It is His word: âNo word from God will ever fail.â It is not the way I desire it to be, or the way culture wants it to be, but it is the way the All-Loving, All-Powerful One has already determined it is going to be.Â
Godâs words never fail, but they always prevail. It doesnât matter how dark, hopeless, or even impossible it may seem, His plan always triumphs!Â
When I have Godâs word on it, I can confidently say, âWorry, be gone! Striving, cease! Doubt, you are a liar! I belong to the One who has spoken His word. I will rest assured in Him until His word prevails. I say as Mary replied to Gabriel, âMay it be to me as you have saidââ (Luke 1:38).Â
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When Jesus was discussing end times events with His disciples, He described days that looked pretty bleak. Do any of these descriptions sound familiar today?
In times like these, Jesus said many people will be deceived. This is why Jesus twice tells His followers to âbe on your guardâ (vv. 9, 23).Â
What exactly does âon guardâ look like?Â
Maybe youâve heard a similar phrase before a fencing match, reminding the combatants to raise their swords. Thatâs a good picture for Christians. Paul tells us that we can use the âsword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Godâ to defend ourselves during spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:17).Â
While Jesus is instructing His disciples, He tells them the sword-like power of His words. He said, âMy words will never pass awayâ (Mark 13:31). In other words, His sword is invincible!Â
Another modern-day phrase that fills out the definition of being on guard is when someone says, âHeads up!â This means to watch out for things that may be headed your way. Jesus reminded us, âI have told you everything ahead of timeâ (v. 23) so we can be aware of whatâs coming.Â
We are aware of the approaching dark days of the end times, but we are not afraid of them. Three times, Jesus tells us to âkeep watchâ (vv. 34, 35, 37). This Greek word means to be aroused from sleep so that we can give active and strict attention to the task before us.Â
âBe on guard! Be alert!â Jesus said (v. 33), so that you donât become apathetic. The devil prowls around, seeking to use the times of turmoil to confuse, deceive, and then mislead people.Â
But we are not unaware of his schemes.Â
Christian, we must stay on guard. We must be ready but unafraid of the opposition. We must keep in mind the never-failing Word of God, and we must use that sword to cut down the deceiving ideas. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words to wield at the right momentâ
ââŚDonât worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.â (Mark 13:11)Â
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.Â
My, my, my, how quickly things can change! Unfortunately, the constant changes usually lead to feelings of instability. Fortunately, Jesus told us the surefire way we could find the stability, security, and confidence we all crave.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.Â
Jesus began to speak to them in parables⌠(Mark 12:1).Â
What Jesus relates here in the 12th chapter of Markâs Gospel is only the fourth parable that Mark records, and as the final parable that Jesus shares, it brings His public ministry to a close.Â
Jesus concludes this parable by quoting from Psalm 118. This Psalm is the last of the âHallel Psalmsâ that were sung at the conclusion of the Passover celebration. This song specifically looks eagerly forward to the arrival of the Messiah. It contains the words that the crowd used on Palm Sunday: âLord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lordâ (Psalm 118:25-26). By quoting from the same Psalmâthat was perhaps hundreds of years old, but had just been sung and shouted by the crowdâJesus was claiming to be the Messiah longed for in that Hallel Psalm.Â
As you may recall, these shouts from the crowd and the activities of Jesus as He cleansed the temple got the religious leaders riled up! They, in essence, asked Jesus, âWho do You think You are?!â His answer is contained in this parable of Mark 12.Â
At the conclusion of this parable, the religious leaders âknew He had spoken this parable against themâ (Mark 12:12).
Pastors, if you want to deliver soul-shaking, life-transforming, eye-opening, heart-melting sermons, you must follow this example of Jesus: Stick with the Scripture!Â
We donât need to try to be clever or witty or even memorable. We just need to speak the Word of God that is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and then allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate that inspired Word to each personâs needs. As Randy Pope noted, âPreaching is not talking to people about the Bible; it is talking to people about themselves from the Bible.âÂ
I donât want to try to make my voice impress people, but I am desperate for Godâs voice to impact people. Nearly every week as I prepare a sermon, Iâll pray this prayer from Oswald Chambers: âIn my preaching, cause Thy glorious voice to be heard, Thy lovely face to be seen, Thy pervasive Spirit felt.â My dear pastor, I would encourage you to make this your prayer as well.Â
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
Jesus began to speak to them in parables⌠(Mark 12:1).Â
This is only the fourth parable that Mark records, and as the final parable that Jesus uses in this Gospel, it brings His public ministry to a close.Â
Jesus concludes this parable by quoting from Psalm 118. This psalm is the last of the âHallel Psalmsâ to be sung at the conclusion of the Passover celebrationâit is the psalm that looks eagerly to the Messiahâs arrival. It contains the words that the crowds just used on Palm Sunday: âLord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lordâ (Psalm 118:25-26; Mark 11:9-10).
At the conclusion of this parable, the religious leaders âknew He had spoken this parable against themâ (Mark 12:12).Â
This is important for pastors as they prepare their sermons, but itâs also important for every Christian. We face challenges every day. The Holy Spirit can give us the timeliest of words. The Word of God is the inspired message for us. It is just as relevant and applicable today as it was the day the words were penned. The same Holy Spirit who inspired the authors of Scripture is the same Holy Spirit in us today who will illuminate and apply the Word for us (John 14:26).
Letâs not find our âtimely wordâ from the ever-changing attitudes and opinions of culture, but let us continually go back to the unchanging, always-timely, always-relevant Word of God. That is the only place to find the timeliest of words every single time!
The Holy Spirit can speak to us through other people. Be sure to check out all of my videos on my YouTube channel.
âA time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats.â âCharles Spurgeon
âIt is possible to adopt an outward demeanor of great meekness, while inside our appetite for applause is insatiable. . . . Oh, what a constant companion, what a tyrannical commander, what a sly, subtle and insinuating enemy is this sin of pride!â âJohn Stott
âEvery word from God comes with the power to make that word happen.â âKevin Berry
âThe question is not, âShould we pray for the lost people of our community?â The question is, âWill we?â Will we pray for our neighbors, our community, our nation, and our world? Will we seek the peace of the world and the wellbeing of all our fellow humans before the Lord in prayer? [Jeremiah 29:7]
âIf we will not, then we must face up to the fact that we are disobeying a divine mandate, abandoning our neighbors to their folly, and stoking the fires of indifferenceâif not outright scornâfor the unbelieving world around. But if we will pray, who knows what God might be willing to do?
âThose prayers may be prayers of anguish and anger at times; but they must also be prayers for God to work in the hard hearts of our unsaved neighbors, just as He has worked in ours, to bring new life, forgiveness, and hope to those who now live apart from God in a world full of rebellion and sin.â âT.M. Moore
Axis is a great resource to help parents communicate effectively with their pre-teen and teenage children. In the wake of the school shooting in Nashville, Axis posted this: âWe have created resources to help parents and caring adults have conversations about violence and school shootings. Consider our Conversation Kit on Violence, our Parentâs Guide to School Shootings, our Parentâs Guide to Talking About Violence, and our Parentâs Guide to Anxiety, for starters.â
âFailure is a part of success. There is no such thing as a bed of roses all your life. But failure will never stand in the way of success if you learn from it.â âHank Aaron
This is a weekly series with things Iâm reading and pondering from Charles Spurgeon. You can read the original seed thought here, or type âThursdays With Spurgeonâ in the search box to read more entries.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.Â
The Proof In The Longing
My soul is consumed with longing for Your laws at all times. (Psalm 119:20)Â
   Can you say that your heart pines for God as the watcher through the midnight sighs for the dawn, or as the traveler over burning sand longs for the shadow of a great rock? Oh, then, though I would not have you rest in longings; indeed, I know you never can. Yet they are a proof that you are spiritually alive! Heart longings are far better tests than attendance at sacraments, for men who are dead in sin have dared to come both to baptism and the Lordâs Supper. Eager desires prove spiritual life much better than supposed attainments, for these supposed attainments may all be imaginary. But a heart breaking for the longing that it has for Godâs Word is no fancy. It is a fact too painful to be denied! âŚÂ
   We have not reached perfection, but do not let us, therefore, be discouraged, for the apostle of the Gentiles said, âNot as though I had already attained, either were already perfectâ (Philippians 3:12). ⌠When a man thinks himself so good that he cannot be better, he is probably so bad that he could not be worse. âŚÂ
   The fuller a man is of grace, the more he hungers for grace! Strange it is to say so, but the paradox is trueâthe more he drinks and the more he is satisfied and ceases to thirst in one sense, the more he is devoured with thirst after the living God! ⌠This it is to be a true child of God: To always have a yearning soul toward Godâs Word, to be eager after His commandments at all times. May the Holy Spirit keep us ever hungering and thirsting after God and His truth.
From Holy Longings
In a recent interview that I did, I was asked how someone should deal with the fact that they are struggling to be balanced in their leadership. My reply was, âThe very fact that they are feeling the struggle should be a great encouragement to them. People who donât feel the tension of wanting to get better are blinded to their deficiencies and never seek help.âÂ
The proof of our growing maturity is in our longing for growing maturity.Â
The psalmist in this great chapter is thrilled with what Godâs Word has already accomplished in his life, and yet he is still longing for the Holy Spirit to do an even greater work in his heart. This is the tension in which every maturing Christian should live. The devil would love to whisper to your heart, âYour longing for more proves that you are still immature.â This is an utter lie! As Spurgeon reminds us, the more of God we have, the more of God we will crave.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.Â
I am always interested when I see contrasts in the Bible. Things like:
Live this way, not that way
These people are blessed, these people have troubleÂ
If you do this, you wonât have thisÂ
So an interesting contrast caught my eye in the story where Jesus calms the storm (Matthew 8:23â27). Jesus is sleeping peacefully in the middle of a storm that is described as âfurious [where] the waves swept over the boat.â The disciples were anything but peacefulâthey thought they were going to drownâso they yelled for Jesus to wake up.Â
Before Jesus calmed the storm, He says, âYou of little faith, why are you so afraid?âÂ
Thatâs the phrase that caught my attention. Notice the contrast between âlittle faithâ and âso afraid.â In other words, small faith means big fear!Â
Strongâs Greek dictionary defines âlittle faithâ as âdread (by implication) faithless.â So it appears there is an inverse proportion between faith and fear.Â
The word that Jesus used for âafraidâ is only used here and in the same story in Mark 4:40, and in Revelation 21:8 which lists people who will be excluded from entrance into heaven.
The phrase âso afraidâ (or âO ye of little faithâ in the King James Version) is just one word in Greek: olgiopistos. The root word pistos is faith, but I find the prefix oligos very descriptive. It means:Â
small in quantityÂ
short in timeÂ
slight in intensityÂ
In other words, it is faith that is immature, or hasnât been used much, or hasnât been applied to a particular circumstance. This word olgiopistos is used five times in the New Testament, and only used by Jesus.Â
In addition to this story, it is used in Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28 when Jesus tells us not to worry about the things that God will provide for usâthings like food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus uses this word for Peter when he began to sink in the water after walking a few steps toward Jesus. And Jesus uses it in Matthew 16:8 when He warns His disciples about the âyeastâ of the Pharisees and Sadducees that can creep into their hearts and spoil their faith. (Check out all of these verses here.)
In mathematical circles, this relationship between faith and fear is one that would be called inversely proportional. When our faith is high, our fear is low; when our fear is high, our faith is low. I also think it is very eye-opening that the mathematical symbol for inverse proportionality (â) is the same symbol called ichthus that the early church used to represent Jesus.
Faith and fear cannot coexist in the same heart. Sometimes our faith is small in quantity because we havenât fed our faith with Godâs promises. Sometimes our faith is short in time because we want things done on our time schedule. And sometimes our faith is slight in intensity because we are unsure if God can âcome throughâ in this particular situation.Â
Whatever the case, when we feel any fear, we need to ask for faith. We need to return to Godâs Word and be assured that His promises are applicable regardless of the situation we are in. As our faith grows, our fear has to diminish!Â
Craig T. Owens 