Mark (Program #29) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (3)

During the period of His gospel service, the Lord Jesus was traveling from Galilee first north toward Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon.  Then returning south all the way to Jerusalem. With Him on this long journey which took roughly three years were a small number of faithful disciples particularly Peter, James and John were with the Lord step by step.  And thorough out this period they witness first hand all the items, including the miracles, the teachings, the healing and His dealing with the religious opposers.

As those who desire to know Him and to know His word richly today, we need to realize that this long journey and all these events were not random. From the beginning the Lord’s intention was to arrive at Jerusalem, the religious, cultural and governmental capital.  For it must be in Jerusalem during the specific month and even on the appointed day that He would be offered up as the Lamb of God to accomplish His all redeeming and all-inclusive death.  But we also need to realize that all the preceding event were part of the Lord’s preparation and in addition for the real preparation of His disciples not just to be witnesses but to be those who would pass through His death and enter into the reality of His resurrection.

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Daniel (Program #11) – The Visions of the Overcoming Daniel (3)

After a victorious testimony of overcoming in the first six chapters of the book of Daniel. God came in to show Daniel vision after vision concerning the world situation.  Why did God showed Daniel all these visions recorded in chapter 7 through 12?  In our life-study today of chapter 8 of Daniel, we will be addressing this question.

Throughout the ages, Israel has suffered a great deal because of the fighting between the three great empires seen in the vision in Daniel 2.  The Medo-Persians empire, the Grecian empire and the Roman empire.  Of all these, the center of their fighting is Israel.  Israel has been through the ages of battleground and due to this fighting it been difficult at times for Israel God’s elect to be something truly according to His eternal economy.  In our program today, we will see the vision Daniel saw in chapter 8.  A vision concerning a ram and a male goat with its successor.

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Mark (Program #28) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (1) & (2)

At the end of a nearly three years long journey with His disciples the Lord Jesus at the end of His gospel ministry makes a triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Just six days before the time of His sacrificial death on the cross the Lord Jesus surprises His disciples confounds His opposers and thoroughly captivated the hearts of the people of the great city of Jerusalem.

During these final days, Jesus was finished performing the miracles, the great teachings, the casting out of demons even the healing and the cleansing of lepers. For now He is totally focus on the preparation necessary for His death, His burial, His resurrection and ultimately His ascension.  Mark chapter 11 gives us a marvelous account of these six days of preparation.

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Daniel (Program #10) – The Visions of the Overcoming Daniel (2)

“The Ancient of Days sits upon His throne.” This is a word from Daniel.  Today we want to consider further the visions of Daniel in chapter 7 concerning the four beasts out of the Mediterranean sea.  We have previously seen that these four beast are dreadful and terrible doing whatever they desire as if there was no God in the universe.  However these chapter reveals that the Ancient of Days is still on the throne.

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Mark (Program #27) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (16) & (17)

The second half of Mark chapter 10 brings us to the city of Jericho. The Lord Jesus has arrived at this place very near Jerusalem, near the end of the long journey He had taken with His disciples. Jesus knew that the time of His appointed death on the cross to be the real Lamb of God was only days away and He would not be kept from that hour.

Twice before on this journey on the way to Jerusalem the Lord had spoken to His disciples of approaching rejection and death in Jerusalem. But the disciples never seem to hear the words. And so here the Lord mentions it again for the third time. But still the disciples had neither ears to hear nor eyes to see as these verses in Mark 10 so clearly illustrate. Beginning at verse 32-37:

“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus led the way before them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that were about to happen to Him:  Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles, And they will mock Him and spit at Him and scourge Him, and they will kill Him. And after three days He will rise. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying to Him, Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask You.  And He said to them, What do you want Me to do for you?  And they said to Him, Grant to us to sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.“

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Daniel (Program #9) – The Visions of the Overcoming Daniel (1)

God’s faithful servant Daniel not only interpreted the dreams of kings but also saw visions directly from God himself. Visions revealing God’s economy. Today on this life study of the Bible from the book of Daniel, we have reached the halfway point of Daniel. We are now going to get into the final six chapters containing many of Daniel’s visions.

The first section of Daniel or the first six chapters really focuses on the victory in captivity for Daniel and his three companions over Satan’s schemes.  But today we start the second section of Daniel; chapters 7 to 12 with the visions of the overcoming Daniel.

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Mark (Program #26) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (15)

Mark chapter 10 present us with 3 cases all related to whether or not believers will enter into the kingdom of the heavens.  The best known of this cases concern a rich young man who approach the Lord Jesus wanting to what he must do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s word shocked the young man as well as the Lord’s disciples. For He instructed him to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Well, the young man turned and walked away knowing that he was not able to meet such a demand. And then this famous exchange took place between the Lord Jesus and His followers.

Mark 10:23-27: “And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, How difficult it will be for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus again answered and said to them, Children, how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  But they were astonished beyond measure and said among themselves, Then who can be saved?  Looking upon them, Jesus said, With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.“

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Daniel (Program #8) – The Victory of the Young Descendants of of God’s Degraded Elect (6)

The Old testament book of Daniel is of course one of the great story books in the Bible.  Children and adults alike love these stories and the inspiration that countless believers have derived from them from over the years. But much more than just wonderful and inspiring stories, these chapters convey tremendous insights into God’s move on this earth in His economy.  This deeper view not only inspires us but it can compel us to join with God.  Not just to live a proper christian life but to actually become engaged with Him for the accomplishment of His eternal purpose.

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Mark (Program #25) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (14)

Most of us remembered from our childhood the story of the rich man who came to Jesus asking what he must to do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s answer instructing the man to go and sell all that he possessed and to give the proceed to the poor was more than the young man could bear. So he turned away and in despair of his inability to do what seems to be required.

The Lord’s disciples also expressed their dismay over His words to this young ruler to which the Lord answered, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

This passage from Mark chapter 10 though famous as a Bible story is also one that has perplexed many students of the Bible for there is no place in the scripture where we were given of such a requirement in order to be saved. Our salvation is by faith and not according to our works, such as selling all and giving all to the poor. And how should we understand such a story?

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Daniel (Program #7) – The Victory of the Young Descendants of God’s Degraded Elect (5)

“The handwriting is on the wall.” Well nearly all of us have heard this phrase, but did you know that it comes from Daniel chapter 5?

The writing on the wall from a mysterious hand is the story here.  The main character today that Daniel encounters is this man, this king named Belshazzar.  Belshazzar is a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar.  To get the context of the handwriting on the wall we begin with the verses in chapter 5:1-4.  This was quite a  humiliation quite an insult to the God of heaven; to take the very items that have been used for the worship of the one True God and use them now for the worship and praise of these idols.  This really provides a setting for another victory of the young overcomers that the Lord has sovereignly arranged to be in the house of Belshazzar the king in Babylon.

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