Mark 12 ~ to God the things that are God's.

Monday, July 16, 2018

 

Mark 12

12 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11 this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.





13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 

15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 

They said to him, “Caesar's.” 

17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.





18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”




28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.


35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.




38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”




41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Jesus told us "Days Will Come."

And being Savior of us all - Jesus knew the Scripture and the Power of God.

There was a young woman who had seen her nation fall into one class splendor. Her Father had one of the most magnificent courts in all of 16th Century Europe. And 1 of 3 people starved to death. Her sister attained the throne and began to burn people on pyre's for 2 and 3 days to death.

The young woman was placed in the Tower, to die/await trial, as the sister's husband began to realize the wife was dying and the younger sister was single. At age 20, the young woman had an idea from her prayer life - this was an auspicious day. She sat under a huge Oak Tree at Hevor Castle and waited. Word came to her - she was now Queen Elizabeth I of England. Age 20.

And as her hand was kissed,  "Long Live the Queen", Elizabeth spoke Psalm 118. Mark 12.

This was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes

Elizabeth knew she would either be queen or killed by political factions. Mark 12 perfectly summed up the placement of her life.



History is interesting - when we get to the 500-year marks - vast changes happen.

Elizabeth was coming to the time when the Catholic Church was being protested for keeping God's Word in Latin and away from the vastly increasing reading population who did not speak Latin. The Word of God was becoming sought after and read. The Church had several new Protestant growing areas of the Holy Spirit.

Now Elizabeth had to face growing up Catholic and coming up against her former-brother-in-law being with the Pope and Catholicism - wanting the U.K. to be a Spanish Colony.

Her father had taxed the populace to starvation. And in a 500-year mark, the Nation would look to a woman to save them from the Spanish Armada, the pyres, the taxes, the exploration of a New World and a European Continent looking to see the continued end of plague and serfdom with a growing and rapid interest in Religious Freedom. For the first time, people had the open freedom to pursue the idea, "What does worship, Bible and intent of God look like in my life?"



We are in the process of unique change. The new idea pursued by colleges is not new and yet is - as the Canadian government pursued the usage of the word "zim" to replace "him" and "her" as words in the English Language - Professor Jordan Peterson of Toronto, Canada was asked to take a sabbatical. He discovered his viewers were 2 to 3 million in a month as Professor Peterson pursued traditional roles of men and women.

We have seen Ben Shapiro become the most political voice listened to the Millenniums. And his broadcast is not the major networks, like Dr. Peterson.

In fact, Nickelodeon has far more viewers than CNN.

The President of the United States uses Twitter as his broadcast go-to.

And Colleges are indeed CHANGING. My son has pursued a Master's Degree online through LSU. And this was far less expensive than going to the classes. Many, many people do this for the University of Houston. It's not 'new'.

Except - - - Purdue and many others are going to put classes on You Tube and the populace pays to take the test. Like Dr. Joran Peterson suggested breaking the cycle of amazing expenses and liberal viewpoints - far from parents and the rest of the population.

We are looking at the END OF HIGH COLLEGE COSTS. The Serfdom Sacrificial Expense leading of the Death of Education is being conquered. Education is becoming like the website "Offer Up."




Our God is Living and Active.
Elizabeth I found Mark 12 helped her in crisis of country, personal crisis, and witness to living in the Glory of God and His Plan. Thriving.

We are Living Mark 12 - our Nation has seen bathrooms become touchstone decisions points determined by entertainment singers. We were told this was the new normal.

We were told by the Major Networks Donald J. Trump would not statistically win office.

We were told College would cost as much as a 3.4 bedroom house for our children who worry where they will live as they are employed as adults.

We wondered what kind of news we were living on. And saw Boston fight for the right of equality asked for by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Just as the Churches who have believed Jesus and the Bible prosper - so do the hopes of those who love their children and pray for education to not cripple their lives with debt. As the Universities themselves put their classes on You Tube and offer those who want to see the classes pay to take the tests. There is a new wave in education.

And the Hypocrisy of disdaining traditional family values in higher education while undermining the financial freedom of the student to become an adult with families was severely handicapped by crushing debt - is - being addressed and change is in the process.

 As more and more Universities offer this all over the world - You Tube offers greater and greater education at a very reasonable cost. We will see Professors start their own colleges online. New Degrees with New Educational Excellence. As we spoke of a national wall (I pray to God we will not receive) we find the internet and Canadian College Costs will bless our families and children.

 As well as the new universities and colleges discussed today, will be professors with love of learning to give to light a path forward shining brightly. The Exodus is a God movement saying God loves what His People have in freedom. Freedom to be educated. Freedom to choose. Freedom to have families and liberties without worry. A light is dawning. We rejoice to see the Son rise. In so many areas!!!

I believe we live in a Time to be in awe, with Gratitude, of Answered Prayer.

Abba, Father

We Remember Gratitude

So much, Father God, to be Thankful for.

So much to say Jesus has Blessed and Blessed and Blessed us.

2018, Thank You for the increase in marriages. 

Thank You more and more children are being born in marriage.

Thank You for holding me up. Thank You for holding my children and Loved ones up. Thank You for holding up the people God has given me.

Thank You we see more Heaven on earth.

And pray for this Nation and all Nations trusting in God.

 Jesus is Good.

For Jesus to bless all His Beloved around the world.

In Christ Jesus, we triumphantly and with gratitude say AMEN.

2018, I believe we live in a Time to be in awe with Gratitude of Answered Prayer.

2 of 3 Americans say they can

point to a miracle of answered prayer.

We ask for Your Love and Favor.

In Jesus, we ask

Dwell in us, Father

Send Your Holy Spirit as Helper

Dwell in those we love

and 

Help us to seek You first

And in Jesus,

we will finish well.

We pray for the 81% who professed 

Belief in You, Father in 2021.

And 74% who profess

Belief in You, Father, in 2023.

According to Ben Shapiro's quote.

And the worry of

The Hill says 50%

Believe in You in 2023

We ask for Your Favor, Father.

We ask for Your Favor

for Gracious

Weather

to 

ALL

of Your Children.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

And we say Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless The Lord Jesus

Yes Thank You Father

Genesis 18 ~ And the Lord appeared

 

A vintage lithograph and then a photo of the size of the Oaks of Mamre

Abraham's tree and the surrounding Oaks had offspring, and the Culture preserved them,

this above photo was the last one sure of the tree's heritage, about 1860 AD

 

Genesis 18

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre

As he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” 

So they said, “Do as you have said.” 

6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” 

And he said, “She is in the tent.” 

10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” 

Ancient tent of Ur, or Persia

are seen in museums and are quite beautiful.

Then again, the tents of the Exodus,

probably looked more like this:

And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 

13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 

15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. 

He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

We look at Genesis 18 and get caught up in Sodom. Let's push this to one side, later, and, now, see the Glory, Glory, Glory of Genesis 18.

Genesis 18. Who perfectly understands the Holy Spirit? Evidently, Abraham. He sees 3 men, and Abraham perfectly comprehends he is meeting the Holy Spirit. Apparently, Abraham is precisely correct.  The men speak with one voice. Perfectly understanding each other. 

Just as Jesus rises victoriously to celebrate Life with the Disciples on the Shore of the Sea of Galilee, fixing them breakfast, the disciples argue with Jesus, The Lord, Messiah, Risen.

And each time, the faithful are seeking wisdom, to understand something in their lives.

James 1:5

If you need wisdom, ask God, 

who gives generously

 to 

all

 without finding fault

and 

it will be given 

to you.

The Comfort of God's Spirit.  Messengers of God proclaim, "Have no fear." The Presence of the Lord is displayed as Comforter, Help and Helper.

The Disciples followed Jesus and felt... Awe.

Sarah isn't part of the company. She is outside. Sarah both laughs and has fear. Politely, we will say

Sarah misrepresents ... herself. The Lord will address Sarah like this...

 Is anything too hard for the Lord? 

At the appointed time I will return to you, 

about this time next year, 

and Sarah shall have a son.” 

Sarah is so comforted, she names Isaac, Laughter. Sarah has joined the conversation. And found Comfort, Help, Helper.

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 

17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 

19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 

20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 

26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” 

And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 

29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” 

He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 

30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” 

He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 

31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” 

He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 

32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” 

He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 

33 And the Lord went His way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Abraham has explored the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is living the Transfiguration. And in this experience, God is God. The Almighty. Abraham has no wish to depart from them.

And Abraham immediately wants to explore the Nature of God. Wisely, like the 10 Talents Parable of Jesus, Abraham insists on the Goodness of God. Wise. God has chosen, Wisely.

Let's explore Jesus in this Genesis 18.

Jesus and King Ahab have a conversation after King Ahab has ruined many.

1 Kings 21

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” 

He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. 21 Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 22 And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. 23 And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ 24 Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

25 (There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.)

27 And when Ahab heard those words, 

he tore his clothes 

and put sackcloth on his flesh 

and fasted 

and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 

28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 

29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

The Lord reaches out to His Children. And explains Himself:

Exodus 34:6-7

And HE passed in front of Moses, 

proclaiming, 

“The LORD, the LORD, 

the compassionate and gracious God, 

slow to anger, 

abounding in love and faithfulness, 

maintaining love to thousands, 

and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

Abraham and the Lord close Genesis 18

Beautifully

33 And the Lord went His way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Jesus says:

Our Father, Who art in Heaven

Hallowed be Thy Name

The Holy Spirit says:

Therefore God has highly exalted Him 

and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,

  so that at the Name of Jesus 

every knee should bow, 

in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

and every tongue confess

 that Jesus Christ is Lord,

 to the glory of God 

the Father.

The Father says:

And a Voice from Heaven said, 

“This is my Son, 

whom I love; 

with Him I am well pleased.”

And in Jesus

in the Holy Spirit

and Our Father in Heaven,

we 

are given:

Ask, 

and it will be given to you; 

seek, and you will find; 

knock, 

and the door will be opened 

to 

you.

Just as Sarah

found

from the door,

the mercy

and graciousness

of Jesus

Our Father in Heaven

and 

The Holy Spirit

Abba, Father,

In Jesus, we ask

Dwell in us, Father

Send Your Holy Spirit as Helper

Dwell in those we love

and 

Help us to seek You first

And in Jesus,

we will finish well.

We ask for Your Favor

for Gracious

Weather

to 

ALL

of Your Children.

Our God is working. His Son, 

Jesus is working.

And we say Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless The Lord Jesus

Yes Thank You Father