The Most Important Question You'll ever be Asked:

The Most Important Question You'll ever be Asked:

Translate

Friday, February 28, 2014

Poem: I Said to Her


Poem

I said to her

By: Ryan Marks

[A fictional account of one man’s story with his wife.]

Dearest one, the little one within you is about to die.

Only two options have we: one to kill the unborn babe, the other to risk thee.

I love thee second only to God.

I love thee more than this child . . . this amazing gift from above.

But I say to you now, “Fare thee well.”

For though I love your life, I will not sign . . . I will not sign . . .

The Death Warrant of our precious Child.

“Fare thee well” . . . .  “Fare thee well”

My heart is sad, but my soul is glad, for I shall see thee again.

Our child may survive or may be with you very soon.

“Fare thee well” . . . .  “Fare thee well”

The would-be executioner comes again pleading,

“If only we destroy the child your wife will live and be with thee!!”

“Fare thee well” . . . . “Fare thee well”

“O Lord, my soul longs to be with You, so that this test would not take place. But YEA, though I walk through the shadow of my dearest’s death to THEE I shall still loyal be. Thy Word is clear, murder tis’  sin and how much more that of my own children! Hold me in your arms O Lord, her breath is growing faint. . .”

“Fare thee well” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Girl! They say! I laugh then cry for my dearest breath has just passed away.

I stayed true to Him . . . .

I obeyed the hardest thing that a man can ever endure – even harder than his own death. . . .

Yet that crime – abortion, God whispers to me can be forgiven. . . .

Though I have not transgressed, my soul within me now is given A MISSION.

And it shall expand as many a man reads this simple composition.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

God is not a respector of persons . . . .


God is not a respecter of persons . . . .

By Ryan Marks

   Acts 10:34 reveals that God is not a respecter of persons, or as some translations say, He does not show favoritism. God does not treat everyone equally. To some He gives great riches, to some He gives little – yet He offers contentment to each. To some He gives poor health and to others seemingly perfect health – yet He offers to be there with each.

  The problem is that we humans have tried to predict what God is going to do in our lives. Some say we just don’t have enough faith. Others say its chance. Sometimes God does heal. Did Jesus raise everyone that was dead in His time? No. This verse (Acts 10:34) teaches us that what God gives to one person He doesn’t have to give to another.  Just because He didn’t make you into Billy Graham doesn’t mean something is wrong with you: He made you into you, and His plan for you isn’t going to be the same as everyone else around us. Who heals and raises from the dead? God, not us. God doesn’t give us each a million dollars for being a Christian, because He knows what we truly need. The Bible teaches that God takes care of our needs, but not that He will endow financial riches on all. God doesn’t give you more, because you are better than everyone else, He gives you more because it is His will. Do you believe that God made you better than everyone else? . . . . Remember that He does not show favoritism.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Idolizing the Experiences of God


Idolizing the experiences of God

By Ryan Marks

  At times, we experience God’s presence in a unique way or we distinctly hear His voice of direction in our life, but over time the experiences of God’s presence, the feelings of His awesomeness, the strong convictions, and the distinctly heard directions seem to abruptly stop coming. We hold on for a while and then begin to wonder, “Am I sinning? I haven’t felt God the way that I used to, something must be wrong with me.” Friends, the fact is that God does not always reveal Himself in dramatic ways every day. Can HE? Yes. But does HE absolutely always? NO.  And, yes, sin is sometimes the reason why you haven’t heard from Him.

Not every day is a mountaintop

   When we look at those sweet encounters with God on the mountaintop as our indication of righteousness or spiritual achievement we can easily become guilty of idolatry. We can love God’s presence, guidance, and blessings so much that we make those select qualities into the god we want – one that gives us everything that our selfish hearts want: mankind has battled with this all of his 6,000+ years on earth.

Using God’s benefits as a tool for ourselves is just another form of pride, and I’d dare say that we’ve all done it at one time or another.

   Our God is a God of blessing, direction, and personal revelation, but He is also a convicting, molding, loving, and holy God. True love does not just give us blessings, guidance, and personal experience; but true love gives us the hard things as well (1 Cor. 13).

Often, the heat of a trail grows us; not having hardship almost always means no growth, spiritually or physically.

  We are not alone in our desert, but we must persevere. We are to love the joy that we find in the experiences with God, but we are not to raise them on a pillar as a mark of true spirituality. If we truly love the Lord, we should be obedient when it’s hard, not just when doing the right thing is easy (John 14:15). Let’s have the faith to be joyful when those amazing times with the Holy Spirit come, but let us also serve in the desert: when it is tough. We do have seemingly meaningless tasks on this earth that our Lord wants us to do; let’s do them with patience, perseverance, and hope, for we haven’t been taken home yet. We do have a Purpose. We still are called to be servants like Christ.

 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

1 Kings 19:11-13 (KJV)

 

Related Quote:

  “If we prefer to loll on the mount and live in the memory of the vision, we will be of no use actually in the ordinary stuff which human life is made up. We have to learn to live in reliance on what we saw in the vision, not in the ecstasies and conscious contemplation of God, but to live in actualities in the light of the vision until we get to the veritable reality. Every bit of our training is in that direction.” ~ My Utmost for His Highest, October 4th (emphasis added)

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

A Thought on American Young Men and Abortion


Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces;

and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb;

their eye shall not spare children.  ~Isaiah 13:18 (KJV)

 

  This verse amply describes the condition of the United States today. Young men are being destroyed; they are becoming increasingly lazy and giving up—perhaps this is worse than their physical death. Children are openly murdered as infants. Yet Scripture teaches that life begins at conception. Today, compassion for children is not completely gone, but more and more people care more about their cell phone than children. Think about it.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Richard Foster on the Last Supper

When Jesus gathered His disciples for the Last Supper they were having trouble over which one was the greatest. Gathered at the Passover feast, the disciples were keenly aware that someone needed to wash the others’ feet. The problem was that they only people who washed feet were the least. So there they sat, feet caked with dirt. It was such a sore point that they were not even going to talk about it. No one wanted to be considered the least. Then Jesus took a towel and a basin and so redefined greatness.   Richard Foster 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Faithfulness Lessons #4


Faithfulness Lessons

#4 If you really love Jesus, You will obey Him

 

 

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1 John 2:1-4 (KJV)

 

      If you really love Jesus Christ, you will obey Him. Sadly, many people today think that if they say they love Jesus with their mouth that they really love Him, but that is a false doctrine. If you really love someone, you sacrifice yourself for them. Your mom shows that she loves you when she takes care of you. You see that your Dad loves your mom when he does things for her.

Do you love Jesus?

     John, “the Disciple loved by Jesus,” says that if we really love Jesus, that we know Him. The question Do You Love Jesus? is the most important thing that I have ever asked you in these devotionals. If you are not sure if you love Jesus, cry out to the Lord that you would truly love Him. And if you need to talk, please contact me, I love you guys and want to help you answer this question with certainty.

            Leave a comment or facebook.com/ryan.marks.31

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Faithfulness Lessons #3


Faithfulness Lessons

#3 To Be a Faithful Man, You Can’t Follow your Heart

 

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:1 (KJV)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)

 

If you follow your heart and walk how you want to and in the way that seems most pleasing to your lustful eyes, you will be punished. God has to bring the consequences of your actions in judgment because He loves you and cannot go against His Word. Don’t follow your heart, remove evil by recognizing that childhood and youth are vanity. Just putting things off and refusing to learn because “you’re young” will bite like a snake later on.

 

While you’re young, remember God, your Creator, and Fear God (honor, reverence and even tremble at His righteous Law) because this is the whole duty of a man. But remember, God will bring every thing everyone does to judgment—every secret thing—it will be brought to light for what it is, whether good or bad.

 

Don’t Follow your heat . . .


Obey And Serve God

 

    

     God is looking for Faithful Men! Our country desperately needs men who will be faithful, that is, loyal, uncompromising—

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Ezek 22:30 (KJV)

Friday, February 21, 2014

Faithfulnes Lessons #2


Faithfulness Lessons

 
#2 Be a Faithful Leader

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Acts 20:28-30

 

 

   The Apostle Paul knew that after he was gone that men, even men that he had trained would rise up and forsake Christ in order to gather a following for themselves. As a faithful man you must stay true to Christ personally and in your realm of responsibility when God places you into leadership.

 

  Be a faithful leader! Stand for what is right! Stay true to Christ! Keep the Faith!

 

 

May God bless you guys this week.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Faithfulness Lessons #1


Faithfulness Lessons

#1 Be a Faithful Man

 

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Prov 20:6 (KJV)

 

Pray before you start reading.

 

 

     Noah Webster’s original 1828 Dictionary defines faithful as firm adherence to truth and the duties of religion, firmly adhering to duty, loyal, true to allegiance, constant in the performance of duties or services, true, exact, in conformity to the letter and spirit, true to the marriage covenant, conformable to truth, constant, not fickle—now, that’s quite a definition and each part is very important.

 

I want you to take some time to think about

 what it means to be faithful to something.

 

    

     God is looking for Faithful Men. Our country desperately needs men who will be faithful, that is, loyal, uncompromising, and dependable. We need men who will consistently serve God and seek His face. Who will read their Bibles, love their families, and faithfully teach and lead their families in the way of Christ without compromising or giving up.

 

      As the Proverb mentioned above says, most men go around saying how good they are, but who can find a faithful man? In other words, where is a faithful man that just does what is right, what he is supposed to do, whether other people see him or not.

 

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

The Commands, Teachings and Life of our Lord Jesus Christ: Matthew 4:12-17


Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

 

       After Jesus was tempted by Satan for forty days and night in the desert and then was strengthened by Angels, Jesus heard that John was thrown into prison so Jesus departed into Galilee (the upper portion of Israel, far from Jerusalem and the Jordan).


Map from: Bible Explorer 4: Maps & Atlases: Maps: Jesus’ Journeys

 
        After going home to Nazareth in Galilee for a short time, Jesus went to live in Capernaum, which would end up being His “base of operations” throughout his ministry. Jesus went to Capernaum and the region of Galilee to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah which said:

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Isaiah 9:1-2 (KJV)

 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isaiah 42:6-7 (KJV)

    Galilee was a rural area, bordering on the land of the Gentiles (non Jews). Many of the people where fishermen and the average Galilean was much kinder than the typical snobbish Pharisee and Sadducees which gathered in Jerusalem and the cities of the south.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

      And from that time on what did Jesus do? He began to preach the same call that John the Baptist had preached, “Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” only He would go even further by feeding His sheep through parables. It is very important to realize that Jesus never studied the population to see what message would be best received when He taught the Word of God. Instead, Jesus obeyed His Father, taught truth, stood for what was right, and stood against injustice and pride. Jesus was by no means a people pleaser and that is largely why people didn’t like Him.

Matt 4:12-17 (KJV)

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Gaining Wisdom is a Hard Road


Gaining Wisdom is a Hard Road


 
Courtesy of the Creative Commons

 
 

Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

Proverbs 18:1 (KJV)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5 (KJV)

 

      In order to gain wisdom, a hard road must be traveled. Yes, it is true that the Apostle James truthfully says that if we need wisdom then we should ask of God and He will give it, but this does not mean that it will come easily (although God certainly can do a miracle). In light of the whole Word of God, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes especially teach a hard road to wisdom.

       When I was about twelve or thirteen years of age, I set my heart to gain wisdom. I looked around me and saw my peers living for fun and pleasure and didn’t see any real life in it. I wanted to get what mattered in life and get truth. So I began to seek the Lord by reading a Proverb a day in a quiet time with the Lord.

         Note that the first thing I did was, separate myself from others to spend time in God’s Word because I desired wisdom (the Proverb above). Now, I am not saying don’t pray. I have prayed for wisdom on many occasions because of I just didn’t know what to do and was in the middle of situation where decisions had to be made; yet my daily life was set upon seeking the Lord to glean wisdom as well.

          As time went on, I also separated myself from some foolish companions. How did I know that they were foolish, because the Word of God—the Proverbs—characterized their actions as being that of the fool. I sought out wise friends. Most of my friends even to this day, I mean my closest friends are older men. Most are my Father’s age or older. I am not trying to say that I did everything perfectly and that my story is flawless, but God’s Word teaches what I’m talking about and, sadly, we don’t here must about it today.

           If you desire to be wise, you’re going to have to look at the hard stuff. In other words, wise people are not always going to focus on the happy things, they are going to look at the “hard” things and mediate on them. As Solomon put it:   

It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Ecclesiastes 7:2-6 (KJV)

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:17-18 (KJV)
 
 
 

The Commands, Teachings, and Life of our Lord Jesus Christ: Matthew 4:8-11


Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

     Next, the Devil transports Jesus to a high mountain and caused Him to see all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Satan tempts Jesus with power, wealth, and position (all of which Jesus eternally has with His Father). But Satan’s subtle tactics are about to clearly show his motives.

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

     Satan bluntly tells Christ that he will give Him basically the world if He falls down and worships him! How ridiculous! Satan doesn’t own the world and deal it out to people, God is the King of Kings! ….but often Christians have fallen prey to Satan’s false clamor and lie that he is in control and, it they will work with him, that they can have a piece of power, of wealth, of prominence.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

        Jesus again battles Satan with the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), again laying open Satan’s deception and standing upon the Truth that is revealed in God’s Word: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” We do not serve Satan. We are not to bow our knee in our hearts, physically with our bodies, or in compromises. We are not to serve the world and worship its wealth and allurements. No, we are to worship and serve God alone with all our heart, all our strength, all our mind, and all our soul.

 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

         After this third temptation and defeat by the Word of God, Satan departed and angels came and ministered to Jesus! O how we must also remember that in the midst of our battles and temptations, God is awaiting to strengthen us at the end.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Isaiah 41:17-18 (KJV)

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

1 Cor 10:6-14 (KJV)

Matt 4:8-11 (KJV)

The Podcast

The Podcast
Find it on Itunes by searching Ryan Marks