Have you ever been considered fanatical or strange because you speak of Jesus, the bible, or the Holy Spirit, or some other doctrine or issue from a biblical view-point? Have you ever been confronted by anyone who denies what the Scriptures teach about salvation, the deity of the Christ, or the narrow way that leads to righteousness which is only through God’s grace by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and faith in Him alone? Well listen in as Pastor Landis explains from our lesson in the gospel of St. Mark the 3rd chapter about: “Walking With Jesus Against the Tide ”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 61:1 – 8 (KJV)
A Psalm of David.
Psa 61:1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
Psa 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psa 61:3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
Psa 61:4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
Psa 61:5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
Psa 61:6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
Psa 61:7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
Psa 61:8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 3:20 – 35 (KJV)
Mark 3:20 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. Mark 3:21 And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. Mark 3:23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? Mark 3:24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark 3:26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. Mark 3:27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Mark 3:28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Mark 3:30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. Mark 3:31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. Mark 3:32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. Mark 3:33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? Mark 3:34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! Mark 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) The more that we are transformed into Christ-likeness, the more unusual we will be perceived by the fallen world around us for many reasons:
a) clean living is a rebuke to those who practice and applaud sinful actions.
b) Speaking about Christian topics such as the Kingdom, salvation, righteousness, truth, prophecy, end-times, the judgment of God, etc tend to provoke un-reconciled sinners to either shame or to scorn.
c) The God-given light possessed by true believers cannot be hidden and is a beautiful thing to be desired, although it is a difficult thing to confess if you are not a possessor of it.
#2) Governments, unsaved friends and family members, and false and anti-religionists create a tide of opposition against those whose eyes are opened to the light of the gospel of Christ Jesus and the completeness, authority and integrity of the bible; but the saved must see the truth as the pearl of great price worthy of cashing in all things of this life to obtain it, and that these opponents are not our enemies but our mission field.
#3) The Apostles learned to suffer many things even death because they learned the lesson that the greatest pursuit in life is to be saved by Him who demonstrated that He alone is the solution to death and therefore worthy of deepest devotion and to be preached to all the world to make known God’s unfailing and perfect love.
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