At the end of Mark 7, I had learned how Jesus had made a deaf and mute man speak. This had amazed the crowds. Now we see another large crowd gathered around Jesus.

Interpretation:

What is the significance of us knowing ‘another large crowd gathered?’
It was Jesus’ actions and words that drew large crowds. They were gathered to hear Jesus.

I saw important implications for my own life. I need to gather around Jesus tohear His Word and know His actions so I can imitate His lifestyle.

I ask you now dear friend, who do you hear?
Dear friend, we can hear a lot of people. Not everyone we hear will give us the right message. Some will give the message that people’s minds are itching to hear. Their messages are geared towards gathering crowds too! However, there is a problem with their message. They are not giving the message of the Lord but what their own minds feel like sharing with others. There is a danger in that friend. People’s lives have been led astray by leaders like that whether they are in the pulpit or in politics. Jesus was not like that! Jesus did not give a message people wanted to hear but the message they needed to hear. He gave them the message of the Word of God as they gathered.

We need to hear Jesus from His Word. We need to hear from those who proclaim the Word of God as Jesus would have taught it. There is no sugar coating or confectionary.

What we hear and who we hear is so important. It shapes our lives wherever we are. Whether we are in high school, college, in a career, etc, what we hear and take in will shape us.

It is sad to see how many churches give people what they want to hear and not what they need to hear from the Word of God. If you are going to a church and the pastor’s/priests words make you feel good, there is nothing wrong with that as long as it is in line with Scripture. A priest/pastor is supposed to be giving the Word of God and not his/her own ideas of how things should be. The pulpit is not supposed to be used to give feel good messages that go against Scripture.

How many churches do you know that give sermons against adultery, sexual immorality (hetero or homo), divorce, pornography, selfish-ambition, etc?

Sadly, these days many people are hearing ideas of how things should be as opposed to how the Lord Jesus proclaimed what is right and wrong.

For example, we hear some preach that it is okay to be a practicing homosexual for love is more important. Love is important but love does not mean you give into wrong. Some preach that divorce is a part of life and we must help those divorced to pick up the pieces. Yes, helping others is biblical but to give the message that divorce is a part of life, is unbiblical. Divorce has never been in God's overall plan. Divorce is mentioned in the Bible but really see what Jesus meant about it in Mark 10.

Your values and ideas will be shaped by who you gather around and hear. Whoever you hear, you should test it with the Word of God. Even whatever I share with you from what I learn in my devotional times, I tell you to test it with Scripture. You do not need to be hearing from me if it is not of God. If the teaching is biblical, I would ask you to take it in and follow the biblical teaching and share it with others.

May you hear everyday Almighty’s reality and not the world’s reality!

“Hear everyday, Almighty’s reality!”/“I ask you now dear friend, who do you hear?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for loving us! Thank you Lord your actions and words drew crowds around you that large crowds gathered. Lord whatever I hear and whoever I hear help me to test it with your Word Oh Lord. Let me not take everything someone in authority says is true without knowing what your Word says Oh Lord. I need to hear from you! They need to hear from you! Help us Oh Lord to hear everyday Almighty’s reality and not man/woman’s own worldview, for we want a biblical worldview. When we hear things that go against your Word, please give us the boldness and wisdom to challenge them rather than be complacent. Thank you so much Jesus! Thank you for hearing my prayers and answering me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Make this your prayer. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into thinking you need all the answers before coming to Christ. Let me just assure you though you may not have all the answers right now before coming to Jesus, He will answer them slowly. Yes, He will for I know our Redeemer will! Amen!

PRAYER:
Father God thank you, you love us so much that you sent your only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I love you Lord. Thank you Father God for your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus thank you for loving me so much. Thank you Jesus, you will take care of my problems. Nothing is too hard for you. For many of us Lord, we face many obstacles in life whether it be Spiritual, financial, marital, emotional, physical, or educational problems. We turn these problems and the prayer requests to you. Thank you Lord you never fail to answer our prayers. Just because we don't understand does not mean you didn't answer our prayers. Thanks Lord for cleansing us by your precious Blood. Please come into my heart Jesus. Please forgive my sins. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart. Thank you Jesus for making my heart, your home. Thank you Jesus for living in me. I will live for you Jesus and serve you the rest of the days of my life. I pray right now for the one who is so troubled that only your presence and love can meet them where they are at. Come Lord Jesus and please intervene in their life. Cover them with your awesome presence and help them through what they are going. Thank you Jesus as you saw the disciples in trouble and came to their rescue, you can come to our rescue too. We entrust our lives in your care. Thank you for the answer and you will carry us! IN YOUR NAME, I PRAY JESUS THANKING YOU FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN.

Friend you may feel something or may not feeling anything but do not go by your feelings. When you ask Jesus to come into your life, He will and does. He will take over from here as you depend on the Lord and let Him work in you and through you! This is exciting friend! May each one that came to know Jesus be filled with His Holy Spirit forever more and those that know Jesus come to know Him more and more! Amen!

Get yourself involved in a campus Bible study, fellowship, and most of all find a Bible believing church and be involved to grow in your Christian walk with the Lord. They all need to be supplements for your own precious time with the Lord in prayer and meditating on His Word. If you need a Bible, please let me know!

As the movie DaVinci Code opened across the theaters on May 19, 2006, which speaks against the church and most importantly degrades the Name of Jesus Christ, we need to make ourselves available to speak the truth to the falsity presented in the movie and the novel. If you plan to watch the movie or have read the book and have questions or your faith seems to be shaken, please email me or give me a call at 412-720-4579 so we can discuss the false claims in the book that are presented as fact even though the book itself and the movie is presented as fiction. May the Lord bless you and guide you!

If you need anyone to talk to, pray with, or study the Bible with this Summer of 2006, you can email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com or call me at 412-720-4579. Please do not hesitate. One-one Bible studies can be so powerful too because the Holy Spirit is still in the midst.

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

SEPTEMBER 2005

MARK: CHAPTER 1

How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophecy? (Sept 01, 05)

Who do you P.O.I.N.T to? (Sept 02, 05)

"Will you take a S.T.A.N.D?" (Sept 03, 05)

How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E? (Sept 06, 05)

"How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Sept 07, 05)

"Who controls your T.I.M.E?" (Sept 08, 05)

"What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Sept 09, 05)

"Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to?" (Sept 12, 05)