Winning in the Wilderness, Mark 1:12-13

 

¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

Immediately, is used over 40 times in Mark, far more than any other book in the New Testament, more than all the other Gospels combined.

Jesus, the Servant King, was on the move, busy about His Father’s business.

Are you?

He’s, our example.

Immediately... after what?

Immediately after being baptized by John.

Jesus being baptized by John made a public statement about who He considered was on the Right side of God.

Jesus did NOT go to one of the politically correct public mikva'ot (ritual baths) in Jerusalem where the long black robed city slicker priests hung out around the temple.

No, Jesus took the dirt road out of town about 20 miles to where a hairy, leather skinned, locust eating, finger pointing, Truth telling, country preacher by the name of John, was baptizing in the Jordan River.

John spoke the raw Truth, called out crooked politicians, fake news scribes, the sins of the people, and even, the waste fraud and abuse of Roman Soldiers. Luke 3:10-14.

His blunt, Truth telling boldness, got him thrown in prison, and his head served on a silver platter. Matthew 14:10-11, Mark 6:27-28.

Jesus said of John: “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11.

John was the culmination of the O.T. prophets, bridging the gap between Old Covenant and New.

John was the Bridegroom’s best man...

Then, after him, it was, here comes the Bride. The Bride of Christ.

So, Jesus was baptized by John and then... ¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

Pause and picture the scene and we’ll see a powerful message reflected here.

All eyes are on Jesus, standing next to John in the Jordan River, still dripping wet from being baptized by John.

John, popular John. Remember we were told in verse five that all Judea and Jerusalem went out to be baptized by John.

All eyes, lots of eyes, are on Jesus and John.

Previously, John had pointed at Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29). Then, when Jesus asked to be baptized, John said, “I should be baptized by You.” (Matt. 3:14).

So, the crowd was awe struck by this Man that John the Baptist, revered.

It gets even better.

As John lifted Jesus up from under the waters of baptism, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended like a dove and a Voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I AM well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17).

Wow! What a perfect segue for Jesus to say, “Yes, I AM the Son of God, the long awaited Mesiah, the Savior of the world. I have come to set you free from the bondage of sin. If you believe in Me, just say this prayer after Me, and you will be born again, then, come and be baptized.”

But the Spirit had other plans... ¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

And therein is the message.

If you are a Christian...

Nowadays we need to explain what the word means. If you are a Christian, you love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength (Matt. 22:37-39), you deny yourself take up your cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26), you set your hand to the plow and don’t look back (Luke 9:62), you want to be used by God, you strive to be His salt, His light, His prayer warrior, soul winner, disciple maker).

If you are a Christian, you must:

1.    Be listening for the Spirit of God above the noise of the world.

2.    Be willing to walk away from the crowd, the spotlight, the popularity, for the solidarity that only comes with investing time alone with the Lord.

Even Jesus, often withdrew to a solitary place to pray. John 5:16.

Even Jesus, only said, and only did, what He heard and what He saw from His Father. John 5:19, 12:49.

Do we?

He’s, our example.

¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Matthew and Luke 4:1-2, tell us He was fasting for forty days and nights in the wilderness.

Sunday, I fasted all day, not on purpose, not for some good, holy, righteous reason, but because I just didn’t have time. Then, I heard from our friend Harrell, that his surgery was going to be on Monday, so I figured I’d just keep on fasting and pray for him, so I did until Monday evening.

That wasn’t even two full days, and by Monday afternoon I was thinking about food every five seconds.

Can you imagine 40 days and 40 nights?

Jesus did it. But why? He wasn’t trying to kick a bad habit or overcome some sin.

Hebrews 5:8 tells us Jesus learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Times like this is where He gained the endurance to say things like “Not My will but Thine.” Luke 22:42. 

And the strength to stay the course, to the cross, and say, “Father forgive them...” Luke 23:34.

Hebrews 4:15 tells us Jesus can sympathize with us because He was tempted in every way just like us.

He willingly took off Divinity to put on humanity. All of it. Emotions, temptations, weariness, mosquito bites, hot, cold, pain, sleepy, happy, sad, angry, thirsty, hungry...

He had to face it all and win, He could not slip up and sin, not even a little, or His Sacrifice for sin, would be worthless.

Romans 6:23, The wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, led by the Spirit, He went to into the wilderness to pick a fight with His flesh, and the devil, and to win—all humanity depended on it.

They say the first three days of fasting are the hardest, after that hunger goes away.

The most I’ve ever fasted was ten days, and it’s true, after about three days, it gets easier. It’s powerful. Spiritual and moral and mental clarity comes when the flesh is not on the throne.

Forty days is the max a person can go, then, the hunger returns, and that’s a warning sign you’re starving to death.

That’s what happened with Jesus. Forty days and nights fasting and praying, then hunger came, and so did the devil.

The tempter said:

“If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Then the devil left Him, (for a season) and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.  Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13.

 

“If You’re the Son of God— eat. Feed Your flesh.

“If You’re the Son of God—jump. Prove it.

If You’re the Son of God—bow. Take a short cut.

Yielding to any one of those temptations, as innocent as they may seem, would’ve disqualified Jesus as the sinless, spotless, blameless, Lamb of God.

You see, even God, especially God, abides by His own Divine Eternal Justice System.

So, the devil’s no dummy and when Jesus was at His weakest, that’s when he showed up. And what were the first words out of his mouth? “If You’re the Son of God...”  

What did Jesus hear loud and clear before He headed into this wilderness?

“This is My beloved Son in whom I AM well pleased.”

That’s the very Words the devil tried to steal.

Jesus told us in the parable of the Sower that the devil comes to steal the Word. Mark 4:15, Luke 8:12.

The devil is a deceiver, a twister, a perverter, of the Word of God. It’s what he did in the beginning. “Has God said, you shall not eat from any tree in the garden...” Genesis 3:1.

It’s what he attacks the most. It’s why he deceived black robed supreme court justices (with God complexes) into ruling Bible reading and prayer in schools unconstitutional.

It’s why he works so hard to keep people from reading and preachers from teaching God’s Word.

Adam and Jesus were both tempted to eat. Adam failed. Jesus won by knowing and using the Word of God as a quick and powerful Sword. Heb. 4:12.

¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Jesus with the wild beasts, seems to indicate He was in danger of the very wild creatures He created.

That’s hard to imagine.

But as per His own Words and actions during the temptations, He would not abuse His Power, He would not put the Word of God to a foolish test.

So, if He saw a rattle snake or a lion, He’d avoid it.

Perhaps, Jesus included this peril of wild animals to show empathy and comfort to first century Christians at risk of being fed to wild animals by Nero.

After battling the flesh in a fast and battling the devil through temptations and avoiding getting bitten by snakes and eaten by lions, Jesus was hungry and starting to starve to death, and the angels ministered to Him.

There are angels among us. They are ministering spirits. Heb. 1:14. Don’t ever, ever, pray to them. Don’t try to conjure them or talk to them.

Just know they are near.

Two out of three are good.

Don’t forget to entertain strangers, for in so doing some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2.

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. But after the fasting after the tempting after the battling, He returned in the Power of the Spirit. Luke 4:14.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word, that calls us to be Your beloved child, that leads us into the wilderness, past the perils, over the temptations, and out the other side in Your Power. Now, Lord we pray for an ongoing hunger for Your Word, the ability to understand it, the wisdom to apply it, and be busy about Your business, as soul winners and disciple makers, so that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

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Email: pray4measap@aol.com

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

The Fire & Sword of the Lord, Ezekiel 20:45-21:32

 

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

So, as we read the Lord’s Words about the Fire and Sword of the Lord, be listening for how this applies to us as a people and a nation.

20:45-49 Consuming Fire

21:1-7 Unsheathed Sword

21:8-13 Scepter Removed

21:14-17 Jerusalem Destroyed

21:18-27 Forked Tongue

21:28-32 Supreme Judge

In the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) Ezekiel 20:45-49 is actually 21:1-5 but in most English translations it’s the end of chapter 20.

The Hebrew text makes more sense because it is a preview of Ezekiel 21. It depicts an all consuming fire that devours both green and dry trees from south to north, then chapter 21 seamlessly transitions to an all consuming sword doing the same.

Before we read verses 20:45-48 here's some definitions:

The “south” mentioned five times in NKJV, is a few different words in the original text, but all refer to Judah. In the Bible Israel is the center of everything. The “south” refers to southern Israel. Southern Israel is Judah.

The Lord, through Ezekiel, makes it abundantly clear that He is talking about Judah.

Because of their ongoing wickedry (wickedness and idolatry) the fire of God’s judgement will soon scorch all of Judah, the green tree and the dry, the Godly and ungodly, the just and the unjust.  

⁴⁵ Furthermore the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁴⁶ “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South, ⁴⁷ and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. ⁴⁸ All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”

Our God is a consuming fire. Dt. 4:24, Heb.12:29

The natural consequences of judgement effects the good and evil.

That’s why it’s vitally important that we pray for those in authority that we may lead quiet peaceable lives. 1 Timothy 2:1.

⁴⁹ Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ””

No matter how clear the Word of God is spoken, some people will only hear what they want to hear.

They mockingly said Ezekiel wasn’t prophesying, but just telling stories, talking in riddles.

They thought, God won’t judge us, we’re one nation under God, we’re the chosen children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have an eternal covenant with God.

For some reason they thought it okay to slaughter their children, perform every kind of sexual perversion, compromise with corruption, refuse to teach their children God’s Word, but instead open their borders and welcome an invasion of every godless religion, thereby committing the obamanation of fundamentally changing the God ordained constitution of their nation.

They should’ve known better, a century earlier, God’s fiery judgement swept through the northern tribes of Israel when the Assyrians took them captive around 722 BC.

But some people only hear what they want to hear.

So, God continues to repeat Himself, throughout HIStory, and into the next chapter.

Ezekiel 21:1-7, The Unsheathed Sword

Now, we hear the same story, only this time instead of the all consuming fire of the Lord, we see the all consuming Sword of the Lord.

 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel;  ³ and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against you,

Preach against, prophesy against, say to your own people and nation, “The Lord is against you.”

No ear tickling. Just unpolitically correct, unpopular,  Life giving, hard to hear, Rock Solid Truth.

How many pastors today could preach that sermon?

and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you. ⁴ Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north,

Notice the parallels with the end of chapter 20. Both the green and dry tree, and here, the righteous and the wicked, both cut off (killed), from south to north.   

 ⁵ that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore.” ’ 

God governs in the affairs of men.

⁶ Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes. ⁷ And it shall be when they say to you, ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall answer, ‘Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water.

Sigh, breaking heart, bitterness... God takes no pleasure in death. Ezekiel 33:11.

Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’ says the Lord God.”

It will happen. It is coming. Imagine your hometown, your family, your friends, your house where you lived... being invaded, ravaged, looted, raped.

This is not just history, it’s HIStory, which is timeless, therefore ever timely, and relevant all the time, everywhere, even here, even where you’re sitting reading this, right now.

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the righteous will be gone and what’s left will be hell on earth for those left behind. Pray it’s not you, your hometown, your family, your friends, your house where you lived... being invaded, ravage, looted, raped.

Ezekiel 21:8-13, Scepter Removed

⁸ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹ “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ Say:

‘A sword, a sword is sharpened
And also polished!
¹⁰ Sharpened to make a dreadful slaughter,
Polished to flash like lightning!
Should we then make mirth?

Ez. 20:49, you think this is a riddle? You think it’s funny?

It (the sword) despises the scepter of My son, (Zedekiah, king of Judah)

 As it does all wood. (idols)

¹¹ And He has given it to be polished,
That it may be handled;
This sword is sharpened, and it is polished
To be given into the hand of the slayer.’ (Nebuchadnezzar)

Remember earlier they mocked Ezekiel for talking in riddles? Now he looks them in the eye and says, “Should we make mirth—you think this is funny?” Go ahead, laugh it off, don’t pay attention. You won’t be laughing long, soon judgement will fall, eternity will come, and you’ll find yourself in a place where there is no laughing, only wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Nebuchadnezzar despised Zedekiah, the king of Judah, for revolting against him.

Thus, Babylon’s third and final siege that destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and all the pagan altars (all wood).

Nebuchadnezzar was the fire, now the sword, in the hand of the Lord to carry out His just judgement.

However, make no mistake, this was not God’s will, He was not pleased. That’s why He had Ezekiel sigh with a breaking heart and bitterness.

Judgement is not pleasant for the Judge or the judged.

But God is just and Divine justice must be served. So, He allowed Zedekiah to be tempted to sin against the oath he made with Nebuchadnezzar.

God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to yield to his anger and attack.

God didn’t tempt either of them. God tempts no one ever of evil.

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they turn, turn from their wicked ways and live. Ez. 33:11.

¹² “Cry and wail, son of man;
For it will be against My people,
Against all the princes of Israel.
Terrors including the sword will be against My people;
Therefore strike your thigh.

See, the Lord through His prophet, shows His sorrow.

Remember the story of the inkhorn and the battle-ax in Ezekiel 9. Those who sighed and cried over the wickedry in the city were spared, the rest, green and dry, were all killed, beginning at the Sanctuary, for judgement must begin at the House of God. Ezekiel 9:4-6.

¹³ “Because it is a testing,
And what if the sword despises even the scepter?
The scepter shall be no more,”

says the Lord God.

Zedekiah is dethroned.

How can this be?

The Lord promised the scepter shall not depart from Judah...Genesis 49:10.

It looked like God’s Word had failed.

But HIStory proves God’s Word never fails.

If it ever looks like God’s Word has failed... your looker is broken, look again.

Genesis 49:10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

Zedekiah was the last king, because there were no more kings... until Shiloh, about 600 years later, in Bethlehem, in a stable, in a manger, in a Baby, one holy, silent night, and you shall call Him Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, King of kings, Lord of lords... Jesus our Savior.

Ezekiel 21:14-17, Jerusalem Destroyed

¹⁴ “You therefore, son of man, prophesy,
And strike your hands together.
The third time let the sword do double damage.

It is the sword that slays,
The sword that slays the great men,
That enters their private chambers.

Three times, for Nebuchadnezzar’s the third and final siege of Jerusalem, doing double damage, utter destruction. 586BC.

The intensity of the battle, the clashing of swords can almost be heard in the following words...

¹⁵ I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, (surrounded)
That the heart may melt and many may stumble (terrified).
Ah! It is made bright;
It is grasped for slaughter:

¹⁶ “Swords at the ready!
Thrust right!
Set your blade!
Thrust left—
Wherever your edge is ordered!

¹⁷ “I also will beat My fists together,
And I will cause My fury to rest;
I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Judah rests in ruins.

Ezekiel 21:18-27, Fork in the Road

¹⁸ The word of the Lord came to me again, saying: ¹⁹ “And son of man, appoint for yourself two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to go; both of them shall go from the same land. Make a sign; put it at the head of the road to the city. ²⁰ Appoint a road for the sword to go to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to Judah, into fortified Jerusalem. ²¹ For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the road, at the fork of the two roads, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks at the liver. 

Shakes the arrows: Belomancy. The word comes from the Greek words belos (arrow) and manteia (divination). Like flipping a coin, heads we head to Judah, tails we go to Rabbah. Mark an arrow, shake them in the quiver, pull out the marked arrow we march to Judah, unmarked we go to Rabbah.  

Consults the images: Pray to dumb, idols.

Looks at the liver: Hepatoscopy. They thought the liver was the seat of emotion and where the intentions of the gods were written in the animal sacrifices.

²² In his right hand is the divination for Jerusalem: to set up battering rams, to call for a slaughter, to lift the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to heap up a siege mound, and to build a wall. 

In Ezekiel 4 the Lord instructed Ezekiel to make a model depicting this very siege as a warning of things to come.

We tried to do the same.

²³ And it will be to them like a false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn oaths with them; but he will bring their iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken.

²⁴ “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.

Zedekiah swore an oath to Nebuchadnezzar, then broke the oath by asking for help from Egypt (not help from God).

Even though, it was a bad deal with a bad dude, God takes oaths seriously, and therefore said Zedekiah would not escape, but would die in Babylon. Ezekiel 17:15-16.

Which is exactly what happened. Zedekiah was captured by Nebuchadnezzar, he watched his own sons be killed before his very eyes, then his eyes were taken out and he was hauled to Babylon where he died.

²⁵ ‘Now to you, O profane, wicked prince of Israel, (Zedekiah) whose day has come, whose iniquity shall end, ²⁶ thus says the Lord God:

“Remove the turban, and take off the crown;
Nothing shall remain the same.
Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted.
²⁷ Overthrown, overthrown,
I will make it overthrown!
It shall be no longer,
Until He comes whose right it is,
And I will give it to Him.” ’

He is Jesus, whose right it is.

He is Shiloh who is to come.

Ezekiel 21:28-32, Supreme Judge

²⁸ “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach,’ and say:

When the Ammonites, (descendants of Lot) heard that Nebuchadnezzar was heading to Judah instead of compassion for Judah, they reproached them, (laughed and mocked and insulted). Zephaniah 2:8, Psalm 83:4-7.

Bad move. God noticed. Now, it’s their turn.

‘A sword, a sword is drawn,
Polished for slaughter,
For consuming, for flashing—
²⁹ While they see false visions for you, (deception)
While they divine a lie to you,  (fake news)

Whenever you turn from Truth, you fall into deception.

To bring you (the sword) on the necks of the wicked, the slain
Whose day has come, (day of reckoning)
Whose iniquity shall end.

³⁰ ‘Return it to its sheath.
I will judge you
In the place where you were created,
In the land of your nativity.
³¹ I will pour out My indignation on you;
I will blow against you with the fire of My wrath,
And deliver you into the hands of brutal men who are skillful to destroy.
³² You shall be fuel for the fire; (foreshadow pretribulation, Ezekiel 38-39 war, when it’ll take seven years to burn the weaponry, when God gets through with them).
Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. (foreshadow of post tribulation war, Armageddon, where blood will flow up to the horses bridle Rev. 14:20).
You shall not be remembered,
For I the Lord have spoken.’ ”

The Ammonites were so utterly destroyed by Babylon, they were never seen or heard from again.

 

Conclusion:

If God did not allow His chosen nation to escape judgement for sin, is there hope for America?

Israel was created by God.

America, by man, with the aid of God, to worship God.

Benjamin Franklin:

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel

Freedom to worship God is built into the foundation of America.

Colombus journaled that He was led by the Holy Spirit.

The Mayflower Compact, the seedbed of our Constitution, was for the glory of God, the advancement of the Christian faith, and signed solemnly in the presence of God.

Our Founding Fathers declared a National Prayer Proclamation just weeks before finding the wisdom and courage to create our Declaration of Independence.

Our US Constitution likewise followed a National Day of Prayer.

By the 1800s America’s various government entities had issued over 1,400 Prayer Proclamations.

America is foundationally, fundamentally, a Christian Nation.

Time and again, the Hand of Providence has saved US.

Time and time again, it has been in answer to prayer.

Ezekiel 22:29-30
 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. ³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

That was Israel... that is not US... not today, because today, there’s us.

 Is there hope of US? It’s up to us. We His people.

2 Chronicles 7:14. If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we Your people, called by Your name, call upon Your name, we humble ourselves, seek Your face, turn from our wicked ways...thank You, for hearing forgiving and healing our land. Help us do our part, we know You’ll do Yours.

Thank You.

We trust You and love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

The Building of the Gospel, Mark 1:1-11

 

In the beginning God told us how He built creation. Genesis 1.

Now, in this beginning He tells us how He built the Gospel. Mark 1:1-4.

It is profound in its simplicity.

Foundational Pillars:

Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Mark 1:1. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Hebrews 1:1-2. God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

John 1:1, 14. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The beginning of the Gospel... The word the, is the definite article. Meaning there is only One Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:6-9 Only One Gospel
 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different Gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Any other Gospel, (Book of Mormon, Jehovah Witness Watch Tower and New World Translation, Islamic Quran...) if we or an angel from heaven, if anyone preach any other Gospel, let him be accursed.

Accursed: eternally damned.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus is the One and only Christ, Messiah, Anointed One, Savior of the Word.

Jesus is God.

John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God... 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jesus as the Son of God, is the second member of the Trinity. God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. Three in One.

NOT three separate entities as Morman’s pervert (the word from Gal. 6:7).

Jesus is the uncreated Creator, NOT our spirit brother born to the Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother, as perverted by the Mormons.  

Jesus is NOT an angel. NOT Michal the Archangel. NOT a created being as perverted by Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Jesus is God who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), put on skin as a Man; not simply a good man a respected prophet pointing to Muhammad as Islam perverts it.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the Prophets:

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.”

Quoting what was prophesied 400 years prior.

Malachi 3:1.
“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

Make His paths straight.’ ”

Quoting what was prophesied 700 years prior.

Isaiah 40:3.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.

What we’re seeing is that even though God is Sovereign, He abides by His own Divine system of justice.

Amos 3:7. Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

So, over many years, God spoke in various ways, at various times, through various prophets. Hebrews 1:1.

Then, at just the right time, just as promised, the messenger came...

4 John came...

In the beginning God told us how He built creation.

Now, in this beginning He tells us how He built the Gospel.                                                                                                  

First, everything begins with God.

In the beginning God... Genesis 1:1.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark 1:1.

It all begins with God.

With God everything begins good.

Gospel means good news.

Next comes God’s Word.

God said, “Let there be light...” Gen. 1:3.

In the beginning was the Word... John 1:1.

As it is written... Mark 1:2.

Then comes His messenger.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

Behold, I send My messenger... Mark 1:2

Then, as promised, the messenger came...

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

The promised prophet was John.

Not Muhammad.

Not Joseph Smith.

Just John.

And what did John do?

He came baptizing, signifying the washing away of sin by repentance (transition of the heart) rather than temporarily covering it by works and sacrifice.

He’s the forerunner, the protype, the first preacher pointing directly to Christ.

He’s the one our all-knowing, all wise, Lord picked to begin the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is the mold; this is the guy I want my preachers to look like.

John. Preaching in the wilderness. Not in a stained glass, crystal cathedral, ivory towers wearing designer clothes, private jets, and $20,000 watches.

John’s, our example.

His method was simple. Baptize in the wilderness.

His message was simple. Repent. Your soul is dirty in need of a bath. Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire. (Matthew 3:2, 10).

Same message Billy Graham preached for over half a century... and changed the world.

That is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God’s Divine System of Salvation.

Profound in simplicity.

God

His Word

His Messenger

Romans 10:14. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

1 Corinthian 1:21. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

That is God’s Divine System of Salvation.

That’s why saints still gathered, at the risk of death by dogs, or lions, or being burned alive.

It didn’t matter. They’d never stop. To stop would be like trying to go on living, but doing it, without breathing.

Hearing God’s Word is the Life Breath for His people.

Did preaching repentance work for John?

5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

The people walked to the wilderness.

Waded into the Jordan River.

Confessed their sins.

Were fully emersed under the water, signifying they were all-in, fully committed to repenting, turning from sin.

The water didn’t wash away their sins back then, and it doesn’t today.

It was an outward sign, of an inward commitment to repentance.

For us today it represents our repentance and commitment to Christ.

6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

Devoted.

Totally dedicated to the cause of Christ.

The camel’s hair reflected the clothes of the prophets, namely, Elijah. 2 Kings 1:8, Zech. 13:4.

John as a Nazarite would not drink any fermented drink, or grape juice or grapes or raisins, not even the seeds or skins. Was not to cut his hair. Would not go near a dead body. John distanced himself from the religious elites and wouldn’t wear soft comfortable clothing like theirs.

Camel’s hair was not just a picture of the prophets of the past but practical, durable, and retained warmth when wet.

7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

Humble.

Loosing a sandal strap was the task of slaves.

John said he wasn’t even worthy to be a slave to Christ.

John 3:30. He must increase but I must decrease.

8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Focused.

John was totally focused on Christ.  

John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

John: Devoted. Humble. Focused.

We can and should be too.

John Baptizes Jesus

9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Do right, just because it’s right.

Matthew 3:14-15.

John said to Jesus, “I should be baptized by You.”

But Jesus said, “Let it be so. For it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness.”

Jesus didn’t need to be baptized. But He did it just because it was the right thing to do.

You don’t need to be baptized to be saved. But you ought to, because it’s the right thing to do, “to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus did. You should too.

As far as the Bible records it was customary, after, someone was saved, to be baptized.

Jesus was baptized, just because it was right.

And it pleased God...

10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Do right, just because it’s right, and hear God say: “You are My beloved, in whom I am well pleased.”

We see here the Trinity.

God the Son, Jesus being baptized.

God the Holy Spirit, descending like a dove.

 God the Father, speaking from heaven.

Three in one.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the profound simplicity of Your Gospel. Help us to walk in it. To seek You first, to love and live by Your Word, and to hear Your messengers, that we may be soul winners and disciple makers, so of all those You’ve given us, none are lost

Thank You.

 We love You, forever.

Amen.

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