Book of Mark, Chapter 13

 Chapter 13

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age

3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The Abomination of Desolation

14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

No One Knows That Day or Hour

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

Slavemaster Fame

 One of the tenets of Pride

We are currently talking about some of the most famous Slavemasters that exist today. This is to show you that when Jesus reads out loud,

“And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.” Luke 4:17-20

He was talking about you. When we read things like this.

"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before me..” Exodus 20:2-3

He was talking about you. Many people try to say things like this. “I was never in Egypt. I was never a slave. So this doesn’t apply to me.” Wrong. You were most definitely were, or you may be now, a slave. We have already talked about these Slavemasters.

Mammon - Money

Mammon - Drugs and Alcohol

Mammon - Pornography and sex

Mammon - New Age Nonsense.

We will wrap it up today with this one.

Mammon - Fame.

I love the last line in the movie “The Devil Advocate.”

“Vanity, definitely my favorite sin.”

The devil likes it so much that he has always used it from Adam to Jesus, to you. Fame. The Idol of Self. Even the faithful can fall into this. Jesus tries to warn us about this.

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4

We read this.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16

As children of God, we have always to be mindful of this. The religious leaders of Jesus’s day…

“For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:43

Forget about the world itself. The Idol of Self is growing and is becoming more and more seductive. “Be the next big ‘influencer.’ Have many ‘Followers.’ Get rich making videos. Give into lust. Sell your body online and let perverts and pedophiles watch. Who cares. You can make lots of money and you can be famous. You can be like a god. Have pride in yourself.”

Sound familiar? If not read Isaiah 14:12-15. Well, here it is.

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart,

'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'

But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?'" Isaiah14:12-17

So why did Lucifer, "The Son of Dawn," the fairest of all the Angels, God's first creation, fall so far and so hard? Pride told him that he did not need God, that he was a god. That he was as smart as and as important as, God Himself. He "said in his heart," "I will be like the Most High."

He tried to become God. You know the rest of the story. God smacked him down to the earth, He took from him any authority He gave him and cursed him forever.

Then God made Mankind. He gave Man, all the authority over the earth God had created and gave to him. He made man even more important than angels themselves. This did not sit well with Lucifer, who even had his name stripped from him and became Satan. How did he cause the fall of man? Pride.

Why did Adam and Eve disobey God? To become gods. They did it for the same reason Satan did. The only difference is that Satan thought it up in his own heart and Adam and Eve had to be tempted with it. It is the same sin. Pride. What happened? Detachment, emptiness, isolation, loneliness, lonesomeness, quarantine, reclusiveness, seclusion, separateness, solitariness, wilderness, withdrawal. Satan fell to the earth. God removed Himself from us and the Earth.

“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD;

             be assured, he will not go unpunished.”. Proverbs 16:5

Why?

“Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall” Proverbs 16:18

Without Jesus, you do not stand a chance. This is the world. This is the flesh. Remember, even the faithful can fall for this sin.

“And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." Mark 9:35

Jesus uses Himself as the greatest example.

“But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28

Jesus also told us this truth.

“You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” John13:13-15

Back to the movie for a second. The main character was tempted and led away with fame and fortune. He found a way to escape and beat the devil, yet at the end of the movie, he was tempted by the same sin dressed up in another package, and fell again. Why? As the devil said.

“Vanity, definitely my favorite sin.”

The Idol of Self. The Slavemaster Fame is perhaps one of the most powerful and alluring. Seductive. Even more than the Slavemaster “Lust and Sex.” The Slavemaster “Love of Money.” Although, they have been known to work together.

If God set you free from any of these, you are free indeed. Stay that way. How?

“Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

As Jesus Himself told us.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33

Trust God. Have faith in Christ. Do not covet. Be content with what you have. It no longer matters what the world says. Only care what God says. He is the only one you need to serve. Stay away from the Slavemasters. Live your life with God, for God, and serve others in the name of God. Say it with me. It is not about you.

Have you been set free? Have you been adopted? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of Mark, Chapter 12

 Chapter 12

The Parable of the Tenants

1 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally, he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone;

11 This was the Lord's doing,

    and it is marvelous in our eyes?”

12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus 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.

The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

18 And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

The Great Commandment

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

    until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

Beware of the Scribes

38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Widow's Offering

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Slavemaster Mysticism

 New Age, Witchcraft, ETC

What is mysticism? “The practice of religious ecstasies (religious experiences during alternate states of consciousness), together with whatever ideologies, ethics, rites, myths, legends, and magic may be related to them.

The term mystic is derived from the Greek noun mystes, originally designated an initiate of a secret cult or mystery religion. In Classical Greece (5th–4th century BCE) and during the Hellenistic Age (323 BCE–330 CE), the rites of the mystery religions were largely or wholly secret. The term mystes is derived from the verb myein (“to close”, especially the eyes or mouth) and signified a person who kept a secret.

This can and does also include Wicca, Astrology, Mediums, crystals, etc. Anything outside of faith in the one and only Yeshua, or Jesus. God forbids us, His children, from dealing with these things. Yes, they are real. Yes, they are evil. Yes, they can hurt or even kill you. This is what we are talking about today.

Look at this warning we receive in Isaiah.

“And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?” Isaiah 8:19

Let’s talk about that for a second. That “spirit” Grandma? Is it your long-lost mom looking out for you? Is Grandpa Joe trying to tell you something? The short answer is no. Ghosts are real, but they are not our dead loved ones.

Look what the Word says about people when they die.

“As the cloud fades and vanishes,

so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up;

he returns no more to his house,

nor does his place know him anymore.” Job 7:9-10

And here.

“When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;

on that very day, his plans perish.” Psalm 146:4

Here,

“Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” 2 Corinthians 5:8

Look what Jesus said to the thief who was crucified with Him.

“And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

Some will argue this point and attempt to make it seem contradictory. If Jesus was buried and rose after three days and then many days later ascended to heaven, how could He have been in paradise with the thief? The answer is both simple and difficult for some to understand. After Christ died, it was His body that was buried in the tomb. However, Jesus’s spirit was not in the tomb. Jesus’s spirit was in the Father’s presence. After three days He returned and took up His body again. He raised it from the dead by entering into it one more time. Only God can do that.

God warns His people against making "his son or his daughter pass through the fire." Human sacrifice, in modern terms, is equal to abortion. Divination is the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means."Observer of Times,” same as astrology or stargazing. It is another form of divination. This also includes horoscopes or anything that takes the place of God's direction in your life. "An enchanter, a magician; or a sorcerer. One who casts spells; or bewitched." A Witch is a person who practices magic. One who deals with demonic spirits. It does not matter if they practice “black” or “white” magic. There is no such thing as good magic.

A charmer is someone who can put a spell on someone or change things by the use of magic. A consulter with familiar spirits. A Medium who believes, or wants you to think, they are contacting the dead. A wizard. A male witch, a sorcerer, a magician, or a conjurer. One who uses magic to have control over another person; also someone who uses magic to change nature. A necromancer. A person who claims they have spoken with those who have died already. Contact is made for magical and fortune-telling purposes.

The supernatural is REAL. Witches are REAL. Wizards, mediums, and psychics are REAL. Of course, I would be willing to bet you that for every real one, there are a hundred phonies. Scam artists are just trying to milk you out of your money. But there are REAL ones.

Just like you would not waste your time warning your Children against things that are not real, things that cannot hurt them, your Heavenly Father will not warn you against things that are not real, things that cannot hurt you. He teaches us, His children these things, and we should be teaching our's the same.

“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31

Is God serious about this?

“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.” Leviticus 20:6

Yes, God is serious. I want you to think about this for a second. I am my children’s father. I love them and I warn them about things that may cause them harm. Am I going to warn them about the giant people eater that will come and eat them if they do not honor it in some way? No. Why? Because it is not real. It does not exist. I’m not going to waste my time warning my children about something that does not exist. God is not warning us about these things because they are made-up nonsense. No, He is warning us because they are real.

The Word of God warns us of this.

“And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.” Deuteronomy 4:19

Also here

“You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you. Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!” Isaiah 47:13-14

I have known people who would not leave their homes until they got the paper, yeah I know, the younger people are thinking, what is a paper? They would not leave their homes until they got the daily paper and read their Horoscope to see how their day would be. If I'm going to be honest here, I have read mine from time to time just for fun to see how accurate it was. It wasn’t. This was before I knew that it was not fun. It was not harmless.

Look what the Word declares in the coming age.

“Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” Revelation 22:14-15

Those who practice these things will not enter the Kingdom. They will not receive the gift of salvation. Any doubt?

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

Yes. The supernatural is real. God IS supernatural. Yes. There is a spirit realm. Yes, some can operate in the spirit realm. Yes. Some people can and do contact evil spirits and do witchcraft. However, you as a child of God, do not need any of that. The one who made those stars, the one who made YOU, is your Father. He is warning you to stay away from all this new-age nonsense. This witchcraft. This evil.

Remember this story in Daniel? The King had a dream that bothered him greatly and he called magicians, the enchanters, and the astrologers to interpret the dream but they could not.

“Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.” Daniel 4:7

Who did? Daniel. How? God. You are a child of God. You do not need to mess with any of this nonsense. God is your Father. He will,

1- Set you free from Sin.

2- Give you eternal life with Him

3- Give wisdom to those who ask Him.

4- Bless you and meet all your daily needs.

5- Give you peace in any storm if you trust in Him.

6- Give you a life more abundant while you are here

7- Love you with Agape love

You do not need to worry, or fear, anything. However, He also does not want you messing around with things that can hurt you and hurt others.

Do you know the Agape love of God? Is He your Daddy? If you have not already done so, you need to ask Jesus into your life, then say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Yeshua said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, Yeshua IS Lord! 

Book of Mark, Chapter 11

 Chapter 11

The Triumphal Entry

1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at the door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15 And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

20 As they passed in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

27 And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Slavemaster Addiction 2

 Sex and debauchery 

First off, we will be talking about sex. If this offends you, or you have young children with you, please think about the best course of action now.

Are you still here? Good. Welcome. First, we need to be 100 percent open and honest. Sex is great. We could explore many aspects of sex. God loves sex too. He created it. Read through Genesis 1-2 and you will clearly see this.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

Sex is great, fun, and satisfying as long as you do it God’s way. One man, one woman, for life. That is it. It is that simple. Once you are married, and not before, by the way, you can enjoy all the sex you and your spouse want. As a matter of fact, God’s Word tells us we must do so.

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

Look here in 1 Corinthians 7

“The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians 7:3-5

Why?

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:18

What is sexual immorality? Anything outside marriage between one man and one woman. ANYTHING. Sex before marriage. Homosexuality, Transgenderism, Pedophilia, Beastiality, yes all these are talked about in the Bible.

Homosexuality- Leviticus 18:1-5, 22-24, 29, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:49-51, Romans 1:18-32, just to name a few.

Transgenderism- Deuteronomy 22:5, Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 11:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

Pedophilia - Mark 9:42, Luke 17:1-37, 2 Timothy 3:1-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-6

Beastiality- Leviticus 18:19-30, Exodus 22:19

The Bible makes it extremely clear that marriage, between one man and one woman, needs to be honored.

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Hebrews 13:4

Turn to Ephesians 5 starting at verse 22

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.

He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife [see] that she reverence [her] husband.” Ephesians 5:22-33

If you are a married man, you are the man. You are the head of the family. That means that it is your job to provide protect, and lead your family at all times and you must lay down your very life if that is what it takes to do so. If you are a married woman, you are the woman, wife, and mother of the children. You must care for the children and the home and honor your husband. I know, old fashion, right? But still, the best way to a great marriage is because God made it that way. Children are to honor their father and mother and when the time comes, it is YOUR responsibility to care for your aging parents.

This is God's plan for the perfect and happy family. Jesus said this about marriage when asked about divorce.

“And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?" He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew19:3-6

You see, the Bible gives three ways to be interpreted as qualifying causes of divorce.

Death of course, then you are just released from your obligation.

Adultery. Which is the only way Jesus tells us it is acceptable.

Paul says that it is ok if a non-believer wants to leave a believer.

Jesus tells us there is only one way a living person can divorce and that is because of adultery

“And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." Matthew 19:9

God is serious about this folks. So serious that He made this one of the Ten Commandments.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14

The concept is simple. God's Plan for Marriage is easy to understand. One man, one woman, come together, as one flesh for life.

Adultery is also fornication. The Bible regards adultery as a great sin and one that can lead to all kinds of sin, death, and destruction. Think King David.

King David coveted the beautiful wife of Uriah. This leads him to commit adultery. This leads him to murder Uriah. In the end, it cost him his son.

According to Proverbs 6:32

"But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul."

When you find the one you love. Your soul mate. The one you love more than anything else on earth. They are part of you. You are one. To go out and fantasize about and or give yourself to another, in the most intimate way, that should be reserved for only your spouse, you are not just playing some kind of game. It's NOT just sex. It's not just fooling around. It is the deepest hurt you can cause, to the one, you claim to love the most.

Remember, Jesus even talked about this.

“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28

Why is this so dangerous that Jesus is warning us about it? Who is going to know what is in our heads? Well, God. But that is not why. Look here.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.” James 1:14-16

Once that thought gets in your head, it may not be long before you do something about it. Think King David again.

Child of God, God gave you your spouse. He gave you freedom from sin and debauchery

“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Romans 13:13-14

Remember, if the world likes it or not, if you like it or not, it changes nothing.

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

Enjoy sex. Do not give in to Porn, goes back to planting that seed in your mind. If you start fantasizing when you look at other women or men, then stop. Do not look. Do not allow that sin to grow. Love your spouse as you love yourself and live a happy married life, enjoying the gift of sex God gave you. If you do it enough, you will find no reason to look elsewhere.

Have you been adopted into the Family of God? Would you like to be? Would you like to have a Godly marriage? It is simple. Say this prayer. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

Email if you wish to contact me, it's truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of Mark, Chapter 10

 Chapter 10

Teaching About Divorce

1 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.

2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

10 And in the house, the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Let the Children Come to Me

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

The Rich Young Man

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

32 And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33 saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34 And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

The Request of James and John

35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

46 And they came to Jericho. As he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Slavemaster Addiction

 Drugs and alcohol 

We are talking about how people can become enslaved and not even realize it. Even worse they do, yet they remain a slave to the slavemaster, even though they have a way out. Remember what Jesus said.

“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34

Yes, you were never a slave in Eygpt. You were never bought and sold, whipped or beaten, and forced to complete hard labor. No. Yours is so much worse. Your slavery is quiet. Comfortable. It makes your flesh feel good. It seemingly, falsely, but seemingly takes away the pain and sorrow. This is what we will be talking about today and next week. It is the Slavemaster named Addiction.

Now let's start by saying this. No. The Bible does not say you are barred from having a glass or two of wine. The Bible does not say it is a sin to have an adult beverage. Here is what it says.

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:17-21

What happens when you drink or do drugs and become drunk?

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complained? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?

Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Do not look at wine when it is red when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end, it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. You will be like one who lies down amid the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink." Proverbs 23:29-35

You fulfill the works of the flesh

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

Why? Because you numb yourself to God and His Holy Spirit which is already there to help you.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1

Again, it says “whoever is led astray by it.” If you can take a glass of wine with dinner, it does not affect you, by all means, enjoy. After all, Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine. No. It was not grape juice.

However, if it leads you astray, for you, it is bad for you. Yes, you should never drink it. If you are an alcoholic, then it would indeed be a sin for you to drink. For someone who is not, it is fine for them. Do you see the difference?

Peter reminds us of this fact.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Drugs and alcohol can indeed make this a whole lot easier. Don’t feel like going to work? Get stoned or get drunk. Sad over something? Get stoned or get drunk. Hurting? Get stoned or get drunk. Just looking to feel good. Get stoned or get drunk. Now that it is pretty much legal everywhere and readily accessible for all, more and more people are finding this Slavemaster.

Remember, there is never anything new when it comes to this Slavemaster.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

You have been set free if you are indeed a child of God. Remember,

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Before the Son, you have no chance. The Slavemaster owns you. After the Son, YOU are the only one who can force you to enter again into slavery. Look here.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:12-15

If Jesus sets you free, staying that way is up to you. Paul puts it in his letter to the Romans.

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15

Jesus did His part. He set you free. God gave you His Spirit, His Son, and His Word. All you have to do is simply stay away from the triggers that lead you back into slavery. You can now resist and overcome anything.

If you have to, and you do, change your friends. Change your location. Stop doing all the things you did before. Start reading this {Holding us the Bible.} Start praying to God. Learn who it is that now, as a child of God, that lives in you. You should have no more fear. You have overcome because He who is in you has overcome the world, death, and even hell. You just have to trust and obey. Accept and learn. Grow in the spirit and you will never again fall into that Slavemaster’s hands. Is it easy? No. Can you do it? Of course. You can, because He already did.

The Slavemaster Addiction has other tools he uses to entrap you. Lust, desire, sex, and debauchery. This is what we will be talking about next time.

Do you know the Son of God? Has He set you free? Without Him, you will never be free. If you have not already done so, you need to ask Jesus into your life, then say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be, say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Yeshua, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!

Book of Mark, Chapter 9

 Chapter 9

1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

The Transfiguration

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, it immediately convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Jesus Again Foretells Death, Resurrection

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask him.

Who Is the Greatest?

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Anyone Not Against Us Is for Us

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Temptations to Sin

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,[g] it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”