When you set out to do good deeds have you ever been met with opposition? Or perhaps the opposition was from within yourself and you may have been thinking to yourself: “Who do I think I am attempting to do this?” Or have you ever had a desire to do a good thing and did not accomplish it for fear of failure or even loss of popularity, or even criticism from others? Have you ever been talked about or spoken evil of for being “too helpful” to someone who was disliked by your critics? Well listen in as Pastor Landis explains from our lesson in the gospel of St. Mark the 3rd chapter about: “Doing Good; Being Misunderstood.”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 40:1 – 16 (KJV)
Psa 40:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psa 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
Psa 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Psa 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Psa 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psa 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Psa 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Psa 40:9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
Psa 40:10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
Psa 40:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Psa 40:12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
Psa 40:13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.
Psa 40:14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
Psa 40:15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
Psa 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 3:1 – 19 (KJV)
Mark 3:1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. Mark 3:2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. Mark 3:3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. Mark 3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. Mark 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. Mark 3:7 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, Mark 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. Mark 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. Mark 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. Mark 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. Mark 3:12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known. Mark 3:13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, Mark 3:15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: Mark 3:16 And Simon he surnamed Peter; Mark 3:17 And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: Mark 3:18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, Mark 3:19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) When you set your heart on doing good, there will always be those who for various reasons will oppose you and misjudge your motives. Therefore, it must become second nature to continue regardless of every stumbling block knowing that it is God Whom we desire to please and not man.
#2) When you know for sure that the plan and course that you are pursuing is in accordance with God’s will, no matter what obstacles come against you, be aware that nothing on earth will be able to suppress you, although the flesh, the world, and the devil will never cease to hurl discouragement, anxiety, and discontentment on you in an attempt to thwart your progress.
#3) The calling of the twelve is proof positive that God works with common individuals to do that which is uncommon and that it is through them that His greatness and glory are best displayed so that they may see their good works and glorify Him in heaven.
