Look at the process God took Jesus through before He launched Him out:
He was trained in a blue-collar world for 30 years, being faithful when nobody was watching.
Just about the time Jesus' public ministry was starting God yanked Him from the spotlight.
He lived in a wilderness and didn't eat anything - imagine how hard of a time this was for Him.
He was faithful to His Father and then it launched Him into the public eye again - this time for good.
Think about a dream or goal you've had - maybe you had a quick flash of what it could be.
But now you're doing what's seems to be the opposite.
It's at this time that you prove faithful to the Lord whatever the cost.
He may bring it back, and if He does then He's battered you into the person who can handle the vision!
Oswald Chambers - "watch where God puts you into darkness, and when you are there keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? Then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will talk in the wrong mood: darkness is the time to listen. Don't talk to other people about it; don't read books to find out the reason of the darkness, but listen and heed. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light."
Mark 1:12-13 (2/19/15)
Alone
February 19, 2015 • Benham Brothers
Mark 1 (2/22/15)
February 22, 2015 • Benham Brothers
Baptism - Mark 1:4-8. Disciple - Matthew 28:19. Parable - Mark 4:10-11. The word "baptism" in the Greek means "immersion." John preached an immersion by way of repentance. He preached that if you wanted the kingdom of God you needed to be immersed in His nature through repentance. John painted the picture of this immersian through dunking people in the water. When you immerse yourself in the water EVERY part of your body gets wet. When you immerse yourself in the nature of God every part of you gets touched. In Mark 1:8 John reveals that we are to be immersed in the Holy Spirit, which washes away your internal dirt. Matthew 28:19 - Jesus gives us a key on how a disciple is made: Immersion into the very nature of God - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For our spirits this is a one-time event - new identity through justification. For our souls (mind, will, emotions) it's a continual process - transformation through sanctification. The only way our brain catches up with our new identity is through immersion! Mark 4:11 - only disciples are the ones who "get it!" The devil doesn't want you to be a disciple because he doesn't want you to "get it!" The mystery of the kingdom were given only to disciples. For everyone else Jesus had to paint pictures. Our lives as disciples become His pictures - His living parables.
Mark 1:4 (2/20/20)
February 20, 2020 • Benham Brothers
* Faithful in little leads to faithful in BIG. * Jesus could’ve come at any time in history. * But He came before books, newspapers, telephones, internet, media, etc. * He came at a time when word about Him would spread slowly - very slowly. * Vs 4 - John was stationed in an “uninhabited region.” * This would be like God’s main spokesman for what He’s doing in the world having a Twitter following of 17 people. * But if that person was simply faithful, as John was, then he would fulfill God’s role for his life. * Just about the time John’s audience began to grow, he was removed from the picture. * Now, 2k+ years later we’re still talking about his faithfulness. * Testimony of Bible study - at the height of our business I started doing it with hardly anyone there….