Calm In The Storm

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And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Mark 4:37

The disciples were caught in a fierce storm, they all believed they were going to die. When they looked at Jesus he was sleeping in the boat. What? How can Jesus not care? How can he just sleep while we are dying here?

We probably sometimes feel like the disciples in this boat. When were going through a storm in our life, we question “Where is God”? We question “How can God allow me to go through this?” But notice Jesus response

And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40

Jesus response to them was “What’s wrong with you guys, don’t you know who I AM”? We say that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but do our actions reflect that? When life gets tough , do we panic or do we have faith knowing who Jesus is?

Jesus asked his disciples “Do you still have no faith”? The disciples have witnessed many miracles and heard the teachings of Christ directly, yet they still had doubts when the Storms of Life come rolling through

They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:41

With just one word Jesus rebuked the Storm and everything became calm and still again. If there is any question about Jesus deity, look at what Jesus just did here. He has complete control of the entire world , even the wind and seas obey him.

Don’t lose your faith during the Storms of Life, know that Jesus is with you in that boat, and know that Jesus has the power and authority to calm that storm Amen!

Mustard Seed

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And He said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? Mark 4:30

When we think about the Kingdom of God (Heaven) how can we even begin to fathom? The book of Revelation gives us more description on Heaven , however Jesus is giving us a parable for us to ponder.

Through the parable of the Mustard Seed, we can see the Kingdom of God has grown from One man taking on the wages of the sins of the world, and has grown into the largest religion in the world

“It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that THE BIRDS OF THE AIR can NEST UNDER ITS SHADE.” Mark 4:31-32

When we think about Christianity, its still the largest religion in the world. Over 2 billion people declare themselves Christian, and by 2050 its estimated to be over 3 billion. Now we can debate whether all these people are truly “Christian”, however you get my point, the Body of Christ is large even in a depraved world like today.

But now lets think about how it all began, the Son of God born in a stable. Born to poor parents in a small town. Yet this one man, Jesus Christ, changed the entire world one disciple at a time. Before there was great Cathedral Church buildings there was the “Upper Room” of Jesus modest home where he taught the Word of God and broke bread with his disciples.

Jesus planted the Mustard Seed, and it grew into the Body of Christ today. So whatever your doing today for Jesus, don’t think its too small to make an impact. Think about the Mustard Seed, and plant it and let God grow your ministry with the Holy Spirit Amen!

Greater Prophet

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The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. Deuteronomy 18:15

While reading this from a Christian perspective, this may not seem like a big statement by Moses. However lets remember who Moses was at this time. Moses at this time was the greatest prophet that lived. He talked to God face to face on Mt Sinai, He parted the Red Sea with God and marched the Israelites to safety. With God, Moses brought the deadly plagues to Egypt to show Pharaoh that Yahweh was the One True God

Up till this time,nobody has ever seen anyone like Moses, but Moses now said somebody even greater than him is coming. How can someone be even greater than Moses, a man who talked to God personally as a friend? Because Jesus is the Son of God, the Word in living Flesh!

As Moses predicted the Messiah (Christ) would come from Israel, as Jesus did. And he performed greater miracles than Moses, The Great I AM has come into the flesh!

“Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. Acts 3:22

Some might say well Moses was referring to Joshua. Well Peter confirms by the Holy Spirit, that Moses was referring to Jesus Christ. Peter reveals to them they killed their own Messiah but God raised him from the dead (Acts 3:15)

Everyone who does not listen to Him (Jesus) will be completely cut off from among HIS people (Acts 3:23)  Jesus is the only way to salvation, rejection of him is rejection of eternal life!

Parable of The Sower

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“Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow;  Mark 4:3

Today we are taking a look at the “Parable of the Sower” The nice thing about this parable is Jesus actually explains what the symbolism means later on in the Chapter. This parable shows us how different people respond differently to the gospel

as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. Mark 4:4

The sower sows the word. These are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. Mark 4:14-15

Ok so here Jesus explains that the sower(farmer) is us and the seed is the Word of God. When we share the gospel with others, we are sowing seeds. Whether or not people received that seed (Word of God) is up to them. But its our job to plant that seed, crops wont grow without seed. Just like disciples wont be made without a preacher

This first group of people, the birds are symbolic for Satan. As soon as people here the Word of God, Satan quickly tries to influence them to reject the Word of God. We see this a lot today with Atheism, Agnostics, ect. Satans goal is to take away the authority and validity of the Word of God

Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. Mark 4:5-6

In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. Mark 4:16-17

This next group of people actually receive the Word of God however the suffer persecution and fall away from their faith. This group is most likely the persecuted Christians of the world.

Jesus never said we would have an easy life, he did promise us eternal life. As a Christian there will be persecution and trials, however if your faith is deeply rooted in Christ, you wont fall away from your faith. Jesus is our Rock, the Chief Cornerstone

Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. Mark 4:7

“And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19

This group also receives the Word of God however are deceived with a False Gospel. This is the problem with false doctrines like “Prosperity Gospel” people believe in God for the wrong reasons.

This group are “Worldly Christians” they live for money and prosperity rather than living for Christ. When they realize the Gospel that they believe in is false, they usually fall away from the faith because they really never had any to begin with. Jesus calls this group “Lukewarm Christians”

Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” Mark 4:8

And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” Mark 4:20

The good news is there is still a group, that does accept the true Word of God, they stay strong in their faith and actually produce good fruit. When we are faithful to God we will see the fruits of our labor. We must learn to keep the faith, even during trials and tribulations, because God is faithful!

The question is what group do you belong to? Hopefully you belong to that last group, without true faith or hearing of Gods Word, you are not truly saved.

Children of God

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Answering them, He said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” Mark 3:33

One day while Jesus was teaching, somebody told him his family has come to see him. Jesus answering rhetorically , asked “Who are my mother and brothers? What was Jesus saying here? Did he really forget who his family was? Of course not, Jesus was answering rhetorically to teach everyone a valuable lesson about their relationship with God.

Typically we are related to our family by blood (birth) or adoption. However the New Covenant which Jesus established on the cross, we will become Children of God by the blood of Christ. No longer will we be strangers or aliens to God, but we will be in his Covenant as his Children

“For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35

Whoever is in the New Covenant are Children of God. How do you become a part of the New Covenant? By Repenting of your sins, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Sin is what separates us from God, the blood Jesus shed on the cross is your atonement to bring you back to the Covenant of God

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

By your Faith in Jesus Christ, you are a Child of God. This was the point Jesus was trying to establish. We are not Brothers and Sisters just physically but now we are Spiritual Brothers and Sisters through Christ.

We were not meant to live alone, be united in the Body of Christ by his blood Amen!