Mark 16! Part-One.

The last twelve Verses?

Most believers do not see these technical sections of the scriptures, most denominational teaching cover them up for the lay Christian and since the Apostle Paul warned us about not getting into these arguments it is perhaps wise!

But as one grows and starts to preach and teach we learn some knowledge that can be troubling or debatable for those who like to question the context of the Holy Scriptures and the languages that they have been written in?

On reading these twelve verses, there is a different style to them from the rest of the Gospel of Mark and early Greek transcripts do not have them but that does not mean that they should not be there!

What they reveal is unbelief amongst the Disciples to Jesus rising from the dead and this is a understood state of mind, since most fled in fear from the garden when Jesus was arrested, even one in his birthday suit!

The others is of events that are related to the forty days that Jesus spent on the Earth in Israel between His resurrection and His Ascension!

Mark 16:8-20,   Mark 14:52,   John 20:15,  25,   Acts 1:1-11,  1 Timothy 6:4,  Titus 3:9.

Virtual Church?

Thinking outside the Box!

We take too much for granted in the western world when it comes to Christianity, we believe up to this point that we were safe in our established traditionalism? But a minute bug has ended our ability to fellowship to break bread and to gossip, if not pray together!

Now in quarantine we have the Internet, various mediums of communications through Android and Apple systems and yet no one has come up with a virtual Church app?

We have almost virtual everything else, so why not meeting together and facing the real challenges of daily life?

It is not really known how long these lockdowns and re-lockdowns will continue for? Some unwise people are chancing it and it may be to their hurt and suffering if not death! Hope in God now comes to play and so does that personal relationship that some of us like to talk about, but might not really have?

1 Chronicles 29:15,   Job 4:6,  5:16,   Psalm 25:5,  42:5,   71:14,   119:114,   Matthew 18:20,  Acts 24:15,   1 Corinthians 14:27,   29,   2 Corinthians 1:7,   Colossians 2:17,   Hebrews 10:1.

Christian Martyrdom!

Being a Christian?

We would never consider that believers in Europe, Australia or N-America could be martyred for their faith in Jesus and that only happens in Africa, Asia or the Middle-East?

That has been the traditional view now for some two hundred years or so, but it is changing and not with the obvious threat of terrorism but more closer to home with the ideals of unbelief and secular humanism?

Nations are now being pressured by image, by feelings and what is expected of us in not offending anybody except those who hold to the Christian faith! The reason being that the Holy Bible always proves true in the falseness of human idealism and it selfishness to oppose the truth?

We do not think that their are many believers today, who live in comfort would consider making a stance for Jesus? But there are equally many inner city believers who suffer more so for faith in Jesus and some may be murdered for a plethora of reasons that either the state and the police refuse to accept as Martyrdom!

Job 2:10,  Psalm 43:2,  107:39,   Philippians 1:29,   2 Thessalonians 1:5-6,   2 Timothy 1:8, 4:5,  Hebrews 13:3,   James 5:10,   1 Peter 2:19-20,   2 Peter 2:13,   Revelation 18:15.

The old story and new Tech!

EASTER is not Cancelled?

Most Churches now have an internet connection of some kind from those lovely downloads to worship and so on, perhaps not all are that great after all and we need still in leadership and preaching to do our own things?

We will use the net to speak to loved one and friends so why not a link up from home to home to share in this live event?

The Easter story is a key even to our own personal salvation, many believers are now quarantined with family and many great opportunities have arisen to link service, talk, bible study and preaching altogether with worship!

We hope that this Easter will see loved ones and friends saved in light of this unknown plague and the sudden silence on a vaccine or cure being found with much prayer for the old and infirm that is required?

Matthew 18:20,    John 3:3,   15-17,   Acts 20:7,   11,   Romans 3:21-31,   1 Corinthians 5:4,   10:16.

101 Years round Two!

1918 to the Present?

It takes great leadership skills to help people with this new virus and not arrogance or laughing it off as was seen in 1918 with the estimated death’s of over fifty-million people and that apart from World War-I (1914-18).

Ekklesia leadership is greatly required also at this time to get the message of hope in Jesus will lead to salvation and that there is an Eternity for all of wither it is Heaven or Hell!

It is so hard to know what is driving some politicians around the world, since many feel safe and come across as uncaring! We have much to deal with in these last days and being to comfortable may not be such a good option in the work that we have to do?

Many have already turned back to the world and they are ineffective, so we must avoid them and not let their bad influences draw us away from Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer?

Psalm 91:5,   Matthew 8:76,   Luke 8:24,   2 Corinthians 7:13,   James 1:14.

Coronavirus/COVID-19!

Helping people in fear and Panic?

This is where the Church comes into play in times like this, when one goes to get some soap in the local store only to find it all gone! One has to wonder has soap just been discovered by the masses, and what did they use before?

On a more serious note the media is causing more problems that solving a complex and unknown situation, special coverage but again fed dripped information to what is the truth? We should give thanks for the Holy Bible, since God is loving and merciful to all who trust in Him!

We have the opportunity to share our faith and talk to people, or we should not fear death if it would lead others to faith? Prayer is of great value but it must not be used as a sop to get out of preaching the truths?

Genesis 26:24,  2 Chronicles 20:15,   Job 4:6,   Psalm 46:2,   Jeremiah 26:19,   Matthew 10:28,   Luke 12:5,   Romans 8:15,   Hebrews 11:7,   1 Peter 3:14.

The Lords Prayer!

A base from which to build Upon?

Not many believers realize that this prayer is the building block or foundation to build upon and they continue with it more or less in a childish way?

But for us believers it is a base that we can build on and be kept on the straight and narrow for the rest of our lives!

Despite the controversial ending that is disputed and not found in any of the Greek original texts, it still remains a invaluable prayer for both the young and old!

‘Our Father in Heaven…… For thy Kingdom Come!

Matthew 6:9-10,   Luke 11:2.

 

Eros verses Agape Love!

Saint Valentines?

Friendship and charity now have very little to with either the Ekklesia and certainly not Kosmov, that does not mean than some still try to do what is right and to care since many do?

The battle of loves today seem more clear cut than they ever have been in that of sexual love and the pleasures of the flesh seem to dominate over that of Jesus amongst believers and selfishness is ruling the nest!

But we can change things by preaching and sharing the truth with a mixed up society that allows all sins to be permissible and refuses the truth? It is hard work, but the salvation of souls at the end of the day will make well worth our while!

Agape is more than St. Valentines slush, but they were of a kind and loving heart in serving in their day, hopefully as we are today our selves as believers?

Deuteronomy 10:18,   Ruth 4:15,   Psalm 11:5,   37:28,   Ecclesiastes 5:10,   Song of Solomon 3:1,   Luke 7:47,   Ephesians 5:28,   1 John 4:7,   Revelation 22:15.

Anti-Semitism and Revisionism!

Holocaust Denial?

Many professing Christians are anti-Semitic in their attitude as much as their doctrine, replacement theology or not! The problem is jealousy and taking their focus of who Jesus is, rather than He being the King and Messiah of Israel?

The other issue is that of His redemptive work and prophecy, since without His dead on the stake/tree/cross we cannot be saved from our sins! The Jews were in the will of God in what they did, because it had to happen that way and Rome was blackmailed to do their will!

Today millions are dying without accepting Jesus, millions refuse to accept the fate of the Jewish people because of what Israel is doing in ‘Palestine? Yet this promised land belongs to Israel and they are still doing Gods will!

We can either reject the Holy scriptures or accept them and stop being racist in our attitudes to changing history to suit our perspectives?

Psalm 7:9-11,   Matthew 22:14,   Romans 3:21-31,   11:17,   Hebrews 4:12,  10:10-17.

Looming Darkness!

The U.S and Iran?

It was the U.S. President George Bush Jnr that said, ‘Dark forces were looming in the world! This being after the 911 attacks in 2001, and these prophetic words have since become a reality in the world as supposed Christianity battles Islamic inspired terrorism or Jihadism!

Now the world is in a new and extremely dangerous situation with Iranian Shia retaliation not a possibility, but a reality and these attacks coming with lead to at least a one-hundred year war in which the United States and its friends will have daily body bags coming home!

Was it the right decision, probably yes, but it was the wrong timing because of motives in one mans egoism to win another term in office!

We cannot play with God, we cannot abuse power and ultimately when we are in great responsibility we are closer to God in the sense of His power and control rather than our faith in Him as believers.

Psalm 2:9-12,    82:1-8,    John 5:23,    Romans 9:33,    2 Thessalonians 1:8-9,   Hebrews 4:12.