever for you right now, even though it may last for a lifetime, (although most trials rarely do) compared to eternity it a passing fleeting and quick.

2Corinthians 4:(16) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (17) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (18) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

E. Trials Are Refining

7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

tested… dokimos… approved… tested for improving and approving. Impurities rise to the surface, for pure gold is a heavy metal. They are then scraped off the top.

The Smelter knows it is done when he can see His face in the molten metal.

Gold is put to the fire, not to destroy it, but to purify it.

Hebrews 12:(5) And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, (6) because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." (10) Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

The gold is then approved. It is proved to be real gold.

Your faith is proved to be genuine for the way in which you go through temptation and trial.

i.e. Jimmy Bakker, in his book, signifies that the trial of adultery, the temptation he didn’t resist, proved to him he didn’t have a genuine faith and relationship with God, and so was a blessing, that led him to the Saviour.

He was a Fake without A Foundation.

Luke 6:43 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

F. Trials Are Revealing

7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

James 1:(2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

(3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4)

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking

anything. (12) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

2. The Power Of Trust

God loves faith. Faith is our believing in God and our trusting in God. When we have faith we are showing that God is good, God is trustworthy, God is dependable, God is supernatural and God is great. God loves faith so much that he gives it to us.
Illustration: When we put money in an interest bearing account we get more money. If you are fortunate enough to get 7% interest your money will double in 10 years. If you get 10% interest your money will double in 7 years. The bank just keeps giving you more and more money. It is the power of compounding.
God does something like that with faith. We believe in God and he compounds our faith. He grows it bigger and stronger and better. God loves doing this because God loves being trusted.

Faith is really valuable. It’s better than money. It’s worth more than gold or any other assets. All other assets eventually wear out and disappear but faith just keeps going and growing. It’s fabulous.
But sometimes you need to audit your account. Auditing is checking to make sure your asset is there and that it really is what it is supposed to be. The way to test faith is to see if it works when life is tough. Do we still trust God when we are disappointed, when we are sick, in pain and facing circumstances we would never choose?

Don’t worry, your faith will work! I’ve seen Christians worry that they won’t trust God and that they will cave in when life gets really difficult. My experience is that this seldom happens. Christian faith really works. Christians really believe in God and depend on God. Faith gets Christians through indescribable hardships.

1 Peter 1:7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Here’s what happens. Christians face problems. Christians trust God. Faith works. God takes care of them. It really works. We pass the test. We get a great audit report. It’s a wonderful reason to rejoice!

Unseen by our natural eyes. Like an artist picture of his personal conceptions of the picture he is to draw. So we see with eyes of faith and trust.

2. Would think this a great loss, but no, for our present time, place, it is best. John 16:7, II Cor 5:16. If Jesus was here, as we are now, in bodies of weakness our lives are now sensuous. I Peter 1:27, Luke 11:28. We are now so earthy, Acts 1:6 Before ascension, before Pentecost, disciples never got beyond an earthy Judean kingdom.

A. Trusting Produces Love

We are introduced to a spiritual love.

It is a spiritual love...sometimes adoring silence, other times irrepressible tears. Often time the Lord speaks to us in Scripture, and in our prayers, at times, acts of mercy in His Name. Witnessing and confessing and always an expression of love. Breaking an alabaster box, glorifying God in praise, in prayer, and in song.

B. Trusting Produces Joy

C. Trusting Produces Assurance

Trusting =Receiving Salvation

Like a mariner describing the ocean, some parts of the ocean surface, the currents going one way, but in the depths, the currents are going the opposite way.

It is like a pilot in his airplane, the clouds at differing levels, some moving in one direction, some moving in an opposite direction. But whatever the trial. I Peter 1:5 we're kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. I Peter 1:9 receiving the end of you faith, even the salvation of your souls.

John 10:28

i. But we cry, but Lord, if in affliction we grow faint and we cry out, shall we not then perish? No, He says, "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish."

ii. But Lord, the pain grows unbearable. Our senses begin to wander, but the Lord answers that same marvelous way, "I give unto them eternal life".

iii. But Lord, the temptations of the world and the enticements of the world are so great. But the Lord answers, " I give eternal life".

iv. But Lord, in this hour of extremity, all Hell , the devil, and his angels, finally beast, we have no power against such an onslaught. But God answers just the same...He gives us eternal life.

You remember the old song, WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ARE RAGING stand by me. When the world is tossing me, like a ship upon the sea. Thou, who loosed wind and water, stand by me. In trials and tribulation, stand by me. When the host of Hell assail and my strength begins to fail, thou who never lost a battle, stand by me.

The suffering of God's people is an everlasting stumbling block for many. That is the whole book of Job, why do the righteous suffer? The book never answers. Just the portrayal of the suffering. Job 29, 42.

The suffering of Christ. The prophets never understood, the disciples had to be taught. Luke 24:46

So the pattern for our lives.

a. We misunderstand. We suppose be a Christian now, there are no longer troubles and disappointments. But, actually we are fiercely assailed and called into sacrifice.

We come to understand, first the cross, then the crown. Remember the hymn, MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE.

Down in South American, at the big Wycliffe camp at Ruinacocha, two missionary girls from the jungle, who had won the chief Tairi to the Lord. Came to the camp to be healed, they were covered with sores. Their sacrifice was so evident, but they had won that tribe, with it's chief to Jesus. First the cross, then the crown.

Jesus, the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see, And in Thy presence rest.

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name, O Savior of mankind!

O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art! How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is, None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou, As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus be Thou our glory now, And through eternity.

O Jesus, King most wonderful Thou Conqueror renowned,
Thou sweetness most ineffable In Whom all joys are found!

When once Thou visitest the heart, Then truth begins to shine,
Then earthly vanities depart, Then kindles love divine.

O Jesus, light of all below, Thou fount of living fire,
Surpassing all the joys we know, And all we can desire.

Jesus, may all confess Thy name, Thy wondrous love adore,
And, seeking Thee, themselves inflame To seek Thee more and more.

Thee, Jesus, may our voices bless, Thee may we love alone,
And ever in our lives express The image of Thine own.

O Jesus, Thou the beauty art Of angel worlds above;
Thy Name is music to the heart, Inflaming it with love.

O most sweet Jesus, hear the sighs Which unto Thee we send;
To Thee our inmost spirit cries; To Thee our prayers ascend.

Abide with us, and let Thy light Shine, Lord, on every heart;
Dispel the darkness of our night; And joy to all impart.

Jesus, our love and joy to Thee, The virgin’s holy Son,
All might and praise and glory be, While endless ages run.

Our reward and crown, is given us, at the coming of Christ.

Only in eternity will hope be in perfect fulfillment and weeping ended. A century ago the song-writer George Matheson understood this well and expressed it in the third verse of his magnificent hymn, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go:
O joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be.

 

1Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1. God's Precept For Holiness

A. A Command That We Must Obey

B. A Demand That We Must Observe

The Problem Of Impurity

The Problem Of Idolatry

The Problem Of Immorality

2. God's Pattern For Holiness

A. God Is Holy In His Person

B. God Is Holy In His Purpose

3. God's Process For Holiness

Because Of Your Spiritual History(2), Hope (3) and Heritage

A. We Must Be Determined To Be Holy

B. We Must Be Directed To Be Holy

C. We Must Be Devoted To Be Holy

Soul Survivor Series 2

1 Peter 1:1-5 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1. THE ESSENTIAL BIRTH OF YOUR LIVING HOPE

A. THE MERCY

B. THE MEANING

C. THE MIRACLE

D. THE MUST

2. THE ETERNAL BENEFITS OF YOUR LIVING HOPE

A. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DESTROYED

B. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DEFILED

C. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DIMINISHED

D. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DEPLETED

3. THE EVERYDAY BLESSINGS OF YOUR LIVING HOPE

A. YOU ARE COVERED

B. YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT

 

 

 

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The series Australian Survivor is becoming one of the most popular series on television. It is even displacing Blue Healers for the number one show on Wednesday night TV. They are now up to day 26 and the contestants are showing weariness. They are slimming down, finding food able to sustain them being the major task of each day. What makes a person persevere under difficulty? What causes a person to keep on going? Viktor Frankl was a survivor of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. He was a Jewish psychiatrist from Vienna who concluded that the way people survived and kept their sanity was that they had hope. The people without hope committed suicide or just died.
Viktor Frankl endured years of unspeakable horror in Nazi death camps during World War 2, and partly because of his suffering, Frankl came to believe that the primary motivational force is man’s search for meaning. He said that there was a case for “Tragic Optimism.” That is, that one is and remains optimistic in spite of the “tragic triad” of pain, guilt and death that circumscribes human existence. It is saying “Yes to life in spite of everything.” That life is meaningful under even the most miserable of conditions. Frankl maintains that war time conditions in the death camps could lead a person to giveupitis; where, instead of getting up in the morning a soldier in a prison camp would just role over, lay there in the straw, urine and feces, then reach down to some hidden place and take out a cigarette. He said that then the others present knew that they had about 48 hours in which they would watch this person die. The bottom line issue was the issue of Hope. A person could live for a couple of months without food, a few days without water but only 2 days without hope. We all need hope to go on. We need hope when we lose our jobs. We need hope when our marriages break apart. We need hope when our lives seem to go nowhere. We need hope when our hearts are broken.

I saw a “Far side” comic in enjoyed. It showed a deer during hunting season with a strange birth mark of a target etched on its body. Another deer was looking at it and remarked “Bummer of a birth mark Harold.” In other words ..you got no hope boyo.

The hope that the contestants on the Survivor’s show have is that maybe they may win the $500, 000 prize money by outlasting the others. The other hope they have is that it will all be over in a couple of weeks, and they can go back to a nice warm bed, nice food and a shower.

How do you have hope when you are in the most miserable of conditions? What if there is not going to be any improvement?

Like the government geologist who had been authorized by the government to go around and conduct some seismographic tests at certain locations. He approached a farmer and said, “I need to go out into your pasture and take some readings.” The farmer looked at the government man and said, “You can’t go out in my field.” The worker got a little irate and pulled out an official government document signed by the Secretary of the Interior. He showed it to the farmer and said, “This piece of paper says I can go wherever I need to in order to conduct these tests.” The farmer said, “I don’t care what the paper says, you can’t go out in my field.” Well, the govt. employee was getting tired of this, so he just ignored the farmer and climbed over the fence. He walked out into the middle of the pasture and set up his equipment while the farmer was leaning on the fence. In a few minutes the ground began to shake and the geologist thought there was a minor earthquake—that is until he looked up and saw a huge angry bull charging across the pasture at him. The bull had his head lowered and was zeroed in on the poor geologist. The terrified guy forgot his equipment and started running toward the fence screaming to the farmer for help. The farmer hollered out to him, “Show him your papers!”

Where are you going to have hope when life comes barrelling down on you like a ton and a half of bull? How can a person have this Tragic Optimism, when truly all of life is circumscribed by pain, guilt and death? You and I need a hope that presses on beyond the conflicts of this life. We need an optimism that is not tragic, but one that is real. There is real hope that can undergird the life of a Christian! The Good News Is There is HOPE!!

1. THE ESSENTIAL BIRTH OF YOUR LIVING HOPE

A. THE MERCY

B. THE MEANING

John 1:(10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, {even} to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

C. THE MIRACLE

The reason he can talk to them about a "LIVELY HOPE", is because Jesus, who came, died, was buried and was raised to life again, made this promise in John 14:19: "…Because I live, ye shall live also."

When I ws in teacher's college at Wollongong, the Steelers were not known as powerful football team. Every week, there would be a little banner. For instance, when they were playing Cronulla, they put a big banner up that said, "Kill Cronulla." They lost. They were playing Manly Warringah. They put up a big banner that said, "Whip Warringah." They lost to Manly Warringah. They were playing Newcastle. I mean, we’re talking about Newcastle, that great football team. So the bookstore put up a banner in the window that said, "Maintain dignity against Newcastle" You know what they were saying? They’re saying, "It’s hopeless. I mean, there’s just no for us to win this game. We hope we’ll win, but we’re not real sure." We have a far better hope than that. It is based on the irrefutable fact of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

"While there's life, there's hope is an ancient Roman saying still quoted today and, like most adages, it has an element of truth but just having life gives no certainty about life.

Peter is saying, "Where there's Christ, there's hope.

On one occasion Michel Angelo turned to his fellow artists and said with frustration in his voice, " Why do you keep filling gallery after gallery with endless pictures on the one theme of Christ in weakness, Christ on the cross, and most of all, Christ hanging dead?" he asked. "Why do you concentrate on that passing episode as if it were the last word, as if the curtain dropped down there on disaster and defeat? That dreadful scene lasted only a few hours. But to the unending eternity Christ is alive; Christ rules and reigns and triumphs!"

Before His death, Jesus told the crowds that he must die, and be raised to life again, but they simply did not believe He could do such a thing.

The reason we have a "LIVELY HOPE" is because we have a "LIVING SAVIOR!" The Lord’s resurrection is proof that He is who He said He was.

(Ephesians 1:(19) and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, (20) which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, (21) far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. (Romans 8:(10) But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. (11) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

D. THE MUST John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' You must have this living Hope. It is found in Jesus. You must be born again to have hope. The Lord Jesus explained John 3:3-5 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

2. THE ETERNAL BENEFITS OF YOUR LIVING HOPE

Scottish preacher and hymn writer Horatius Bonar told about an unbeliever who said scoffingly, "It is upon an empty tomb that Christianity is founded." That critic felt he was making a damaging remark, but he was actually stating a powerful proof for Christ's claims. Christianity is what it is because of that empty tomb. As believers in Christ, we know that our faith has a solid foundation because He arose from the dead. The angelic announcement "He is not here but is risen" confirmed the fact that sin's penalty had been paid in full. As a result, salvation can be offered to all men everywhere.

Bonar also told about a certain man who wanted to destroy Christianity and replace it with a religious system of his own. When he failed to interest anyone in following him, he went to the French statesman Talleyrand for advice. Talleyrand replied, "Go and be crucified, and then raise yourself from the grave the third day."

All that He said and claimed is vindicated by His resurrection. All that Christ urged on his disciples is vindicated by His resurrection. The resurrection is God's way of saying, in language the world can understand, that Christ is all he claimed to be.

An agnostic professor once said to a little girl who believed in the Lord Jesus, "There have been many who have claimed to be Christ. How can you be sure who told the truth? Which one do you believe?" Without hesitation the youngster replied, "I believe in the One who rose from the dead!"

As a result we have the assured eternal benefits of that living hope:

We have A Lasting Inheritance.

A. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DESTROYED It's Death Proof. " incorruptible"

PACKAGED 2CO 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV)

CORDED HOS 11:4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. (NIV)

LABELLED EPH 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (NIV)

PAID FOR 1CO 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

WAITING Revelation 21:(1) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (2) I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. (4) He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (5) He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

B. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DEFILED It's Sin Proof. "undefiled"

The word amianton is used to describe a mineral that was made into a fire resistant cloth. Whenever this material got dirty, the folks back then would throw the cloth into the fire which would turn it pure white without destroying it. The romans used it to wrap the bodies of their deceased loved ones in preparation for cremation. The fire would penetrate it, burning the remains, but the cloth was not affected by the heat, keeping the ashes intact. The fire of judgement cannot affect the believer’s inheritance.

Revelation 21:(21) The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. (22) I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (23) The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (24) The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. (25) On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. (26) The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. (27) Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

C. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DIMINISHED It's Time Proof. " fadeth not away"

The Greek word here amaranton signifies that its beauty and loveliness are not affected by the passing of time. The Christians inheritance does not wither and die.. it is eternal as God Himself is eternal.

D. YOUR LIVING HOPE IS NOT DEPLETED It is Eternal. "reserved in heaven"

Peter teaches that not only is the inheritance of the Christian safe for time and eternity, but so is the believer himself kept eternally secure. The word “kept” here is a military term meaning to garrison to guard and protect. This is in the perfect tense, signifying that the work having been once begun, will be brought to completion.

Phil 1: 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

“The work which wisdom undertakes, Eternal mercy ne’er forsakes.”

“Determined to save, he watched o’er your path,

When Satan’s blind slave, you sported with death:

And can he have taught you to trust in his name,

And thus far have brought you to put you to shame?”

3. THE EVERYDAY BLESSINGS OF YOUR LIVING HOPE

A. YOU ARE COVERED

’My name from the palms of his hands

Eternity will not erase;

Impressed on his heart it remains

In marks Of indelible grace.

Yes, I to the end shall endure,

As sure as the earnest is given;

More happy, but not more secure,

Are the glorified spirits in heaven.”

ROM 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (38) For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

JOHN 10:(27) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (28) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. (30) I and the Father are one."

PHI 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Psalms 121:(1) I lift up my eyes to the hills; where does my help come from? (2) My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (3) He will not let your foot slip; he who watches over you will not slumber; (4) indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (5) The Lord watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand; (6) the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. (7) The Lord will keep you from all harm; he will watch over your life; (8) the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

B. YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT

Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Forget thee, I will not, I cannot; thy name

Engraved on my heart doth for ever remain;

The palms of my hands whilst I look on, I see

The wounds I received when suffering for thee.”

When the harbour Bridge was being built, I understand that the construction of the first half of the Bridge was extremely slow. There were about a dozen deaths as workmen fell from the bridge, and the whole process seemed so slow. Around the half way mark someone got the bright idea of building a safety net to catch falling workmen. Only one or two lost their lives in the remaining construction on the bridge, and the work went ahead at a great pace. What made the difference was confidence.

“Millions of years my wondering eyes,

Shall o’er thy beauties rove;

And endless ages I’ll adore

The glories of thy love.”

To use an old figure: be sure that you take a ticket all the way through. Many people have only believed in God to save them for a time; so long as they are faithful, or so long as they are earnest. Beloved, believe in God to keep you faithful and earnest all your life: take a ticket all the way through. Get a salvation which covers all risks. There is no other ticket issued from the authorized office but a through-ticket. Other tickets are forgeries. He that cannot keep you for ever cannot keep you a day. If the power of regeneration will not last through life, it may not last an hour. Faith in the everlasting covenant stirs my heart’s blood, fills me with grateful joy, inspires me with confidence, fires me with enthusiasm. I can never give up my belief in what the Lord hath said, “And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”

“His honor is engaged to save The meanest of his sheep;

All that his heavenly Father gave, His hands securely keep.”

 

 

External Cleansing

Outside-in Cleansing Doesn’t Work

•Political Cleaning Doesn’t Work

•Educational Cleaning Doesn’t Work

•Social Engineering Doesn’t Work

•Religious Cleaning Doesn’t Work

 

 

Sin Is

•A Spiritual thing not a Physical thing

•An Internal thing not an External thing

•A Potential thing before it becomes an Actual thing

 

 

Inside-out cleaning is what we need
What can wash away my  sin?      Nothing but the blood of  Jesus!

 

 

You Need

Forgiveness

Acceptance

Inward cleansing

Transformation

How?

 

 

 

Inside Out Living

 

I had fallen asleep in the coffee shop of Denver airport very early one morning awaiting my connecting flight (I had slept on the airport floor that night). I awoke to see a lady sitting at my table opposite me, AND she had HER hand in MY cookie packet! (I had earlier bought two packets at the coffee shop, and had fallen asleep at the table as I waited for my flight). Shocked and surprised at the lady’s forwardness, I immediately asserted my ownership of the cookies by silently putting my hand into the bag and taking a cookie from the bag that sat between us on the table.  SHE took ANOTHER! I took another! SHE took ANOTHER! I took another! She took another, and then, still in silence, left the table, as the cookie bag was now empty.  I thought to myself “What a hide!! Some people!!”  I walked to my plane, sat in my seat and reached into my travel bag to retrieve my Bible to read during the flight and found my TWO packets of cookies UNOPENED inside my bag! I had been eating HER cookies! She must have felt upset with the man stealing HER cookies!  The lady was nowhere to be seen, but my face lit up the plane for embarrassment!

Have you ever made a stupid mistake like I did? Have you ever seen something, but not really understood what you were seeing?

Peter did! Mark (Peter’s Gospel) records for us how Jesus shook his disciples up for seeing, but just not getting it!

Mark 8: 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  18  Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Then Jesus heals a blind man at Bethsaida, on the North side of the Sea of Galilee;

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him.  23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”  24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.”  25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Have you ever wondered why there is this imperfect miracle recorded here?  It is the only imperfect miracle Jesus has ever done!  And Mark is the only one who records it.  Matthew, Luke and John pass over it.  I guess it is an enacted message to Peter, “Peter, you are like that blind man! You now see Jesus, but you see Him so imperfectly.  You just don’t get it!”

Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ!  He saw who Jesus was!!

27  And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”  29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”  30  And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

There are little statements in these passages that show that they are linked.

Mark often expresses a change of theme by a change of place. However, with each new place there is a common idea: it ahs something to do with confessing Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

30  And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

While the scene shifts, the common theme is that those who do not perceive clearly should not speak about Him, but that when you really perceive who Jesus is, then you should confess Him as your Saviour and Lord.

When Jesus foretells His death and resurrection, Peter just doesn’t see it!  He just doesn’t get it!

31  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

There are a lot of people who see that Jesus is the Son of God.  The last census said that 65% of Aussies knew that Jesus was the Son of God!  But so few  really get it! They just don’t see.

1. Peter saw that Jesus was the Son of God!

Peter had seen his miracles!  Feeding 5,000 and then later 4,000 with just a few loaves of bread an picking up afterwards tons of spare left overs from what had been left over!

Peter had seen Jesus perform miracles right there on the Sea of Galilee, stilling storms, walking on water, catching loads of fish  when there weren’t any to be caught!

Peter had seen Messengers speak of Jesus.  He had been right there when john the Baptist had declared that Jesus was the lamb of God come to  take away the sins of the world! He had heard the voice of God the Father as Jesus was baptized, ““You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Peter had seen madmen healed (Mark 5); lame men walk (Mark 2) and mother-in-laws mended (Mark 1).

27  And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”  29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”  30  And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

You Need To Move From A Popular Opinion About Jesus To A Personal Opinion About Jesus.

“Who do you say that I am?”

The popular opinion is that what counts with God is leading a decent life.

The popular opinion is that what counts with God is not what you say but how you live.

The popular opinion is that what counts with God is not being a hypocrite.

The crazy part if that that is not what counts with God. What counts with God is what you believe about Jesus!

John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37  All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Now this is so unpopular that this may be getting right up your nose! But its what God says!

In fact, believing something about Jesus was so critically important that Jesus said to Peter Matthew 16: 17 “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven”.

Peter knew Jesus was the Son of God, but he still didn’t get it!

31  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Peter Didn’t See The Purpose Of Jesus’ Death. “Jesus was the Messiah, the King! He’d set up a kingdom! Dying as a martyr had nothing to do with it. Besides, if Jesus died, so might his disciples! Including..Me!!”

Peter Needed To See The Purpose Of Jesus’ Death Jesus rebuked him! Same word for casting out demons. WOW Jesus gave it to Peter. Full dose! WOW.. no half measures here. Jesus was serious about this!

Perhaps you are like the 63% of people in Australia that acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, but you still don’t get it.  You haven’t seen that He has come into the world to be your Saviour!

An elderly man said to me once, “I watched Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ.  I was struck by the words at the start of the movie “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.   But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” (from Isaiah 53). He said, “I knew Jesus died for the world, but I didn’t know He died for my sins! Now I know it, and it is overwhelming!” He broke down in tears as the emotion of what he had finally seen made sense to him.

That is what Peter did not see at the time, but came to see later: 1 Peter 1:19 you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,  19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

You Need to See The Necessity Of Jesus’ Death 31  And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things

He must suffer John 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Why MUST Jesus die? Was He going to be the victim of circumstances? No he was saying that in the plan of God, He MUST die, there was a necessity to it that He had chosen. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but has appeared for your sakes. He MUST die. Jesus had to die on the cross for your sins and mine or we could not go to heaven, we could not be ransomed. Jesus is the ransom , the atoning sacrifice for you! His precious blood was like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. His precious blood was poured out on the alter of the justice of God to atone for your sin and mine.

There was none other good enough to pay the price of sin, he only could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.

For what you have done His blood must atone: The Father hath punished for you His dear Son.
The Lord, in the day of His anger, did lay Your sins on the Lamb, and He bore them away.

He dies to atone for sins not His own; Your debt He hath paid, and your work He hath done.
Ye all may receive the peace He did leave, Who made intercession, My Father, forgive!

For you and for me He prayed on the tree: The prayer is accepted, the sinner is free.
That sinner am I, who on Jesus rely, And come for the pardon God cannot deny.

You Need to See The Misery of Jesus’ Death the Son of Man must suffer many things…

But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed;

Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through Ere He found His sheep that was lost.

He was made sin for us, He who knew no sin… He was not only despised and rejected by men, but He cried out, “My God my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

You Need To See The Victory Of Jesus’ Death “and after three days rise again.”

Jesus Calls You to A Serious Decision

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus Calls You to A Sensible Decision

Until Peter saw this, Peter could not respond to Jesus’ call to discipleship with a whole heart. When I first heard the words of Jesus “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” I responded in a legalistic manner  “Well Lord, I guess so, but what are you really wanting from me? Does He want me to take a vow of poverty and have nothing all my life?”  When I discovered the wonder of Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross for me, then I could respond “If Jesus Christ be God, and He died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him!”

Have you truly seen Jesus properly?  Have you seen that He truly loved you and truly died for your sins at the cross? Then you will respond with gratitude too, and anything Jesus wants for your life will be fine by you too!

Behold his head His hands His feet, Sorrow and flow mingling down

Did ere such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so sweet a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine that were an offering far too small

Love so amazing so Divine demands my soul my life my all.

If you have never seen what Jesus did for you at the cross, ask Him in prayer to show you. One young lady was asked to pray “Lord show me my sin!” After life became dismal as she saw her sins, her friend said to her, “Now pray, Lord show me my Saviour.” And her life was revolutionized as she saw what Jesus had done for her!

Jesus Calls You To A Satisfying Decision

 

Lesson 1. How It All Began Mark 1:1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God

The Gospel of Mark (as narrated to Mark by the apostle Peter) is very modern in its style. It speaks to us of the breaking in of a whole new reality into a world that had become unreal.

The Matrix movies speak of a similar thing: the world as we know it is not the real world, and Neo (the “new” man) is given a new vision of what the world really looks like, and it is not good! Neo’s real world is not the day to day city life that he had grown up with, it was in fact a dream inculcated by machines that kept humans suppressed and narcotised in bubbles as the machines consumed their vital energies. Neo emerges to confront this whole new world.

In a similar manner the Beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God, signals the breaking into our lost and confused sinful world of one who is unrivalled in His power and authority and who can set straight all that is broken in us and in our world. This Person who now breaks into our world and is Announced, Annointed and Approved to be the Son of God.

Announced

Jesus is displayed as the son of God by Prophetic Predictions:

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight”

Jesus is displayed as the son of God by Historic Pronouncements:

John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8  I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John was the forerunner or herald for Jesus.

John understood who he was and what he was supposed to do.

Annointed

Jesus’ purpose as the Son of God is Displayed by His Human Identification

9  In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Jesus’ purpose as the Son of God is Displayed by His Heavenly Consecration

Approved

Jesus’ power as the Son of God is Displayed by His testing in the wilderness

12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

Jesus’ power as the Son of God is Displayed by His command to the world.

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

What keeps you from obeying Him?

Are you Unconcerned?

Are you Unbelieving?

Lesson 2. Mark 1:14-20

14  Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 16  Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

The Jesus boat in Galilee

This is the sort of boat (some think perhaps even the same boat) that Jesus and his disciples used by the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus Knows Who You Are

(Fishermen and Failures)

And Offers You Fellowship

Jesus Knows Where You Are

(Family, firm securities, your planned future)

And He Offers to Take You Where He Is

Luke 9:23 "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Jesus Knows What You Are Doing

(Fortune Fame Power Pleasure)

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:1-11 Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.“ What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun?

And Invites You To Take Part In What He Is Doing.

1 In pairs, imagine you are to recruit four friends to join you in tidying and rebuilding a play area in your town that has been vandalised.

• Which four people would you choose?

• What qualities would you look for in your helpers?

Explain why you have chosen these four.

2 Who are these first four to follow Jesus?

3 What was their job before he took them away?

4 What were his words to them?

5 What do you think it was about Jesus that made them join him?

6 In groups of three, role-play an interview between a reporter, Simon and Andrew. They are leaving town to work with Jesus.

 

 

Lesson 3 Jesus’ Immediate Authority Over Your Life Mark 1:21-45

"For the great enemy of truth is very often not the lie --deliberate, contrived and dishonest --but the myth --persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic," President John F. Kennedy told the 1962 graduating class of Yale University.

The myth has arisen that you could meet Jesus and yet be unchanged

Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee

Have you experienced Jesus’ authority to teach?

Have you experienced Jesus’ authority to deliver?

Have you experienced Jesus’ authority to heal?

Have you experienced Jesus’ authority in your life?

 

 

Lesson 4. Mark 2:1 You Need To Be Forgiven

Guilt shatters the personality

Guilt paralyzes the body.

Guilt paralyzes the human spirit

Guilt paralyzes the relationships marriage

He Can Forgive

Not what these hands have done Can save this guilty soul;

Not what this toiling flesh has borne Can make my spirit whole.

Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.

I. He Releases the Sinner (Aphiemi)

II. He Announces the Sinner Released!

–The Accusation

–The Answer

–The Act

–The Acknowledgement

III. He Receives the Sinner

 

 

 

Lesson 5 Mark 2 and 3 Upsetting The Applecart

Real Christianity Annoys The Religious

Religion Brings A Funeral Jesus Brings A Feast

19And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

Religion Brings A Burden Jesus Brings A Blessing

24And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?“ 25But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:

27"The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath

•The Laws Of The Sabbath •The Limits Of The Sabbath

Matthew 12 6Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.

7But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice, 'you would not have condemned the guiltless.

11 Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift It out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Real Christianity Annoys The Rebel

The LORD Of The Sabbath is

•Greater than the Temple

•Lord Of The Sabbath

Religion Brings Barrenness Jesus Brings Bounty

4Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched itout, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Joy

•For Pardon from God

•For Power For God

•For Presence Of God

•For Purpose For Life

 

 

 

Lesson 6. The Unforgivable Sin

Mark 3

They sinned against redemption.

They sinned against reason.

–Isaiah 1:18

They sinned against revelation

(1) Satan is strong, but Jesus is stronger!

27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work…the one who is in

you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 3:8, 4:4)

(2) It’s impossible to be neutral about Jesus

25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

(3) God graciously forgives every sin except one

28“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,

(4) The only unforgivable sin is finally saying, “NO” to the Holy Spirit’s call to repent and be saved

29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—

The Unforgiveable Sin

The deceiving power of this sin.

The deadening power of this sin.

Hebrews 3: 7,8

The damning power of this sin.

Hebrews 6:4-6

 

 

 

Lesson 7 Definitely Converted? or Deceptively Close? Mark 4:1-20

soil types

The Definitely Converted

Mar 4:8 "Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."

A Committed Mind

Root

Shoot

Fruit

The Deceptively Close

Matthew 7: 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

15And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

A Closed Mind

No Root

No Shoot

No Fruit

A Cloudy Mind

Little Root

Some Shoot

No Fruit

thorny ground

And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

A Cluttered Mind

Root

Shoot

No Fruit

18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word,

19but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Mark 4:7 "Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop.”

“But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

•The seed is the Word

•Hear it

•Receive it

•Rejoice in it, (meditate on it, chew it over, apply it to yourself)

•Reproduce it

 

 

Lesson 8 Mark 4 :35 What You Can Learn In A Storm

35  On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

God’s Purpose Includes Storms

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."

God’s Purpose Includes Stretching

38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow

God’s Purpose Includes Stupidity

"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

God’s Purpose Includes Surprises

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"And the wind ceased and there was a great calm

God’s Purpose Includes Strengthening

40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

God’s Purpose Includes Shuddering

"Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"And they feared exceedingly,

 

 

Lesson 9 What Are You Doing With Jesus? Mark 5:1-20

Decapolis literally means The Ten Cities

With the conquests of Alexander the Great (300BC) there had been a Greek penetration into Palestine and Syria.

Semi-independence down until the time of the Maccabees(200BC -63BC)

Greek styled cities, inhabited by Jews and Gentiles

There Was Disorder in This Community

•A Miserable Soul

Demon-possessed

Demented

Defeated

Dead

•Some Miserly Souls

There Was The Display Of Christ

•An Adequate Saviour

•An Authoritative Saviour

–Changes us

–Controls us

There Was The Dismissal Of Christ

· An Inexcusable Tragedy

–“Don’t Disturb My Comfort”

–“Don’t Disturb My Possessions”

· An Inescapable Testimony

–Converted

–Called

–Commissioned

 

 

Lesson 11 Walking on the Water. Mark 6:45-56

45  Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. 53  When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

A friend had the opportunity to take a great holiday yachting around the WhitSunday islands in Queensland. As often happens to my friend, he was there for the unexpected and momentous event of a cyclone. At first the captain of the vessel headed out to sea to attempt to ride out the storm (as on Gilligan’s island), and later decided that it was way too dangerous for their small catamaran, so he sought anchorage in a small creek on an island. The yachties (who were not yachties at all, just holidaymakers) secured their vessel by 6 ropes to mangrove trees on opposite sides of the bank, ensuring that their boat would not be able to move in any direction whichever way the wind would be blowing upon them. When life becomes tumultuous, when sorrows and tragedies blow into our lives, then we need some good anchor points to hold our life in place.

The Lord Jesus has given us those six anchor points in this passage of Mark’s gospel.

When you are blown about by storms in life you can always have:

God’s Providence to Govern You

He made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side,

God’s Plan to Grow You

Rom 8:2828 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

The Scope of your growth “in all these things” “all things”

The Source of your growth “through Him who loved us”

Christ’s Prayer’s to Grace You

46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them.

Christ’s Presence to Gladden you

And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

God’s Power to Guard You

He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,

God’s Purpose to Guide You

53  When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.