Emory Baptist Church

A Deacon is Who and Does What?

Answered Prayer Requires What?

Introduction

If you have your Bibles, take them and turn to Mark 11:25.  This morning, I’m going to reach back a few weeks, and bring some unity to these verses that have had us looking at Monday and Tuesday of the final week of Jesus’ life on earth.

 

Probably everyone in the room has prayed at one time or another.  If you have, you probably also know that answers to prayer are often yes, no, or not yet otherwise known as wait.

 

I don’t want to present today that this some magical formula to getting prayers answered affirmatively.  God is not our Jeanie in a Bottle.  However, the Bible tells us on multiple occasions to pray to God in certain ways, and He will answer.  Therefore, I want us to see this truth this morning. 

 

 

Exposition

In the recent weeks, we saw that Jesus in the Jerusalem area for Passover.  He staying the nights in Bethany but came into Jerusalem each morning.  On Monday, He cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple.  On Tuesday, He explained why He cursed the fig tree, which goes along with getting our prayers answered.

 

 

1. Answered Prayers require manifesting fruit, Mark 11:20-21.

20 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

 

Jesus cursed the fig tree because it promised fruit but didn’t deliver.  It had leaves but no fruit. 

 

If we understand that fruit is the outward manifestation of virtues because of our inward reality of being born again, we can know that answered prayer requires demonstrating fruit on our part. 

 

In other words, God blesses our obedience, and God never blesses our disobedience. We see that with this fig tree.

 

However, the Bible tells us that elsewhere.  Consider John 15:7, 1 Peter 3:17, and James 5:16.

 

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

 

7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

 

16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

Answered prayers require demonstrating fruit.  By the way, praying according to God’s will would be considered demonstrating fruit.

 

 

2. Answered Prayers require demonstrating faith, Mark 11:22-24.

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

 

If our prayers are going to be answered affirmatively, we must demonstrate faith in God.  Verse 22 cannot be any clearer. 

 

Verses 23-24 say it again.  We must pray and believe and not doubt.  If we do, God will honor our demonstration of faith in Him because it shows our dependence. 

 

We cannot make things happen on our own, but He can.

 

 

3. Answered Prayers require practicing forgiveness, Mark 11:25-26.

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

 

Our last two verses for day will most likely be the hardest to receive.  If we want answered prayers, we must practice forgiveness to others. 

 

In verse 25, the context of prayer is certain and applies to believers and nonbelievers alike.  If you are mad at or holding a grudge or harboring bitterness or withholding forgiveness to a Christian brother or sister or a nonchristian neighbor or coworker, don’t expect God to forgive you or answer your prayers. 

 

Dr. Charles Stanley has said that forgiveness means: first, to give up resentment about the wrong; second, to give up resentment toward the wrongdoer; and third, to give up plans for retaliation.

 

And Jesus’ words here were not an isolated occasion.  See Matthew 6:14-15, Ephesians 4:32, and Colossians 3:13.

 

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

 

And if there was any confusion or misunderstanding about us forgiving others because the Lord has forgiven us, see Matthew 18:21-35.

 

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

 

Brothers and sisters, we must forgive others if we want the Lord to answer our prayers, but more than that, we must forgive others if we want the Lord to forgive us. 

 

 

Illustration

The timing of Evelyn Fuller’s funeral was providential for me.  I needed to forgive some others before I was ready to preach a sermon on forgiving others. 

 

 

Conclusion

First, has God forgiven you?  Second, who have you not forgiven?  Third, what is keeping you from that today?  Answered prayers require fruit, faith, and forgiveness.

What Should the Temple Be?

This morning we continue in the gospel of Mark looking at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  Today’s text is Mark 11:15-19.

 

If you were here the past two Sundays, you will remember that we have been looking at Passion Week.  That was the last week of Jesus’ earthly life. We saw His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  We then saw His interaction with a fig tree on Monday morning and Tuesday morning. 

 

This morning, we are going back to Monday.  After Jesus had gotten into Jerusalem and before He went back to Bethany to spend the night probably at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, He cleansed the temple.  Notice I said cleansed the temple instead of cleared the temple. 

 

In today’s text, we are going to look at what Jesus saw, what Jesus had seen, and what Jesus wanted to see or in other words…what the temple should be.

 

 

1. What Jesus Saw, Mark 11:15-16

15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.

Jesus and His disciples had passed the fig tree and had finally gotten to Jerusalem and the temple.  What He saw when He got there was infuriating!  Here we see the passion of the Christ.  We see the Lord being emotional.  We see the Lord’s anger and wrath.  By the way, we see this prophesied in Malachi 3:1-3.

 

“Behold, I send My messenger,

And he will prepare the way before Me.

And the Lord, whom you seek,

Will suddenly come to His temple,

Even the Messenger of the covenant,

In whom you delight.

Behold, He is coming,”

Says the Lord of hosts.

 

2 “But who can endure the day of His coming?

And who can stand when He appears?

For He is like a refiner’s fire

And like launderers’ soap.

3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi,

And purge them as gold and silver,

That they may offer to the Lord

An offering in righteousness.

 

In cleansing the temple, I think you see three primary groups that were guilty of corruption.  First, there were those who were selling animals.  Rather than travel with their animals for sacrifice, they began to buy their animals for sacrifice here in Jerusalem in the court of the Gentiles.  However, the prices were less than fair.  They were greatly inflated as demand was high and supply was low.

 

Second, there were those who were changing money.  Not only were animals being sold for sacrifice, but Jewish currency was required to pay the annual taxes.  Therefore, many needed to exchange their Roman currency for the currency accepted in the temple.  Therefore, currency exchange was available but at a high cost.  This place of worship for Gentiles had been turned into a first-class racket. 

 

Third, there were those using the Court of the Gentiles simply as short cut to the Mount of Olives so they wouldn’t have to carry their wares or merchandise or vessels any longer than necessary. 

 

So think about this: in the temple, you have cows, sheep, doves, and all of their food and water and waste.  You had tables with coins stacked and piled high, and then you had folks coming and going carrying whatever trying a shorter route from point A to point B. 

 

This is all that Jesus saw, and He was angry and heart-broken because of what He had seen.

 

 

1. What Jesus Had Seen, 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 & Isaiah 6:1-3

When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

 

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

 

When I say Jesus had seen, I am speaking of Jesus as second person of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost or Spirit.

 

Certainly, the pre-incarnate Christ was well aware of 2 Chronicles 3 and Isaiah 6. 

 

He had a holy vision and directed how He felt and how He responded here in Mark 11 which takes us to what Jesus wanted to see.

 

 

• What Jesus Wanted to See, Mark 11:17

17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

 

He quoted from Isaiah 56 and Jeremiah 7 and told those who were still there that the temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations.  What Jesus said implied worship through prayer and evangelism of all people.  If the temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations, all nations would need to hear and respond to the gospel.

 

When Jesus cleansed the temple and declared what it should be, He was claiming to have higher authority than the high priests. As you can imagine, claiming rightful authority didn’t go over very well. 

 

 

Conclusion

In verses 18-19, the chief priests and scribes who thought they were in authority began to plot how they might kill Him because they were afraid of His influence.  Therefore, Jesus left the city presumable going to back to Bethany to spend the night at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

 

 

Applications

First, let’s talk about the temple.  The temple was to be a place of worship that included prayer and preaching and singing and giving.  However, it had been turned into a market place.  The temple was being used differently than what God had intended, and we saw the Lord’s anger. 

 

If this facility and these buildings ever become something different than tools for reaching persons or Christ and this building something different than prayer and preaching and singing and giving, you can be sure that God will be angry and discipline His church.  1 Corinthians 3:16-17 also use this temple language and affirm this truth of the local church being the temple of God.

 

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

 

However, individually, Christians are also the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are to honor God with our physical temples.  See 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

 

12 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.  15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.  18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

Finally, when we come to this house of prayer on Sunday mornings and Sunday nights and Wednesday nights, if we are going to honor Jesus in what He desired this place to be, we must pray adoring God for who He is and what He has done, confession our sin, thanking God for all of His blessings and praying for ourselves and interceding for others. 

 

However, please remember, this is a house of prayer for all nations.  In this context, it implied coming to Jesus out of every racial and ethnic and socio-economic background conceivable. Would you come to Jesus today if you are lost? 

 

What Can a Barren Fig Tree Teach Christians Today?

This morning, we continue in the gospel of Mark looking at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  Today’s text is from Mark 11. 

 

If you remember from last week, we began looking at Passion Week or the last week of Jesus’ earthly life, and we witnessed some events of Palm Sunday.  Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and His disciples were with Him.

 

As we return to Mark 11 this morning, it is now Monday morning, and Jesus was on His way back to Jerusalem.

 

 

Exposition

In verse 12, Jesus and His disciples were on their way into town on Monday morning, and they came from Bethany.  Most likely, this was where Mary and Martha and Lazarus lived, and Jesus was probably staying with them. 

 

Verse 12 also tells us that Jesus was hungry.  These lessons today don’t rise and fall on this fact, but Jesus being hungry sets up the lessons.  By the way, Jesus being hungry reminds us that Jesus was not only fully God, but He was also fully man.  He got hungry like we get hungry, and John 4:6 tells us that Jesus got tired as we get tired.

 

John 4:6, 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

 

In verse 13, He saw a fig tree.  He then went to the tree to see if He could find some fruit because He as hungry.  However, this particular tree was full of leaves but had no figs.  It had no fruit.

 

At the end of this verse, Mark adds a comment that when read initially could concern us.  However, with further explanation, we can rest easy.  These particular fig trees bloomed twice a year, and Mark was referring to the later bloom.  Because this tree was full of leaves, it should have also been full of figs consistent with the first bloom.

 

However, because it had no figs, Jesus in verse 14 said, “Let no one ever eat fruit from you again.”  The disciples heard what He said, but perhaps didn’t realize all of the ramifications until the next day.  By the way, this is Jesus’ only miracle of destruction. 

 

Move to verse 20.  It is now Tuesday morning, and Jesus and His disciples pass by the same fig tree again, and it had completely withered from the roots up.  Jesus, according to Peter, had cursed the fig tree.  Peter wasn’t blaming Jesus but perhaps didn’t understand how this had happened so quickly. 

 

Jesus then responded beginning in verse 22 with some comments about faith and prayer. 

 

What do we make of all this?  What can a barren fig tree teach Christians today?

 

 

First of all, for every Christian, fruit is required for proof.

 

Throughout the OT, the fig tree was a symbol for Israel, God’s chosen people.  What you see here with the cursing of the fig tree was a foreshadowing of God’s future judgment on Israel. 

 

But why?  Because Israel was chosen by God and possessed unlimited potential to be all that God had called them to be, but they, like the fig tree, were not bearing fruit.  They had great promise like the fig tree full of leaves, but they didn’t produce fruit, and they were judged.  See Isaiah 5:1-5.

Isaiah 5:1-5, Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill.  2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine.  He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes.  3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard.  4 What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it?  Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes?  5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.

 

However, the fig tree not only had application for Israel, it also has application for the Church.  When a person is born again, he or she is born again to bear fruit, and if we don’t, it is might be a sign that actually we have never been born again.  See John 15:1-6.

 

John 15:1-6, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

 

Spiritual fruit is the external manifestation of an inward reality.  More specifically, spiritual fruit are virtues present in a believer’s life that are there in a person’s life because of his or her saving and personal relationship with Christ.  See Galatians 5:22-23.

 

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

 

So what about you?  Is there fruit in your life?  Don’t just trust your heart…ask someone else if they can see fruit in your life.

 

If there is none, I invite you today to be born-again.  I invite you today to call on the name of the Lord to save you.

 

For every Christian, fruit is required for proof.

 

 

Second, for every Christian, faith is rewarded through prayer. 

 

When Jesus saw the disciples’ reaction to the withered fig tree, it seems as if it reminded Him of a second lesson.  That is the fruit of faith. 

 

Jesus then described how faith could move mountains.  Jesus was standing on the Mount of Olives and could see the Dead Sea. 

 

Was He saying they could literally move mountains with their prayers?  No, He was comparing mountains to the difficult circumstances in life.  His point was to have more faith in the mountain mover than we have in the mountain.  That is what was meant in verse 22 by “Have faith in God.”

 

Some people discount faith as simply positive thinking for the week minded.  However, everyone exercises faith in some capacity.  You have faith that the brakes in your car will work. You have faith that the airplane won’t crash.  You have faith that the bank will have money in your account to pay your bills.  You have faith that medication will make you better.  Everyone has faith, but the believers’ faith is seen most easily in his or her prayer life. 

 

How is your prayer life?  Are you faithful to prayer and are your prayers prayed in faith?  If you go back to John 15, in verses 7-8, you will see that fruit and faith are naturally connected by prayer. 

 

John 15:7-8, 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

 

For every Christian, your faith can be and is rewarded through the means of prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

As many of you know, tonight is our February Members’ Meeting, and we are voting a recommendation to purchase the only property on this block that we don’t already know.

 

If I may, I want to share a little of the back story, but please understand, I can only go back so far.

 

Story of our deacons and others praying for 5+ years and 60+ months to have the opportunity to acquire this property.  I believe our prayers are being rewarded through faith, and I hope we will pray for God provide a cure for cancer in the same way and to remove the blinders from the spiritual eyes of family and friends who are lost in the same way.

 

If you’re here this morning and God has removed your spiritual blinders and convicted you of your lostness today, I invite you to call on the name of the Lord to save you, and He will.

 

Humble King on a Borrowed Donkey...

Don't Be Bossy...Like the World!

Today, we continue in Mark’s Gospel and chapter ten and verse 35.  I have entitled this morning’s message, “Don’t Be Bossy…Like the World!”

 

This morning we move from Jesus’ third announcement of His death and resurrection to a very important lesson Christian discipleship.

 

 

1. A Request for Privilege, Mark 10:35-40

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”  36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  37 They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”  38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”  39 They said to Him, “We are able.”  So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.” 

 

Notice that James and John asked the question in 10:35-37.  Matthew 20 tells us that their mother, Salome, was also involved in this event.  Perhaps James and John were cousins of Jesus, and if so, by involving their mother, who would have been Jesus’ aunt, maybe they were trying to take advantage of some family favor.

 

Regardless, James and John recognized Jesus as King and Messiah.  However, they failed to understand the reality of what His kingdom what entail. 

 

They asked for the two most privileged positions of any king.  The seat at his right was the most important and favored position.  The seat to his left was the second.  James and John asked to occupy both.

 

Notice also that Jesus answered their question in 10:38-40.  By the way, please see that Jesus didn’t just give them a blank check.  He thought before He answered which is a good model for us to follow because answering too quickly or before we think can prove imprudent.  See Mark 6:22-23 and Proverbs 29:30.

 

Mark 6:22-23, 22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

 

Proverbs 29:20, 20 Do you see a man hasty in his words?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 

Jesus answered their question with a question in verse 38.  He asked if they could drink of the same cup and partake in the same baptism.  Both parts of this question deserve further explanation. 

 

In essence, Jesus was asking if they were willing to suffer as He was going to suffer.  In the OT, the idea of the LORD’s cup is often a sign or symbol of God’s wrath against sin as it is here. 

 

In the same way, Jesus was not speaking of what you and I think of as baptism.  He was speaking of the literal act of being engulfed by water as calamity.  It was a sign of death and a feeling of torment.  Consider Luke 12:50. 

 

Luke 12:50, 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

 

Psalm 69:2, 2 I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me.

 

Psalm 69:15, 15 Let not the floodwater overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.

 

Surprisingly enough, both James and John answered they could endure what Jesus would endure, and to some degree, they did.  James was the first disciple who was martyred.  He was beheaded in AD 44. 

 

John certainly experienced calamity as he was exiled to the island of Patmos where he received and then recorded his revelation from the Lord, and even though they both did suffer, their suffering was not completely like Jesus’ since their suffering did not end in redemption for humanity.

 

In the end, Jesus told them in verse 40 that their request for privilege was not His to give.  We can infer that only God could grant their request, and they would have to wait on that.

 

By the way, Jesus recognized and was obedient to His Father, and children, you need to notice Jesus’ example and remember God’s Word in Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6.

 

Exodus 20:12, 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

 

Ephesians 6:1-3, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

 

 

1. A Recipe for Prosperity, Mark 10:41-44

41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

 

This recipe for prosperity includes a pattern to refuse in Mark 10:41-42.  The other disciples were indignant or mad that James and John had beaten them to the punch.  Certainly, they too wanted positions of privilege.

 

However, Jesus reminded them that His kingdom would not operate like the kingdoms of the world.  His kingdom would not be a kingdom of authority and force and domination like they knew to be true with Gentiles or lost people.  In other words, don’t be bossy like the world. 

 

Instead, this recipe for prosperity includes a paradox to remember, Mark 10:43-44.  If you wish to be great, you must be a servant or a table waiter, literally a deacon.  If you wish to be first, you must be a slave.

 

This paradoxical truth of greatness being found through serving others can tremendous application for EBC.

 

Think about what that would mean for husbands to serve their wives instead of trying to boss them.  Think about what that would mean for wives to serve their husbands instead of trying to boss them.

 

What about at your jobs?  Instead of bossing the other employees, what would it mean for you to serve them? 

 

In our church, instead of bossing others and only thinking about you, serve others with where you park, where you sit, what songs we sing, and serving in ministries like our Sunday morning nursery workers.

 

Furthermore, later this month, you are going to hear testimonies of three deacon candidates as we consider these men officially serving EBC from that office. 

 

The way of the world is bossing others.  The way of Christ is serving others. Don’t be bossy like the world.

 

• A Ransom for People, Mark 10:45

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 

This verse is the summary verse for the entire book of Mark’s gospel.  Here we see that Jesus came to accomplish two goals: He came to save, and He came to serve.

 

He came to pay the ransom to God for the souls of sinners.  He died in our place so that we would not have to die.  He was our substitute. 

 

He came to serve.  He came to serve humanity rather than being served like any other king.   He did this for His entire earthly life.

 

 

Conclusions

You might respond to today’s message in one of at least two ways:

 

1. Since Jesus died on the cross for your sins, you can receive Him today as Lord and Savior by believing in Him and repenting of your sins.
2. You can begin serving your fellow church members as was Jesus’ example to us.

 

Regardless, Jesus came to serve rather to be served.  As His followers, we must do the same!

 

What is the Gospel?

If you have your Bibles this morning, I invite you to find two texts: Mark 10:32 and 1 Corinthians 15:1.  Today, I want to ask you this question, “What is the gospel?”  If you were asked this question, what would you say?  If you had to share the gospel, what would you share? 

 

I did a word search this past week for the word “gospel,” and in the NKJV of the Bible, you will find that word 101 times in the New Testament.  However, you will only find it defined in one text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  Let’s look at that text first.

 

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.  3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…

 

Now, let’s look at Mark 10:32 and see if Paul’s words match those of Jesus.

 

In Mark 10:32, Jesus and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, their final destination.  As they were on their way, Jesus was lead the pack as was according to rabbinic tradition.  Mark says they were going up to Jerusalem because the city is almost 3000 feet above sea level. 

Verse 32 indicates that His disciples were both amazed and afraid.  It seems that they were amazed perhaps at Jesus’ courage and determination.  However, why were they afraid?

 

Even though they didn’t understand fully, the language of the NT indicates they could tell or feel that something was not right.  There was tension in the air. 

 

At the end of verse 32, Jesus pulled the twelve aside and reminded them of what would happen in the very near future.  In verses 33-34, Jesus used eight future tense verbs to describe the end of His time on the earth.

 

This was the third time in Mark’s gospel that Jesus would do such.

 

Mark 8:31, 31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

 

Mark 9:31, 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”

 

However, before we look at verses 33-34 and answer, “What is the Gospel,” let me answer another important question that will help us in the end.

 

First, what is not the gospel?  The gospel is not feel-good sermons that say: we are all okay and just need some positive therapy.  The gospel is not that God is only love.  The gospel is not that Jesus wants to be our friend or co-pilot, and the gospel is not that God has a wonderful plan or purpose for our life as often quoted from Jeremiah 29:11.

 

Second, the gospel is not churchy experiences.  The gospel is not walking the isle or coming forward.  The gospel is not praying the sinners’ prayer.  The gospel is not joining a church.  The gospel is not even being baptized.

 

Third, the gospel is not simply positive emotions such as peace, happiness, fulfillment or satisfaction, positive self-esteem, or love.  When something other than the gospel is proclaimed, churches just like ours can see false conversions and meaningless church membership lists.

 

 

Therefore, what is the gospel?  First, the gospel begins with Holy God.

 

Leviticus 11:44, 44 For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.

 

Psalm 99:9, 9 Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His holy hill; For the Lord our God is holy.

 

Isaiah 40:25, 25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.

 

John 17:11, 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

 

1 Peter 1:15-16, 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

 

And when the Bible says that God is holy, that does not mean that He is sometimes holy and sometimes not holy.  That does not mean that He is 50% holy or 75% holy or 99.9% holy.  When the Bible says that God is holy, that means He is completely holy all of the time.

 

 

Second, the gospel includes sinful humanity.  We are sinners because of who are parents were.

 

Genesis 3:1-7, Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”  2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”  4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

 

However, we are also sinners because of the choices we make each and every day.

 

Romans 5:12-19, 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)  18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

 

The sinfulness of humanity applies to every person who has ever lived, every person who has breathed the breath of life because of who our parents are and what we have done.  Man’s sinfulness created a divide between a holy God and sinful.  We desperately needed a solution or in other words a Savior.

 

 

Third, the gospel includes a perfect Savior named Jesus.

 

Mark 10:33-34, 33 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; 34 and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

 

Jesus died on the cross and in our place and for our sins.   

 

In Jesus, we have the solution.  We have a perfect Savior.  This is the heart of the gospel.  This is the doctrine of justification.  This is substitutionary atonement.  The heart of the gospel is Jesus dying in our place. 

 

However, do not forget about the resurrection.  Jesus dying and being resurrected are equally important.  If He did not die, He could not have been resurrected.  If He was not resurrected, it would not have mattered that He died. 

 

The gospel can be defined as Holy God, Sinful Man, and Perfect Savior!

 

 

Conclusion

What then do we do with the gospel defined?  If you have never received it as truth and applied it to your life, you can do that this morning through faith and repentance.

 

John 1:12, 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

 

Mark 1:14-15, 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

 

If you have already received the gospel, your job now is to share it.

 

George W. Truett, “The supreme indictment that you can bring against a church…is that such a church lacks in passion and compassion for human souls.  A church is nothing better than an ethical club if its sympathies for lost souls do not overflow, and if it does not go out to seek to point lost souls to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.”  A Quest for Souls, 1917, p. 67.

 

 

Invitation

Today, will you receive the gospel and Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and eternal life in heaven?

 

Today, will you commit to sharing the gospel with that neighbor and co-worker and friend and family member?

Can A Rich Man Be Saved?

This morning, we are back in Mark 10, and God’s superintending of the Scriptures is absolutely amazing to me as we ask this question, “Can a Rich Man Be Saved?” 

 

Today’s text is often entitled “The Rich Young Ruler.”  Where does that title come from because we don’t find that title in Mar’s gospel? 

This story is not only in Mark 10 but also in Matthew 19 and Luke 18, and that description comes from facts from all three.

 

We know this man is rich or wealthy or financially prosperous because Mark 10:22 says he had great possessions. 

 

We know he was young because that adjective is used in Matthew 19:20.

 

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

 

We know that he was a ruler of some sort because of Luke 18:18…most likely in the local synagogue. 

 

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

 

Therefore, can this rich young ruler or any rich man or woman be saved?  I hope the obvious answer to that question is “yes,” but I must say that it is often difficult, and I think you will agree with me as we look at this well-known story.

 

As we begin, please understand some foundational truths about this text.  First, Jesus did not teach that wealth is evil.  Second, He did not teach that poverty is better than riches.  Third, He did not teach that only the poor can be saved.

 

As I said previously, the placement of this story is so appropriate after last week’s message about children and their helpless dependence.  God in His infinite wisdom putting the Scriptures together now follows that up with this man who definitely thought his morality would impress God if not his riches too.

 

Today, I want to show you three related conversations found in Mark 10:17-31.  I now invite you to stand in honor of God’s Word.

 

 

1. Jesus’ Conversation with a Genuine Guy, Mark 10:17-22

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”  18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”  20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”  21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”  22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

 

Notice the rich young ruler’s genuine character displayed in the following ways:

 

First, he was gracious in Mark 10:17. He ran to Jesus.  He knelt before Jesus.  He called Jesus a “good teacher.”

 

Second, the rich young ruler was a morally good man.  Look at Mark 10:18-20.  After reminding the young man of who He truly was, Jesus challenged him to take a serious look at his own life. 

 

He challenged him to compare his life to the second five of the ten commandments.  Do not commit adultery.   Do not murder.  Do not steal.  Do not bear false witness or lie.  Do not defraud, and honor your father and mother.  Not in sequential order, these were commandments five through ten with do not defraud being an application of do not covet.

 

For the most part, this young man lived a good life.  However, he wasn’t as good as he thought because this young man was trying to earn his way to heaven.  Remember what he asked back in verse 17, “what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 

 

Please understand, the only way to earn heaven is to live a perfect, sinless life, never having broken one, single commandment, and no one has yet to achieve such outside of Jesus. 

 

Third, he was grieved in Mark 10:21-22.  Verse 21 tells us that Jesus heard the young man’s own evaluation of his life and loved him still.  Please understand this morning that just as Jesus loved this man, He loves you, but this rich young ruler was resting in his morality rather than trusting in Jesus.

 

Jesus then challenged him at point of weakness, his wealth.  Jesus knew that he was guilty of breaking the first four commandments by worshipping wealth and possession instead of God. 

 

Jesus said go.  Sell everything you own.  Give all the proceeds to the poor.  Come and follow Me.

 

At Jesus’ words, the young man was crushed.  Verse 22 tells us that he was grieved or sorrowful because he had great possessions.  He owned much property.  Luke tells us that he was very rich. 

 

 

1. Jesus’ Conversation with a Confused Crowd, Mark 10:23-27

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”  27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” 

 

When the rich, young ruler ran up to Jesus, His disciples were close by.  They saw and heard all that transpired.  As a result, they were confused or confounded or according to 10:24 astonished and according to 10:26 greatly astonished.  Why?

 

Notice what Jesus said in verses 23-25.  In verse 23, He said, it was hard for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.  In verse 24, He said it again but a little differently.  How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.

 

Then in verse 25, Jesus illustrated this difficulty with a common, first-century Jewish proverb. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Jesus was saying that the wealthy can be saved, but it was going to be hard or difficult. 

 

This was a counter-culture statement and led to the Twelve’s confusion.  In the Jewish culture, the wealthy and rich were seen as already having the blessings of God on their lives.  If God had blessed them in this life, why would it be hard for them to go to heaven?  The disciples then asked if the wealthy can’t be saved, then who can. 

 

Jesus responded with probably the most important words in this story.  “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

 

He was saying that it is impossible for any man or woman to earn salvation.  It can’t be done.  It is impossible. 

 

Salvation cannot be achieved.  However, it most certainly can be received by surrendering your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

 

 

• Jesus’ Conversation with a Distraught Disciple, Mark 10:28-31

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”  29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

 

A part of this confused crowd, was Peter, a distraught disciple.  Notice what he said in 10:28, “We have left all and followed you.” 

 

Let me translate.  “We thought we were following you to be saved, but if the rich aren’t saved, then surely we aren’t saved, and now I have nothing.”  I gave up my business and my possessions and even left my family behind to some degree.

 

Jesus tried to reassure Peter.  He said you have left everything, and you will get back everything plus when we get to heaven.

 

This story concluded with a summary statement in 10:31, “Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

 

 

Conclusions

The main point of this story is that anyone can be saved: male or female, young or old, black or white, rich or poor.  However, anyone can only be saved by God and not self. 

 

Morality does not save.  Sincerity does not save, and prosperity does not save.  Anyone can only be saved when they come to Jesus with helpless dependence on Him and Him alone like a little child. 

 

If you’re here this morning, and you have been trusting in any other thing but God’s grace through Jesus to save you, to give you eternal life and forgiveness of sins in the kingdom of God, I invite you to trust only in Jesus this morning. 

 

That can happen to you by admitting your guilt as a sinner, believing that Jesus died on the cross and in your place for your sins and He is the only way to heaven, and then calling on Him to save you.

 

A secondary point is for those who are truly saved already.  You will never regret following Jesus.  I don’t think I have ever had a genuine follower of Christ say to me, “I’ve obeyed too many times,” or “I’ve attended church too much,” or “I’ve given too much money,” or “I’ve shared the gospel one too many times.”  Jesus was absolutely right when He said to Peter that following Him is the greatest and most rewarding decision that you will ever make.

 

If you’re tired and weary this morning, be encouraged because the Lord knows your toil, and your reward in heaven is certain.

 

Can a rich man be saved?  Absolutely he can if he recognizes that salvation can never be achieved and only received by trusting in

Child-like Faith

This morning in Mark’s gospel, we are picking up in chapter 10 where Bro. Ronnie left off on December 29 when Jesus answered the Pharisees and taught the Twelve on the issues of marriage and divorce. 

 

This account in Mark 10:13-16 is also found in Matthew 19 and Luke 18.  It also has been used throughout 2000 years of church history to justify infant baptism even though there is absolutely zero reference to baptism in this passage.

 

I want to make three observations with you this morning and then make three applications of this text in a message simply entitled, “Child-like Faith.”

 

 

1. The Request of the People about Children, Mark 10:13a

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them.

 

The “they” in this verse seems to refer to mother, fathers, older children, and others who were bringing their children to Jesus for Him to bless them.  Luke 18:15 says these were babies and could range in age from newborns all the way up to twelve years of age. 

 

Why were they doing this?  These people wanted God’s blessing on their children from a “holy man.”  This was a long-standing Jewish tradition that can be seen as far back as Genesis 48:14. 

 

14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

 

The Patriarch Israel or Jacob laid his hands on the heads of Ephraim and Manasseh and blessed them. 

 

Do we see anything like this today?  This practice closely resembles our parent/child dedications.  It is not a requirement, but simply an opportunity for the church and the pastor to pray for parents and their children and to commit them to the Lord.

 

Some have pointed to this passage of Scripture as including infant baptism.  However, as I said previously, I personally think this is a stretch since no mention of baptism, sprinkling or pouring is found anywhere in this text.

 

 

1. The Rebuke by the Twelve about Children, Mark 10:13b

13…but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

 

The Twelve saw all these people and all these snotty-nosed kids, and they got real protective of their Jesus.  They didn’t want to share. 

 

More than likely, they thought Jesus was too busy to deal with children.  Apparently, they saw children as unimportant and insignificant as was common in first-century Judaism.  After all, in their eyes, children couldn’t contribute much to culture and society.  The disciples simply wanted to send these people and their children on their way so Jesus could get back to more urgent matters.

 

 

• The Response from Jesus about Children, Mark 10:14-16

14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

 

In these three verses, we see that Jesus was angry.  He was welcoming, and He was joyful. 

 

In verse 14, Jesus was angry or “greatly displeased” with the Twelve turning families away.  The NASB and NIV says indignant.  The KJV says much displeased.  The NLT says angry.  In the language of the NT, this is actually a compound word from “much” and “to grieve.”

 

At the end of verse 14, I think we have good reason to believe that God has a special grace that He provides for infant or children or mentally handicapped individuals who die before they reach an age where they recognize their need for a Savior and exercise such faith.  Jesus said for such is the kingdom of God.

 

In verse 15, we see Jesus as welcoming or any receive the kingdom of God as a little child.  What does that mean? 

 

Does it mean as adults or students that we must come to Jesus humbly?  I think it can although all children aren’t humble. 

 

Does it mean as adults or students that we must come to Jesus with simple trust?  Again, I think it can.  However, all children aren’t trusting. 

 

More than anything else, I think Jesus means that we as adults or students or children must come to Jesus for salvation with empty hands.  In other words, with a helpless dependence. 

 

You must realize that your morality does not impress God.  Your family tree does not impress God.  Your church attendance or baptism or membership or tithing record does not impress God. 

 

God receives those that acknowledge that you have nothing to offer to Him.  All you can do is trust in the grace and mercy of God to save you by receiving Jesus Christ into your life as Lord and Savior.

 

In verse 16, we see Jesus as joyful, when He took all those children in His arms and laid hands on them and blessed them.  Jesus loves the little children of all the world. 

 

 

Applications/Conclusions

First, we see from this text parents and families bringing their children to Jesus for His blessing.  This morning, we are going to observe the same.

 

Secondly, this text shows us the importance of evangelizing children from a church’s perspective and a parent’s perspective. 

 

If you were saved as an adult after age 18, please stand.  If you were saved between the ages of 13 and 18, please stand.  If you were saved at age 12 or younger, please stand.  Brothers and sisters, this simply illustration should remind us that Children’s Sunday School is vital as are ministries like GNC, VBS, Preteen Camp, and Fall Festival.

 

Furthermore, moms and dads, seeing what I you just saw, why would not make sure that your children are in Sunday School every Sunday and in RA’s and GA’s and here on Wednesday nights and at GNC? 

 

Finally, regardless of your age, if you have never received Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life like a child with helpless dependence, this morning, I invite you to call on Him to save you for the very first time.

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