Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES MINISTRIES

Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES MINISTRIES

por Mike Letterman

Temporada 5

The Olivet Discourse

This sermon, which was delivered by Jesus, is also recorded in Matt. 24-25 and in Luke 21. In this sermon Jesus talks about the end of time and the events which surround the end of the world. This passage is one of the most difficult to interpret in the New Testament. Because of this fact, various false teachings about the end times, the Second Coming of Christ, and even about salvation have arisen.

The Clean Heart

Too often what we claim to be and what we really are is miles apart. We call this condition “hypocrisy”. This word comes to us from the ancient Greek language. It was used to describe actors in a play. Ancient actors would carry different masks in their hands as they acted. The masks were attached to sticks and could be held before the face as needed. A smiling mask suggested humor, a frowning mask suggested sadness, etc. These actors were called the “hypocritos”. This word means “one who wears a mask”. We use the word today to refer to people who pretend to be one thing when they are actually something else. People who pretend to be your friend while stabbing you in the back are hypocrites. People who live one way at church and another way at home are hypocrites. People who attempt to do wicked things under the radar while acting like all is well are hypocrites. Now, there should be no people like that in the church, but sadly, there are some in every congregation. Ill. Some people claim there are too many hypocrites in the church. I say there aren’t as many as they claim. It is just an excuse they use for not coming to church. When you hear that kind of talk just say, “Oh come on, one more won’t make any difference”. Just say, “It is better to spend a few hours with them in church and to spend eternity with them in Hell”. Just say, “If a hypocrite is standing between you and God, the hypocrite is closer to God than you are.” Hypocrites are nothing new! In this passage, Jesus has an encounter with a whole group of hypocrites. They have come from Jerusalem, v. 1, which was like the Vatican of its day. They came to watch Him in order to find fault with Him and His ministry. When they arrive and begin to watch Jesus, it does not take them long to find something to complain about.

Death of a Conscience

Mark 6:14-29 THE DEATH OF A CONSCIENCE Intro: This passage is one of the saddest in the entire Bible. It records the events surrounding the death of John the Baptist. He was a special man, chosen for a special mission. He was the “forerunner” of the Messiah. He was the fulfillment of several Old Testament prophecies. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was the last martyr of the Old Testament period and the first of the New Testament period. He was a powerful preacher. He was a fearless prophet. He was a true man of God. As Jesus Christ Himself testified, “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist,” Matt. 11:11. John was one of the Bible’s documented accounts of reincarnation. In Matthew 17:9-13 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. While this passage reveals the details of John’s death, it also records the death of something else. This passage records the death of a conscience. Our text speaks of a man named Herod. He was a wicked man who ruled over one-fourth of Palestine at the time.

The Servant Jesus - You Can't Go Home!

Our text finds Jesus returning to Nazareth. He is going home again. Our Lord’s return to His hometown does not go the way one might expect it to. After all, Jesus is something of a celebrity at this time. He has been going around the countryside preaching, teaching, healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, and controlling the forces of nature. He has proven something extraordinary and very different about Him. Of course, the last time Jesus was in Nazareth, things didn’t go well for Him. He went to the synagogue and preached from Isa. 61. (Luke 4:16-20) In that service, Jesus proclaimed Himself the Jewish Messiah. The people of Nazareth rejected His message and tried to kill Him by throwing Him over a cliff! He left Nazareth and preached in other places in Galilee. Now, a year later, He returns to the place He was so cruelly rejected. He wants to give His family, friends, and neighbors another chance to receive Him and His message. That is grace! (Ill. I am amazed that God would give you and me one chance, much less opportunity after opportunity, to believe in Him and His Gospel! Thank God for His good grace!)

The Servant Jesus - The Power of Faith

THE AMAZING POWER OF FAITH This section of Mark’s Gospel is filled with impossible cases. The disciples thought they would die in the storm, Mark 4:38, but Jesus could calm the storm with a simple command. No one could tame the demoniac, but Jesus set him free from his bondage with a simple command. As we move through the rest of the events in this chapter, we will soon discover that Jesus is more than adequate for every situation. There are no incurables with Him.  There are no hopeless situations with the Lord!

The Servant Jesus - The Master of the Storm

THE MASTER OF THE STORM It had been a long and challenging day for the Lord Jesus. The events of this day began in Mark 3:20. He had a confrontation with the Pharisees, v. 22-30. His friends and family thought He had gone crazy and tried to kidnap Him, v. 21; 31-35. Jesus also taught the people in parables, and He had spent time explaining His parable to His disciples. Today, our lesson comes from Mark 4:35-41, and I have entitled it The Master of the Storm.

The Servant Jesus - is There a Jesus in the House?

As we learned in Mark chapter 1, Jesus began His very public ministry in Capernaum. He entered the town and began preaching about the Kingdom of God. In that chapter, Jesus also demonstrated His great power. He cast out demons and healed diseases of every sort. From Mark 1:32, we learn that Jesus must have healed nearly every sick person in that town!         His miracles eclipsed His message! The people flocked to Jesus to see what He would do next. Each miracle left them hungry for more. To escape this frenzy, Jesus and His four disciples left Capernaum and began a preaching tour through Galilee, 1:38-39.         That preaching tour is over, and Jesus and His men return to Capernaum. This town was an important place in the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus. Capernaum served as the northern headquarters for His ministry. It was here that He put His great healing power on public display. It was here that He preached in power. In Capernaum, Jesus Christ made His very public claims to be the Messiah here. But Capernaum had a problem!         This city valued the miracles more than the message or the Messiah. They wanted the spectacular and rejected our Lord’s offer of salvation. As a result, Jesus later pronounced a curse upon this city, Luke 10:13-15. (Ill. Those who have received much from the hand of the Lord and rejected it will face the greater judgment, Luke 12:48. Ill. I would rather go to Hell from anywhere than from a pew in a Bible-believing Baptist church!)

The Servant Jesus - The Choosing of the Twelve

THE CHOOSING OF THE TWELVE The ministry of Jesus is in full swing. The common people of the area follow Jesus because He preaches the Word of God in power and works miracles for God's glory. The religious leaders hate Jesus because He refuses to play by their rules and because He exposes them for the hypocrites they are. Our Lord’s days are filled with ministry and things are happening at a hectic pace. Here we see how Jesus chose his apostles.

The Servant Jesus-The Preaching, Power and Passion of the Servant

THE PREACHING POWER, AND PASSION OF THE AMAZING SERVANT LET’S START OUR LESSON BY READING FROM GODS WORD Mark 1:21-39 King James Version 21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. 29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. 39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. Intro: Mark is in a hurry. He is constantly moving the action along. He uses words like “straightway”, v. 21; “immediately”, v. 28; “forthwith”, v. 29; and “anon”, v. 30. These are action words. They picture events as happening one right after the other. Mark is attempting to focus on the main thrust of the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark tries to picture Jesus as a Servant; One Who moves from task to task as He does everything in His power to accomplish His Father’s mission for His life. Mark is leading us to Calvary and on to the empty tomb. He wants to picture Jesus as the Suffering Servant Who gave His life to redeem His people.

The Servant Jesus - The Temptation

As we continue to move through the Gospel of Mark, we are observing Jesus as He begins His earthly ministry. His coming was announced by John the Baptist, v. 7-8. Then Jesus appeared and submitted to baptism, v. 9-11. Jesus was baptized, not to cleanse Him of any sin, for He had no sin to be cleansed of. Jesus was baptized to publicly accept His Father's mission to be the Savior of the world. As soon as He was baptized, Jesus was anointed by the Spirit of God for service, and Jesus heard the voice of His Father acknowledging Him as His Son and approving of Him in every way.

14 de 19