Immediately Reach
Mark: Immediately • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Now that we have gotten deep into Marks Gospel. We have set a firm foundation, that Jesus is the Messiah, that he is The Son of God and has the nature of God, that we should Immediately repent, not only in words but in action turn to the laws of God through the lenses of Christ and not turn to the left or to the right, that we should immediately receive the holy spirit that would enable us to keep the commandments of God and to not turn to the left or the right. We learned that not only will be tried like fire by God so that we can know exactly who he his, but we also saw that just like Christ we will be tempted by the devil, but with the power of the Holy Spirit that is within us we will overcome that temptation. We have over and over again heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ that he came down from heaven and bleed for us experienced separation from the father for us and was risen on the third day so that I could be forgiven my sins and given the gift of the holy spirit. We learned that we must let go of anything and everything that would lead us to go against God and submit ourselves to him and finally last week we learn that we must submit to his authority, the one who has all the authority and gives that authority to us. Now we have laid the foundation, everything that we need to preach the Gospel of the one who sent us, we have heard everything that we need to do the mission the Messiah gave us upon his resurrection. Now our position is simple hear, we have one Goal and one Goal only and this is to go forth and make disciples, not just converts, we don't want to just bring people in, we want to teach them the ways of God. They have heard the Gospel, they have decided to follow Jesus now what they do tomorrow, what does this life look like, they have heard the Gospel now how do they DO the Gospel.
Immediately Lifted
Immediately Lifted
Today of course we are still in Mark and we will start with Mark 1:29-31
As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her. So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
So now Christ has just healed the man in the synagogue that we talked about last week, now they are at the house of Peter and Andrew. This kills that idea that the disciples we some vagabonds, walking around Galilee with nothing Peter and Andrew have a home where his mother and his wife lived. The Apostle Paul tell us that a man who does not take care of his family especially his immediate family is worse than a disbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8
If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
But Christ now walks into the home of Peter and Andrew two of his first disciples, and he sees that Peters mother is sick, she has a fever, now the implications of a fever in the first century are must graver than they are now, when you got a fever, it wasn't just taking some Tylenol and lay down you’ll feel better, there is no Tylenol, there is no antibiotics. You may recover from the fever or you may not. So, Peters mother-in-law is in a possibly life-threatening condition. But the right man showed up at the right time. Just like some of us were and some of us are in a deadly situation with sin. We are dead in our sin Ephesians 2:1-5
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!
When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Why do you want more beatings?
Why do you keep rebelling?
Your head has a massive wound,
and your whole heart is afflicted.
From the sole of your foot to the top of your head,
there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts and festering sores
neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.
We are dead in our lying dead in our gossiping, we are dead in our fornication, we are dead in out hate, we are dead in our wickedness, we are sick with sin in a deadly situation the same as Peters Mother-in-Law.
The text tells us then Jesus came into the room, and something changed. Jesus takes the woman by the hand, and he lifts her up and the fever left her, the healer came into the room and touched her, just like he has touched you, or can touch you and she was healed of her deadly sickness, her deadly wound. He came to do the same for you.
On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed.
When Christ touches your life everything changes. You become a new healed creature in Christ Jesus. The same as Peters mother.
And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
Then you, My people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put My Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.’ ”
Now the question is what did she do once she was healed? Did she sit back down and just say well I'm healed that God I am healed? Did she go on with her regular lift? No she the text says that she served him. The same as you should serve him when he heals you. When you accept Christ and he heals you from the way that you used to be. When he takes away that sin, when he picks you up from your decrypted places. We he creates in you a new spirt and gives you a clean heart towards him, you should then immediately turn to serve him.
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
Now a side note, I like these Sidenotes.
It matters who you hang around. If Peter was running around with some heathens his mother-in-law would have never been healed. If he was just going to work, if he would not have let go of that net and followed Christ she may have died. Last week we told you why you were so comfortable in unclean places. But now I tell you that you need to make sure that you stay in clean places. You need that friend around you that we you call you to gossip they tell you that you don't need to be talking about people. When you call them angry they don't tell you they will help you beat them up, but they tell you that you need to calm down, when you were rude in the store they tell you to repent and go apologize. When you have disrespected your parents, they will tell you to repent and apologize and change your ways. When you tell them about your sneaky link, they tell you to block them. When you tell them about your plan to cheat on your spouse they come over and beat you up, and if you still do it they tell your spouse. These are the kind of friends you need so that when your cup is full you can pour into them and when their up full they can pour into you. We cannot do this walk alone and when you try it never works. Remember the devil thrives in darkness, but we are children of the light, don't live in darkness. Keep those around you that will lead you back to Christ not further away. It matters who your friends are.
Now back to the Lesson. We see that after she was healed she got up to sever Christ and After we are healed we should get up to Serve Christ
Immediately Reach
Immediately Reach
Now the question that presents itself is this. How do we serve Christ? How do we go about our lives doing what he wants from us. The first answer we have went over, its to repent to turn from that sin and never go back, be the man or the woman he has called you to be. Learn the Gospel and learn the bible the text so that you can explain it. Remember what the Apostle Paul tells us 2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
There is no way that we can be equipped for the good work without learning the scriptures. Now of course we include now the gospel and the apostolic writings, but in the time that Paul is writing these letters the scriptures is the old testament, the Torah and Tanak. Again this goes to my Pronomian Position. Paul doesn't say only the new testament is Good for instruction, conviction and correction he says the whole book from front to back is. We will not be like the first Adam who eats from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and now he decided what is good for his life and what is not. He think that he knows what God told him is good and what is bad, no we follow the second Adam Jesus the Messiah that simply obey that live a life according to all the commandments of God. We say the most simple thing that we can and this is WWJD, what would Jesus do and we use that question and answer in every decision that we make even the smallest one.
Now that we have done that we have order our life around obediance to God, what does he want from us. John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”
Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”
Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”
Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?”
“Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
and of course the great commission Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
and this is exactly what the Apostles did
Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
and it worked
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Now we are compelled to do the same thing Matthew 9:37-38
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
Back the the main text Mark 1:32-34
That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed, and the whole town gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
This is what the church should be not only providing the actual laying on a hands for physical sickness and the casting out of visible demons, but the healing of the sickness of sin and delivering from the bondage of unseen demon possession like we saw last week in the synagogue. The body of believers and you as an individual believer, your light should shine so bright that everyone lines up and your door when they have a problem, not because you can save them, but because they know that you know a guy who can. They can be assure that you will help spiritually and if you can you will help financially. We are called to do greater things than Christ did John 14:12
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
You know the motto here, If Christ did it so will I, and we mean this. If Christ prayed for the sick so will I, If Christ Feed the poor so will I, If Christ took care of the widows and orphans so will I, If Christ preached the words in Dark Places so will I. We are called to be the ambassadors of Christ on the earth 2 Corinthians 5:20
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.
We cannot be Ambassadors of Christ in these 4 walls. We have to be outside doing the work. Could you image the US Ambassador to South Africa being based in the United States? We are not called to be amongst each other looking at each other, but we are called to be out in the field bring more souls to the one who can save them and make them new. The one who died for them, the one who saved them even when they were in their sins, The one who took their punishment upon himself and even gave them a free gift that will enable them to live a life that pleases God if they submit to him.
Our reputation has to precede us. We have to be the place that people can come and get the help and the healing that they need and that is the vison that we have here at Altared Doers. Remember what the oveseer James tell us. James 2:14-17
What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead.
We have to put our money where our mouth is. Imagine you seeing someone in need, they see you walking our of McDonalds with two meals just for yourself like I used to and they need something to eat havent eaten in days and you say Ill pray for you my bother in Jesus name. What does that do for them in that moment. You were supposed to be their answered prayer. They had been praying for 2 days for that food. We have to not only be heaers but doers. Now sometimes that all we got and we should give it like Peter and John Acts 3:1-10
One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.
Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter. So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
All they had at this time was the gift of prayer and deliverance and thats what they gave, but as we saw the church grew and when they had finances to give they did. Acts 2:44-45
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.
We all help according to our ability both in Spirit and in The Physical.
This is like the 2 greatest commandments. Love God and Love People. The idea is not that love is the only commandment, he says on these two hang all the law and the prophets not that these two replace the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:39-40
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”
Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
The Idea is not to do away with the commandments of God. What is the love of God according to the bible 1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome,
If we love God we do everything that we can that he commands us according to our knowledge, the more that we learn of the commandments of God the more that we do, and the same with loving people the more than we can do, we should do according to our ability.
Now how do we prepare ourselves for this ministry. How do we prepare ourselves to do as Christ did and bear the burdens of our brothers Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
How do we put ourselves in a position spiritually to be able to do this. We ask our favorite question WWJD what would Jesus do , in this case what did Jesus do.
Immediately Pray
Immediately Pray
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”
But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus was up early in the morning praying, he didn't sleep in, he knew the mission that he was on and the battles that he had to fight and win so he was up praying, now if the son of God who was sent to take away the sins of the world needed to pray what makes you think that you can make it without praying and I'm even talking to myself. We need to have that time with God so that we can groud ourselves so that we can place our burdens on him, so that I can intercede for my brothers and for myself.
Pray without ceasing.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
O God, You are my God.
Earnestly I seek You;
my soul thirsts for You.
My body yearns for You
in a dry and weary land without water.
Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress,
and He hears my voice.
We need to pray and be continually praying not Just for ourselves, but for others. We need to make sure that we stay in the spirit so that we can battle the forces of this world, and along with the praying we need to study his word, how did Jesus rebuke the devil? With the the word Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
or set foot on the path of sinners,
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the Law of the LORD,
and on His law he meditates day and night.
Oh, how I love Your law!
All day long it is my meditation.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
We have to dedicate our lives to God and that means dedicating our lives to Prayer and to the ministry of the word.
Now I want you to notice something about Christ, when the disciples are looking for him, they didn't have to take too many guesses. They knew exactly where he would be. Somewhere praying. History tells us that James the brother of Christ and the Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem prayed on his knees so much they swollen up like camel knees so they called him Camel knees. Now some of us we are known for being some other places, Maybe the Liquor Store, Maybe the club, Maybe the Strip Club, Maybe Jail, Maybe your sneaking link house, maybe just sleeping, or maybe vacationing, but Christ he was know to be praying in solitude and we have to have much more of that in our lives. I remember when I was young It was better for you to ask me what days I wasn't going to be at Church then what days I would be. Monday Intercessory prayer, Tuesday Choir Practice , Wednesday Bible Study, Thursday Praise Team Practice, Hopefully my pastor wasn't preaching anywhere Friday so I could get that off, either the Hospital of the nursing home on Saturday and Church on Sunday. God should be a part of your life he should be the center of your life. Now today the question is not our normal one, its not has Christ saved you, but I ask you today, have you joined the fight, have you became his ambassador. I encourage you if you have not to join the fight , join the army become a ambassador for the kingdom. Christ didn't die so that you can just sit around and say you are saved, that you are special, he didn't bleed just for you but for the whole world, the harvest in plentiful but the labors are few. Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send more Laborer's into the harvest
