"By What Authority Are You"...attempting to redeem us from our fruitlessness?

Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-9

"Then they (Jesus and those following Him) came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, 'By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?' But Jesus answered and said to them, 'I also will ask you one question; then answer Me , and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: the baptism of John - was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.'

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' "But if we say, 'From men' "- they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know". And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.' "

It appears these chief priests, scribes and elders were UNWILLING to respond honestly to His question; yet REFUSING TO RECEIVE the Savior of Israel. Jesus responds, "Neither will I tell you..........". We must seek Him to find Him!

Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, THAT HE MIGHT RECEIVE SOME OF THE FRUIT OF VINEYARD FROM THE VINEDRESSERS. And they took him and beat him and sent him away EMPTY-HANDED. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounding him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those vinedressers SAID AMONG THEMSELVES (initiated within themselves), 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be our's.'

So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He has spoken the parable against them. So THEY LEFT HIM (instead of embracing Him) and went away."

"If any of you lack wisdom (Do I/you know that we lack in His wisdom?), let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts (after having asked and received from Him) is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:5-8)

The ministers of that day were not asking Him so that could receive Him; they were asking of Him to contend with Him so they may retain their place of authority; unwittingly one step closer to destruction.

A Place Where Theft Hinders Blessing

 Mark 11:11-19

"And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again'. And His disciples heard it. So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to DRIVE OUT THOSE WHO BOUGHT AND SOLD IN THE TEMPLE and OVERTURNED THE TABLES OF THE MONEYCHANGERS and the SEATS OF THOSE WHO SOLD DOVES. And He WOULD NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO CARRY WARES THROUGH THE TEMPLE. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But YOU HAVE MADE IT  'a den of thieves.' " And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. When evening had come, He went out of the city."

Were buying/selling, money-changing, dove-selling and carrying of wares illegal in Jerusalem? If so, the Roman overseers had full authority to curtail that activity. Assuredly, those activities are a part of day to day living- not righteous, necessarily, neither illegal.

The temple was to be a place of refuge toward God. Prayer really is our approach to Him, FOR HIM! The Jewish people had to learn that somewhere - nowhere better then than the temple (for the born-again believer, our meeting-places where people come of free will to find Him). The scribes/chief priests approach toward God had waned as evidenced by their unwillingness to receive Jesus Christ as He came to them with correction. Their response: destroy Him. The opportunity for Jewish people to come to the temple to find "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" had been hindered. The hindrances were under the watchful eye of that "den of thieves".

Bear With The Word Of Exhortation

 

Hebrews 13:20-22

"Now may the God of peace, who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete IN EVERY GOOD WORK to do His will, WORKING IN YOU what is well pleasing IN HIS SIGHT, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. And I appeal to you, brethren, BEAR WITH THE WORD OF EXHORTATION, for I have written to you in few words."

After completing chiropractic school and attaining licensure to practice in Ohio, I became aware that "continuing education" was required by the state licensing board. The SLB would submit a list of 30-40 seminars available and acceptable and I CHOSE THE CONTINUING EDUCATION that seemed best to me.

"You have forgotten the EXHORTATION which speaks to you AS to sons"................."we have had human fathers who corrected us"..........."for they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but HE FOR OUR PROFIT, THAT WE MAY BE PARTAKERS OF HIS HOLINESS". (Hebrews 12:5, 9, 10)

We can rejoice that the God of peace will work in us what is well pleasing in His sight- making us complete in every good work through Jesus Christ: the living word to us. But, it will be through His chastening; His choice for continuing your education!

Forgiveness Requires Service

 

Mark 11:22-26

"Have faith in God, for assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANYONE, FORGIVE HIM, THAT YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN MAY ALSO FORGIVE YOU YOUR TRESPASSES. BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES."

Here comes the service or "works" of forgiveness: "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,' but I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be SONS of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:43-45).
(James 1:24 reads "You see then that a man is justified by WORKS, and not by faith only.") Understanding blesses the hearer; action accompanying brings forth fruit for the hearer and others! They get a chance to see what you heard!

How may we more fully appreciate this concept? Look to the One who "completed" it first - the Lord Jesus Christ - Who overcame and now sits at the Father's right hand. Jesus Christ is the head of all things to the church; He fills all in all. As we approach He and the Father Who are One, recollecting that we too have been and are being forgiven through His blood and body, He will show us what He understood and did, when on the cross, as "the vinedressers" were killing Him, He said, "Father, forgive them, they DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY DO." (Luke 23:34)   Hallelujah!!!!

The Enemies Of The Cross Of Christ

Philippians 3:1-21, 4:1

"Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are THE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST; whose end is destruction, whose glory is in their shame - who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved." (v.17-21, 4:1)

Who are these enemies of the cross of Christ? Could be those who have "confidence in the flesh". Paul writes, "if anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I (Paul) more so: (he was) circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things (all those things he listed from which confidence in the flesh ensues) and COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, that I may gain Christ." Those "confidences" Paul listed became as rubbish compared to what every word of God has brought him!

Paul warns the Phillipians to "beware of evil workers". I doubt these "workers" would promote discernable demonic activity, but would not foster the cross of Christ in the the life of the "saints in Christ Jesus"(v.1). Their "god is their belly" and they "set their mind on earthly things". Philippians 3:1-21, 4:1 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38,39) An enemy would attempt to thwart, knowingly or not, what the cross of Christ works in us - becoming one with the Father and the Son Who are One! (John 17:20, 21)

According to Whom?

 

Ephesians 3:20,21; Philippians 4:4-7

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20,21)

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand (available). Be anxious for nothing but in everything, by prayer and supplication(humble and earnest request), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which SURPASSES ALL (your) UNDERSTANDING (making your understanding fruitful in His), will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)

In the previous paragraph, third sentence, gentleness is well defined as forebearance: the refraining from taking action. Let your refraining from taking action be known to all men. Your requests should be directed by that which comes according to the power that works in us: the Holy Spirit Who awakens us to ONLY those things that Jesus Christ says. Anxiety in attaining anything is not from God. He ministers in peace that guards from Satan's temptation and our desire for what we think we want.

We have seen people excitedly discussing their plans for this or that, only to see much less enthusiasm later on. Everybody has done it. But He exceeds abundantly what we ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US, binding us to His perfect will, and through our willingness to refrain from "our works", he looses the completion of it, manifesting it in the realm where we, and others, may see. That's how the elders of the faith obtained "a good testimony"!

Call For The Elders

 1 Corinthians 11:27-32; James 5:14,15

"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (are dead). For if we would judge ourselves (discerning the Lord's will and acting accordingly), we would not be judged (Jesus Christ is the righteous judge!). But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world."(1 Corinthians 11:27-32)

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will SAVE the sick and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." (James 5:14,15)

The elders of the church, by their understanding/willingness to walk in the Lord's inspiration, along with the anointing oil which calls our attention to all things in His name by the working of the Holy Spirit, pray for those who had been unwilling to hear, bringing them back to sanctification/consecration in Christ Jesus. Remember! The Lord's will for His body, the church, is to "be strong (in Him) and the power of His might" and "in health just as your soul prospers". So, when we are not strong, healthy and alive, call for the elders. The Lord's chastening goes to show us that we are partaking unworthily of communion with Him; and whom to call upon so we may understand and willingly act!