What through the years has caused the existence of so many different denominations, cults, and religious movements, and in some cases atheism or agnosticism to sweep through the world’s population? Is there one major thing that connects to all this confusion? Just what did Jesus say about this reality when He taught in the Bible days? Well, this week our study in the gospel of Saint Mark deals with this important topic. Listen in as Pastor Fisher teaches a lesson called: “Obtaining Victory in the Clash of Ideas”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1 – 11 (KJV)
Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Isa 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Isa 55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
Isa 55:5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 7:8 – 16 (KJV)
Mark 7:8 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. Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mark 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: Mark 7:11 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. Mark 7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: Mark 7:15 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. Mark 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) Due to the fact that God made man as a free moral agent, {meaning that we have a the ability to make a choice whether right or wrong,} and that He has chosen to allow us dominion, through the ages of time, man has made many bad choices that have created all the confusion that currently exists in the world and even in the church and among other religious circles.
#2) Since the fall of Adam, man’s senses have been tainted with sin and there has always been a tendency for fallen men to deviate further away from true righteousness and equity toward God and among men; even and perhaps especially, within “religious” circles, which constitutes the reason for men creating rituals, ceremonies, rites, creeds, and such things in order to accommodate their own sins and to rationalize the consensus of the populous rather than upholding the righteous standard of God and the Word of the grace of God Who has provided unmerited salvation to be possessed in all times by faith.
#3)The basis of all righteousness and law, morality and justice, wisdom and understanding proceeds from God, and has been made available to those who believe through the Spirit of God and the Word of God and, when it is rightly divided, taught and understood: This must be the foundation of all principle and the beginning point when analyzing any human situation.
