Do you get the idea that God wants us to be different from the world, set apart, HIS own special people? Do you get the idea that "the Lord God through his Christ is graciously building a kingdom of redeemed people for their joy and for his own glory (Easley). I don't know...I really wish that God would be clear about HIS purpose and plan for HIS children...I don't know what do you all think?
Deut 4:20--“But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as today.
Deut 7:6--“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Deut 14:2--“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Tit 2:14--He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works.
Heb 13:12--Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that He might sanctify the people by His own blood.
I hope you all know that sarcasm is a spiritual gift, really it is...consider Elijah at Mt. Carmel or the exchange between God and Job in the closing chapters of Job. God displays the strong spiritual gift of sarcasm.
Our reading in Leviticus we see God's special people are warned not to sin as the nations before them did, they are commanded to be a special people set apart, holy to the LORD. God warns them that they will be vomited out if they do not obey. Unfortunately they did not listen and they were vomited out by God's hand through the Babylonian captivity.
Lev 18:28--If you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it has vomited out the nations that were before you.
Lev 20:22--“You are to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances, and do them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live will not vomit you out.
Do you recall a time when Jesus spoke these words? Do you remember who HE was speaking to? Amazingly, Jesus speaks these words to HIS church at Laodicea. HE severely rebukes HIS church with a horrific warning, Rev 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth. Let's look at it in context...Jesus is severely rebuking HIS church and HE commands them to be committed and repent.
Re 3:14-21
The Letter to Laodicea
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out
of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy, and need nothing,’ and you don’t know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, and white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent. 20 Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. 21 The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne.
I don't want to make anyone mad, but this is not an evangelistic verse! You have all seen the picture and heard the preacher say, "Jesus is knocking, there is no knob on HIS side HE won't open the door you must by faith invite HIM in." IN THIS PASSAGE JESUS IS TALKING TO HIS CHURCH! Jesus is rebuking the church for being lukewarm, HE commands them to be committed and repent...we learn that those that HE loves HE rebukes and disciplines...praise God that HE does. So revelation 3:20 is Jesus inviting HIS church, you and I, into an intimate, personal love relationship with HIMSELF! I believe that the key is that you cannot really know Jesus and be lukewarm about HIM! If you are lukewarm and a child of God then you are in such a backslidden state that you cannot possibly experience any assurance of salvation...certainly you will have non of the joy of the LORD. TO TRULY KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM, TO LONG TO PURSUE HIM WITH A WHITE HOT PASSION. Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, that hunger and thirst for JESUS will just want more and more. Our hearts were created with a vacuum that only HE can fill.
What does our Psalm say? In Psalm 43:3-5 we hear some amazing words, "Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place. 4 Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God. 5 Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God."
My question to me and to you is...is God really your greatest joy? Or is it your job, home, children, spouse, money, your reputation, your toys, iphone, ipod, computer, garden, friends...is there anything that you love, serve, fear, desire, want...more than God? What is your greatest joy? I will simply confess that I frequently must repent of placing things before HIM.
Summary of Mark 9
Jesus has announced His coming death (8:31–38). Now He makes another prediction. Some standing with Him will see God’s kingdom “come with power” (9:1). Just six days later three of His disciples witness a transformation of Christ, a stunning display of His glory (vv. 2–13). Back in the valley, Jesus drives an evil spirit from a boy His disciples had been unable to help (vv. 14–29) and again predicts His death (vv. 30–32). His disciples seem totally unaware of the pain Jesus feels and fall into a dispute about which of them is “greatest” (vv. 33–37). Mark then reports a series of single–theme enigmatic statements made by Jesus, as the company travels toward Jerusalem and His crucifixion. The theme is that of relationship to Jesus’ followers. Those who act in Christ’s name are “for us” (vv. 38–40). Those who are hospitable to Jesus’ followers will be rewarded (v. 41). Those who cause Christ’s followers (His “little ones”) to sin face terrible judgment (vv. 42–48). For Jesus’ disciples must always maintain that uniqueness which offers hope to the world (vv. 49–50).
Key verse. 9:2: Jesus Himself is the kingdom’s power.
Personal application. To reach the world Christians must live as family.
Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (641). Wheaton: Victor Books.
Mk 9:1-8 Then He said to them, “I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in fron
t of them, 3 and His clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified.
7 A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud:
This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!
8 Then suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus alone.
The voice of God the Father was heard audibly three times during the life of Christ. Here, at Jesus’ baptism (1:11) and during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:28).
God have mercy on me, I am desperate for YOU LORD JESUS, apart from you grace I tremble to consider how far I would fall. LORD JESUS grant me, grant us eyes to see and ears to hear...Father in heaven enable to by YOUR indwelling Spirit to obey YOUR command to LISTEN TO YOUR PRECIOUS SON! I long to live a life that is pleasing to YOU, a life that will bring YOU joy, a life that will REFLECT THAT YOU ARE MY GREATEST JOY. Father, by the same grace that moved YOU to send YOUR Son, our Lord and Savior, protect me from living in a manner that would cause you to want to vomit me out of YOUR mouth. Please fill me with YOUR HOLY SPIRIT, CAUSE YOUR WORD TO BURN IN MY HEART...ENABLE ME TO BE CONSUMED WITH A WHITE HOT PASSIONATE LOVE FOR YOU, YOUR WAYS AND YOUR PEOPLE...FATHER WORK THIS IN US FOR YOUR GLORY AND OUR JOY...I ASK THESE THINGS IN THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME...IN THE NAME OF JESUS...AMEN!
love,
m
ps I must apologize for the title...I just finished and thought...OK LORD what should I title this...well what you see is what you get! I sat here and laughed for 2-3 minutes before I regained my composure...I seriously debated on changing it but did not. The thought came to me about how it feels to vomit...I don't know if you remember but it is REALLY A BAD EXPERIENCE! I won't go any further except to say...remember how bad it is and then consider that this is what God compares you to when you are in a lukewarm state as HIS child...I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE VOMIT IN HIS MOUTH!