These days in our society, rest is often undervalued. We feel we cannot rest because we will fall behind or let others down. We feel guilty after we do rest. Many employers expect us to work more. Even within the Church, some congregation members feel they cannot rest because they are so busy with church work.
Mark 2:27 ESV
[27] And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
God did not need to rest, but God did after He created the world. He took the time to reflect and enjoy His creation.
Our world always wants a little more. We, too , want a little more. A little more will help us. However, when we rest, we show our faith in God. It is enough. We can take time to enjoy what we have and know God will take care of us.
As we go on our Fall Picnic, we can reflect on God's creation and consideration. We can show how much we trust in God and trust that He will care for us.
Jesus was on his way to see Jairus' house to heal his twelve-year-old
daughter. A crowd had surrounded Jesus and as people were pressing around him a
sick women touched Jesus' clothes with the intention of being healed. What
happens next is a miracle. The woman is healed, and Jesus knows that His
healing power has left him. The healing is amazing, but more amazing is that
Jesus was able to determine that someone had touched him to be healed. After
the woman confess what had happened, Jesus gives a strong and pertinent message
to all Christians regardless of their status or gender.
And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in
peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Mark 5:34 ESV
The sick women had lost everything and suffered trying to be healed over
many years. No doubt her hope had been dashed many times and may have even been
conned by people offering promises they knew they could not keep or worse,
sincere people trying to heal her but failing in their attempts and further
crushing her spirit.
And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she
had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
Mark 5:25-26 ESV
Obviously, the women had heard that Jesus was a healer and wanted to be cured
by him. Jesus was her last hope, but how could a woman, and a sick one at that,
get an audience with Jesus. She believed so much in Jesus that she convinced
herself that just by touching Jesus' clothes she could be healed.
She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the
crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I
will be made well.”
Mark 5:27-28 ESV
Miracles do happen and science cannot explain everything. Often modern
medicine cannot fix all our health problems, and it often cannot heal them
completely at every level. In this case, the woman not only was healed
physically, but she had received salvation from Jesus.
But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and
trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.
Mark 5:33 ESV
The woman told Jesus the whole truth. She left nothing out but spoke to
Jesus about what Jesus had done for physically but also spiritually. The woman
confesses that Jesus is the truth and the way to eternal life.
If we do not embrace the truth completely that God gives through His
son, Jesus, our lives will be full of confusion, pain, and doubt. We cannot just
hear the word; we must experience the word. Jesus’ response is simple and for
all sons and daughters of God.
And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in
peace, and be healed of your disease.”
Mark 5:34 ESV
It is our faith that allows the power of God to work in our lives.
For some Christians, they come to church on Sundays to get an eternal
insurance; however, these Christians will not experience the power of God
because they do not put in the effort that is needed to do their job.
Jesus also tells her to go in peace. Before encountering Jesus, she did
not have peace in her life. Her life before was suffering and loss, but now she
has Jesus with her. What more could she want? What more could anyone want. People who have heard about Jesus will not have this
peace. The woman had heard about Jesus, but it was not until she touched Jesus that her life was restored. It is the people who have experienced Jesus who will have peace.
Sons and daughters of God have the privilege to have the peace of God and
not practice sin. Jesus gives us the ability not to live in sin and be free of
its grip. Let us practice that privilege while doing the good works set before us by God.
The reason Jesus called the disciples to him for service was so that they would have eternal life. Jesus taught them and trained them so that they would be saved and go to heaven. The disciples need to grow in their faith in Jesus so they would have eternal power.
Jesus sends out the disciples who experience great miracles and victory. In Mark 6:7-13, immediately after these victories of experiencing the power of the Lord, there is a change in mood. In Mark 6:14-29, we read about John the Baptist's beheading. The disciples became discouraged. After the shocking execution of John the Baptist, Jesus performs the miracle of feeding the 5000. This pendulum lifestyle is to train the disciples for a transitory life. The disciples need to understand that the material blessings in the world are not permanent just like the painful difficulties.
Soon after the feeding the 5000, Jesus sends his disciples in a boat ahead of Him while He prays in the mountains. The boat hits rough waters and makes little progress in its travels. Jesus knows about their troubles and sees the distress of the disciples, yet He waits until a later time to help.
And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, Mark 6:48 ESV
Jesus delays manifesting his love to show the disciples who they are and what their true hearts are. Despite the skills of the disciples, some of them were fishermen, they could not help themselves in the storm. The disciples needed help in a situation that they should have been able to do on their own strength. By waiting, Jesus was able to teach a lesson to the disciples to help them grow their faith.
As Christians we need to understand that we are not exempt from hardships. We should remember that when we are going through low moments, that Jesus is still with us. Jesus may delay his love for us because He wants us to grow or to learn something.
When we are threatened by difficult times, we must understand that it is God who is directing it all. God is with us and He is aware of what we are experiencing and feeling. God is allowing these situations to happen so that we will lift our eyes to Him and understand how much we need God.
If Jesus had allowed the disciples to stay on land and be with the people who were feed miraculously, they may have become arrogant or content without growth. Instead the disciples were instructed with a simple task of taking a boat out to meet Jesus on the side. Whatever pride the disciples had was tested when they could not cross over and Jesus had to walk on the water to calm the sea.
And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, Mark 6:51 ESV
Jesus loves us and wants us to mature spiritually. To mature we need training and struggles to bring us to the level of honesty and growth which Jesus demands of all His disciples.
Many of members are on vacation and travelling. There is a time for everything and time off from work and school is much needed. This also means while members of the congregation are traveling, there are more empty pews which make the church look rather empty. Please remember to pray for those travelling that they will be safe and will be useful in doing the Lord's work. Also remember to pray for those who are able to attend for other reasons. We should always encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ to attend church.
Of course, for some of our volunteers the work never ends. There are so many people doing good work in so many ways. Someone sets up chairs, someone else prepares the food, others set up tables and put out the food and finally they get together to clean up.
Thank God for people who are willing to work behind the scenes and expect no reward to make the church a better place. Every little bit of service is remembered by God.
Please watch today's sermon. Pastor Donald talks about how we, as Christians, misunderstand Jesus' love for us when we have to wait. This sermons shows three lessons to learn about "The Love Delayed" from Mark 6:45-52.
Speaker:
Pastor Enoch Hanokh
Sunday March 06, 2016
Message:
What Shall Cause A Man To Be Ashamed Of Christ Jesus And Of His Word?
Grounding
Scripture(s): Mark 8:31-38
Introduction
We are in an age
that does not defer to the knowledge of God let alone acknowledge the person of
Christ Jesus and His Word. And yet, it
is in the very person of Him and His Word that the knowledge of God unto
salvation for the sinful man is hidden; this is the wisdom of the shame of
Christ. Will I be willing to be identified with the shame of Christ? Or will I be
ashamed of Him in defense of my own ‘reputation’ in order to win the fleeting-flirting
embraces of this sinful world?
The traps that we should not fall for.
1. Rejection of suffering
and shame of Christ: Vs. 31, 38 (the hidden treasure of God’s wisdom (I Peter
2:4-6).
-Not
Eternal purpose centered love: There not Christ centered love
-Self-preservation
instead of Eternal purpose
-Unbelief
2. Zeal without
knowledge. Vs. 32-33.
-Deviation
from Eternal purpose of God
-Opposition
to Eternal purpose of God
-Lose of focus on
Eternal purpose of God
3. Friendship with the
world: Self-belief; self-indulgence; tolerance for the world; self-love etc… Vs
34-5. 1 John 2:15-17
-Not
accepting the cost
-Friendship
with the world; “evil communication corrupting good manners”
-Whoring
with the world (for material gain?)
Daejeon Onnuri English Ministry: Sunday March 6, 2016
SMALL GROUP STUDY ON THE MESSAGE: “What Shall Cause A
Man To Be Ashamed Of Christ Jesus And Of His Word?”
Based on today’s
message, let us consider the following two questions in sharing with one
another the understanding and insight we have received from the Word of God. We
are also encouraged to share with others how we want to apply the meaning of
today’s message in our personal Christian life.
1. Discussion the three
‘traps’/ways that cause a man to be ashamed of Christ Jesus and His Word
instead of embracing Him and His Word.
2. In rejecting Christ
Jesus and His Word, what do some people (Christians) embrace instead?
3. As Christians,
what should be our focus?
4. Is it possible
to be Christians and friends of the world at the same time?
5. What does our
LORD Jesus want us to do?-Application question……
