Believing is Seeing (Part A)

I would never deal with lust and temptation and people on the road and just the whole thing dissatisfaction with life for no reason, you younger ones may not of gotten there yet. Some you older ones. Well, you might be there just to satisfy would live you know why I don't know why I feel so bad. I got my crying. I could tell you why sin is in the world is nothing wrong with you do something right with you. You picking it up.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of Mark chapter 8 as he begins a new message called believing you see Mark's gospel chapter 8 take verses 14 through 26. You've heard of seeing is believing what we believe. Believing is seeing. Verse 14 is where we will begin through verse 26 now the disciples had forgotten to take bread and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then he charged them, saying, take E beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod Rod. They reasoned among themselves, saying it is because we have no bread. But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, why do you reason because you have no bread, do you not yet perceive nor understand is your heart still hardened having eyes, do you not see, and having ears, do you not hear and do you not remember when I broke the five loaves for the 5000, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up they said to him, 12, also when I broke the seven for the 4000, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up they said seven so he said to them, how is it you do not understand. Then he came to Bethsaida and they brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. So he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town and when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands on him. He asked him if he saw anything and he looked up and said I see men like trees, walking.

Then he put his hands on his eyes again and made him look up and he was restored, restored and saw everyone clearly then he sent him away to his house saying neither go into the town nor tell anyone in the town quite a bit of stuff going on here in this chapter as is not uncommon in Scripture. On the surface, it can seem quite you know a ho-hum little boring even then you begin to dig into it and it comes to life when we come to Christ are our understanding everything about it changes everything now is filtered through Jesus Christ because the light is on.

Because of faith believe in him and now we see things different and yes, believing is seeing. Belief allows us to see what we would never have recognized or identified at it not been for this newfound faith in Christ, but he expects us to develop. Christ does not expect us to be born again is a babe in Christ and remain that way. That would be something drastically wrong with us if that's all that happened. He expects development well.

Satan knows this and he pours into the equation as much trouble and evil as he can to disrupt our belief in our trusting in God. Paul wrote to the Ephesians erupted of the church in Ephesus. He says for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord walk as children of light. What they do, they did walk as children of light for a while but by the time we come to the days of John and the revelation of Jesus Christ to being rebuked the church in Ephesus because they lost their first love. Faith is to get us to see Christ what he is doing and out of that flows the riches of our faith. And you have to press into it. It doesn't come naturally. It certainly does not come naturally become spiritually that does not mean it comes easily. And so, with that brief old brief overview look now in verse 14, because there's a lot here Elyse.I hope you find you agree with me.

By the time this is over with. This morning, verse 14 now the disciples had forgotten to take bread and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat a very slight oversight really wasn't a problem. They made it a problem because they read into it indirectly read the wrong things into it. As a matter of fact, verse 15 and he charged them, saying, take E beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod where he says, where at least Mark records then he charged them serious and short to the shortened to the point. That's the idea.

This is a serious things I'm telling you something I want you to hold on to what I'm telling you do something with it. He says take E beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Well leaven of course is a big part of our biblical education, its meaning and symbolism is not something that is trivial, it is very important and again he.

Mark has prefaced here with Jesus charging them take E beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod Rod at the Passover of the Jews. You remember that when God was leading his people out of Egypt the night of the Passover that night that it was instituted. Leaven was to be removed from the home completely. It is an emblem of corruption, and it was not to be in the home when God was to move and judgment upon the enemies of his people. Passover made a distinction between God's people and those who were not God's people. Those who were trusting in God and those who had no desire to trust in God. Leaven, which is least is what we're talking about in Scripture is uniformly evil when it is used as a metaphor I mean is nothing evil about the yeast in the bread itself, but when it works its way into Bible teaching when it comes from the lessons of those profits than the Lord himself. It is so speaking of corruption, especially corrupt teaching.

It also speaks of an outside influence because it is does not come along with the with the week with the flower that is made from the wheat is introduced and the influence of the Pharisees was hypocrisy they were corrupting the way people thought of God and how they should walk in their own lives because their leaders were giving them a corrupted example. These leaders were claiming to be the authority when it came to seeking God, but they themselves had really little interest in adhering to the very things God spoke hidden formalism was part of the Pharisees, problem your appearances traditions, rituals, Luke's gospel chapter 12 Luke as beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy there wearing and I'm not trying to tie this into our current times, independent of that but they were wearing an actors mask they were showing you one phase, but behind that mass was another person moral compromise for the sake of material gain in the name of God.

That is how the Pharisees and many others did business abandon many of done down to the century. To this day he says here in the leaven of Herod Rod so the corruption of the Pharisee, which is primarily hypocrisy, but not limited to, but Herod Rod politics.

Those in politics were not only corrupt to gain for themselves what they were deadly they were bootlegged by this point Herod had already had John the Baptist murdered very grotesque way least by our standards. Some would say it was a merciful act to decapitate someone instantly if he got around for a shot.

Maybe.

Anyway, the leaven of Herod Rod was corrupt also. It was a deadly political element. The satyr sees another religious group made up primarily of aristocrats who are liberal thinkers thinkers they did not really receive the Scripture, but they had a lot of power and they were in cahoots with the Herodian's and not identical, but they were there. Matthew remember Jesus expanding this warning to include the Sadducees, saying that not only were the Pharisees not only the Herodian's but also the Sadducees were corrupt. Matthew 16 Jesus said to them, take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and we listen to these words and we say Lord what is the point. The point is you watch out for those who corrupt faith who pretend not to corrupt faith.

Does this lesson that's what is telling them.

Remember, he had just left the Pharisees demanding a sign insisting on a sign additional signs going to be given to you guys a fake soul when he leaves the scissors disciples here in the boat you watch these guys. They make everyone think the religious and righteous you to be religious and not righteous at the same time it's very easy if your religion does not make you righteous. What good is your religion. These were corrupting influences spreading through the lives of the people that lived in those days is an interesting verse from Psalm 11 for look the wicked Bender ball. They make ready their arrow on the string that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart doing that to us today with it's not new. Satan is really good at this, the angel struggled to get to Daniel because the Prince of Persia satanic influences or hindering the work of God and the spiritual around Prince of Persia got his hand on the Persian Empire. Michael had to come and assist. That's how intense spiritual warfare was then and is now and has always been and always will be, but that is not so much our concern and that's why we don't get a lot of it in Scripture.

What we do get of the things that we are to be concerned with how moral behavior before the Lord. Obedience to the commandments that is righteous behavior in the preaching of the gospel and this should occupy us is to take up a lot of our time these Pharisees. Incidentally, that formulated some sound things in their teaching, but there example was corrupt and it was corrupt without warning that made them like snakes.

What is leaven. If the introduced reduction of leaven in Scripture speaks of corruption. So does Honey speak of those things that are sweet and attractive.

Psalm 119 which is a song that celebrates the Scripture the word of God. How sweet are your words to my taste sweeter than honey to my mouth so yeah, the devil is going to look to bring yeast into everything righteous. We bring the honey were not at a disadvantage is just an ugly situation, but we're not at a disadvantage by faith we fight and by faith we went when we get to heaven will be surrounded by people who by faith entered in.

I could wrap that the whole thing grind. I wouldn't dare anyway.

Verse 16 that were not heeded up yet and they reasoned among themselves, saying it is because we have no bread what he was referring to the Pharisees mindset is not referring to food. Maybe they were hungry. He enhances primarily what was on their mind.

The disciples thought he was rebuking them for not bringing enough food for everybody in the boat and oversight on their part but no big deal.

Many could just multiply food that was that if the situation was dire spoke of leaven and immediately they thought of bread they saw nothing beyond the natural sort of it. Each saw a Esau ask is that you know Esau was that character in the Bible who is just about the here and now is probably a good friend Esau just wasn't into the things of God. Well after the miracles. You would think that they would.

This would not even be an issue for the Gentiles of the Jews. He multiplied bread what this almost insulting for them to think this way was never about food is about spirit spiritual perception which they were very tall it with an Jesus is going to give them a pass.

He's going to call him out on this.

You gonna call him out pretty hard to verse 17 Jesus being aware of it said why do you reason because you have no bread, do you not perceive nor understand is your heart still hardened. He's a little annoyed here is going to hit him with nine question marks in a row.

That's annoyed and angry.

I don't I don't think that all but here's a little annoyed and he wants them to know that he's annoyed because he saying to them. This cannot be overlooked. You cannot keep going with me and stay this dull. What a profound lesson we know what happens when it's ignored. We know what happens when Christians come to Christ level. I love the jeans and a stop never grow oil or maybe worse to become self-righteous, obnoxious little snobs think they know the Bible better than everybody else and therefore they are better than everybody else that won't work either. Spiritual perception they didn't have it.

They were not sensitive to it. They were missing the point.

And by this time, having been exposed to this much ministry of Christ remembered not only did they see the miracles they heard the sermons they had private sessions with him and he is saying you guys have unbroken relate the seed that falls did not. Not when it comes to salvation when it comes to the education, the seeds of knowledge and not getting into not penetrating the heads too hard and then not going to. After this is not going to go okay. We got it for that hardheaded, but they will start making progress. They have been served notice and they will act on it will take time but they will get it just not today. Believing is seeing beneath the surface and he was a little annoyed, annoyed, and to make this point listless look at the questions I'm going to read them without the narrative, just the questions. Verses 17 through 21. Why do you reason because you have no bread, do you not perceive nor understand is your heart still hardened having eyes you not see having using out here and do not remember when I broke five loaves for the 5000. Many baskets full of fragments did you take up and when I broke the seven for the 4000, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up how is it you do not understand this just the words of Christ.

The written words and most Bible that is just laying it out to them. I don't get I don't know why you not understanding when I said, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, you should of been right on top of that, is that your thinking about all we don't have any food again.

I do not think his tone was angry at them annoyance. You know their degrees of being annoyed and this was a lesser degree, but it was there I if I were one of the apostles. I would work to make sure that didn't make its way to the Bible want anybody to see was laying me out like this. Of course I would not of been one of the apostles. If I thought that way. The only deep Jesus didn't take me to be an apostle, because I was born yet that's all. Anyway, I'm glad you laugh and know that I'm not serious. Verse eight being so uptight.

As a Christian that you get nothing but attacking other people is not a virtue. Anyway, missing that was random to some people's head in my head as nonrandom as you think. But none of them are here right now having eyes he verse 18. Do you not see having years.

Do you not hear. Do you not remember having eyes, do you not say believing is seeing. But it's not automatic doing something with the knowledge of Christ is exposed to given to us that we are exposed to weather from his were from processes of discipleship and yes, discipleship is never gone out of style.

It is still to be practice. I think summer two obnoxious to find somebody else who's ahead of them in Christ and and they just you know I love that person. I want to be more like that person. I hope that is not the case with most of us it is good to have someone who is influence on us for Christ. I think of Chuck Smith. I mean, I would not be standing here today were it not for Pastor Chuck Smith and they were there others but he is dominant by far.

My understanding of ministry that it can match the Scripture comes from such a man is he well Philippians chapter 4 all rights to that church.

He says finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, what a big word what they thought nobility mean your landowner in this context it means honorable, whatever things that are honors, whatever things are true. That's first honorable just pure of good report, if there is anything praiseworthy worthy.

If there is any virtue meditate on these things. Not that silly trends the dental unit with the keep asking that question on not that stop thinking a matter through the value of a lesson how it applies to life filing in a way I could.

This may not be me today, but it may be me tomorrow. That's how you meditate on these things.

Paul wrote to Timothy, a pastor, probably in his 30s at this time. When Paul wrote to him meditate on these things.

Give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all. Well, at this moment, there was no progress evident in these disciples don't have any food I'm not talking about food, banging his fist on the boat so it was letting them know that he expected better of them that they were spiritually out of shape and they were to get in shape that it was not okay to be aloof and the lessons that were to be picked up and gobbled up, especially on matters of corruption if they were going to be with him if they were going to be used by him in ministry as they were being used as he was preparing them to minister without him around anymore. He needed them to up their game. You cannot do what I need you to do if your head is not in the game. That's what he's telling them, and he does it with a barrage of questions that nobody could answer.

Verse 19 is is when I broke the five loaves of the 5000, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up and they said 12 okay so they remembered they remembered the situation.

You can apply it to life to them what it was one through bottles by wanted to say, you know, we were just having a bad day, collectively he's referring to verse 19 among that first time he multiplied the bread and the fish amongst the Jews when they had the little traveling baskets with them and then verse 20. Also what I broke the seven for the 4000, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up and they said seven and this was again when he multiplied the bread and the fish amongst the Gentiles, but that time they had those utility baskets. The larger one and you couldn't forget the stick. They were there they saw this, they ate the fish in the bread verse 21 so he said to them I was. If you don't you don't get it.

How is it you don't understand I don't understand how you don't understand silence as quiet you can't be indifferent about the things of Christ ago boasting how much you love him. I don't I don't know how you can say I love the Lord have no interest in what he has to say in his word is miracles is profound teachings. They were lost on his opponents.

They were not supposed to be lost on his people and there is more to what I am doing Jesus is saying than filling bellies with these miracles is more to everything that I do to believe is to see and to see is to understand for purpose not just to debate and have these truths and as precious gems you gotta go out there and do it.

How nice it would be if I could just study in my study and life could just leave me alone and I would never deal with lust and temptation and people on the road and just of the host of things dissatisfaction with life for no reason, you younger ones may not of gotten there yet. Some you older ones. Well, you might be there just to satisfy would live. You don't even know why I don't know why I feel so bad I got.

I crying. I could tell you why sinners in the world is nothing wrong with you do something right with you.

You're picking it up when you do it it don't go run to somebody and get advice run to the Scripture. Acts 242 apply it continue steadfastly in the apostles teachings in the communion with the saints and prayers communion with the Lord and struggle because is worth you have a better you don't know what happens when Christians deviate they can stand and sing and praise the Lord would then restart peeling back the layers using this heresy within the ranks move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick.

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