MARK & LUKE

Enjoyed Church so much last night.  Preached on: "The Fellowship Factor".  The art of fellowship is Hospitality.  So many good truths were shared from God's Word.  I sure love sharing the truth of God's Word!  Here are some truths I looked at this morning: 1) DON'T PICK ON THE SERVANT WHO SACRIFICED- In Mark 14, we see these events:  Mark 14:3  "And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head."   This lady brings an expensive gift and sacrifices it for the LORD.  But, instead of being applauded for her sacrifice, this dear woman is criticize.  Mark 14:4  "And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?"  But, Jesus comes to her rescue:  Mark 14:6  "And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me."  Jesus teaches all of us a principle... don't criticize the one who sacrifices!  Don't criticize the Bus Worker, the Sunday School Teacher, the Soul Winner, etc.  Don't tear down the ones who are building up the kingdom of God.  Correct them if and when it is needed, but do not criticize them. 2) WHO GETS TO SEE JESUS FIRST?  I never noticed this before, but guess who gets to see Jesus first after the resurrection?  Mark 16:9  "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."  The most wicked women was 1st to see Jesus!  Talk about grace!  Now I say most wicked, not because we hear about her sins, but because we see that seven devils (demons) had possessed her and I'm sure they were very wicked!  In the genealogy of Jesus, five women are mentioned and some of them had a very shady past.  Here, Mary Magdalene, had a shady past and yet gets to see Jesus first!  Jesus is always teaching us about grace.... in the build up to His birth, and at His resurrection.  In Mark 16:7 it says:  "But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter..."  Peter who had just denied him!  Talk about grace!  Wow!!  I love it! 3) THE LORD WORKING WITH- In Mark 16:15, we have the great commission.  Mark 16:15  "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."  In verse 20, we see that they are preaching:  "And they went forth, and preached every where..."  But, look at the next phrase:  "the LORD working with them, .."   This is what makes any preaching effective!  It is not the man who does the preaching... it is "the LORD working with them" that gets the job done and communicates the truth!  Let us never forget the ONE working with us that makes our work effective! 4) HONEST AND GOOD HEART-Luke 8:15  "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."   Here we see that the man who bore fruit, being the good soil, had "an honest and good heart".  If we are givers and give to God then we have an honest and a good heart.  If we are not honest with God, then we are not good at all.  We need to be honest Christians and render unto God the things that are God's. 5) THREE ATTITUDES-ONE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!  In Luke 10, we have the story of the Good Samaritan.  The story has five characters, and three attitudes.  The certain man... he is robbed and left for dead.  The thieves... they do the robbing and hurting.  The Priest and Levite see the man in need and go on.  The good Samaritan who helps the man out and saves his life.  These are the five characters.  Here are the three attitudes:  What is thine in mine- The thieves had this one!  What is mine is mine.  The Priest and the Levite had this attitude.  What is mine is thine.  The Good Samaritan had this attitude... and it made all the difference!  What attitude will you have?  Well, my time has gone.  Time flies when I'm reading and hoping to write.  I had so much more I wanted to comment on, but it takes me an hour and a half each morning just to get this much done.  Hope you have a blessed day!!   Pastor Mike Mutchler