GAIN OR LOSS

 

Mark 8:31-38, Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.

 

 

1.      Right after the declaration by Peter that Jesus was the Christ when they were up near Caesarea Philippi.   Jesus began to teach, instruct and even warn His disciples.  Jesus is making it very plain and clear what was going to happen to Him.  There were four signs or indications of what was going to happen to Him in the future.  Jesus was preparing them for the worst and the best.

2.      So what are the four things that were to happen.

 

a.      As the Son of Man.  Jesus was going to undergo great suffering.  He would be beaten beyond recognition.  His body would be broken and His blood shed. 

b.      He would be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes. 

c.      He would be killed.  Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come.  Jesus was killed for our salvation, redemption and liberation. 

d.      The after three days He would rise from the dead.  Jesus was setting the stage for what was going to happen. 

 

3.      Jesus spoke of this openly.  Jesus wasn’t hiding a thing.  That is the thing you can trust about God He will tell you openly what His will, plan and purpose are for your life. 

4.      Right after Jesus talked about this Peter takes Jesus aside and rebuked him.  Rebuke means to express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.  He did not belief or want to believe this was going to happen.  Now this happened just after he had acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ.  He could not believe that was going to happen.   Jesus was supposed to usher in an earthly kingdom, where they were supposed to reign with Him.  Jesus in Peter’s thinking was going to throw out the Roman rule and begin a new righteous rule. 

5.      Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me satan.  For you are not setting your mind on divine things but natural things.”  Did Jesus just call Peter satan?  Yes you heard right.  Here is a truth we can speak both godly and satanic things at the same time.  Man is the only creature who can do that.  Peter was talking from his flesh not from the Spirit. 

6.      Here are ten things that Jesus died by dying, being buried and rising from the dead.  These are things the devil, the world and the flesh do not want you to know.

 

a.      Jesus gave us salvation, redemption and freedom.

b.      He destroyed the power of sin, death, hell and the grave.

c.      He destroyed the works of the devil.

d.      Jesus’ broken body gives us healing.

e.      Jesus’ blood is the most powerful element in the universe gives us forgiveness, freedom, all the benefits of heaven and victory.

f.       The resurrection gives us power authority, anointing enablement, wisdom clarity and boldness.

g.      We have eternal and abundant life.

h.      We have a new life in the Spirit with gifts and fruit.

i.       We have armor, weapons and power in our fight in the spiritual realm.

j.       We have authority and victory over every force of hell.

 

The first part of this message is what did it cost Jesus to give us salvation, redemption, eternal and abundant life?  Plain and simple, it cost Him everything.  Now the second part is what will it cost us?

 

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

 

1.       So what is the cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ?  Wikipedia says a follower is an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity.  In Jesus’ case it means complete and total devotion.  This is what God demands.

2.      Deny yourself, take yourself off the throne and put Jesus on.  Put your will, plans purpose destiny on hold.  Say no to you and yes to the Lord

3.      Take up your cross, crucified your flesh.  Render yourself dead.  It is God’s way or the highway. 

4.      Follow Jesus.  Let Him be your role model, mentor and example

5.      Here reality those who want it their way, to save their life will lose it, to be in charge will lose it.  There is a price for personal autonomy.  Hell and eternal damnation is the price.  You cannot escape this reality except through Jesus. 

6.      Those who lose their life for Christ and the sake of the gospel will save it.  Jesus is the only way, truth and life.  You get eternal and abundant life.  Jesus is the lifesaver in the storms of life.  Jesus is the only way to save your life. 

7.      What profit is it if you gain the whole world to lose your soul and your life?  In fact what can they give in return for their life?  Nothing.  Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.  The devil would love you to continue to believe the lie

8.      Those who are ashamed of Christ and His words in this adulterous and sinful generation.  What a perfect description of His world and ours.  Satan is the god of this world and they do his bidding and he robs, kills and destroy.  He has no compassion, grace, love or mercy.  He is corrupt and so are all who do his bidding. 

9.      Jesus will be ashamed of them when He comes in the glory of His Father and with His angels.  Reality check, Jesus is coming back.  He came the first time as the suffering Savior.  Next, time as the Conquering King. 

10.   What does it cost you to follow the Lord everything.  What did it cost Jesus to secure your salvation?  Everything.   He expects no less.

 

 

 

QUOTES FOR MARCH 9, 2026

 

FULLNESS OF TIME

 

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship

 

1.      In Vs 4, we learn four things about Jesus Christ.  He came in the fullness of time.  Jesus was born at the right time, in the right place for the right reason.  This was God’s timing.  One thing we learn here is that God’s timing is perfect.  It may not always be according to our timetable but God is always on time.  Timing is always important in comedy and the will of God.  Sometimes life almost seems comedic. 

 

A.     God sent His Son.  Jesus is the second person of the God head.  He was sent for a purpose to redeem mankind and be our avenue of salvation.  There is no other way, truth, or life.  Jesus is the only name under heaven which man can be saved.  His name is above all names.  Jesus is the God man, the perfect union and the divine.  Paul met Jesus personally and we must do the same.

B.     He was born of a woman.  Jesus was the seed of the woman and Abraham.  He was virgin born.  He was sinless.  He who knew no sin became sin for us.  The virgin birth is important because on it hangs the doctrines of original sin, the inspiration of Scripture, who Jesus was, and what Jesus did through salvation. Deny the virgin birth and you deny these other doctrines as well. The virgin birth circumvented the transmission of the sin nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man. He never sinned, which qualified Him to be a righteous substitutionary sacrifice for sinners. Christ was fully man—therefore able to die—and fully God, so His death is of infinite worth and applicable to all who believe.

C.      Born under the law.  Jesus was born in the Old Testament and when he came, he fulfilled the law, was the seed of Abraham and the fulfillment of the promise given to Abraham.  Jesus through His death, burial, resurrection, broken body, and shed blood establish a new agreement where salvation was universal.

 

2.      In Vs 5, Paul says Christ came to redeem us from the law.  We were bought back from the demands of the law which was death.  He paid a debt he did not owe I owe a debt I could not pay.  His substitutionary sacrifice redeemed us.  Through him a way was paved for eternal and abundant life.  The results were that we were adopted into the family of God.  We are now sons and daughters.  We have the inheritance, rights, privileges, and benefits of being in His family.  We have seven benefits of being a Son or daughter of God.

 

A.      Security, authority, intimacy, and assurance.

B.     Inheritance, discipline, and family likeness.

 

6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

 

3.      n Vs 6, Paul continues with the concept of sonship.  We are son and daughters with all the privileges and blessings of inheritance.  Paul just re-emphasizes what he revealed in the last chapter. 

 

a.      So, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts.  Jesus has said in the upper room discourse that He was going away but He would not leave us alone.  He was sending the Holy Spirit to be our comforter, guide, regenerator, help, resurrector and so much more.  He would come and reside in our hearts.  The place where our throne was.  Who rules our heart rules us.  This simply means the Holy Spirit is supposed to be in control of our will, intellect, and emotion.  Talk Rev Baldao and Love is the Flag flown in the castle of my heart.

b.      The Spirit who calls out Abba Father.  We can call out through the Spirit.  Hey dad, heavenly Father, or our Father.  You are a son and daughter of God, and you can address Him as Father.  This of course is attacked by feminists, but it does not lessen this relationship unless you allow it to happen.

 

4.      In Vs 7, Paul states a beautiful concept.  You are no longer a slave, in bondage or a prisoner.  You are free and all the privileges it has.  The world, the flesh and devil are no longer your master.  You have everything people want.  You have grace, mercy, love, faith, hope and peace.  You are a victor, overcomer, conqueror, and warrior.  Talk about the last words of Braveheart. 

 

a.       You are God’s child and because you are His child.  Let that sink in for just a moment.  You belong to God.  You are under His tutelage and protection.  You have His armor, gifts, fruits, power, authority, anointing and promises.

b.      As His child you have His inheritance.  All has been given to Jesus Christ and in turn it has been to us.  You are somebody.  That is why the devil fears you, the world hates you and the flesh is conquered by you.  All this and more because of Jesus Christ.  That is why Paul was so concerned for them and us.  Let us never trade our freedom for anything.  Right now, the Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom.  Every able body man is fighting, and many will not survive.  Why are they doing it because they have tasted freedom and they do not want bondage and the only way to keep it is to fight for it.  Fight for your freedom. 

 

 

FULL UNDERSTANDING

 

Full Understanding

 

24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.

 

1.        Jesus did things never done before.  Walked on water, cast out demons, fed 5000 and 4000 people.  Healed all who came to Him.  Claimed and proved he was God. 

2.        Showed a morality, integrity, character, nature, and essence only God could.  Was virgin born.  Confirmation of His work, and authority by both divine, and human sources.

3.        He went further in His teaching from the law.  He came not to change the law but fulfill it.  He explained the true meaning of the sabbath and not the religious interpretation of it. 

4.        He showed them who God was as is by His example and way he conducted himself among and with people.  This created tension, animosity, anger, hatred, and violence among the established religious community at the time.  Jesus exposed their hypocrisy, greed, and religious arrogance. 

5.        They in truth hated both the Father and Jesus because they had corrupted and watered down God’s word.  The form and tradition became more than the truth and substance.

6.        They saw his example and rejected Him because He did not fit their interpretation of image of what the Messiah or Savior should be.  They missed the important scriptures.  They majored on the minors and minored on the majors. 

 

Lesson:  Don’t be surprised when people have an unnatural dislike or hatred for you.  Also remember these signs follow them who believe.  You are the Lord’s representative and ambassador in your world.  Not everyone is going to be excited about this.  Expect some tension, scorn, mocking, hatred, and persecution.  Don’t look for it but don’t be surprised when it comes.

 

25     but this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.

 

1.        This is a fulfillment of what David saw in Psalm 69:4. There is no real reason to hate Jesus except He exposes us for who we are and what we do.  This hatred is unnatural and from the realms of darkness.

2.        The Old Testament warned about this.   They had no real reason to hate Jesus.  Except he was the light, and they were in darkness.  He is the truth, and they prefer a lie.   He did fit their expectation of what God was really like. 

3.        Mankind is under the reign and rule of the devil and so unless rescue from his influence no person can understand or see God. 

 

Lesson:  Scripture is always fulfilled.  Whether immediately or over time.  God’s word is accurate, trustworthy and true.  It was in David’s time, Jesus’ and ours.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

 

QUOTES FOR MARCH 8, 2026

 

FRIENDSHIP

 

     Friendship is a precious commodity in this world of ever-changing relationships.  One man wrote to have a friend you must first be one.  It is great to be involved in a friendship with a person that you can be yourself with.  This is very hard to find these days.  Friendship means you do not have to wear a mask which many people in this in society today do to protect themselves from being hurt. 

     Friendship means that you can share you feeling with someone and not feel that you will be put down, judged or ridiculed for how you feel.  Friendship means that people will treat you in the same kind manner that you treat them.  It is okay to be vulnerable in a friendship because nothing you do should change their feelings toward you because they know the real you and accept you for who you are.  One man wrote a perfect marriage is when two imperfect people see the perfection in each other. 

     Many times, friendship can be stretched by pre-conceived or ill-conceived ideas, prejudices and boas.  But one must always look at the heart not the reaction.   The truth is most people will only have two or three good friends at a time.  To have a friend you must first be one.  Don’t wait for the person you are seeking friendship to make the first move.  You make it.  Do things that will show friendship.  Be friendly and available that is the first step. Find Common Interests: Engage in activities or hobbies that you enjoy, which can help you meet like-minded people.  Participate in Social Activities: Join clubs, classes, or community events to expand your social circle.  Lastly, Be Patient and Persistent: Building friendships takes time, so don’t get discouraged by initial rejections.