Living Word October 2013

You created the mountains by your power, and demonstrated your strength. Psalm 65:6

Bible Studies Online International

www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk O GOD, OUR SAVIOR. ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TRUST IN YOU, PSALM 65:5

In this month’s issue: 3.

God’s Exchequer to the Lowly

4.

What If I’ve Missed the Will of God?

5.

Present Tense Grace

7.

Worthy is the Lamb Revelation 5

10.

Faith-builders Bible Study Mark 1

15.

Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is there

18.

Danger Ahead!

19.

In Depth Study – 1 Corinthians 8

22.

Our Lord Jesus Christ

Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA) Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Ken Legg (Australia) Mathew Bartlett (UK) Derek Williams (UK) Wesley Chick (UK) Sonja Burketh (USA) Mathew Bartlett (UK) William F. P. Burton (Congo)

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Living Word Magazine is published in the United Kingdom by Sharon Full Gospel Church, 7 Park View, Freeholdland Road, Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, NP4 8LP Editor: Mathew Bartlett 1

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IN THIS ISSUE

Faithbuilders Bible Study Guide – Mark Paperback

The Prophet of Messiah: Zechariah Paperback Kindle

Kindle

Jubilant Jeremy Johnson

A Book of Fairy Stories

Paperback

Paperback

Kindle

Kindle

The Donkey Boy – Tales from the Life of Jesus Paperback Kindle

Non-profit books for your Christian ministry www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk 2

God’s Exchequer to the Lowly An extract from “Royal Insignia” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey Image (c) Olga Naidenova

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Reproduced by kind Publishers. www.harveycp.com Blessed are the poor inpermission spirit: for of Harveymy spirit is to paralyze it, as the theirs is the kingdom of heaven glory is too much taken from the Creator and bestowed on the (Matt. 5:3). creature. This is sinful, and the The whole exchequer of God Holy and jealous God will not shall be made over by deed of allow it, but blast the whole with gift to the soul which is humble the mildew of His sore enough to be able to receive it displeasure. Oh for grace, grace, without growing proud because grace!” Every act which shunned of it. God blesses us all up to the the trifling plaudits of mankind, full measure and extremity of Shall here to wondering millions what it is safe for Him to do. If be displayed, A monument of you do not get a blessing, it is grace. —C. P. Layard. because it is not safe for you to have one. If our heavenly Father “Love of glory can only create a were to let your unhumbled great hero; contempt of it, a spirit win a victory in His holy great man,” said Talleyrand. war, you would pilfer the crown And with the maxim as our rule, for yourself, and meeting with a we might well conclude that fresh enemy you would fall a Luther was indeed a great man victim, so that you are kept low however others might have for your own safety. When a judged him. At Wittenberg, man is sincerely humble and Melancthon had issued an order never ventures to touch so much that all the students should rise as a grain of praise, there is when Luther entered to lecture. scarcely any limit to what God Although this was an ancient will do for him. Humility makes college custom, yet the humble us ready to be blessed by the Luther was not pleased with it, God of all grace, and fits us to and said, “I wish Philip would deal efficiently with our fellowgive up this old fashion. These marks of honor always compel men. —C. H. Spurgeon. me to offer more prayers to Alexander Duff, a well-known keep me humble. If I dared I missionary and educator, would almost retire without remarked: “The only thing that having read my lecture!” really distresses me is that they are already publishing all When a friend proposed to him manner of extravagancies about that he should dedicate one of me in the newspapers. The his writings to Jerome Ebner , a natural tendency of all this on Jurist-Consult of Nuremburg, 3

who was then in great repute, “You have too high a notion of my labors,” answered Luther, modestly, “but I myself have a very poor opinion of them. It was my wish, however, to comply with your desire. I looked among all my papers— which I never before thought so meanly of—I could find nothing but what seemed totally unworthy of being dedicated to so distinguished a person by so humble an individual as myself.”

—Table Talk.

“I pray,” Luther said on another occasion, “you leave my name alone, and not call yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine.

I have not been crucified for anyone. Paul would not that anyone should call himself of Paul or of Peter, but of Christ.

How then does it befit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of Christ? Leave, my dear friends, these party names and distinctions. Away with them all and let us call ourselves only Christians after Him from Whom our salvation comes.”

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.

—Isaac Watts.

What If I’ve Already Missed the Will of God? A Bible Study by Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Photo: © Sebastian Grecu

Part 1 - Stop and Acknowledge Your Mistake Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as the Lamb who was slain “from the foundation of the world.” The implications of this verse are astounding. Before the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, indeed before the garden or its first inhabitants even existed, God had already initiated a plan of salvation that would culminate with the cross. This means that when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, God was not surprised. Their failure had already been factored into His sovereign plan, and provision had already been made for redemption.

If you have missed the will of God, be encouraged by this thought: Before God called you, before you were saved, in fact, before you were even born, God knew how your life would play out. Before you had made even one mistake, God took all your future failures into account, and in His infinite wisdom and love He preempted your blunders with a plan to turn your tragedy into a triumph in the end.

With this knowledge you can be confident that if you are still breathing, it is never too late for God to intervene and restore what the locust and cankerworm have eaten.

Having said these things, it’s important to understand that disobedience to God’s will is not a trivial matter. God’s grace does not

guarantee that we will never have to live with negative consequences of our actions. Many times, even though God forgives and restores, there are still scars that remain from disobedience, and often the process of correcting our errant route is long and painful.

Jonah was called to go to Nineveh.

The easiest, fastest, and most comfortable way would have been by ship. But because he disobeyed God’s command, Jonah chose the hard way. Although he still ultimately made it to Nineveh, by the time he arrived he had been through a storm, thrown off a ship, and swallowed by a big fish. He spent three days inside that fish and was finally vomited onto the beach.

Yes, Jonah made it to Nineveh all right, but the first option would definitely have been better. If you have missed the perfect will of God in your life, you need to take the following steps immediately.

Stop!

If you are going in the wrong direction, before you do anything else, you need to stop! As strange as it sounds, if we feel we have blown it, sometimes there is a temptation to just keep going.

People who are trying to lose weight on a strict diet have struggled with this. They may have been very disciplined for a few weeks, but then a holiday comes.

They ruin their diet for several days in a row, they gain a few pounds back, and rather than stopping the downward spiral, they say, “What’s 4

the use? I’ve already blown it. I might as well just give in.” If you are still on the wrong track as you read this bible study, you need to realize that every day you continue on that path is a day you can never get back. Don’t waste one more day or hour moving in the wrong direction.

Stop now!

Acknowledge Your Mistake Even if your mistake was not caused by deliberate disobedience against the known will of God, you need to acknowledge your mistake and ask for forgiveness. Maybe it is a job you shouldn’t have taken. Maybe it was a bad investment or taking on debt that you ultimately realized you could not afford. It may have been something that happened as a result of carelessness or neglect, or it may have been caused by outright rebellion against God. Whatever the case may be, there is still redemption for everyone in the great grace and love of God. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, nas).

Reproduced with kind permission Christ for all Nations.

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Grace Roots by Ken Legg

pieces, measured out by the rise and set of sun.

There is grace for today. This means that we are empowered for all that life may bring us today.

Yet Satan will try to nullify God’s grace with two other words, ‘Yesterday’ and ‘Tomorrow’. If he can hold us hostage in the past, or carry us off into the future, then we will not experience the grace of today.

Order your copy online The pdf version is just $9 Australian Dollars Print version $19 ($22 outside Australia)

Present Tense Grace God has a word for us. It is, ‘Today’. An important key to understanding the Christian life is to learn to live one day at a time. We have left the past. We can plan the future. But we can only live today.

One of the differences between God and us is that we are limited by time and space; He is not. We are finite beings; He is infinite.

He is the One “who is and who was and who is to come” (Rev.1:8). We are confined in location and limited in time.

Time is the measurement of duration or existence. Our lives are given to us in bite size

What Kinds Of Things Might Imprison Us In The Past?

1) Nostalgia There is a difference between reminiscing and nostalgia. To reminisce is to remember the past with affection. It’s good to look back on precious memories with thanksgiving in our hearts to the Lord.

But nostalgia is a sentimental yearning for some period of the past. The nostalgic person refuses to move on, wishing they could re-live the past.

Some live in a time warp. They think the ‘good old days’ will always be better than the present time. (They usually have a selective memory!)

When the Israelites returned from captivity, and laid the foundations of the new temple there were mixed emotions. The younger men shouted for joy, 5

but the older ones wept because they remembered the splendour of Solomon’s temple. They refused to believe that the potential of the new beginnings could rival the glory of the past.

Don’t be robbed of present tense blessings by thinking that today can never be as good as yesterday.

2) Unforgiveness We all get offended. But some hold on to offences for a long time; or rather they are held by offences.

In a weird way we can think that by not forgiving we are getting even with the one who has offended us; but it doesn’t work that way. We are actually the ones held hostage to the past. In Proverbs 18:19 we read, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle”.

When we genuinely forgive someone we set a prisoner free, only to discover that the prisoner we release is us!

Nothing holds us captive to the past like unforgiveness. It is yesterday’s prison. But God’s grace sets us free by empowering us to forgive, even as we have been forgiven.

3) Bad Theology Many Christians, through the influence of popular psychology, have succumbed to the teaching that we are victims of the past.

They blame the past for the present and find no way to break free from the past experiences of life.

things through strengthens us.

Christ

who

Of course people and experiences may influence us, particularly those that we have early in life, yet the truth remains that we are not a product of our past - but of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Getting a revelation of our new creation identity in Christ will enable us to make the transition from ‘victim’ to ‘victor’.

Worry is destructive. The Greek word for ‘worry’ means to rip apart. Worry tears us in two.

Half of us, as it were, goes off into the future trying to solve our potential problems; and the other half remains in the real world.

2) Anxiety

We can’t deal with tomorrow’s problems today. We have no grace for tomorrow until tomorrow becomes today.

God’s answer is to get involved in today’s business today.

Jesus said, “...do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt.6:34).

What challenges, responsibilities and opportunities are before you today? Give yourself to these, trusting in God’s grace.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might...”

(Ecclesiastes 9:10).

What Kind Of Things Take Us Off Into The Future?

1) Presumption In Proverbs 27:1 we read, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

Sometimes, when we are facing difficult challenges, there is a temptation for us to put some things off until tomorrow that need to be done today. This is to boast or presume about tomorrow.

He loved us enough to give His son to die so that we may be made sinless. But because He desires for us to love Him, He left it up to us whether to “plug” into Him or to live in the darkness. Just like the lamp, we too need a source of power in order to shine. God is our power source. He is to us what the electrical outlet is to a lamp.

We say ‘tomorrow’ when today seems too hard. But delay does not make obedience easier; it only hardens the heart. When difficult times come these are opportunities to trust God and discover His miracle-working power in our lives. We can do all 6

Worthy is the Lamb Revelation 5

Truth for Today A brief extract from another of our forthcoming books.

By Mathew Bartlett

Photo: Š Pidiyath100

At the end of Handel's great Oratorio, Messiah, so often performed at Christmas or Easter, is a piece set to music from this very chapter of revelation. Its title is "Worthy is the Lamb". Here the Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed as the universal conqueror, who is worthy of all the honours bestowed on him.

In this chapter we will consider why He is worthy, although our thoughts will probably do no more than scratch the surface of his infinite worthiness. The Lord Jesus is Worthy for He has secured:

1 The Realization of Our Future V1 The chapter begins with reference to a scroll which is in the hand of Him who sits on the throne.

We could think of this scroll as God's blueprint of his plan for humanity - it is the title deed not only of the universe now but of the ages to come. It unveils God's eternal purpose for salvation of man, a purpose which of course must include the pouring of his wrath on unbelievers. V2 the plans have been long drawn, but who is able to carry them out to completion? A cry goes out to find the one who is worthy. V3 Surely to us the question is a rhetorical one.

For there is no one worthy in heaven or earth or under the earth with one exception. This one is greater than all in heaven, earth or under earth - our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (Philippians 2:9-10) V4 Notice how in v4 John gets personally involved, for the eternal 7

purposes of God contained in the scroll include God's plan of salvation for man. So if no one was found to open the scroll, there would be no salvation for John - or you and me either. How grateful we are that the Lord Jesus is worthy to open the scroll, that he might realize our eternal future in God.

2 The Redemption of Our Souls V5 The picture in v5 presents first of all the Lord Jesus Christ not as a lamb, but as a lion. As a lion he devours and conquers his prey. The conquest in view here is that over sin, death and hell.

Judah is a lion's whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up.

(Genesis 49:9) The great victor, the Lord Jesus Christ, was born into Judah's family.

Isaiah said: There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. Isa 11:1 V6 But in order to achieve his victory, the lion also had to be a lamb, speaking of his sacrificial death on the cross, through which His victory was won. The seven "horns" speak of His strength, for He alone was able to overcome the great enemy.

The seven eyes indicate the perfect attributes of the Holy Spirit who is within Him; all the attributes of wisdom and knowledge which are found in Christ alone. Paul says of him in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:3) Christ not only knew what came into the world to do, he had the wisdom which purposed to carry that plan out. Even so, no human

power took Jesus through the experience of the cross. Nor was any angelic aid was given to the Son of God beyond Gethsemane. how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb. 9:14 Through the victory which he won by himself - for us, he has obtained eternal salvation for us. who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Heb. 5:7-9) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Heb. 1:3)

the glorified Saviour in heaven. He gave himself for his people that we might be redeemed. We are there by virtue of his victory, it is his achievement not ours. People from every tribe and nation are there, because of Him. Without Christ, the story of mankind is that of universal condemnation - for all have sinned but with Christ, universal salvation has been made available to all who believe. For Christ has secured the redemption of our souls.

3 The Reward of our God In v7 Christ receives, or is presented, with the scroll. Christ has been entrusted with the task of carrying into effect the eternal plans of God by the One who sits on the throne, for he first humbled himself to do the will of the Father.

God has exalted the Lord Jesus to the highest place in the universe, since he first humbled himself as a man, and became obedient to God even to death on the cross.

began. But he has not returned there without gain, for in the time between leaving his throne and returning to it again, he has won the victory to bring many sons to glory.

The Highest Name Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11) Men recognize names as denoting someone important. If I spoke of Elizabeth Windsor, you would know that she is Queen of England.

George Bush is president of USA. A name conveys a sense of someone's importance. So if I mention Jesus God wants you to know that he is Lord. Whoever you are, he is Lord.

God's reward for Jesus is:

The Highest Honour The Highest Place

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, (Heb. 10:11-12)

which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:20-22)

Three times in this chapter the Lord Jesus is described as the Lamb that was slain. He was indeed slain, but now He is glorified in his role as redeemer. The song of the saved is "you have redeemed us by your blood". The Christ of the Cross is

God has exalted Christ to the highest place in the universe.

Having completed the work of salvation for us, he has sat down at the right hand of God. He now shares with His father the throne which was his before the world 8

Not only did God confer honour on Christ when he spoke from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (2 Peter 1:17), he later crowned him with glory and honour as the only Saviour of men.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9) That is why the Lord Jesus is the only Saviour of men, for: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under

heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

4 The Right of Our Praise Genesis 49 says "To Him shall the gathering of the people be".

Daily He shall be praised. (Psalms 72:15) The inhabitants of heaven are completely united in their view that the Lamb who was slain has won the right to our praise. The twenty four elders, representing the church, fall down to worship him, the prayers of the saints are offered to him. The angels join in to sing "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." Then in v13 we see every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

'Tis the Church Triumphant singing, Worthy the Lamb; Heaven throughout with praises ringing, Worthy the Lamb.

Thrones and powers before Him bending, Odours sweet with voice ascending, Swell the chorus never ending, Worthy the Lamb! J. Kent

Conclusion Surely the One who has secured the realization of our future, the redemption of our souls and the reward of our God has a right to our praise.

Let us join the angels around the throne singing, "Worthy is the Lamb."

Image: Š Jozef Sedmak

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New Bible Study Resource Out Now! The ‘Faith-builders Bible study series’ has been developed a useful resource for today’s students of God’s Word and their busy lifestyles.

Pastors, home or study group leaders and indeed for anyone wishing to study the Bible for themselves will benefit from using Faith-builders studies.

Each volume is the result of many years of group Bible study, and has been revised again and again to be relevant, challenging and faith building whilst remaining clear and easy to understand.

Each chapter had thought provoking questions to aid study and sample answers are provided.

Below is the study notes with discussion questions and sample answers for chapter 1.

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Mark Chapter 1 (abstract)

By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem Introduction 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Here we have the title of the book; it is not actually the gospel of Mark but the gospel (good news) about Jesus Christ. Mark declares that the promises God had made throughout the Old Testament of a coming deliverer (e.g. Gen. 3:15) had been fulfilled by the coming of Jesus Christ. So the good news is all about Jesus.

In Hebrew, the name “Jesus” is “Joshua” or “Jeshua” and means “Jehovah is salvation”. This is the name that the angel told Joseph to give to the child born of the Virgin Mary; “for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).

Mark calls Jesus the “Christ”, the one anointed by God to become the saviour of world through his death and resurrection. In the beginning of Mark’s gospel we also see that Jesus is called the “Son of God”. The apostle Paul also always preached that Jesus was the Son of God (e.g. Acts 9:20). Such is the importance of this Christian belief that 1 John 4:15 tells us “whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him and he dwells in God.” It is as Son of God that Jesus embodies the perfect image of his Father (Heb. 1:3).

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Old Testament Fulfilled

Prophecy

1:2-3 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'

Mark unites the Old Testament with the new to show that the new is a fulfilment of the old (Matt. 5:17).

The quotations from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3 refer to John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ; the one who came before him as a herald to announce the arrival of the Saviour and to prepare the hearts of the people to receive him.

In those days heralds were employed to run before reigning monarchs to clear a pathway for them so that they were not hindered in their journey. John was sent to remove the obstacles of sin and unbelief from the people of Israel so that they might be able to accept the Christ. He did not take his message to the towns and cities to be heard, but into the wilderness. His message was that the people should return to God by turning from their sin. John was to make the way straight for Jesus by calling the people to a change of heart which would result in a change of conduct.

1:4-5 In the wilderness John the baptizer began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

John told them that they needed to repent, that is, “a change of one's mind for the better and heartily to

amend one's ways with abhorrence of past sins in order to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins” (Amp. N. T.). John's baptism was not Christian baptism as we know it today, but an outward sign that those who came to him had responded to his message with repentance. It is clear from Matt.

3:7-8 that John demanded the peoples’ lives be changed to show that their repentance was genuine.

Notice that John did not go to the people, but they came to him from every city, town and village throughout Judah (it would seem as if this was a move of the Holy Spirit); and on confession of their sins he baptised the repentant in the Jordan River.

John's Abode and Appearance 1:6 John wore a garment made of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

John's dwelling place, dress and food showed him to be a prophet after the order of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) and he was recognised at once being a messenger from the Lord.

Pre-eminence of Christ 1:7 He proclaimed, ‘One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals.

John made it very clear that he had not come to project his own image but that he was merely the signpost to the one that was coming after him, Jesus Christ. He was very conscious of his own unworthiness and esteemed himself of no value compared to the one that would come in power and who would far exceed him and anything that he could achieve.

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1:8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Here we have the first mention of the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. John baptised in water, but it is only Jesus Christ who can baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (Acts 2:38). This verse can be taken as an assertion of Christ’s divinity – for only God can be said to be the giver of the Spirit of God.

Christ's Baptism Temptation

and

1:9 Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

Jesus came to John to be baptised; not for the remission of his sins, for he had none (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15). He came rather because he had a desire to “fulfil all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15).

1:10-11 And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.’

In this verse is depicted the Christian belief of God as a trinity: God the Son (Jesus) is seen coming up out of the water as God the Holy Spirit descends on him and God the Father speaks to him from heaven.

The voice of God confirmed Jesus to be his only beloved Son with whom he was well pleased.

1:12-13 The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, enduring temptations from Satan.

He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.

Immediately after the Holy Spirit came on Jesus, he (that is, the Spirit) impelled Christ to go into the wilderness, where he remained for forty days and nights being tempted

by Satan. This “corresponds to the forty years of testing that Israel endured in the desert” (A. Cole).

The desert to the Hebrew was a place of gloomy terror, the abode of devils and wild beasts; a place to be avoided. During all this time God protected his Son (Psalm 91:11; Matt. 4:6); and after he had faced the temptations of Satan the angels of God came and ministered to him.

Both Matthew 4 and Luke 4 provide further details of this temptation of Christ.

John the Baptist came before the first appearance of Christ to prepare the way for him by preaching repentance. Today, we can prepare others in a similar way for the second coming of Christ by living a life that reflects his character and by preaching the gospel message. Our hope is that others may come to know Jesus as their Saviour. John said “I must decrease but he must increase” (John 3:30) and to be good witnesses like John, we too must wear humility as a cloak, allowing the Lord to reign in every area of our lives. When this is so, it will be “no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me”; God will be able to use us in whatever way he will.

Whenever we are tempted and tried, let us remember that Jesus understands, for he suffered the same temptations that we do, so that he might help us in time of need (Heb. 2:18). God has sent his angels to watch over us and minister to us (Heb. 1:14).

Christ's Message 1:14 Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. God's ways are not our ways; his ways are past finding out. Therefore we cannot fully understand why it was that John was removed from the scene by being put in prison and eventually beheaded. Yet it was at this point in time that Jesus started his ministry. It was not to Judea, the most important region, nor to Jerusalem, but to Galilee that Jesus went. Galilee is seen by some commentators as a picture of spiritual bondage as historically it had always been the first area to fall into the hands of invaders. It was this region of spiritual darkness that the prophet Isaiah foretold would first receive the light (Isaiah 9:1-2).

1:15 He said, ‘The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near.

Repent and believe the gospel!’

Jesus's message differed from John's in as much as Jesus brought the “good news”; indeed, he was the good news! Christ had come to make a way for people to enter the kingdom of God so that through him we might be able to live the life of that kingdom. This kingdom would be found within the hearts of people (Luke 17:21); for it was not an earthly kingdom but a heavenly (or spiritual) one (John 18:36, Rom. 17:21). Jesus proclaimed that the hour had come which all the prophets had pointed to: the kingdom of God had come, for the king had arrived. Like John, Jesus called the people to repent so that they could have their sins forgiven (Acts 3:19). But Jesus added one thing more; he said, “Believe the gospel”. They were to believe on him as the Son of God, the 12

promised one; the way into God’s kingdom (John 14:6).

The Call of the First Disciples 1:16 As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).

It was not by chance that Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee; he purposed to do so that he might call these men to follow him. Simon, Andrew, James and John were about their daily work, what they had been doing since they were old enough to go fishing and what they expected to be doing for the rest of their lives; but Jesus had other plans for them. So it can be with us. We may have been doing the same thing for ages never expecting anything different to happen, and then Jesus comes along and changes our lives.

1:17-20 Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.’ They left their nets immediately and followed him.

Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in their boat mending nets. Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

This was probably not the first time that these disciples had seen Jesus.

They may have been present when he was baptised by John, but they certainly would not yet have known Jesus well. Nevertheless, at his bidding they immediately left what they were doing (their livelihood) and followed him. He would teach them the new trade of winning souls. “They abandoned all that they held dear, and all earthly security in simple committal to Christ” (A. Cole). This is the

minimum requirement for every Christian (Luke 14:33).

destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!’

A Demonic Delivered

The first thing he cried was for Jesus to “leave us alone”. As there is only one demon mentioned in verse 23, 25 and 26 the “us” might possibly be a reference to the man and the demon (unless the demon is speaking on behalf of his kind).

“What have we to do with you” that is, “what have we got in common with you?” Of course the answer is “nothing” for Jesus is pure - the demon unclean; Jesus is light - the demon darkness; Jesus came from God - the demon from the devil; and Jesus came from heaven - the demon from hell. The demon addressed Jesus in the first instance by his earthly name “Jesus of Nazareth”. He knew that Christ had come to destroy all the works of the devil (1John 3:8); and he confessed who Jesus was (James 2:19). Since all power has been given to Jesus in heaven and earth, even demons are compelled to obey him.

1:21 Then they went to Capernaum.

When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

It was the consistent practice of Jesus to attend the synagogue and the temple, and on this Sabbath, being in Capernaum, it was to the local synagogue he went. This may have been the same synagogue which Luke informs us had been built by a Roman centurion (whose servant was healed in Luke 7:2-10).

It was customary in the meeting for the Rabbi to invite someone to read and explain the scriptures. So Jesus would have done this by invitation.

1:22 The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law.

This was no ordinary meeting and no ordinary teacher, for he spoke to them as one who not only knew the scriptures but also the full truth of them, which the scribes did not. The words came from him with life and power and the people were astounded; even the powers of darkness were stirred up.

1:23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, It would appear from this verse that the man was a regular attendee at the synagogue and would have been well known. It was the demon within the man that cried out (not the man) and made itself known to Jesus.

1:24 ‘Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to

1:25 But Jesus rebuked ‘Silence! Come out of him!’

him:

Note that Jesus did not lay hands on the man – and he did not speak to him, only to the demon - nor did he pray for him. He rebuked the unclean spirit by commanding him to shut up, or “be muzzled”, and then to come out of the man.

1:26 After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.

The demon could not do any other than obey Jesus’ command ‘. As he left the man, he convulsed him violently and gave a loud screech.

The power of the Lord Jesus caused the demon to be wrenched away from the man.

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1:27 They were all amazed so that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority!

He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.’

The man was set free! This deliverance caused a great stir among the people, for although they had most probably seen the priests exorcising unclean spirits, this was the first time that they had witnessed someone actually having authority over them and casting them out by his word of command.

1:28 So the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.

This demonstration of the power and authority of Jesus caused his fame to spread right throughout Galilee. But although the people were amazed and wondered at these things, Mark does not say that they believed on him.

At Simon Peter's House 1:29-30 Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew's house, with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, so they spoke to Jesus at once about her.

These few verses tell us a few details concerning Simon’s home and family. From all that is recorded of Simon Peter we see that he was a rough and ready kind of person, often getting things wrong. Yet here we see him as a tender and caring family man. He not only provided a home for his widowed mother-inlaw but also for his brother Andrew, so we can assume that the brothers’ parents were dead (see 1 Tim. 5:8).

He was also hospitable, for he invited Jesus, James and John back

to his home for a meal (1 Pet. 4:9; Rom. 12:13).

However things we not well at home and the household were not prepared for visitors. Peter's mother-in-law had a fever and so was bed-ridden. Although they had known Jesus only for a short time they immediately brought this problem to him and had faith to believe that he would heal her.

1:31 He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them.

Jesus did not pray or speak with her he just took hold of her hand and she was immediately healed. There are other recorded incidents when Jesus healed and raised people from the dead by taking them by the hand (e.g. Matt. 9:25). The mother-in-law wasted no time in recovering; she helped to wait on them, serving them food, as many other women would do throughout Christ's ministry.

1:32-33 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed.

The whole town gathered by the door.

Following the miracle in the synagogue and the healings in the home the news spread quickly throughout the whole of Capernaum and by the evening everybody that was sick or demon possessed was brought to Jesus at Simon’s home. He turned no one away but ministered to them all.

1:34 So he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Yet it is not certain from the text that all were healed, for the verse says “many” and not “all”. It is Matthew who insists (citing the same incident) that every sick person, without exception, was healed (Matt. 8:16). Once again Jesus would not allow the demons to bear witness to who he was for they did so by compulsion and not voluntarily. “Christ is prepared to await the revelation to be made by God to men that alone will enable them to say with Peter, 'you are the Christ' (Mark 8:29). Demons may well believe but they do not trust” (A. Cole).

Discussion Chapter 1

Questions

for

1. vv. 1-45. List those who, in this section of Mark’s gospel, give witness that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (don’t forget 1:10-11). _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

2. vv. 10-11. How can you be sure that Jesus Christ was without sin? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ 14

3. vv. 1-45. In what ways does Mark (in chapter 1) show Jesus as someone greater than John? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

4. vv. 36-39. Why do you think Jesus chose to leave behind, rather than stay and build on, the apparent success of his ministry in Capernaum? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

5. vv. 1-45. In what ways does Christ demonstrate His authority in the first chapter of Mark? _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

I would, briefly, like to make three points.

Point one. The Lord was there in eternity past. ls.57v15: For thus says the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

We read here that God inhabits eternity, he wasn’t just at the creation of the world, but in the ages of eternity before.

De.32v40: For I lift up my hand to heaven and say 1 live forever.

Job.36v26: Behold, God is great and we know him not, neither can number of his years be searched out.

“Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is there.”

By Wesley Chick Image: © Lenora Image © Lichtmeister

When we read through the scriptures, we find a number of what are known as Jehovah titles. For example, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nisi, Jehovah Shalom etc. One such title is found in Eze.48v35 which saysIt was about eighteen thousand measures and the name of the

Ps.9v7: But the Lord shall endure forever; he has prepared his throne for judgement.

Ps. 135v13: Thy name, o Lord, endures forever and your memorial, o Lord, throughout all generations.

city from that day shall be the Lord is there.

Point two. The Lord is there in the present.

This begs the question, where?

The reply would be there, as the verse says! Then comes another question, but where exactly is there? Of course the simple answer is the Lord is everywhere.

In Ps. 139v7-lO it says. Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend in to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the

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uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand shall hold me.

From these verses we see that the Lord is everywhere. The psalmist asks where can I go and gives two extreme examples, as far as distance goes, if he could ascend to heaven God is there. If he could descend into hell, or the grave, God is there. If he could flee to the farthest points on earth, he could not escape Gods presence. Just like Jonah, when God told him to go to Nineveh, he thought he knew better and tried to run away. He soon found that he couldn’t outrun God and eventually did as he was told. This tells us that God is omnipresent.

Deu.4v39: Know then this day and consider it in your heart, that the Lord he is God, in heaven above and on the earth beneath, there is none else.

Pr.15v3: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Is.66v1+2, Thus says the Lord, the heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; where is the house that you build to me?

And where is the place of my rest? For all those things has my hand made and all those things have been, says the Lord. But to this man I will look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembles at my word.

Je.23v24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places that I

shall not see him? Says the Lord.

Do I not fill heaven and earth?

Says the Lord.

We read in the previous verse, that heaven is Gods throne and the earth his footstool. Yet he takes time to look to and dwell with he who is poor and of a contrite spirit. This speaks to us of the nearness of God to all who call on him for salvation and follow him.

Ps. 16v8: I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Ps.34vl8: The Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such that have a contrite spirit.

Ps.145v18: The Lord is near to all those who call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Je.23v23: Am I a God at hand, says the Lord and not a God afar off.

Because of Gods promise to be near us, as Christians, we can be sure that whatever circumstances we face, whether good times, sometimes referred to as mountain top experiences, or in bad times, sometimes referred to as valley experiences, the Lord assures us through his word that he is there with us. His divine presence is a comfort to his saints in the pilgrimage of life.

Ge.28v15: And behold I am with you and will keep you in all places wherever you go and will 16

bring you again into this land; for I will not leave you, until I have done that which I have spoken to you of Affords rest.

Ex.33vl4: And he said, My presence shall go with you and I will give you rest.

Gives courage in lifes battles.

De.2OvL When you go out in battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and a people more than you, don’t be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

A comfort in trials.

Is.43v2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overthrow you; when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon you.

Mat. l8v20: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.

Unto the end.

Mat.28v20: Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Point three. The Lord is there in the future.

As we see in the previous verse, the Lord is with us all through our Christian pilgrimage right to

the end of the age. But He is also there in the future. We find it difficult to understand what our future will be like in eternity. We try to imagine what heaven will be like and what we will be doing. But with our limited human minds we cannot begin to grasp what the future will be like. But the scriptures do give us an insight.

Jn. l4vl-3: Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself~ that where I am, there you may be also.

Rev.22v1-5 And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that side, was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the trees were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no curse anymore; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in there; and his servants shall serve him; and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.

And there shall be no more night; and they need no light of

a lamp, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God shall give them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev.2lvl-4: And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven of God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying,

Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he shall dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, anymore; the first things are passed away.

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I thank God for bring the gift of salvation to us through His precious son Jesus Christ.

All Christians pass through challenges at different levels but WE ARE ALL CALLED FOR VICTORY Remember the words of Jesus to Peter in Matthew 16:18.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Just want to remind you that when Jesus builds a church even the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We must fight the devil knowing that our weapons are effective and powerful.

Here are 5 things to know about our adversary the Devil.

1. He is an imposter 1 Peter 5:8 He is like a roaring Lion.

2. He is powerless Against Christ. Hebrews 2:14 and Luke 10:18 3. He is to be resisted Jude 1:9

4. He is not to be feared Numbers 23:23-24 5. He should be pursued and attacked Mark :23 God bless you and I pray that all blessings rain and overflow upon you and all what you do in Jesus name.

ISAAC MWAGI (KENYA)

Unfortunately, there is poorly designed intersection located in my neighbourhood.

The stop sign is placed so far back that in order for you to see clearly when making a left or right turn, you must drive past the stop sign.

Those familiar with this intersection have knowledge of its dangers and understand what is required to safely transition.

However, those that are not generally find themselves in near miss situations.

Danger Ahead!

by Sonja Burketh

I began to think, does God provide warnings for the purpose of providing safe passageways in our lives?

Image Š Kam Por Yeung Does

God provide warnings of dangers that lie ahead?

Road signs provide the protection needed for us to travel as reasonably and safely as possible. At least when we pay attention and follow the instructions that is.

Stop signs in particular, are crucial as they usually signal a potential danger that if not heeded could mean immediate harm.

The answer is, yes He does.

And according to 1 Samuel 19:23 He sometimes uses people.

Saul called his son Jonathan together with his servants and ordered them to kill David. But because Jonathan treasured David, 2 he went and warned him: "My father is looking for a way to kill you. Here's what you 18

are to do. Tomorrow morning, hide and stay hidden. 3 I'll go out with my father into the field where you are hiding. I'll talk about you with my father and we'll see what he says. Then I'll report back to you. 1 Samuel 19: 2-3 The Message Bible David was about to be killed at the command of Saul.

Fortunately for David, Jonathan decided to share with David what his father was about to do.

David heeded and his life was spared. Several vital activities had to occur for this to happen.

First, Jonathan had to care enough and be willing to share with David what he was privy to.

Secondly, David had to be willing to believe and trust what Jonathan had shared and follow his instructions.

Without both, tragedy would have most definitely occurred.

Although possibly not to this extreme, God still uses others to warn us of danger. He has given some the ability to care enough and just the right amount of clarity, insight. And the boldness to speak up.

One should not be so quick in dismissing these warnings.

Instead, through prayer, ask God if He is using this person as a possible human stop sign, providing valuable instructions for divine guidance and protection.

Our In Depth Study.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

By Mathew Bartlett Photo © Godfer Scripture taken from the NET Bible®.

Chapter 8 The Abuse of Christian Liberty Do not be puffed up with Knowledge 8:1 With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that "we all have knowledge."

Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

Some of the Christians in Corinth were asserting their Christian liberty by eating meat which had been sacrificed to idols. They reasoned that since an idol was only a piece of wood or stone, and that they knew that actually the true and living God had provided the food and that they were thankful to Him for it, they were not wrong to eat it.

With regard to the facts, they were quite correct: an idol is nothing but a statue, and all our food is given to us by God. Yet these facts alone do not make the eating of food sacrificed to idols a morally neutral question.

Whilst believers have received knowledge of spiritual matters through their relationship with the Son of God, knowledge that is not applied wisely and lovingly may lead only to intellectual pride, and not benefit the

recipient in a real sense. Pride about what we know does nothing to build up our own or anyone else’s Christian faith; it is entirely contrary to that spirit which the Christian ought to possess - a spirit and character which are dominated by humility and love.

Phillips says, ‘While knowledge may make a man look big, it is only love that can make him grow to his full stature’ (that is, his full spiritual potential). So rather than show off their knowledge, Paul urges the believers to concentrate their efforts on building up their own characters and those of others by the perfecting ministry of Christian love.

8:2 If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.

Even the knowledge we have received from Christ is incomplete (1 Cor. 13:9-12).

Christians may be supernaturally born of God, but they are not as a result able to understand every mystery of the universe. If we have an understanding about the things of God, it is only because God has chosen to reveal these truths to us through 19

Jesus Christ (Matt. 11:27). God revealed Himself to us by grace, not because we merit it, but because He delights to reveal Himself to little children (Matt.

11:25). What justification do we have for boasting in our knowledge? The perfect tense used for the word knowledge in this verse implies full and complete knowledge, this knowledge which is God’s alone shall nevertheless be comprehended by every believer when we see Christ face to face (1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 13:12). When we think of all that will be made known to us in the ages to come, we will begin to appreciate that whatever we know here and now is actually very little.

8:3 But if someone loves God, he is known by God. Christian assurance is rooted in the fact that although we do not know everything about God, He knows us entirely and intimately. We are God’s children, redeemed by the blood of His Son, and we have the sure hope of one day entering into every eternal blessing which Christ has obtained on our behalf (Eph. 1:3).

8:4 With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that "an idol in this world is nothing," and that "there is no God but one."

Paul applies this lesson about knowledge in general to the specific matter of eating food sacrificed to idols. He leaves the Corinthians in no doubt that he agrees with their view that since idols are manmade they have no significance for the believer who is personally acquainted with the true and living God. 8:5 If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords).

Whilst there are many religions, who worship many so-called gods, the Christian is in possession of the truth that our God is the only God and there is no other besides Him (Deut.

4:35).

8:6 Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.

The Christian faith is a monotheistic faith, for we believe in one God who created all things. Since all we have comes from God, our acceptable act of worship is to return all that we have and are to Him (Rom. 12:1).

Our creator is also the Father who gave His Son, the Lord Jesus

Christ, to be our Saviour.

Through His Son He has brought us into a relationship with Himself, so that by Christ’s redemptive work, we now belong wholly to God. What a joy and privilege it is to belong to the One by whom we exist and who created us for Himself!

consequence, still the matter of eating food which has been sacrificed to idols is not by this fact rendered ethically neutral.

In giving his verdict on the matter of eating food sacrificed to idols Paul does not so much depend on knowledge as on the principle of love for others.

You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created (Rev. 4:11 NKJVTM).

Many people remain ignorant of the true and living God whom we serve. There are even some believers who were so ensnared by idolatry before they came to Christ that they find it hard to separate the eating of food offered to idols from the actual worship of idols. Paul describes these believers as having weak consciences in as much as they cannot see the act of eating as being indifferent. To them, the eating of food sacrificed to an idol would constitute an act of worship to the idol, and participating in this would make them unfaithful to the Lord Jesus and so guilty of sin in their own conscience.

Although Christians believe in one God, we accept also the doctrine of the Trinity. That is so say, that whilst we accept that God is one God, we also believe that He exists as three distinct persons. In this way we believe that the Son of God is co-eternal and co-equal with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; John 1:1). Indeed, in this verse as elsewhere in the New Testament, Jesus Christ is credited with creating and sustaining all life in the universe (Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:3). Hence we acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord in accordance with the will of God our Father (Acts 2:36; Phil.

2:9-11).

8:7 But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.

While it is true that there is only one God, and that idols are of no 20

8:8 Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

Paul admits that eating or refraining from different foods is an ethically neutral matter. We are not brought closer to God by eating, nor are we advantaged in any way spiritually by declining to eat, for eating itself is not a spiritual matter. Jesus taught that food enters the stomach and that the waste is expelled from the body, and that as it

passes through it has no effect on a person's spiritual life at all (Mark 7:18-19).

In saying these words, Jesus declared all foods to be clean, and so in that sense Paul allows that even food which has previously been offered to idols may be considered clean for believers.

Bear in mind, however, that whilst food which has been offered to idols may be considered clean, the practise of idolatry itself is not; and Paul will deal in greater detail with this subject in chapter 10.

Consider the Weak 8:9 But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.

Paul’s teaching in this chapter has been leading up to this point. Whilst he accepted that the knowledge of which the Corinthians boasted was wellfounded, he foresees the danger which the misuse of this knowledge would bring. Paul does not want the believers guided by knowledge alone, but also by love and consideration of their fellow Christians; lest the use of their freedom inadvertently results in weaker Christians being made to fall from their relationship with Christ.

8:10 For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience be "strengthened" to eat food offered to idols?

One Christian may feel free to eat food offered to idols in an idol's temple because they understand that the idol is not a god, and that the gift of food does not come from a piece of wood, but from God Himself.

Another Christian, who was formerly enslaved by idolatry, might (by following the example of the first person) become enslaved all over again by idolatry and so fall away from Christ. One believer is strong and thinks that their actions will hurt no one, but the weaker believer is drawn back into the ways of sin by following this example. Clearly, the actions of a stronger believer in such circumstances would result in a great deal of harm.

The principle is a broad one, and does not only apply to food eaten in idol temples. For example, many Christians deem it acceptable to have the occasional alcoholic drink, for the drink does not get hold of them. They remain in full control and are able to take one drink and then stop. Yet another believer might see and follow their example and (because of a former addiction) be led away from Christ by the power of their craving for alcohol and so return to the life of sin from which Christ had formerly freed them.

8:11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed.

If a weaker brother or sister falls away from Christ because of 21

your conduct then you are guilty of bringing spiritual ruin and catastrophic harm to him. You could entirely destroy your brother or sister's relationship with Christ and cause them to go back into the world, where they will ultimately perish. Our weaker brothers and sisters are not without importance. ‘Yet it was for his sake as much as for yours, to save him from destruction, that Christ - no less a person, died - no less than that’ (my paraphrase of Robertson and Plummer).

8:12 If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.

To sin against the church of Christ is to sin against Christ, for Christ is so indivisibly joined to His people that anything done to the least of them is done to Him (Matt.

25:40-45).

Jesus emphasises the awful consequences of sinning against His own people in Mark 9:42.

It is easy to think of certain weaker Christians as being less important, but the truth is they are not; for they are still Christ's people. The very fact that Jesus Christ gave His life for them seals their dignity forever.

Whenever a strong believer overlooks the needs of the weak, he or she does violence to them, for the words wound their weak conscience imply hitting with vigorous blows, a beating.

Such behaviour could accurately be termed spiritual bullying.

8:13 For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.

Paul has resolved to take on board his responsibility as guardian of his weaker brothers and sisters. If it is necessary in order to prevent them going back from the Lord, then he will never touch meat again throughout his life. Paul held it to be of far more importance to build up the church of Jesus Christ than to assert his own rights and freedoms. His was a voluntary slavery, the blessed slavery of love for his fellow men. Paul refused to exert his so-called rights at the expense of someone else, and in chapter 9 he sets out his chosen lifestyle as a pattern for others.

Leon Morris sums up his own treatment of this passage with these words, While it would not be true to say that the robust Christianity of the New Testament envisages the strong as permanently shackled by the weak, yet the strong should always act towards the weak with consideration and love.

Our Lord Jesus Christ A Bible Study about the Humanity of Our Lord Jesus Christ LOOK UP EACH REFERENCE: He became man. John 1:14; Phil. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:16, 17.

He was born of the Virgin Mary, Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:34, 35; Gal. 4:4.

Of the family of Israel. Isa. 9:6; Acts 13:23.

Of the seed of David as regards His body, but of the Son of God as regards His spirit. Rom. 1:3-4.

He grew up like us. Luke. 2:40; 2:46-52; Heb. 2:14; 5:8.

Appeared as any other man; a Jew (John 4:9); a gardener (John 20:15); a stranger (Luke 24:18, 19); undistinguishable from other men by outward standards (John 21:4-5); a carpenter (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3).

Had an ordinary body (Heb. 2:14), soul (Matt. 26:38) and spirit (Luke 23:46; John 13:21); knowing hunger (Matt.

4:2); thirst (John 19:28); tiredness (John 4:6; Matt. 8:24); sorrow (wept tears) (John 11:35); slept (Matt. 8:24); was tempted in all points as we are (Heb. 2:9-18).

He is still a man in the Glory. 1 Tim. 2:5; Acts 7:55; Phil.

3:21.

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Professionally printed copies of Living Word Magazine are available at cost price for you and your church members.

Contact Us Editor: Mathew Bartlett Living Word Magazine and Bible Studies

Bulk discounts available for orders of 20 or more. Contact us for details.

Online are ministries of Sharon Full Gospel Church. UK Reg. Charity No.

Current prices (UK pounds) including postage for 12 monthly issues are:

1050642 www.sharonchurch.co.uk

UK/USA £42 for 12 issues.

Tel: (+44) 01495 753561 Lines open 9am-5pm

Canada £48 for 12 issues.

Mon to Fri with answerphone.

Rest of World £82 for 12 issues.

Living Word digital magazine is available free

Go to our Living Word page for more

details.

of charge. Print copies also available at cost price from: www.biblestudiesoline.org.uk 23