As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” —Mark 8:15 Watch out for those who have a “religious” veneer whether they are from the religious community or government community. There are those who claim they are followers of God, but they only use this claim to fortify their power positions. Jesus warned His followers to beware of their teaching (Mark 16:12). Plain and simply there are liars in both communities who will say what they need to with the express purpose to hold their positions. Jesus warned us to “Watch out” for the teaching of these people.…

When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. —Numbers 15:39 Indeed, is the Lord God Almighty given the highest place in our lives? Are we being obedient to Him? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_OoO_3suQ Or, are we following our own desires and defiling ourselves as the flesh is prone to do? Jesus said in John 14:21 that “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each…

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” —Numbers 13:30-33 People…

Jesus said, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” —Mark 4:24-25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEtsHWFE6-w This happens when we sit at the feet of Jesus listening intently to what He is saying. He tells us that “the closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given— and you will receive even more. Those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZdMOx_HY Are…

The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of…

One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. —Mark 3:20-21 Jesus was said to be “out of his mind” by his own family! That is, they thought He was insane! It is interesting that Paul says, “If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you” (II Corinthians 5:13). Again, some thought Paul and his companions were “insane.” But…

While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question…

Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. —Mark 1:17 You say you follow Jesus. When was the last time you “fished?” He said He would make those who follow Him “fishers of men.” Acts 1:8 says, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To fish for fish you need a strategy, tools and a bit of skill. Not a lot of skill because even a child can catch a fish with help. When my daughter, Rebecca, was 4 years old she…

Some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. —Matthew 28:11-15 Oh no… The guard’s “prisoner” had gotten away! That…

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. —Matthew 27:3-5 Callous people do not care about the “problems” of others. Judas was responsible for his actions, but so were the leading priests and elders. They did not care at all about Judas, but they used him…