Acts 2:38-39

Jesus did not leave us alone He gave us Holy Spirit. He is our direct connection to God. God knew from the beginning who would accept His gift of salvation in Jesus. They will be called chosen.

The Holy Spirit calls us but it up to us to accept the gift.

Acts 2:38-39

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” The New King James Version

The Greek word used here, metanoeō, denotes a change of mind, will, or actions. Peter calls the people to believe that Jesus is the Messiah promised in the old testament. 

Peter’s exhortation involves two actions: repentance and baptism. These are connected with two promises: forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

In Acts, Luke presents saving faith, repentance, forgiveness, baptism, and the gift of the Spirit as interrelated aspects of embracing Jesus and coming to belong to the people of God in Christ. Just as circumcision served as a visible external marker of inclusion in the covenant community of Israel, so baptism serves as the public sign and seal of a person’s solidarity with Christ and participation in the new covenant community of faith, which encompasses both Jewish and non-Jewish people. Baptism identifies a person with Jesus in His life, death, burial, and resurrection 

God does not overlook or ignore sin, but graciously frees those who belong to Jesus from its condemnation and power. Before His ascension, Jesus promised to send the Spirit to dwell in those who belong to Him, enabling them to trust and follow Him as their Savior and Lord. Faithlife Study Bible

Repentance for the Judeans involved rejecting their former attitudes and opinions concerning who Jesus was. 

When a person recognizes who Jesus Christ really is, the result is the desire to do what He commands. The first action that Jesus requires of a new believer is baptism, the outward expression of inward faith. The idea of an unbaptized Christian is foreign to the New Testament 

Is Peter saying that we must be baptized to receive forgiveness of our sins? Scripture clearly teaches that we are justified by faith alone, not by works. The critical word in this phrase is the word for, which may also be translated “with a view to.” Peter’s message makes it clear that “remission of sins” comes to “whoever believes.” Believers are baptized in view of God’s work of forgiveness, not in order to receive that forgiveness. God’s forgiveness in Christ gives baptism its significance. Baptism is a public declaration that a person’s sins have been forgiven because of the finished work of Christ on the Cross. 

The gift of the Holy Spirit was the promise of Jesus. The Holy Spirit puts us in communion with the Father and the Son. This indwelling of the Spirit is a beautiful promise of the New Covenant an indication not only that our sins are forgiven, but also that the Lord has placed His law within us. 

Peter exhorted his listeners to repent. In other words, each person had to make the decision to turn away from his or her sinful habits and turn to God in faith. Then God would forgive that person’s sins and declare them righteous because of Jesus’ work on the Cross. 

In first-century Israel, a father held tremendous influence in his home. When a father chose to receive Christ and be baptized, his children would follow his lead. The NKJV Study Bible

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring;

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Mark 3:13

God knew from the beginning of time those who would accept His gift of grace in salvation. Those He foreknew He also called chosen. 

Lord, the Air Smells Good Today
Lord, the air smells good today,
straight from the mysteries
within the inner courts of God.
A grace like new clothes thrown
across the garden, free medicine for everybody.
The trees in their prayer, the birds in praise,
the first blue violets kneeling.
Whatever came from Being is caught up in being, drunkenly
forgetting the way back.
Rumi (13th Century)

If it’s been awhile reconsider God’s extravagant grace: “Forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity” (Psalm 103:2-3). Why don’t you let grace unscrooge your heart. Max Lucado

Mark 3:13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.  The New King James Version

Jesus had a large group of followers. Even even after the Twelve were appointed, He still had a large and continual following. The NKJV Study Bible

Matthew 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

Mark 2:1-12

There is healing in His wings. Healing for our physical, mental and emotional needs. But more than all these is the spiritual healing of salvation that precedes them. He loves us so! He invites us to come to Him, all of us who are heavy with the cares of this life, and He gives us His peace.

Our faith in Jesus makes us whole!

Many Bible scholars refer to Romans 1:16 as Paul's thesis statement in the book of Romans: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Paul was unashamed of the gospel because he knew the Person behind the gospel - Jesus. Jesus' power is "the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." First5 

We begin here: It is what is directly around me—the birds chirping on the back deck and around the pond, the heavenly gift (scent and taste) of coffee, the sun peaking through the clouds, highlighting the tall fir trees outside my window, and yes, the pile stacked on my desk—that ends up grounding me in the world and in myself. When I feel derailed, or focused only on where I need to be, I rarely pay attention to the gifts in the present. Sabbath Moments 

Mark 2:1-12

2 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” 6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” The New King James Version

Since the paralytic needs four people to lift him, he likely is an adult. In a way similar to his statement here, Jesus later speaks of the children—Israel—as the intended recipients of His ministry. Jesus’ words to the man suggest a connection between sin and illness, an assumption rooted in the ot understanding of disobedience to God’s law resulting in various curses. The healing that follows authenticates Jesus’ claim to forgive sins.

The scribes (teachers of the law) accuse Jesus of blasphemy because He, a human being, claims to do something only God can. Blasphemy—a significant theme in Mark’s Gospel—is the first and last charge Jesus’ Jewish adversaries will bring against Him. In the ot, only God is able to forgive sins. For Jesus’ opponents, His claim to forgive the man’s sins—equivalent to claiming divinity—is easily dismissible since there is no proof of the success of His claim. Jesus’ rhetorical question and following action are meant to stimulate His audience, and especially His accusers, to recognize that He had authority to act with God’s power.

The phrase, which may be literally rendered “human one”, refers to a Messiah figure who comes to Yahweh (called the Ancient of Days), with the clouds surrounding him, to be given dominion over all of the world. Yahweh is also depicted as riding on the clouds, which means the Son of Man is depicted like Yahweh himself—indicating that the Son of Man figure is also divine. This is fitting as a description for Jesus’ ministry, since He is divine and human, and is establishing the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus acted with an unprecedented authority over physical maladies and demons. Faithlife Study Bible

Mark is largely a record of Christ’s actions, but what Jesus said is not neglected. Here he describes how Jesus preached the word, the message of the coming kingdom. Many in the crowd may have come expecting to see healings and miracles. The throng blocked entrance into the already packed room. The determination of the men is seen in the fact that they uncovered the roof over the room where Jesus was preaching. The roof was probably flat and constructed of tiles laid one on another. Not only did the four men have faith, but the paralytic himself had it too. When Jesus announced to him, your sins are forgiven, He was implicitly acknowledging the paralytic’s trust that He was the Messiah. 

Mark notes the opposition of the scribes, who under their breath accused Jesus of blasphemy. In Christ’s day the scribes were commonly called lawyers. Jesus asked the which is easier question to demonstrate the truth of His claim to forgive the man’s sins—something only God can accomplish. Anyone could assert the ability to forgive sins, since there was no earthly way of confirming the statement. But to say arise, take up your bed and walk to a paralytic could be tested immediately by whether he walked or not. By healing the paralytic, Jesus made His pronouncement of forgiveness far more credible. 

Son of Man is a term regularly used for the Messiah. The crowd’s reaction showed that they understood the significance of Jesus’ miracle. It is possible that some scribes and Pharisees joined in the acclamation. But permanent, life-changing faith is what Christ sought, not temporary adoration from the crowd. The NKJV Study Bible

Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

Matthew 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Jeremiah 39:15–18

Trust God. 

In Jesus and the power of Holy Spirit we can do the right thing and have peace in any situation that we  find ourselves in. We no longer have to protect ourselves we have Jesus and His Holy Spirit to keep us and deliver us safely home.

Joy in salvation is our strength knowing that God cares for us with an everlasting love in Jesus.

All changes, all growth, all improvements in the quality of our lives flow out of our vision of God. And when our vision of God is one of a God of relentless tenderness, we ultimately become tender ourselves. (The Wittenburg Door, Oct–Nov 1986)

This has been on my mind quite a bit, of late. In a world that feels upside down, where shutting down emotionally is both tempting, and not surprising.

The good news is that gratitude expands our world, and allows us to look out, beyond our anxiety or angst, to a world where we can create space, sanctuaries for mercy and compassion and gentleness and empathy. And tenderness.

Gratitude reminds us that we are wholeheartedly human. Because gratitude naturally repairs the tears and lacerations in our spirit.

I do know this: Anxiety or angst makes our world smaller and harsher and crueler.

Without restoration that comes with a thankful and tender heart, we give way to fear, judgment and exhaustion. This much is true: Fear and judgment never serve us. Sabbath Moments 

“’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” When John Newton penned this promise, he did so out of personal experience. His greatest test came the day he buried his wife, Mary. He’d loved her and prayed his death would precede hers. But his prayer was not answered.

Yet, on the day Mary Newton died, John Newton found strength to preach a Sunday sermon. The next day he visited church members. Later he officiated at his wife’s funeral. He grieved, but in his grief he found God’s provision. He later wrote, “The Bank of England is too poor to compensate for such a loss as mine. But the Lord, the all-sufficient God speaks, and it is done. Let those who know Him, and trust Him, be of good courage.”

My friend, disease, calamity, and trouble populate your world. But they do not control it. Grace does.  MAX LUCADO

Jeremiah 39:15–18

15 Meanwhile the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 16 “Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. 17 But I will deliver you in that day,” says the Lord, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’ ” The New King James Version

Ebed-melech (also rendered “Ebed-Melek”) will be spared because of his support for Jeremiah and devotion to Yahweh. Faithlife Study Bible

Ebed-Melech, who had carefully rescued Jeremiah from the muddy cistern in the prison court, was promised safety and deliverance by the Lord because of his assistance to Jeremiah and because he had put his trust in God. The NKJV Study Bible

Here is a message to assure Ebed-melech of a recompence for his great kindness to Jeremiah. Because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. God recompenses men’s services according to their principles. Those who trust God in the way of duty, as this good man did, will find that their hope shall not fail in times of the greatest danger. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Jeremiah 45:5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”

Life Church Vineyard

Pastor Mitch Price

Eternity starts at salvation now we can live in the joy of His resurrected life.

It’s okay if it is hard to believe. I have faith you will do greater things. Go tell the world about Me I was dead but now I live. Don’t forget the things that I taught you. Where I will go you will go too someday. My Spirit is with you wherever you go. You have a purpose and I have a plan. I’ve gotta go now for a little while but goodbye is not the end. 

We need each other now more than other. 

Resurrected Life!

God knew before the fall of Adam and Eve that He had a plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. Any day now Jesus will return. Everything hinges upon that day.

How shall we live until His return?

Every other religion has a dead messenger. 

Jesus is preparing a place for us right now

1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

If Christ is risen nothing else matters!

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 

We inherited original sin through Adam. As sin came through one man also that sin is broken in Christ Jesus.

Acts 1:11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

No one can earn salvation it only come through Jesus.

John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

He will never us alone!!

Our mission is to let others know of the salvation God gives in Jesus and the power He gives us in Holy Spirit.

We can live in the same power of the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead as we learn to clothes ourselves in the virtue and attributes of Christ.

This process is called sactification: positional, progressive and perfect.

Positional Sanctification. The instantaneous and unchanging state of grace experienced at conversion. This is given the moment we accept His life in exchange for ours.

Progressive Sanctification: ever increasing growth in holiness based upon our willingness, obedience and work, with reliance upon God’s guidance and strength in partnering with the Holy Spirit.

Perfect Sanctification: our positional sanctification realized, commuted and perfected. Experienced at our glorification at His second coming.

The calling of God

The Tree Church

Pastor Matthew Johnson

I thank the Master

I thank the Savior!

I thank God……

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…for you and me

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!

From the moment of our rejection to God His plan to save us was already in place in the salvation of Christ Jesus. 

Holy Spirit is the power of God available to believers. He wants to saturate our lives.

All that God has for you will not be found where you are currently. Only in faith and trust in Him are we saved. We are sanctified and changed by trusting Him. He will continue to change us and draw us deeper into faith. We will never arrive on this side of heaven. Sanctification is an ongoing process. 

God will us to take a step in faith.The Holy Spirit will enable us. 

Until we see Jesus face to face we will be constantly growing in our faith.

Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

God uniquely calls us. Our heart will reveal our passion for His purpose. He calls us to a place we have never been before. We will never feel totally qualified. We can never accomplish our calling in ourself. 

Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

God’s calling comes with His presence. He sends His Spirit to accomplish His will in our life. In every calling of God He is there. It comes with guaranteed results. When we walk out in faith we will see an increase in our faith. We do not always say yes.  Many people miss moments in God’s presence because they won’t trust God and obey. 

The Holy Spirit anoints. When He anoints someone He provides everything they need.

Exodus 3:13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Exodus 4:1 Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’ ” 2 So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” 3 And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand), 5 “that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

6 Furthermore the Lord said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. 7 And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. 8 “Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign. 9 And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs, or listen to your voice, that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land.”

10 Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” 13 But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” 14 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. 15 Now you shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you shall do. 16 So he shall be your spokesman to the people. And he himself shall be as a mouth for you, and you shall be to him as God. 17 And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs.”

Moses was uniquely unqualified. But in His weakness we are made strong! God qualified Moses. When God calls you He is uniquely qualified to accomplish it… not you! He provides!

Exodus 19:16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” 23 But Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ” 24 Then the Lord said to him, “Away! Get down and then come up, you and Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest He break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

He will strengthen our faith when we see the thing He calls us to accomplished. 

When we follow our calling Holy Spirit is our defense. His calling requires change. Others will not always agree with your change.

12 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) 4 Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. 5 Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”

9 So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. 10 And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. 11 So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. 12 Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb!” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!” 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and afterward she may be received again.” 15 So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.

God is the One who defends us when we follow Him.

The Holy Spirit blesses. His time here was over and God buried him and welcomed him home!

Many people miss God’s blessing because they won’t trust God and obey.

John 12:46–50

Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but will have everlasting life with Him in His Kingdom. Why? Because God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son to die in our place.

John 3:17 | For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

When Holy Spirit calls…listen!

When we truly and fully understand the message of the gospel, obedience should automatically flow out of our gratitude for Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. A heart of gratitude leads to love in action.

As we apply God's truths to all that we think, say and do, we reflect God's righteousness to the Church and to the world in a way that draws the lost and the discouraged (and even the indifferent) to the hope of the gospel. First5 

Broken or no, God invites us to be our true selves—joyous, aware and living each moment with arms wide open, responding to the love of the Beloved, a reflection of the very love of God that is within us. Sabbath Moments 

John 12:46–50

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” The New King James Version

A believer in Jesus chooses to follow Jesus’ will. The intellectual decision begins a relationship with Jesus, but entering into a relationship with Him through that initial belief is only the beginning of the faith journey. 

Jesus desires to save. Receiving that salvation involves believing in Him. 

God the Father is already the judge; Jesus does not need to be. Although God the Father is the judge, Jesus’ message is the same as that of God the Father His words against those who choose not to enter into a relationship with Him are true and will be true on the day of judgment. The commandment Jesus requires His disciples to keep is to believe in His ability to grant eternal life. Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus insisted that anyone who believed in Him was at the same time exercising belief in God the Father. Jesus explained that He was the personal manifestation of God. 

I do not judge may be rephrased as “I do not execute judgment.” Christ will judge, but at His first coming He did not come to judge but to save. The NKJV Study Bible

Our Lord publicly proclaimed, that every one who believed on him, as his true disciple, did not believe on him only, but on the Father who sent him. Beholding in Jesus the glory of the Father, we learn to obey, love, and trust in him. By daily looking to Him, who came a Light into the world, we are more and more freed from the darkness of ignorance, error, sin, and misery; we learn that the command of God our Saviour is everlasting life. But the same word will seal the condemnation of all who despise it, or neglect it. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

Luke 10:16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”

John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

Mark 3:1-5

Compassion is an attribute of God and is not dependent on the traditions of men. 

Now is the time for mercy and healing in His wings. He cares for you!

Paul wrote, “There was given me a thorn in my flesh, from Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

Sustaining grace. Grace that meets us at our point of need and equips us with courage and wisdom and strength. Sustaining grace. It doesn’t promise the absence of struggle, but it does promise the presence of God. Max Lucado

Mark 3:1-5

3 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. The New King James Version

Jesus demonstrates His lordship over the Sabbath by healing a man. This action provokes the Pharisees and their allies to plot against Him.

Jesus’ question about the Sabbath is provocative and was intended to question common viewpoints. Elsewhere Jesus teaches that love of neighbor not only fulfills the law but is central to the kingdom of God. Here, Jesus tangibly demonstrates that human traditions and moral codes should not conflict with love of neighbor.

This biblical idiom, often rendered as “hardness of heart”, indicates both stubbornness and opposition to God’s workings. Faithlife Study Bible

Christ put the meaning of the Sabbath to the test. Certainly it was more consistent with the intention of the law to restore this man’s afflicted hand, even on the Sabbath, than to destroy his hopes for the sake of keeping human tradition. The NKJV Study Bible

Christ looks at the root of bitterness in the heart, the blindness and hardness of that, and is grieved. Let hard-hearted sinners tremble to think of the anger with which he will look upon them shortly, when the day of his wrath comes. But if we are healed, Christ, his power and grace, must have all the glory. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Matthew 12:10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

Matthew 12:11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?

Luke 6:7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.

Acts 7:48-50

Christ within the hope of glory! The Body of Christ is not contained in a building.

Heaven and earth are full of His glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,”Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Parker Palmer writes. “It’s not merely about finding shelter from the storm—it’s about spiritual survival and the capacity to carry on.”

Acts 7:48-50

48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest? 50 Has My hand not made all these things?’ The New King James Version

By placing so much emphasis on the temple as Yahweh’s exclusive dwelling place, Israel disrespects Solomon who built it—he recognized that no physical building could contain Yahweh, the Lord of heaven and earth. Faithlife Study Bible

It was David’s desire to give God a permanent dwelling. The danger of David’s request was that some might identify the presence of God with one place, as if God were confined to that location. God honored David’s desire by permitting his son Solomon to build such a house and by filling it with the Shekinah glory, a demonstration of His presence. But God did not live in the temple. 

The Creator cannot be confined by anything He has made. His presence fills all that He has made. Solomon understood this when he dedicated the temple. In his speech, Stephen emphasized that God could not be confined to temples made with hands. The NKJV Study Bible

Stephen upbraids the Jews with the idolatry of their fathers, to which God gave them up as a punishment for their early forsaking him. It was no dishonour, but an honour to God, that the tabernacle gave way to the temple; so it is now, that the earthly temple gives way to the spiritual one; and so it will be when, at last, the spiritual shall give way to the eternal one. The whole world is God’s temple, in which he is every where present, and fills it with his glory; what occasion has he then for a temple to manifest himself in? And these things show his eternal power and Godhead. But as heaven is his throne, and the earth his footstool, so none of our services can profit Him who made all things. Next to the human nature of Christ, the broken and spiritual heart is his most valued temple. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

2 Chronicles 2:6 But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?

Mark 3:23-27

In our weakness God is strong. When we quit trying to do things on our own He takes over! 

Satan seeks to destroy our unity. He is the father of lies and only seeks to kill, steal and destroy the followers of Jesus.

In the unity of Holy Spirit the principles of darkness are defeated.

The ageless Truth of the gospel has never been more relevant. In a fractured society that's plagued with conflict, division, despair, fear of death, celebration of sin, self-righteousness and self-service, we need the power and hope of the gospel and the clarity that Paul's teaching provides. We need to be reminded that the gospel is the key to reconciliation, hope, peace, unity, love, selflessness, service, obedience and new life. Only through the gospel's redemptive power can we witness the change we long to see in our lives, relationships and communities. First5 

For unending joy is it that God, our protector here,
Will be our bliss hereafter.
God is our way, our destination in true love
And surest trust.
So let us fly to the Lord,
so that we may be comforted;
touch him so that we might be cleansed;
Cling to him so that we might be safe from every danger…
Courteous God,
Be the foundation of my being.
May I sit in you in true rest,
Stand in you in sure strength,
And be rooted in you in endless love.
Reveal yourself more to me
So that I may know my true nature better
And act as I truly am.
Julian of Norwich, 1342-after 1416

Sabbath Moments 

Mark 3:23-27

23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. The New King James Version

Jesus speaks in parables only three times in Mark’s Gospel. Jesus’ parables contained truths about the kingdom of God. Jesus confronts the religious leaders with the possibility that, by opposing Him, they might be aligning themselves with evil powers. 

The defining mark of a disciple of God’s kingdom is allegiance to Jesus and His teaching. Likewise, Jesus cannot be possessed by Beelzebul, as that would mean that the ruler of demons has risen up against himself by vanquishing demons.  Jesus triumphed over Satan during His temptation and in  casting out demons. These exorcisms indicate that Beelzebul (the strong man in the parable) was defeated through Jesus’ resistance of temptation. Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus’ reply in parables was actually a threefold message that contrasted unity and disunity. Nothing—including Satan’s kingdom—can stand if it is divided. Whoever defeats Satan must be stronger than he. Jesus implies that He Himself has come to enter the house of the strong man, Satan, to seize his goods. The NKJV Study Bible

It was plain that the doctrine of Christ had a direct tendency to break the devil’s power; and it was as plain, that casting of him out of the bodies of people, confirmed that doctrine; therefore Satan could not support such a design. Christ gave an awful warning against speaking such dangerous words. It is true the gospel promises, because Christ has purchased, forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners; but by this sin, they would oppose the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ’s ascension. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Matthew 12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

Matthew 12:26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Matthew 12:27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Matthew 12:29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.