Messenger Marcus proclaims the wonderful truth that we who are redeemed and born again by Gods grace can trust in Jehovah completely. Marcus takes his tet from the book of Provers. Prov 3:5v – Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths. 7Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: 8It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.
Messenger Marcus expounds First John chapter 1. Marcus first quotes verse one as being very significant. The apostle John commences the epistle with a grand , indefiniteness – ” THAT which was from the beginning”. Not “Him who!” He will be proclaiming the glorious Person of Jesus Christ but not only this. He is going to declare also His Being and all that relates to Him, His gospel, the treasures of wisdom that lay in Him, His truth, all that could be known about Him by human understanding as guided and taught by the Holy Spirit.
God Exists Outside Time And Space
The apostle takes us back to “the beginning” This One was already there when the heaven and earth where created (Genesis 1:1). He was there when , according to John’s Gospel He created all things.
John 1:1 to 3 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
Einstein’s theory of realativity teaches us that space, time and matter are interdependent. With no space, without any matter created, – time itself would not exist. Our Lord, the creator God exists outside time and space.
The Supreme Emptying
The heart of John and all the apostles of the Lord was inflamed with awesome gratitude, wonder and love as they gazed captivated at the lengths that our Lord went in emptying himself of all his God attributes to walk amongst us. The book of Philippians describes his amazing emptying he went through to become as mortal man, ( Phil 2: 6, 7). He who knew all things and all heavens mysteries emptied himself as he walked amongst us; Jesus had to learn and study as we do and had to grow in wisdom ( Luke 2:52). When Jesus asked the sick ones how long they had been sick – he was asking a genuine question, ( Mark 9:21)! He as true man, did not know while he sojourned among us the day and hour that he would return to earth, (Mark 13:32 ). He who was omnipresent ( filling all of heavens, earth and even the lower regions could only minister, teach and heal in one place at a time. No longer was Jesus omnipotent and able to achieve anything by his power. He had voluntarily decided to rely on the power of The Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:38- God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
John’s heart was filled with wonder that he and the other apostles of the Lord had heard the beautiful voice of ‘ That which was from the beginning’. That they had seen this One with mortal eyes and because they were so transfixed by the life of this man full of grace and truth they had gazed at him and his anointed ministry with rapt awe. They had even touched this eternal, almighty, one with lovely human hands and known his loving touch.
Messenger Marcus proclaims that Jesus is our all in all. Everything we need comes from him. The book of Hebrews chapter 12 is often said to describe Jesus as the pioneer of faith. However Marcus describes how our glorious Lord is also the pioneer of all excellent virtues; he is the pioneer and source also of hope and love.
The Trail Blazing Christ
Jesus Christ is the source of faith. We turn to Hebrews chapter 12, verses 1 and 2 to read about the ‘trail blazing Christ’. …… Hebrews 12:1, 2 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The preceding chapter 11 is known as ‘ the gallery of faith filled men and women.’ Abraham, Isaiah, Rahab, Moses and others who lived and died in faith; also Enoch, who of course was carried straight to heaven without tasting death, As we come to chapter 12 we see that Jesus is the ‘file-leader’ – The one at the front of the procession! All the others mentioned in the preceding chapter are all following him because he is the leader as well as the source of faith! He alone is the dynamic hero and leader of faith.
Prince Of Hope and Love
But Jesus is not just the trail blazer and leader of faith, He was and is the dynamic prince and source of passionate, burning, unfailing love! He is the supreme example of enduring, overflowing hope! Oh he had faith! Oh he had love! Oh he had a shining and victorious hope that endured all trials and never failed.
Jesus Had Faith
Jesus had faith as he walked this earth as a true man. He had faith that he would be able (as he yielded his will to God His father) to rescue and redeem a sin soaked humanity. He had faith that men and women could be gathered together into the ‘fold of God.’
Messenger Marcus proclaims the power and value of believers baptism; this precious ordinance is in many churches the forgotten command of Christ. Baptism is a beautiful symbol, but it is far more than a symbol – every baptism is a powerful God ordained time.
Messenger Marcus answers the question, “What is God’s plan for me?” Scripture clearly shows us that even before the world was created God’s loving heart was planning to rescue broken mankind from its own lost destiny – bound for eternal hell. Marcus points to scriptures that clearly show that salvation from hell and the gift of abundant life is gloriously FREE to all who are willing to humble themselves to receive God’s FREE gift.
Eternally Loved
My friend, I do not know you, but I wish to say something to you today. No matter what you think of yourself and the way you live your life, I want to tell you that God The Father is not angry with you. He wants the very best for you life; he is the loving father of men and women who are eternally loved. This day he wants to give you THE FREE GIFT of eternal life. He sent His Only begotten Son to earth 2000 years ago to save you. Jesus
New Christian converts are blessed with God’s gift of Baptism. They are buries with the Lord Jesus and also raised with him to a new life of glory that awaits them. Messenger Marcus takes a deeper look at all that God accomplishes in baptism; he also looks at God’s strategy for spiritual victory which is found in Romans chapter 6. This message was preached on 11-02-2024.
Messenger Marcus preaches on the rich fruit of character that will be in our lives as we are living in the presence of God. The fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Gal 5:22, 23 – these are actually the attributes of the wonderful Jesus. When we are immersed in His glorious presence we ourselves will be filled with Christ’s fruit.
Travelling In God’s Direction
In Exodus chapter 33 verse 14 God said to Moses, “My presence wit go with you and I will give you rest”. In this scripture narrative Moses basically said. – “Lord if you presence doesn’t go with me I don’t want to go anywhere”! That should be our attitude in life because – when we try to live life ( even as Spirit filled Christians) living out our own will and doing our own plans and making our own efforts we are are wasting time and spoiling the deep fellowship with God that is our birthright. God is not with us in the way he could be if we were totally committed to him his ways is power and his will. We need to be travelling in God’s direction. Not outside if Him: Living in the presence of God should be our earnest desire.
Jesus Blood Cleanses All Sin
As we continue in life, from time to time we will sin; if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the TRUTH is not in us, (1 John 1:8). We will need to be cleanse from all sin. We thank God that the blood of the Lord Jesus is always available to continually wash us from all sin. At the times we fail and feel under a guilt cloud we thank God that Jesus Blood cleanses all sin, (1 John 1:9). We also need to be filled continuously with the Holy Spirit. Just one filling will not do. We need continually to be filled every day with God’s Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 speaks these words Eph 5:18, 19 – do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Colossians ( in a parallel passage) reads: Col 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Thank God there is cleansing. Thank God there is filling and thank God there is abundance of blessings as we follow the Lord.
