Moments with Mary
“PROCLAIMER OF HIS KINGDOM!” Matt.4:12-17. Matt.13:1-9, 18-23. Luke 11:14-20. Jesus began to fulfill Isa. 9:6-7 as He called people to “repent because the Kingdom of God was near”. Matt 4:17. Repentance is not the same as confession. To confess means to admit you are a sinner and need a Savior. To repent means we turn from a life of sin and darkness, turn to Christ who the Light of the world and depend on His power to help us live a holy life! We accept His forgiveness and as the Holy Spirit lives within us, we depend on Him to guide us and teach us the ways of the LORD. Jesus often spoke in parables, earthly stories they could relate with the moral and Godly principles as the focus of each one. The Seed parable was easy for anyone to understand! Seeds/Word that falls on good ground, a receptive heart, takes root and produces fruit! Repentance is a real challenge to the way many people live! Some will not be willing to change or conform to the will of God! People who give their heart to the LORD may find themselves “at odds” with family or friends! Jesus had to deal with these problems many times.
Mary Mayko is Christian Fellowship's Adult Sunday School Teacher, Church Elder and one of our counselors. Mary also has the pulpit one Tuesday night a month to deliver Gods Word. She has penned inspirational poetry and writings for over 30 years.
I TRUST THESE SCRIPTURES AND WRITINGS WILL ENCOURAGE YOUR HEART AND BUILD YOUR FAITH AS YOU READ THROUGH THEM! Our prayer for this website is that it continues to be a source of encouragement and blessings to all who have stopped by for a visit with us! -Mary Mayko.
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"WHO IS JESUS?”
Christian Fellowship Church
900 Starkey Road, Largo 33771
August 1-2021. Theme: Defending the Faith. Adult Bible Class. Teacher: Mary Mayko.
“Thomas answered and said unto Him, “My LORD and my God.” John 20:28.
Many people in the world have heard of Jesus and considered that He was a holy man, a wise teacher and a miracle worker. They hold a certain respect for Him although do not have a personal relationship with Him. Many use His name as a curse word only, never giving any real thought as to who He actually is! In the Christian faith, Jesus is seen as God in the flesh. When Jesus came to earth from heaven, born of a virgin as prophesied, His life revealed the character and nature of God the Father and His desire to offer salvation to all mankind. The work of God/ Elohim in the Father Son and Holy Spirit/Trinity, was clearly displayed during the time of Jesus’ public ministry. Jesus identified Himself as the “I AM”, the Name of God as revealed in the Old Testament as well as the New! In the Gospels, Jesus is seen as our Savior, Sanctifier, Spirit Baptizer, Healer and soon coming King! “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed Heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Heb. 1:1-3 NIV. As we increase in knowledge of who Jesus is, it helps us say with Thomas, “My LORD and my God!”
“THE ETERNAL and SOVEREIGN GOD.” John1-18. Matt.28:17-18. Jesus existed before Eternity, He is the WORD and all things were made by Him. Jesus was both fully human and fully divine, not a created Being, as He existed before He was conceived in Mary’s womb! How all this happened is a mystery, which we accept as truth by faith and try to live as much like Him as possible! Faith means what we know of Jesus we trust as truth, and believe in Him, but have not seen Him with our eyes, but by taking the Word of God for what it says. Our changed lives prove the LORD lives within and has guided us since we accepted Him as Savior! Those who accept Him by faith in His WORD, He shows us His will and reveals His purpose and plan for our lives. Just as it took time for the disciples to finally grasp who Jesus actually was/is and finally believe and worship Him as God, we also go through times of struggle to see His plan for our lives. We must worship Jesus as God, the Son of God and second Person of the Divine Trinity.
Matt. 1:16 “Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called the Christ/Messiah.” (Isa, 7:14) Matt. All authority is given unto Him. 1:22-23 “All this took place to fulfill what the LORD had said through the prophet: Isa.7:14. “The virgin will be with child and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him ‘Immanuel’”. Immanuel means “God with us.” After the resurrection: Matt.28:17-18 “When they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted: Then Jesus came to them and said; “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me.” The WORD is eternal; He is not a created Being, He is God! It is a comfort to believers to know Jesus has overcome the world, and greater is He in us, than he that is in the world! 1 John 4:4
“PROCLAIMER OF HIS KINGDOM!” Matt.4:12-17. Matt.13:1-9, 18-23. Luke 11:14-20. Jesus began to fulfill Isa. 9:6-7 as He called people to “repent because the Kingdom of God was near”. Matt 4:17. Repentance is not the same as confession. To confess means to admit you are a sinner and need a Savior. To repent means we turn from a life of sin and darkness, turn to Christ who the Light of the world and depend on His power to help us live a holy life! We accept His forgiveness and as the Holy Spirit lives within us, we depend on Him to guide us and teach us the ways of the LORD. Jesus often spoke in parables, earthly stories they could relate with the moral and Godly principles as the focus of each one. The Seed parable was easy for anyone to understand! Seeds/Word that falls on good ground, a receptive heart, takes root and produces fruit! Repentance is a real challenge to the way many people live! Some will not be willing to change or conform to the will of God! People who give their heart to the LORD may find themselves “at odds” with family or friends! Jesus had to deal with these problems many times.
Some of the Jews challenged and falsely accused Jesus of using Satanic power to cast out demons! That actually makes no sense at all, as demons are Satan’s agents sent to do his evil work! Further more, Jesus challenged the Jews to explain by what power they themselves used to cast out demons! The work of Jesus was instant evidence, when the demon left the dumb person, he was able to speak immediately! Never give credit to the Devil for the work God does in people! He does that which is a benefit unto His children! Pagan exorcists tried to use magic incantations to oust demons, but the Bible forbids us to use that method! Ex. 22:18 To attempt that was punishable by death! When we do God’s work by God’s power, truly the Kingdom of God is near!
“THE ONLY WAY TO SALVATION!” John 3:1-8. John 14:6. 1 Cor.15:14-19 Nicodemus, as a member of the Sanhedrin, knew many members were very adamantly opposed to Jesus. Therefore, he came to Jesus alone under the cover of darkness to speak to Him. Take note, some of the prominent Jews had considered that Jesus might truly be the Messiah, yet hesitated to make that known among others! In the discussion between Nicodemus and Jesus, He explains what it means to be born again to him. It is very important we understand the “born again” experience occurs when one sees themselves as a sinner, repents before the LORD, who then baptizes them in the Spirit and they become a child of God! To participate in the Kingdom of God requires a spiritual rebirth whereby the Holy Spirit purifies the new believer and renews them in the likeness of Christ Jesus! Many people in today’s culture uses the term “born again” to describe some changes in lifestyle that has nothing to do with being born again in the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus!
Religious beliefs often offer “salvation” through good works or other means, yet salvation is truly through the Person of Jesus Christ only! John 14:6. “Jesus said unto him. I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.” Our lives are transformed by Christ! Jesus is truly the only way to heaven! We live because He lives! Because He rose from the grave! The same Spirit that raised Christ from the grave lives in us and assures us we are the children of the Most High God! The Holy Spirit within us is constantly at work in us, cleansing us, sanctifying us and bringing joy, peace and righteousness. When our lives are focused on Christ, not ourselves, His love flows through us and we freely worship and praise Him, Jesus Christ, our LORD, Savior and soon coming King of glory!