Mark 10:17-32

 

Mark 10:17-32

CJB

 

 “As He was starting on His way, a man ran up, kneeled down in front of Him and asked, ‘Good Rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?’ YESHUA said to him, ‘Why are you calling Me good? No one is good except GOD! You know the Mitzvot – “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, don’t defraud, honor your father and mother…” Rabbi,’ he said, ‘I have kept these since I was a boy.’ YESHUA, looking at him felt love for him and said to him, ‘You’re missing one thing. Go, sell whatever you own, give to the poor, and you will have riches in Heaven. Then, come follow Me!’ Shocked by His Word, he went away sad; because he was a wealthy man. YESHUA looked around and said to His talmidim, ‘How hard it is going to be for people with wealth to enter The Kingdom of GOD!’ His talmidim were astounded at His Words; but YESHUA said to them again. ‘My friends, how hard it is to enter The Kingdom of GOD! It’s easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter The Kingdom of GOD.’ They were utterly amazed and said to Him, ‘Then who can be saved?’ YESHUA looked at them and said, ‘Humanly it is impossible, but not with GOD; with GOD, everything is possible.’ Kefa began saying to Him, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you.’ YESHUA said, ‘Yes! I tell you there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or fields, for My sake and the sake of The Good News, who will not receive a hundred times over, now, in the olam hazeh, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands – with persecutions! – and in the olam haba, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first!’ They were on the road going to Yerushalayim. YESHUA was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed – and those following were afraid. So again taking the Twelve along with Him, He began telling them what was about to happen to Him”

 

I have heard many teaching on this passage of scripture, especially the first section on the rich man and The Kingdom of GOD, about the eye of a needle and the difficulty of getting into Heaven, about the last being first and the first being last, about the rewards for those who give up everything to follow and serve JESUS both in this life and in eternity, and of course “with man it is impossible but with GOD everything is impossible”.

 

But, as I was reading this passage two new lessons jumped out at me.

 

 “My friends, how hard it is to enter The Kingdom of GOD! It’s easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter The Kingdom of GOD.” They were utterly amazed and said to Him, ‘Then who can be saved?’” The first part of this passage says that it is hard to enter the Kingdom of GOD, then emphasizes how much harder it is for the rich to enter The Kingdom of GOD. This confirms what JESUS taught in the Sermon on the Mount, “Get in by the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

 

There are many who teach about the good life, but JESUS taught about the hard life, He said we would be persecuted for our faith and obedience, even by our own family. He said that we would be imprisoned and killed for our faith and obedience. He said that to be His disciple we had to lay down our life and take up our execution stake (cross) daily and follow (obey) Him. But He also said that He came to give us life and give it in abundance (John 10:10); in the passage above He said that those who give up their life in the world to follow (serve) Him would be rewarded 100 fold (percent) in this life and in eternity.

 

So how do we balance these teachings? By seeking The Kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness first (Matthew 6:33); by prayer, fasting and studying His Word The Bible and listening to His SPIRIT. Some are called to be rich, but not very many because as JESUS stated that is a very hard way. Some are called to lay down everything, but not all that many because it is a pretty hard way. All of us are called to seek Him and obey no matter the cost and it is a hard way at times. Our blessings and rewards in this life are not always the way we think of them; family is not always genetic; peace is not always the absence of trials and troubles; possessions are not always worldly; but His Grace is always sufficient and His Mercies are always available. “Yes! I tell you there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children or fields, for My sake and the sake of The Good News, who will not receive a hundred times over, now, in the olam hazeh (present age), homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and lands – with persecutions! – and in the olam haba (age to come), eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first!”

 

The second thing that jumped out to me was, “They were on the road going to Yerushalayim. YESHUA was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed – and those following were afraid.” Twice, in Matthew 10:28-31 and Luke 12:4-7 (study these passages and you will see that these are different times and locations), JESUS taught to not fear men who can only kill the body, but to fear Him (GOD) who can destroy both soul and body in hell. So JESUS’ disciples where blessed, amazed and afraid by the authority and power that JESUS demonstrated daily. There are some in the Church today who talk of their personal relationship with JESUS as if they are best friends and JESUS did call us friends and we are adopted by The Father and are joint-heirs with Him of The Father’s eternal Kingdom (the apostles all called themselves slaves and servants of JESUS). But, He is GOD and we need to have the reverential fear of HIM as Creator, Redeemer and Judge!

 

In 1 Samuel 15:22 where he declares that obedience is better than sacrifice he was talking about animal sacrifice according to The Law. In the New Testament we are called to sacrifice our own life and will to be obedient to The Father’s Will and JESUS’ Life! Matthew 6:9-10, John 11:25-26.

 

Let us live the good and abundant life, full of grace and mercy in CHRIST JESUS to The Father, working out our salvation with fear and trembling, Philippians 2:12-13.

A Report of Covid-19 Vaccine Deaths and Injuries

 

A Report of Covid-19 Deaths and Injuries

From Eudra Vigilance by Brian Shilhavy
Editor, Health Impact News

 

Below is a link to a report on the side effects of the various Covid-19 vaccines administered in European countries.

https://vaccineimpact.com/2021/5365-dead-238949-injuries-european-database-of-adverse-drug-reactions-for-covid-19-vaccines/

A Song - JESUS CHRIST

 

JESUS CHRIST

Sung to the tune of Jingle Bells

 

JESUS CHRIST, JESUS CHRIST

JESUS leads the way

Oh what fun it is walk with JESUS in the lead

 

Hey! JESUS CHRIST, JESUS CHRIST

JESUS leads the way

Oh what fun it is walk with JESUS in the lead

 

Trumpets sound on high

Making spirits rise

Oh what fun it is to walk with JESUS in the lead

 

Hey! JESUS CHRIST, JESUS CHRIST

JESUS leads the way

Oh what fun it is walk with JESUS in the lead

 

Dashing off to Church

Bibles in our hand

Oh what fun it is walk with JESUS in the lead

 

Hey! JESUS CHRIST, JESUS CHRIST

JESUS leads the way

Oh what fun it is walk with JESUS in the lead

 

Pride and Obedience

 

Pride and Obedience

 

There is much more pride in the Church than most Christians acknowledge, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18; “…Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is GOD who works in you to both to will and to do His Works for His Good Pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13 “Has The LORD, as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of The LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22 Andrew Murray says that "Pride is the root of all sin." in his book Humility

 

All through Scripture we are reminded to be humble, obey and do the works of GOD’s Kingdom. But many Christians do not read and study the Bible for themselves, many Christians do not seek GOD first and His Righteousness by prayer, study and fasting; they seek the “good life”.

 

JESUS said there are two roads, one is wide and easy and many follow it, Christians call it “the good life”, but it leads to destruction; the other is narrow, difficult and hard to fine, JESUS calls it the obedient life, and it leads to eternal life; Matthew 7:13-14.

 

There is a lot of teaching in the Church today about “the good life” and not much about the obedient life. While there is teaching about obedience it is generally aimed at getting to the good life. Read your Bible, go to Church, join a home group of some type, pay your tithes and work in the Church as a volunteer and GOD will give you ‘the good life”. JESUS’ call is to give up our life, obey the will of The Father and do the Works of His Kingdom in the earth as it is in Heaven; Matthew 6:9-13, 16:24-27.

 

The life the disciples of JESUS led and taught was the obedient life! JESUS said that we would be persecuted for our faith and obedience and to rejoice in it; Matthew 5:10-12, Luke 6:22-23 (study Matthew 5:2-13 and Luke 6:20-26 and see that the blessing comes after); James, Peter, John and Paul all talk about the hardship and joy they experienced in being servants (slaves) to CHRIST and obeying His Word; 1 Peter 2:19, 3:14, 4:12-19; James 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11, Philippians 3 (10-11); 3 John.

 

John 16:20-24 JESUS told them that at some point their sorrow would end in joy and they would no longer have any questions. Many think He was talking about His resurrection and the time they would spend with Him before He ascended; but they still had questions and fear, even after The HOLT SPIRIT entered their lives; He was talking about eternity!

 

Remember JESUS told them and us that to be His disciples and enter His Kingdom we had to take up our cross and follow Him, that we had to obey His commands and that we had to stop sinning. He preached “Repent for the Kingdom of GOD is near!” Matthew 3:2. Most Christians understand that repent means to turn from or go the opposite direction, in plain English it means “Stop sinning!” that is another theme that you will find throughout the teachings of Peter, James, John and Paul; Colossians 3; 1 John 1:5-2:11, 3:4-5; 1 Peter 1:3-9,13-21, 2 Peter 3:14-18; James 1:12-20.

Lies

 

Lies

 

Ne definition needed – everyone knows what a lie is and everyone hates to be lied to, yet everyone has or will tell a lie.

 

The word lie has two basic meanings: to lay down or to tell a falsehood – to not tell the truth. In all its’ forms that mean to tell a falsehood; lie, lied, lies, lieth, liar, liars and lying; GOD hates it. To prove that I am only going to use two Scripture references.

 

Acts 5:1-11, the Church was young and relatively small when people started to sell their possessions and give the money to the Apostles to distribute as needed in the community of believers. One couple, Ananias and Sapphira kept part of the money from the sale of their property and gave the rest to the Church. The problem was that they told everyone that they gave all of the proceeds of the sale to the Church; this was not a sin or improper in any way. But, the lie was and GOD judged them on the spot by taking their lives in front of witnesses. This put the Church on the straight and narrow when it came to lying.

 

The other is Revelation 22:12-17, JESUS says in review of previous 21 chapters, “’And behold, I Am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.  Blessed are those who do His Commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into The City. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, JESUS, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the Churches. I Am the Root and the offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’ And The SPIRIT and The Bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the Water of Life freely.”

 

The Bible is clear in it’s teachings that lying is bad and we should not lie, if we tell a lie we have to ask for forgiveness and stop lying and GOD will forgive us, even if some people do not. But when it comes to lying to GOD or practicing a lie, well the Scriptures are clear, that brings death and eternal rejection by GOD.

 

So practicing a lie, what is that? To live a lie knowing that it is a lie. There is one example in the New Testament; JESUS is doing miracles and casting out demons and the religious leaders are accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub or the devil. JESUS tells them that if He is casting out demons by Beelzebub then by whom do their sons cast our demons; their sons will be their judge. But He also tells them and the crowd that blaspheming The HOLY SPIRIT is an unforgivable sin, the only unforgivable sin; because they are says that The HOLY SPIRIT is the devil; Mark 3:20-30; Matthew 12:22-32; Luke 12:8-12; Acts 7:51-53.

Rapture - Before or After?

 

Rapture – Before or After?

 

I do not believe that the Church is going to be raptured before or during the Great Tribulation! Though I wish it were true.

 

In my study of Revelation it says that the Church will go through the full seven years of the tribulation and the thousand year reign of CHRIST from Jerusalem before the rapture. The rapture is actually the second resurrection; the first resurrection is of those killed during the tribulation, Revelation 20:4 & 6. The second resurrection is everyone else who died before the great battle in Jerusalem and the camp of the saints, Revelation 20:7-10; including those who died during CHRIST’s thousand year reign in Jerusalem, Revelation 20:5 & 11-15.

 

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says that all those in CHRIST living and dead will be caught up to be with JESUS at the last trumpet, Revelation 11: 15-19, the last trumpet is the day that CHRIST returns to establish His Throne in Jerusalem and reign over the nations of the earth for one thousand years, Revelation 19:11-21. So it could be that Revelation 20:4 does not fully describe the first resurrection. Either way it does not happen until CHRIST returns at the last trumpet!

 

The only thing the Bible says about the thousand year reign of CHRIST; other than that He will reign with a rod of iron over the nations; is that those of the first resurrection will reign with Him in Jerusalem for the thousand years. Then after the thousand years satan will be loosed in the world and he will raise an unnumbered army to attack the Christians living around Jerusalem and Jerusalem itself. That means that there will be many people alive during this time who do not serve GOD. This is not part of GOD’s eternal Kingdom (Paradise), people will be born, live and die during the thousand years of CHRIST’s earthly reign and many will hate Him.

 

One of the problems with the current teaching that the Church will be raptured before the tribulation is that when that does not happen many “Christians” who believed and counted on not having to go through the Great Tribulation will be so hurt and disappointed that they will lose faith in the Church, the Word and GOD. I believe this is the cause of the great falling away that is prophesied, “…All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this Gospel of The Kingdom will be preached to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:1-14 I believe this is the first three and a half years of the tribulation. 24:15-26 is the last three and a half years and verses 27-28 are The Last Day. Then comes the thousand year reign of CHRIST in Jerusalem; the final great battle at Jerusalem and the eternal reign of The Father and The Son in the new Jerusalem, in the new Heaven and earth!

Am I Content With My Heritage?

 

Am I Content With My Heritage?

Psalm 16:5-6 – John 14:1-4

 

“ADONAI, my assigned portion, my cup; You safeguard my share.

Pleasant places are measured out for me; I am content with my heritage.”

 

“Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in GOD and trust in Me. In My Father’s House are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with Me; so that where I am, you may be also. Furthermore, you know where I am going; and you know the way there.”

 

To be content where we are we have to be content with our destination. Contentment is the knowing that we have a place in GOD’s eternal Kingdom, no matter how hard our life is we know to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to life, Matthew 7:13-14.