Unintimidated Ministry (Part B)

This alliance is a deadly alliance because what it did is joined a political entity with the more religious entity that made them deadly and in the end it paid off for them in the end this political influence reached your pilot who was the force of Rome and they had Christ crucified. This is what how they wanted to destroy.

This is just the beginning of me is going to just continue on to finally Christ decides it's time to be crucified. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick continues his message called upon intimidated ministry in Mark chapter 3 verse five when policy or you don't want your pastor being into the newspapers all the time. I have to stay focused on pastoring and then so no I don't want to know too much about what's going on because that will take me away from what I'm centered on. I want to know what's going on in the Scripture, and that will apply to everything in life it's not putting your head in the sand and I don't think anybody can ask any of the date ostriches put their heads in the sand. All right tobacco verse five is one of you know about ostriches doing that I'm good.

Verse five and when he looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man stretch out your hand and he stretched it out in his hand was restored as whole as the other.

The look of Christ.

When Peter betrayed Christ. Christ looked at him there and it went after Christ was arrested. Well, it wasn't wasted because Peter saw it would've been wasted.

If Peter did not see it. Well Peter saw this, and that's what he remembers is he telling the story to Mark. He looked around he was angry, but is heartbroken at the same time as this flood of emotions in Christ angry with their utter heartlessness in their proclivity toward violence against anyone who dared stand against them how stubborn they were coming to get to see somebody heal somebody like this. Would you let you know I want to beat this guy a first chance I get. But that's what they were there. That's how they thought he was angry with them because they cause unnecessary harm to others and their own souls. He says being grieved by the hardness of their hearts. He was saddened by their condition because he couldn't reach it. Will you do if the will is so stubborn that it refuses the evidence is laid before any evidence to not have to be signs and wonders could just be true if you know someone who has come to Christ because of truth, not because of signs and wonders and you understand that no one has an excuse that if you can do it so can others do it and he said to the man stretch out your hand. Everyone is watching. He's calling the man to participate in this particular miracle and he stretched it out how this man had to make a choice.

He was either going to be intimidated by the Pharisees, whom he knew who were watching this or he was going listen to Christ, and of course he listened to Christ, he stretched out his hand.

He managed to do this, we don't know the extent of his handicap, but we know was there and his hand was restored as whole as the other with a room full of witnesses verse six then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodian's against him, how they might destroy him. This is the dumbest thing. I mean, what a sane person would've said no that's impressive and you I would like to know more about this. This person is helping people. We've heard what is preached in these never preached outside of the Scripture, but that is not what happens. Again, because they could not control him. Now the Herodian's that were political group with a religious flare. They were the ones that supported her odd answer. This is who is the one that will have John the Baptist beheaded these two groups or these two stooges of groups that little in common.

In fact, the Pharisees and Sadducees, they would really not appreciated these people like the tax collectors because heterodimers you know he was a Jew. He was half Jew you could say in and half Edomite was mixed and that they didn't care for him, but it worked.

It was tolerable for the Jews with Herod answer this but when it came down to his righteousness was nothing about him righteous at all. This alliance was a deadly alliance because what it did is join the political entity with a more religious entity that made them deadly and in the end it paid off for them in the end this political influence reached the your pilot who was the force of Rome and they had Christ crucified. This is what how they wanted to destroy him and this is just the beginning of me that is good is going to just continue on to finally does Christ decides it's time to be crucified so they will overlook their differences if it will just get Jesus out of the way both groups played the religiously game in God's name Jesus warned about their influence will read this later in Mark chapter 8, he charged them. That's his disciples, saying, take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod Rod is Herodian's represented Herod again.

And so Christ is saying. Watch out for their evil influence. Don't be impressed by those guys don't do something redeeming about them.

You watch them continues here in verse six, how they might destroy him again, the squadron of fools will. This is what Peter preached about Christ wanting to set the record straight to those he was converting through his preaching in this with the Gentiles. In this case. He says how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him Peter says when he later on preachings is the Christ that I'm preaching to you. This is the Christ that was so hated by the religious leaders that were supposed to have the keys to the Messiah. It was supposed to say to the people. Ideally, this is what they were supposed to do. This is how Messiah and whether he wants to wipe out the Romans, or get crucified is up to him. He's the leader. He's the king they didn't even come close to that there real motive was envy that led to hatred of the pretext was zeal for the law. They pretended to be zealous for the Sabbath, they will pretend to be zealous for the Sabbath with Paul and for circumcision and for the dietary laws and Paul will hack away at all that your chocolate on the matter, which he just give thanks to the Lord so far ahead of these people. Today we have a miniature with Christian to still try to drag other Christians into fights and Sabbath arguments and adjusting of the that that the legalist were free from that were not a sect of Judaism Judaism to us is obsolete in Christ we are followers of Jesus Christ, not the law of Moses.

However, we do not follow Christ without the law we just follow Christ with the law of Moses rightly interpreted for us by Christ through the Holy Spirit. Their zeal for the law again was not genuine.

The fact it of that proves that is by them joining up with these Herodian's Herod Antipas and they needed that secular power if they were going to do Christ in, and they knew that verse seven but Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea. Okay, so Christ knows these people are against him stories instead of saying you know what I got problems in life now. I'm going to back down ministry I can stop serving. I'm going to go hide somewhere away from these people. HS sort of relocates his ministry because their distraction and then he ramps it up so much that the amount of people that came out could never be forgotten by anybody that was part of this they'd never seen anything like this. It was prudent of the Lord to distant himself from these fact haters and we we read here in a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea. We gotta take verses seven and eight together to make the point Jesus withdrew verse seven with the disciples to the sea in a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea and Jerusalem. And I do Mia and beyond the Jordan, and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things he was doing, came to him see the conjunctions six times and the probably send a time and this place and that place is is driving the point home that people from all over the land were coming to see Christ. I want the clerics doing they were still equipped to try to get him the entire country. They were agog with excitement.

They were so like I can't believe you to come see this. Could you imagine this like he's walking into a hospital and as everybody walks out of the hospital helping Allie. It's it is hard to imagine this but this is precisely what took place.

So he's the Lord said okay clerics keep the synagogues. I'll take the multitudes his preaching and doing wonders, however, did not protect him. Other ultimately it will land him on the cross. But that again was by design, not by accident. They did not prevail when Christ was crucified. Satan lost verse eight and Jerusalem and I do Mia and beyond Jordan goes from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things he was doing yet because no one had done anything like this before, that some people coming out from all of these places. Jerusalem is the one that were coming. Galilee was where he was Jerusalem. People from Jerusalem that the seed of Israel's theological elite in the intelligentsia of their people highly educated people wielding great cultural influence throughout the land that was where the famous teacher go Molly L Paul sat under that would go. Molly L was.

That's where the corrupt priest Annis and his son-in-law, Caiaphas very much part of the crucifixion. That's with a 12 you see what Jesus when he is approaching Jerusalem is as though Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to a how often I wanted to gather your children like chicks you were not willing also in Jerusalem.

However, were leaders who were soon to be heroes to us. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea Joseph of Ramah. We recovered that Wednesday. That's where Samuel was from these two men if they could be converted at the preaching and teaching of Christ being members of this group of clerics being members of the Sanhedrin.

What was the excuse of all the others with a stand before God after their the moment of death. They stand before them and say how was I supposed to know he was the Messiah of God. We just got our Joseph and and Nicodemus figured it out. What's your problem. This is the way it is. To this day, and we should preach these things in the worst workplace. When I worked in the workplace.

I would preach these things.

I would take away their excuses and they were God either like me or hate me.

Fortunately, they can be Mia. I do Mia. He mentions here.

This is a territory that is south of heaven. Ron and in the area of between have Ron and Mayor Sieber in this these of the Edomites. They were on the east side of Jordan, but after Jerusalem, will Israel, Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians. Many of them colonize this area so they were mixed people and so what Mark is saying here was only Jews coming out to see Christ. There are other peoples in the land that were were coming out to be touched by him and to be healed by him and I firmly believe there were non-Jews being healed by him to limit the multitude was sorry or not Jewish.

I can I can hear you. That of course was not he made it difficult on a one on one, because he was extracting faith. The Greek spiral Phoenician woman whose daughter was demon possessed a silver I'm not given what's for the kids to the dogs and she said yes but the puppies get the crumbs and he says right on and grow your daughter has been healed and there was of course the woman I met on a noncrisis ministries magnificent ministry there is nothing, if you look at the life of Christ seriously, you have nothing against him is just he is blameless he is like no other. He does all things well.

We are told in the gospel anyway. He also mentions here and beyond the Jordan. That's the Transjordan, the east of Jordan. That's where the 2 1/2 tribes of Israel had decided to stay. They were largely mixed by at this time and again Mark bring making the point that the Gentiles were part of this to some of the Bibles may call that area Paris about its the Transjordan is this is a proper phrase and those from Tyre and Sidon to major Phoenician cities that dominated the Mediterranean Sea and shipping.

Nebuchadnezzar couldn't concoct or conquer you know that it will recover. That night Daniel.

But anyway, the more Gentiles is my point.

They were come is pretty far away, a great multitude. This is the fruit of un-intimidated ministry, which is the title. By the way, you title to this morning's message is intimidated ministry as we need that in these times we need to center Freddie you need to be afraid of what I have to say I'm the one that has the power and what I say about Christ and the gospel, but the power of the gospel message of Paul said, you know that the power of the gospel, because it goes beyond this life consequence of rejecting or the reward of receiving this great multitude so much for the Pharisee, her Odeon coalition couldn't stop this when they heard how many things he was doing. They came to him and so the miracles now are the big draw for the multitudes of people throughout these regions of these these lands the whole land.

Many were too shallow to go deeper into his teachings. Some just could not for variant of the hard workers and many illiterate in John's Gospel.

In the end of chapter 2 we read that notices earlier chronologically than these events here. This is when he was in Jerusalem.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did. But Jesus did not believe himself to them because he knew all men and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for he knew what was in man, so that's what we have here.

He knew that many of these people were shallow and yet he doesn't chase them away.

He ministers to them.

So many lessons for us as individual Christians and our relationship to people who need to be preached to not preach to in the sense of corrective preaching that the role of the pulpit.

Actually, primarily nonexclusively but the preaching of the gospel.

What does the what do the pastors want. They want the congregation to be fitted to be armored up to go into the world and preach the gospel and then bring people to the church to receive the lesson so we going to the Gospels, the person of Christ, and I hope we go to ask neck the power of Christ to his disciples for the church needs the precepts we have to get the rules because many Christians will come up and ask a question that has already been dealt with inscription when I say we don't do this or that or we do the this way they don't like it, but they don't understand. This is what we've been told to do in the Scripture.

That's why we do it this way, how do you know how you get everybody on that page where you cannot get them all but you you you have to do it and so yeah I don't like preaching the precepts so much it's it's it's a lot of wrestling with this necessary anyway verse, verse, where you say well parts are in her major look downhill hookup and not on purpose except for Frank is Frank here. I first nine so he told his disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for him because of the multitude, lest they should crush him. He was sure to have an exit plan sound thinking he's God, he could've just said. Everybody get back but he doesn't do this. He takes proportions. It doesn't hello, not just to some miracles and you.

Christ never did meaningless manner. Miracles or miracles for his own sake uses his servants that are with him, and in this church and many others. In this day and age where mom security because we are afraid of being crushed by circumstances that are, we should have been prepared for and it is just sound thinking and those of you have your homes, you know you know that if you just line Benson away from food to fly into my mouth was going to happen.

He but a lot of Christians that you know the kind of trust in miracles when they're supposed to be working so verse 10 so he healed many so that as many as had afflictions pressed about him to touch him. That word for afflictions in the Greek is scourged and so that he healed many that had been scourged by illnesses again today God is and is not routine is one of the disc. The point was no element could withstand him. He was God the son, and nothing like that could stand in his presence. And this was the evidence for his Messiah ship that was just unprecedented and no one should have questioned him.

Not one you should have ever said you can't be the Messiah. But even John the Baptist will but how does Christ answer John the Baptist ruined Don's of the unit coming when prices go tell John what I've just done. You figure it out is these telling John. No one does what I do and I do what I do because of who I am and we do to verse 11 and the unclean spirits whenever they saw him fell down before him and cried out, saying you are the son of God. Again, the Christian slave faith is exclusive and guarded. No other religion has these things that even try. The Karen is talk about miracles got none. Christianity says Christ loves you is your choice. You want to die rejecting him. That is, your debts up to you if you want to live receiving him what holds you back. So acts chapter 412, nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Christ is it and so just one of almost done here. I know we face also so spooky things out there be this intimidation that is the principal point of this morning. First Peter chapter 3 verse 14. Remember first Peter is dealing with Christians were persecuted and he doesn't flush it for you to be okay as a kid in therapy Christians. That's what he says to them.

Second Peter he deals with the heretics creeping in the church but first Peter 314 aces but even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed your blessed. Do not be afraid of their threats nor be troubled Peter say don't be intimidated. Your blessed because he was suffering for righteousness sake. Now there is some Christians are people say that Christians, a suburb of then being righteousness suffering for stupidity's others to suffer for reasons we don't know about are not trying to cover the point of suffering.

It's an age-old question that we accept is just product of life in the Christian world. Philippians 4 Paul says don't worry about anything. That's what he says Christ would Satan when he when you hear be not afraid that Ms. don't worry about this. James 511. Indeed, we count them blessed to endure sweet weed we lose. Sometimes we read we keep reading, and sometimes we miss the point we count them blessed who endured as a really have to make any other comment about that he does because we do need it but that alone. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And sometimes I say to God, why should I bother praying to you about this when I have been asking about this for decades and Christ of course is already taught me because it is the obedient thing to do and I have already said I want to be obedient and if I don't get my prayer answered. I can be obedient and I can continue to talk to him about anything. Verse 12, but he sternly warned them that they should not make him known. No way was a Lord going to listen to the video or entrust demons with the gospel message so they know who he was. They were incredible witnesses. They were an on authorized distributor of truth. They were not allowed to tell the truth in chapter 1, Jesus rebuked him, saying, be quiet and come out of him. In other words, Jesus said shut up and beat it.

That is what he said when he says be quiet.

The Greek is be muzzled and put a proposal on it and come out leave is no interest in hearing what demons have to say about him. I'm really not interested what Hollywood has to say about Christ. I'm not interested in pictures of Christ that really ours you know a guy with long hair, that would be a fashion model dressed up in ancient are not. I don't I try to be careful about who I listen to what I drink.

Jesus does not need us like this might suppress. We certainly wanted his way to move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick.

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