Searching For 🔦👀

Six days after Jesus tells of His Death, Burial and Resurrection. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up into a high mountain. There they will see something no one else will have the privilege to see.  Mark 9:2 (KJV) And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured (Changed in form) before them.  I’m convinced that God reveals Himself to His children who seek after Him without the crowd. Here we read of three men who God revealed something that no one else was to see, hear and be a part of. Peter had no words to say 

Mark 9:6 (KJV) For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. But he must have thought he had to say something so he spoke out saying  

Mark 9:5 (KJV) And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. This reminds me of the kid in class who doesn’t know what to say when the Sunday School teacher asks a question. So he holds up his hand and says GOD! Which isn’t the answer but it’s a safe answer. When you don’t know what to say it’s best to not say anything. Jesus didn’t take these three men there to get their thoughts or opinion. Have you ever just been alone with The Lord and He shows You something from His Word. I mean He speaks to you personally just as He did with these men. Have you, maybe later that day tried to explain what the Lord showed you  to encourage someone else? Did you notice that with all the excitement and enthusiasm when telling about it their response  was little or no response at all? Why is that? It is because The Lord took You to the mountain top and just like these disciples it was a time just for you. These mountain top moments don’t happen everyday nor do they happen to everybody. But for those who spend time with the Lord they will enjoy such moments and times.

Proverbs 2:4 (KJV) If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Proverbs 2:5 (KJV) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. If thou seekest then shalt thou understand.  

Great Dividends 💰

Mark 8:37 (KJV) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? The question is what are you willing to exchange for your soul? What’s the profit in the gain if in the gain you lose your own soul?

Mark 8:36 (KJV) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

What are you willing to sell out for? Can I tell you what you already know? When you and I leave this world we will leave with nothing.

1 Timothy 6:7 (KJV) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

So what is the profit, the gain if we can’t take it out? If I can’t take it out, can I invest? 

Matthew 6:20 (KJV) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: We mustn’t get too comfortable here, why? Because this life can be gone in a ¡FLASH! It’s still fresh. I can still see it. It happened on a Saturday morning in February of 2022 a head on collision 💥 It happened so fast 💨 in less than 10 seconds my wife and myself were sitting sideways off the curb wondering what just happened. Today I keep envisioning that day over and over in my mind. We survived but the wounds we will carry to our grave. When that  ¡FLASH! at that moment, there is nothing we will be able to take with us. So I have to ask myself where am I laying up treasures?  So what are these treasures?  Here is a treasure we can lay up “the knowledge of God” why do I say that? Because of what I read in Luke 16. There was a Rich man and there is nothing in that chapter that would indicate that he was a bad person. But we read that this man went to hell when he died. That’s awful! But he didn’t lose his knowledge of who Lazarus was nor that he had 5 brothers. That if something didn’t change in their lives they too would soon join him in this awful place.

Luke 16:23 (KJV) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Luke 16:28 (KJV) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this    of torment.

I believe that having the knowledge of God would be a great asset when getting to heaven. So are we learning?  

Proverbs 2:1 (KJV) My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

Proverbs 2:2 (KJV) So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

Proverbs 2:3 (KJV)  Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

Proverbs 2:4 (KJV)  If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

Proverbs 2:5 (KJV)  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:6 (KJV)  For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Am I investing in that which will give great dividend? 

Wrong Thinking🤔

Mark 8:31 (KJV) And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

The word “teach” caught my attention. This is only the fourth time it has been mentioned in the book of Mark and also the last. Jesus is teaching His leaders about what will happen in the near future. Jesus said I’m going to suffer. I know it may be hard for you to believe but I will suffer. I will be rejected and it will be by the elder, the chief priest and the scribes and they are going to kill me! But listen closely, read my lips. After three days I’ll be back, yes I will rise from the dead and conquer the last enemy death. Well how did these disciples take this news? I don’t know how everyone else felt but we do know how Peter felt.  Mark 8:32 (KJV) And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. Did this news dampen their spirit, destroy their hope?  Maybe, I don’t know🤷🏻. But we are told that Peter took Jesus aside. Just envision that for a moment. Peter came to Jesus and said “Jesus, could I see you over here for just  a moment.” Woe! What just happened? How did that go?  Mark 8:33 (KJV) But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. Well, not so good for Peter you just don’t question the teacher and especially when the teacher is the Son of God. Peter you have been thinking and your thinking has led you to a wrong conclusion. When Jesus rebuked Peter He used four words in one sentence “Satan” and “savourest” “God” and ”men” satan will always try to weaken. Jesus tells Peter you are savoring the wrong thoughts. Why am I saying that? Because Jesus uses the word “savourest.” The Greek word that’s used here for savorest is the same Greek word used in Romans 8:5 for mind.

Romans 8:5 (KJV) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. What was Peter doing? Thinking wrongly. He was thinking within himself, he had allowed his thinking to overpower God's thinking. He had apparently been thinking, savoring his thoughts. Why? First Jesus said He was going to suffer many things. Then He said it would be by those in high places. Maybe Peter thought the people won’t let that happen. 🙆🏻‍♂️You think 💁🏼‍♂️Then Jesus said the unbelievable “be killed, and after three days rise again.” Peter let his savoring thoughts go south into the unbelievable. That’s what Eve did, that’s what the people of Noah’s day did. That’s what the people of our day are doing. Jesus said He would return to this earth.

Mark 13:26 (KJV) And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

But the people of our day say “let me google that.” They find out that 46% believe it will NEVER HAPPEN. Why? Simple, they savored their thoughts. 

Blind 👩‍🦯🧑‍🦯

Mark 8:22 (KJV) And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.  Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida and after He does he gives him instructions not to tell anyone in the town. 

Mark 8:26 (KJV) And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town. Here’s a man who had been blind and now there’s a noticeable difference about him. Jesus tells him not to tell anyone in the town. You don’t have to run into town like the woman at the well did in John 4 John 4:29 (KJV) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? We are all different but no one who has had an encounter with Jesus Christ will be without a very noticeable difference. I know there other things that this scripture in the book of Mark could easily apply itself too. One being when a person who was blind to what Christ has done sees that He did it just for you. Your eyes that were blind now can see. You who never spoke without using 4 letter words to express yourself, your vocabulary changes. There will be those who notice that without you saying a word. This blind man of chapter 8 was blind but now he sees. There was a time in my life that I was blind to anything spiritual. Open a Bible and I had no idea of what I was looking at. In 1970 I had orders to go where I didn’t want to go. I had only been married for 6 months and now I’m in some God forsaken place. For the first time in my life I found a Bible and opened it. It was a Gideon Bible, but I had no understanding of what I was looking at. I was blind to it. I soon got with my unit and things got better and I continued on in my spiritually blind condition. I’m grateful today that in my spiritual blindness nothing happened to me and I was able to come back home. But I was still blind until 18 months later I once again needed direction and this time I went to a Church. My wife had left me, gone! and she took our child with her. God had brought me to a place of brokenness so He could do a work in my life. On a Sunday morning The Lord opened my eyes and showed me I was a sinner. I asked God to save me and He did. I left that church that Sunday morning with a noticeable difference that others noticed, that day. Today there’s still a noticeable difference in the way I talk, live, walk oh yes I can say I once was blind but now I see. You don’t have to tell others they will know! Lately I have been thinking about those days of what God has done and how grateful I am I realized that God saved sinners like me. 

We Have No Bread! Chicken or Hog?

Mark 8:16 (KJV) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

As I read of the disciples that Jesus is training to carry on after Jesus is gone. They are now facing  a personal problem. When there was no bread for the 5000 plus Jesus supplied, when there was no bread for the 4000 Jesus supplied. But now there’s not enough bread for 13 people. As I read I said within myself “you bunch of faithless guys.” Then the Lord brought this song to my mind “It Is No Secret” in that song the chorus rings out “… It is no secret what God can do

What He's done for others

He'll do for you

With arms wide open

He'll pardon you

It is no secret what God can do” Then I thought of what I had heard the Airline Stewardess say on many occasions. “If we lose oxygen put your oxygen mask on first,” before helping others.”

Why? I have a 2 year old here. I'll make sure they have oxygen first. Yes, and you both might die. A lot of things raced through my mind. The question rings out. I have seen what the Lord has done for others but it’s not others here it’s the disciples. It’s me and you! It’s one loaf of bread, it’s 13 people. Can the God who did it for others do the same for me and you? That is a different story. It is more like the chicken and the hog; the chicken said to the hog let’s you and I do something for the nice people at the church. The hog said that is a good idea, what did you have in mind? The chicken said let’s give them a big breakfast!  Great, the hog said. Good the chicken said I’ll furnish all the eggs and you can furnish all the bacon and sausage. Did you see yourself as a chicken or a hog? It was great to see The Lord work in the lives of others. But it’s not others now, it's personal. As I see the enemy approaching me, the one I have fought so hard against. I have seen so many lose to its overpowering everything and now no matter how hard I fight I’m losing to the enemy of old age. It’s not someone else, it's me! Those things I once could do with no problem I either can’t do them or it takes me 5 times as long to do them. I go to the VA and they ask me this question every time “have you had thoughts of harming yourself?” In other words, have you thought about killing yourself? No but I have had thoughts of why my body is killing me. I’m wounded in the battle of life as I quickly drag myself to a chair for safety and cry out broken arrow. That’s a military term, used in Vietnam that means you are being overrun by the enemy, send all available aircraft NOW?  I think I’m going to say that next time when asked that question, they won’t have a clue to what I’m talking about. Lol 🤣

No Sign

Mark 8:11 (KJV) And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

Seeking a sign???  Tempting Jesus! Really guys. These Pharisees came without a desire to be taught by Jesus. You know why? They didn’t believe in Him. Their main purpose was only to ensnare Jesus. That’s what temptation does, it ensnare, it entangles, it exposes, they want to witness something extraordinary. That’s what some are looking for even today. I was in a home with another person one evening when I asked a lady to tell me how she knew she was going to heaven. She told me of a night sitting in her bedroom when all of a sudden she felt as if warm oil was being poured all over her. She said it was a sign from heaven. Let me be honest I’m not looking for signs,i I would rather see proof. The young man or woman whose life changed completely. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Mark 5:8 (KJV) For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

Mark 5:15 (KJV) And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 

Jesus said “Why seek after a sign? Not long ago a man I have known for many years came to me and with tears in his eyes he said “I this day before God want to apologize and ask for your forgiveness of all that I did years ago.” God had dealt with this man’s heart. Although I didn’t feel as if he owed me an apology, for I never quit being his friend. But on that day he came, spoke his heart and we shook hands and with a big smile on his face he said “thank you I have wanted to do that for a long time.” That my friend is proof of a greater power living 

within and that’s better than a sign. Why? It’s personal. Jesus said no sign and He left them. 

Soon Forgetful

Mark 8:1 (KJV) In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

Here we read about a Great Multitude and the problem is they don't have anything to eat, ¡nothing, nada!  Verse 2 tells us that Jesus had compassion 

Mark 8:2 (KJV) I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

As I read this and about the problem, hungry people, I thought this should be no problem since there's  less people and more bread. I mean back in Chapter 6 there were 5000 plus 5 loaves 2 fish and all were fed with leftovers. What’s the problem? There’s 7 loaves  and a few small fish and only 4000 the Lord has got this should have been the attitude.  Mark 8:4 (KJV) And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

Oh my how soon we forget! A golden picture of our own lives. How soon we forget what The Lord did for us yesterday. You might say oh no not me! Last week I was having some pains that just would not stop. I remember asking the Lord very humble to stop the pains. I noticed later that the pains had stopped. As I read this about the disciples I can’t condemn them for soon forgetting, not remembering what the Lord had done in the past. For I myself have had awful pains in my left ankle and right hip and as of yet I haven’t asked the Lord for help. As I read this I’m convinced I’m just like these disciples, soon forgetful of what the Lord has already done. The Lord fed 5000 plus surely He can feed 4000. Well He did Mark 8:8 (KJV) So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 

Half-Way

Mark 7:33 (KJV) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; I used to think that if a person came to the altar that all must be dealt with there at the altar during the Church service. But Jesus takes this man away from the multitude and the next time people see him he’s hearing and talking just fine. Now I have no understanding why Jesus did it this way but what he did was right for this man. First, there’s no set pattern of how things should be done. You can’t treat all people the same because we are not all the same. We don’t look the same, act the same, talk the same, why we don’t even walk the same. There was a good friend I had in high school named Neal Blalock. After high school he went to work for Atlanta Transit which became Marta. I went to help Uncle Sam. It seems he had got himself in a real bad fix way down there in Vietnam. Anyway, one night I had to go to the Drug Store. I saw this man in front of me and I said to myself that Neal Blalock because no one walks like that except Neal. Yes I was right!  Therefore there’s not a one size fits all. The Lord knows how and what’s best for each one of us. One man has a sick servant, Jesus tells the ruler who came for help on behalf of his servant “I will come and heal him.” The ruler said there’s no need “but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” You’ll find that in Matthew 8:5-8. Jesus takes the man away from the crowd and this is what He does. 

Mark 7:33 (KJV) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

Mark 7:34 (KJV) And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

Mark 7:35 (KJV) And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Jesus put His fingers into his ears then Jesus spits and touches his tongue. You might say the fingers ok BUT to take Jesus’s spit on my tongue 👅 I think 🤔 I’ll pass. So what you are saying is you are happy with being half way? Then you are not at the place you need to be. That’s why some people half way attend Church services, halfway read and study their Bibles, halfway know what the Bible says. But you know what?  This same people would say bad things about a dentist if they were to say “Mrs Johnson you have a bad problem with some of your back molders. If you will come back this coming Monday I’ll be more than glad to halfway fix that for you.” No one would be complete halfway in Heaven and the other half in hell! There’s no halfway. It's all the way or no way. They brought this man to  Jesus not to be halfway healed. Now listen to this,  Jesus says to this man  Mark 7:36 (KJV) And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; there’s just somethings you can’t be quit about and this is one of them. Anyone who has ever met Jesus and experienced His forgiveness is more than glad to tell you all about it and sometimes without you even asking. You’ll never hear anyone say “on August 31 Jesus halfway saved me.” No! Everyone that Jesus has ever touched knows it; do you? I don’t understand why Jesus would say “tell no man:” when it was very obvious. But the reason for Him saying was not meant for me to understand.