Faith is still the key

The Bible Relevant in Any Age

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Praise and Trust from the Past for Today

Book of Psalms 108

When we study the Book of Psalms, we will see that Psalm 108 combines Psalm 57 and Psalm 60 and David is credited for all three of them, even though he was not alive when Psalm 108 was composed.

David composed Psalm 57 while hiding in a cave from King Saul.
David composed Psalm 60 about his battle with the Edomites.

We may not know the purpose of this Psalmist in doing this, but we all know that we may remember and sing a song that brought us comfort in our past during our own stress.

The one thing we can understand is the fact that the Holy Spirit decided that this new psalm should be included in the Book we call the Bible.

1)We must completely understand that the Word of God is relevant in any age!

2)The lessons from the Bible are applicable in every situation we may come to in every generation.

3)The Word of God gives of the wisdom of God so we can make the right decisions.

4) The Word of God is always fresh and always gives us encouragement to move forward in life.

Even today the Psalms of David, in fact all the Psalms, bring us to the reality of this wicked and evil world we live in, and the knowledge that we need the Lord Jesus Christ to be in charge of our lives, every day!

We must ask for God’s help in every situation we face if we expect to have triumph in our Christian life!

Every question we have of God should begin with praise.

*Psa 108:1 A Song or Psalm of David. O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.

Notice that this praise comes from a confident heart.

God will not take the time to answer any of our requests if we do not have enough faith that He can.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Our hearts must be fixed upon the reality of the existence of our Savior!

Our soul, the one that God has given to us, that is now saved by His power, is the most glorious thing that we have in our relationship with God.

We must make our flesh understand that it also belongs to God.

2Co_4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

We should also understand that the Psalms were intended for the worship service and our praise of the Lord Jesus is designed to be in a public manner.

Rom_10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

We should understand that before we offer up our praise, we should have already offered up our prayers.

When our hearts are affixed to praise the Lord, they will exalt Him to the highest degree.

*Psa 108:2 Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

It is usually the dawn that awakens us, but this psalmist says he will awaken all the instruments that had been silent, and he will awaken the dawn by his praises before daybreak.

The Lord never sleeps.

Even when the Lord Jesus was taken off that cross and laid in a borrowed tomb, He was very busy.

What did Paul say by the Holy Spirit?

Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

The Lord Jesus descended into Hell to get the keys that the devil once had.

Rev_1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Our Lord is always busy, so we are foolish to limit the Lord to our hours and days.

We must praise Him with all that we have, any time of the day or night.

We can always at any time turn to the Lord for help and most of the time He is as near as opening up our Bibles to see what He has already said because He never changes.

This is exactly what this psalmist did. He took part of two psalms of David, and he made a new psalm by listening to the Holy Spirit who wrote all the Books of the Bible.

The same God that led David to victory will lead us to victory!

*Psa 108:3 I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.

If we study the Bible, we will realize that there is a new day coming if we trust the Lord and the words, He has given us.

We must praise the Lord when we are alone.
We must praise the Lord in our congregations.
We must praise the Lord in our cities.
We must praise the lord in our nations.

Mal 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

Instead of a great falling away, we need a regathering of the children of God!

It is not time to flee from the truth, but to gather together because we have the truth and are not ashamed to say so!

*Psa 108:4 For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.

You can take the word “mercy” away and substitute “Jesus” to have a better understanding of what mercy truly means.

Why did the Lord first come to this place called Earth?

Luk 1:72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
Luk 1:73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

Psa 98:3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Psa 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Mercy is compassion for the miserable!

The object of this world and now the government of our nation, is for us all to live in misery.

I am not going to live in misery!

The atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is the way to open up the exercise of “mercy” to all mankind.

It is wicked governments who are trying to stop what they cannot stop.

They only win when we forsake the Lord!

Psa 86:14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.
Psa 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

As Christians we can depend upon the “mercy” of God to bring us to victory.

*Psa 108:5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
Psa 108:6 That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.

Psa 21:13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.

The Christian life is a warfare!

We have to battle our flesh and our own evil tendencies daily.
We have to battle corrupt opinions of us and our practices in society, which is hard to say society today because societies have forsaken all godly principles to live by immorality and corruption and they seem to be proud of it.
We also have to deal with the temptations of the Devil.

We must be aware that every renewed child of God is assured of ultimate victory in all these conflicts.

The truth is, we have already won we just do not realize it, which shows a lack of faith on our part.

The strength of God cannot be overcome, and His plan continues to move according to the things He has directed.

Once we get to Heaven we may look back and see that all these things had taken place just as God has said they would.

The Word of God is the truth in this wicked world, and we can lean on this truth while we are praising the One God who has the complete truth.

We are a delivered people; we just have not arrived at our destination yet.

If we increase our faith, then there is no reason we cannot enjoy the trip instead of moping around like a bunch of losers.

My God is powerful, you should check to see if your god is as powerful as mine!

*Psa 108:7 God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.

It may be that right now God is dividing Shechem.

It is at Shechem where Jesus Christ had a conversation with a Samaritan woman who was saved and is now in Heaven, her past forgotten.

God always speaks in His holiness.

God is holy, entirely set apart from sin and sinners. This is the reason God’s Spirit is the Holy Spirit and the third person of the Holy Trinity.

This also means that the Lord Jesus Christ is Holy because as the Son of God He is part of the Holy Trinity, and we are to defend His holiness.

We can only become holy when we are set apart from sin and sinners!

Succoth is the name of the first encampment in the Exodus of God’s people from Egypt.

Succoth is also the place where the brass foundries were located in the building of the first Temple in Jerusalem.

In fact, every time Succoth is mentioned in the Bible, it is a place where God’s people come to victory.

Jacob had a victory there.
Gideon had a victory there.

Succoth represents the anticipation of victory, but Succoth also reminds us of worldly success when we might look down upon our enemies as the world does and this goes against the teachings of God.

Haughtiness is pride mingled with contempt or we could say arrogance.

We must be aware that we have victory when it comes by the Lord.

We do not necessarily have the same victory when it comes by our own hands.

Pro 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pro 16:19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Pro 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

What is happening in America today?

A certain group looks down upon Christians and our cling to freedoms, with heartless contempt and we had better realize it.

Our vote in this next election is more important than it has ever been, but only if we vote for Christian principles!

*Psa 108:8 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
Psa 108:9 Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

Gilead is best known as the Hill of Testimony or the Mount of Testimony.

In reality, this verse and much of this psalm is a song in anticipation of victory.

Verse 7 says that “God has spoken”, in fact, it said “God had spoken in His holiness”.

It can also be read “God has spoken in His sanctuary”.

What God says, is at the same time, what God does!

We should understand that our Lord had promised all this land to Abraham.

If the lord does not fulfill His promise, His name will be profaned.

God would be a liar, and this is impossible.

Now we may never understand everything that God says, but we can certainly understand His promises.

Now to get this clear understanding of God’s view of each situation, we must go to where God dwells and He dwells in the sanctuary of the true Church.

God is nowhere near a place where false teaching occurs, and we need to know this truth.

It is best to leave any place where the truth of the Gospel, the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ, is not preached.

There is victory in Jesus, but there is no victory in any false god.

When we know how God feels about a matter we can know real joy, because God does as He feels.

The Bible says that Ephraim is the “helmet” or better said “protection”.

Ephraim was sitting on the largest part of the land that was given to Abraham, the Northern part.

Judah is the “scepter” and the “lawgiver”.

It is from Judah that the law will be taught and enforced during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ and all this land promised to Abraham will be fulfilled.

God then proclaims that He has ownership of all the territories outside of Israel.

Moab the washpot. A washpot is a place that serves to clean feet.

The place of Moses’ death, Mount Nebo, at the top of Pisgah, is in the land of Moab.

Deu 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.
Deu 34:6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
Deu 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

We can even see where Moses was a type of Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit also names Philistia by name.

Philistia was the land of the Philistines.

This was a very small country from 25 to 30 miles in length with an average width of of about 15 miles.

Just as Gaza is today there were more people than the land could bear that lived there.

Today we hear a lot about Palestine, but in truth this was the land of the Philistines.

There is no such people as Palestinians and never have been such a people!

These were nations that were hostile to Israel and the people in those locations are still the enemies of Israel.

At the victory over these enemies, the soldiers of God would take off their shoes, wash their feet in a washbowl, and then throw their shoes at the defeated enemies and proclaim this victory with great rejoicing.

When the Messiah reigns He will have victory over all God’s enemies!

Isa 11:14 But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
Isa 11:15 And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.
Isa 11:16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Then God asks.

*Psa 108:10 Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
Psa 108:11 Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?

When David first wrote this Psalm, he asked who would bring him to this strong city of Edom.

Petra was truly a fortress.

Because of its natural location, it was humanly impossible to conquer that city in those days of David.

David asked; is there anyone who could lead his army to Edom?

Then David answers his own question.

It can be none other than God Himself.

We must understand that God will reject Israel “prophetically” for the short time they under the rule of the Antichrist that is, until the Antichrist decides to sit on the throne of David then all Hell will break loose.

David could write this passage because of his faith in God.

It should be clear to all that to overcome the Antichrist, then God would have to stand with Israel once again, and He will!

All those in distress because of the Antichrist during those seven years of tribulation with the last three and a half years being the Great Tribulation when things will be terrible, there will be a remnant who will call out to God and acknowledge their sins of the past and they will be forgiven.

Isa 2:22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?

The Antichrist is but a mere man, “the man of sin” and he is no problem for the the Lord God our Creator.

Even in a time of peril for Israel, faith is still the key to their success.

In the Hebrew letter to the Jews, God makes this very clear, but there must be a show of faith!

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Those who fear God can appeal to no one else in their distress but to God alone.

You see, if God brings you to it, then God will lead you through it!

God has led Israel to the distress that they face today, and God will lead them through their distress to the truth!

When we are in distress about our sin and where we will spend eternity, then there is only one place for us to go and it is to our Holy God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Only God knows which way to go!

God has given His Word and God will never break His Word!

*Psa 108:12 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
Psa 108:13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

God gave us the gift of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ as His promise of salvation!

Only with Him will God’s people do valiantly!

It is only Jesus the Messiah who can give us the strength and the courage to fight our daily battles.

Some things we should have learned from this passage, this Psalm are:

1) The Bible is still effective in this world today though it was written ages ago.
2) This passage teaches us that we can always turn to Scripture for help.
3) We can see that God is unchanging, He is always the same.
4) That we can pray and use words that we have used before.
5) We can see that we need to be continuous in our Bible study going over the same passage over and over again to gain understanding.
6) We can look to the past for hope for today!

There is never a time that the Bible will not be relevant to this world!

Amen

The Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Servant’s Authority

Book of Mark Chapters 4 and 5

Before we get to Chapter 5, we get to read about the authority and the deity of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

We read of the many parables that give us some of the truths of Heaven in ways we can understand.

The miracles the Lord did and the lessons He has taught us attest to the absolute authority of our Creator.

The four Gospels contain many Scriptures reflecting upon the absolute authority of the Messiah, our Savior.

Every miracle is backed up by Scripture such as, the miracle of healing the blind man.

Psa 146:8 The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

The water to grape juice in Cana. We should understand that the Lord Jesus would never make wine!

Isa 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

The feeding of the five thousand.

Isa 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

The Lord’s authority over the animal world.

Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

The raising of the dead.

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

We should consider these things that only God can do, as we take a closer look at the miracle when the Lord raised a young female child from death.

*Mar 5:21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

The Lord Jesus had now crossed by over the Sea of Galilee again, to a location near Capernaum which had become His base after he had left Nazareth again according to Scripture.

Mat 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Mat 4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Mat 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
Mat 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

We can find these things prophesied in the Book of Isaiah.

Isa 9:1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Isa 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

We begin to see that the Lord Jesus could be no one else, but the Messiah come from Heaven!

There were so many things that the children of Israel had missed from the Old Testament, and much of the reason was that the Priests refused to teach the truth of the Word of God just like so many are doing today.

From this point to the end of this chapter, we will see how the support of the multitude will always change.

We will also see how those who should have supported Jesus refused to do so.

His friends said that Jesus had gone mad and insane.
We must believe Jesus and show our faith in Him.
We may have to go against our friends.

The religionists said that Jesus was demon possessed.
Religionist do not really know the truth of God.

His own family said He was an embarrassment to them.
We must surrender to Jesus regardless of what our families think of us!

These things will always be said about the true Christian and we will have to deal with them all our lifetime, without sin.

As soon as the feet of the Lord Jesus touched the shoreline one of the rulers of the local synagogue came running to Him.

The fame of our Lord Jesus had spread everywhere.

*Mar 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
Mar 5:23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Mar 5:24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

We might ask ourselves, was it just his lucky day?

We know the Lord did not heal everyone He came in contact with, and we know He knew ahead of time who had ailments and who did not.

We must know there was a reason behind every move the Lord made, but we already know of His great compassion for all humans.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Some people say that Jesus had to be very careful that He did not go against the teachings of the Old Testament, the Laws of Moses, and all the things written by the prophets but this is simply not true!

The Lord did not need to put forth effort, because these are all things that He just did because He is the True and Living God!

If Jesus had not done the things, He did then, He would be outside His character!

This father was desperate and he knew there was no other means to save his daughter than the Lord Jesus Christ!

But Our Lord will not do anything if there is a lack of faith!

1) This man exhibits humility and falls at the feet of Jesus.
2) This man exhibits believing, because he knows Jesus is omnipotent, has all power and the power to heal and bring new life.
3) This man boldly goes to the Lord Jesus in the face of all the people, many of whom would not react well, because he was a ruler of the synagogue.

None of the synagogues recognized the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.

The Lord Jesus went with him because these are the actions, we must all take to be saved! It is called faith!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The Lord Jesus will meet the needs of the desperate if they have that saving faith!

A crowd was gathered including the twelve disciples and they all went toward the place of Jarius.

*Mar 5:35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
Mar 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Our lesson skips right over the woman who had an issue with her blood for twelve years, who just touched the robe of our Savior and was immediately healed.

This was also a message of faith from someone desperate for life!

Even though there was great rush for the Lord Jesus to get to this child before she died, the Lord Jesus did not have to rush and took the time to heal that woman.

If Jarius had the faith that he said he had, he would have known that there is no need to rush the Almighty God.

He is the giver and the taker of life!

Did Jesus know this child would die if He did not get there in time? Sure He did!

Though we cannot always understand why the Lord does what He does, we can understand that there is reason and purpose in every move that Jesus made while He was upon this world.

One of those was the fact that He wanted to establish His resurrecting power!

The Lord Jesus also wanted to show the difference between little faith and true faith.

True faith has no feeling of hopelessness!

True faith has nothing to do with fear and despair!

While the Lord Jesus Christ was still talking to that woman who did have that blood issue, someone from the home of Jairus came with some terrible news, his daughter had died.

Did the Lord Jesus cause this death? No

We can only imagine how Jairus felt having just witnessed the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and realizing had Jesus not stopped to do this, that He may have made it to his daughter before she died.

Jairus was devastated and crushed and believed it was now too late to save her life.

We know that the Lord Jesus is never too late, but that He is always on time!

What did the Lord Jesus say to him? What happened to your faith?

“be not afraid, only believe.”

Fear is the exact opposite of faith!

Believing God eliminates fear!

Believing that God actually cares and will deliver us through all of our fears, is essential in our relationship with the Lord.

The Lord certainly cares about our feelings and our times of despair.

Without believing that God cares for us, will lead to fear!

We should understand that we will face things in our life that no other human being can help us with, but then there is Jesus who cares for us if we only trust Him.

For those who do not know the Lord in a personal way, they have no one to go to and they will be filled with fear and despair.

The Christian should never feel this way!

Though we cannot help it, there is little need to mourn over the death of a Christian as they have returned to the God who created them!

There is very little mourning in faith!

If we mourn, let us mourn for those who do not know the Lord our Savior.

There is never a time that the Lord Jesus can do nothing!

There is never a time that God is twiddling His thumbs or even wondering what He should do next!

There was no need for the crowd to go any further because so many of them had no faith at all.

*Mar 5:37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
Mar 5:38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
Mar 5:39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Here we see the first time that the Lord Jesus only took Peter, James, and John, with Him, to be witnesses of things not permitted to be seen by the other nine.

Jesus did the same thing at His Transfiguration.

Jesus did the same thing when He was under agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The thing that Jesus was about to do, to raise this child from the dead, did not need to have those that might have doubt in the same room!

We should understand that the family of this child would surely mourn for her, but most of those remaining were hired to mourn.

It was a belief of the Jews, that those that were hired to mourn would make it easier for those in the family.

Notice Mark writes that it was tumultuous and more like a commotion, but it also tells us that the child had already died before Jesus had arrived.

Jesus first words were: Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of Life because He is Life!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

We will learn as Christians that a believing faith will be scorned by this world and we see this more today than at any other time in history.

We will also be abused and persecuted by those who have no faith!

*Mar 5:40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

The Lord let them have their laughter because He knew they were about to be silenced!

The Lord Jesus and Peter, James, and John, along with the two parents, entered into the room where the dead child was lying.

All the rest were deemed unworthy to witness the power of the Messiah.

The reason that no one sees the miracles that happen in today’s world, is the fact that there is no faith!

Even in the Church there is a great lack of faith today and the Church has lost its power!

It is no wonder we seldom hear of the miracles of God anymore.

The power of Jesus Christ over all evil spirits, over incurable sickness, and over death itself, demonstrates His deity and how He honors simple faith above all other of our characteristics.

Jesus walked over to the child to do what He came to do.

*Mar 5:41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
Mar 5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

The Pharisees had concluded that the Lord Jesus had a devil living within Him.

The relatives of Jesus had said Jesus was a mad man and beside Himself.

The Lord Jesus had begun teaching by parables so people could see without perceiving and hear without understanding.

But the Lord Jesus proves He is the Master of all the forces in this life.

The Lord Jesus proves that He is not only the Master of Life, but also the Giver of Life!

Mark preserved the actual words that Jesus said here, no doubt getting them from Peter the eyewitness.

We all know that our children are special to us at any age and we know that they grow so fast, but that age just before they blossom into adulthood is truly a special time.

This young lady was twelve years old preparing to take on the world when for some reason, she had succumbed to death, but as we know Jesus changes things!

Straightway this child rose up and walked and all that were in the house of Jarius, were astonished.

The Lord said, feed this child for she is hungry.

*Mar 5:43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

By eating, she could prove to all that she was no spirit but had returned to normal existence.

Even when this child was restored to life, then she would have to return to the things of this life that sustained life, such as food and water.

It was for the sake of these parents that Jesus brought this girl back to life!

Her life in no way could change the providence of God for this world.

This is why God can answer prayer!

This child completed her growth in a home of saving faith and at death she returned to Heaven because this home had faith!

Amen

The Christian Purpose

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Gospel of Grace and Christian Service

Book of Romans Chapter 12

What is Christian service?

After God has shown to us His Mercy and Grace and saved us from His wrath, we must choose to receive what He has done for us by Jesus Christ, and we must begin our walk of obedience with Him!

We should understand that we will serve this world, or we must accept what the Lord Jesus has done for us and serve Him.

We cannot have two masters!

Luk 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

We must remain faithful in our service until the Lord returns to take us home!

Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

Even as Christians serving with a purpose, we must never think too highly of ourselves!

The Apostle Paul describes this for us.

Act 20:18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
Act 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Act 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
Act 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a particularly good reason to be good servants of the Lord.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

As Christians we have a purpose in this life when before the Lord found us, we were miserable and without purpose!

*Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Another way of saying these things to say we must be devoted to the Lord for the work He has done for us to get us saved.

Christian devotion means:

2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

A Christian doing a work for the Lord will stand out in this world, especially in this day that we are hated so much.

Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Act 4:14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

We owe the Lord all our body can give to Him.
We owe all our energy to the Lord.
All our thoughts need to be on our service to Him!

We live in a world that desperately needs to get right with God!

The way to do this is clearly revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Our “faith” in the work of Christ Jesus is counted to us for “righteousness”.

It was the same for Abraham of the Old Testament.

Rom_4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom_4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Gal_3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

We are to give our bodies to God while we are still alive!

Sin destroys the body!

We are Born Again now having a new soul.
We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and need a refilling daily.
God demands we give Him our body for His service.

We are not to do our own thing.
We are not to dedicate our bodies for our families even though this should be a close second.
We are not to dedicate our bodies to our jobs or our possessions.
We are to give our bodies to God to do with them as He pleases!

Living sacrifice means a constant and continuous service.
Living sacrifice means wherever our body is located.
Living sacrifice means without our own desires but for the desires of God.
Living sacrifice means living for God!

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We give our bodies to the Lord because it pleases Him, and we always want to please our Heavenly Father!

2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

What is it that we must give with our bodies? Our Reasonable Service.

God does not ask us to do unreasonable things!

Reasonable means: rational, logical, intelligent.
Service means: worship, ministry.

We once used our minds and bodies in sin!

God now demands we use our bodies and our minds for His glory once we belong to Him!

Humanism says to worship your body.

No matter what we do this old body will not last forever.

God says give Me your body and I will return to you a new glorified body!

God came to this earth and took Himself a human body when He could have chosen any of His creations or made Himself a new creation.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

When the Lord Jesus died and was resurrected, He took that same body to the glory world.

Now as we live and breathe and are Born Again, our body is home to God’s Holy Spirit.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

When we see Jesus, we will get a view of what our own glorified body will look like.

1Jn_3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

All this will begin when we are more like Jesus Christ daily!

*Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The word conformed means to be fashioned after. Made agreeable to or suited to.

That word world means the way this world operates and serves itself.

This world is corruptible, so it has corrupted itself!

We see this everywhere in our world today as corruption has taken over this world!

I never would have thought our own government could sink so low as to be in the corruption we see today.

We can say that corruption loves corruption because it is never ending!

As Christians we are to stay as far away from the things of this world as we are able.

We do these things by renewing our mind to have the mind of Christ which is a servant’s mind.

This world is built upon lies!

What is the truth?

The world itself and everything in it will pass away, but the child of God cannot pass away!

1Co 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: “for the fashion of this world passeth away”.

If we are in the will of God, we are right where God wants us to be!

2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It is the will of God that we be saved!

1Th_4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

It is the will of God that we are obedient to His Word!

1Pe_2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

It is the will of God we have eternal life!

1Jn_2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

It is the will of God that we try our best to be more like Jesus Christ. This is the meaning of being Christian!

Act_11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

There is no wisdom in the governments of this world, especially those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

We are to be transformed into the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Those that reject the Lord are corrupt.
Those that reject the Lord are reprobate.
Those that reject the Lord are carnal.
Those that reject the Lord have been blinded by Satan.
Those that reject the Lord are empty and vain.
Those that reject the Lord think only of this world and are alienated from God and are His enemies.

Humanity has become defiled!

Tit 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

As Christians we must be transformed to prove to God, we love Him!

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

We must become a humble servant to the cause of Jesus Christ!

*Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

As Christians we are to think highly of ourselves as God’s children and future residents of the New Heaven, but we must know that we are no better than anyone one else saved or lost.

We are just better off because we know our home is in Heaven because we know we are saved from the wrath of God!

We must always be concerned about our humility!

We must not become conceited.
We must not become prideful.
We must never be arrogant.

We must think soberly which means in one’s right mind because we have the mind of Christ and think as He did and as He does.

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

What we now possess and what we are, comes from the Lord.

It is God who gave us a measure of faith to believe, and it is God who helps us to grow our faith!

Without this “working faith” we could never be one of God’s servants!

This includes the gifts and abilities God has given to us for the purpose He has given to us.
This includes increased faith and drive and confidence to go about the work God has given us to do.
This includes the desire to serve the Living God!

God offers so much more, but He will only give it to us one measure at a time, so we are never overwhelmed with the task that is before us.

Remember God gives all these things along with His guidance, but all results come by Him.

We cannot cause someone to be saved these things are in the hand of God.

We are to just be busy about the work He has given us to do!

God does the ploughing, we do the planting, God does the reaping!

We should remember, the Church is the body of Christ and just as our human body there are many distinct parts of the body of Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head, and we will find our task as some other part of the body.

Not everyone can be an arm or a leg.
Not everyone can be the heart or the lungs.

We should be able to see what part of the body of Christ we are and do this work with all our heart!

Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

No matter our place in the Body of Christ we should always be praying for more faith to serve in that position!

Psa_84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

We must know that our faith grows according to our belief in the Word of God!

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This includes the study of God’s Word.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

God gives to us many physical gifts as we serve, but much more important are the Spiritual Gifts.

A Spiritual gift is a God-given ability given to each believer.

All Spiritual gifts come by the Holy Spirit who lives in each and every believer.

These are separate from the “Fruit” of the Spirit, but together they make each child of God a force to be reckoned with.

Each Spiritual gift is given for Spiritual purposes.

The Fruit of the Spirit is given to every believer to make us be more like Jesus Christ!

All the gifts of God come according to God’s “Grace”.

The modern-day prophet is of those who preach the Word of God.

The Word of God we have today is complete so there is no need of prophets. We just need to hear what God has given to us and in some cases to make sense of the Word as it relates to the other Scriptures.

There is no one to try to interpret what God has already made interpretation of!

2Pe_1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

The modern-day prophet keeps the Word of God in the context it was written and makes application to our lives today.

The Word of God does not change, the circumstances of our lives may change, but the answers God gives to us, work in any lifetime!

The Living Word is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Written Word is by the Holy Spirit both given to us by God the Father.

No one can be a prophet of God without first having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

The gift of ministry is what the remainder of God’s children have been called to do.

This is the heart of the servant to minister to others!

This is one of God’s children being willing to turn their attention to others and not themselves.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

The gift of teaching is the ability to try to ground all God’s children to the truth of the Scriptures.

Not only does a Church need a great Prophet or Pastor, but the Church need teachers also willing to search the Word of God for God’s answers to life.

We cannot teach until the Holy Spirit has taught us!

We all need to be in one mind and in one accord with the Word of God.

After all if God said it and the Holy Ghost preserved it, then it must be important!

The gift of exhortation could be said to be the gift of motivation, but it includes much more.

It takes this gift to get us to be busy about the work the Lord has given us to do.

Every Pastor should have this gift.
Every Pastor should be able to teach.

The Lord Jesus put it this way:

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

To the Pastor the Holy Spirit put it like this:

2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

If you want to know the truth, then we can see that this time has come where no one really wants to hear the truth of the Word of God.

The gift of giving means sharing our earthly gifts with the Church and the ministries of the Church to promote the cause of Christ and in this can rewards be earned in Heaven.

Giving to charities will never gain you a reward in Heaven unless given to Christian based charities!

The gift of ruling is simply the gift of being a leader, working in the administration of the Church.

It could also be said the ability to work in government for the cause of Christ Jesus.

It takes a great zeal for the cause of Christ and there is no room for laziness and there is certainly no room for compromise.

We are never to compromise the Word of God.

It must stand as it is written!

Many in government fail in this greatly!

The gift of mercy can be seen in those Christians who are full of forgiveness and compassion.

Every child of God is called to have the gift of mercy by the Lord Jesus Himself!

Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Even knowing all these things and practicing them according to gifts given by the Holy Spirit, we must do our best to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a personal drive to be a Christian and be a part of a group of Christians!

*Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

The Lord Jesus Christ made this really easy for us.

Mar 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
Mar 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

We see that this is a commandment!

The Holy Spirit decided we need to understand this and explains what Jesus is saying so we can be clear on the Word of God.

We are to love one another without being hypocrites!
We must be completely free of selfish motives.

If I tell you I love you, then I had better be sincere for the Holy Spirit to acknowledge what I say.

These words must never be used just to get a reaction from that person!

We must understand that we must have this love for the saved and for the lost.

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

We show love by hating evil!

This is a hatred with intense feelings, but love must remain for that one who did that evil.

Sounds impossible but it is not.

The Lord Jesus Christ died for us while we were still His enemy!

We must fight against evil!

We show love by fighting against evil and hating all things evil.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

We fight against evil when we cling to that which is good!

We are to desire the absolute best for all those we meet and those we know.

We are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ with that special love that Jesus showed!

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

If we have that feeling that we have already reached perfection and these things are too far from us, then we become a larger part of the problem in the Church!

We are to honor, reverence, and respect even esteem, all of God’s children.

We can just imagine a house of God where these things were as important as salvation!

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

We are to serve the Lord and not each other, but by serving the Lord, we will serve each other!

We must not be lazy in the things of Christ!
We must show due diligence in the work of Christ.
We must be earnest and not hesitating in our Christian life for Christ!

That word fervent means to be hot for the work of Christ.

Remember what Jesus said of the last days where the Church has become lute-warm rather than fervent.

We see this today in the modern church.

The Church has lost its fervent spirit and has given in to the world.

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

We are to serve the Lord Jesus until He returns to take us home with the same zeal we had when we were first saved.

Not only these things, but we must conquer our trials and not allow our trials to defeat us.

God manages trials in only two ways:

1) He can remove that trial we are going through, and He does sometimes.
2) More often than not, God just goes through that trial with us so we can learn some valuable lesson.

Our job is to endure that trial while it affects our life!

We win most all battles with prayer!

We must be ready to pray at all times!

1Ch 16:11 Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

And last but not least, we are to give to the cause of Christ!

This has nothing to do with the tithe which is a command of God.

These are love offerings.

The more God provides to us the more we should be charitable to others.

To be safe with our giving then it should go through the Church and the ministries of the Church.

Most monies given to the charities of the world end up in pockets of some person and did not serve the charity or the cause of that charity.

We must be hospitable to all when that time arrives.

1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Widows have often been in the plan of God, but there are rules.

1Ti 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

Most of our Christian ladies would be acceptable and many do need help.

If we claim to be Christian, then we should certainly act the part.

We do not learn this in the world, we learn these things from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will call upon us to be obedient when the time comes!

Amen