Mark chapter 3 in our Bibles today.
Mark chapter 3. Mark, 3 verse 1 verse 2.
Again, he entered the synagogue and a man was there with a
withered hand and they watched Jesus to see whether he would
heal him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him.
Lord with these two verses help us.
We are unable to fully grasp. What you have to say part from
the teaching work of the Holy Spirit.
And so Lord. We come with hungry Hearts, we
hunger and thirst for righteousness and Lord.
We admit, that we are distracted bunch.
And that there is a war for our affections.
But Lord with this message today win us again and Keep us.
Keep us where we're supposed to be beholding, the glory of the
Lord. And as we behold O Lord, you
promised that we would be transformed into that very same
image of moral Glory. We give ourselves to you with,
trust that you are in the midst and your name we pray.
Amen. This new chapter in The Gospel
of Mark, really just continues the theme that we concluded with
in the last verses of the previous chapter.
And in case we may have forgotten what it was that we
heard last week, the spirit of God opened up to us, the
beginnings of a new friction between Jesus and the Pharisees
around the Sabbath observance. And as we heard the Pharisees
through their tradition violated This holy weekly day that was a
gift to the people for rest to the point that it was absolutely
mangled from the original purpose that God intended for
it. But Jesus on the other hand, we
see Rebuked the Pharisees for their misapplication and and
even corrected them. When they sought to try to
condemn him and his disciples for their behavior on the
Sabbath. And the Lord concluded.
His argument by declaring his sovereignty, over the Sabbath,
and we can imagine how this made the Pharisees feel.
Since this holy day was the Apex of their empty religious
exhibition. No, there was no recorded
reaction from the Pharisees after Jesus statement of
sovereignty, there will be one in this section of scripture and
it will reveal just how Central their Twisted view of the
Sabbath was to their empty Hollow system.
But as always, the Lord Jesus has much more to offer Us in his
word than just a mere history lesson.
Every single time we come to a text like this every every time
you come to any portion of the Of God these events, these
interactions are intended to convey truths, that will cross
cultures and that will travel throughout the generation so
that God's people would understand what he asks of them.
Therefore, let him who has ears to hear hear.
And what we will hear is what God wants to say through these
two verses and why just these two verses you notice?
I didn't continue to the rest. Other verses that complete the
picture and it is because to attempt to try to cover all
these things in one setting, I believe would be an injustice to
the rich truths that we can cultivate.
If we just take our time and meditate on what these things
imply. And so we can read the rest just
to understand the context but we will meditate on the first two
verses. So we see again, he entered the
synagogue and a man was there with a withered hand and they
watch Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath so
that they might accuse him. And he said to the man, with the
withered hand come here and he said to them is it lawful on the
Sabbath to do good or to do harm to save life, or to kill, but
they were silent. And he looked around at them
with anger. He looked around with them with
anger grieved at their Hardness of Heart and said to the man
stretch out your hand, he stretched it out and his hand
was restored. The Pharisees went out and
immediately held counsel with the herodians against them.
How to destroy him in a parallel passage.
Luke tells us that Jesus entered a synagogue in an undisclosed
town on another Sabbath. It's possible that this took
place not too far along after Jesus was confronted by the
Pharisees in the grain Fields because this unpredictable Rabbi
was surely on the radar of these men who lived to expose those
who would defy the rules. And with a new level of tension
in the air, our Lord is in a public house of worship,
unconcerned about the lurking eyes of these agitated scribes
and we see here that the Pharisees end up being in the
same service. On this particular day, in fact,
in the first two verses we read of and we are told of three
Different people. Who attended the synagogue on
this sabbath morning or afternoon.
And here's what I want to present to you today.
The actions and the attitudes of each person and the first two,
verses teach us something about the range.
Of reasons that people make way into the house of worship today.
In other words, when you just really look at the heart posture
of each party that are represented in this text. we
will see something of Why it is people come to the house of God?
Why they should come to the house of God and how being in
the house of God doesn't necessarily mean that they are
in Christ. And so as you hear what I
present you today in these first two verses, this will either
encourage you or it will challenge you and I will all
really depend on where you are at in terms of your relationship
with the Assembly of God's people and how you understand,
God's house and how you fellowship with people where you
stand The Lord. And so, I just just look at
this, through the lens of Maranatha, Bible Church the
assembly, this local congregation that God has
birthed. And by his grace will maintain.
And here, what we see in these two verses and how these
different people represent again, different heart, postures
in the house of God. The first person that we read of
his Jesus himself again, he entered the synagogue, for the
word again, to be brought up, implies that Jesus made it a
habit to come into the synagogue.
In fact, Luke tells us in chapter 4 of his text, that it
was his custom and it's no mystery.
Why Jesus would find himself in these synagogues.
Remember these these community centers Were helpful to the
Israeli Community, because for those who are too distant from
the temple, this is where they could come for regular worship.
This is where they could come gather and receive the, the
reading of God's word and even singing and even praying to a
certain extent. And it was for those who long to
remain in an atmosphere where worship was being offered to God
and the Lord Jesus would make his way into these places so
that he would take advantage of this environment.
And Claimed his truth, the truth, but when you collect the
data of Jesus and his interactions with this setting,
what you will notice is that the Lord strategically and joyfully
exercised his gifts within within those arenas.
And I bring this point up because Jesus here is our
example. He would come into these
synagogues and he would teach, yes.
But besides teaching, some of the most memorable and Powerful
Miracles took place in these places.
Remember in Mark chapter wanted a man possessed with a demon was
delivered in Mark chapter 3. We see that a man with a
withered hand is going to be restored.
And in Luke 13, we read of a woman who was hunched over for
so many years because of a disabling spirit and Jesus with
his authority will rescue her All to say, what with this brief
observation, the Lord in his loving and sacrificial approach
in the Assembly of God at this time, which was the synagogue's
is an inspiration to us because his attitude contrast so
strongly with the attitude of the Pharisees.
You want to see how the Pharisees saw the synagogue's.
We're gonna have to turn with me to Luke and 11:43 as Jesus
pronounces. Woes To the Pharisees.
Notice this particular condemnation from the Lord
himself. Luke 11:43.
We read the Lord saying something very powerful.
Woe to you Pharisees for you. Love the best seat in the
synagogues, and greetings in the marketplaces.
You love the best seat in the synagogue.
The Pharisees had a habit of being present in the synagogues
as well. But for completely different
reasons these men saw these God focused places as a Them to be
celebrities. The best seats that Jesus is
referring to here. We're positioned in a way that
they would face the congregation, and they were
designated for distinguished guests and the Pharisees, love
those seats. Because they had an insatiable
yearning for recognition and for status and there was something
about those chairs that fed that carnal craving.
And it's sad to say that these leaders did not see the
synagogues as a context where they could serve, others know,
because it was a site where they could be lavished with praise
and tribute than Jesus said, woe to you for that.
And unfortunately, the same can be said for those who approach
and engage with local Ministries today, they perceive the holy
Assembly of God as a platform for their selfish opportunities
and desires where they can attain positions and titles with
little to no regard of the true purpose of when God's people
come together as we are this afternoon.
But our Lord was not like the Pharisees, our Lord did not look
for the best seat, you know what our Lord did.
He stooped to the lowest ground and wash the feet of his
servants? And in these synagogues, he was
no different. He came in to proclaim the news,
the good news to the poor, he came to preach that, which would
set the captive, free to recover, the side of the blind
to Proclaim, Liberty to those who were oppressed.
In other words, Jesus came into the Assembly of God's people.
To serve in the capacity in which the Holy Spirit has
anointed him. As the selflessness of Christ,
not inspire you. This is not stir you to reflect
the same lowliness and humbleness in our attitude and
how we relate to one another as a fellowship of brothers and
sisters. We see that the Christian life
is really a continual training of the spirited to help us take
our eyes off of what is best for us and to see what is best for
others. That's what the Holy Spirit
speaks to cultivate in us. Not to look for the best for us,
but to look for the best for others, how we can, how we can
bless them, and honor them, and and comfort them and uphold
them. And a friend.
The other night send me a verse not knowing what I Was preparing
that knowing what message I was going to share today.
And I thought it fits so perfectly with this point.
Because if there was a man in the scriptures that had such a
deep work done in him by the Lord Jesus Christ, if there was
such a miracle that took place in conversion, anybody in
history was the Apostle Paul. Have you ever considered that
the great and deep significant thing that God had cultivated in
this man? You see it in so many places and
this man dared to say by the spirits Authority, follow me as
I follow Christ, follow me as I follow Christ, and you have
people who live, That to missionary work and to preaching
and to Holiness, and abstinence from the things of this.
Yes, sure. But have you looked at the
specifics, the attitude, the mindset, the way he related to
other believers. I want you to see one place that
stimulates me and I hope it stimulates you.
I want you to see place that will challenge you to Greater
Heights of Christian love. Love that.
Jesus calls us to it's in a very Very obscure passage in 2nd
Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 15, turn there with me because I
want you to see this with your eyes.
This is Paul addressing the Corinthians.
And we see here that as he addresses them, he makes a
statement. And we'll begin in verse 14
here. For the third time, I am ready
to come to you and I will not be a burden for I will seek.
Not what is yours? But you I will seek not what is
yours, but you in other words what he's saying here is I'm not
here. I'm not here to relate to you to
get something from you. I'm here for you.
What? I can add to you.
Don't be distracted. That's okay.
Somebody will take care of that. For children are not obligated
to save up for their parents but parents for their children.
Now, notice verse 15, I will most gladly spend and be spent
for your souls. If I love you, am I to be loved
less? I'm not here to be a burden to
you. What?
He's speaking here is, I'm not here to exercise.
My gifts, my presence in your midst, my involvement in your
lives is not so that I can retrieve some monetary gain,
that's the context. I'm not here to be a burden to
you because as Believers were called to be burden bears.
Not burden creators burden beerus, right.
But look at verse 15. I will most gladly spend And be
spent for your souls. That's the great Apostle.
Yes this great Apostle said follow me as I follow Christ.
What is he saying here? He's saying I will most gladly
offer, whatever physical means I need to in order to contribute
to your sanctification, your comfort, your blessing, I will
gladly spend and he's talking about literal spending.
But then too, he says, if it means that I have to give
something of myself, I will gladly do that as well.
And and this is the thing, sometimes acts of service are
what we do by extending our belongings or making acts of
purchases or supplying in order to help another brother or
sister and to support them in various ways.
And that is not a lesser way of being a servant.
But if we're honest with ourselves, when it comes to
hesitation to be loving in our sacrifice, we are more hesitant.
When we realize that it requires something, Of our time of our
energy. When it expends us personally.
Paul says I'll gladly do either. if I need to send something your
way, if I need to send myself to you, I will gladly do either but
it doesn't end there because he goes further by stating
something that so glad the Holy Spirit left in the Bible.
And the second party says, if I love you more, am I to be
Loveless? There's hurt behind those words,
there's pain. Because what he's saying here is
The intense love that I have for you is not reciprocal.
The more I love you. The same, the less you love me.
The more I'm willing to sacrifice for you, the more you
are willing to pull back from me.
Why is my love for you? Only causing you to value and
care for me, less? That's what Paul is saying.
What a word what a word for those who serve in the church
and feel like they are not being recognized.
Listen very closely what a word for husband's, what a word for a
wives who are trying to be a Godly spouse but they cannot
find any clue of even just basic respect in return.
The word, what a word. Because what we see here is that
the Apostle knows that kind of pain.
He knows what it's like to give and give and not receive and
return. But here's the beauty of this
truth. Paul could still say that he
would greatly spend and be spent even though his love was
unappreciated even though it was not returned.
And what I want to tell you today that in Christ Jesus, such
a miracle is possible in our lives that we can arrive to such
great love for others. And Paul is very human here.
He still feels that pain where he realizes that this is not a
mutual thing and yet he can still confidently say because of
Christ in him, I'll still gladly serve.
I'm more than willing to give myself.
You say impossible, you say impossible.
You don't know who I'm married to you say impossible.
You don't know how stubborn people are in my family.
You don't understand how people in my church, don't really
recognize me. They don't even greet me.
And I tell you what is impossible for man is possible
for God, it's possible. If there's any miracle that you
would covet, would you covet this one?
There's any work of God that you would yearn for would it not be
a burning bush, or the Red Sea splitting in half?
Would it be your heart coming to this christ-like?
Love? Arriving to such a state of
Splendid sacrificial giving of self.
This was Jesus. I refuse to believe that Paul
loved more than Jesus loved and we see in this man, a work of
Christ that is available to you and I when you look around and
you see these people to your left and to your right before
you and behind you, as you do life with brothers who come
together as a church as a congregation, Would we not look
for the best for ourselves? But the best for those who are
before us, this is Paul's heart. This is Jesus heart wherever he
went, people left blessed. The second person I want to
bring to your attention in. This synagogue is a man with a
withered hand. We don't know the cause for his
lifeless limb we're not told if it was an accident or disease
that brought about this dysfunction but the severity of
this man's disability is highlighted by no other than dr.
Luke. Dr. Luke, if you remember told
us that the man that was healed from leprosy early on a few
weeks ago and Mark was full of leprosy, Mark, doesn't say that
Luke does and when you come to this text that Luke also
records, he gives us another observation that only of
physician would find necessary to make note of it's in.
Luke 6 verse 6 On another Sabbath.
He entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there
whose right hand? Was withered, Mark, doesn't say
that just his hand. Luke dr.
Luke good Doctor Luke by the spirit says, no.
No more specifically. It was his it was his right
hand. Why would the Holy Spirit want
to mention that? Well, because most people are
right-handed. And it could be that the spirit
of God mentions this as a hint that it was this man's dominant
hand, that was damaged making his Affliction all the more
challenging to live with perhaps some of us know how annoying it
is to have one of our fingers out of 10 out of service.
Imagine your whole hand hanging there.
Lifeless paralyzed for good and we might feel empathy for this
man. But I say, let's let's be
inspired by him because despite his handicap he is in a place of
worship. He is in a place of worship.
And I was looking at this and I was meditating on this.
And this is the phrase that came to my mind.
This man was withered but he was worshipful withered, but
worshipful. Now here's the point that I make
from this, what kind of Revelation that this man had
that most Believers can't seem to come to terms with in other
words, why is it so hard to convince Christians to
comprehend the absolute gift that the Gathering of the Saints
is Why is it that when people are shriveled up, if I can use
that word, symbolically shrivel up, spiritually, shriveled up,
emotionally shriveled up financially, they avoid the very
place that was divinely designed to provide strength and
encouragement. That's my question, we're not
told whether or not this man was a regular member of the
synagogue, but this is the thing that we see because he
prioritized worship. Oh, he encountered a blessing.
That was unimaginable. What if this, man?
This unnamed fellow skipped. Synagogue this day.
You might debate me. I say he wouldn't have been
healed. What if he thought to himself?
Yeah, really in the mood. To go to synagogue today.
I'll just live stream it. And this actual healing.
Provides a symbolic lesson to encourage us not to miss the
blessings that can only be found in public worship.
And The Fellowship of the brethren.
Thomas did that to remember when the disciples were gathered in
the upper room and Jesus showed up, guess who was missing
Thomas, Thomas chose to live stream that day.
I don't want to miss when Jesus will show up.
And he has a habit of showing up where God's people Gather in his
name. This man again, was his first
time that he heard. Jesus coming to his synagogue.
So he made a first appearance or was he there regularly?
I don't know, but I like to visualize this man with his
right hand tucked. Maybe wearing a longer sleeve
because he was embarrassed about it and yet still coming to the
house of God with faith in his heart because he knew that there
was something more important than his body being whole, but
his soul being blessed. You and I are charged to come in
here whether we are broken or whether we are blessed.
Because when we come in here, God wants to bless us again.
And again, and again, I don't want to show you the variations
of spiritual. handicaps and the instruction that are given to
them and one simple verse it's in the book of First
Thessalonians, chapter 5, This is one of my favorite verses
when it comes to relating to the Brethren and fellowship. 1st
Thessalonians. Chapter 5.
Verse 14. 1st Thessalonians. Chapter 5.
Verse 14. May this verse be chained around
our hearts and we urge you, Paul saying this is urgent.
This is like emergency stuff and we urge you Brothers, admonish
the idol, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be
patient with them all, or how we need, that one be patient with
them. All this verse proves, that even
among believers who are committed to one another, you
have Um, who are in Covenant with Christ, who might be idle,
who might be faint-hearted, who might be weak?
What does it mean to be idle? Another way of understanding it
is to be unsupportive to be. Idle means to be unsupportive
because of carelessness or because of criticism, it speaks
of a Believer who is not involved, not engaged but who is
distant due to distraction or even because of bitterness, so
their Idol, they're not active, they're not here, really,
they're here. But they're not here.
They're kind of on the horizon, the kind of on the And they are
idle and impulses, hey, you Believers Brothers, you gotta
warn these ones and you got to let him know that danger of
remaining in such a place of complacency and contempt, it's
dangerous. So admonish them.
Then he goes on to speak about the faint-hearted, describing
those who are easily feared, those who are given to worry,
they don't deal well with transitions in life.
They don't deal well with missions and ministry, right?
It's like when something happens in the church it's like it
messes them up for months. They're shaken easily by the
news of the threat of persecution, and they can't seem
to stomach and they can't seem to stand firm when their
spiritual warfare within. And Paul tells these brothers.
Oh, would you encourage the faint-hearted?
Would you come alongside them and remind them of the
faithfulness of God of the presence of God and all of our
troubles? And he says the week, help the
weak who are the week? Those who are not spiritually
disciplined. So they are, there are wobbly
and their defense against Temptation.
They seem to always be tempted to lapse into a more reality and
they don't seem to graduate at the desired Pace in godliness.
They need special attention. These guys need like 24/7.
Around-the-clock accountability. They need to be reminded of
God's goodness and God's warnings about Sin and really
just rehearsing the basic truths of the faith.
Paul says, to the brothers help these guys help them lock arms
with them. Give your number to them, be
available to them. And what I love is when it comes
to the idle, when it comes to the faint-hearted, when it comes
to the week, you know what our temptation is as brothers, who
might not be caught Either of those things is to be frustrated
with them. When will you get it?
I wouldn't you snap out of it. It's been so long the holy
spirit says be patient. Growth is not overnight.
Healing is not immediate. Oh we wish it was but be
patient, it will come. Don't give up.
Now it's clear that this verse is designated for the strong.
It's an instruction for the brothers who are not in any of
these pits but can reach down and pull somebody out of it.
But I want us to see this verse and the opposite end.
In other words, pay attention to this.
If you are idle, if you are faint hearted, if you are weak.
According to this verse from, where does a major aspect of
your help come from your brothers?
Your brothers. That's what I see out of it.
You endanger yourself. When you remove yourself from
the brothers and just like this withered, man, we are risk of
remaining in that condition of weakness and disability.
When we refuse to allow Christ, do to us what he did to that,
man. And that's heal us through the
members of his body, his hands and feet, the Church of Jesus
Christ. So I hope this encourages every
person in here to know that you can come you can come in your
Brokenness. In fact you must come Because
there are Elders here. And there are brothers here, and
there are sisters here, who will admonish you and encourage you,
and help you, no matter what you are withered with, no matter
what it is, whether it's your faith, whether it's your heart
that's been shattered, whether it's your marriage, whether it's
your relationship with your children, do not miss how Christ
can bring about life to you as you choose to be before him.
You choose to throw yourself in his very presence and the
presence of God's people, you beam a signal, how he can
strengthen you and what seems to be without hope without life
without a pulse. We come to the third party in
the story. We looked at Jesus.
What an example for us to look for the best in others, not for
the best for ourselves. We look at this withered man.
That even when we're not doing the best, We come to the
brothers. Even if you come and limping,
even if you come rolling in because you don't even have the
strength to gird up, your loins come and this place which will
be a, holy hospital, will bind you, and build you and be
patient with you and care for you until you can walk again
until you can serve again until you can see again.
But there is a last last group. The first two are positive.
The last is negative. Come back to Mark with me in
chapter 3 again. He entered the synagogue verse
one and a man was there with a withered hand and they watch
Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath so that
they might accuse him that they I'm sure you guessed it.
According to Luke tells us that they were the scribes and the
Pharisees and they came to watch Jesus.
But not for the reasons that we would hope these men have
reached the point. And their relationship with
Jesus that they wanted to study his every move his every move
they became spies to try to find fault in him.
And when they came to, the synagogue to say, whether they
followed Jesus, they were there in attendance.
And Jesus knew they were there. They made the connection man,
and one of the pews is withered Jesus, who can heal is in the
midst of. Let's see if he will break one
of our laws. Which I find funny because even
in that thinking, you're indirectly admitting that this
man Jesus of Nazareth has the ability to heal.
It's incredible. And as these Pharisees observed,
they knew who Jesus was to a degree.
They knew what he was able to do, but listen to this, they
still did not know him. What do I mean these Pharisees
knew who he was knew what he was able to do, but they did not
know him in a saving way. You know, what breaks my heart
about this passage. This is the beauty about
studying the word of God consecutively, and in order,
prior to this Jesus corrected these men he exposed their
hypocrisy. Pointing out the holes and their
legalism. And yet based on verse 2 of
chapter 3, no sign of conviction.
No sign of change. No Brokenness no consideration
about where they could be wrong, and they're standing with God,
nothing of the sort. In fact, what you see with these
men as that? They're just hardened, all the
more and they heard his teaching and they beheld, his glory, and
here, they are sitting in the presence of the best, teacher
best preacher, best miracle worker.
Unsaved. Lost is lost, can be.
Here's my fear that, what was true for these Pharisees, as
they find themselves in a spiritual atmosphere and
surrounding can be possible for those even in a setting like
this, this afternoon. Jesus.
Is there the Pharisees are there?
But there is no connection, no salvation, No Redemption, and it
reminds me. It reminds me of the words of
some of the people that will say at that final day, when the Lord
will look and say, where did you come from?
And they would come up with this amazing.
Amazing argument that in their minds thought would persuade
Jesus that they did know each other.
Not Matthew 7:21, it's another place in it is extremely
insightful. I think it's important for
churches to rehearse that truth from time to time, especially as
new people come in. It's in Luke again.
Luke 13:25. Luke 13:25.
When Once to the Master of the House has risen and shut the
door and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door
saying Lord open to us then he will answer you.
I do not know where you come from.
That's like a crushing statement, that's a crushing
statement but look at verse 26 then you will begin to say.
We ate and drank in your presence.
And you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I
do not know where you come from depart from me all you workers
of evil. Such a sobering text.
Do you see what Jesus says about these Eternal Outcast they will
begin to say we ate and drank in your presence and you taught in
our neighborhoods? Jesus and say you're lying.
He didn't call them out because of a bluff.
He and his silence acknowledges that.
That is true. In other words, these people one
day on the final day will appeal to the fact that they were those
who, who sat under teachings about Jesus, and we're even in
Fellowship, eating and drinking, and feasting with those who did
so under the banner of Jesus. But Jesus will say aye, but
you're a stranger to me, I don't know you but Lord.
We were there. We were there to every pot luck
and we were there and every service and we were there at the
conference's, we were there in your presence.
We were there eating and drinking with you and in our
context with God's people and there will be a thundering
pronouncement, from the lips of the Holy judge.
I don't know where you come from.
Why? Because people make the Fatal
mistake and thinking that being around, Jesus is the same as
being in Jesus. But being in close proximity to
the presence of Jesus Christ and the presence of Jesus Christ.
And his people is not the same as the presence of Christ
abiding in you and me, not the same.
So, to qualify that we are in Jesus because we are with Jesus
people. And we hear about Jesus, and we
sing about Jesus is a dangerous dangerous place, to put your
Assurance in mind. And this is my sincere prayer.
That not one here, not 1111 not one here.
Who watches what Jesus does in this place.
And hears about Jesus week after week.
Who doesn't have the assurance that they are numbered among the
redeemed. That's my prayer every week
before coming to this pulpit. That there would be no
Pharisees. No Pharisees, who studied Jesus
but not for the reason. That would save them.
But here's the Hope because when you come to this group of
people, it's amazing how much attention is given to the
Pharisees throughout the life of Jesus.
It's just amazing. It makes you wonder if Jesus
really wants us to know, to know the characteristics of such men
and the dangers of following in their steps, some would say that
these Pharisees were just like the destined enemies of Christ.
And there is no hope for them. And some of us might be
discouraged even because we might know Pharisee like people
where they again. Watch what Jesus is doing there
in the presence of Jesus to an extent.
But there is no significant evidence that there is a saving
work done in their hearts. If there is any group in the
Bible that would be near impossible to being saved.
It was the Pharisees, Jesus didn't pronounce woes to the
prostitutes or to the tax collectors or to the zealots, he
pronounced woes to one group of people and that was the
Pharisees. And in my reading, I'm currently
an axe in my reading. I was just brushing Through acts
and it came to a certain chapter and there was this this little
hint and this hint just exploded from the pages.
And I thought to myself, maybe because we're going through
Mark, wow! What an awesome gospel.
We have, what a powerful gospel we have, would you like to see
it? You have a choice.
And I asked, and this is our final text this afternoon.
Let this inspire you. That the most stubborn, those
who are vehemently against our Christ.
Those who seem unsavable though, they are in the midst.
Of gospel, preaching of Gospel, Power of gospel.
Testimony, look at Acts chapter 15 with me, and notice a little
phrase that we might we might have not meditated on and
consider the implications of Verse 4, when they came to
Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and
the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
But some believers who belong to the party of the, who the
Pharisees Rose up and said it is necessary to circumcise him and
to order them to keep the law of Moses.
Now this is, this is so like almost contradicting to our
experience with the Pharisees that even some people who when
they read that phrase, but some believers who belong to the
party, the feels like, they're not true believers, they're
fake. They like acknowledge the
doctrines of Jesus, and they may be believed that he did raise
from that, but they were not truly regenerate, hold on, if
the Holy Spirit, It wanted to tell us that they weren't saved,
he would not. Have said they are believers.
He could have easily said but some who belong to the party of
the Pharisees, and the scene would have, made sense, still
Believers, Believers believers, who are not yet mature, clearly
because they were so gripped by their habit of observing
ceremonial laws and and being lawkeepers.
Yes that's clear here but Believers nonetheless.
Christ can say, the Pharisee. This gospel can save the
Pharisee. Yes, even the one who has been
in the same place for years. And they're still heathens
self-righteous unfruitful. No testimony.
They laugh and talk and text during the sermons.
They don't participate in singing.
They have no inclusion and they just watch what Jesus is doing.
Even they can be saved. That's how powerful this truth
is. So I'm not intimidated nor am?
I discouraged when I look out and see different reasons to why
people come to the Assembly of God.
I am not shaken because I believe that Jesus can do
Miracles today. Still, he can do miracles in the
Christian who seeks to do, what is best for them and change
them, like, he changed Paul to say.
I will gladly spend and be spent for you.
Even if you don't love me, I will love you and lavish my love
upon you, he can do that and Is The Miracle Worker where
somebody can come in withered and broken and smash my life.
But then, through his members, through his hands and feet, such
a person can be sustained and strengthened for another day and
he can even save the Pharisee. Oh miracles happen here.
Week after week, do not take this assembly lightly when we
come together. God can do Miracles and I
encourage you don't miss the blessings.
That Jesus has reserved every week here at Maranatha Bible
Church glory. Be to God.
Let's pray. Lord with these two verses as
our portion. Thank you for feeding us.
Thank you for admonishing us. Encouraging us, helping us.
Lord, we just ask that. There would be I revived love.
For the house of God. Lord, it seems to be a very
consistent theme in the past few weeks for our church. so, we
take heed Help us be like your son who was anointed by the
spirit to serve anoint us to serve.
Help us in our Brokenness like that, unnamed men.
Do not remove ourselves from where you have proclaimed
healing. but in our idleness, in our weakness and our
faintheartedness, To give ourselves to your people.
And to experience a miracle in our faith and Lord for the
Pharisees. The Pharisees who might be in
attendance? Help us.
Oh, God Trust. That your word proclaimed, and
our prayers can save a Pharisee and you can make a Paul out of
that Pharisee. But Lord, we don't want to be
those who are familiar with your presence.
And who eat and drink with God's people, but do not have your
presence living in us. So even if there's one in here
father, that that cannot attest to being born again.
That in this place where you do Miracles because your word is
preached and your people are gathered and Covenant with you.
Oh, Lord, change that person. Change that person.
We trust that you will in Lord, we rejoice in you, we rejoice
and how deep your word is and how rich it is.
And we want to just glorify glorify who you are even in
these two verses this afternoon in Jesus name, we pray.
Amen, let's stand and Worship the Lord.