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Pastor's Devotionals



Weekly Devotionals
The Book of Mark 16 Devotionals, were my
contribution to a larger devotional book to
be published in the future, by my job,
the College of Biblical Studies - Houston
Pastor Artis Lovelady, III - Word of Grace M.B.C.



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 1
Life Change
September 1, 2030



LIFE CHANGE

Read Mark 1

As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. (1:16-18)


Jesus, as he begins his public ministry, he begins to call a group of individuals to be with him in his ministry and travels. He eventually would select twelve men to follow him and be trained by him to do a different mission in life. All these men had very different careers and life styles and would be called to something total different from what they were used to doing to a greater calling with an eternal impact.
Simon (Peter) and Andrew, who were fisherman and brothers (v. 16), along with their partners James and John who were also fisherman and brothers (cf. Mt 4:21-22), were among the twelve whom were called to have a drastic life change from fishing for fish for personal profit, to fishing for the eternal souls of men and women for the kingdom of God.
These four men probably had their careers, futures and fortunes planned out with a retirement by the Sea of Galilee, in a quiet fishing village and dying of old age. Then, Jesus came and along and called all of them to a life change and they all followed immediately. For Simon Peter it would end in crucifixion (cf. Jn 21:18-19) and for James death by the sword (cf. Acts 11:2). John would be the only one to die by old age according to tradition. Ask any of the eleven Apostles (not counting Judas) was their life change and calling of Jesus worth sacrificing their life’s original plans, and they would all say, “Yes, without a doubt”.
My life change was a call from a planned early retirement in the oil industry with 2 acres, a big house and pond to a life change calling to date now of over 37 years in the pastorate, being unpaid, and has it been all worth it, “Yes, without doubt”. If the Lord is calling you to a life change right now, drop your nets and follow Him immediately. His calling and retirement plan for you is eternal and far greater than what you had planned for yourself in life. AL, III .



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 2
Load Sharing
September 8, 2020



LOAD SHARING
Read Mark 2

And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, " Son, your sins are forgiven." (2:3-5)​


The news of the healing miracles of Jesus has spread and He is now inundated with people coming from all over to be healed (cf. 1:40-45). A paralytic man who wanted to be healed by Jesus, being unable to come on his own power, is carried to Jesus by four men. But, they on arrival, with the doorway crowded and the interior of the house full, they resort to carrying the man to the roof of the house, making an entrance and the four men lowered him down to Jesus.

Once in front of Jesus, Jesus chose to forgive the man’s sins first to show His authority on earth to forgive sins, and then Jesus healed the man to validate that authority to pronounce forgiveness. The man was then commanded, “to take up your pallet and go home” (v. 6-11).

This man could not ever have reached Jesus on his own for his forgiveness of sins and an miraculous instant healing, if not for the four unnamed men that shared a portion of his sick pallet and carried him to the house, climbing the roof, making a hole and equally and gently lowering him into Jesus’ presence, to let the Lord do a miraculous work in his life.

Paul says in Galatians 6:2, to bear one another’s burdens and then in verse 5 bear your own load. No contradiction, certain burdens in life we need help with and certain loads in life God has called us to bear alone.

At times in life God is calling you to be one of maybe a group of people to assist another in getting the desperately needed help they need from the Lord. At other times you need a group to help and carry you along until you can help yourself again. So, always be willing to help share the load, because one day you maybe the load. AL, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 3
Looney Tunes
September 15, 2020



LOONEY TUNES

Read Mark 3

"And He came home, and the crowd gathered again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him for they were saying, " He has lost His senses." (3:20-21)


Jesus’s ministry is now running full force now with multitudes of people seeking Him everywhere He goes, on land and at the sea shore and it is non-stop teaching and healing (v. 7-10). Jesus returns “home” and a multitude appears there also, to be ministered to by Him. Jesus and His Apostles are so busy “to such extent that they could not even eat a meal” (v. 20-21) When Jesus’ “own people heard this” they went out to take custody of Him, thinking He had lost His mind or senses, because of this non-stop ministry. Or, today some would say of others who sacrificially serve day in day out, week in week out almost 24/7, that “Jesus or God or that Bible has made you crazy!”. Paul was even told his much learning had made him mad (cf. Acts 26:24-25). “Looney Tunes” was an animated series from 1930 to 1969, with one character being the Road Runner and his arch enemy Wiley E. Coyote. The Road Runner traveled the desert highways with boundless energy and the Coyote did everything he could to stop him from traveling every episode by any means and device. Absolutely nothing ever stopped the Road Runner no matter what the Coyote did. Jesus’s own people tried to stop Him in this non-stop ministry because they thought he was crazy, but nothing would stop Him, not even a missed meal or a misunderstanding family. A person on fire for the Lord at times seems to go night and day without stopping. Sometimes it’s their own self pushing them and sometimes they are operating in the will of God, in their calling for their life and in the power of the Holy Spirit to continue. Outside observers, even family may think you are crazy in your non-stop zeal. But, you keep on being a be a Looney Tune character like the Road Runner for the Lord and don’t let the Wiley E. Coyotes in your life stop you from accomplishing your tasks for the Lord today. AL, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 4
Listening, Accepting, Doing
September 22, 2020



LISTENING, ACCEPTING, DOING

Read Mark 4

……. these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. "And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." (4:13-20)


A mother called her twins boys to immediately come down stairs to the kitchen, while both were playing video games. Both heard the same call, both started down the stairs but one decides to go back up and play the game. The one twin who heard the call, proceeded all the way down the stairs to the kitchen was rewarded with all the fresh baked cookies mother had baked, his and even his brother’s. Both twins heard the same authoritative call, both accepted the command, but one failed to do it to completion but the other did as commanded to completion. One twin was a good “lad” to listen, accept and do (l.a.d.) and got blessed. The other missed a blessing because he failed to do the command he heard, though accepted at first it, but failed to do. One of Jesus’ methods of teaching spiritual truths was by using parables. Jesus told the “parable of the sower” (v. 13), in which the seed is the Word of God (v. 14) and the four soils were four types of people who all heard the same Word of God but with different outcomes (v. 15-20). All heard the same Word, but some were not able to retain it or had it removed from them for various reasons, but a distinct group listened enough to accept it and do (l.a.d.) or practice the teaching to become productive to various levels (v. 20) All may “listen” to the same Word of God, all may “accept it” and say, “Amen brother, I agree to the Word”, but only a few will “do” or practice it as commanded in spite of others or oppositions. To be a blessed and productive Christian, we must be a good “lad”, that is one who “listens”, “accepts” and “does” (l.a.d.) what God tells them. So be a good lad (listen, accept and do) and you will be productive in the kingdom and be blessed.

A.L, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 5
Legion of Problems
September 29, 2020



LEGION OF PROBLEMS
Read Mark 5
And He was asking him, "What is your name?" And he said to Him, "My name is Legion for we are many." (5:9)

Jesus after arriving on the shores of “the country of the Gerasenes”, Jesus is immediately confronted by a man whom is possessed by a host of demons named “Legion”. In the ancient Roman military world, a Roman legion was up to six thousand soldiers. The precise number of demons in the man is unknown, but it was enough in him to possess and run two thousand swine off the bank to be drowned later (v.12-13).
This man had been possessed by a host of demons, living in a cemetery alone, bound with restraints which he broke, constantly screaming day and night and mutilating himself by cutting himself (v. 2-5). This man had literally and figuratively had a legion of problems in his life all at once. The demons in the man were compelled to bow before Jesus in submission because he was “Son of the Most High God” having all authority on earth and able to torment the possessing demons on the spot (v. 6-7).
At Jesus’s command the demons leave the man and they entered two thousand swine, at the demons’ request, which ran off the bank into the sea and drown. The man is now free from his legion of demons, clothed and in his right mind wanting to go with the Lord who delivered him. But Jesus exhorts him to go to his home and his people and share what “the Lord has done for you and how He had mercy on you” instead, which he did.
Life’s problems for one person may be few to none, for others it may seem like a hundred, to another it may seem to be six thousand problems all at once.
Whether your problems are few or six thousand all at once, our Lord and Savior Jesus, “Son of the Most High God” can help us overcome them all by His authority and mercy and love.Whether the Lord has delivered you from one problem or six thousand problems by His authority and mercy, give testimony of your deliverance by Him to all you know to show His authority, mercy, love, and concern for you, a once legion overwhelmed person. A.L, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 6
Legacy From Your Family
October 6, 2020



LEGACY FROM YOUR FAMILY

Read Mark 6

"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him. (6:3)


Jesus returns to His home town Nazareth, after beginning His public ministry to speak in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The home town crowd is amazed at His insight, wisdom in the Scriptures and on top of that, His ability to perform miracles and they all took offense to His claims of Messiahship (c.f. Lk 4:16-30).

Because He grew up there, the home town knew all Jesus’ family members by name and background and His trade of being a carpenter. He was raised in the town Nazareth in which it was said “can any good thing come out of Nazareth” (c.f. Jn 1:46). In His trade, He worked with His bare hands as a carpenter, supposedly son of Joseph, a carpenter also (c.f. Mt 14:55). His mother had to offer the least expensive sacrifice at His birth in the temple (c.f. Lk 2:21-24).

So, how could a person with His family “legacy”, which they all personally knew, be able to do such things now! Webster's Dictionary defines “legacy” as “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.”

What the home town did not know of, was Jesus’s legacy was from His Father in heaven. They only saw the human side “legacy” from Mary and Joseph, they did not know of Jesus’s eternal side of being God in the flesh dwelling among them (c.f. Jn 1:14).

You may have a human family legacy passed down to you that is not glamorous in the eyes of those who have known you from birth. Or you may come from a quite notorious family “legacy”. But once you have received Jesus Christ as Savior your family legacy changes.

Give praises to God, because once saved, your sins were forgiven, you became a royal heir, child of the King, with an everlasting inheritance in heaven and spiritual gifted on earth and an ambassador of the Kingdom. In your new family legacy you have passed down to you, that you are member of the royal family, child of the King. A.L, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 7
Lists of Men
October 13, 2020



LISTS OF MEN

Read Mark 7

The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?" (7:5)


The Pharisees, a religious group who believed in keeping the Law of Moses even beyond what it commanded and the scribes, a group who were the hand copiers of the Law of Moses, and supposedly experts in it, confronted Jesus about His disciples one day (v. 1-2).

This group had observed Jesus’ disciples eating bread with unwashed hand or “impure hands”, thus defiling themselves and breaking the “traditions of the elders”, or their lists of right and wrong for determining a person’s righteousness (v. 3-5). By their lists, or traditions, Jesus’s disciples had violated the elders traditions or passed down lists of do’s and don’ts. But the Pharisees and scribes always, keep the traditions and wash ceremonially after leaving the market place before eating bread and thus they were righteous and the disciples not righteous. Jesus confronted them with the issue of how they changed God’s law to their modified lists or “traditions of the elders” to get out of even providing for their own parents (v. 8-13). Jesus also confronted this group with the facts that it is not what goes into a person’s mouth that defiles them, but what comes out of the heart that defiles that person (v. 14-15). Evil thoughts and sinful actions originated from the heart defile a person not dirty food going into the stomach.

Society today is full of modern day Pharisees and scribes, with passed down traditions or current trending fades of what is right and wrong before God. Social media’s current trending norms, posts and tweets have become our standard to allow, disallow, accept or reject an individual as right or wrong. God’s commands are our standards for right and wrong but man looks on the outward appearance for accepting or rejecting a person as right and able (cf. 1 Sm 16:6-7).

The Bible is also called the “Canon” or ruler, to determine how we are measured before God. Let the Bible measure your right and wrong and not the lists, tweets, posts, likes and dislikes of men. A.L, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 8
Lessons of the Loaves
October 20, 2020



LESSONS FROM THE LOAVES

Read Mark 8

And His disciples answered Him, "Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?" And He was asking them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven." (8:4-5)


In Mark 6:33-44, Jesus teaches the crowds until late and the disciples request Jesus send them away to surrounding towns to get something to eat. But, Jesus tells the disciples, “You give them something to eat”, instead. They calculate the cost to feed the crowd will be two hundred denarii or two days of wages. Jesus requests they find what is available among them and they find five loaves and two fish. From that Jesus blesses what they have and it multiplied to feed five thousand men with twelve left over baskets of fragments of loaves and fishes.

In Mark 8:1-21, it repeats somewhat, Jesus teaches three days, it is late Jesus states He does not want to send them away hungry, because some may faint and others have traveled very far. Rather than the disciples saying no problem, we have been here before. Jesus all you have to do is multiple what we have. But, no they say, “Where will anyone be able to find enough to satisfy these men with bread here in a desolate place” (v. 4).

With spiritual amnesia happening to them, Jesus asks “How many loaves do you have?”. The say seven loaves, then Jesus multiples that with a few fish and this times feeds four thousand (v. 20) with seven baskets of leftovers (v. 8).

Leaving the area in a boat with no more than one loaf bread with them, Jesus mentions beware of the leaven (sins and false teachings) of Herod and the Pharisees. They think immediately we have no physical bread and are in trouble for food again. They failed to see Jesus lessons in the loaves. If Jesus calls you to a task He will provide even in impossible situations and places. Take what you have, pray where you are and ask God to bless it. If God delivered you once, He can do it every time. Don’t keep repeating the same course and lessons on the provisions of God, pass the test the first time. A.L, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 9
Last is First
October 27, 2020



LAST IS FIRST

Read Mark 9

Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, " If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." (9:35)


As the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry is nearing, He is plainly telling them He is about to be handed over to men to killed and then raised again after three days (v. 30-32). They did not understand this though, spoken plainly and were afraid to ask any questions about it. But, their minds moved from Jesus’ tragic end, to themselves in a debate while they traveled, about who among them is the “greatest” (v. 34).

Upon arrival in Capernaum, being asked of their discussion topic in the way, but they were silent. Assembling the Twelve, Jesus tells them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all” (v. 35). Also, He had a little child stand before them and then taking him in His arms, He tells them he whom welcomes the child welcomes me and he whom welcomes Him, welcomes the Father (v. 36-37).

Jesus was teaching them that greatest person in the eyes of God was not being the person who was served by everybody else, but the person who was serving everybody else. And in their world of that day of important and great people who rub elbows with the elite kings and leaders and dignitaries, which of them would humble themselves to welcome a nondescript little child, probably none.

But in humbling ourselves in welcoming a little child, we welcome the King of Kings and in welcoming the King of Kings we welcome God the Father (v. 37). In welcoming and serving the least person we are brought into the presence of our great God and Creator. Jesus, the King of Kings was about to humble Himself as a servant unto death for all, setting the example of servant leadership and greatness.

From this we learn about the Kingdom of God, the following, the greatest among us is the least among us, the servant of all is greater than those they are serving, a humble child has connections to the Highest in the universe so receive them, if we want to receive the highest reward then give away all he have even unto death and if we want to be the first among others, then practice being the last among all others instead. For the “last” shall be first. A.L, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 10
Lasting Treasures
November 3, 2020



LASTING TREASURES

Read Mark 10

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow Me." (10:21)


A rich young man asked Jesus, “..What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 17). So, Jesus first asked a question about his moral life in relationship to the commandments, to which his response was, “I have kept all these from my youth up” (v. 20). With that being determined, Jesus says next, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me”. And with that statement, the rich young man left because he had much property and did not want to part with his treasures on earth, to have greater lasting treasures in heaven (v. 21-22).

First, just a note, our salvation and internal life is not determined by our morals or our financial contributions but by our faith in Christ alone apart from works (cf. Eph 2:8-10, Ti 3:5, Rom 6:23). The issue is that some in this world and life, love their wealth and treasures in this world so much it hinders them from receiving Christ, was it not for God drawing them to Him, doing the impossible (v. 23-27).

Peter on the other hand, had given up all his earthly treasures to follow Jesus, and Jesus said he would be rewarded a hundred times as much and receive eternal life (v. 28-31). Peter made a better investment.

The wealthy like a high ROI (return on investment), but unfortunately some only see a high ROI in this life and world. And all of those investments can be wiped out in a stock market crash overnight all at once.

While a smarter spiritual investor sees a better investment with locked in rates and no losses ever, because the investment is in kingdom with the lasting treasures in heaven. With all your resources you own on earth now, begin investing in the people, plans and projects of the kingdom of God and your ROI will be the highest yield and locked in without any losses because God guarantees it as a last treasure in heaven, not a temporary and uncertain treasure on earth. A.L, III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 11
Lord Has Need of It
November 10, 2020



LORD HAS NEED OF IT

Read Mark 11

…."Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat untie it and bring it here. "If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you say, 'The Lord has need of it' and immediately he will send it back here." (11:2-3)


As Jesus prepares to enter Jerusalem His final time before His Passion Week, He has to fulfill all prophecies concerning Him, down to the smallest details to show He is the promised Messiah. One of those prophecies is in Zechariah 9:9, regarding “your king is coming to you He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey”. To fulfill this prophecy Jesus instructs two of His disciples to go to a certain village and immediately as they enter they would “find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat untie it and bring it here. "If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you say, 'The Lord has need of it' and immediately he will send it back here."”(v. 2-3). With the colt being acquired as Jesus had requested, He then mounted it and entered Jerusalem fulfilling the prophecy concerning His prophetic introduction to the nation (v. 4-10, cf. Ps 118:25-26)

Jesus had the need for two of His disciples to go and retrieve the colt without them knowing the prophetic implications and Jesus had the need for the owner of the colt, to loan the animal without knowing the significance of the animal in the pending entry into Jerusalem. Two disciples, an owner and a colt, like four none descript pieces of a big puzzle picture. But if one single piece is missing the picture is uncompleted.

The Lord may ask you, a disciple, to do something or to give something at a particular point and time in life, though it may seem small and insignificant to you but in God’s grand scheme of things it is what God wants to complete His master work and ultimate plan.

So if the Lord whispers in your hear that, He has need of you to go and or He has need of what you have, though insignificant to you, obey immediately. The Lord has need of your part, in His grand puzzle picture and without it, the picture is uncompleted. A.L., III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 12
Living Not Dead
November 17, 2020



LIVING NOT DEAD

Read Mark 12

"But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ' I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob'? " He is not the God of the dead, but of the living you are greatly mistaken." (12:26-27)


The Sadducees, whom did not believe in the resurrection tried to trip up Jesus with a hypothetical situation. Using the Law of Moses, regarding a man dying without a heir, his wife was to marry his brother to raise an heir in his name. But, each of this man’s six brothers, one after another married his wife and died without an heir. So, the question to Jesus is in the resurrection (which they did not believe in) who would be the husband to this woman, since she married all seven (v. 18-23).First, in response to this marriage issue, Jesus revealed in the resurrection (which will happen) the woman would not be married to none of them, but be like the angels in heaven, which do not marry (v. 24-25).Second, in response to the resurrection issue and life after death, Jesus goes back to Moses to illustrate we are still alive after physical death awaiting a bodily resurrection. Jesus points to God speaking to Moses and at the burning bush, when at the least, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have been physically dead for four hundred years (cf. Ex 3:6). But, God speaks in the present tense “I am the God of” these three, not in the past tense “ I was the God of” as though they don’t exist at that moment in time (v. 26-27).At the physical death of our body, our spirit then moves into the presence of God (cf. 2 Cor 5:8), awaiting the rejoining of body and spirit together (cf. 1 Thes 4:14-16), but until then we are alive in God’s presence with a spirit body with remembrance (cf. Rv 6:9-11). So, for the believer, God is the God of the living not the dead, in either of their states, with or without a body. At a believer’s funeral don’t say they “were” (past tense), say they “are” , because God is the God of the “living, not dead”. At this writing, I will bury my sister next week and at her funeral I will say, “Brenda is not was”. A.L., III ....



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 13
Learning the Seasons
November 24, 2020



LEARNING THE SEASONS

Read Mark 13

"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. "Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (13:28-29)


Jesus’ disciples marveled at the magnificent temple complex built by Herod, and in the next breathe, Jesus reveals that not one stone will be left a top another (v. 1-2). From this, questions arises from them as to “when will these things be” and “what will the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled” (v. 3-4).

Jesus does not address the question of Herod’s temple complex being leveled to the very stone (v. 2), which happened in A.D. 70 by the Romans (Josephus, Wars 7.1.1). But, He moves on to describe the events and signs leading up to the future tribulation period and the signs of the antichrist being in the temple (v. 14 cf. 2 Thes 2:2-4) and His second coming with His angels (v. 24-27). Jesus gives them a series of events and signs to look for that lead up to His eventual second coming to earth (v. 5-27). Jesus illustrates this with a parable, that the events leading up to His eventual return are like the signs a fig tree gives when summer is near and coming but not yet, having tender branches and putting on leaves.

We know by observation the signs of our coming four seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall by events in nature and we respond appropriately with coats, or planting trees or wearing shorts or raking leaves. So, as believers knowing the end time prophecies in the Scripture and then reading the newspaper’s current events, especially in the middle east and with the nation of Israel, we know our prophetic summer is closer than you think because we have learned the seasons.

So, learn the seasons and respond appropriately. If you are older in life and your season of living is almost over, then finish the task God has given you, because your personal night is coming and no man can work (cf. Jn 9:4). If you see, like I see, the world events unfolding today, the rapture and the Lord’s coming is near, it is almost summer. Share the gospel with your loved ones, so at the master’s return no one in your house will be found asleep (v. 35-37). A.L., III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 14
Limitations of the Flesh
December 1, 2020



LIMITATIONS OF THE FLESH

Read Mark 14

But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times." (14:29-30)


At the last Passover with His disciples, Jesus reveals that He is about to be betrayed by one of them (v. 17-21) and the rest would be scattered from Him as it was written in Zechariah 13:7, but He would be raised from the dead and go ahead of them into Galilee (v. 27-28).

Peter upon hearing this news boldly proclaims, “"Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." (v. 29). Jesus’ response to this was, “this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times." (v. 30). Peter persisted, that even if he had to die with Him he would not deny Him.

Before the hour of betrayal, this same Peter, could not stay woke with Jesus while praying in the Garden, his spirit was willing but his flesh was weak (v. 37-42). When the hour of betrayal occurred, Peter did stepped up and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest in defense but when Jesus had him cease his aggressions, they all fled as prophesied, some in haste, fled naked (v. 46-52 cf. Jn 18:10-11). Peter, while the in the courtyard of where Jesus was being trialed, after being approached, denied knowing Jesus as predicted (v. 66-72).

Growing up in my neighborhood, we had a saying, but putting it in nicer terms for this devotional, “Don’t let your mouth write a check, your body cannot cash”. Our human nature, apart from God often proclaims and boasts of our intentions for God’s kingdom out of human pride and that places limitations on our accomplishments because it is our flesh speaking not God. There are limitations of our flesh accomplishing things.

Men in their human flesh, but lead of God, outran Ahab’s chariot like Elijah (cf. 1 Kgs 18:44-46) and killed a thousand men with a jawbone like Samson (cf. Jg 15:14-15). Peter learned the limitations of his flesh. Peter would get another chance to redeem his boast, when Jesus appeared to him after the resurrection and promised another would gird him to bring him where he normally would not go, his flesh would be empowered by God to the point of death (cf., Jn 21:18-19). Your flesh alone has limitations, but God working through your humble flesh has no limitations. A.L., III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 15
Laid Him in a Tomb
December 8, 2020



LAID HIM IN A TOMB

Read Mark 15

Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. (15:46)


Jesus has been crucified and confirmed dead by the Roman guards (v. 44, cf. Jn. 19:33-34) and it is getting late in the day headed toward the Sabbath, and the Jews did not want bodies on the cross during the Sabbath (cf. Jn 19:31). So, Joseph of Arimathea, who was waiting for the kingdom of God (v. 43) along with Nicodemas, who came to Jesus by night (cf. Jn 19:38-40), they took Jesus’ body, prepared it for burial and laid Him a tomb. They then rolled a stone in front of the entrance (v. 46). Then, the chief priests and Pharisees had Pilate set a guard and put a seal on the tomb (cf. Mt. 27:62-66). The end.

Two hopeful and devout followers of Jesus personally handled and prepared Jesus’s body, laid Him in a tomb, putting a stone in front of the entrance. The two hater groups of Jesus, got a Roman guard and put an official seal on the tomb on top of that. So, somebody’s hope is laid to rest and dreams ended and somebody’s object of hate is laid to rest and nightmares ended. Maybe or maybe not.

With God, when man thinks something is over and laid to rest for good, He reminds us it is not over and laid to rest until He says so. Unlike my favorite movie the “Gladiator” and the hero, Maximus, dies and is laid to rest at the end, so I will not see a part two with my hero.

With God the stories end differently. Jacob thinks his son Joseph is dead and laid to rest for twenty-two years but Jacob lives to see Joseph again. Daniel was thought to have been laid to rest in the lion’s den (eaten alive), instead he rested on the loins and came out alive. Aged, Sarah and Elizabeth laid to rest their hope of having a child , but God blessed their wombs to come alive and they had sons.

Likewise, for Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemas they thought they had laid to rest their hopes in Jesus and the kingdom of God for good when they buried Jesus, but their hopes came alive again after three days with all power in heaven and on earth. Have you laid to rest your hopes as well, well just remember Luke 1:37, "For nothing will be impossible with God." May your dreams arise again. A.L., III



Book of Mark Devotions



Mark Chapter 16
Looking for Jesus the Nazarene
December 15, 2020



LOOKING FOR JESUS THE NAZARENE

Read Mark 16

And he said to them, " Do not be amazed you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen He is not here behold, here is the place where they laid Him. (16:6)


It is the first day of week, early in morning and three women have come to the tomb of “Jesus the Nazarene” to anoint His body with additional spices after His crucifixion and death three days prior (v. 1-3). But, upon arrival they find the once sealed and guarded tomb entrance opened with no body to anoint and a young man in white sitting on the right (v. 4-5).

The man (angel) makes this declaration to them, "Do not be amazed you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen He is not here behold, here is the place where they laid Him. "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ' He is going ahead of you to Galilee there you will see Him, just as He told you.'" (v. 6-7).

The women came looking for a dead “Jesus the Nazarene” but the angel wanted to inform them that, that same “Jesus the Nazarene” was now risen. To identify to them this is the one and the same Jesus, the angel added descriptors to show this is the same person such as, He is “the Nazarene” or from the town of Nazareth, His death was by crucifixion, He was buried in this spot, He knows Peter and is going back to Galilee. The once dead “Jesus the Nazarene” is now the risen “Jesus the Nazarene”, Lord and Savior of the world, one and the same.

So, why is this important to identify them as the same person? Because, people today are looking for their “Jesus” or “Savior”, that have different descriptors. They may be named “Jesus”, okay. But were they from Nazareth or called the Nazarene and did they die by crucifixion and get buried in another’s tomb and did they rise up after three days and did they have a disciple named Peter who He meet up with in Galilee. I think not. Like counterfeit money that looks almost real but it is not, so are the counterfeit messiahs and saviors of today.

We know we believe in the right and real Savior, because He was Jesus of Nazareth (the Nazarene), born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died by crucifixion, buried in a tomb, raised from the dead after three days, seen of men, and ascended to glory to the Father. A.L., III .



CONTACT



Starting March10,2022 we will be back in the church building for in person worship and also on Zoom. See Zoom Meeting Page for Services
info@wogmbc.org | Phone: 713.728.1351
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Sunday Worship 10:00 am in person at church and on Zoom - Wednesday Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 pm on Zoom only