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Jesus, Teacher, And Savior
Mark 4:2, 'And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,'
MARK 4:1-12
The Greek word used here for 'doctrine' means 'teaching' and occurs a total of 30 times in the New Testament. The four gospels refer to Jesus teaching 43 times and preaching 19 times, and six verses refer to Him preaching and teaching in the same verse. This would indicate that Jesus spent twice as much time teaching as He did preaching. Jesus' teaching is the basic building block of making disciples and a stumbling block to the religious.
Why is it that a person who is seeking so hard to please God can be rejected, while a person who has not sought God at all can come into a righteous relationship...
To Whom Much Is Given
Matthew 12:43, 'When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.'
MATTHEW 12:43-45
Most often, verses 43-45 are used to teach about demon possession and deliverance from evil spirits. Jesus made it clear that getting rid of an unclean spirit is only a part of deliverance. You must also fill the place that was previously occupied by the demonic spirit with the presence and power of God as protection. If a person is cleansed from an evil spirit but left 'empty,' the spirit will return with even more spirits and the individual will be much worse off. Simply being empty of the devil, but not full of God, is a very dangerous and short-lived condition. True...
O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING?
BELOW IS A POWERFUL SCRIPTURE ON TWO PARTS. YOU NOTICE HE "GAVE UP THE GHOST" AS NO ONE COULD TAKE HIS LIFE FROM HIM. THE NEXT IS THAT THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS RENT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. NO MAN COULD DO THIS. READ AND ENJOY.
Just Words
Matthew 12:37, 'For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.'
MATTHEW 12:34-37
God created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in the earth by His words (Heb. 11:3). The whole creation was made by, and responds to, words. Our words, when spoken in faith, release either life or death (Prov. 18:21) and will affect people, things, and circumstances. We can release the power that is in faith by our words.
Every word counts. There is no such things as an 'idle' word which will not work for us or against us. Our words can be our most powerful weapon against the devil, or they can become a snare of the devil (Prov. 6:2). Faith-filled words can move mountains.
The...
Rest And Re-fire
Mark 6:31, 'And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.'
MATTHEW 14:13-21; MARK 6:30-44; LUKE 9:10-17; JOHN 6:1-14
Jesus often separated Himself from others so that He could spend time with the Father. Here, we see Jesus calling His disciples apart for rest and leisure. Many zealous Christians have neglected the needs of their physical bodies and have, therefore, cut their ministries short through death or severe illness. Likewise, many have failed to take the time to be still and know God (Ps. 46:10). This will also cut your ministry short through non-effectiveness. One of Satan's deadliest...
DURING EASTER TIME, WHY SHOULD WE BE AS HOLY AS WE CAN? IT IS NOT TO TRY TO KEEP OUR SALVATION BUT TO STOP SATAN FROM STEALING OUR FAITH AND GIVING HIM AN OPEN INVITATION TO DO HIS EVIL IN OUR LIVES. HE WILL TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS. HE DOES IT BY SETTING THINGS IN FRONT OF US THAT WILL TEMPT US TO SIN. FOR INSTANCE, HE WILL HAVE SOMEONE MAKE YOU MAD SO YOU WILL EITHER DO OR SAY SOMETHING YOU SHOULDN'T. I AM SURE YOU CAN THINK OF MANY WAYS HE HAS DONE THIS TO YOU. WE MUST BE CAREFUL AND STAY STRONG. EPHESIANS 6:10 SAYS "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." WE NEED TO PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD TO KEEP US STRONG AND PROTECTED AND NOT LET THE DEVIL HAVE PLACE IN OUR LIVES.
IF WE ARE GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON JESUS THIS WEEK WE MUST SHOW HIS LOVE FOR PEOPLE. DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY ABOUT JESUS SPITTING ON THE GROUND AND MAKING MUD OUT OF IT AND PUTTING IT ON A BLIND MAN EYES? HE TOLD HIM TO GO WASH IT OFF IN THE POOL OF SILOAM, WHICH HE DID AND CAME BACK SEEING. THE PHARISEES DID NOT BELIEVE THE MAN HAD BEEN BORN BLIND SO THEY CALLED HIS PARENTS AND ASK THEM. THEY TOLD THEM THAT HE WAS THEIR SON AND WAS BORN BLIND BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW HE RECEIVED HIS SIGHT AND SAID HE IS OF AGE, ASK HIM. THEY WERE AFRAID BECAUSE ANYONE WHO BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS CHRIST WOULD BE PUT OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE.