Why is my Faith so small?

Mark 8:1-10

When I think of how we do church today, often even the best seems to fall short of the gospel.  I think about many things, like faith and often-wonder why is mine so weak?  So please put up with me wondering, not about Jesus taking a few fish and a few loaves of bread and feeding 4000, but about my lack of faith to believe or trust that He will do it now.

I am now in a church that has great leadership, our pastor and staff are people who trust God and listen to Him, and then do as they feel He is directing them to go or do.  I came from a church in the Woodlands that also has a great leader and pastor who is a man of prayer and loves both God and his people.  Both pastors have led the people under their authority to reach out with the love of Christ to the community and the world, and the workplace, and especially in their homes.

Both men have felt the need to have the people pledge an amount to build a new building that is needed because of God’s blessing of the ministry.  But I cannot recall either pastor preaching on the dangers of making a vow, and not keeping it, yet God is very clear in His word about doing so. Deuteronomy 23:21-23 states the following:

“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin.  But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.”  And Ecclesiastes 5:4-7, “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.”

Now that is something I’m struggling with because I trust both of these men and know that they have a great love for the people they serve.  Before you say something foolish like there is a difference between a vow and a pledge, look up the word pledge it is a solemn undertaking, a promise, or vow. 

David got in a lot of trouble for taking a military census, his lead general begged him not to do so, to just trust the Lord for what was needed, but he did not listen to them.  These were Joab’s words to King David;  ^“But Joab said to the king, “May the Lord your God add to the people a hundred times as many as they are, while the eyes of my lord the king still see it, but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”  It seems to this writer that Joab was the man at that time with faith in a big God. 

So returning to Mark 8:1-10, once more was this a lesson on serving others and trusting God to supply what was needed to do so?  Nothing happens till we go, nothing happens when unbelief is in the room, it first needs to be put outside and then faith will always produce what is needed. 

After praying for weeks the Lord never gave me a number to pledge, but he did my wife, and in that we are one I will honor and do all that is required to meet her number.  First and foremost I trust my pastor and his leadership, and know we are on the right track, in our thinking big and reaching out to our community and world.  “The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting.” (Oswald Chambers).

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 

What Camp are you in?

Mark 7:31-37

 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.   And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.    And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue.    And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”   And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.   And Jesus charged them to tell no one.  But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.   And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well.  He even makes the deaf hear, and the mute speak.”

Do you and do I proclaim as the people of the region of Decapolis have done that Jesus has done all things well for you?  If not, why, could it be you have the same attitude of unbelief as the people who came to Jairus’ home, because they loved this leader of the synagogue, and had heard his daughter was dead?  And do you recall Jesus had to put them outside of the house because of their unbelief, for faith does not work where there is unbelief.

Or maybe you are in the camp of the religious who believe in God but are not expecting Him to show up, you are a good person, you try to do what is right, but you're like the people of Nazareth.  You are faithful to your church, but they have never seen anything-miraculous take place, and you are not expecting anything to change.  Jesus is not personal to you He more of a concept, or figure of what is right and holy.  You read these accounts, and you call them stories, or maybe fables.  You would never voice your beliefs, but to you they are just myths and legends, and when things happen as Jesus said they would; as bad things happen to good people.  Do you recall it's written in John’s gospel 16:33,  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

For 27 years I was in the group above, I believed that Jesus was born of a virgin, that He was the Son of God, and I had no doubt about God the Father or the Holy Spirit, but I would not trust Him with my life.  What group do you find yourself in?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Forgivness and Grace

Mark 7:24-30

We all get to a place where we need some quiet space, away from the many challenges of our culture.  Jesus was no different than us He required downtime, and so He goes to a Gentile area of the region of Tyre.  Now it also had some Jewish people living there, and this is the account; “And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know yet he could not be hidden. But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” And he said to her, “For this statement, you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter.” And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.”

I recall the first time I read Mark 7:24-30 it seemed harsh; I can only imagine what this culture would have done to Jesus.  But it was not our culture but the culture of the Jewish people at the time of Jesus and yet are we that much different?  We know that of all the people of the world God chose the Jews to be his people. It had not one thing to do with merit, they did not have abilities, or qualities better than other nations, they were smaller in number and had no distinction, but God, yes but God chose them.  And they knew they were unique, in that they and their parents and grandparents had witnessed God’s blessing and protection.  And it is clear He chose them to bring the world to believe in Him as the only true God, but we also know “plan A” did not work.

Scripture states in John 1:10-13, ^“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”   Do you recall when Jesus sent out the twelve, and He sent them to the Jews, that was “plan A”?  My pastor, Ray Still has a place he goes in San Antonio to get a cup of coffee and study, if he did that in New Braunfels he would never get time to himself, your pastor needs his space, and so did Jesus, so He went to a Gentile area for rest.

But unlike my pastor, Jesus could not go to the next city and not be noticed, and that was the case in Tyre, a Greek woman, a Syrophoenician by birth, saw Jesus and came to the house where He was staying.  She had a big problem, her daughter had a demon, and she was asking Jesus to drive out the demon.  She was not part of “plan A” and do you recall Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”  When you are a child of the King, you are not common, you’re the king’s kids, and that comes with acting as such, but often the Jews chose to forget their high status, yet in pride, they looked down on others as less than human. Usually, when I have made foolish statements such as we should nuke that nation, I’ve forgotten my order was to go and make disciples, and I’m saying they have no value.  But then, I am confronted by Scripture like John 3:16, and know that of all men I need forgiveness and God’s grace.

The lady was not part of “plan A” but her faith was the victory, it moved Jesus to bring healing to her daughter.  And this question came into my mind, do we who say we are followers of Jesus have any understanding of who we are?  Maybe you and I should look at our adoption papers, we were lost without hope and then through grace and the faith that God gave us, we heard about Jesus and His grace offer. To all who will by faith believe He died for all sin, they are covered by His blood, and full forgiveness of our sins and unbelief accounted for in Him.  He died and was in the grave for three-days, arose and now sits at the right hand of the Father.  Jesus tells us through His apostle Peter that we are the following.  ^“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Pretender -

Mark 7:1-23

I grew up in small Churches, did I say they were Southern Baptist churches, and we had traditions, not as many as the Pharisees and the scribes, but we had rules, and my mother was a rule keeper.  Anyone growing up in the fifties and sixties in a small Baptist church knew what you did and did not do; we did not dance or drink adult beverages.  But the Pharisees and scribes when Jesus walked on planet earth would have put a Baptist to shame with all their traditions.

In Mark’s gospel the seven chapters we get introduced to are some of the many man made rules of the Pharisees and scribes.  This is a sample, and it is interesting how Jesus replies to their question.  “The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)”

From the time Jesus began teaching in the synagogue we see conflict, because the people said He taught with authority, not as the Elders, and the scribes, who were the masters of the Torah and treasured the traditional interpretations.   The following is a question and answer session between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees.

And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

 It is easy to be a pretender, to follow a man and not God, and it is a more comfortable life than being a follower of Christ.  But God cannot bless such a person with the joy of fellowship or power.  That was my earlier life in Christ, and it was full of self-trying to do what only God can do, it was not a life of peace, love, and joy.  Many who go by the title of Christian ware a mask of religion, but today you can take it off and begin a new, following Christ and not a man and his rules.

Now Jesus was not through teaching them or us, keep reading; “And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

The Lord has made it clear to me that I still wrestle with pride and foolishness and need to guard my heart and mouth in the area of slander, pray for me.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

One Day in the life of Christ

Mark 6:53-56

Have you ever thought how amazing it would be to have one day with Jesus while He walked on planet earth?  One day might have worked but a week would require you to go into both emotional and physical training.  Mark’s account of getting out of the boat at Gennesaret was a typical day in the life of Jesus and the twelve disciples.

“When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.”

I’m a big believer in the faith that heals, and praying as instructed in James 5:13-16, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” 

We no longer have Jesus nor the twelve disciples walking around on planet earth in physical bodies, but Jesus who is very much alive in all who have by grace through faith invited Him into their life.  So why are their not more healers, and the answer is found in James 1:5-8, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

It’s simple our lack of faith and unbelief will keep Jesus from healing, for if you recall a few weeks back we addressed this in the healing of Jairus daughter, and how Jesus put the unbeliever outside so He could heal the little girl.  Unbelief must be put outside for the faith of healing to do its job.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

"It is I;do not be afraid"

Mark 6:45-52

Often, I believe it is the lazy nature that keeps me from studying to show myself a worker that needs not to be ashamed.  Maybe you have the same problem, I hope not, but today as I read the text I wonder what am I missing?  Did one of the other disciples give an account of the feeding of the 5000 men?

And the answer is yes, Matthew gave an account in chapter 14:13-18, and he wants us to understand that women and children were there with the 5000 men.  He also wants us to realize that he got the report on John the Baptist’s death, and it was when he ordered his disciples to get into the boat and go to an area where they could be alone. Matthew gives the same account as Mark, about Jesus sending the disciples off in the boat while he stays and dismisses the crowds, but does not tell us about the people wanting to take Jesus by force and make him king as John does in 6:14-15.  Matthew also tells us about Peter walking on water, and Mark and John do not add this in their written account.

But that is not what bothers me; it was when Jesus got into the boat, after walking out to them on the water, that Matthew gives this account in chapter 14:32-33, “And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  Mark 6:51-52, “And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”  Now I’m sure you are interested in what John reports in John 6:20-21, “But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”

Many of us have played the game of getting a large group in a circle, and the first person begins with a story, and by the time it has been passed around the circle, you would not recognize the story.  That is not what is taking place, but it could be three different personalities giving the facts as the Spirit leads them to share, but one must wonder if Matthew and Mark’s account is that far apart, in that Matthew tells us they said; “Truly you are the Son of God.”  And Mark gives this report, but their hearts were hardened.” 

I fear that I’ve been guilty of both of those, I have no doubt Jesus is the Son of God, but often my heart is not into what God is doing in my circle, or I misread what He is doing, and my heart is hardened.  So though I’m in the boat, and though I believe and proclaim, “Truly you are the Son of God” my heart may be hardened because I did not understand about the loaves.  Will you take time to give thought to where you are in the boat?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

No Place to Rest

John 6:30-44

The twelve were sent out in two’s by Jesus to do the work of ministry, not unlike your calling today and mine, with this difference; they knew they were sent.  Many a person who goes by the name Christian today has little or no understanding of being sent, they go to church and listen, they attend Bible studies, and yet they never equate that they are also called to as we go, make disciples of Jesus Christ; to share the good news.

Now they are back home and reporting on all the amazing things that took place, the healing of the sick and how even the demons obey them, but their message was that people should repent.  O how that message needs to be heard by a world full of self-centered sinful people, in and outside of the walls of the church.

 I find this of great interest; “The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.”  Most of us have no concept of what is taking place at this time in the disciples and Jesus’ life, but many a pastor understands, and it is our responsibility to encourage them to find that place where they can find rest.

But the same people who watch them get into the boat were not ready to let them go, so they took off and ran around on dry land to where they believed they were going on the water in the boat.  Are you thinking maybe a hundred or so young active people were waiting for them? Then you would be so wrong for 5,000 men were expecting them any minute.   When Jesus and his disciples got to what they hoped was a place of rest, they found 5000 men, and we assume plus women and children wanted more face time.  This is Mark’s account; “Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

If I had been there it also would have been my thinking, tell them to go feed their families the services are over and go back home, we need some downtime, but that is not what Jesus did, then or now.

“But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Herodias’s daughter the head hunter

Mark 6:14-29

We all recall King Herod the great who was a great builder and also an evil man who tried to kill Jesus as a young child of two or under.  One of his sons was Herod Antipas who ruled over Galilee and was under Rome’s control, and the Roman senate confirmed him.  He also had a brother named Philip whose wife Herod took as his wife and her name was Herodias. 

I’m sure you have read the account of this and know that John the Baptist told him it was a sin to marry his brother's wife, and she hated John the Baptist.   Mark gives us this information about what she would have liked to do to John the Baptist in verses 19-20, “And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.”

Herod has a birthday party for him and invites all his nobles and military commanders and leading men to his stag party or banquet; a lot of food and drink, and Herodias’s daughter came in and danced for those assembled.  Now I’m not sure what her age was, but she steals the show and the heart of Herod.  It is not stated, but one can assume he had a little too much of the adult beverage and may have been saying things he would regret later.

We have the account of this in Mark 6:22-28, “For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.”

I bet King Herod, the puppet of Rome, did not think his wife’s daughter all that cute as she took John the Baptist’s head to her mother.  Not a family a young man would want to be a part of!  In verse 29 Mark tells us that John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb, I’m not sure what happened to his head.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

What is a Calling?

Mark 6:7-13

Many a person who goes by the title Christian has wondered, what is a calling, who is called, and is a calling just for preachers, missionaries, and extraordinary people?  The answer to all the above is yes, and everyone who is called is very special to our LORD.  In fact, God has given all who are called His divine power and everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His glory and goodness.  If you doubt what's written above, turn to 2 Peter 1:3, and read it for yourself.

When God called the twelve disciples this is what he called;  ^“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.”  Some were, but not many, when Jesus called the twelve did this not hold true?  And I am sure that when He called me I fit that bill one hundred percent.

“He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”  As a dad, he called me to be an example of love and authority to my wife and child, and as a businessman in sales to live a life of integrity before God and man.  If I have a life verse it is Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Jesus sent the twelve out in two’s because He knew how quickly we get discouraged and it is easy to give up.  But this is clear we who are called are called to ministry, a dad first to his family and a mother likewise.  Then to whatever profession you find yourself in as His minister to those people.

How did the six teams Jesus sent out do, very good, and this is Mark’s account; “So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

Calling is not some ministry, for if you have entered into Christ and He has entered into you, you have been called.  In my case, it was to masquerade as a salesperson, but my calling was to be His minister wherever sent.  Many times I dropped the ball, and I let fear of man and lack of prayer keep me from my assignment.  My prayer is that you will honor Micah 6:8, and be a person who is always ready to give an account of the hope that is in you.

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Faith is an extraordinary thing

Mark 6:1-6

Have you ever tried going back home, or being around people who knew you as a youngster?  I am very privileged to have many friends from my childhood, and yet they still call me Bobby, I have not used that name since High School, yet in their minds, I’m still that kid.  My mother had a hard time looking at what I had become as an adult and not thinking of me as her little boy, so I understand some of what Jesus is experiencing in trying to return to his hometown Nazareth.

Yesterday, we saw an example of unbelief when Jesus had to remove the people from Jairus’ home so that He could heal his twelve-year-old daughter.  And it became clear that unbelief and faith couldn’t go together.  Jesus had to remove those with disbelief from the house so that faith could work.

Now think about this, Jesus is back home and it is the Sabbath and He begins to teach in the synagogue.  Who is His audience, is it not those who watched him grow into manhood?  It’s His mother, brothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors, kids he went to school with, and people who knew the family.  That’s a tough group to address, and this is what took place as Jesus spoke.  This is the account in verses 2-3, “And on the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”

It is interesting how Jesus handled this, look at verses 4-5, “Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

Faith is an extraordinary thing; we use it every day, we put faith in some of the strangest items, a yellow strip on a road that only puts us inches from a car coming at us at speeds of 70 miles an hour.   We ride on an airline even after reading that a pilot was stoned on drugs or alcohol.  You and I have faith, it's not that we do not have faith, we do have faith, but the issue is in whom do we put our faith?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Unbelief must be put outside

Mark 5:21-43

Can you picture Jesus being asked to leave an area where he has just seen a man who lived among the graves and was a big problem to the region free from the control of demons?  But Jesus is still being asked to leave, especially in the United States of America, He is not welcome in our government, in our schools, and universities.  I’m sad to have to tell you that He is not welcome in many homes, businesses, and even Churches that go by His name.

So without a word, Jesus honors the request and gets into the boat and returns to the western side of the Sea of Galilee.  And you recall the large crowds that watched Jesus and His disciples cross over to the other side of the Sea, they are there when He returns, just hoping He would return.

But a leader of the synagogue whose name was Jairus, a dad of a very sick little twelve-year-old girl sees Jesus, and he fell at His feet, and Scriptures tell us he kept begging with these words.  Found in Mark 5:23-24, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” And he went with him.”  Those last five words tell you a lot about Jesus, He was not too busy, He did not have to change His schedule because Jesus saw faith coming from Jairus, and it is faith that is the victory that overcomes the world.  It is our lack of faith that will keep Jesus from going to or meeting our needs and if you do not believe that just keep reading.

Unlike Jairus, we have no name for the lady in the crowd who had vaginal bleeding for 12 years.  Do you understand that means she was not welcome, even forbidden from going to synagogue, for she was unclean according to Old Testament Law?  The Scriptures tell us that she has been under many doctors care over the twelve years, and they had only done more harm.  Jesus was maybe her last hope, but she was not welcome in public, but her faith tells her just touch his robe, and you will be healed.  With that faith, she works her way into the crowd and reaches down and touches the robe of Jesus, and immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.  What faith, have you experienced such faith, if not is it because you are still putting faith in what someone else can do?  So many today are asking the government to fix this or that, but to my knowledge government has never fixed or made anything.  Can you imagine the joy this lady is feeling, and then Jesus asked the question; who touched me?

Often Jesus’ disciples are WOWED by Jesus, and this is one of them, you're in a crowd, they all are trying to touch you, have you lost it, are you out of your mind?  But Jesus knew that power had gone from Him, and the woman knew that she needed to confess and tell Jesus why she had needed to touch His garment.  These were Jesus’ words to the lady; “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”  It is faith that sets us free, two examples very different, but the same faith.

Now Jesus is at Jairus’ home and even before getting to the house people had come and reported that the daughter was dead.  Do you recall Jesus words to Jairus, “Do not fear, only believe.”   But now they are at the house, and people are weeping and wailing loudly, and when Jesus had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”  Now, pay close attention, this is what unbelief looks like, they laugh at Jesus, see disbelief is always the smartest people in the room; just ask them, and they will tell you so.

So unbelief has to be put outside, then faith can work, and that is what Jesus did, He put them out and I bet that was a site to see.  He only allowed the mother and dad, and His three disciples.  Mark reports what happens when unbelief has been put out of the house in verses 41-43.  “Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Once more a verse I read over looking for the meat, has taught me my unbelief must be put outside for faith to flood my life.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

They live among us!

`February 24, 2018

Mark 5:1-20

As I read this account of Jesus reaching the other side of the sea, in the region of the Gerasenes and as soon as He got out of the boat a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him. This is what Mark shares with us about this man, in Mark 5:3-7.  “He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Most of the time we have lived in this area of Texas, my wife has volunteered at a lock-up for girls removed from their home for many reasons.  One of the most common things she encountered as a mentor was cutting, these young girls ages 12-17 cut themselves.  Now the professional counselor had all kinds of reasons why these girls cut themselves, but none were that they had an unclean or evil spirit living in them.  Heavens, how could anyone be that out of touch with our social understanding and psychology as to have such thoughts?  The same girls, when angry would require two healthy adults to get them to the ground and hold them to keep them from hurting others and themselves, but all they needed was more and better drugs to control them.  Does this sound like the man who came out of the tombs and approached Jesus?

 I must be out of my mind to even ask such questions, but since I have, let me ask you a few, how often when depressed have you wanted to cut your self?  Where have all the demons or unclean spirits gone?  And are our mind-altering drugs opening the person’s mind to allow demons access?  We know from the medical record that has been unsealed by the courts, these drugs have been taken by many of the people who have gone on a shooting rampage and killed a group of people.  In the drug company’s ads, it is stated that they may cause you to have the following side effects, including suicidal tendencies and even homicidal thoughts.  These are questions that you and I should give more consideration to.

Now back to Mark 5 and what happens, first this man who had never seen Jesus called Him by name and knew that He was “Jesus, Son of the Most High God.”  Picking up the account in verses 8-13, “For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.”

Pigs are smart, and they would rather die than have an evil spirit living in them.  And it is clear from what Jesus did and taught, mankind is not that smart, and Jesus never said go for therapy or get on Prozac, He encountered the demons and commanded them to come out of the man.

The people of the town were so thankful for this man's healing they threw a party and invited Jesus to be the honored guest, wrong!  They asked Him to leave, not the town but the whole area.  What! That does not make sense, because when the herdsmen ran to town and told what had happened, the people came to see.  This was what they encountered; “And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.”

This is very important when asked to leave, Jesus left, He did not preach or speak, and He got into the boat.  Now the man who had the demons and was now free of them begged Jesus to allow him to go with Him in the boat.  This was what Jesus said to the man; “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”   Now this man healed of demons went home to Decapolis and proclaimed all that Jesus had done for him; he may have been the first foreign missionary.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Mentors

Mark 4:26-29

“And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then and the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once, he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

I’ve confessed this before, and if you knew me it comes as no revelation, I’m slow in my thinking and have often spoken before my thinker catches up with my giving thought to what is the subject matter.  I am so guilty of reading God’s written word and not letting my thinker contemplate on what the Spirit who lives in me is saying.  But as I read these verses this morning this thought came to my mind, am I a scatterer of seed?  And after thinking about that question, I’ve come to believe we all are in the seed scattering business.  So if that is true what kind of seeds are you scattering, those that will produce a crop of nourishment and encouragement, or is your seed contaminated with anger, hate, and requires the harvester to spend time removing it from the good crop?

First, we must come to this agreement, we all live in the Kingdom of God, and our role is to plant seeds, and God’s part is what happens to the seed.  I enjoy gardening, I’m not a master at it and though I’ve been doing it for about 49 years as I understand it is my job to prepare the soil, buy good seed, and put them in the ground.  At this point, I water and wait for God to do His thing, and that is to make the seeds sprout and grow.  After the crop comes up it’s going to require me once more to mentor those seeds, in the same way, we do with our children.  I spend time with those seedlings, I water, and I pull up the weeds that would steal their nourishment, and I feed them what is needed to help them grow. 

As a man who was blessed by other men who scattered seeds, and was willing to invest in seedlings, they listened to God and poured their lives into mine, I am incredibly blessed.  Ken Ryan taught me that I was to be a 2 Timothy 2:2, a man of God’s; “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

Let me take a moment to give thanks to my mentors, some had wealth, and even titles and others were as poor as I was at that time in life.  My very first was a man who was an independent oilman, Jack Archer, and Jack was in his mid-forties when he asked Jesus into his life.  Jack taught me that God loves me and that was big.  Next was Greg Hood, who came to Corpus Christi with the “Here’s Life” campaign and started the “CBMC” the Christian Business Men’s Committee. Greg was younger but very wise to the faithfulness of God and the importance of listening and doing what God said to do.  Next came Ken Ryan also an independent oilman, a marine in WW11 and a Navigator who loved teaching men what God’s word said.  Of all my mentors Ken was the one who had little time for an unfaithful man, he often asked me if I understood and believed what God’s word was saying?  My reply was sure I believe, and I knew what was coming out of his mouth next, then why do you not obey it with your actions.

Then came Carroll Ray Jr. a CPA and Vice President of Tandy Corp, who came to Christ at a Lay Witness Mission I lead at the church he served in the role of deacon.  Carroll came to understand he knew a lot about God but did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and in that weekend he invited Jesus into his life. Carroll became not only my mentor but a very dear friend, it would require a book to share all that I learned from this very insightful man, but most of all he helped me by showing me how to love my wife.

And last is John Davis, and John is the only man of my mentors still living on planet earth, all the others have ejected out of their earth suit and are at the feet of Jesus.  John has been CFO and CEO of huge Corporations and asked me to be his prayer partner many years ago at Spring Baptist.  He moved from that church and then we also did years later, but our relationship of trust and learning and praying for one another has not changed.  Much of what I learned about being a man of integrity in my walk with both God and man, I’ve learned from John.

Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for, these men had a mess on their hands, and they kept pulling the weeds, watering the ground, and praying that God would open my eyes to the truth.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Do Something

February 21, 2018

Mark 4:21-25

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Last year we had a series of sermons and lesson on “Do Something,” and someone from outside of the Christian Church might wonder what is that all about.  Well, it is all about obeying what Jesus has said, and it is clear from this paper written by Jon D. Wilke.

“When it comes to discipleship, churchgoers struggle most with sharing Christ with non-Christians according to a recent study of church-going American Protestants.

The study conducted by LifeWay Research found 80 percent of those who attend church one or more times a month, believe they have a personal responsibility to share their faith, but 61 percent have not told another person about how to become a Christian in the previous six months.”

Mr. Wilke, states 20% never pray for their family and friends who they know are not believers in Christ.  I believe Jesus ask some questions each of us who claim to be followers of Christ need to give thought to. “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?  One would assume the lamp in this parable is Jesus, and we who are followers of Christ understand it is not our story but His that is so important.  It is Christ in me that is the hope of glory, and each of us should have a story to share about what Christ has done for us.  Why do we hide that story from people we care for, is it not as if we have put it under a basket only to share with others who believe as we do on Sundays. 

Jesus goes on to say this; “For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.”  One might ask is the contempt shown to Christians and the Church today tied to that 61% who go by the name Christian but have hidden what He has done for them under a basket?

Then Jesus states; “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.”  The Church in the USA must have a listening problem, and if not, we have an obedience problem.  The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.”  Could it be that because we have not used what we have heard, that it's taken from us?  But the reverse is for us who will listen and obey; we will be granted more revelation and understanding.

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice