Dogs

10-31-2014    Mark 7:24-30

S.       24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid. 25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. 28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. 29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. 30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

O.      Jesus honors the faith of a non-Jewish woman and declares her child to be free of an unclean spirit (demon).

A.      Faith is a wonder to me. I have faith and I know faith is real and still I fail to stand in faith in many situations. This must stop!

P.       Father; increase my faith and help me to overcome all doubt and fear. Amen.

Two days worth

10-29-2014    Mark 7:14-16

S.       14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

O.      Jesus explains that it is the spiritual man that can be defiled, not the physical.

A.      The things that come out of me are evidence as to what is in me.

P.       Father; clean me from the inside to the outside. Renew a right spirit within me and wipe away the stain of sin. Amen.

10-30-2014    Mark 7:17-23

S.       17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

O.      Jesus finishes his explanation of the source of evil from within a man.

A.      My inner man must be set free from sin and then be protected, supplied, taught and corrected in the ways of God.

P.       Father; I cannot find my way alone. I am weak and weary from the struggle. Take my hand Lord and lead me. Amen. 

Is this true?

10-28-2014    Mark 7:6-13

S.       6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

O.      Jesus speaks of vain worship and hypocrisy that id based on the traditions of man. He does not condemn tradition except when the tradition is taught as doctrine.

A.      I will use the words of Jesus as my doctrine and only observe man’s traditions that are in harmony with the teachings of Jesus.

P.       Father; help me Father to live my life in total obedience to you and your word. Show me the differences between the tradition of man and your commandments that I may teach others. Amen.  

Poor Leadership

What does a pastor do when he has failed in his preaching? I know that on many occasions my sermons were unprofitable and full of useless clatter. I ask for forgiveness! Forgiveness from God and Man. God always forgives and man.........I wait and see, some do and some don't. I need to be forgiven......Please.

10-27-2014    Mark 7:1-5

S.       1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

O.     The Jewish leaders ask Jesus to explain why his disciples failed to follow the traditions.

A.      Tradition can be observed to our benefit or tradition can be a trap. We must learn the reason underlying each tradition we embrace, compare that tradition to God’s word, then decide the value of the tradition. 

P.       Father; open my understanding of the traditions of my time. Lead me in the direction that is pleasing to you, even if that means that I must abandon popular traditions. Amen.

SONDAY

Happy SON-day yáll. See you in church. I know that I spelled it different......it is his day.....you know....Jesus, the SON of God. :)

10-26-2014    Mark 6:53-56

S.       53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. 54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him, 55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was. 56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

O.      Great numbers of people are healed by touching the garments of Jesus. Faith was growing in the hearts of people and actions were showing results.

A.      Spreading the truth about Jesus, his love, compassion, healing, hope and salvation will still show results. I will spread the truth.

P.       Father; fill me with courage as I spread your word. Touch my mind and heart and give me strength to endure. Amen.

God IS!

I will believe. I will not doubt. I will not quit. I will not fear. I will believe. AMEN.

10-25-2014    Mark 6:45-52

S.       45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

O.      After Jesus spent time praying on the mountain he came to his disciples walking upon the sea. This caused much trouble to the minds of the disciples as they knew that this is impossible. Their hearts were not full of faith…….the facts were in the way.

A.      My faith is small and weak. I must resist doubt, fear, worry and man’s explanations as what is possible and what is not. With God; all things are possible. I rebuke doubt, worry, fear that lives in my heart and mind. I surrender myself; body, mind, spirit and soul to the will of God under the blood of Christ.

P.       Father; I believe, but help all unbelief to be erased. I surrender all that I am unto you. Wash me in the blood of Jesus; fill me with your Holy Spirit as I go forth and minister. Amen. 

Plenty

10-24-2014    Mark 6:33-44

S.       33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.42 And they did all eat, and were filled.43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

O.      Jesus feeds the five thousand by blessing and multiplying five loves and two fishes.

A.      What you have can be enough to supply if you entrust it to Jesus. He can multiply until your need is meant. I will put everything, my home, my family, my future and my soul in the hands of Jesus.

P.       Father; I give you my all. Use me as you will. I surrender everything into your hands. Lead me by your Holy Spirit as I put my trust in you. Amen.