|
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Return to previous page |
||||
When will the Messiah establish his kingdom?
Will we be ready for his kingdom, displaying the "5 Big Attitudes"? (Incomplete study)
Mark 10:13-16; 41-45; 11:20-26; 12:28-34; 13:14-23
Jack Rendel I. Mark 10:13-16 When we are childlike and receive his blessing
13 ¶ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. AV/KJV
Where do I Start? So I don’t want to teach the children in Sunday school or Daily Vacation Bible School as it is known in some places? I was hoping they would ask me to preach in my home church, a church of about 800 some years ago. Finally I realized that that was not the place to start. I wrote and asked them if I could speak to the small children in the Sunday school about our ministry, our work and about the OM ships. The Sunday school superintendent answered back and said, “By all means, yes!” It wasn’t long before they sent me an invitation to preach to the whole church.
George Verwer once told us that he often spoke at very small meetings when he first began the work, and still does. In his first meeting in Britain in 1960 he was only given 5 minutes but he thanked God for every minute. That led to many other meetings over many years.
Many Children Start To Jesus every person counts, every child counts, and he knows that to accept his kingdom in our hearts we must receive it as a child. I don’t have a handle on the statistic but I have heard that many of those who follow Jesus begin when they are young, many very young. Why? Because like these children brought to Jesus they receive him as a child. When we compare ourselves, even the brightest who may teach at Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard or any number of universities, to the size, design and complexity of the universe, the world in which we live, even our own brains, a hand or an eye, even a one cell amoeba, we are all like children. Let us set aside our insufferable pride and receive the kingdom of God as a child…and be blessed by Jesus!
You see this is where spiritual life in Jesus starts. We don’t go to Jesus with all our medals pinned on our chests but as children who have nothing. He will receive us and bless us!
II. Mark 10: 41-45 When we are serving and ministering
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. AV/KJV
Gentile Rulers Not Role Models First the disciples chase away the children from Jesus’ side, and now they all want to sit beside him in his kingdom! Just like the Gentile rulers they, and we, have a tendency to lord it over others.
Abimelech Lords it Over Israel Abimelech, the son of Gideon’s concubine from Shechem had this problem. He murdered 69 of his brothers and made himself king in Shechem! He lorded it over Israel. God gave him 2 years to mend his ways and then sent an evil spirit between him and the men of Shechem. Civil war broke out and in one of the battles as he attacked a tower a woman dropped an upper mill stone on his head which crushed his skull. As a strong man he was so embarrassed to die under those circumstances he told his armor bearer to thrust him through with a sword so they would not say a woman had killed him! Judges 9:1ff You see Gideon gave his son the name Abimelech which means “My father is king”. The man took this seriously and made himself king. Gideon had been offered the kingdom by Israel after defeating the Midianite hordes, but wisely refused it because God had not given it to him. He himself said, “Neither I nor my son nor my son’s son will rule over you. The Lord will rule over you!” But maybe in a moment of weakness he named his son “My father is king” and the boy thought he was. When people serve each other there is light. When people lord it over others there is darkness!
14 questions we could begin to ask ourselves How is it the disciples don’t ask to get down and serve next to him...serve others next to him? Is it a letter we need to write to encourage someone? Is it a phone call to build someone up? Is it an invitation to dinner or just a coffee? Could I send someone a book or a CD or DVD or even the aging cassette? I could mow someone’s lawn, rake the leaves, or shovel their drive of snow. Have they lost a loved one and need a visit? Is someone in hospital, or in prison? Could I send a gift to help them in tight times or through the church help them materially? Is a gospel tract or Bible needed, a blanket, some clothing, medicines, some school books or a teacher to be sent? Could we help an orphanage or an orphan? Is there a senior person, a widow or widower I could visit or help? Could we join or help an evangelistic or church planting team, or a medical team? Is there someone to pray for? Maybe we should start there, with prayer.
III. Mark 11:20-26 When we are believing and forgiving
20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. AV/KJV
Faith and Forgiveness Go Hand in Hand!
Some of us are greatly challenged and like the idea of faith…believing God for great things. But when it comes to forgiveness, that is too tough a part of the bargain! We melt like wax at the thought of having to forgive some people. The Jews probably found it quite tough forgiving the Romans.
IV. Mark 12:28-34 When we are loving upward and outward (agape love)
28 ¶ And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
All the World Needs Love…all the world needs is love! The Beatles. They were a few centuries late! Paul, by the Holy Spirit, said it so beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13. Then too the love the popular songs croon about may not be agape love but rather eros, the love between a man and a woman.
Love for God and Love for Neighbor
V. Mark 13:14-23 When we are praying and heeding (watching with care)
14 ¶ But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. AV/KJV
The Big Five and the Big Desolating Abomination The Big Five really prepare us for the Big Desolating Abomination! He will establish his kingdom after the Big Desolating Abomination! ©Copyright 2006-2046 John (Jack) W Rendel. All rights reserved. |
||||
|
Home | Studies | Itinerary | Donations | Privacy Policy | e-mail Back Return to top of page |
||||
|
Visits to this page: |
||||
|
Return to
Spanish or Portuguese | |
||||
|
©2006-2046 John (Jack) W Rendel |
||||
