O friend, we have in Jesus all our sins and grace to bear.
All our privileges we carry, everything to God and prayer.
O, all things we often forget, O, what needless pain we bear.
O, because we do not carry, everything to God and prayer.
Heaven rejoils in temptations, who kneels in trouble anywhere.
We should never be disturbed.
Take me to the Lord and prayer.
Let me find a friend so faithful who will also share.
Jesus knows our every need, so take me to the Lord and prayer.
O, keeping him heavy given, O, with a load of care.
Blessed is he who's still our prayer.
Take me to the Lord and prayer.
Do you, my friends, just ask for saving?
Take me to the Lord and prayer.
In his arms he'll take me, she'll give.
And the one who's sure to spare.
Amen.
Good singing.
Father, I'm going to pray for us.
Thank you, Father God, for this day.
Thank you for this morning.
I pray that we pray today when we ask you, Lord,
that you would bless the service and receive our singing
and help us to understand the Christian today
and receive it and apply it to our lives.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Let's turn our hymnals to someone of 51.
What a magic song.
Someone of 51.
We are going to let it roll.
I have heard of man on the far away strand.
Tis the beautiful home of the soul.
I have heard of Jesus on high, when we never shall die.
Tis the land where we'll never go.
Never go home, never go home.
In the land where we'll never go home.
Never go home, never go home.
In the land where we'll never go home.
In the beautiful home, where we'll never go home.
We shall be in the sweet quiet time.
Have your praise to the King, to return as he sings.
Tis the land where we'll never shall die.
Never go home, never go home.
In the land where we'll never go home.
Never go home, never go home.
In the land where we'll never go home.
When our working is done, and our life come as one,
and our troubles and trials are won,
all the sorrow will fail, and our voices will fail,
when the love comes to come on before.
Never go home, never go home.
In the land where we'll never go home.
Never go home, never go home.
In the land where we'll never go home.
Amen.
At this time, we're going to do announcements.
Immediately following, we'll be singing cell number 324.
If you'd like to turn it now, the cell number is 324.
All right.
Good morning, everybody.
Thanks for coming out.
If you need a bulletin, go ahead and slip up your hand.
We're going to have them bring you one.
As always, we've got our service time.
Every Sunday at 10.30 a.m., again at 5.30 p.m.
is our evening service.
Thursday is at 7.
We're going through the book of 1 Kings.
And we've got our salvation and baptism listed below that,
as well as some notes about the church.
And also, if you are reminded, please silence your cell phones
to remain here for service.
Over on the right-hand side, keep working on the 9th grade.
Just hit the New Testament challenge.
So this is the home stretch.
Today is the 86th day of the year.
So we've got a makeup day there at the end.
I said at the beginning of this, I was going to give you any grace.
But look what I did there for you.
There it is.
I gave you one day, right?
So anyway, you've got that one day.
This should be pretty easy.
Just a couple chapters every day working with the book of Revelation.
Who's going to have it done?
All right.
Who's already got it done?
All right.
OK, good.
Keep working on that.
And then we'll have the details about the festivities that will take place for those
who have completed it.
Below that, don't forget the FWBC Tucson Movie Night.
Our double feature is this Friday, April 1st at 7 p.m.
So don't let the double feature scare you away.
The first double is like 45 minutes.
I think the next one's about 53.
So it works out to about a full-angle feature.
It's about an hour and a half-ish.
So come on out to that.
There'll be, of course, the popcorn, the hot dogs.
Now, note on the popcorn, the hot dogs.
Popcorn, we can make an abundance.
That's not really a deal.
I'm not serving dinner here.
Don't come like, oh, I haven't eaten all day.
I'm going to just eat all the hot dogs.
It's like, no, there's a limited quantity.
And we want to make sure everybody gets one.
Maybe some of you can have a second, or a third, depending
on how the night goes.
But if this isn't potluck, it's a snack.
It's just something to boost, spike your insulin one last time.
So anyway, that'll be there.
Popcorn will be an abundance.
So you can help yourself with as much of that as you want.
But we'll also have some fresh mints, some sparkling water,
some disease, and things like that.
A quick note, too, on the beverages in the fridge.
The Gatorade are reserved for people that are going soul eating.
Once it starts to warm up a little bit,
we'd like to have Gatorade in there for our soul eaters.
So please don't just help yourself
with that throughout the services.
Reserve that for the people that are actually going out
and losing electrolytes and all that stuff.
So they can reach hard.
That's what that's for.
That's for our soldiers.
If you go soul eating, freak out.
Otherwise, please reserve that for soul eating.
Also below that, we've got the men's preaching night
coming up this Tuesday at 7.
So we're going to have the 5 o'clock soul eating time,
the extra time this Tuesday.
We're just going to hit the neighborhoods right around here
and just kind of invite folks out to live nearby.
So that Tuesday at 5, we're going to have another push
to go out and hang out.
Probably the last of our invites at that point.
But then the next preaching night will be at 7.
Please take note of some of the things regarding
the preaching night below that.
It's open to men only.
We're at least 18 years of age.
So there's no spectators.
If you're not preaching, don't come, basically.
And if you're not a soldier,
if you don't have a regular soul eating time
that you go to or you just get out solely.
I'm not saying you have to go out every week necessarily.
But if you're someone that would be considered
a soul winner, then by all means,
be prepared to preach.
As long as you meet all these other criteria.
Those of you that are going to participate,
please prepare a five to 10-minute sermon.
It's a smaller class right now,
so if you go a little longer, it's all right.
It's not a strict time limit.
But depending on how the sermon goes,
and I'm just like, two minutes is enough.
I would never do that.
I just discouraged everybody
that was going to come and tell me.
But come on out, learn to preach,
and get up behind a pulpit.
That's the big first step,
is just getting up behind it.
So we could definitely use more preachers.
On the back, hopefully we have
Mexico Monday coming up.
That's going to be next week, excuse me.
But if you plan on attending that,
please speak with me and just let me know
any word of your regret
where you speak with Brother Segura
who runs that.
That's fine too, but just make sure you speak
and that means to stop by here
and to expect from you.
And don't forget, join us next Sunday,
April 3rd at 10 a.m.
for Donuts and Coffee, and I'll go
celebrate your birthdays in a month like April.
So if it wasn't in last year,
and you haven't gotten your birthday
or anniversary since then,
it's not going to be in this year either.
So when you get that information to me,
you can watch me include it.
We believe the Bible memory message is below that.
We're working on verses 9 and 10.
The children and young people who can recite that word
perfectly are welcome to a
ice cream bar.
Who's got last week's stuff?
Alright, who's going to get this one this time?
Who's going to get it done by the end of morning service?
Maybe some of you.
I know some of you that way.
That's going to be it for announcements,
and we'll go ahead and sing one more song
before we get into the exhibit this morning.
So the 300 is 44.
We're on the air.
["The Star-Spangled Banner"]
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the precious,
green, and tall.
And once you've made me
now to thy service, Lord,
by the power of grace be gone.
Let my soul of God
with us stand first, Lord,
and my daily loss be done.
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the precious,
green, and tall.
I'll appear in the daylight
of a single hour,
and before I go as well.
When I'm healing,
where empathy lies, Lord,
I will be with you
as my dear friend.
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the precious,
green, and tall.
I'll appear in the sunlight
of a single hour,
to the cross of heaven's sea.
There are hearts of joy
that have been loved,
to the rest in peace with me.
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Drowning near the earth,
near the best of all,
to the precious,
green, and tall.
The elders which are among you I exhort,
who also am another,
the witness of the sufferings of Christ,
and also partake of the glory that shall be with thee.
If you believe it's not the God
which is among you,
they can oversight their own.
Not by constraint, but willingly,
not because of Luther,
but of a ready mind.
Madam, if any lord,
or the God's errand,
is being established in the flock,
and when a sheep shepherds
shall come out of fear,
and receive count of four glories,
that fate is not awaited.
Likewise, if the elders
submit themselves into the elders,
they all of them will be subjects
unto another,
and be filled with humility.
For God is distant and proud,
and with grace and honor.
Probably to some,
wherefore,
in the mighty hand of God,
he may exalt you in a new time.
Cast you on your care upon him,
and prepare it for you.
He sowed that you did it,
because your adversary,
the devil,
and the voiding lion,
walketh out,
seeking with whom he avowed,
to resist,
steadfast in faith,
but with the same afflictions
are accomplished in the brethren
and in the world.
For the God of all grace,
who hath called us
unto the eternal glory
of Christ Jesus,
have they yet suffered a while,
making perfect,
established,
strengthened,
settled,
to whom his glory
is remaining
forever and ever.
Amen.
I seldom,
as the faithful brother
unto you,
have as opposed,
ever increased you,
absorbed and testified,
This is the true grace
of God,
where you may stand.
The Church has been Babylon,
elected together
with you salutately,
and so that the markets
must come,
freely known in others
as kings and chariots,
peace be with you all,
and are in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
Well, thank you for the day,
and for the opportunity
to be in the Church.
I pray that you will come
preach the Lord,
and open our minds
and hearts to hear the word,
and receive it,
and learn from it.
Amen.
So, there in the beginning
of 1 Peter 5,
rather, about verse 8 there,
this is a really
familiar passage.
This is something
we preach a lot about.
I know this is a passage
I often turn to,
but in the beginning
of 1 Peter 5,
rather,
about verse 8 there,
this is a really
familiar passage.
This is something
we preach a lot about.
But, you know,
and it's a really
stern warning.
It's really something
that we have to pay
attention to if we're
going to live a successful
Christian life.
And, you know,
I just feel like so often
this is a passage that
just seems to fall
on deaf ears,
that people really
don't let this sink in,
the spiritual reality
that we're living in.
And Peter here has
a firm grasp of it,
and is trying to get it
across to us,
where he says in verse 8,
Be sober, be vigilant,
because your adversary
the devil,
the soaring lion,
walketh about seeking
whom he may devour.
And notice he says there
it's your adversary.
No, it wasn't just the
adversary of the apostles,
or it's not just the
adversary of Jesus Christ,
it's the adversary
that we have.
You know, we have
an adversary today.
And I think people
kind of, you know,
are lackadaisical
when it comes to this.
They don't really
take it that seriously.
They're very casual
about their Christian life
because they really
don't understand that
they have an enemy that's
personally trying to
attack them,
and he wants them
to get out of church,
to not serve God,
to not live for the Lord.
And even those that would,
you know, stay in church,
those that would be,
you know,
faithful to the services,
you know,
if he can't get you
out of church,
you know,
the devil wants to
rob your joy.
You know,
he wants to steal your love,
your joy,
your peace,
your long suffering,
your patience,
your goodness,
your faith,
your meekness,
your temperance.
He wants to steal
these things from you.
You know,
he'll do that.
If he can't get you,
keep you from getting saved,
you know that he's going
to keep you from serving God.
And if he can't keep you
from serving God,
he's going to try to
turn the Christian life
into just this,
this drudgery that you
have to go through
and try to make life
difficult for you.
Look,
life is going to be difficult.
I mean,
he said there in 1 Peter,
chapter number 5,
if you look there,
it says in verse 10,
but the grace of God
who hath called us
unto his glory by Christ Jesus,
after that he hath
suffered a while.
So, you know,
we're not sugarcoating
up here.
I'm not saying,
look, that if you,
you know,
if you have the right attitude,
you're never going to suffer.
No,
Christian life is suffering.
You know,
we are,
you know,
life in general is suffering.
We are going to go
through suffering,
but you know what?
We need to be what?
Perfect.
We need to be established,
he says there,
strengthened and settled.
You know,
Christians need to learn
to be people who are perfect,
meaning complete,
people who have been
established,
people who are going
to be continually
strengthened and settled
and, you know,
casual about their
Christian life.
And the title of the
sermon this morning is
Casual Casualties.
People who get
lackadaisical,
people who are casual,
people who are,
well, you know,
what's that word mean?
Casual?
Very relaxed, right?
Very unconcerned
with the things
of the Christian life.
They end up being casualties
in the Christian life.
And look,
and I say casualty,
you know,
we probably instantly think
of, you know,
some horrific,
you know,
people from some war
or something like that
where bodies are
piled up or,
you know,
those would be
considered casualties,
wouldn't they?
But, you know,
we're talking about
spiritual casualties here.
And people can be
successful,
people can have wealth,
people can seem to have
everything together
on the outside,
but spiritually,
inside,
they're a casualty.
You know,
the world would look at
them and say,
oh, what a success.
But God looks down and
says, you know what?
You're not serving me.
You're not filled with joy.
You don't have
your Bible,
you're a spiritual casualty.
And why is it that people
end up being casualties?
Casualties,
it's because they're
very casual about
their Christian life.
And this is a very
stern warning here
to not be casual
when it comes to
the Christian life.
That's what it means
to be sober.
You know,
we often associate
that word with just,
you know,
not being intoxicated.
But it also means
being serious.
You know,
you should take
your Christian life seriously.
You know,
take your devotion
seriously,
you know,
for God,
going to church.
You know,
it's just something
you should take seriously.
And to be what?
To be sober
and to be vigilant,
meaning being alert,
be aware of the fact
that you have an adversary
who is seeking whom
he may devour,
who is looking for somebody
that he can turn into,
what,
a casualty.
You know,
what he often gets
is the person who's
just very casual,
very relaxed,
very just laid back,
just kind of nonchalant
about the Christian life.
We don't want to act
with a plan or purpose
in our life.
You know,
we should have plans,
we should have purpose,
we should have,
you know,
intention when it comes
to our Christian life.
We should be,
you know,
act with care,
we should act
with thoughtfulness
when it comes to
the Christian life
and not have
this casual attitude.
I mean,
if you think about,
you know,
the word casual
to kind of illustrate that,
think about,
you know,
the term casual dress,
right,
what does that mean?
You know,
I was wearing a t-shirt
and jeans,
okay.
Not you,
you were,
what,
you were in a three-precuit
or something,
what?
No,
but you know,
at the workplace,
they have the casual Friday,
right,
what do they mean?
I mean,
just a little bit more
of a relaxed dress,
maybe you don't have
to wear the button down,
you can wear the polo or,
you know,
you can wear the jeans,
not the dress slacks
or whatever.
Look,
that's great for
the business world,
you know,
as far as our physical,
outward appearance.
I'm saying,
when it comes to,
you know,
the things of God,
to our walk with God,
we don't want to have
a casual life
when it comes to
the things of God.
We want to take it seriously
and we want to
not end up being
a casualty,
somebody who's just,
you know,
been affected negatively
by our adversary,
who's just trying to,
you know,
pick us off.
And I think there's
a great example of somebody
in Scripture,
and if you would,
go to Mark 14,
we're done in 1 Peter,
Mark 14,
there's a great example of somebody
that just kind of had
a casual attitude
when it came to
their Christian life,
and actually ended up
being ashamed.
Actually,
it's kind of an
embarrassing story.
And if you look there
in Mark 14,
in verse 43,
and of course this is
the Garden of Gethsemane
where Jesus is praying,
and they come and
arrest him.
Okay,
and it says in verse 43
of Mark 14,
and immediately while he
yet spake,
cometh Judas,
one of the twelve,
and with him a great
from the chief priests,
and scribes,
and the elders,
and he that betrayed him
had given them a token,
saying,
Whomsoever I shall kiss,
the same as he,
take him,
and lead him away safely.
And as soon as he was
come,
he goeth straightway to him,
and saith,
Master,
master,
and kissed him.
And they laid their hands
on him,
and took him.
And one of them that stood by
drew a sword,
and smote a servant
of the high priest,
and cut off his ear.
And Jesus answered,
and said unto them,
Are you come out against me
I was daily with you
in the temple,
and you took me not,
but the scriptures must be
fulfilled,
and they all forsook him,
and fled.
Now,
get verse 51,
it says,
And there followed him,
meaning after the others
have fled,
after they have arrested Jesus,
there is one that followed him,
meaning Jesus,
a certain young man.
And I'll get to who I think
this certain young man is.
You know,
and it's all speculation,
okay,
I'll just let you know right now.
But a certain young man
having a linen cloth
cast about his naked body,
and the young man
has to lay hold on him.
So,
you have this guy that shows up
at the arrest of Jesus
after everybody's scattered
and fled,
who's just kind of an onlooker,
who's just kind of looking in,
you know,
and this is taking place,
you know,
early in the morning,
late at night,
you know,
before the sun is up,
and you know,
because if you read the story,
they're having trouble
staying awake,
you know,
it's a late hour.
And this guy shows up,
this certain young man,
but notice,
all he's got about him
is just this linen cloth.
You know,
and you can't say,
well,
this guy doesn't have
enough money for clothes.
Who is this guy?
Who is this certain young man?
And I'm going to develop
a point here,
but the first thing I have to do
is I have to kind of give
my thoughts as to who
this certain young man is.
I believe that this certain
young man is John Mark,
the author of the book of Mark.
And I have,
you know,
some internal evidence,
I believe,
for that,
and you know,
people can speculate about this,
and people can disagree
with me about this,
but at least for the time being,
just,
you know,
amuse me for the sermon's sake
that this is John Mark,
it'll make my application
a lot easier,
alright?
But you say,
why would you say that's John Mark?
Well,
I believe it's John Mark
because it's the author of the book.
Because,
let's say,
you know,
and again,
people don't necessarily agree
that John Mark is the author
of the book of Mark.
I believe that it is.
That's kind of just something
that's generally accepted.
Now,
I believe it's John Mark
because of the fact that
John Mark is the author of the book,
which is something I also believe.
And if,
and if,
let's just think,
just think about it.
If this is where you come
into the story of Jesus Christ,
and you're writing the story,
you know,
are you really going to tell
on yourself like that?
And be like,
yeah,
and then I,
then I showed up,
you know,
naked with something
but a blanket around me,
and then I had to run away,
you know,
in my birthday suit.
You know,
you're not probably going to
want to include,
let people know that that was you,
alright?
Maybe he's kind of trying to
save a little face here.
That's why,
one reason why
I think he's doing that,
why he's referring to himself
in the third person,
right?
He said,
and we won't take the time
to go there,
in John chapter 20,
and throughout the book of John,
refers to himself as that
certain disciple,
right?
He's always saying,
and that disciple,
the one that leaned upon Jesus,
you know,
that certain disciple
that outran Peter,
you know,
he's kind of like getting
a dig on Peter there,
right?
And then he says in John 21,
this is the disciple
which testify of these things
and wrote these things.
Say,
look,
I'm that disciple,
I'm the one that wrote the book.
So,
it's not,
it's not some new thing
for the author of the book
and I believe it's,
it's,
John Mark,
but another reason why
I believe it's John Mark
is because of the fact that,
you know,
John Mark lived in Jerusalem.
We know that.
If you would,
keep something in Mark 14,
go to Acts 12.
Because think about it,
this guy is showing up late
in the night
and all he's got on is a blanket.
It's telling you that he
probably just rolled out of bed.
You know,
it's probably somebody that knew
the apostles,
had known about Jesus.
This is the end of his ministry.
It's been the three years.
He kind of knows
that Jesus is in town.
You know,
he even knows that there was a supper.
He knows that Jesus
is wont to go to the garden probably
and make prayer.
That that was somewhere
that they were probably
going to be later.
He seems to kind of know
what's going on
or maybe he was,
you know,
saw the group of people
going out
and just kind of wanted to see
what's going on.
But for whatever reason,
whatever drew him to that place,
the fact that he's showing up
with nothing but a linen garment,
you know,
a blanket showing,
cast about his naked body
shows you that he probably,
you know,
was just rolled out of bed.
Maybe he was just out on his porch
eating some coffee
early in the morning.
I don't know.
And he sees what's going on
and he goes to check it out.
But, you know,
he's just kind of casually
showing up.
He's just kind of casually
showing up there.
And John Mark,
you know,
lived in Jerusalem.
This is where it's all
taking place.
It says in Acts chapter 12,
verse 12,
and when he,
Peter,
had considered the thing,
he came to the house of Mary,
the mother of John
whose surname was Mark.
This is when Peter was,
you know,
rescued from prison,
right,
in Jerusalem
when the angel comes
and tells him to get up.
I always love that story.
And they leave
and where did he come?
He came to the house of Mary,
the mother of John
whose surname was Mark.
So he came to John Mark's
mother's house
which was in Jerusalem.
So we know that John Mark
is somebody that lived
in Jerusalem.
So it makes sense that
this could be John Mark
because,
you know,
he was somebody that lived
close enough by
to where maybe he could be
caught in such a circumstance.
Where he could be somebody,
you know,
if you don't live there,
you know,
chances are you've got
to change of clothes with you.
You know,
casually at home
just sleeping through
the night.
So this is some internal
evidence why I believe
this is John Mark.
And honestly,
that's really all I have,
okay,
that's it.
That's about as much
evidence as I got.
But, you know,
everyone kind of
speculates who this is
and I don't think anyone
can say a hundred percent
who this certain young man is.
I believe personally
it was John Mark
and when we can,
the more important thing
is that we need to learn
a lesson from him.
Is that,
you know,
when you have this
casual attitude,
right?
When you're not vigilant,
when you're not sober,
you know,
that's when you get
devoured.
When you're not established
and strengthened and settled,
you know,
bad things are going to
happen to you spiritually.
Now,
if you would,
go over to Acts chapter 15.
Acts chapter 15.
John Mark is a character
that shows up a couple more
times throughout Scripture.
And John Mark,
I believe,
is this character
in Book of Mark 14
where we just were,
where he's showing up
kind of with a casual
attitude, isn't he?
I mean,
think about the other apostles.
None of them are
dressed in this manner.
They've all,
they've got their clothes on.
Jesus is welcome.
I mean,
the people that arrest him,
they're all ready.
They're suited up.
They're ready to do business.
But you got this other guy,
this certain young man,
John Mark,
who's just showing up
and he's just kind of there
just to kind of see
what's going on.
Not taking things
very seriously,
is he?
He's taking things
very casually.
And in fact,
this casual kind of attitude
that John Mark had
was something that he had alert,
he had to get over
I believe.
If you look there
in Acts chapter 15,
verse 35,
it says,
Paul also and Barnabas
continued in Antioch,
teaching and preaching
the word of the Lord
with many others also.
And some days after Paul
said unto Barnabas,
let us go again and visit
our brethren in every city
where we have preached
the word of the Lord
and see how they do.
And Barnabas,
excuse me,
and Barnabas determined
to take with them John,
whose surname was Mark.
Right?
So here's John Mark again.
But Paul thought not good
to take him with them,
who departed from them,
from,
excuse me,
departed from them
from Pamphylia
when he,
and went not with them
to the work.
So why was it
when these,
when Paul gets this idea,
hey, let's go visit
our brethren and see
how they do,
and Barnabas says,
hey, let's take John Mark
with us,
and Paul says,
no way,
I'm not taking him.
Why would he say that?
You know,
you have to be,
I mean,
think about that,
to refuse somebody,
just say,
no,
he's no good,
I mean,
sometimes you're just
kind of like,
all right,
yeah,
bring so and so.
But he's specifically saying,
uh-uh,
I'm not going with John Mark.
Right?
Why?
Because he went
not to the work.
What is that?
What does that show
about John Mark
that he just has this
kind of casual,
you know,
laissez-faire,
just this kind of
blah attitude towards
doing the work of God.
Right?
And look,
that's not something
we want to characterize
our Christian life,
where we're just kind of
you know,
maybe I'll get to my
Bible reading,
maybe I'll say a prayer,
you know,
have this casual,
just relaxed attitude
when it comes to
your Christian life,
when it comes to
the work of the Lord.
You know,
we want to be people
who are driven,
who are motivated,
who want to be on fire.
And look,
I know sometimes
the flesh gets involved
and we just have to
drag the old man
along with us.
You know,
we were just out soul
winning at St. Oboe yesterday,
you know,
sometimes even me,
you know,
the preacher here,
yeah, I have an old
man too,
I have flesh too,
I have two natures too.
You know,
but what I said
is this,
is that as soon as,
and this happens to me
so many times,
where I'll be like,
oh, you know,
it's Saturday,
it's my time,
I got to go lead
this whole winning,
and I'll take the people out.
But as soon as I'm knocking doors,
as soon as I'm seeing,
even if I'm not the one
getting people saved,
I see a team over there
talking to a group of people,
they're getting people saved,
these people over here
talking,
getting those people saved,
and we're handing these
things out,
why is I so casual about
doing the work of the Lord?
I'm glad,
there's nothing I'd rather
be doing.
I just want to keep going.
You don't want to be like
John Mark.
You know,
in John Mark,
it's a black eye here,
doesn't he?
In scripture.
Why?
Because he had this
casual attitude.
Now,
what are some of the causes
of John Mark's casualness?
You know,
if we don't want to be
somebody that's going
to be considered,
you know,
just kind of casual
and lazy when it comes
to the work of the Lord,
you know,
that might have caused
John Mark to be so casual,
to the point where the
apostle Paul is just like,
nuh-uh,
I'm not doing it.
And you know the rest
of the story,
the contention was so
sharp between them that
they split up.
They went their own ways,
Paul and Barnabas.
You know,
Barnabas did take
John Mark with them,
and there's a whole
other lesson to be learned
there,
and we'll touch on that
towards the end.
But I mean,
talk about a missed
opportunity.
I mean,
it'd be great to hang out
with Barnabas,
don't get me wrong,
a pretty minor character
in the New Testament,
isn't it?
You know,
if I had an opportunity
to go hang out with
the apostle Paul,
you know,
I mean,
John Mark might be
looking back,
up in heaven looking
back and going,
what?
I could have,
I was this close,
I could have gone
with the apostle Paul
and done all these great
things and not had
that said about me
by the apostle Paul.
I mean,
what a missed opportunity.
What led to that?
Because he was casual,
because he went not
to the work,
because he was just
going to church or whatever.
You know,
it's a casualty.
You know,
that missed opportunity,
you know,
that's a,
you know,
that's a notch on
the devil's belt.
You know,
the same thing for us.
You know,
when we just,
you know,
stopped soul winning,
we stop our Bible reading,
we stop going to church,
you know,
the devil,
he's just putting
another notch on his belt.
Another Christian I got
to just,
you know,
get lazy and get
out of church,
you know,
that's a victory for him.
You know,
that's a casualty.
What were some of the
causes of John Mark's
casualness?
One is that he wasn't
a disciple.
I mean,
he wasn't in the
upper room,
was he?
He's showing up
after the arrest.
It doesn't seem like
he was somebody that
was following Jesus
day to day.
You know,
he's there when Jesus
is in Jerusalem
where he lives.
I mean,
he's,
oh yeah,
I'll show up,
you know,
at a certain time
when it suits me,
when it's convenient
that's going to have you
running away naked
from the enemy
and ashamed,
right?
That's going to
cause you to be a
casualty.
That's what John Mark,
that's what his problem
was,
is that he just had this,
you know,
he wasn't a disciple.
He wasn't there,
you know,
following Jesus day in
and day out forsaking
everything.
You know,
I mean,
think about the other
apostles,
they're leaving behind
their family,
they're leaving behind
their boats,
their nets,
their business.
If we came down to it,
if we had to forsake
everything,
then we should be
willing to do that.
But, you know,
praise God,
he's like,
he's not even asking us
to do that.
He's just saying,
hey,
can you just serve me,
you know,
a little bit?
Can you just go to church?
Can you just win a soul?
Can you just read your
Bible and pray?
Can you just,
you know,
care about your
brothers and sisters
in Christ?
He's not saying,
hey,
forsake everything
and follow me
and leave all.
You know,
I'll show up
when Jesus is in town,
you know,
when he's near my house,
when it's just so
convenient for me
that I don't even
have to get dressed,
when I can just throw
on a little,
you know,
a little linen cloth
and just walk out there
and see what's going on
and I'll go talk to Jesus
for a minute.
It's a casual attitude.
That's what he has.
He's not a disciple.
You know,
here's what led
to his casualness.
Here's what led him
being running away,
naked and ashamed
from the enemy.
He wasn't in church.
You know,
he missed the upper room.
That was right
before the garden,
right?
I mean,
go read
John 14,
15,
16,
17.
I mean,
it's all one long sermon
in the upper room.
It's church,
folks.
It's Jesus getting
together and saying,
hey,
you know,
I'm going to be
forsaken of all men.
You know,
he that is betrayed
with me,
his hand is with me
on the table.
He's saying,
you know,
the apostles,
they're kind of
going into this,
the 12 disciples,
you know,
a little prepared.
They still didn't
fully comprehend it.
You know,
it kind of clicked
with them later.
But,
you know,
John Mark,
he's just kind of,
he misses church
and just shows up
at this ruckus
and doesn't really
probably know
what's going on
and next thing you know,
they're trying
to grab hold of him
and get the picture.
You know,
the disciples
all get away
because they're
people with these staves
and these swords
and these,
you know,
these torches
aren't showing up
to, you know,
have a party.
They understand
what's taking place
and they're able
to flee,
although that's not
something they should
have done,
you know,
they were trying
not to,
but how is it
that they got away
so easily?
Because they were
clothed, right?
They weren't
casual.
They had the
garments on
and they took off.
I mean,
you know,
try it privately
by yourself sometime,
right?
You know,
when no one else is home.
You know,
put that comfort on
and see how easy
it is to just run
around the house,
right?
It's not that easy
to get away
when you're trying
to cover your nakedness
and he doesn't get
away until he just
says,
well,
I guess,
I guess it's
got to go
and then he's
able to get away
but he's
running away
naked,
right?
He wasn't there
hearing or preaching
the word of God.
That's what led him
to being a casualty
and that's what happens
today with Christians.
They miss church.
They're not there
to hear the important
message that they
needed to hear.
They're not there
to hear the message
of fornication or
drunkenness or sin
or marriage
or whatever it is.
They're not there
to hear the message
that they needed
to hear and the
devil knows it
and he comes along,
you know,
he brings all his
crew with their
swords and their staves
and they attack you
and they say,
why am I running
through life
naked and ashamed?
It's because
you miss church.
You miss the message.
That's what happened
to John Mark.
He missed the message.
He wasn't there
in the upper room.
Oh, this is the night
you're betrayed?
You know,
and he also missed
the message of
being a servant,
didn't he?
Because that's something
that Jesus went into depth
in the book of John
in the upper room.
He started,
and remember
how he starts out?
He took a towel
and he girded himself
and he washed their feet
kind of paraphrasing?
Remember that
in the upper room
how Jesus gives them
an example of being a servant?
You know,
John Mark missed
that message
and that's why
you find him in Acts 15
where Paul's like,
don't take him.
He's lazy.
He doesn't want
to go to the work
because he wasn't
in church to hear
the message that night.
He just wanted
to show up
when it was convenient.
He just wanted
to be casual
about getting
with Jesus.
You know,
he missed the message
in John 14 where
Jesus said,
He also ought to wash
your feet.
He also ought to wash
one another's feet.
For I have given you
as an example
that you should do
as I have done to you.
Verily I say unto you,
The servant is not
greater than his Lord,
neither is he that sent
greater than him
that sent him.
If ye know these things,
happy are ye if ye do them.
You know,
that is the Christian life.
It's servitude.
It's serving others,
isn't it?
It's going out
and reaching people
with the gospel.
It's serving
in the local church.
It's serving our families.
It's serving our brothers
and sisters of Christ.
That's what the
Christian life is.
It's work.
You know,
that's why a lot of
Christians,
they don't want to
show up to church
because they know
if they keep coming
to church they're
going to get what?
Put to work.
You know,
they just want to
have this casual
Christianity.
And you can go ahead
and have your
casual Christianity
but when you're
running away naked
from the devil
and his crew,
you know,
you can't say
and that's what
I'm getting at
this morning.
That's the main
takeaway is that
people who have
just this take it
or leave it attitude
towards the Christian
life, they end up
casualties.
They just say,
yeah, you know,
I know I should
be serving God.
Yeah, I know I
should do that stuff
but I got other
things that are
important.
You know what?
That's a surefire
recipe to end up
just being a
spiritual casualty.
Look, you might
even succeed in
all those other areas
but you're going to
do whatever earthly
accomplishment you did.
He's going to say,
what did you do for me?
Remember, did you not
read John 14?
Did you not read
all the times I told
you to work and to
serve and to labor
and to win souls?
Did you not hear
Mark 16 going
into all the world?
Did you hear all that?
That's what he's
going to be concerned with.
You know, I was
singing that song
on the way over here.
Must I go
empty handed
and thus meet
my redeemer so
not one soul
with which to
greet him?
Must I empty
handed go?
You know, I was in a
church that wasn't
necessarily big on
soul winning.
You know, they
didn't go out
door to door.
I'm just thinking,
man, I'd love to
just win a soul
to Christ.
And I just hear
that song,
must I empty
handed go?
What a shame if
that's the song
you're going to sing
being in this church
where we're out
soul winning,
we're out
knocking the doors
and you get to
heaven and you don't
have one soul
with which to
greet Christ,
the one who died
and you'll agree
with me then
and I'm just
warning you now
that's exactly
what will happen
if you have this
casual attitude
towards a
Christian life.
Where it's just
like, oh, I'll get
to it whenever I
feel like it.
You know, I'll
throw on a robe
and go out when
it's convenient for me.
When the work's
near me.
You know what?
That's not going
to work.
Now, that was the
cause of
John Mark's
casualness.
Right?
The fact that he
didn't want to
learn and just had
this laissez-faire
attitude.
We don't want to
have that.
We don't want to
need to take it or
leave it.
People, go to
2 Timothy chapter 4.
We're going to look
at several quick
passages here.
I'm almost done.
The good news
about John Mark
is that he
corrected it.
Because he got
it right.
He didn't remain
that way.
He didn't remain
a casual observer
in the Christian
life.
He got involved
in the work.
The good news
about John Mark
14, that he's
that certain young
man.
He's named by
the Apostle Paul
in Acts chapter
15.
Saying, we're
not taking him
with us.
He gets called out
in Acts 15.
But the good news
is that he
corrected that
later.
He learned to
watch.
Isn't that what
we read in
1 Peter 5?
That we're
to be sober,
to be vigilant,
to watch,
to not be
casual, but
to have some
drive when
it comes
to the things
of God.
Look at
2 Timothy
4 verse 5.
But watch
thou in all
things,
endure afflictions,
do the work
of an evangelist,
make full proof
of thy ministry.
And say, oh yeah,
that's for
the preacher.
Timothy's
going to be
a preacher.
That's Paul
admonishing him
to be
that's for
the guy
in full time
Christian service.
I understand
that there's
qualifications
in 1 Timothy 3
for both the bishop
and the deacon
in Titus 1.
I understand
that there's
certain things
that you have
to meet, but
ask yourself this,
why is it
that the preacher
and the deacon
have to meet
these qualifications
because they're
in samples
to the flock.
It's not just
that they can
take all the
work on themselves
and say I got
this guys.
And so we
can show you
that watch now
in all things
endure afflictions.
Timothy's
a young man.
This is good
advice for
young men.
Watch now
in all things.
Be sober.
Be vigilant.
Your adversary
the devil walking
the bottles of
roaring lions
seeking whom
he may devour.
Endure
afflictions.
Oh, I don't
want to do
anything hard.
Endure
afflictions
the Bible
says.
We get
this lazy
They weren't
you know
staying up late
scrolling through
YouTube and
playing video games
all day.
Their life was
not about having
fun.
And look,
I'm not against
having fun.
We have fun.
Have some fun.
But you know
newsflash,
you know
responsible adults
their life don't
make their life
about having
fun.
You know
your parents
children
their main
concern for you
is not how much
make sure you
don't starve
to death
or you
don't die
from exposure
you know
making sure you
have an education
so you're not
just some dummy
living life.
That's what
they're concerned
with not
entertaining you
24-7.
You know
and that might
involve you
having to do
something hard
in life.
You know
and this just
goes for everybody.
You know
I know I'm
kind of picking
on this.
They're not ready
for it.
I mean you
couldn't ask John
Mark that night
to you know
go dig a ditch.
You have to go
get dressed first
right?
He's just too
casual.
I can't do
anything hard
because I'm
not even ready.
And do
refrictions.
Do the work
of an evangelist.
Get out there
win the souls.
Make foolproof
of thy ministry.
He goes on
there in verse 6
for I am now
ready to be
I've fought a good
fight.
Not
you know
I've occupied
a lazy boy
in the
Christian life.
You know
I laid down
a good laying down.
I napped a good
nap for the Lord.
I fought a good
fight.
I finished my
course.
I got most of the
way there.
I started
but I didn't finish.
You know
no one's
impressed with
oh I started
running.
Did you finish?
No?
Oh well
I trained.
I got in shape.
I registered.
I showed up
at the event
and the
gun went off
and I said
I quit.
Aren't you proud
of me?
You know
put a gold star
right here in my
chest.
You know
you're a loser.
You know
you've got to
finish the
course.
You don't get
to brag
about it
unless you
actually
finish.
Right?
You don't get
to brag
about it
unless you
actually
finish the
course.
You
don't get
to brag
about it
unless you
actually
finish the
course.
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don't get
to brag
about it
unless you
actually
finish the
course.
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don't get
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don't get
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You
don't get
to brag
about it
unless you
actually
finish the
course.
You
don't get
to brag
about it
unless you
actually
finish the
course.
You
don't get
to brag
about it
unless you
actually
doing a
course.
So
you
already
got to
break
off the
course.
In
other words,
what
is your
work. The Bible says in Colossians 3, I'll read to you, lie not one with another, seeing
ye have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man which is renewed
in knowledge after him in the image of God that created him. Ephesians chapter 6 verse
10. Ephesians chapter 6 or Ephesians 4, he's talking about putting off the former conversation,
putting off the old man, and he says in Ephesians 6 10, finally my brethren, be strong in the
Lord and the power of his might, put on the whole armor of God. You know, that's what
you need to do. Because you, like we read in the beginning, you have an adversary who's
seeking who he may devour. And I know I quote that so often, and I know we read it so often,
and there's this, I'm wondering sometimes it just falls on deaf ears. It's like, listen,
we have an adversary. And people always think, oh, if the devil gets after me, that means,
you know, he's going to, they have like, maybe they just have some grandiose idea about what
it means to be attacked by the devil. Like, oh, he's going to light me on fire, literally.
It's like, no, the devil's not going to show up and throw a pitchfork at you. You know,
he's not, a little porky pig with his little horns and his little tail, you know, and you're
trying to throw a pitchfork. That's not how the attack to the devil works. It's going to be subtle.
I mean, this is not what we learned about Satan. It's not one of the first attributes we learned
about him all the way back in Genesis. He was more subtle than any other beast of the field.
It's going to be such a subtle attack. And it's going to be like, oh, a year went by,
haven't you read my Bible? Yeah, it's a subtle attack of the devil. That's the old man sneaking
up on you again. It's just a subtle attack of, oh, I'm not in church anymore. Yeah, that's in
a subtle attack of Satan. That's what he's trying to do. That's why you have to be strong, Lord,
and in the power of his might and put on the whole armor of God. Oh, but the armor is so heavy. You
know what? Self-reflections. You know, do something hard. You know, armor is heavy for a reason,
because it protects you. Well, I put the armor on, but it's just so heavy. I put the armor on,
but, you know, it's just not very in. It's not cheek or whatever that is, you know. Chic, cheek,
whatever. I don't know. It's not vogue. Am I using that word right? I don't even know. Right? It's
not in. It's not cool. It's not what all the other kids are wearing. They're not wearing the armor
of God. They're wearing skinny jeans, you know. Now, look, I don't think skinny jeans are any
easier to get on. Now, I've never put on a pair of skinny jeans. Let me just clarify. Right? I
might have put on jeans that were turning into skinny jeans, but that's my fault. Right? When
you see some of these guys in skinny jeans, like, that must have took some work. You know,
like, do you have, like, a contraption where you jump off something into that? Like, how do you
even get into those things? Right? But, boy, they get them on. But the armor of God is heavy, you
know. But it's hard to get on. You ever see, like, in the movies or something like that,
where the knight suits up. It's like two other guys. He's just kind of standing there. Everyone
else is putting the stuff on. But you got to get it on. That you may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. That's the purpose of the armor of God. It's not so that you can walk
around and everyone go, oh, man, look at you. Nice threads. Oh, you're looking sharp, man,
in that armor of God. No, that's not the point. You know, it's that armor, once you get it on,
you wear it out like anything else. I don't want some bright, shiny, I hope God looks down and
sees us and he doesn't see us in just this, you know, mint, just bright, fresh armor with no nicks
on it. You know what I mean? I want God to look down and see some battle-worn armor in this church.
I mean, there's dents over here. There's a scratch over here. You know, it's getting a little rusty.
You know, it's just been on for so long. That's the kind of armor that we want. But, look,
you'll never get that battle-worn armor if you never put it on to begin with. If you're going
to reach, you know, you go to the spiritual closet in the morning, instead of reaching for the armor
of God, you're like, well, no, I'll take the knit sweater. You know, I'm going to put that on. All
right, but that's fine. You know, you might feel casual and maybe you won't have the pressure.
Maybe you won't feel any affliction. Maybe you won't have to go through any suffering,
spiritually speaking. Maybe you don't have to do anything hard for God. Maybe you won't have to put
it on the old man. But you know what? When you're wearing that knit sweater and that armor sitting
home, you know, you're not going to stand against the wiles of the devil. You know, he's out there.
And it's not a joke. It's real. It's a spiritual reality that we need to wake up to that the devil
wants to attack. And the only thing that you have to withstand it is the armor of God. It says in
verse 12, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore
take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all
to stand. Don't let the devil disrobe you. Go to Revelation chapter 16. We'll close there. Look,
don't let the devil disrobe you. That's what I'm getting across tonight, this morning. Don't have
this casual approach to Christian life. Don't end up like John Mark. I mean, if you're John
Mark this morning, go ahead and end up like John Mark. But end up in the, like the, you know,
the Timothy John Mark. Where he's saying, hey, bring John Mark. He's profitable for this. Go
ahead and be that guy. But don't be the John Mark in Mark 14, that certain young man, you know,
doesn't even want to really be identified because it's such an embarrassing story, being caught off
guard, spiritually. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5, here in Revelation 16, it says this,
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when
they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a
woman with child, and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness. He's saying,
look, we're not going to get caught off guard. We're not in darkness. That that day should
overtake you as a thief. Ye are all children of light and the children of the day. We are
not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch
and be sober. Don't be, you know, John Mark, just kind of casually getting up. Oh, what's going on?
Let me put a robe on. Let me get something else. I'm not walking out naked. And just casually
showing up. Well, what's happening here? Getting caught off guard in the night. You need to wake
up, be sober, be vigilant. You know, you need to not sleep as do others, but watch and be sober.
Understand that we have an enemy. Revelation 16 verse 15, he said, Behold, I come as a thief.
He was going to take the world, I surprise, but he shouldn't take us. Blessed is he that watcheth,
and what? Keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. Blessed is he that
watcheth. Look, you want to keep your garments? You don't want to be ashamed? You don't want to
walk naked? Then you have to watch. That's the what? That's that's the trade-off. Meaning this,
you have to watch. You have to be sober. You have to be vigilant. You can't be casual and expect to
keep your garments. People who live the Christian life casually, you know what? They end up walking
naked and their shame is seen. You know, they're weak. They get run over by the devil. They don't
accomplish anything for God. They have nothing to show for their Christian life. They're casualties.
And it's all because they have this casual approach to the Christian life. And if that,
you don't want that to be you, then you know what? It takes some watching. You have to keep
your garments. You got to have to fight to get that armor on every single day. Don't let the
devil disrobe you. Watch. Be sober. Be vigilant. Because we do have an adversary. Let's go ahead
and pray. Dear Lord, again, thank you, Lord, for the many examples that we see in Scripture,
both good and bad. And I thank you for this example of this certain young man, whoever he is,
Lord. I pray that we would not be caught in such a way spiritually, Lord, that we wouldn't just
stumble through the Christian life, just showing up whenever it's convenient and just only doing
things when we feel like it, Lord. But that we would understand that there's a battle,
that there's a fight, that there's an old man, a devil, a world that wants to draw us away,
that wants to steal our garments, Lord, that wants us to cause us to run away naked and ashamed,
Lord, before you. Lord, I pray that you would help us to be people who are profitable for the
ministry, people that would be pleasing to you in your sight for the work that we do, for the souls
that we save, and for the service that we render. We ask these things in Christ's name, Amen. Alright,
we'll go ahead and sing one more song before we go this morning.
We'll sing one more song before we go this morning.