Mark (Program #27) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (16) & (17)

The second half of Mark chapter 10 brings us to the city of Jericho. The Lord Jesus has arrived at this place very near Jerusalem, near the end of the long journey He had taken with His disciples. Jesus knew that the time of His appointed death on the cross to be the real Lamb of God was only days away and He would not be kept from that hour.

Twice before on this journey on the way to Jerusalem the Lord had spoken to His disciples of approaching rejection and death in Jerusalem. But the disciples never seem to hear the words. And so here the Lord mentions it again for the third time. But still the disciples had neither ears to hear nor eyes to see as these verses in Mark 10 so clearly illustrate. Beginning at verse 32-37:

“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus led the way before them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that were about to happen to Him:  Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles, And they will mock Him and spit at Him and scourge Him, and they will kill Him. And after three days He will rise. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying to Him, Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask You.  And He said to them, What do you want Me to do for you?  And they said to Him, Grant to us to sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.“

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Exodus (Program #75) – The Angel of Jehovah for His People (3)

Prior to taking possession of the promised good land, God’s people were commanded to fully and absolutely drive out the pagan tribes from that land. Failure to do so will result in the people sharing in the sins of these pagan occupants. History clearly shows that this ultimately is the case. This pagan enemies became the source of the sin of God’s people, Israel.  What is the source of our sins? And how does the Lord command us to deal with this source?   We can learn a lot about ourselves by following the story of God’s people Israel in the pages of Exodus.

We have seen so much in the book of Exodus these Old Testament stories are really all pictures of things that have very real and current New Testament relevant in our experience. That’s why we are here today in Exodus 23. It deals in parts the Lord’s command to the children of Israel to drive these pagan tribes completely out of their land.  more…

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Mark (Program #26) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (15)

Mark chapter 10 present us with 3 cases all related to whether or not believers will enter into the kingdom of the heavens.  The best known of this cases concern a rich young man who approach the Lord Jesus wanting to what he must do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s word shocked the young man as well as the Lord’s disciples. For He instructed him to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Well, the young man turned and walked away knowing that he was not able to meet such a demand. And then this famous exchange took place between the Lord Jesus and His followers.

Mark 10:23-27: “And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, How difficult it will be for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus again answered and said to them, Children, how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  But they were astonished beyond measure and said among themselves, Then who can be saved?  Looking upon them, Jesus said, With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.“

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Exodus (Program #74) – The Angel of Jehovah for His People to take Possession of the Promised Land (2)

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul uses a striking expression, “that I may gain Christ.”  Of course when we get saved, in a sense we can say that Christ has gained us.  But what is it for us to gain Him?  A wonderful picture from the Old Testament that will help us to see this reality is given in the book of Exodus.   As the Lord unveil to His people, the way for them to possess the good land.  Stay with us today for a rich and enlightening life study of the Bible.

This message today is a continuation of yesterday’s program from Exodus 23.  Verses 20, 21 and 22 “I am now sending an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be careful before Him, and listen to His voice; do not rebel against Him, for He will not pardon your transgression; for My name is in Him.  But if you will indeed listen to His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

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Mark (Program #25) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (14)

Most of us remembered from our childhood the story of the rich man who came to Jesus asking what he must to do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s answer instructing the man to go and sell all that he possessed and to give the proceed to the poor was more than the young man could bear. So he turned away and in despair of his inability to do what seems to be required.

The Lord’s disciples also expressed their dismay over His words to this young ruler to which the Lord answered, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

This passage from Mark chapter 10 though famous as a Bible story is also one that has perplexed many students of the Bible for there is no place in the scripture where we were given of such a requirement in order to be saved. Our salvation is by faith and not according to our works, such as selling all and giving all to the poor. And how should we understand such a story?

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Exodus (Program #73) – The Angel of Jehovah for His People to take Possession of the Promised Land (1)

After the escape from Egypt, God’s brought His people to the mountain of God, Sinai, where the sky was clear and He could unveil His own portrait and a plan for His eternal dwelling with His people.  We would be all quite happy and satisfied to have such an experience with God.  But this was not the goal or the end of His plan for His people.   For after this, He sent His angel to lead them to a place, a place that He had prepared for them, the good land, a type of our wonderful Lord Jesus.  Stay with us today for another remarkable life study of the Bible with Witness Lee.

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Mark (Program #24) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (12)

The Lord Jesus said in Mark chapter 9 verses 42 through 45, “And whoever stumbles one of these little ones who believe into Me, it is better for him if a great millstone is placed around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.  And if your hand stumbles you, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands and go away into Gehenna, into unquenchable fire.  And if your foot stumbles you, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into Gehenna.”  For a life study touching the believers reward and punishment in the next age.

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Exodus (Program #72) – The Implications, Indications and Significances of the Ordinances of the Law (3)

Several times a year, God’s people in the Old Testament were instructed to come together to enjoy very specific feasts unto the Lord.  Of course, as Christians today there is no such commands for us to outwardly keep these annual feasts.  But why then are they directly referred to in the passages of the New Testament?  Actually, the Christian life should be a life of feasting continually.  This is our theme on today’s life study of the Bible.

In chapter 21, 22 and 23, we saw yesterday that there were 3 feasts mentioned.  We want to continue to look at them a little further today because the feasts in the Old Testament always show us something very marvelous regarding our enjoyment of Christ in the New Testament dispensation.

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Mark (Program #23) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (11)

In Mark chapter 8 the Lord Jesus taught His disciples that they need to deny themselves, just as He also teaches us that so that Christ could be their replacement and become everything to them as He wants to be everything to us.

Although the disciples saw this revelation they did not practice it or live according to it. To see the revelation is one thing but to live it is another.

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Exodus (Program #71) – The Implications, Indications and Significances of the Ordinances of the Law (2)

After the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus chapter 20, the Lord continued for 3 more chapters to give item after item of regulations regarding man’s relationships. These added items are called “ordinances”, many if not most, seem to us to have nothing whatsoever to do with us as New Testament believers. They deal with such things as treatment of slaves and the ancient feasts and rituals of Jewish religion; and, even such things as “not boiling the kid in its mother’s milk”. So how do we as Christians regard these Old Testament details? Do we just skip over and dismiss them? Or, in the light of God’s New Testament ministry, is there a real and meaningful application of these items for us?  We return once again today to the book of Exodus and the remarkable journey of God’s people out of their bondage of worldly captivity and through the wilderness.

We’re continuing today to look at Exodus chapter 22 and 23, chapters that as we said offer many items all contain in these ordinances that were supplements or additions to the basic ten Commandments that we’re all quite familiar with. In an earlier message, we heard that though we cannot directly see Christ in the ten original commandments, these supplemental ordinances contain all of the rich details of Christ – what do we mean by this kind of speaking? more…

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