PARABLE OF THE ALERT SERVANTS MARK
13:33-37
Nathaniel
Bassey: Going back to verse 31, it says heaven and
earth shall pass away but my words shall never pass away. Jesus places more
value on his words than his possessions. Reading this is convicting. As I’m
reminded of how we just speak and talk, without keeping our words. If we were
bound by the words we spoke, we would be slow to speak. Oh Father, help me. We
would never be a people of character and substance until we become a people of
integrity; men and women whose words have value and validity. What value do you
place on your words? Do you value money above your words?
Lord
please help me. I want to be like you. Following through on every promise made.
In
fact one thing that makes God, GOD; is the premium he places on His words. If His
words had no value, there won't be a reason to believe and trust him.
Bukilicious: I
have learnt so much just between yesterday and this morning. God I need your
help! I can't do all these by myself. Keeping my words (integrity) like you
did, obeying instantly and completely? I need you LORD JESUS! Help me
God
bless everyone who has contributed and have blessed me this morning.
King Norny:
Where you said, if we were bound by the words we spoke, we would be slow to
speak; we would never be a people of character and substance until we become a
people of integrity. Men and women whose words have value and validity. Truly
inspiring. I remember that verse where Jesus turned to his disciples and asked,
who do people say I am? Some said he was the prophet, others said he was the
son of a carpenter. But peter spoke up and said "thou at the son of the
living God" and Jesus said blessed are thou Simon, that flesh and blood
did not reveal this to you. I said that to say this, it only takes a revelation
to know who Jesus really is, it takes the power of the spirit of God to know.
The question we should ask ourselves now is who is Jesus to me? It takes a
revelation to know. Peter could not figure that out in his head. A revelation
is that information given to us without any material medium, it's a knowledge
impacted to our spirit by the Holy Ghost. To know Jesus is a revelation and
that is the greatest revelation mankind could ever know
Dear
Lord, I thank you for the wonderful privilege of having the Holy Spirit live in
me, enabling the eyes of my understanding to be opened and unveiling deep
secrets and mysteries of the Kingdom through your word, in Jesus' Name.
Ziva:
@King Norny: that's right! And it's upon the solid rock of that revelation
Christ builds His Church (us) and the gate of hell cannot prevail against us.
Which means upon the revelation of who Christ is, we are overcomers,
light-givers! That why this particular discuss (Jesus at the centre) is
cardinal to our spiritual growth. So that we will grow to the point that we are
no longer ashamed of the gospel of CHRIST, for it is the power of God unto
salvation (for deliverance from eternal death) to everyone who believes with a
personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance.
Ikechi
Ugwoeje: Shalom saints! Thank God for the
atmosphere of the Spirit being stirred up by our focus on JESUS! Glory to God!
Halleluyah! @Norny & @Ziva, thanks for pointing out the importance of this
journey. Based on Matt 16:13-19, Our foundation and strength lies in the
revelation of who Jesus is. I am translating from one level of glory to
another, halleluyah!
Nathaniel
Bassey: The whole of mark 13 speaks about the days
we are entering in, if not in already. If the happenings in our nation are
anything to go by, then this word by our Lord deserves the utmost attention.
But in 33 he shows us a strategy to cope and survive these trying times.
WAP!
WATCH AND PRAY
Can
we spend some moments studying this? WAP! Any takers?
Benard:
Bro Nath, "pray" is a clear instruction. What is the Lord telling you
about "watching”?
Nathaniel
Bassey: Well, even the pray deserves some
attention. Other versions say, be on guard, be alert, keep awake, take heed,
watch out etc. With the distractions in the world these days, we must do the
things stated above. Looking up those two words in my concordance, “Watch” is agrupneo in the Greek; meaning....to be
sleepless, keep awake.
Bernard:
The warning appears in verse 23 just after the DISTRACTION stated in verse 22.
It also appears in verse 33, reminding us to be on the watch out for the coming
of Jesus so we won't be found sleeping. Emphasis was on two things: The end
time and His second coming. The End time warning comes so we don't get misled
by confusing claims or speculative interpretations and distractions which are
already on display in our present world. While that of the "second
coming" is to remind us to constantly place importance on His coming
without postponement as no one know the day. This involves studying God's word
and living by the instructions therein. One more thing saints, you can't be on
the lookout without having a target. Jesus is our target....Hebrews 12:2 – looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. He is our gaze, our target,
our goal. He is the one we are on the lookout for, not the distractions. Reminds
me of Numbers 21:9 where Moses raised the brazen serpent and as many as looked
up to it lived.
What
we put in front of us determines what we do and become. Watch!!!! Are we to
watch out for the news headlines? Nation rising against nation, famine, pestilence?
They are already happening...God didn't promise us a world without trouble but
He promised to be with us through it all. Saints I dare say, we must Watch for
Jesus, and thank God for a timely theme where we study His life and person.
Ikechi
Ugwoeje: My attention is drawn to the command to
'Watch and Pray'. Checked through several versions and the 'Watching' always
comes before the 'Praying'. Just like Daniel, by 'watching' he understood by
the books the times and the season, it was clear to him that the time had come
for Israel to return. By this understanding he could then do the 'praying'
accurately. As we study the word, as we observe JESUS, we become like Him.
Something else happens, the mysteries of times and seasons begin to unfold and
then we can pray prophetic prayers that will alter the course of events in the
right direction.
Ziva:
@Ben: 2 Corinthians 3:18
Bernard:
@Ziva: Hallelujah
Ikechi
Ugwoeje: @Ziva, same with 1 John 3:2
Bernard: Saints,
this is powerful. So there is a transformation/translation that comes with
Watching...As
2nd Corinthians 3:18 says....." ....ARE CHANGED INTO the same
image..." Is
this why the Bible says "as a man thinketh in His heart so is he"? Because what
you put before you and meditate upon is what you get. Philippians 4:8 tells us
the kinds of things to put before us. Jesus is an embodiment of everything true,
honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report.
Ziva:
@Bernard: "pray" is a clear instruction. While it seems so, it's
complex o. I read an article that said prayer and watching are two acts done
concomitantly. Maybe that's why Ephesians 6:18 said - Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication. But there is more to prayer than just mumbling
to God and placing our petition. So we have to understand what prayer is and
how to pray. I am very interested in this "pray" because I was
planning this morning to plead with the group to allow a discussion on the
Lord's prayer because I wanted more light before we taught some new converts
the prayer. And now, opportunity presents itself. So I will really appreciate
if everyone contributes and shares…
In
Matt. 26:38 - 46; especially verse 41, Christ said - WATCH and PRAY that ye
enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Thus, to be able to defeat the flesh and walk in the newness of the Spirit, you
need to WATCH and PRAY.
Thanks
@ Bro. Benard & Ikechi for dealing
with "WATCH"
In
Matt. 6, Jesus taught us how to pray. He said - it's not for show off, avoid
vain repetitions because it really isn't about what you say, forgive and
believe, etc. Then He went on to give the manner to pray.
1.
Our Father: - It's a privilege to be able to call God - Abba Father. And this
is made possible by the price paid by His son Jesus. - Romans 8:15. Mk. 14:36.
So you pray to the Father and not to any other. That's why Jesus said in Jn.
16:23 - In that day, ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily verily I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you.
Before
crucifixion, Jesus usually referred to God as HIS Father. But after
crucifixion, He said in John. 20:17b - I ascend unto MY Father and YOUR Father,
and to MY God and YOUR God. So He is now OUR Father. And no son asks his father
for bread and receives stone or serpent for fish.
It
is also necessary we remember He is OUR father, so we do not make selfish
prayers. He is father to all and loves us all, not just you. The same God is
rich unto all those who call Him. - Romans 10:12; Acts 10:34-35.
Being
our Father means that we have to be subject to Him and obey Him. We, as the
children should have the seed and nature of the Father and yield fruits showing
forth the nature of His father because offspring are created in the image and
likeness of the parent. Being our Father means He can take care of us, His
household. It means He is "older" and wiser and to be given utmost
respect and reverence. And so the next line says –
2.
WHO ART IN HEAVEN: higher than us, almighty, ruler! Set apart and above us. Yet
humbles Himself to interact with us because of His unconditional love. The
heavens is His habitation, the earth His footstool. What a great God. He sees
everything, even the depth of my heart, yet He loves me the same! Exalted and
existing by Himself. Higher than the highest! He is indeed Elyon - the Most
High God!
3.
HALLOWED BE THY NAME: a name describes a thing. It shows the character of a
thing. In Igbo language, we sometimes name things according to the sound it
makes or things it exhibits. For instance, we call motorcycle - ogba tumtum
(meaning makes a tum-tum sound). We call tin cans kom-kom because of the sound
it makes when dropped on the floor. So the name of God attempts to describe
Him. To me, He is always Elyon-Elohim (the Most High sovereign Creator). He has
been Jehovah Shalom in those troubled times when storms rose but He gave me
peace all round. He has been Roi and Jireh to my family, and we have no want.
Every need met. Nothing broken, nothing missing, the strength upon our right
hand and to PP group, He has been Jehovah-Overdo; Exceeding our greatest
expectations.
Nathaniel Bassey: @benard, ikechi, Ziva, God bless you all.
What great insights. Thank you Jesus for the gift of your word. This is what I
think; We would study Jesus for as long as possible. And we won't be tired.
WHEN YOU STUDY JESUS, YOU HAVE STUDIED EVERYTHING; because He is everything.
Utibe
Okuk: Good morning people of God. I must say that this Group
is like the church that backed Peter up in prayers and caused his prison doors
to be opened. I was reading through the words spoken here and I discovered that
to know Jesus we too must have a plan! Just like Pst. Nathaniel said, the widow
woman was asked to gather vessels for the plan to be executed. I figured here
that the blessing is in the execution of the plan meaning that if the plan is
not followed through, the goal is missed - and the plans really are always
simple!...Gather many vessels, walk round the wall of Jericho, fill the vessels
with water… My God, like I have never read these scriptures before! Very simple
processes ooo but the world has made us think if it's not a 100 paged plan it
won't work! Studying Jesus, you discover that even his miracles were done in
the simplest form!
For
Lazarus, he said roll away the stone and he called out “Lazarus, come forth,
when he came he told them unbind him and give him food.
For
the blind man he spat on mud, rubbed his eyes and asked him to go wash his eyes.
For
the multitude he asked them to sit down and he told his disciples to share the
loaves and fishes…
Is
it just me or I'm not seeing right? Or was it more than that?
Nathaniel Bassey: Hmmm... Utibe...Instructions, then
obedience. IF YOU FOLLOW DIVINE INSTRUCTIONS, SIGNS AND WONDERS WILL FOLLOW YOU
BACK. I call this heavenly twitter.
Utibe
Okuk: Sometimes, because of how simple the instructions are
we feel from our battered minds that it's too simple to be God. This study is
revealing some things people of God. Abasi mbok! Pardon my vernacular. Sometimes, it's just
say hi to that person. Sometimes it's take an early morning walk or an evening
stroll. This Jesus!!! He should be an everlasting course of study!!!... There
is absolutely no single one like JESUS!
Akinlolu Akinpelumi: Hmmm very true. Two years ago, my pastor
said he wanted to bless me and after praying he asked me to go and fast for
three days and pray Psalms 23 alone. I said Psalms 23? He said “Yes”. After the
fasting, on the fourth day hired assassins came to attack me in the office I
was seconded to but praying Psalms 23 saved me…7 months after my wedding.
Nathaniel Bassey: Wow!
Peace:
Observing the life of Jesus, each time he had encounters against the devil, he simply spoke. When He had to pray
for the sick or cast out devils, it wasn't a 'fight' or struggle. Sometimes,
they even confessed before He said anything. Father, help us to understand the
Authority we have; For the Word says ‘I have given you authority to trample on
snakes and scorpions and to overcome "ALL" the power of the enemy and
NOTHING shall by any means harm you’...as many as received Him, to them He gave
the power (The right, The Privilege) to be called sons of God.
Sen.
Jaida Attah: Good morning Family, Amen to all the
prayers. @ Benard He is our gaze, our target, our goal. He is the one we are on
the lookout for, not the distractions. We’re too distracted with the headlines
indeed, happenings around us, negative confessions (too much out there) and
what have you.
Blazyn:
@Sen. The ransomed of the Lord shall go out and they shall return. The roads
and every form of adversary are cleared for our sake.
Sen.
Jaida Attah: Reminds me of Peter when He came out to
Jesus on the waters, as long as his eyes were fixed on the master he kept
walking but once his gaze shifted to his environment and his senses took up the
frequency of the natural...poof...he started sinking…
Yesterday,
Ziva re-schooled me on "the power of the mind", it is amazing how
much we can change once we change our thought pattern.
Blessing: @
Ben, Ike and Ziva, God bless you. I watch the news a lot. Sometimes I like to
have all the info at my fingertips, but I'm seeing that we don't just watch the
headlines and big captions, our main focus should be Jesus.
Julie: I
totally agree, the atmosphere is being polluted by pessimistic utterances, but
we chose LIFE over death. Therefore, we speak life into the atmosphere and
dispel every pollution in Jesus name.
LovelyNkem:
Good morning family! Thanks to everyone for an insightful discussion. It's
really very easy to be distracted by the happenings around us and the negative
comments we hear every day. But then we always have to make a choice to keep
our eyes focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Sen.
Jaida Attah: Exactly @ Nkem…every word in the Bible is
filled with power; sad how we take advantage of it most times. It’s surprising how
fellow Christians call you an extremist because you negate every form of
negativity and embrace the promises of God wholly. At the cross of Calvary, He
said "It is finished", pretty much says it all. Done deal! What I’ve
found out with #WAPPING is that it not only keeps us focused on God but we
yield to His command and invariably have dominion over sin and every form of it.
It
is surprising to note that Psalm 23 is one of the chapters in the Bible Muslims
term as "powerful". In fact some use it a lot. They don't joke with
the psalms at all. They believe it more than we do and it works for them.
The
Word transforms your whole being, Prayers as well. The way we relate with
people and situations around us. I am one of those people that literally hold
on to first impressions a lot. Once you get it wrong the first time, I hardly give
you the benefit of doubt …but it literally changed yesterday (Thanks Ziva).
Jesus had a combination of different characters with Him and wasn't judgmental
towards any. How on earth was Jesus able to tolerate doubting Thomas, Judas
Iscariot (two-faced and a thief), etc... I’ve realized the power of #WAPPING
even in that area. I remember when I was serving, I was in a department where the
Director was "he who should be feared", I prayed about him and got a
different treatment from him. Most times it’s our hearts that need changing not
the other person...#BLISS
