Mark 12: 35-44

I'd like to introduce you to a man who lived just west of Edinburgh in the mid 1600s. His name is Reverend William Guthrie of Fenwick. William Guthrie, one of the holiest and ablest of the experimental divines of Scotland, was born at Pitforthy, the seat of his ancestors, in the shire of Angus, in the year 1620. The branch of the house of Guthrie from which he sprang was ancient and honorable. This was a tumultuous time full of intrigue; this spelled success and disaster for the Kirk of Scotland. In the end you must agree that the will of the Lord was done and we simply did our part as the Lord God marches through history. And when the time of the Covenanters arose he made himself heard.  

Mark 12: 35-44

It's still Tuesday of holy week, just 3 days before the cross; and the last time Jesus will teach in the Temple. Let us see what God wants us to learn.

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   Jesus: Messiahship -Mark 12:35-37---Christ is not the messiah the Jews expected He is much larger than they could imagine. They expected a temporal king coming with political and religious justice for them.
   
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      At the right hand of God
      
      1. Prophesy- Psalm 110:1 –a prophesy about the messiah
         
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         Present-
         
         1. Romans 8:34 – at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Position of power
            
         2. Revelations 3:14 -These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
            
         3. Colossians 1:15-20 -Preeminent
            
      3. Future- Philippians 2:9-10 Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is lord
         

Christ actually was bringing them the gift of forgiveness for sin and to free them from the bondage thereof. Romans 6 – so we could be slaves of righteousness.

Romans 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

            Why?

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   He has given us a cohesive message throughout all time
   
   1. The dominion mandate -Genesis 1:28
      
   2. The Lord's prayer –Matthew 6:9-13
      
   3. The great commission –Mathew 28:19
      

These three stand like pillars of fire showing us the way we should go.

  

Joshua said –Numbers 32:23 "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out"

1. Scribes: Mark 12:38-39 Represent an addiction to man centeredness. Making an outward show with no heart relationship to the Lord of all. We have all seen people like these scribes; they live for the recognition and appreciation of men.
   

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   idolatry-  Idolatry originally meant the worship of idols, or the worship of false gods by means of idols, but came to mean among the Old Testament Hebrews any worship of false gods, whether by images or otherwise, and finally the worship of Yahweh through visible symbols (Hosea 8:5, 6; Hosea 10:5); and ultimately in the New Testament idolatry came to mean, not only the giving to any creature or human creation the honor or devotion which belonged to God alone, but the giving to any human desire a precedence over God's will (1 Corinthians 10:14 Galatians 5:20 Colossians 3:5 1 Peter 4:3). Standard Bible Encyclopedia
   
   
   
   1. It captures your affections Colossians 3:7 sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry
      
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      It demands your service Romans 3:13-18 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."
      
      1. Idolatry is so dangerous because you are controlled by them. Because your thoughts are all about them; they will affect your mood, countenance, attitudes and desires.
         
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      It demands your sacrifice. You can spend your life serving false standards. Suicide for instance has this consistent nagging undertone of being so self consumed that you actually take your own life.
      
      1. LPD call " I just want to die" a report came in on the police radio of a lady who had come to the end of herself and her idols would not satisfy, the only alternative in her mind was death.
         
      
      
      

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   Widow: Mark 12:40-44 - a picture of the path of victory in Christ
   
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      The world measures everything outwardly
      
      1. Those who give the most are best
         
      2. The fastest runner is best –physical performance
         
      3. He who has the most children is most godly
         

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   You give what God has given you
   
   1. God looks on the inside. His perspective is different than ours.
      
   2. We are called to faithfulness
      
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      You pour yourself out like a drink offering –that is faithfulness to God
      
      1. When is the drink offering done? 2Timothy 4:6 When it is empty
         
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         2 Corinthians 10:12  "Those who compare themselves by themselves are not wise"
         
         1. Our hearts are given to idolatry and we being proud of heart look around and feeling inadequate don't stand up and serve.
            

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   There is an eternal blood feud between dominion and idolatry. Christ has just laid out who He is and the antithesis between the narrow and broad path.
   
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      Dominion is not just something you do; it is the way you live.
      
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         We are all called to be those who overcomes
         
         1. Revelations 2:7 I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
            
         2. Revelations 2:11 will not be hurt at all by the second death.
            
         3. Revelations 2:17 I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
            
         4. Revelations 2:26 I will give authority over the nations
            
         5. Revelations 3:5 be dressed in white.
            
         6. Revelations 3:12 A pillar in the temple of my God.
            
         7. Revelations 3:21 I will give the right to sit with me on my throne
            

Being overcomer's is a far cry from coping with tolerance and pacifying sin. We are called to fight in the army of the Lord. The law is our standard and Liberty our anthem that we might serve Him.

            We can=________ our enemies!

1. out give
   
2. out serve
   
3. out love
   
4. out think
   
5. out fight
   
6. out last
   
7. out die
   

1 Peter 2 -We are a Holy people, a Holy nation that we should bring forth the praises of him who has called out of darkness into his marvelous light

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   IN 1643 the Scottish Covenanters reflect the standards we are fighting for today in our homes, church and God willing our society.
   
   A rebellion rose up and the National Covenant was signed in Greyfriars Kirkyard on the 8th of December, 1638. The cemetery was filled with folk who'd come from all over the country to witness it, and each one of them (as many as 60,000) swore to uphold it. They all signed their names. Many of them did so in blood. The Reverend William Guthrie was there and this is what he shared with his kirk.
   
   
   
   
   
   

That we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the grace of GOD, endeavor, in our several places and callings, the preservation of the reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, against our common enemies; the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, according to the Word of GOD, and the example of the best reformed Churches; and shall endeavor to bring the Churches of GOD in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in religion, Confession of Faith, Form of Church Government, Directory for Worship and Catechizing; that we, and our posterity after us, may, as brethren, live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us.

We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the kingdoms, assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof; and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be divided or withdrawn from this blessed union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, the good of the kingdom, and honour of the king; but shall, all the days of our lives, zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition, and promote the same, according to our power, against all lets and impediments whatsoever; and what we are not able ourselves to suppress or overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented or removed: All which we shall do as in the sight of God.

    If we can't see, know and apply Gods work among the nations than we will damn our children to slavery. But if we humble ourselves before almighty God and serve Him with honest obedience, who knows the blessings he will bestow!

No king but King Jesus!