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...
ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW THAT GOD HAS THOUGHTS OF PEACE TOWARD US. THAT IS WHAT JEREMIAH 29:11 SAYS, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." JUST TO THINK THAT THE GOD OF THIS WHOLE UNIVERSE, THE ONE WHO CREATED US AND EVERYTHING, THINKS ABOUT US. WHEN READING THIS, WE HAVE TO REALIZE THIS WAS HUNDREDS OF YEARS BEFORE JESUS, OUR SAVIOR, WAS EVEN BORN. I WOULD ASSUME THAT THE "EXPECTED END" WOULD BE OUR SALVATION AND OUR BEING ABLE TO LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER. THAT IS AN "EXPECTED END" I AM GOING TO ENJOY.
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...