Author: Rick Henderson

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:45-53 (day seven)

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away. After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.

Jesus loved the masses. If he didn’t He wouldn’t have performed such a miracle as to feed them all. Yet, the crowds were draining. Even the Messiah had limits to what he could handle. This day, ministering holistically to the masses He loved, had taken a toll on His battery. He recognized that He needed some time to recharge those batteries. He needed time to rest and refresh so He could continue this ministry, perform more miracles, and fight spiritual battles, so Jesus went to pray.

How do we rest? We probably think of sleeping in or a day of no chores, but it seems like our ideas of rest are often borderline acedia (slothfulness). We run to our devices instead of running to the Lord. Jesus recharged His batteries in prayer. Maybe instead of a lazy day in the name of rest, we should spend a day praying on a mountain (or hill, or neighborhood). Maybe we will figure out a new way to recharge our batteries so we can continue His ministry, be a vessel for His miracles, and fight spiritual battles. Maybe we will find a better way to rest.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:30-44 (day seven)

The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1

He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Mark 6:34

When a Shepherd sees wayward sheep, what does He do? The Shepherd begins to herd. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures. Psalm 23:2

And He commanded them all to sit down by groups on the green grass. Mark 6:39

The Shepherd provides for His wayward sheep.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Psalm 23:5

He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them. Mark 6:41

The Shepherd satisfies His wayward sheep.

He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3

They all ate and were satisfied. Mark 6:24

The Shepherd’s provision is beyond what is needed.

My cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

and they picked up twelve full baskets. Mark 6:43

The Shepherd will guide you, provide for you, and satisfy your needs more than you can ever imagine. Stop trying to walk through the valley alone and let the Shepherd lead you where you need to be.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:14-29 (day seven)

And King Herod heard of it… vs 14

King of the Jews. A self proclaimed title that had been passed down from his father (Herod the Great) before him. Although, he was fourth in line for the throne, he was elevated to the position after his father disposed of the ones before him (his own sons). This was not the king Israel was waiting for. He wasn’t even a real king. He was the governor under the jurisdiction of Rome. He was a puppet that could be removed at any moment. Not only was he not a real king, but he deliberately disobeyed the Law. He took his brother’s wife to be his own, and then was so “pleased” by his step-daughter’s sexual appeal that he granted her anything she wanted, even murder. Complete and utter debauchery.

This is what Israel had become. This is the Israel that Jesus entered in to. The King of the Jews came to fulfill the Law. The King of the Jews wasn’t a king of Israel. Rather, He was King of the Universe. This King had the authority to save us out of debauchery. This King came that all might have life and have it to the full. Jesus is King!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:7-13 (day seven)

As Danny mentioned yesterday, we are here in Scotland with a team from the youth ministry of FBCSA. I feel like this passage had to have been chosen by God just for us this week.

And He summoned the twelve: God summoned twelve of us from FBCSA to come to Scotland. 7 teenagers, 3 parents, 2 youth workers.

and began to send them out in pairs: yesterday we went out in groups to canvas and evangelize over 800 homes in Collydean.

and gave them authority: Matthew 28 tells us that authority has been given back to us as wehave the power of the Holy Spirit with us as we evangelize.

Any place that does not receive you […] shake the dust off the soles of your feet: Scotland is dark. 3% of adults in Scotland are considered evangelical. 3 out of every 100 people are serious about their faith. We have already had to do a lot of shaking the dust off. There is a disdain and apathy for the Church.

They went out and preached that men should repent: despite the disdain, we have been called to go and preach. Today we will lead worship and preach at Collydean Granary Baptist Church. We pray that our endeavors in the community will continue to draw people to want to come and know more. Pray for us as we lead, preach, and love on this community. Pray that Collydean Granary Baptist Church will be a light in Scotland. 

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:1-6 (day seven)

And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. vs 5

Mark wanted to make it plainly clear that the unbelief of the Nazarenes was directly correlated to the lack of miracles being performed. When doubt and skepticism are present, then the full potential of the Holy Spirit will not be manifested. Many today feel that many of the gifts of the Spirit have ceased to exist in modern context. Why don’t we see miracles or mighty works of the Spirit like we do in the New Testament church? Is it possible, that it is because of the doubt and skepticism of the Church? It wasn’t the doubt of Jesus that was causing Him to not be able to perform miracles, but it was the skepticism of the people around Him that stifled the Spirit in the moment.

If we want to see the Spirit at work amongst us today, we must first cure our unbelief. Not just your own, but corporately and universally. How can you help those around you today believe in the Power of Jesus? It starts with the people in your classes and pews!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-34 (day seven)

I am reading through the Bible in one year. As I trudge through this season (currently in Numbers) reading laws upon laws, what stands out to me is that God is taking care of His people. Many of the laws that God inspired in ancient Israel, especially concerning medical practices, were to protect the people from spreading sickness and disease amongst the camp. God was teaching Israel how to take care of themselves with a knowledge far beyond scientific understanding of its time!

However, an unfortunate outcome of these laws came to light in the passage this week. By these laws, this woman was outcast from society. By law, she had lost her home, her family, her finances, and even her community. By law, whoever she touched would be unclean… including Jesus…

“But God, being rich in mercy” continues to protect His people using power that supersedes medical practices.The touch that was supposed to make Him unclean is the very touch that Jesus used to restore this woman. Same God and same power, but instead of the power being instituted by law, it is brought into action by grace through faith. By grace this woman was saved through her faith. By grace Jesus can make you clean too. Will you bring His power to action through your faith?

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-23, 35-43 (day seven)

145- Did you know that we had 145 students in grades 6-12 attend Freedom Weekend?

16- We had 16 families open their homes to host these students. We also had 16 young adults volunteer their weekend to lead these students in Bible Study.

15- We had 15 different service projects completed in the FBCSA Community.

3- We had three worship sets at FBCSA that included congregational singing, scriptural teaching, and personal reflection.

1- One God made it all possible!

This is the same God who tells us all to “Get Up” and walk! Multiple students responded to that call Saturday night! They were once dead in their trespasses, but they have been raised to walk in the newness of life! Thanks be to God!

Would you pray for them now? Pray that they have the boldness to step out and make that decision public to their friends. Pray that they will be bold enough to tell their families, especially those who are from homes where that is not the norm. Would you pray for all our students as they process this weekend and what the Lord is calling each of them to do with the information they have been given? Would you pray that the fire of these teenagers will continue to burn beyond this weekend and begin to catch all over this city?

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:1-20 (day seven)

And they began to implore Him to leave their region. vs 17

They were fine with a crazy demon possessed man living in their midst. They were okay that he had become something other than a human and could overpower anyone or anything that tried to restrain him, but they were not okay with him being free. They were not okay that there was someone who had the power to control demons beyond their superstitions and beliefs, so they sent Jesus away!

We are so afraid of letting Jesus actually work in our lives that we would rather keep the devil we know around us than take the leap of faith to see what God can do if we would only trust Him. We hold on to our sin. We hold on to our crutches. There are places we do not let Jesus in. Instead, we send Jesus away.

What if we let Jesus in? What if we let Him have ALL of us? The One who can control demons will drive evil away. The One who truly cannot be restrained, not even by death, will give His power to us. We will have power over our enemies. We will overcome our sins. We will find revival!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 4:35-41 (day seven)

He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” Jonah 1:14

Jesus and Jonah both found themselves in a storm. Both of them slept through it. Both were awakened by distraught sailors chastising their sleep and asking for help. Both were able to calm the storm with divine intervention. So is the Mark passage comparing Jesus and Jonah? Yes, but I think the better answer is that Mark was showing us that Jesus is the true Jonah as Jesus foretold about himself in Matthew 12:38-45.

Jonah got in the boat to escape his calling. Jesus got in the boat to fulfill His calling.

Jonah slept to avoid the voice of the Lord. Jesus slept so He could be the voice of the Lord.

Jonah causes the storm. Jesus calms the storm.

Should we keep going?

Jonah was sacrificed because of his disobedience. Jesus was sacrificed because of our disobedience.

Jonah spent three days in a fish. Jesus spent three days in the tomb.

Jonah’s actions redeemed Nineveh. Jesus’ actions redeemed humanity!

Thanks be to God!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 4:26-32 (day seven)

he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know. vs 27

We often try to do too much, take too much credit, and take on way too much work. We think that we have to do big things for God to get His purpose accomplished. Yet, scripture is very clear, if we plant the seed, God will take care of the growth. That is not an excuse for us to be lazy, “Well God’s purpose will be accomplished anyway.” Rather, it is a calling for us to take our job seriously: Plant the seed!

I tell our youth workers that you might not get to see the growth in our students or reap the harvest, but it is your job to plant the seed now. Sometimes the growth will come in a few months, often its a few years, but God will take care of the growth. Whether it is planting a seed in someone else or taking a step in obedience, the Lord is calling us all to be planters today. Be faithful to plant the seed and trust God to take care of the growth.

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:11