No Sign For You (Mk. 8:12)

Read Mark 8:12.

Why did Jesus refuse to give a sign?  Was He being stubborn? No.  Was He being difficult and inflammatory?  No.  Perhaps this statement was His way of saying, "I am the sign.  If you won't recognize that and submit to it, then no other sign will convince you."

They didn't need another sign.  What they needed was to submit to the sign they already had.  Jesus didn't want to complicate the clarity He established.

"If a man will not be convinced, he shall not" (Matthew Henry).

• Mk. 6:6 > unbelief (not ignorance)
• Lu. 16:29-31 > Moses & prophets (Scripture - cf. Jn. 5:39)
• Lu. 22:67-70 > "If I tell you . . ."
• Jn. 12:37-43 > refusal to believe, not really interested in truth

Living Indictment (Mk. 6:1-6)

Read Mark 6:1-6.

1. Their information about Jesus was liberating.  They recognized Jesus had wisdom and also had power to do miracles.  With that information, revival could've broken out!

2. Their identity of Jesus was limiting.  They allowed Jesus' identity to be forged by vocation and family.  There was no consideration beyond the natural.  There was no confession, "He is the Son of God."  The question isn't "What do you know about Jesus?" Rather, the question is "Whom do you believe Jesus to be?" Have you made Jesus into your own image?

3. Their indictment by Jesus was living.  He said they had no honor for Him and no belief in Him.  Worship and witness were both squelched.  These two battlefields remain active today.

Dishonor And Unbelief (Mk. 6:6)

Read Mark 6:6.

In context, "unbelief" is described as allowing what you do know about Jesus to hinder you from learning what you don't know about Him.  Jesus linked dishonor and unbelief.

Clarification -- Distraction to Obedience? (Lu. 1:18, 34)

Read Luke 1:18, 34.

Both Zachariah and Mary received a word from an angel.  Both responded with a question.  Mary's question wasn't more spiritual than Zachariah's, yet he suffered a consequence and she did not.  He was indicted for unbelief, she wasn't.  What does this tell us about the nature of faith and unbelief?

Perhaps the answer is found in verse 38.  Mary lacked understanding of details.  Nonetheless, the spoken word was enough.  She questioned, yet submitted.  Zachariah wanted more detail, more understanding before he would believe.  He questioned, yet did not submit.

When God brings you a word (direction, insight, counsel, rebuke, etc.) through the method He chooses, it is not wrong to want to verify it.  He doesn't want you following a word that isn't from Him.  What He minds is our seeking continued clarification as nothing more than excuse for inactivity, disobedience and unbelief.

Relief And Belief (Mk. 9:14-29)

Verse 24 -- I noticed the words"with tears" (MEV).  What Jesus said to the man (Mk. 9:23) got to him.  The man repented of his lack of faith and confessed that, though he believed now, there was an internal battle raging.  His heart and his head were at war.

Observations

1. Everyone needed something from Jesus.  The possessed man needed deliverance, the father of the possessed man needed belief, and the disciples of Jesus needed Him to finish what they couldn't.
2. The need for belief superseded the need for relief.  Repentance was a higher priority than having changed circumstances.

Questions

1. What is it that I need from Jesus?
2. Is my "belief" conditional or absolute?  Is it professional or "real" and personal?  ("Professional belief" -- Now there is a subject to investigate!)
3. How disturbed am I by any lack of belief that surfaces in me?

My Prayer (11/4/15)

Read Mark 6:1-6.

Lord Jesus, how easily this can happen to me -- that I would allow what I know about You to become my ceiling of experience or expectation.  Keep me full of wonder!  There is so much more You want to do in me, so much more You want to reveal.  To me You aren't just the carpenter's son but God's Son, the Christ.  Work in me that You would diminish my ignorance and not be offended by unbelief. Wherever unbelief lodges in me, it has to go.  I don't want to grieve You.  Amen.

Reflection

• Finish this thought:  "To me, Jesus is __________."
• Where does unbelief commonly manifest in my life?
• Am I content with my knowledge of and experience with Jesus?  Why?

"Let's Wait and See" Isn't Helpful

God's done some tremendous things for us. Most of you who attend L.A.G. know what I'm talking about. Hasn't it been awesome watching God at work?

I am sensing in my spirit (I think you know what I mean by that.) a bit of a "Let's wait and see" mindset. It's not congregation-wide. However, a cynical "Let's wait and see" attitude doesn't need many adherents to do its damage. It creates an unnecessary drag on everything that's happening. Let me be straight up with this: "Let's wait and see" is nothing more than unbelief! It is your declaration, silent or public, that you expect things to get worse! "Let's wait and see" means you are not fully on board with what God wants to do.

Instead of "Let's wait and see," substitute "I can't wait to see what God's going to do." You have two days to make the adjustment. Be expectant: God is going to move Sunday morning in our service!