Hearing, Speaking and Disobedience

“Hearing, Speaking & Disobedience”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date: 23 May 2016

Text: Mark 7.31 - 37

Thesis:  Obedience requires more than hearing, speaking and enthusiasm.

1           Introduction

A. Jesus and His disciples finally achieve privacy and seclusion for rest and teaching.  This journey may have lasted up to 2 months.

B. They encounter no one from the time of the Syrophoenician woman in Tyre until they encounter the deaf and speech impeded man in the Decapolis.

C. Seclusion was made possible by the journey deep inside the realm of the Gentiles where no on knew Jesus.

D. Roman Israel looked very different than biblical Israel.  The entire region was known to them as IUDAEA.

             1) Idumea, Judaea, Samaria, Galilee, Phoenicia, Gaulantitis,

                 The Decapolis, Peraea and Nabatea

             2) In totality, the entire area was roughly 95 by 125 miles.

E. “The Decapolis” was a totally Roman / Gentile region made up of ten cities, hence the name:

             1) Damascus, Canatha, Dion, Raphana, Gadara, Hippos,  

                  Pella, Gerasa, Scythopolis  and Philadelphia

2          The Encounter – 7.31 - 34

A. According to Matthews account, Jesus encounters large crowds once more as He re-enters southeast Galilee

B. Just who brought this man to Jesus is not stated

C. The original language suggests that his deafness was a direct cause of his “stammering.”  In other words, his condition was likely caused by some kind of disease or accident that took away his hearing and consequently his ability to speak coherently.

D. His friends knew well of Jesus’ power and methods

E. They begged him to lay His hands on their friend as he could not speak for himself

F. Jesus takes him away privately because He does not at this time wish to create even more sensation regarding His healing power as is confirmed later in vs. 36.

G. The purpose of Jesus’ actions in vs. 33 is vague at best.  We just don’t know for sure why He did what He did.  Numerous explanations abound but Edmund Heibert’s observation appears plausible – Jesus uses targeted touching to communicate to the man what He is about to do for him – heal his ears and his tongue.

H. Jesus’ love and compassion is quite evident by the fact that He literally “groans” out loud at the man’s plight – absolute uselessness in that day and time because of his limitations.

I. Jesus orders the healing in Aramaic, the daily language of the people.  This is why Mark gives the translation to his Roman and Gentile audience.

3          The Healing – 7.35

A. His ears were opened!

B. His tongue was released!

C. He spoke plainly!

4         The Command – 7.36 - 37

A.  Jesus tells them all not to tell anyone

B. The more He insisted, the “more excessively” they proclaimed it!

             1) The more Jesus commands, the more they do the

                    opposite.

C. They were “astonished beyond measure”

             1) Literally; “over excessively they were astonished!”

D. “He has done all things well!”

             1) Literally; “ideally all things He has done!”

             2) He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak

5          The Meaning of the Text

A. The man heard

B. The man spoke

C. The man & his companions heard the command of Christ

D. The man & his companions ignored the command of Christ

E. The more instruction from the Lord the more they did the opposite

6         The Challenge of the Text

A. We must seek Christ as he did

B. We must hear the commands of Christ as he did

C. We must OBEY the commands of Christ as he did NOT

D. James 1.22 - 24

7          “The Gospel Call”

·         *  My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.

·       *   On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will dramatically portray the life and times of his 5^th Great grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh Gaston.  The event will take place at the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7 p.m.   The public is invited to this free presentation.

Reflection, Acceptance and Deliverance!

“Reflection, Acceptance and Deliverance”

From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date: 15 May 2016

Text: Mark 7.24 - 30

Thesis: What at first appears harsh may just be Grace in disguise!

1           Introduction

A.   What we learn from Matthews account in 15.21 – 28

1.      His leaving was purposeful, he and disciples needed seclusion

a.    Mark 6.32 – 24

b.    Mark 6.45

c.     Mark 6.53 – 55

2.     The woman he meets is a Canaanite

3.    The woman is crying

4.    At first Christ did not respond to her pleas

5.    The disciples begged Christ to send her away

6.    His first response was apparently terse; “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

7.     In addition to falling prostrate she knelt before Him and implored; “Lord, help me!”

8.    He lauded her.  “O woman great is your faith!  Be it done for you as you desire.”

9.    This is a good example as to why we should examine all parallel passages.

B.   This event is the opposite of the healing of Jairus’ daughter

1.      Father – Mother

2.     Jew – Gentile

3.    Powerful – Weak

4.    Israel – Phoenicia

C.    Tyre and Sidon were significant because they were part of the Israel’s inheritance that was never taken

2          Reflection: 7.24 - 26

A. He did not come to the District to minister but to rest

B. He did not want anyone to know he was there but he was being followed.

C. JESUS COULD NOT BE HIDDEN!

D. Her seeking Him out was an act of desperation, women did not act in this way in this culture.

E. This woman is the ultimate outcast in her extant circumstances

                   1. Female

                   2. Greek

                   3. Syrian

                   4. Phoenician

                   5. Canaanite

                   6. Un-invited

                   7. Nuisance to others

3          Acceptance : 7.27 - 28

A.  Many a skeptic takes this passage to “prove” that Jesus uses racial profiling and makes racist assertions.

B.  Not so!  The word translated “dogs” is the original kunaria which literally means “puppies.”

             1. In New Testament times there were some good and some bad references to dogs.

             2. Packs of wild dogs were prevalent.  They were visous and a real threat to people who had to protect themselves.  Such a pack licked up Jezebel’s blood in the street.

             3. However, dogs were domesticated and valuable to the shepherd.

             4. Finally, as in this passage, puppies were often allowed in the home as a way to keep the floor clean during and after meals and were sort of quasit pets for the children.

C.  Jesus is not racial profiling here, He is noting that fact that the Gospel is to be spread first to the House of Israel before is spread to the Gentiles.

D. He is NOT equating Gentiles with dogs, He simply asserts the plan of God to offer salvation first to the Jew.

E.  Refusing to take offence, the woman gladly accepts the premise and is grateful to accept the “crumbs of healing” from the Savior.

4         Delivery: 7.29 - 30

A.   The woman’s faith and acceptance of the message is rewarded

B. Jesus commends her

C. The daughter is healed

5          The Meaning of the Text

A.  Jesus sets His evangelistic priorities

B.  Jews first

C.  Gentiles second

D. Everyone eventually

E. That which first appears harsh may just be Grace in disguise!

6         The Challenge of the Text

A. There is no district to which Jesus won’t go

B. Jesus is in your district

C. Who or what you are is no concern for Jesus

D. Crying to Jesus about our demons is a good thing

             1. A broken and contrite heart

E. We are the puppies and He’s still spreading the Gospel to us

7          “The Gospel Call” - “And now why do you wait?  Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the Name of the Lord.”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.

There Really Is A Divine Spark!

"Every man I believe that God has given a Divine spark of soul."                    

Joshua Chamberlain (1)

Before the darkness of Darwin descended upon America, people often spoke of the "Divine spark."  People truly believed that God created and sustained all things including each and every individual, that "man was created in the image of God."  Despite Darwin, people of faith have continued to believe and assert this until this very moment in history.  Now, science has swerved into agreement with the Bible!  When life begins there really is...a spark! A "divine spark," if you please.

Michael Gullien, in his recently (February 9, 2016) published book; Amazing Truths: How Science and the Bible Agree, explores this and other similar phenomenon.   On May 1 Gullien wrote an op-ed piece for Fox News.com entitled; "The Spark of Life: Science and the Bible Meet Again."  Both the book and the article are well worth the read.

Gullien states that Northwestern University researchers have discovered that at the very moment of conception technically known as the "recombination and re-coupling," a burst of light is produced...the "Divine spark."  This outburst of light is produced by zinc compounds present exploding as the sperm and the egg cells collide, ignite and combine into a living and individual human embryo.  Body and soul thus unite for all time and eternity!  In a very real way, this "Divine spark," replicates the very Creation itself..."And God said; "Let there be light, and there was light" of Genesis 1.3.  Light was created and pre existed all other forms of light as the sun, moon and stars.  These were created AFTER the Light.  The physical residue of the creation of light is still visible to this very day!  Gullien observes:

...an incomprehensible outburst of light accompanied the creation of hydrogen and helium, the first atoms of the embryonic cosmos.  To this day, the dim afterglow of that seminal light -the so called cosmic microwave background- is visible to certain kinds of powerful telescopes.

The Bible does not just describe God in "like" images of light, it says that the very essence of God IS Light!  "God IS Light and in Him is no darkness at all." - (I John 1.5)  Not only that, the Bible teaches that humans can access this Divine Light.  The Psalmist states; "For with Thee is the Fountain of life: in Thy Light shall we see light." - (Psalms 36.9)    This Light provides man with the only guidance through this life that is always viable.  "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." - (Psalms 119.105)  The access?  The WORD Himself, Jesus Christ, who declared unilaterally; "..I Am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." - (John 8.12)  "(John the Baptist) was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  (Jesus Christ) was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." - (John 1.8 - 9)

Jesus Christ is the Light, the Light is the Word and the Word contains what every human needs...salvation.  "Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls." - (James 1.21)  "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - (Acts 2.37 - 38)

God reveals His Light in many and various ways, shouting at us as it were, "I want to save you and bring you into My Light!"  As Gullien so eloquently states;

"Like the Bible, therefore, science now agrees that whenever we interact with light, we interact with something that is at once in this world, but not of this world.  Chief among these Divine-like encounters are those instances when light makes abrupt, attention-getting appearances.  Like a moment of creation when something truly special suddenly comes into existence that wasn't there before - be it a human embryo, a star, or an entire universe."

(1) Joshua Chamberlain (1828 - 1914) was a hero of the American Civil War.  Before the war he studied Congregationalist theology for 3 years before being named Professor of Modern Languages at Bowdoin College.  Amazingly he was fluent in nine languages!  He skills were so numerous that he taught every subject in the curriculum except mathematics and science.  When the war broke out he was named commander of the 20th Maine.  At Gettysburg he and his command held the Union left against multiple assaults from Gen. Longstreet on 2 July 1863, saving the entire army from being flanked.  He was wounded some 5 times during the war and rose to the rank of general.  He was present with Grant at Appomattox when the war ended.  Later he became the governor of Maine.

"Who Am I...Really?"

“

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date: 1 May 2016

YouTube VIDEO SERMON LINK:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzJjd0c108A

Text: Mark 7.14 - 23

Thesis: Defilement is a matter of the heart not of diet, the fruit of my lips defines who I am…really.

1           Introduction

A.   Jesus engages the crowds at Gennesaret – 6.53 – 56

1. The crowd at the front, the Pharisees at the rear

B. The Pharisees confront Jesus regarding their traditions – 7.1 – 8

             1. The Pharisees at the front, the crowd at the rear

C. Jesus makes plain the hypocrisy of the Pharisees – 7.9 – 13

             1. The Pharisees at the front, the crowd at the rear

D. Jesus re-engages the crowds – 7.14 – 16

             1. The crowd at the front, the Pharisees at the rear

E. Jesus 3 – Pharisees – 0!

             1. He destroys their tradition

             2. He exposes their hypocrisy

             3. He lays waste their faith in their own “righteousness”

             4. He re-engages the sinner

2          Jesus Calls Upon the Crowd to HEAR and UNDERSTAND – 7.14

A. Jesus keeps calling!

B. Jesus does not call them to see, experience or feel ANYTHING

C. Jesus DOES call them to HEAR and UNDERSTAND a MESSAGE

             1. Romans 10.14 – 17

                       a. NOTE: Hearing and OBEDIENCE are totally linked!

3          The Message: 7.15 - 16

A. Nothing outside a person defiles him

B. What comes out of a person defiles him

C. Jesus exposes the Pharisees doctrine as FALSE

             1. Jesus, with just one sentence, turns an entire body of   

                  doctrine on its ear!

a.    The old order is destroyed

b.    The new order is revealed

4         Question, Rebuke and Explanation – 7.17 - 23

A. The question – 7.17

B. The rebuke – 7.18 – 19

             1. Marks comment in vs. 19 is consistent with Peter’s

                Experience and revelation of Acts 10.

B.   The explanation – 7.20 – 23

1.      The internal inventory will proceed to the loading dock!

2.     Here’s some quotes from PSYCHOLOGY TODAY, March 13, 2012:

a.    “Slips of the tongue are almost inevitable. For every 1,000 words spoken, we make one or two errors. Considering that the average pace of speech is 150 words a minute, a slip is bound to occur about once every seven minutes of continuous talk. Each day, most of us make somewhere between 7 and 22 verbal slips.”

b.    "Nice to beat you," smiles a woman when she meets the ex-girlfriend of her husband. A dinner guest thanks his host "for the hostility."

3.    “For as one that hath reckoned within himself, so is he…” – Proverbs 3.27a (Jewish Publication Society Bible)

a.    No matter how one may try not to, he will eventually speak what is really in his heart:

1)     One given to coarseness will one day laugh at a dirty joke.

2)    One given to jealousy will one day spread gossip about her adversary

3)   One given to pornography will one day be seen looking at it

4)   One given to profanity will one day be heard cursing

5)   One given to pettiness will one day betray a friend

6)   One given to superiority will one day ridicule his friend in the presence of others

4.    Our words and our deeds eventually reveal who we REALLY are.

a.    Evil thoughts

b.    Fornication

c.     Theft

d.    Murder

e.    Adultery

f.      Coveting

g.    Wickedness

h.    Deceit

i.       Sensuality

j.       Envy

k.    Slander

l.       Pride

m.  Foolishness (Impudence) – From the Latin “impudens” – “in shame.”  STRONGS says;
“Senselessness, egotism, recklessness.”

5          The Meaning of the Text

A.   We can’t be doubleminded people

1.      James 1.5 -8

2.     James 4.7 – 10

3.    James 3.6 – 12

4.    Revelation 3.14 - 16

6         The Challenge of the Text

A. Know who you are

B. Look daily into the mirror of God’s Word

C. Fight duplicity every day and in every way

D. Don’t concern yourself with other peoples duplicity

E. Understand that un-dealt with duplicity leads to doublemindedness which leads to hypocrisy which leads to apostasy which leads to damnation

7          “The Gospel Call”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one  hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.

Busted! for Attempted High-Jacking!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pvC4VlTZvI&feature=youtu.be

(Highlight link, Right Click your Mouse and Click "Go to" in order to view)

“Busted! For Attempted High-jacking”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  24 April 2016

Text: Mark 7.9 - 13

Thesis:  A fine way to reject the commands of God is to establish one’s own tradition

1          Introduction - Review

A. The “chosen” did not need, ask for or even want forgiveness

B. The “chosen” presumed to brag before God of their “righteousness.”

             1) Luke 18.10 – 12

             2) Romans 2.17 - 23

C. The Pharisees were “Social Darwinists” 19 centuries before Darwin!

1) All life moves continually upward from the simple to the  Complex, they saw themselves as the “best and      brightest” of all those who had come before!

2        Establishing The Tradition of Moral Transference

A. “Bragging rights” trumped what “is right!”

B. The irony of Matthew 27.6!

             1) “Corban” (oblation, offering) used here and in our text

C. “The ends justify the means.”  Or…  “I’m doing this for the “greater good.”

             1) Elder abuse was wrong then and it’s wrong now even if

     one takes their abused parent to church with them!

D. Cloaking evil with “good” is much like having a golden trash can!

E. We are to love people and use things, not, love things and use people.

3        Establishing The Tradition of Allegorical Interpretation

A. They established their doctrine of “corban” by reading between the lines, as it were, in the Torah

B. Define allegory

             1) Hidden meaning

             2) Personally assigned interpretation

             3) A clear signal of agnosticism!

             4) A vehicle of rationalization and self-justification

C. Allegorical interpretation leads to rationalization, compromise, surrender, hypocrisy and ultimately disbelief.

4        Establishing The Tradition of Imagination as Truth

A. The dislodge of “old truth” demands creation of “new truth”

B. Since “old truth” is revealed, “new truth” must be created.

C. In order for “new truth” to be created, it must first be “imagined.”

D. Thomas Aquinas and the “6^th sense.” – IMAGINATION!

E. The Pharisees “imagined” that elder abuse could be justified by “corban.” 

F. It is the “knowledge of the truth,” NOT the “imagining of the truth that “sets us free!”

5        Establishing The Tradition of Weaponizing Doctrine

A. In the movie “Hunt for Red October,” the Russian submarine is destroyed by its own torpedo

B. The Pharisees weaponized doctrine by transference, allegory and imagination only to have it destroy them and their nation 40 years later.

C. BEWARE!  The doctrine you shoot at someone else may just miss them and return to make you a target of God’s wrath!

6        The Meaning of the Text

A.   Handing down tradition voids the Word of God!

7         The Challenge of the Text

A. Morality and Doctrine must always be in sync in order to avoid hypocrisy

B. We must embrace the Scripture is its own Interpreter in order to avoid hypocrisy

C. We must never replace Truth by imagination in order to avoid hypocrisy

D. We must never weaponize Scripture in order to avoid hypocrisy

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.