Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

Fourfold warning:

            In Mark’s gospel of Christ’s prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives, Jesus warns us no less than four times to “take heed” and since it comes from Jesus we should pay attention to it. Take heed is one word in the Greek and carries the idea of looking at with our eyes, discerning with our eyes and mind what we see; carefully examine and weigh.

Deception:

      First, Jesus warns us not to be deceived by those that try to keep us from Him and also prophetic signs. In Matt 24:4-5 Jesus told of those who would come either posing as Christ or His representative and deceive people into going away from God and His Word. Paul warns of some of the things that deceivers will try to beguile us to accept (Eph 5:3-7; Col 2:8). John warns of deceivers as well as Peter and Jude (1 Jn 4:1-2; 2 Pet 2:1-3; Jude 4).

Persecutions:

      Jesus warns us to be prepared for probable persecutions. We live in a time of very

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. ² And the LORD spake unto me, saying, ³ Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.

The children of Israel escaped from Egypt and saw God’s judgment upon the Egyptians as they were drowned in the Red Sea. Now after they had rejoiced and praised God for His deliverance they were instructed to move forward – He said they have gone around that mountain long enough. We have a similar saying, “We’ve gone around this matter too long”, meaning we have discussed or mulled over an issue too long, now we need to get beyond it.

      God wanted Israel to go into the Promised Land that He had promised to Abraham years before this incident. He wanted them to go in and enjoy the blessings of that land “flowing with milk and honey”, so He instructed them to move on. God had delivered them from the threat from Egypt and now they were safely on the other side of the Red Sea and they had

Exodus 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

The first tabernacle:

      The first mention of tabernacle is in our text verse. The religious life of Israel was centered on the tabernacle God told them to make while in their wilderness wanderings. The details and construction and service occupy thirteen chapters in Exodus – more than for any other single item in the Bible. The description and details provide us with a wealth of typology concerning Christ, His sacrifice, service and our relation to God.

      His tabernacle’s design and construction was based upon the pattern of that which God constructed (Heb 8:2). The earthly tabernacle that Moses built in the wilderness and which was carried through the time of Israel in the Promised Land is the place of meeting. God met with Israel there in this tabernacle. God said He would be among His people (Deut 23:14). God’s presence was above the Ark of the Covenant and between the cherubim (Ex 25:20-22). All the pieces of this tabernacle were representations

 Timothy 2:15   Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Studying the word:

     Paul tells us the main purpose of studying God’s word is to show our self approved unto God (dokimos, certified, approved, genuine). In Bible times coins were all metal and soft. They were molded from molten gold or silver and many people would shave the coins and keep the shavings to eventually make new coin. Those who were men of integrity would accept only full weight coins and these coins were called dokimos – approved.

      Paul says we are to study in order to be full weight before God – acceptable to Him. We are to study all of God’s word, not just parts of it we like. All Scripture is from God (2 Tim 3:16) and is true and accurate. Not every word is God’s speaking, but it is a record of what God and others said and it is true and accurate. It is not a science book but when it speaks of science it is true and accurate. It is not a complete history

2 Peter 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

In our society today we use numerous methods and means to get people stirred up. In sporting events music, cheerleaders and bands move the emotions of people to get involved in and cheer for their team to win or perform better. In times of war people are stirred up by reports of either victory or great need, which brings people to action. In times of battle leaders have stirred their men to alter their course of action to win the encounter – i.e. Grant turns a rout into victory telling his men the enemy is trying to get away.

          Today those in the news media desire to change history and engender false and liberal ideas by their false reporting and false facts that bring great emotions to the populace. Scare tactics cause people to be moved to action all in order to gain political advantage and power.

Stir up memories:

          Peter desires those he is writing to that they stir up their memories about the things that have brought them to this

2 Peter 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

In our society today we use numerous methods and means to get people stirred up. In sporting events music, cheerleaders and bands move the emotions of people to get involved in and cheer for their team to win or perform better. In times of war people are stirred up by reports of either victory or great need, which brings people to action. In times of battle leaders have stirred their men to alter their course of action to win the encounter – i.e. Grant turns a rout into victory telling his men the enemy is trying to get away.
Today those in the news media desire to change history and engender false and liberal ideas by their false reporting and false facts that bring great emotions to the populace. Scare tactics cause people to be moved to action all in order to gain political advantage and power.
Stir up memories:
Peter desires those he is writing to that they stir up their memories about the things that have brought them to this point in their

Ephesians 5:26-27   That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Bride of Christ:

            The church is pictured as the Bride of Christ and Christ as the Husband (2 Cor 11:2). Paul speaks of husbands and wives and compares their relationship to that of the believers to Christ. Christ died for the church, intercedes for the church and here Paul tells us that Christ will present His church to Himself as a spotless bride. The church is all the redeemed and blood bought; any and all who are forgiven of their sin and walking in the light of God’s word. The bride that will be with Christ in heaven is going to be without spot, wrinkle or blemish – a holy church/bride.

How Christ accomplishes this cleansing:

      Paul is clear that it is through the agency of God’s word that the church is cleansed from all defilements (Eph 5:26); Jesus says the same ( Jn 15:3

Spiritual life and influence

Romans 8:14-17  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
¹⁵  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Indwelling:

     At conversion the believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God (2 Pet 1:4; Jan 14:16, 17). We are made alive spiritually by the Spirit (Eph 2:1). The Spirit gives us understanding (1 Jn 2:20). The Spirit within speaks to us through our spirit (Jn 8:9; 1 Tim 1:5; Ro 9:1). The Spirit will guide using various methods – our conscience being one of the methods to guide us.

David and the Spirit:

      Four evidences that he was influenced by the Spirit:

1. His conscience was smitten (1 Sam 24:6,7)

John 16:12-15  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 

¹³  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. ¹⁴  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. ¹⁵  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

God’s Spirit:

      To have spiritual discernment first requires a close relationship to God’s Spirit – being saved. Paul tells us that there is a specific gift of discernment (1 Cor 12:10; 14:29), which is given to some for the purpose to helping the church to know spiritual error from truth. John tells us to “try” the spirits (1 Jn 4:1) in order to understand the source of their teaching. We can only have true spiritual discernment from the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26), Who will not only teach us but guide us in perceiving

Hebrews 8:10   For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

God’s revelation of Himself:

God made the earth, the heavens, the stars, the animals and man and made Himself known to mankind. Today man tries to eliminate God and all aspects of God in order to appease his conscience, but yet the conscience is one aspect of God’s revelation of His law to man. God has not left man in the dark as to His reality, yet man insists upon trying to ignore God’s truth and the fact that God exists and we are accountable to Him. Through the course of history, God has given us seven fold editions of the law to reveal that law to man.

The seven fold edition of the law:

1. Written in nature – God made His sovereignty and power known in all of nature around us (Psa 19:1, 2; 8:3; 33:6=8; Ro 1:19, 20). When a severe storm

Secret and presumptuous sins

Psalm 19:12-13   Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
¹³  Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Secret sins:

            When we think of secret sins we think of something we try to hide or keep from open and public scrutiny. But here David pleads to be kept back from secret sins; he is meaning sins that he is not aware of that he is committing.  God spoke of this in Lev 4:13-14. David knew that he was human and affected by the original sin and fallenness of humanity and as such \, he was unable to know all the applications of God’s law and there may be times that he would sin against God in disobeying His command; his desire is to be and stay in right relationship with God. We are not able to hide anything from God (Prov 9:17-18; Jer 23:24; Ro 2:16; 2 Sam 12:12). God sees and knows all and there is nothing we can hide from

Savior and Lord

Luke 1:47   And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Our savior:

      One of the most wonderful titles of Jesus Christ is that of Savior. The title is first mentioned by Mary in the text verse when she realizes that the Baby she is to give birth to is none other than God her Savior, thus equating God and Jesus as One in the same.

      He came to be Savior of the world (Jn 4:42; 1 Jn 4:14) and of all men (1 Ti 4:10). The blood Jesus shed on the cross is able to save all, but only those who recognize they are sinners and seek forgiveness from their sin and trust in Christ’s finished work will be saved (1 Jn 1:9). His sacrificial death satisfied the justice of God (Ro 3:25; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10).

      Jesus came to save us from our sin and thus everyone that trusts Him for salvation will depart from sin (2 Ti 2:19)

Our Lord:

      Jesus is called the Lord Jesus Christ with Jesus being His earthly name, Christ being His

Salvation details

Psalm 35:9   And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

Salvation in details:

      The Bible is a unified book with one Author Who uses words to interconnect in specific ways to communicate His message to mankind. The flood is just one example of how truth can be gleaned from studying literary clues in the text. Genesis 6-9 is somewhat unusual in their level of detail compared to the preceding five chapters. God accounts for about 1,600 years in Genesis 1-5, yet takes four chapters to set the stage for and describe the single year of the flood. I have picked out three main reasons.

Salvation is personal and exclusive:

      Only Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives were saved from the flood out of the entire people in the world at that time. The rest perished in their rebellion and fell under the judgment of God. In like manner today salvation is exclusive – only the repentant are saved. Only those who recognize they are sinners, acknowledge God’s righteousness and seek forgiveness and obey God are saved. Salvation is for “whosoever” but only those

Righteous lies

Exodus 20:16   Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

What is a righteous lie?

      The term itself is a contrast of truths – such as “jumbo shrimp”, “silent scream”, and numerous others. Righteous deals with being right and doing right in life; a lie is the opposite of living and doing right. A “Santa Claus” lie does not classify as a righteous lie because it is an attempt to deceive for purpose of control – most of the time.

      A righteous lie would be one that is told in order to protect or help another - - perhaps to save a life. For an example one might say that telling a lie to the Nazi Gestapo when they were looking for Jews that there was none hiding in your house when you knew they were there and you were privy to it. Some would say that telling that lie would not classify as sin before God since it was told to protect from evil men.

Righteous lies in the Bible:

      Some have thought about the mid wives during the time of Israel’s slavery in Egypt (Ex 1:15-20).

Righteous friends

James 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We are known:

The phrase “a man is known by the company he keeps” has been used in English-speaking countries since the 1500s. Another phrase says “a man is known by who is enemies are”.  These sayings are not only Biblically based but are observable in everyday life.

Fiends shape friends:

      Prov 27:17 tells us that those who we associate with will affect us and our future. Sharpen means just what is says to make sharp or keen and alert. Countenance is defined as face, forward and can mean our facial features or even our direction. Those we associate with in such a manner as to be considered a friend (companion, close or far as in a fellow citizen); will affect us for good or evil.

      James warns of being friends with the world (Jam 4:4) will eventually place us in an enemy relationship with God. John expands on this as to why it will do this (

A righteous desire

Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

God’s kingdom first:

      The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were very religious outwardly, but Jesus often took them to task on their lives because they did those things to be seen of men (Matt 23:5). Jesus admonished His hearers as well as us to focus beyond the ordinary desires and needs of the physical existence. We are to look at the unseen (2 Cor 4:18) and seek first God’s kingdom.

      When we yield ourselves to righteousness, we become servants to these things we obey (Ro 6:16). It is clear we cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24); we either yield our members (bodies) as instruments (weapons) of ungodliness or righteousness; either we walk after the flesh or after the Spirit – we choice. We must doggedly pursue righteousness and Godliness (1 Tim 6:11). Our new man longs for righteousness, but we must consciously yield ourselves to seek and serve God’s kingdom. And we must never become slack in that pursuit (1 Cor

Righteous boldness

Proverbs 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Holy Boldness:

     In Acts 4:31 Luke tells us that the believers spoke with “boldness” the word of God. The word for bold is perrisia and carries the idea of not only “courage” in speaking, but also “freedom, confidence, plainness and without fear”. Before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit these same men trembled before the leaders, but now they were able to speak boldly for God. There are at least four reasons why they were able to do this.

Their association with Jesus:

      In Acts 4:13 after the healing of the impotent man, the leaders brought Peter and John before them, to question them concerning the healing. After they examined them and Peter and John spoke to them, testifying about Christ, their attention was drawn to the fact that they had been with Jesus. When we spend time with God whether it be in times of prayer or fellowship we will have a certain boldness that we did not have before.

The presence of the Holy Spirit:

      In Acts 4:8 it tells us that

Remember His benefits 

Psalm 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

God has many benefits for us

      The song writer said, "Count Your Many Blessings" and we would be surprised what the Lord has done. In this Psalm, David lists numerous benefits from God. This is a partial list of His many benefits to and for us.

      1. Forgiveness -- Verse three says that He forgives all our iniquities. The one song writer said, "My sin not in part, but the whole, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul." God does a complete work on us and forgives all and not only forgives, but cleanses (1 Jn 1:7).

      2. Healing -- In verse three also he says God heals all our diseases. While we may not experience the healing of all disease in this life, He has given man so much knowledge and understanding that many diseases have been either eliminated or nearly eliminated from existence. All disease will be wiped away in the kingdom age and in heaven there will be no disease. The last enemy of