Lawrence DeMetrius

Lyrics

Letter of Apostle Mark
An Intimate Review
Pt 5
By Lawrence DeMetrius

Salt

In [Mk 9:49, 50] Apostle Mark writes of Christ’s decree that every mortal will be SALTED with FIRE and every SACRIFICE SALTED with SALT. He said that SALT is GOOD if it has not lost its SALTINESS and admonishes His brethren to keep SALT and PEACE amongst themselves. Thus, it is every born-again believer’s responsibility to keep themselves SALTED.

*salt (noun) Gk #251 hals (halce) it is salt

*salt (verb) Gk #217 halas (hal-as) it means to salt and figurative of prudence which is…
• the quality and fact of being wise in practical affairs
• discretion and caution with regard to practical matters
• regard for one's own interests
• frugality, economy and provident care in the management of resources

*good Gk #2570 kalos (kal-os) it means literally and morally good, beautiful, chiefly, valuable and virtuous for appearance or use

This gives credence to the idea that one is to be a good steward of the divine insight imparted to them by Yahweh, first for the wellbeing of self and then for others. [Pro 3:1-20; 8:14-21, 35, 36; Mt 7:12; II Jn vs 7-11]

Divine Teachers Wanted

In [Mk 10:1] Apostle Mark notes that there will always be an audience for Yahweh’s teachers. All they need to be is present. Students assigned to them by THE LORD will avail themselves for discipleship at the appointed times. [Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45, 65; 8:31, 32, 36, 38, 41-47; 10:1-30]


The Subject of Divorce

In [Mk 10:2-12] Apostle Mark writes of Christ’s perspective on adultery as it relates to divorce.

Jesus Christ Declares That Only Yahweh Is Good

In [Mk 10:18] Apostle Mark notes that Christ considered Yahweh better and above Himself. In so doing, He provides clear evidence of His Own divinity, which should be reverently regarded by anyone who professes to be a worshiper of Yahweh, especially through Christ.

*good Gk #18 agathos (ag-ath-os) it means good in any sense, often as a noun but also as an adjective describing that which is…
• morally excellent, virtuous, righteous and pious
• satisfactory in quality, quantity and degree
• of high quality, proper and fit
• well-behaved, kind, beneficent and friendly
• honorable, worthy and in good standing
• profitable, advantageous and beneficial

Ministry to the Rich

In [Mk 10:17-31] Apostle Mark notes that the keeping of simple and divine precepts will guide one into divine worship. However, doing so may also require relinquishing things of great value in one’s mortal lifetime. Unwillingness to let go of temporal things, can be the one thing that keeps one from wholeheartedly worship of Yahweh and being a devoted Christian disciple. [Jn 14:6ing; Heb 7:25] Per His dialogue with a rich young ruler, Christ explained how challenging it is for rich people to value spiritual riches above temporal wealth. Wealth and the possession thereof are not evil. [Eccl 7:12] However, if it becomes a thing of idolatry, it will sway one from being wholehearted devoted to Yahweh. [Eccl 12:13; Exo 20:3; Mt 6:24; I Tim 6:6-19; I Jn 2:15-17] Blessedly, Yahweh grants unto those who genuinely desire to properly worship HIM, deliverance from a heart of avarice. Christ promises born-again believers a 100-fold return of all they have given up to follow Him with eternal life.

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

In [Mk 10:46-52] Apostle Mark writes of a blind man named Bartimaeus and his encounter with Jesus Christ at Jericho. His experience teaches one to never miss opportunity to receive from the Lord when they recognize that He is near.

Follow The Lord’s Instruction

In [Mk 11:1-11] Apostle Mark writes about the historic and prophetic event of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem riding on a colt. The occurrence reiterates that when one does as the Lord Jesus instructs them, things will happen as He has said.

The Fig Tree Experience

In [Mk 11:12-14, 20-24; Heb 11:1, 6] Apostle Mark notes that Christ knew there would be no fruit on the fig tree because it was not the season for fig trees to bear fruit. The Fig Tree Experience was purposed to express the power of believing in one’s own spoken word. When one truly believes in what they say, they can by their own words invoke manifestations of what they desire during their mortal lifetime. The Fig Tree Experience also gives credence to the idea and reality of satanic powers, which are circumambient yet subject to divine authority. Per Apostle Mark, only the disciples of Christ witnessed what He did to the fig tree with His words. Revealing the power of His Word to them was necessary, as they would be the forerunners to proclaim His Testimony. In so doing, it was of utmost importance for them to believe in the words they would be speak. [Mt 6:22; Jam 1:8] Christ also wanted His disciples to know that all satanic powers are subject to them as long as they continue to obey and proclaim His Words by faith. After revealing the power of His Word by The Fig Tree Experience, Christ expounded upon the importance of having FAITH not only in GOD but also in themselves as HIS spokesman. The Fig Tree Experience is revelational knowledge for all born-again believers concerning the power of their words as Oracles of GOD, who are given delegated authority over all satanic powers. Per this passage, satanic powers are likened to MOUNTAINS, which can be removed from places they have no right to be. By effective proclamation of divine words, satanic powers can be ejected from the hearts, minds and lives of mortals who desire to be disciples of Christ and exclusive worshipers of Yahweh. [St Jn 4:23, 24; Pro 18:21; Dan 12:3, 10; Mt 16:18; 5:19; Lk 10:19, 20; Rm 10:9, 10, 17]

*faith Gk #4102 pistis (pis-tis) it is…
• persuasion and credence
• moral conviction of a religious truth and the truthfulness of Yahweh or a religious teacher
• reliance upon Jesus Christ for salvation and constancy in such confession
• the system of religious truth based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ

*say/saith Gk #2036 epo (e-po) it means to speak

*say/saith Gk #3004 lego (leg-o) it means to mean, lay forth and relate in words

*mountain Gk #3735 oros (or-os) it is a mountain as lifting itself up above the plain…and is figurative of satanic powers [II Cor 4:3; 10:4, 5]

A spiritual or supernatural MOUNTAIN is any power, any thought and any idea that opposes Christ the Word and RECEIVING thereof in HEART. [Eno 46-50; Gen 3:15; Gal 4:7; Mt 1:21-23; II Cor 10:4, 5; 4:3-7]

*heart Gk #2588 kardia (kar-dee-ah) it is the heart and figurative of thought, feeling, mind and middle

*believe Gk #4100 pisteuo (pis-yoo-o) it means to…
• credit, have faith in, on or with respect to a person or thing
• entrust especially one’s spiritual well-being to Jesus Christ

*receive Gk #2983 lambano (lam-ban-o) it means to take and get hold of

The House of Prayer for All People

In [Mk 11:15-19] Apostle Mark writes of Christ’s passion for Yahweh’s House of Prayer, which is to be for all people. He does not approve of merchandizing within these edifices. He reiterates that Yahweh’s Houses of Prayer for All People are solely to be recognized as sacred places of prayer unto His FATHER. It is never to be used as a DEN of THIEVES.
Per this passage such is one who conducts any activity that detracts for one’s effort to commune with Yahweh, in places that are dedicated as HIS Houses of Prayer for All People. The act of conducting inappropriate business in Yahweh’s Temples is an extreme offence to Jesus Christ and those who come to inquire of Yahweh. Such activity robs THE LORD of worship due to HIM in HIS temple. It also robs petitioners of the communion they seek of THE LORD in HIS temple. Thus, those who conduct such transactions are deemed THIEVES in Christ’s perspective.

*house Gk #3624 oikos (oy-kos) it is a dwelling and a family more or less related

*prayer Gk #4335 proseuche (pros-yoo-khom-ahee) it is worship or a chapel of worship

*den Gk #4693 spelaion (spay-lah-yon) it is a…
• cavern which is a cave, especially one that is large and mostly underground
• hiding place or resort

*thieves Gk #3027 leistes (lace-tace) it is a brigand and bandit, especially one of a band of robbers in mountains or forest regions

King Solomon writes,

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore, let thy words be few.
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
[Eccl 5:1-3]

Forgive

In [Mk 11:25, 26] Apostle Mark notes the command of Jesus Christ to FORGIVE whoever one has an OUGHT against. Pardon for personal sins will only be granted to those who FORGIVE others that TRESPASS against them.

*forgive Gk #863 aphiemi (af-ee-ay-mee) it means to send forth

*ought Gk #5100 tis (tis) it means some or any person or object

*trespass Gk #3900 paraptoma (par-ap-to-mah) it is…
• a lapse, deviation and side-slip
• an unintentional error
• a willful transgression

Per these definitions, a wrong committed against another can be intentional or unintentional. Regardless of the nature of the TRESPASS, born-again believers are expected of THE LORD to practice FORGIVINGNESS at all times. It is their personal power and authority to SEND FORTH from themselves the hurts inflicted upon them by evil spirits through TRESPASSES committed by others who are under their influence. No person under divine influence purposely hurts themselves or others. One must keep in mind that satanic forces are divinely set to afflict mortals with hurt in any way they can. [Jn 10:10]

Playing Dumb to Save Face

In [Mk 11:27-33] Apostle Mark notes the teaching of Christ on how to deal with those who play dumb to save face. In the passage, there are high priests, scribes, and elders who attempted to defame Jesus without shaming themselves. Thus, being the hypocrites they were, they pretended to be ignorant about the answer to a question Christ presented them with. He did so in response to their demand for Him to disclose the party that gave Him authority to speak as He did. This gives credence to the idea that those who are genuinely sent by Yahweh to speak on HIS behalf, are not obligated to explain their delegated influence to unbelievers. Especially when their faith, character, words and works speak for them. [Pro 24:12; Rm 1:19, 20; Jn 3:19; Ps 97:7-13]

The Parable of the Wicked Husbandman

In [Mk 12:1-12] Christ uses The Parable of the Wicked Husbandman, which denotes a historic scenario that exemplifies Yahweh’s faithfulness in reaching out to Israel. Christ clearly denotes His interaction with the Hebrew leaders as the prophesied Messiah.
It is Always Right to Do Right

In [Mk 12:13-17] Apostle Mark writes of yet another attempt to accuse Christ of treason. However, the Lord uses this occasion to teach another righteous principle. It is to do what is right at all times simply because it is the right thing to do. In this scenario, Christ expresses that it is right to pay honor and tribute to whom they are due. For the most part, doing what is right enhances the quality of one’s life and holistic being.

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