Immense Fools (Part A)

Is not only for salvation instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work and all you heard some of you use if you have troubles in your life. I don't have to itemize them.

You know what they are.

That is not your cue to turn on God word.

It's not a lantern that you rub and smoke comes out and forms itself into a Genie 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 here. More information about cross reference radio. Specifically, you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in Mark chapter 12 as he begins his message immense fool's please turn the gospel according to Mark chapter 12 the gospel according to Mark chapter 12, we will take verses 13 through 27 and they sent to him. Some of the Pharisees and Herodian's to catch him in his words, when they had come. They said to him, teacher, we know that you are true, and care about no one for you. Do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not, shall we pay, or shall we not pay but he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, why do you test me bring me a denarius that I may see it, so they brought it and he said to them, whose image and inscription is this, they said to him, Caesar's, and Jesus answered and said to them, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.

And they marveled at him, then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and ask him saying teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies and leaves his wife behind and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and dying. He left offspring and the second took her and he died, nor did he leave any offspring, and the third. Likewise, so the seven had her and left no offspring last bald woman died also.

Therefore in the resurrection when the rise whose wife will she be for all seven had her as wife Jesus answered and said to them, are you not therefore mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God for when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven, but concerning the dead, that they rise have you not read in the book of Moses and the burning bush passage.

How God spoke to him saying I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob is not the God of the dead, but God of the living.

You are therefore greatly mistaken immense fools. There are lessons for us on how not to be. I do not want to be a fool and I certainly don't want to be an immense one.

These are from his own words, you greatly mistaken. They challenges authority earlier as we list a brief review. Come into the temple, and he had cast out the money changes the people that were ripping people off in God's name Eve turned the tables over and cause them embarrassment and trouble.

They then came the challenges authority with questions and he before answering their question question them and their inability to answer was made clear to all the bystanders. He then told a story about criminals in the vineyard men who were entrusted with the vineyard that was not theirs and the they turned violent so that they could benefit from the wealth of this vineyard, and of course they knew that he was using this parable to point to them after that parable he quoted Scripture saying the stone which the builders rejected, that is the chief cornerstone. That became the chief cornerstone. Yahweh uses what the builders rejected to be a key part of his project.

Essential part of his project without additional completion of course was no salvation without the Christ. While they understood that he again was talking about them rejecting him so in their infuriating the they plotted ways to have him arrested so that they could have him killed Mark Wrightson 12 verse of Mark 12 and they sought to lay hands on him, but fear the multitude for they knew he had spoken the parable against them. They were guilty. What makes them so foolish is that they were actually guilty and they knew it. It wasn't as though you know that's his opinion, the all the evidence pointed to them, but they preferred the way they lived over the life that he offered them. Now we look at verse 13 we reread that verse then they sent to him. Some of the Pharisees and the Herodian's to catch him in his words, so having silenced.

The chief priests and scribes and the elders beginning in chapter 11.

He now is confronted by another coalition and it will be the Pharisees and the Herodian's and the scribes will Sadducees first then describes they will come and try to trip him up series of challenges to an attempt to discredit his authority amongst the people and also to incriminate him with the Roman authorities so that they could do their dirty work for them. Luke writes this ESA so they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be righteous that they might seize on his words in order to deliver him to the power and the authority of the governor you know going to the first and second Samuel, just finishing up first Samuel in looking at the life of Saul. You look at his life is a fool… Way.

Who is this incredibly dark that they behave like this in the presence of so much light is the same here with these people.

How could they recheck the Christ what he came with no miracles just truth well then they just would've debated but he came with more than just the truth. He came with the power of God and that just didn't mean anything to these men because they were determined to be in control, and it is a horrific thing we need to pay attention to what's going on in here in this coordinated attack in hopes of halting his influence as it is done today world looks to censor us to shut us up to keep us from influencing people towards righteousness, and in the date we live and it's it's it's night, unlike ever before. They want to corrupt without interference and purity and righteousness of become evil to them well in all three cases as Jesus deals with these this next group, the Pharisees Herodian Sadducees and scribes. He is going to silence them from Scripture is not going to just what I disagree or just reason with them.

He is going to reason with them. What is going to do it from the Scripture for him. Scripture was good enough is sad to say, many Christian scriptures not good enough to live by. They want some sort of a freedom.

I guess that the Bible does not magically given so they go again and find something somewhere else. Paul had this problem in the New Testament church was a big problem writes to the Colossians, watch out.

Lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ is a stick with the Scriptures are going to be people that are going to come along and not have all of these philosophies and teachings and ideas and methods they don't work and you can chase them for the rest of your life or you can skip that step not supplement what God says, take up your cross and follow the Lord. When Paul said to Titus, holding fast the first faithful word as you have been taught and went on to say, convict and review. Why didn't he say make happy. Make comfortable because with dealing with sinful things and if you appease the sin, the bad moods the awful ways you end up having the world in Jesus name. And so, in churches where pastors uphold the word.

Many of those churches will to get rid of that man and then ultimately get rid of the Bible altogether were seeing it happen all the time Paul continues.

He says were in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

He's got everything you need in life or life may not do you know doesn't have the instructions how to change a flat tire, spiritual things me how I live how I think how I feel how I sin how I serve all belongs to him and he says you are complete in him was the head of all principality and power. He's got it all knowing Scripture to know life just because you don't feel good, doesn't mean the Scripture is not working. That's what faith is where faith comes in. Who needs faith of everything just falls into place. We are at war against the curse Satan coaxes some churchgoers to rid pastors who are fixed upon the word of God to fight from the word of God. Remember Saul king Saul again. He had thrown out of the land. All of the witches and all of those who were practicing idolatry, as many as he could, but there were still some there who would doing it, and in a moment of desperation witness ego goes to the which at and/or and the which it indoors. Still doing business amongst desperate churchgoers.

To this day my where I'm going with this is these men did not think Christ was sufficient. They wanted to be rid of him. Satan knows he can't director come directly to some Christians and say Christ is not sufficient and you need to do it this way, though he does with apostates is more sneaky than that. That which it indoors.

You might remember. She gave Saul a free meal was very nice towards him very caring, very kind but death followed and he did not survive the next day. Why have a Bible, if it is only for salvation. It is not only for salvation instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I know you heard some of you use if you have troubles in your life. I don't have to itemize them.

You know what they are.

That is not to your queue to turn on God's word. It's not a lantern that you rub and smoke comes out and forms itself into a Genie is our manual for war and unfortunately these kind of sermons.

It seems like the people who need to hear the most.

Find a way to be absent on the days they are preached. It is heartbreaking to any pastor of the word to see people claim Christ and not believe in the Scripture and Christ's again.

He says that you are mistaken greatly mistaken. Not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God, is it connected the two together, then you have a man of God step in the over so you have the power of God. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit and traditions of the world would know pastor retried the Bible doesn't work doesn't work. What take up your cross trust God, you, he will call me will show up supper for a little bit.

Life is hard because it is cursed and we are to make it through trusting the Lord believing the Lord my prayer in my latter years year of ministry, our Lord, help me to love your people the way you love them because without you helping me to love them, I won't love them. I resent all become jaded.

Any pastor will make that prayer. If I cannot love the flock you know would God says if I if I do not love, I am nothing.

I want to be that so I will pursue love, the love of Christ.

Paul writes to Titus again that he is. This is the same apostle that Rhoda love is holding fast the faithful word as he is been taught that he may be able by sound teaching both to exhort and convict those who contradict contradict what Scripture which these men were doing with Jesus.

So I hope what I'm accomplishing here is showing you that in light of the strong. I think the song Don Francisco. He was talking to the hypocrites and Pharisees and everybody else but me courses being sarcastic when I just reading about these men coming to Christ.

Back then, and it has nothing to do with us.

It has everything to do with us and is very relevant to right here right now is not expired.

I better read these words and say Lord is that I am I doing these things. Verse 14 when they had come. They said gym teacher, we know that you are true, and care about no one for you. Do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in true is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not. So they came to him lying there lying to him these things are true. He does not care enough about what people say to turn back on what his father says with the Scripture says that is truly is not going to play favorites while you is God's favor and he is, of course, God the son, but they're trying to flatter him as they sat him up. We know you're going to give us an honest answer because you're such a godly man there trying to exploit that these are insults woven into otherwise normal words. These men were intellectually and emotionally committed to wrong things they enjoyed.

They like what they would do in the way they live. They found nothing wrong with themselves Scripture. They had reduced to this chart that goes along with their religion. Joe enjoyed opposing him. They relish the thought of discrediting him of being done with him.

They say here you care about no one.

That's not true, not true at all. The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which is loss and bring the truth of God to the people but the truth of God came before opinions and feelings, and again that's what many folks don't want to hear. They want Christ to agree with the way they want to do it and if he does not agree they'll find a way away to get away from him or to try to leaven the lump. And so it is not true. He has compassion just because he leaves things honest does not mean need does not care and some still try to equate standing firm against their beliefs with hatred. They think you hate them if you don't agree with them. It's a shameful thing to the place to be in one's life. I have every right to disagree with anyone at any time and not hate them at the same time I can do that do not have to show malice to someone because I disagree with them and what they don't like it.

Well, little other have to live with it other than attack you there attacking him. They did not say well you know that's Christ opinion know they are trying to destroy him instant so they ask, is it lawful now. This is not referenced. This is referring to the Roman law. Yes, but also to the Hebrew Scripture, mainly that at this point.

This thing is it lawful, according to the laws of Scripture for us to pay taxes to Caesar because does this not conflict with the sovereignty of God by paying the Romans money are we not demonstrating our servitude said yeah because this is the punishment on you for forsaking the Lord with your many idols. When the prophets constantly warned you not to do what you did it anyway, so this is a lawful. Now Caesar here that the reference here in verse 14 refers, of course, to that Roman Emperor Tiberius was the present Caesar at this time.

Verse 15 shall we pay, or shall we not pay but he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, why do you test me bring me a denarius that I may see it, so he's fully aware of what these these guys were were up to. And that question is is it a crime to pay taxes to Caesar being God's people.

Another Herodian's were present and they were pro-Roman.

Therefore, I had Jesus said anything against paying taxes to Rome they would prosecute and that would be just with this coalition was after had Jesus said no we should we week we can pay these taxes and the Jewish people order come against him. They knew that when they were asking this question they thought they had him trapped. How can you get out of this one is no right this is a lose lose situation for the Christ, they thought, although they would not thought of him as the Christ says in verse 15, but he knowingly hypocrisy said to them, why do you test me because I don't like you. That's why we don't like what you have to teach we don't like what you say about the way we live. That's why at this than Arius was a silver coin about our days pay for a laborer.

He says bring me a denarius that I may see it, he did not carry cash has what it boils down to so we just briefly review this at his birth.

When this parents went to well. Mary and Joseph went to the temple to make the offering for him. They offered the poor man's offering turtledove's that's well they could afford at here when the and in this life. As he grew up and he was challenged on paying taxes. He had to send to the sea to get a coin is even avidly paid taxes for himself and Peter. When he entered Jerusalem he had to borrow someone's donkey and to make his point here, of course, he borrows a coring and at his death at his death he had to borrow a tomb for the weekend. Every beast of the forest is mine says God the cattle on a thousand hills.

They belong to him. And yet when he walked the earth. Material wealth was not something he was interested in.

So who do you think you are.

If you are one of those who claims that God wants you rich in this life with money and wealth to flaunt you know who you are. If you follow the so-called prosperity teaching which is no spiritual prosperity whatsoever than you follow the deception from hell.

Your life is to serve Christ and not yourself.

And we could beat on that all day long. But will the guilty listen.

Verse 16 so they brought it the coin and he said to them, whose image and inscription is this they said scissors.

He wanted to hear him say it out loud.

He knows inscription was on the coin. He wanted them to say it loud so that the witnesses could hear the answers out loud Tiberius Caesar the Augustine son of Divine Augustus. That's the inscription around the image on that coin. This goings are available today you can buy them for about $1500 Lisa, I checked online. If you would like to buy one for me.

Just give me the cash and let me do what I want to do with it and I don't want to gift card.

I want cash but anyway whose image is engraved whose carve those images carved on this. What is the inscription on this going.

Which means whose images carved into you. What is inscribed upon me. Is it Christ or is it Caesar was asking them.

Is it the image of Caesar.

As of the image of God that you're interested in that. Where's the question coming from because they have no answer when he when he gives the answer. Colossians 3 again put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created him. We are created in God's image and yes, the fall occurred and more that image and being born again involves having that image restored to us here, as in deposit, but finally of course when we get to heaven. Spurgeon says our Lord Jesus by his death did not purchase a right to a part of us only, but to the entire man all of us. We belong to him and that's where the fight is there a more Paul writes to the Colossians. Incidentally, likely never visited that church hepatitis comes to him who was the pastor of that church. And since we have a big problem. The gnostics are mixing in their teaching for coming to that church and as they come through the doors and bringing their invisible sacred cows with them and they are mixing and leavening their teaching into the congregation.

How do we get a mountain. Paul writes the letter to the Colossians. That letter is about.

You have Christ stop doing this to me in the image of Christ on you.

You don't need these things that are being brought in by those who are trying to salvage something of their paganism 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. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio.

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