H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 8:36

H. verse 36: ” what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

E. Jesus was speaking with the crowds and his disciples that whoever wanted to be his disciples had to give up their cross and follow him. They had to let go of the world and save their souls.

A. We can be taken in by the temptation of this world so easily. We have every sin at our beck and call, waiting to soak up our very being. The world can make you lose yourself, but if you don’t come to Jesus and follow him, this world will take your soul and that means and eternity in Hell. LET GO OF THE WORLD! LIFE WITH JESUS IS SO MUCH BETTER!

R. Father God in Heaven, I declare my soul belongs to you! I don’t want to lose my life, I want to save it! Thank you for your son and your sacrifice that I may live! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 8:36

H. verse 36: “what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

E. Jesus was speaking with the crowds and his disciples that whoever wanted to be his disciples have to give up their cross and follow him. They have to let go of the world and save their souls.

R. OH Father in Heaven, I declare my soul belongs to you! I don’t want to lose my life, I want to save it! Thank you for your son and your sacrifice that I may live! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 7:8

H. verse 8: ” You have let go the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

E. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, because they asked Jesus why His disciples didn’t live according to the tradition of elders instead of eating with defiled hands? The disciples were eating with dirty hands.

A. We judge others today by our own rules instead of trusting God and leaning on His ways. Many have made up laws for His church, such as how to dress and what music to listen to etc…and we have made up what constitutes a Christian in our own way, there are people who think the Christians are supposed to be perfect, never faltering. They don’t know the Gospel of Jesus and how He extends grace and mercy to all who follow Him.

R. Father God, help me to turn to you when I need to make a judgement about someone and not use my understanding of others but look to your ways. My judgement won’t be perfect but yours is always perfect and righteous. Let me be righteous in my treatment of others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 6:52/55-56

H. Verses 52/55-56 : 52 For they had not understood about the loaves, their hearts were hardened. 55 They ran throughout the whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went into villages,towns or countryside, they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak and all who touched it were healed.

E. In verse 52 it tells us that Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand how he had fed 5000 people with only 5 loaves of bread and showed no faith so their hearts were hardened. They should not be surprised by his miracle, when they had seen his other miracles. ( Charles Stanley Life Bible). Verses 55-56 show us that people from all over had faith in him from hearing about him and they wanted only to touch him.

A. I know people with hardened hearts. They just don’t see the favor on their lives like they should. There are those who have believed but then when something bad happens to them that they don’t understand why and they get mad at God, so they become faithless, hardening their hearts so they don’t see how the miracles are working in their lives. And, just like back then, there are those now who have seen God’s miracles but their hearts are hardened and they are surprised by his miracles every time he does something. None of us should be surprised who are believers because we know God is faithful. We know he loves us, so we should use that faith and be like the believers who have faith before seeing anything. Be like the ones who only wanted to touch his cloak to be healed.

R. My precious heavenly Father, I am guilty myself of being surprised at times by the miracles you do in my life. Lord I ask forgiveness for my lack of faith! I ask in the name of Jesus that I would have faith in that which is not seen as much as what I have seen, Father, do not let my heart be hardened again. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 5:36

H. Verse 36: Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”

E. While Jesus was speaking to the woman who had bled 12 years, people from Jairus’ house came to tell him that his daughter was dead and not to bother the teacher. Jesus was on his way to heal her when the woman touched his clothes for healing.

A. We are told 365 times in the Bible don’t be afraid. When we put our faith in Jesus there should be no fear. When we believe he will save us, that he will heal us, that he will give us eternal life, then fear should have no factor in our lives.

R. Father, I pray that I always have the faith of the woman who bled for 12 years, that it would always be as strong as hers. May I always believe you and in you so fear cannot be a part of my life! I want to be an OVERCOMER!

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 4:40

H. Verse 40: He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

E. Jesus and his disciples were on a boat and a storm came up. Jesus was asleep and the disciples woke him because they were afraid. They asked him ” Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

A. How many times have we proclaimed to have faith in God, only to forget it when any kind of trouble appears? The faith of Abraham, don’t we all want that kind of faith? Abraham took his son to be a sacrifice, putting all of his faith in God that it would be ok. God wound up not taking Isaac and providing a perfect sacrifice in a ram. Today’s world offers many troubles, anxieties, disappointments but when we submit to God and relinquish control to him, our faith will be stronger because we will see him work it out for our good.

R. Precious Father, I want to have the faith of Abraham! Lord help me to count on you always in every situation, and forgive me when I don’t turn to you first. I love you Father! I trust you! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 3:28-29

H. “Truly I tell you people can be forgiven all of their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

E. Jesus is being accused by his family of being out of his mind and is being accused by teachers of the law saying he is possesed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons because he is driving out demons.

A. Today so many blaspheme against the Spirit by denying his existence. They deny God is real and they deny the Bible as the Word of God. Many examples of blaspheme occur today by removing God from everything, and in doing so, it denies that his authority rules over us.

R. Father God, I pray daily, and sometimes I forget to pray for those who would blaspheme you, those who deny your existence. God, I know our world is getting worse in denying you, your existence, your Word, and I pray each person who does, would be blessed in some way so they would open their eyes, their hearts and know that whatever it is can only come from you. I pray they change their minds and accept your Son as their Savior and believe in their hearts that HE is Lord! Their hearts have hardened but I know you have the power to change them. Forgive us all when we fall short Lord. I will pray for those who blaspheme you Lord, that if their heart is changed that you would forgive them too Father. It is in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 2:27 -28

H. Verses 27-28: Then he said to them, ” The sabbath was made for man, not man for sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath.”

E. The Pharisees called out the disciples for picking the grain tops to eat on the sabbath because they were hungry. The Pharisees said it was unrighteous to work on the sabbath or unlawful.

A. God made the sabbath for man to enjoy for a day of rest, without worry. He did not make it a day of burdens to be stressed over. We still have to eat whatever day it is. Verse 28 says that the Son of Man is Lord over the sabbath and he saw nothing wrong with the disciples picking the grain tops to eat.

R. We should realize heavenly Father that you made this day and you are Lord over it. If we have a law for every move we make on this day, we would never be able to keep them. We should use this day for rest, but we can use our common sense to get through it. We should go by what the YOU say and not what man says. The lessons you teach in your Word are laid out perfectly for us Father. I praise you and thank you for your Word so I can learn how to behave in a manner which pleases you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Mark 1:35

H. verse 35: Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

E. Jesus had been at the house of Simon’s mother – in -law where the town crowd gathered and Jesus healed many. He needed time with his Father.

A. Many times we read where Jesus goes off to solitary places to pray. Taking ourselves into a quiet place, a room, a closet, to pray in private, is a great way to connect with our Father. When we have no distractions around us, we can give our time to him and let our mind open up to what we want to say to him. Jesus knew that in his quiet place he would hear that still voice of the Father. Let us all take time to find a quiet spot today and simply focus on hearing God speak to us.

R. Father, it is up to us to pay attention to what you and your Word says. Help me each day to find a quiet place to talk with you and listen to what you are saying to me. Help me to be alert when I am talking with you, so I am not babbling on with the same old thing. Real conversation with you is needed. In a peaceful place, that is the BEST! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

H.E.A.R. the Good News Matthew 28:19

H. verse 19: ” Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

E. Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and he commissioned them to make disciples of ALL NATIONS.

A. Today, we are to do the same as followers and believers of Jesus. We too should go out and make disciples. We need to spread the love of God and his Gospel to all we see! When Jesus spoke to his disciples, he was speaking to all of us who are believers. Let’s be good and faithful servants!

R. Father, let me be a faithful servant and spread your love to all and tell them all about you! Let me be observant and know when I can and should approach others. Don’t let me walk past someone without asking if they know you, the one true God! In Jesus’ name, Amen.