Sermon for 9/26/21 15 Minutes "Getting Along Without Stumbling"

Mark 9:38-50

This morning I'll be reading Mark chapter 9 verses 38 through 50. And I'll be reading from the King James Version Bible or the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Mark 9:38-50 The verses that we look at this morning,,, first,,, help us to see that we don't need to shut anyone out just because they aren't associated with us,,, and the rest of the verses will deal with things that we need to do within our own membership,,, or do together,,, to strengthen us as a Christian congregation. Mark 9:38–50 (HCSB) 38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” 39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah —I assure you: He will never lose his reward. 42 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire, 44 [where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 45 And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire, 46 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.”

God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ----------------------------------------------------------- Last Sunday we looked at James 3:13-4:3, 7-8 and we seen how Christian Wisdom can help us in our relationship with God.

We need to be sure that our hearts are in the right place and we are doing what God wants instead of trying to obtain things of this world,,, because of the envy we experience,,, even as Christians,,, it can cause problems.

This morning we will look at these verses in Mark and see how they can help us in our walk with God this week.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 38 through 40 say: 38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.” 39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.

John,,, told Jesus,,, they had seen someone performing miracles in Jesus’ name and they had told him to stop.

And Jesus tells them “Don’t stop him”,,, and in verse 40 says,,,40 For whoever is not against us is for us. ,,, which,,, seems to be completely opposite the answer that He gave in Matthew 12:30 “Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.”

In Matthew,,, the people were questioning whether Jesus was the Son of God,,, and the Pharisees had accused Him of using power given by Satan,,, instead of God.

Given this context,,, the Pharisees,,, and anyone questioning Jesus’ power,,, are seen as being against Jesus since they have these type of questions.

In these verses of Mark,,, the disciples are questioning whether this man had the authority to use Jesus’ name.

Possibly,,, envy is mixed in with their remarks since the man was successful in removing the demon.

Also notice that John said,,, “following us” instead of following “You”.

Which leads us to see that this is a continuation of the previous discussion of who will be first!

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 41 says: 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah —I assure you: He will never lose his reward.

It doesn’t matter how small the act of kindness,,, if it’s done in a Christ-like manner,,, it will be noticed.

Casting out a demon is spectacular,,, but giving someone a glass of water is done every day,,, so Jesus is trying to show them,,, that doing them because you belong to Jesus should be the cord that binds believer’s together,,, instead of dividing them.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 42 says: 42 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

As Christians we should consider what effects our words and actions might have on others.

We never want to cause anyone to stay away from Christ by our actions.

And that is possible when you consider the way that some professing Christians act.

Especially when you think about the fussing and fighting that we do in our church community as a whole.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 43 through 48 say: 43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire, 44 [where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 45 And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire, 46 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.] 47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

These are strong words that are used to warn the disciples,,, and us,,, the danger of being led astray,,, and what we need to do to stop these things from happening.

We are better off doing without,,, if it causes us to sin.

My Bible Knowledge Commentary says that “The hand might suggest our deeds,,, the foot our walk,,, and the eye the things we crave.

These are potential danger spots.

Unless they are dealt with severely,,, they can lead to eternal ruin.

The repeated reference to “the unquenchable fire, 44 [where Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.]” in these verses is taken from Isaiah 66:24: “As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never go out, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”

Jesus was speaking harshly in these verses to get the disciples attention,,, and,,, of course us today.

Jesus doesn’t tell us to actually cut off our hand,,, foot,,, or cut out an eye,,, He just says that it would be better to sacrifice the use of these body parts than to let them drag us down to hell by their abuse.

But,,, if anything “is” hindering our walk with God,,, then it “should” be cut off.

Our best defense is using the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we go through our day.

If we truly listen the way that God intends for us to,,, everything will be okay,,, our problem though,,, is staying connected the way that we should,,, and that’s why Jesus uses the harsh language to get our attention.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 49 and 50 say: 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.”

In verse 49,,, it seems Jesus is referring to the fire that will judge everyone's works.

The believer's choices and actions will be judged and rewarded accordingly (1 Cor 3:12-15),,, and,,, so will those of the unbeliever (Rev. 20:12-13).

According to my Bible Knowledge Commentary,,, Disciples who deny themselves for Christ will have those sacrifices "seasoned with salt," a figure denoting the pleasing and attractive nature of the sacrifices, because "Salt is good" and was sometimes used to "season" Old Testament sacrifices as an example look at (Leviticus 2:13).

Verse 50 is a fitting close to this section. "Have salt among yourselves" is Jesus’ way of encouraging us to be attractive to all people (with a Christlike attitude that values them), and "have peace with one another" reflects back on the initial dispute about greatness at the opening of this section.

----------------------------------------------------------- So we can see from these verses that we need to be careful in our daily walk and pay attention to the Holy Spirit as He guides us.

Envy,,, wanting to be first over others,,, thinking we are better than others,,, are all things that can lead to problems,,, and Jesus is trying to tell us that if they aren’t taken care of correctly,,, they can hinder our walk with God!

And that’s why Jesus speaks so harshly in these verses,,, and hopefully they will help us stay on the right path,,, without stumbling,,, which is the most important part of any scripture.

Also being sure that we don’t lead anyone down the wrong path by our actions and cause them to stumble.

And,,, being sure that we aren't led astray as well.

We have been warned,,, and Jesus expects us to pay attention to His words,,, so they will help us all to get along,,, as the Christian family that Christ intends for us to be.

----------------------------------------------------------- Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------