Category: New Testament

Mark 9:44 This Terrible Place

Mark 9:44 (KJV)
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

I’ve heard some Christians theorize that the real torment of hell is not fire, but loneliness, darkness, and being left for all of eternity with the burden of their sin. I am sure all that weighs upon those in hell. But Jesus said hell is a place of fire.

In Mark 9:43-48, Jesus uses the phrase “where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched” three times.

  • If your hand offend thee

  • If your foot offend thee

  • If your eye offend thee

There is nothing, head to toe, worthy of one day in eternal hell.

By all means, be saved from this terrible place.

And the good news is, no means are necessary or capable of saving us. Jesus paid the full price for our offenses. He was beaten, spit upon smitten in the face. He was flogged and whipped in the back. He was nailed hands and feet. He was pierced in the side. Jesus paid all the cost for sin, but not His own. He had no sin. He was bruised for our iniquity. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him. And by His stripes, we are healed.

Come ye weary, lost, and lonely. Jesus’ blood can make you whole. 

Come to Jesus today. Trust Him and Him alone to save you from such a hell.

And being saved, surrender your life to live as He teaches us in the Word of God.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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Mark 9:44 This Terrible Place

Mark 8:2 No Problem For The Lord

Mark 8:2 (KJV)
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

They had been with Jesus for three days.

·       Jesus knew how long they had been there

·       Jesus knew they had nothing to eat and

·       Jesus had compassion on them because of it

Three days.

I assume some of them had something to eat, at least the first day or so. Maybe. But I don’t see anyone in the multitude even thinking of returning home on the account of no food. Their interest was Christ. But His interest was them. He knew their needs, He had compassion, and He was able to meet their needs – and more. But He waited three days.

It would be foolish to advise a Christian to ignore needs. Preparation and planning certainly make a thing more likely to be successful. But poor or improper preparation and planning are no problem for the Lord. If our interest is truly Christ, we may step forward trusting that His interest is us. He will not send us away to faint.[1]

[1] Perhaps the only ones who would are those who leave before He meets the need.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Mark 8:2 No Problem For The Lord

Mark 4:11 The Mystery of the Kingdom of God

Mark 4:11 (KJV)
And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

This passage opens, in verse two, by telling us Jesus used these parables to teach them “in His doctrine.” The doctrine He taught concerned the kingdom of God. I’ve heard many ideas concerning this kingdom, and frankly, what one believes about this kingdom impacts every aspect of his understanding of the Bible.

Some believe the kingdom to be synonymous with the invisible, universal church
It’s, in their opinion, the kingdom that lives within you. It happened the moment you accepted Jesus as Lord.

Some believe it to be the kingdom of God at work in our world today
Catholics and some Protestants take this view and believe the kingdom of God is competing with the kingdoms of the world. The Vatican has a representative in the United Nations.  The Catholic Church is viewed as one of the kingdoms in force in the world today.

Some believe the kingdom to be representative of the local church of Jesus Christ
AW Pink wrote a series of articles on the kingdom of heaven parables. He saw them as prophetic of the history of the church age. I once heard Gary Prisk preach a message to the same effect.

I believe the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of heaven, and the Millennial Kingdom of Christ to be synonymous
It is this kingdom that was promised to David. It was to this kingdom the Jews looked forward. It is not the doctrine of the church, but it affects church doctrine as we are a part of God’s plan to bring that promise to fruition. The church does not replace Israel. Promises to New Testament Christians do not supplant God’s promises to David or the rest of Israel. New Testament Christians and New Testament church doctrine play a part in bringing His promise to Israel to pass.

God has never given up on Israel. When all is done, the new Jerusalem will sit on the new earth, and all believers of all ages will worship together at the throne of God.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Mark 4:11 The Mystery of the Kingdom of God

Mark 3:4 No Wonder Jesus Was Grieved

Mark 3:4 (KJV)
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

Albert Barnes says, “It seems to have been a maxim with the Jews that not to do good when we have an opportunity is to do evil; not to save life is to kill or to be guilty of murder. If a man has an opportunity of saving a man’s life when he is in danger, and does not do it, he is evidently guilty of his death. On this principle our Saviour puts this question…”

John Gill adds, “To do evil, kill, or destroy, are not lawful at any time; and to do good, and to save life, must be right at all times…”

But we need not the word of either of these men. God says, James 4:17 (KJV)

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

How hard is the heart that would refuse to do a person good or refuse to save a life for religious reasons!

No wonder Jesus was grieved.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Mark 3:4 No Wonder Jesus Was Grieved

Matthew 27:24 How Twisted the Blinded Eye

Matthew 27:24 (KJV)
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

I suppose it oughtn’t to be, but it is shocking how twisted the blinded eye can be.

The Pharisees paid a man to betray Jesus. When that man regretted his decision and returned with the money, their response was, “What is that to us?” When he threw the money down and went out and hanged himself, they were puzzled about what to do with the money because “It was not lawful for them to put it in the treasury.”

When the Jews refused to release Jesus, choosing instead to free a convicted felon, Pilate washed his hands and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person.” He was not. Knowing that Christ was just and had done nothing worthy of death, he agreed to His execution because it was the easy thing to do.

Jesus was mocked, spit upon, beaten, and driven to the cross. A man who had done nothing but good, one they would have forced to be their king, but now they claim, “We have no king but Caesar.“

The serpent offered Eve the likeness of gods, “knowing good and evil.” But what humankind received instead was a delusion.

Only a relationship with Jesus Christ can clear the mind and bring it closer to its rational state.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 27:24 How Twisted the Blinded Eye

Matthew 26:37 When Jesus Sorrowed

Matthew 26:37 (KJV)
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted, hungered, thirsty, sorrowful, and heavy. But I can only find one time when Jesus rejoiced and that was in His spirit, and not outwardly.

In our modern Christianity, we make a great deal of something Jesus barely experienced. The point of Christianity is not to be happy, look blessed, and always play the part of the victor. Jesus began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

I notice He took only two of His apostles with Him. Perhaps it is wise to let only our closest brethren see when we are so sorrowful and heavy, given our fleshly weaknesses.

Even then, they were unable to perform the thing Jesus requested of them.

I suspect it will always be this way with men. However, the lesson I believe is that, when our brethren go into such heaviness, they need us to watch and pray.

  • We will fail them
  • We will sleep when we should be watching

But, as best as the Lord will enable us, we want to pray for them earnestly.  

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 26:37 When Jesus Sorrowed

Matthew 25:9 An Unpleasant Truth

Matthew 25:9 (KJV)
But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

I recently engaged in a conversation with a man who was antagonistic but at least willing to speak with me. At this point in my life, I am not as concerned with finding those whose direction I can change as I am with finding those who need to be warned about the direction they are currently on. Of course, I pray they will be converted, but if not, I want to have at least warned them.

This guy believes himself to be educated. He described himself as having “too many degrees.” In a statement I consider quite judgmental of him, he said, ” If you take a step back and examine the authentic message of Christianity, that which is compelling, it draws people in to crave a closer relationship to God. All you and people like you do is drive people away with your self-righteous judgmentalism.”

He believes Christianity should be all about going “out in the streets with the marginalized and the despised having fellowship and spreading his love and forgiveness.”

I want to contrast that view with the Word of God. The very words of Jesus issue multiple points of judgment.

  • Not so (vs. 9)
  • I know you not (vs. 12)
  • Thou wicked and slothful servant (vs. 26)
  • Divide the sheep from the goats (vs. 32)
  • Into everlasting punishment (vs. 45)

I understand that these are unpleasant thoughts and that those who reject the Lord and His Word would consider them harsh. But to dismiss them because we don’t care for them is foolishness.

And to avoid telling others about them because we don’t want to drive them from us is the greatest of all cruelties.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 25:9 An Unpleasant Truth

Matthew 21:29 Repentance Vs Compliance

Matthew 21:29 (KJV)
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

The full context is, Matthew 21:28-31 (KJV)
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Here is a young man whose first reaction to his father’s command was to refuse. The second son was more complaint. In the end, however, the first son did what was commanded of him, while the second did not. Jesus obviously preferred the first to the latter.

I suggest that the difference between the two is repentance versus compliance.

I’ve met many children who have grown up in a Christian home and learned the secret of getting along. They observe. They see what makes for peace and what makes for suffering. They learn what will keep them in their parents’ and their church’s good graces. And they comply. Anxious to fit in and be happy, they do what they are expected to do. The trouble is that compliance with Christian lifestyle is not the same as saving faith in Christ.

I surely do like being around a compliant child. I am not advocating for raising “rebels for the cause.” But salvation requires repentance, and repentance involves struggle. A crisis of faith has got to happen, or else we continue trusting the flesh, often believing ourselves to be walking by faith.

The call of Christianity is not compliance with a worldview, conservative lifestyle, or even a doctrinal statement. The call of Christianity is a repentance of the flesh that turns us to the Lord.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 21:29 Repentance Vs Compliance

Matthew 19:21 Above All Else

Matthew 19:21 (KJV)
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

What an example of the difference between religion and a genuine walk with the Lord.

This young man had a desire for eternal life
That’s why he had come to Jesus with the question. He knew Jesus had the answer.

This young man had zealously practiced religion
He had kept the Ten Commandments from his youth.

This young man knew that neither desire nor religion had satisfied his soul
“What lack I yet?” He knew something was lacking.

This young man would not make the transition from religion to relationship
He was unwilling to follow Jesus. The Bible says it was because he had great possessions. 

We must be careful not to divorce ourselves from the application because we think we are somehow less fortunate than he. Anything that prevents us from following Jesus is as great a possession as his.

This is what faith is. 

It is following Jesus above all else. 

  • It is not being a good person. 
  • It is not doing all the right things. 
  • It is not even having a heart for the things of God. 

Faith, a relationship with Christ, is removing anything that stands in the way of following Christ.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 19:21 Above All Else

Matthew 17:5 Hearing Jesus

Matthew 17:5 (KJV)
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Peter gets dished a lot of grief for speaking out of turn. Generally, I am of the opinion we are too hard on him. We are, perhaps, speaking out of turn to speak so poorly of him.

That said, there is here a good lesson in listening. Truth is Peter needed to hear Jesus.

None of us listen enough to the Lord. Our minds are busy, occupied with affairs of this life, cares of the world, ambitions, opinions, and the philosophies of men. We listen so seldom. We’ve come to believe we know what the Lord has said without genuinely trying to hear Him.

  • We’ve read books
  • We’ve gone to classes
  • We’ve heard sermons
  • We’ve had discussion groups

We know what Jesus said. Why listen?

If indeed we are what we listen to, we are in a world of hurt.

It’s time to slow down, stop talking and stop thinking about other things, and hear Jesus.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5900 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Matthew 17:5 Hearing Jesus