3 Types of People in a Fellowship | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Bible Study Series)

Mark chapter 3 in our Bibles today.

Mark 3 · chapter mention

Mark chapter 3. Mark, 3 verse 1 verse 2.

Mark 3 · chapter mention Mark 3:1

Again, he entered the synagogue and a man was there with a

withered hand and they watched Jesus to see whether he would

heal him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him.

Lord with these two verses help us.

We are unable to fully grasp. What you have to say part from

the teaching work of the Holy Spirit.

And so Lord. We come with hungry Hearts, we

hunger and thirst for righteousness and Lord.

We admit, that we are distracted bunch.

And that there is a war for our affections.

But Lord with this message today win us again and Keep us.

Keep us where we're supposed to be beholding, the glory of the

Lord. And as we behold O Lord, you

promised that we would be transformed into that very same

image of moral Glory. We give ourselves to you with,

trust that you are in the midst and your name we pray.

Amen. This new chapter in The Gospel

of Mark, really just continues the theme that we concluded with

in the last verses of the previous chapter.

And in case we may have forgotten what it was that we

heard last week, the spirit of God opened up to us, the

beginnings of a new friction between Jesus and the Pharisees

around the Sabbath observance. And as we heard the Pharisees

through their tradition violated This holy weekly day that was a

gift to the people for rest to the point that it was absolutely

mangled from the original purpose that God intended for

it. But Jesus on the other hand, we

see Rebuked the Pharisees for their misapplication and and

even corrected them. When they sought to try to

condemn him and his disciples for their behavior on the

Sabbath. And the Lord concluded.

His argument by declaring his sovereignty, over the Sabbath,

and we can imagine how this made the Pharisees feel.

Since this holy day was the Apex of their empty religious

exhibition. No, there was no recorded

reaction from the Pharisees after Jesus statement of

sovereignty, there will be one in this section of scripture and

it will reveal just how Central their Twisted view of the

Sabbath was to their empty Hollow system.

But as always, the Lord Jesus has much more to offer Us in his

word than just a mere history lesson.

Every single time we come to a text like this every every time

you come to any portion of the Of God these events, these

interactions are intended to convey truths, that will cross

cultures and that will travel throughout the generation so

that God's people would understand what he asks of them.

Therefore, let him who has ears to hear hear.

And what we will hear is what God wants to say through these

two verses and why just these two verses you notice?

I didn't continue to the rest. Other verses that complete the

picture and it is because to attempt to try to cover all

these things in one setting, I believe would be an injustice to

the rich truths that we can cultivate.

If we just take our time and meditate on what these things

imply. And so we can read the rest just

to understand the context but we will meditate on the first two

verses. So we see again, he entered the

synagogue and a man was there with a withered hand and they

watch Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath so

that they might accuse him. And he said to the man, with the

withered hand come here and he said to them is it lawful on the

Sabbath to do good or to do harm to save life, or to kill, but

they were silent. And he looked around at them

with anger. He looked around with them with

anger grieved at their Hardness of Heart and said to the man

stretch out your hand, he stretched it out and his hand

was restored. The Pharisees went out and

immediately held counsel with the herodians against them.

How to destroy him in a parallel passage.

Luke tells us that Jesus entered a synagogue in an undisclosed

town on another Sabbath. It's possible that this took

place not too far along after Jesus was confronted by the

Pharisees in the grain Fields because this unpredictable Rabbi

was surely on the radar of these men who lived to expose those

who would defy the rules. And with a new level of tension

in the air, our Lord is in a public house of worship,

unconcerned about the lurking eyes of these agitated scribes

and we see here that the Pharisees end up being in the

same service. On this particular day, in fact,

in the first two verses we read of and we are told of three

Different people. Who attended the synagogue on

this sabbath morning or afternoon.

And here's what I want to present to you today.

The actions and the attitudes of each person and the first two,

verses teach us something about the range.

Of reasons that people make way into the house of worship today.

In other words, when you just really look at the heart posture

of each party that are represented in this text. we

will see something of Why it is people come to the house of God?

Why they should come to the house of God and how being in

the house of God doesn't necessarily mean that they are

in Christ. And so as you hear what I

present you today in these first two verses, this will either

encourage you or it will challenge you and I will all

really depend on where you are at in terms of your relationship

with the Assembly of God's people and how you understand,

God's house and how you fellowship with people where you

stand The Lord. And so, I just just look at

this, through the lens of Maranatha, Bible Church the

assembly, this local congregation that God has

birthed. And by his grace will maintain.

And here, what we see in these two verses and how these

different people represent again, different heart, postures

in the house of God. The first person that we read of

his Jesus himself again, he entered the synagogue, for the

word again, to be brought up, implies that Jesus made it a

habit to come into the synagogue.

In fact, Luke tells us in chapter 4 of his text, that it

was his custom and it's no mystery.

Why Jesus would find himself in these synagogues.

Remember these these community centers Were helpful to the

Israeli Community, because for those who are too distant from

the temple, this is where they could come for regular worship.

This is where they could come gather and receive the, the

reading of God's word and even singing and even praying to a

certain extent. And it was for those who long to

remain in an atmosphere where worship was being offered to God

and the Lord Jesus would make his way into these places so

that he would take advantage of this environment.

And Claimed his truth, the truth, but when you collect the

data of Jesus and his interactions with this setting,

what you will notice is that the Lord strategically and joyfully

exercised his gifts within within those arenas.

And I bring this point up because Jesus here is our

example. He would come into these

synagogues and he would teach, yes.

But besides teaching, some of the most memorable and Powerful

Miracles took place in these places.

Remember in Mark chapter wanted a man possessed with a demon was

delivered in Mark chapter 3. We see that a man with a

Mark 3 · chapter mention

withered hand is going to be restored.

And in Luke 13, we read of a woman who was hunched over for

so many years because of a disabling spirit and Jesus with

his authority will rescue her All to say, what with this brief

observation, the Lord in his loving and sacrificial approach

in the Assembly of God at this time, which was the synagogue's

is an inspiration to us because his attitude contrast so

strongly with the attitude of the Pharisees.

You want to see how the Pharisees saw the synagogue's.

We're gonna have to turn with me to Luke and 11:43 as Jesus

pronounces. Woes To the Pharisees.

Notice this particular condemnation from the Lord

himself. Luke 11:43.

Luke 11:43

We read the Lord saying something very powerful.

Woe to you Pharisees for you. Love the best seat in the

synagogues, and greetings in the marketplaces.

You love the best seat in the synagogue.

The Pharisees had a habit of being present in the synagogues

as well. But for completely different

reasons these men saw these God focused places as a Them to be

celebrities. The best seats that Jesus is

referring to here. We're positioned in a way that

they would face the congregation, and they were

designated for distinguished guests and the Pharisees, love

those seats. Because they had an insatiable

yearning for recognition and for status and there was something

about those chairs that fed that carnal craving.

And it's sad to say that these leaders did not see the

synagogues as a context where they could serve, others know,

because it was a site where they could be lavished with praise

and tribute than Jesus said, woe to you for that.

And unfortunately, the same can be said for those who approach

and engage with local Ministries today, they perceive the holy

Assembly of God as a platform for their selfish opportunities

and desires where they can attain positions and titles with

little to no regard of the true purpose of when God's people

come together as we are this afternoon.

But our Lord was not like the Pharisees, our Lord did not look

for the best seat, you know what our Lord did.

He stooped to the lowest ground and wash the feet of his

servants? And in these synagogues, he was

no different. He came in to proclaim the news,

the good news to the poor, he came to preach that, which would

set the captive, free to recover, the side of the blind

to Proclaim, Liberty to those who were oppressed.

In other words, Jesus came into the Assembly of God's people.

To serve in the capacity in which the Holy Spirit has

anointed him. As the selflessness of Christ,

not inspire you. This is not stir you to reflect

the same lowliness and humbleness in our attitude and

how we relate to one another as a fellowship of brothers and

sisters. We see that the Christian life

is really a continual training of the spirited to help us take

our eyes off of what is best for us and to see what is best for

others. That's what the Holy Spirit

speaks to cultivate in us. Not to look for the best for us,

but to look for the best for others, how we can, how we can

bless them, and honor them, and and comfort them and uphold

them. And a friend.

The other night send me a verse not knowing what I Was preparing

that knowing what message I was going to share today.

And I thought it fits so perfectly with this point.

Because if there was a man in the scriptures that had such a

deep work done in him by the Lord Jesus Christ, if there was

such a miracle that took place in conversion, anybody in

history was the Apostle Paul. Have you ever considered that

the great and deep significant thing that God had cultivated in

this man? You see it in so many places and

this man dared to say by the spirits Authority, follow me as

I follow Christ, follow me as I follow Christ, and you have

people who live, That to missionary work and to preaching

and to Holiness, and abstinence from the things of this.

Yes, sure. But have you looked at the

specifics, the attitude, the mindset, the way he related to

other believers. I want you to see one place that

stimulates me and I hope it stimulates you.

I want you to see place that will challenge you to Greater

Heights of Christian love. Love that.

Jesus calls us to it's in a very Very obscure passage in 2nd

Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 15, turn there with me because I

want you to see this with your eyes.

This is Paul addressing the Corinthians.

And we see here that as he addresses them, he makes a

statement. And we'll begin in verse 14

here. For the third time, I am ready

to come to you and I will not be a burden for I will seek.

Not what is yours? But you I will seek not what is

yours, but you in other words what he's saying here is I'm not

here. I'm not here to relate to you to

get something from you. I'm here for you.

What? I can add to you.

Don't be distracted. That's okay.

Somebody will take care of that. For children are not obligated

to save up for their parents but parents for their children.

Now, notice verse 15, I will most gladly spend and be spent

for your souls. If I love you, am I to be loved

less? I'm not here to be a burden to

you. What?

He's speaking here is, I'm not here to exercise.

My gifts, my presence in your midst, my involvement in your

lives is not so that I can retrieve some monetary gain,

that's the context. I'm not here to be a burden to

you because as Believers were called to be burden bears.

Not burden creators burden beerus, right.

But look at verse 15. I will most gladly spend And be

spent for your souls. That's the great Apostle.

Yes this great Apostle said follow me as I follow Christ.

What is he saying here? He's saying I will most gladly

offer, whatever physical means I need to in order to contribute

to your sanctification, your comfort, your blessing, I will

gladly spend and he's talking about literal spending.

But then too, he says, if it means that I have to give

something of myself, I will gladly do that as well.

And and this is the thing, sometimes acts of service are

what we do by extending our belongings or making acts of

purchases or supplying in order to help another brother or

sister and to support them in various ways.

And that is not a lesser way of being a servant.

But if we're honest with ourselves, when it comes to

hesitation to be loving in our sacrifice, we are more hesitant.

When we realize that it requires something, Of our time of our

energy. When it expends us personally.

Paul says I'll gladly do either. if I need to send something your

way, if I need to send myself to you, I will gladly do either but

it doesn't end there because he goes further by stating

something that so glad the Holy Spirit left in the Bible.

And the second party says, if I love you more, am I to be

Loveless? There's hurt behind those words,

there's pain. Because what he's saying here is

The intense love that I have for you is not reciprocal.

The more I love you. The same, the less you love me.

The more I'm willing to sacrifice for you, the more you

are willing to pull back from me.

Why is my love for you? Only causing you to value and

care for me, less? That's what Paul is saying.

What a word what a word for those who serve in the church

and feel like they are not being recognized.

Listen very closely what a word for husband's, what a word for a

wives who are trying to be a Godly spouse but they cannot

find any clue of even just basic respect in return.

The word, what a word. Because what we see here is that

the Apostle knows that kind of pain.

He knows what it's like to give and give and not receive and

return. But here's the beauty of this

truth. Paul could still say that he

would greatly spend and be spent even though his love was

unappreciated even though it was not returned.

And what I want to tell you today that in Christ Jesus, such

a miracle is possible in our lives that we can arrive to such

great love for others. And Paul is very human here.

He still feels that pain where he realizes that this is not a

mutual thing and yet he can still confidently say because of

Christ in him, I'll still gladly serve.

I'm more than willing to give myself.

You say impossible, you say impossible.

You don't know who I'm married to you say impossible.

You don't know how stubborn people are in my family.

You don't understand how people in my church, don't really

recognize me. They don't even greet me.

And I tell you what is impossible for man is possible

for God, it's possible. If there's any miracle that you

would covet, would you covet this one?

There's any work of God that you would yearn for would it not be

a burning bush, or the Red Sea splitting in half?

Would it be your heart coming to this christ-like?

Love? Arriving to such a state of

Splendid sacrificial giving of self.

This was Jesus. I refuse to believe that Paul

loved more than Jesus loved and we see in this man, a work of

Christ that is available to you and I when you look around and

you see these people to your left and to your right before

you and behind you, as you do life with brothers who come

together as a church as a congregation, Would we not look

for the best for ourselves? But the best for those who are

before us, this is Paul's heart. This is Jesus heart wherever he

went, people left blessed. The second person I want to

bring to your attention in. This synagogue is a man with a

withered hand. We don't know the cause for his

lifeless limb we're not told if it was an accident or disease

that brought about this dysfunction but the severity of

this man's disability is highlighted by no other than dr.

Luke. Dr. Luke, if you remember told

us that the man that was healed from leprosy early on a few

weeks ago and Mark was full of leprosy, Mark, doesn't say that

Luke does and when you come to this text that Luke also

records, he gives us another observation that only of

physician would find necessary to make note of it's in.

Luke 6 verse 6 On another Sabbath.

Luke 6:6

He entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there

whose right hand? Was withered, Mark, doesn't say

that just his hand. Luke dr.

Luke good Doctor Luke by the spirit says, no.

No more specifically. It was his it was his right

hand. Why would the Holy Spirit want

to mention that? Well, because most people are

right-handed. And it could be that the spirit

of God mentions this as a hint that it was this man's dominant

hand, that was damaged making his Affliction all the more

challenging to live with perhaps some of us know how annoying it

is to have one of our fingers out of 10 out of service.

Imagine your whole hand hanging there.

Lifeless paralyzed for good and we might feel empathy for this

man. But I say, let's let's be

inspired by him because despite his handicap he is in a place of

worship. He is in a place of worship.

And I was looking at this and I was meditating on this.

And this is the phrase that came to my mind.

This man was withered but he was worshipful withered, but

worshipful. Now here's the point that I make

from this, what kind of Revelation that this man had

that most Believers can't seem to come to terms with in other

words, why is it so hard to convince Christians to

comprehend the absolute gift that the Gathering of the Saints

is Why is it that when people are shriveled up, if I can use

that word, symbolically shrivel up, spiritually, shriveled up,

emotionally shriveled up financially, they avoid the very

place that was divinely designed to provide strength and

encouragement. That's my question, we're not

told whether or not this man was a regular member of the

synagogue, but this is the thing that we see because he

prioritized worship. Oh, he encountered a blessing.

That was unimaginable. What if this, man?

This unnamed fellow skipped. Synagogue this day.

You might debate me. I say he wouldn't have been

healed. What if he thought to himself?

Yeah, really in the mood. To go to synagogue today.

I'll just live stream it. And this actual healing.

Provides a symbolic lesson to encourage us not to miss the

blessings that can only be found in public worship.

And The Fellowship of the brethren.

Thomas did that to remember when the disciples were gathered in

the upper room and Jesus showed up, guess who was missing

Thomas, Thomas chose to live stream that day.

I don't want to miss when Jesus will show up.

And he has a habit of showing up where God's people Gather in his

name. This man again, was his first

time that he heard. Jesus coming to his synagogue.

So he made a first appearance or was he there regularly?

I don't know, but I like to visualize this man with his

right hand tucked. Maybe wearing a longer sleeve

because he was embarrassed about it and yet still coming to the

house of God with faith in his heart because he knew that there

was something more important than his body being whole, but

his soul being blessed. You and I are charged to come in

here whether we are broken or whether we are blessed.

Because when we come in here, God wants to bless us again.

And again, and again, I don't want to show you the variations

of spiritual. handicaps and the instruction that are given to

them and one simple verse it's in the book of First

1 Thessalonians 5 · chapter mention

Thessalonians, chapter 5, This is one of my favorite verses

when it comes to relating to the Brethren and fellowship. 1st

Thessalonians. Chapter 5.

Verse 14. 1st Thessalonians. Chapter 5.

Verse 14. May this verse be chained around

our hearts and we urge you, Paul saying this is urgent.

This is like emergency stuff and we urge you Brothers, admonish

the idol, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be

patient with them all, or how we need, that one be patient with

them. All this verse proves, that even

among believers who are committed to one another, you

have Um, who are in Covenant with Christ, who might be idle,

who might be faint-hearted, who might be weak?

What does it mean to be idle? Another way of understanding it

is to be unsupportive to be. Idle means to be unsupportive

because of carelessness or because of criticism, it speaks

of a Believer who is not involved, not engaged but who is

distant due to distraction or even because of bitterness, so

their Idol, they're not active, they're not here, really,

they're here. But they're not here.

They're kind of on the horizon, the kind of on the And they are

idle and impulses, hey, you Believers Brothers, you gotta

warn these ones and you got to let him know that danger of

remaining in such a place of complacency and contempt, it's

dangerous. So admonish them.

Then he goes on to speak about the faint-hearted, describing

those who are easily feared, those who are given to worry,

they don't deal well with transitions in life.

They don't deal well with missions and ministry, right?

It's like when something happens in the church it's like it

messes them up for months. They're shaken easily by the

news of the threat of persecution, and they can't seem

to stomach and they can't seem to stand firm when their

spiritual warfare within. And Paul tells these brothers.

Oh, would you encourage the faint-hearted?

Would you come alongside them and remind them of the

faithfulness of God of the presence of God and all of our

troubles? And he says the week, help the

weak who are the week? Those who are not spiritually

disciplined. So they are, there are wobbly

and their defense against Temptation.

They seem to always be tempted to lapse into a more reality and

they don't seem to graduate at the desired Pace in godliness.

They need special attention. These guys need like 24/7.

Around-the-clock accountability. They need to be reminded of

God's goodness and God's warnings about Sin and really

just rehearsing the basic truths of the faith.

Paul says, to the brothers help these guys help them lock arms

with them. Give your number to them, be

available to them. And what I love is when it comes

to the idle, when it comes to the faint-hearted, when it comes

to the week, you know what our temptation is as brothers, who

might not be caught Either of those things is to be frustrated

with them. When will you get it?

I wouldn't you snap out of it. It's been so long the holy

spirit says be patient. Growth is not overnight.

Healing is not immediate. Oh we wish it was but be

patient, it will come. Don't give up.

Now it's clear that this verse is designated for the strong.

It's an instruction for the brothers who are not in any of

these pits but can reach down and pull somebody out of it.

But I want us to see this verse and the opposite end.

In other words, pay attention to this.

If you are idle, if you are faint hearted, if you are weak.

According to this verse from, where does a major aspect of

your help come from your brothers?

Your brothers. That's what I see out of it.

You endanger yourself. When you remove yourself from

the brothers and just like this withered, man, we are risk of

remaining in that condition of weakness and disability.

When we refuse to allow Christ, do to us what he did to that,

man. And that's heal us through the

members of his body, his hands and feet, the Church of Jesus

Christ. So I hope this encourages every

person in here to know that you can come you can come in your

Brokenness. In fact you must come Because

there are Elders here. And there are brothers here, and

there are sisters here, who will admonish you and encourage you,

and help you, no matter what you are withered with, no matter

what it is, whether it's your faith, whether it's your heart

that's been shattered, whether it's your marriage, whether it's

your relationship with your children, do not miss how Christ

can bring about life to you as you choose to be before him.

You choose to throw yourself in his very presence and the

presence of God's people, you beam a signal, how he can

strengthen you and what seems to be without hope without life

without a pulse. We come to the third party in

the story. We looked at Jesus.

What an example for us to look for the best in others, not for

the best for ourselves. We look at this withered man.

That even when we're not doing the best, We come to the

brothers. Even if you come and limping,

even if you come rolling in because you don't even have the

strength to gird up, your loins come and this place which will

be a, holy hospital, will bind you, and build you and be

patient with you and care for you until you can walk again

until you can serve again until you can see again.

But there is a last last group. The first two are positive.

The last is negative. Come back to Mark with me in

chapter 3 again. He entered the synagogue verse

one and a man was there with a withered hand and they watch

Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath so that

they might accuse him that they I'm sure you guessed it.

According to Luke tells us that they were the scribes and the

Pharisees and they came to watch Jesus.

But not for the reasons that we would hope these men have

reached the point. And their relationship with

Jesus that they wanted to study his every move his every move

they became spies to try to find fault in him.

And when they came to, the synagogue to say, whether they

followed Jesus, they were there in attendance.

And Jesus knew they were there. They made the connection man,

and one of the pews is withered Jesus, who can heal is in the

midst of. Let's see if he will break one

of our laws. Which I find funny because even

in that thinking, you're indirectly admitting that this

man Jesus of Nazareth has the ability to heal.

It's incredible. And as these Pharisees observed,

they knew who Jesus was to a degree.

They knew what he was able to do, but listen to this, they

still did not know him. What do I mean these Pharisees

knew who he was knew what he was able to do, but they did not

know him in a saving way. You know, what breaks my heart

about this passage. This is the beauty about

studying the word of God consecutively, and in order,

prior to this Jesus corrected these men he exposed their

hypocrisy. Pointing out the holes and their

legalism. And yet based on verse 2 of

chapter 3, no sign of conviction.

No sign of change. No Brokenness no consideration

about where they could be wrong, and they're standing with God,

nothing of the sort. In fact, what you see with these

men as that? They're just hardened, all the

more and they heard his teaching and they beheld, his glory, and

here, they are sitting in the presence of the best, teacher

best preacher, best miracle worker.

Unsaved. Lost is lost, can be.

Here's my fear that, what was true for these Pharisees, as

they find themselves in a spiritual atmosphere and

surrounding can be possible for those even in a setting like

this, this afternoon. Jesus.

Is there the Pharisees are there?

But there is no connection, no salvation, No Redemption, and it

reminds me. It reminds me of the words of

some of the people that will say at that final day, when the Lord

will look and say, where did you come from?

And they would come up with this amazing.

Amazing argument that in their minds thought would persuade

Jesus that they did know each other.

Not Matthew 7:21, it's another place in it is extremely

Matthew 7:21

insightful. I think it's important for

churches to rehearse that truth from time to time, especially as

new people come in. It's in Luke again.

Luke 13:25. Luke 13:25.

Luke 13:25 Luke 13:25

When Once to the Master of the House has risen and shut the

door and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door

saying Lord open to us then he will answer you.

I do not know where you come from.

That's like a crushing statement, that's a crushing

statement but look at verse 26 then you will begin to say.

We ate and drank in your presence.

And you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I

do not know where you come from depart from me all you workers

of evil. Such a sobering text.

Do you see what Jesus says about these Eternal Outcast they will

begin to say we ate and drank in your presence and you taught in

our neighborhoods? Jesus and say you're lying.

He didn't call them out because of a bluff.

He and his silence acknowledges that.

That is true. In other words, these people one

day on the final day will appeal to the fact that they were those

who, who sat under teachings about Jesus, and we're even in

Fellowship, eating and drinking, and feasting with those who did

so under the banner of Jesus. But Jesus will say aye, but

you're a stranger to me, I don't know you but Lord.

We were there. We were there to every pot luck

and we were there and every service and we were there at the

conference's, we were there in your presence.

We were there eating and drinking with you and in our

context with God's people and there will be a thundering

pronouncement, from the lips of the Holy judge.

I don't know where you come from.

Why? Because people make the Fatal

mistake and thinking that being around, Jesus is the same as

being in Jesus. But being in close proximity to

the presence of Jesus Christ and the presence of Jesus Christ.

And his people is not the same as the presence of Christ

abiding in you and me, not the same.

So, to qualify that we are in Jesus because we are with Jesus

people. And we hear about Jesus, and we

sing about Jesus is a dangerous dangerous place, to put your

Assurance in mind. And this is my sincere prayer.

That not one here, not 1111 not one here.

Who watches what Jesus does in this place.

And hears about Jesus week after week.

Who doesn't have the assurance that they are numbered among the

redeemed. That's my prayer every week

before coming to this pulpit. That there would be no

Pharisees. No Pharisees, who studied Jesus

but not for the reason. That would save them.

But here's the Hope because when you come to this group of

people, it's amazing how much attention is given to the

Pharisees throughout the life of Jesus.

It's just amazing. It makes you wonder if Jesus

really wants us to know, to know the characteristics of such men

and the dangers of following in their steps, some would say that

these Pharisees were just like the destined enemies of Christ.

And there is no hope for them. And some of us might be

discouraged even because we might know Pharisee like people

where they again. Watch what Jesus is doing there

in the presence of Jesus to an extent.

But there is no significant evidence that there is a saving

work done in their hearts. If there is any group in the

Bible that would be near impossible to being saved.

It was the Pharisees, Jesus didn't pronounce woes to the

prostitutes or to the tax collectors or to the zealots, he

pronounced woes to one group of people and that was the

Pharisees. And in my reading, I'm currently

an axe in my reading. I was just brushing Through acts

and it came to a certain chapter and there was this this little

hint and this hint just exploded from the pages.

And I thought to myself, maybe because we're going through

Mark, wow! What an awesome gospel.

We have, what a powerful gospel we have, would you like to see

it? You have a choice.

And I asked, and this is our final text this afternoon.

Let this inspire you. That the most stubborn, those

who are vehemently against our Christ.

Those who seem unsavable though, they are in the midst.

Of gospel, preaching of Gospel, Power of gospel.

Testimony, look at Acts chapter 15 with me, and notice a little

Acts 15 · chapter mention

phrase that we might we might have not meditated on and

consider the implications of Verse 4, when they came to

Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and

the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

But some believers who belong to the party of the, who the

Pharisees Rose up and said it is necessary to circumcise him and

to order them to keep the law of Moses.

Now this is, this is so like almost contradicting to our

experience with the Pharisees that even some people who when

they read that phrase, but some believers who belong to the

party, the feels like, they're not true believers, they're

fake. They like acknowledge the

doctrines of Jesus, and they may be believed that he did raise

from that, but they were not truly regenerate, hold on, if

the Holy Spirit, It wanted to tell us that they weren't saved,

he would not. Have said they are believers.

He could have easily said but some who belong to the party of

the Pharisees, and the scene would have, made sense, still

Believers, Believers believers, who are not yet mature, clearly

because they were so gripped by their habit of observing

ceremonial laws and and being lawkeepers.

Yes that's clear here but Believers nonetheless.

Christ can say, the Pharisee. This gospel can save the

Pharisee. Yes, even the one who has been

in the same place for years. And they're still heathens

self-righteous unfruitful. No testimony.

They laugh and talk and text during the sermons.

They don't participate in singing.

They have no inclusion and they just watch what Jesus is doing.

Even they can be saved. That's how powerful this truth

is. So I'm not intimidated nor am?

I discouraged when I look out and see different reasons to why

people come to the Assembly of God.

I am not shaken because I believe that Jesus can do

Miracles today. Still, he can do miracles in the

Christian who seeks to do, what is best for them and change

them, like, he changed Paul to say.

I will gladly spend and be spent for you.

Even if you don't love me, I will love you and lavish my love

upon you, he can do that and Is The Miracle Worker where

somebody can come in withered and broken and smash my life.

But then, through his members, through his hands and feet, such

a person can be sustained and strengthened for another day and

he can even save the Pharisee. Oh miracles happen here.

Week after week, do not take this assembly lightly when we

come together. God can do Miracles and I

encourage you don't miss the blessings.

That Jesus has reserved every week here at Maranatha Bible

Church glory. Be to God.

Let's pray. Lord with these two verses as

our portion. Thank you for feeding us.

Thank you for admonishing us. Encouraging us, helping us.

Lord, we just ask that. There would be I revived love.

For the house of God. Lord, it seems to be a very

consistent theme in the past few weeks for our church. so, we

take heed Help us be like your son who was anointed by the

spirit to serve anoint us to serve.

Help us in our Brokenness like that, unnamed men.

Do not remove ourselves from where you have proclaimed

healing. but in our idleness, in our weakness and our

faintheartedness, To give ourselves to your people.

And to experience a miracle in our faith and Lord for the

Pharisees. The Pharisees who might be in

attendance? Help us.

Oh, God Trust. That your word proclaimed, and

our prayers can save a Pharisee and you can make a Paul out of

that Pharisee. But Lord, we don't want to be

those who are familiar with your presence.

And who eat and drink with God's people, but do not have your

presence living in us. So even if there's one in here

father, that that cannot attest to being born again.

That in this place where you do Miracles because your word is

preached and your people are gathered and Covenant with you.

Oh, Lord, change that person. Change that person.

We trust that you will in Lord, we rejoice in you, we rejoice

and how deep your word is and how rich it is.

And we want to just glorify glorify who you are even in

these two verses this afternoon in Jesus name, we pray.

Amen, let's stand and Worship the Lord.