LESSON 2:
Maybe I have this wrong, but
seems like Mark 4:16-17 is saying something about hard times in
the Christian life.
Especially concerning that phrase "for the
word's sake."
Here's the verse to which I refer.
"Afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the
word's sake."
That's pretty plain!
If the Word of God is important to a person,
if he or she lives by the Word of God ... "for the Word's sake"
... affliction or persecution will enter that
individual's life!
Almost as if it's a promise!
It's nearly as if we're being told this:
Exalt God's Word in your life, expect trying times in your life!
But, wait a minute!
Does the Bible forecast any such thing?
For the dedicated Christian?
Maybe.
Paul wrote this. "Yea,
and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution." 2nd Timothy 3:12, which sure looks like
godly, Bible-centered living produces "persecution."
Is this not the same thing as saying,
"Afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the
word's sake?"
Then consider the association
this verse makes. "It
is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might
learn thy statutes." Hard times, affliction ... for the
sake of learning God's Word! Psalm 119:71
Peter too. "Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try
you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."
They are going to come, those trials! Just as well get ready!
That is, if you are living close to Jesus, following His Word!
1st Peter 4:12
If we identify ourselves with the Book, God's
Book, the devil will hate us! And for sure, the more we follow
the Bible, God will mature us, help us grow.
So it happens from both sides!
For the Word's sake ... the devil will fight
us.
For the Word's sake ... God will help us
grow. And that growth process always, to some degree anyway,
involves suffering! It's like this: "My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye
may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4
It's a trade off.
Stay ignorant of God's Word, do not
concentrate on it ... and life may go a bit easier. But life,
your spiritual life, will also be a lot poorer! A lot more
impoverished! Lacking quality and substance.
Stay diligent studying God's Word, loving its
every verse ... and life will be full of bumps and curves and
detours. But yet filled with the Holy Spirit of God! Exciting
every day! Thrilling by virtue of the many little Bible
"nuggets" you glean from the pages of Scripture!
Like they say down at the gym, "No pain, no
gain!"
Love God's Word ... then for the Word's sake
... affliction or persecution is headed your way!
Tomorrow let's try to figure out why!
There are some reasons.
But today, we must decide!
Study the Word and get occasional hard times.
Ignore the Word and perhaps sail through life
more smoothly.
Truth be told, there may not be much of a
choice after all.
For the real Christian, just like babies
crave milk, so do we long for the precious sustenance of God's
Word!
Got to have it!
No matter what comes with it!
Just live for Jesus' sake!
Which will automatically be living for the
Word's sake too!
And believe me, the rewards and delights and
pleasantries of living for the Word's sake far outweigh the
trials and heartaches!
For sure!
It will happen to us like it did to Jeremiah
the Prophet. "Thy words were found, and I
did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of
mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts."
Jeremiah 15:16, that's the Jeremiah who suffered so much
"for the Word's sake!"
Wow!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Is this lesson too dark and dreary?
But more than that, is this lesson truthful,
according to the revelation of all Scripture?
LESSON 3:
The Text we've been noticing for two days
says this. "And these are they likewise
which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the
word, immediately receive it with gladness. And have no root in
themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when
affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake,
immediately they are offended." Mark 4:16-18
Plainly, "for the word's sake" many endure
either affliction or persecution, perhaps both at times.
That noun "affliction" is "thlipsis" and
means "pressure!" While "persecution" is derived from "dioko,"
the act of "running, fleeing, or being driven away." All such
action because someone is chasing you, trying to do you harm!
All this, "for the word's sake!"
But yesterday morning after typing the Lesson
I thought. Wait a minute! There are two sides to this story,
according to the Bible anyway.
Yes, hardship often comes because of
our love for and obedience to God's precious Word. But then
again, for sure, blessings also come as a result of
concentrating on Scripture!
And when all is told, the blessings of
knowing the Word of God far surpass the afflictions and
persecutions.
Blessing like these.
"Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth
in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law
doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in
his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he
doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3
The Psalmist just taught us that constantly
thinking about God's Word will cause everything we do to
"prosper!"
No, this is not a light and frothy "health
and wealth" philosophy either. Not when lined up beside Mark
4:16-18 and its "persecutions and afflictions!"
That verb "prosper" is neat! "Tzsalach" means
"to break out, to make progress, to advance, to profit," ideas
like these. Notice also Psalm one's promises of fruit bearing
and being planted (not shifting from place to place) and not
withering!
The blessings of loving the Bible!
And Joshua 1:8 adds to the list.
"This book of the law shall not depart out
of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then
thou shalt have good success." Wow, look at this!
Here because of the word's sake a believer
may expect even more good things! "Meditate," which essentially
means "think about it" time and time again, all through the day
and night, think about the Word of God and you will "have good
success!" And "success" here has nothing to do with money or
popularity or ease of life, rather it means "wisdom, prudence,
understanding," even at times "skill in godly living!"
Isn't this kind of quality spiritual living
worth some of those "tribulations and persecutions" Mark 4:17
promises?
Yes!
And if you want to add to this list of
blessings, "for the word's sake," just read Psalm 119. All of
its 176 verses are dedicated to the Bible, and what it can do
for you and me!
For example, just a sampling too, savor
these.
A clean and pure life, "for the word's sake!"
Psalm 119:9 says: "Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto
according to thy word."
One's sinning less and less!
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I
might not sin against thee." Psalm 119:11
Delight or joy along with instruction,
directly from the Word of God! "Thy
testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors."
Psalm 119:24
Just read this list!
Answers to give the enemy, how to refute the
devil! "So shall I have wherewith to
answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word."
Psalm 119:42
And liberty, not the kind that can be eroded
either! "And I will walk at liberty: for I
seek thy precepts." Psalm 119:45
Comfort too, from the Lord, "for the word's
sake!" Psalm 119:52 now. "I remembered thy
judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself."
Wealth, real spiritual wealth!
"The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of
gold and silver." Psalm 119:72
Good standing with the brethren!
"They that fear thee will be glad when
they see me; because I have hoped in thy word." Psalm
119:74
Revival, vitality! "I
will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast
quickened me." Psalm 119:93 here sounds like our Lord's
"abundant life" concept!
Superiority to one's enemies, one's teachers
and one's forefathers! Though this perhaps sounds a bit vain,
it's in the Bible! "Thou through thy
commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for
they are ever with me. I have more understanding than
all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my
meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because
I keep thy precepts." Psalm 119:98-100, astounding!
The Psalm 119 list is longer than we can
study today!
Sweetness of life, "for the word's sake!"
Psalm 119:103 says so! "How sweet are thy
words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my
mouth!"
Light for daily life!
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path." Psalm 119:105 or Psalm 119:130 either one!
"The entrance of thy words giveth light;
it giveth understanding unto the simple."
Reverence for the things of God!
"Princes have persecuted me without a
cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word." Psalm
119:161
This one I can't omit!
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall
offend them." This, Psalm 119:165, certainly implies that
there will be much difficulty "for the word's sake!"
Teachability, is that a word? Having a
learner's spirit! Being instruction prone, eager to acquire
Bible data! "My lips shall utter praise,
when thou hast taught me thy statutes." Psalm 119:171
God's help in all you do, that's omnipotent
Help too! "Let thine hand help me; for I
have chosen thy precepts." Psalm 119:173
Plus this, and I will say it quickly. Even
when "tribulations and persecutions" come "for the word's sake"
... the very Bible that caused them also helps us overcome them!
Still from Psalm 119. Just read them. I can't
comment now on them all. They speak for themselves really.
"This is my
comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me."
Psalm 119:50 might mean "hardships, 75% chance, but comfort in
those trials, 100% chance!"
Or this one, when those trials have come.
"It is good for me that I have been
afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Ps 119:71
"Unless thy law had
been my delights, I should then have perished in mine
affliction." Psalm 119:92
"Consider mine
affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law."
Psalm 119:153, when those tribulations come, so will God's
deliverance and victory!
"Many are my
persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from
thy testimonies." Psalm 119:157 presumes those enemies,
"for the word's sake."
And the victory is sure, for the Bible
lover anyway. "Let my supplication come
before thee: deliver me according to thy word." Psalm
119:170
Mark 4:16-17 is right! Tribulations and
persecution "for the word's sake!" We can count on them!
But the rest of the Bible is right, too!
Blessings abundant, innumerable ... "for the word's sake" too!
I'm going with the Scriptures, they are my
choice!
How about you?
Although I already know the answer to that
question. Otherwise you would not be reading here today!
Wow!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4:
The Text, at least the way I'm handling it, is certainly
"unusual," to say the least. I might even be violating some of
the laws of hermeneutics, the science of interpretation.
But today, exactly one year after my wife
died, this is the Text I need to be studying!
"And these are they
likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have
heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness. And have
no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward,
when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake,
immediately they are offended." Mark 4:16-17
If you remember we have been placing emphasis
on the prepositional phrase "for the word's sake."
Yes, I've deliberately neglected the rest of
the Text in order to highlight that one thought, "for the
word's sake."
Since Sister Bagwell went to Heaven I have
been working pretty hard, "for the word's sake."
The Lord has allowed me to preach more than
any time in years, "for the word's sake."
I think, every week since she died except
the very first week after she died, I have preached a
Revival Meeting, "for the word's sake." I was not physically or
emotionally able to preach those first few days after she passed
away. You understand if you've ever lost a Mate like that.
I have traveled more, with God's Hand of
protection upon the travel, preaching and preaching and
preaching "for the word's sake." And God has answered hundreds
of your prayers for me, dear friends. Especially in this area of
protection. I am so grateful.
And, truth be told, I may learn when I get to
Heaven that even the hard times my wife and I endured, hard
times made much more pleasant by the sweet Touch of the Holy
Spirit of God, were "for the word's sake!" Mark 4:17 again, part
of it, "Affliction or persecution ariseth
for the word's sake ...." That's how important the Word
is to our Heavenly Father!
Yes, this phrase has helped me again and
again as I have pondered my wife's death.
And instead of quitting, instead of staying
at home and morbidly mourning her death, instead of blaming God
and getting bitter ... He has graciously allowed me to keep on
preaching, you know, "for the Word's sake!"
Oh yes, I still cry.
And I still grieve over her passing.
Every day I think of her.
But I have discovered this. The busier I am
the less I grieve. The more I think about Heaven and the less I
think about that terrible last day she lived, the more victory I
have in Jesus.
I used to live, honestly, "for Sister Norma's
sake." She had so many needs, physical and otherwise. And you
know what? I believe the Bible teaches, Paul especially, that a
husband is supposed to live this way. "But
he that is married careth for the things that are of the world,
how he may please his wife." 1st Corinthians 7:33
Next to God Himself, she was, rightly so, my
top priority.
But now that she's gone, so was my very
reason for existence it seemed. Really, right at the first
anyway.
But God gradually showed me that since my
Darling had gone to Heaven, I needed to get busy for Jesus. He
enthused me with another top priority. And you know what it is,
"The Word's sake!"
Now, back to 1st Corinthians 7 again.
"But he that is unmarried careth for the
things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord."
This is verse 32 of that chapter.
A new goal, "pleasing the Lord!"
And I'll guarantee you this, pleasing Him
will require great emphasis on the Word of God!
Then the Holy Spirit one day gave me this
phrase. I mean He personalized it in my life!
"For the Word's sake!"
God wants of me, I think, the rest of my days
or weeks or years, however long He grants me to live and breathe
and go ... to do so "for the Word's sake."
Does that make any sense to you?
And yes, hard times still come.
But sweet times do too.
Even the memories of Sister Norma now are,
especially after forty five years of marriage, packed full of
precious memories!
And I'll just keep on trying to serve the
dear Lord Who loved her, saved her, and gave her to me for over
four decades!
Busy for Jesus, "for
the Word's sake!"
Pray for me today please.
It's 3:34 in the morning as I type these
words. And, believe it or not, I have already received two
precious e-mail notes from some of you. Encouraging me in the
Lord.
How very thoughtful!
So, I'll close with these words. These facts,
I should say. Norma Jean Wilson Bagwell, born July 5, 1943.
Married (praise the Lord) August 24, 1964. Died January 21,
2009, one year ago today.
My Companion, my Friend, my Darling, my
nearly Everything!
And "Honey," as if you can read these words,
this past year I've tried to stay busy serving the Lord. That's
exactly, I know, what you would have wanted.
Busy preaching, "for the Word's sake!"
Besides, one of these days Jesus is coming
again!
Then we will be together for all eternity!
Just come on over to my mansion. Give yours
away to somebody. Let's again live together in a Land that is
fairer than day!
Where there are no kidney dialysis machines.
No doctors and nurses and ambulances and
emergency rooms either!
No pain, just joy and glory and delight in
the Presence of Him Who died for us, our precious Saviour.
Rejoicing that we lived while on earth
"for the word's sake."
Amen.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Honestly ...
I hope I've not been too personal today. I'm
just talking to you all "out of my heart." By the way, you too
can live "for the Word's sake." Through the good times and the
hard times!
LESSON 5:
The Verses we've been studying for five days
now are part of Jesus' great Parable of the Sower.
Here's Mark's Version of the Story.
"Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower
to sow. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way
side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
And some fell on stony
ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang
up, because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up,
it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked
it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and
did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth,
some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark
4:3-8
It's Jesus' explanation of the Parable that
yields our specific Bible focus, Mark 4:16-17. He's particularly
talking about the "stony ground hearers." Word for word:
"And these are they likewise which are
sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word,
immediately receive it with gladness. And have no root in
themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when
affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake,
immediately they are offended."
Are these people really saved?
Many of my preacher friends say emphatically,
"No!" Usually they cite the fact that no fruit was ever
born. So, they reason, there was no real salvation present.
But wait a minute. True, no "fruit," but also
true, "There was life!"
Read it again, the fifth verse above,
"And some fell on stony ground, where it
had not much earth; and
immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of
earth." It did have life, for sure. It at least "sprang
up." That cannot be done by a dead seed! "Exanatello" blends
two prepositions and a noun! The main portion of the word, the
noun "telos," means "the goal, the end, the finish line, the
culmination" of a thing!
These people, though never reaching maturity,
were "on the way" there! They were saved. They just did
not have deep enough root. And when persecution came, they were
"offended." When the scorching heat of hard times fell upon
them, they withered. And "xeraino" means "to dry up!"
Yes, there are some "dried up" Christians!
But why did the sun scorch them so
vehemently?
Why did these persecutions come?
What was the reason for their great
afflictions?
Some unconfessed sin?
A bad decision?
A lack of desire?
No, no and no!
Here's why the hard times came, verse
seventeen tells us clearly, "Afterward,
when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake."
See why?
No personal sin mentioned, instead, "for the
word's sake!"
No laziness implied, but "for the word's
sake!"
No fault of their own, "for the word's sake"
they were so violently attacked by the devil!
Wow!
So, here's one more reason why Christian
suffer!
An unsuspected reason, too!
"For the sake of the Word of God!"
And look what happened to these Christians,
saved I think but obviously shallow, they were "offended."
The verb is "skandadalizo," meaning "to stumble!" To trip over
something and fall!
But had they only known why such
tribulation and persecution came, they might could have avoided
that stumbling stone!
"For the Word's sake!"
Today is someone reading here going through
such hard times? Has your world fallen apart? Are you hurting?
Has the devil attacked?
And you've searched and searched and searched
for some reason why?
Well, here's a possibility.
These disruptions and heartaches and
pressures have come to you through no fault of your own,
absolutely not, but "for the Word's sake!"
Just because you love the Book!
Just because you study God's Revelation!
Because the Scriptures are so special
to you!
Because you believed God's Word and
asked Jesus into your heart!
Mark 4:17 again,
"Affliction or
persecution arose ... for the Word's sake!"
Wow!
The Bible is a great Book, none like it on
earth!
It brings with it countless blessings!
But at least one liability!
The devil hates it!
And adopting that old Book, loving and
treasuring it dearly, or maybe just believing it unto salvation
... sets one up for some hard times! At least occasionally!
Why?
Simply "for the Word's sake!"
So Jesus seems to be teaching us here ... in
His best known parable of all!
"For the Word's sake," hard times came!
Just remember that next time the "bottom
drops out!"
It all could be happening simply "for the
Word's sake!"
And if so, adopt Acts 4:41 as yours!
"And they departed, rejoicing that they
were counted worthy to suffer for His Name."
Or First Peter 2:20 as well.
"For what glory is it, if, when ye
be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if,
when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently,
this is acceptable with God."
Hard times, but not your fault!
At least, not this time!
Again I ask, "Why?"
"For the Word's sake!"
Praise the Lord!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
Yes ...
More people today make fun of us and mock us
... simply because we love the Word of God ... more scoffers
than ever before!
Let them rage and laugh and hold us in
derision!
We will live "for the Word's sake" and
let God take care of the rest! He will do no wrong!
LESSON 6:
In only one other location can one find our
phrase, "for the word's sake." One
other Biblical location, 1st Samuel 7:21.
David there has just been uniquely blessed of
God! What we now call the Davidic Covenant had just been
pronounced on the Man of God, and David is responding to God's
overwhelming Grace!
Why would God be so good to His servant, the
sweet Psalmist of Israel?
Why will David's Throne last forever?
Let's backtrack a second. Here's part of what
God assures David. These words come directly form the Lord too,
through His prophet Nathan. "And when thy
days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will
set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy
bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an
house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom
for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he
commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and
with the stripes of the children of men. But my mercy shall not
depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put
away before thee. And
thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before
thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According
to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did
Nathan speak unto David." 2nd Samuel 7:12-17, notice the
capitalized words!
Now we can better see why David was so
astounded!
Listen to the King, in his own words.
"Then went king David in, and sat before
the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? And what
is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?" 2nd
Kings 7:18
Then here comes the answer!
Here is WHY God has so blessed David.
It's also why we are studying this Text today.
David, still talking to God,
"For
thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast
thou done all these great things." 2nd Samuel 7:21
Look at the words I've highlighted!
"For Thy Word's Sake!"
"For
thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou
done all these great things, to
make thy servant know them. Wherefore Thou art great, O
Lord God: for there is none like Thee, neither is
there any God beside Thee, according to all that we have
heard with our ears." 2nd Samuel 7:21-23.
Yes, don't miss it!
God is so blessing David "for His Word's
sake!"
Simply and purely "for His Word's Sake!"
What does that mean?
God is doing these things for David,
fulfilling the very often called "David Covenant" simply because
the Lord has promised to do so, in His Word!
And no matter what, if it's promised in
the Word ... it is going to happen!
God is going to do whatever He said He would
do!
He keeps His promises!
For many reasons He does so, but here's the
topmost reason, "for His Word's sake!"
You know what that means?
It means that if you have "believed on the
Lord Jesus with all your heart," He has saved you!
Know why?
Because He promised so in Acts 16:31.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved."
And if for no other reason, He saved you "for
His Word's Sake!"
And if you are born-again, you are going
to Heaven someday! How do we know, God has promised it!
"In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:23,
where Heaven itself is a fulfilled promise, too!
I'm going to Heaven, for numerous reasons,
all of God's Grace ... but at the apex of the list is this
reason, "for His Word's sake!"
God keeps His promises!
Furthermore, God answers our prayers!
"For His Word's sake!"
God sent us the Holy Spirit!
"For His Word's sake!"
God will never leave us or forsake us!
"For His Word's sake!"
God is coming again, the Rapture and the
actual Second Coming to earth!
"For His Word's sake!"
God is going to give us the victory!
"For His Word's sake!"
Wow!
Everything "for His Word's sake!"
God, ever the Perfect Gentleman, so unlike
the mean and vindictive and immoral gods of the heathen,
always keeps His Word!
It's a matter of honor to Him!
He will not fail!
Everything He has indicated, will be
performed!
"For His Word's sake!"
Makes me want to study the Word a
little bit more!
Makes me want to especially study the
Promises of God, a whole lot more!
God to Isaac, "I will
perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father."
Genesis 26:3
"For His Word's sake!"
God to Jeremiah, "Then
said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my
word to perform it." Jeremiah 1:12
"For His Word's sake!"
"Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have
promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah."
Jeremiah 33:14
"For His Word's sake!"
"Thou God wilt perform
the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou
hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old." Micah
7:20
"For His Word's sake!"
David was the beneficiary of God's blessing,
"for the Word's sake!"
So am I.
So are you.
Thank you, Lord.
"For
thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast
thou done all these great things."
Amen!
Oh, how God honors His Word!
We should too!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
