“SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY DROVE HIM OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS!”

 Mark 1:9-13                           (ESV)

“[9] In those days JESUS came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when HE came up out of the water, immediately HE saw the heavens being torn open and the SPIRIT descending on HIM like a dove. [11] And a VOICE came from heaven, “YOU are my beloved SON; with YOU I am well pleased.”

[12] The “SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY DROVE HIM OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS”. [13] And HE was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And HE was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to HIM.”

The epistle (letter) of John is rather plain in John 10:30 where JESUS says “I and the FATHER are ONE”!  Yet here in the book of Mark it is written how JESUS was baptized and “The SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY drove HIM out into the wilderness”.  Why do you think that JESUS “needed” to spend time with the FATHER when HE is GOD IN THE FLESH?  Surely ALMIGHTY GOD could have made the “connectivity” between so precise and complete that it would not require seemingly constant communication and updates?  

Could it be that we were CREATED to NOT BE able to function without an almost constant almost “indwelling” of our CREATOR?  A recent Bible Study left me with these tidbits:

“When JESUS was on this earth, HE was intentional about spending time with HIS FATHER.”

“I need to be alone with my GOD,  But being alone requires effort. Particularly in these days of smart phones and social media and second-by-second updates.”

JESUS had just came up out of the water from being Baptized, and the HOLY “SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY DROVE HIM OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS”!  HE didn’t require a guard, a sentry, or any other protection.  GOD sent HIS angels to protect HIM!  NOTHING IN HEAVEN NOR EARTH could have interfered with GOD accomplishing HIS Plan!!!

ALMIGHTY GOD is still ON HIS THRONE!  HE has not yielded any power or might!  So why do I get caught up in trying to “make things happen” when I feel is best?  GOD “made” everything happen AT THE PRECISE TIME for HIS REDEMPTIVE PLAN to unfold for a lost world!  HE doesn’t need my intervention to perfect what ONLY HE is going to do!  When the HOLY “SPIRIT IMMEDIATELY DROVE HIM OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS”, it allowed ever HIS PLAN to be fulfilled!!!

“THEIR HEART IS SET ON THEIR GAIN!”

 Ezekiel 33:30-33

“[30] “As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘COME, AND HEAR WHAT THE WORD IS THAT COMES FROM THE LORD.’ [31] And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; “THEIR HEART IS SET ON THEIR GAIN”. [32] AND BEHOLD, YOU ARE TO THEM like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, FOR THEY HEAR WHAT YOU SAY, BUT THEY WILL NOT DO IT. [33] When this comes—AND COME IT WILL!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.””

There are people, even modern day folks, who are a “prophet” with no title or salary, other than doing what GOD has called them to do.  According to one dictionary, the word “prophet” is defined as “A person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of a god is expressed.”  

When ALMIGHTY GOD puts HIS BLESSING on that which is said as a message from HIM, we need to hear it as from GOD, not as from the messenger!  Ezekiel was such a Messenger, but his words were sent as a MESSAGE from HEAVEN, not his opinion!  Hearing the words as if they were being spoken from THE CREATOR should have made them respected, IF they were recognized as coming from GOD!  

Do we recognize when we are HEARING from HEAVEN?  Or do we recognize when we are SEEING orders from THE CREATOR?  Or are we too focused on “THEIR HEART IS SET ON THEIR GAIN”?  The balance of our checking account isn’t what SHOULD determine who we are or what we will become.  When our EYES are opened to SEE TRUTH, our focus will be on that which HEAVEN SEES as important!  “THEIR HEART IS SET ON THEIR GAIN” will be changed to that which is important to HIM!!!

“ACCEPTED OF HIM!”

2 Corinthians 5:6-10                   (KJV)

“6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the LORD: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, AND WILLING rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY, and to be PRESENT WITH THE LORD. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, WE MAY BE “ACCEPTED OF HIM”. 10 For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of CHRIST; that EVERY ONE may receive the things done in his body, ACCORDING TO THAT HE HATH DONE, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD.”

The English Standard Version (ESV) is the translation of Scripture that I most frequently use because I find it to be the the closest translation to the GREEK writings.  The King James Version (KJV) was the most widely used when the United States was being founded, being published in 1611 after being translated for over seven years!  Both have their strengths and weaknesses and today I elect to use the KJV, even though verse nine is translated in the ESV as “…we make it our aim to please HIM” instead of WE MAY BE “ACCEPTED OF HIM”.  

Even though the online GREEK uses the words “well pleasing to HIM” for verse ten, this humble servant finds it difficult to ascribe ANYTHING I do to be “pleasing to HIM”, but quite understanding for it to be “ACCEPTED OF HIM”.  The more I SEE of my “works”, the more convinced I am that there is NOTHING I do of myself that is worthy to present as worthy, even as a gift, to our CREATOR.  Even which translation of Scripture I use can be challenged as the correct way to HEAR that which HE is trying to get me to understand AT THE TIME.

There is little doubt in my brain damaged mind that I fail daily to do precisely that which HE would gain the most Glory from.  But PRAISE GOD HE doesn’t throw us away when we come up short in our lives.  HE used King David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba to ultimately bring marriage between the two and a son from that bond (King Solomon) would be used in the lineage of JESUS the CHRIST!

My imagination can surely SEE where GOD “could” use this broken, despicable vessel for HIS Glorious Plan. HE will shine through my imperfections, as HE did with King David’s unholiness, for HIS GLORY to be “ACCEPTED OF HIM”, but our “filthy rags” can be used TO MAGNIFY HIM!  Our “goodness” is not what we have to brag about, our bragging MUST be that we are “ACCEPTED OF HIM”, for HIS GLORY!!!

“GREAT CROWDS!”

 Matthew 13:1-9                                (ESV)

The Parable of the Sower

“[1] That same day JESUS went out of the house and sat beside the sea. [2] And “GREAT CROWDS” gathered about HIM, so that HE got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. [3] And HE told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. [5] Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, [6] but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. [7] Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. [8] Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. [9] HE WHO HAS EARS, LET HIM HEAR.””

The “work” that JESUS performed during HIS relatively short time “in the Ministry” was great.  But how many people were “changed” compared to how many people heard THE MESSAGE?  

These few words shared by JESUS were ended with “HE WHO HAS EARS, LET HIM HEAR”!  “GREAT CROWDS” heard that day, but only those who HAD EARS TO HEAR lives were changed!  

Would I be lumped into those people who lives were changed that day?  Or would I be a part of the “GREAT CROWDS” who heard, but were NOT changed???

“How much better….?”

 Proverbs 16:16                     (ESV)

    “[16] How much better to get wisdom than gold!

        To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”

When GOD provides answers that WE KNOW only could have come from HIM???

“JUSTIFIED BY FAITH!”

 Romans 5:1-5                                         (ESV)

Peace with God Through Faith

“[1] THEREFORE, since we have been “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH”, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST. [2] Through HIM we have also obtained access by FAITH into this GRACE in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of GOD. [3] Not only that, but WE REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE has been poured into our hearts through the HOLY SPIRIT WHO has been given to us.”

Since I was a youngster (a LONG time ago!) I have been told that whenever we see the word THEREFORE in Scripture that we must discover why the word is “THERE FOR”!  Seeing that this chapter begins with the word THEREFORE, it causes this poor country boy to dig to discover why it was being used at this particular time.  

To be “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” clearly means that our SPIRITUAL account has been brought into a RIGHT STANDING with ALMIGHTY GOD, but not by our righteousness, but “through our LORD JESUS CHRIST”!  Just because we don’t participate in a particular sin doesn’t mean that we have graduated beyond the temptation to “play in the mud”!  But we have been “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” because of what JESUS did on earth, not because we are “holier” than others, but because we were CHOSEN before the foundation of the world to be HIS!

There are no more complete words in the English language that can be used than we “REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD’S LOVE has been poured into our hearts through the HOLY SPIRIT WHO has been given to us.”  We expect things to be peachy as we serve HIM, but JESUS told Ananias (speaking about HIS CHOSEN, Paul) in Acts 9:16 “For I will show him how much he must suffer FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME.”

To realize that THE CREATOR has CHOSEN you to suffer FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME can be a scary thing.  Abraham, who the writer of Acts had just written about, was told that he AND SARAH would have a son.  He had to SUFFER through doubt and confusion, but ULTIMATELY THE PROMISE was fulfilled when Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old (Genesis 21:5)!  

Was Abraham one who deserved to be “set aside” by his CREATOR as a holy tool to be used to draw others to HIM? Abram, as he was previously known before GOD CHANGED him, simply TRUSTED GOD to do what HE SAID HE WOULD DO, not because he was a great person, but because GOD IS A GREAT GOD!  He was “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” that GOD was able to do that which HE said HE would do…..not what he wanted HIM to do!  

We are incapable of adding to, or taking away from, what ALMIGHTY GOD has declared to be HIS PLAN.  We are CALLED to walk by FAITH, and to be “JUSTIFIED BY FAITH” as we allow GOD to be Glorified in our life and actions!!!

“THEY FOLLOW ME!”

John 10:22-30                                   (ESV)

“[22] At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, [23] and JESUS was walking IN THE TEMPLE, in the colonnade of Solomon. [24] So the Jews gathered around HIM and said to HIM, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the CHRIST, tell us plainly.” [25] JESUS answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in MY FATHER’S name bear witness about ME, [26] but you DO NOT BELIEVE because YOU ARE NOT AMONG MY SHEEP. [27] MY sheep hear MY voice, and I know them, and “THEY FOLLOW ME”. [28] I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of MY hand. [29] MY FATHER, WHO has given them to ME, is GREATER THAN ALL, and no one is able to snatch them out of the FATHER’S hand. [30] I and the FATHER are ONE.””

Walking where we are LED (by the SPIRIT OF GOD!) is so very important, but there are times when we become so busy that we cannot SEE where we NEED to go!  Could it be that we at times get so caught up in a preconceived idea of how “we believe” our lives should be unfolding that we FAIL to SEE the HOLY SPIRIT is calling us elsewhere?  “The Jews” were so enamored with the observations of “this world” that they did not SEE GOD IN THE FLESH walking among them.  

Placing emphasis on what “this world” tries to make us believe are important is a good way to miss what GOD has for us.  For instance, many people find it “easiest” to “eat what they are fed”, never realizing that HEAVENLY manna is available for them, IF THEY would only select from a different menu!  JESUS told “the Jews” that “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in MY FATHER’S name bear witness about ME, but you DO NOT BELIEVE because YOU ARE NOT AMONG MY SHEEP.”  Were they DEAF to the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES?  Could they NOT SEE???

JESUS the CHRIST walked on earth for 33+ years.  Even HIS CHOSEN disciples had to experience HIS seeming desertion (after HIS crucifixion)  for a period of time.  It is SO VERY important that we KNOW WHO we are following that we will not be led astray by the cares of “this world”!  KNOWING WHO we are FOLLOWING is vital, for ONLY HE knows where we need to go!  

JESUS told “the Jews” during this time that “HIS disciples” KNEW HIM, and “THEY FOLLOW ME”!  Will we (HIS disciples) ever listen to another voice?  Without a doubt, because we are still in “this world”!  But KNOWING the JOY and PEACE that ONLY comes from JESUS has NO comparison.  Only WHEN we know HIM are we able to FOLLOW HIM!  Not because we are worthy, but because JESUS, our CREATOR, says “THEY FOLLOW ME”!!!