God’s Approval

Text:

Mark 1:9-13:

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

 

Theme:

God’s Approval

 

Introduction:

• The Gospel According to Mark is the second of the four Gospels of the New Testament and therefore the second of the books of the New Testament. The Gospel is believed the have been written by Mark, the young interpreter of Peter.  Although Mark was not an eye or ear witness of Jesus and His teaching, Mark absorbed the words of Peter to give him his content for the book.
  • In his not passionately living the events of Jesus’ life, Mark understandably does not portray Jesus in any subjective aura like the other Gospels.
    • Matthew à the Messiah
    • Luke à the Universal Redeemer
  • Mark gets right to the heart of the matter in depicting Jesus during His ministry in Galilee.
    • Mark gives us the full picture of who Jesus was – the wonder-working Son of God!
• One thing that we all look for in life is APPROVAL
  • From parents
  • From friends
  • From loved ones
  • From employers
  • From children
    • FROM GOD!!!
      • We want God to “approve” us
        • Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
        • 1Thessalonians 4:1, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”
        • Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
• In the text Jesus is at the pivotal point in His ministry and life here in this world.
  • Jesus got the APPROVAL of God at this occasion!
    • …”Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
  • Two elements of God’s Approval:
    • Ownership à “Thou art my beloved Son”
      • We want God to our God and for us to be His people!
    • God being pleased à “in whom I am well pleased”
      • We want God to be happy with us!
  • How do we know of “God’s Approval” today? We often say, after God…
    • “puts His Hand on your life”
    • “enters your heart”
    • “saves your soul”
    • ”gives His approval”
• Today we will focus on two questions surrounding God’s Approval as found in the text of Jesus’ baptism
  • What does God’s approval require?
  • What does God’s approval entail?

Body:

• What does God’s approval require?
  • Verse 9, “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan”
  • Baptism symbolizes the primary requirements of God’s Approval
    • Baptism is the “outward show to mankind of an inward change”
      • 1Peter 3:21, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
    • Baptism represents the DEATH to the flesh
      • Colossians 2:12, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
    • Baptism represents OBEDIENCE
      • Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
    • Baptism represents CLEANLINESS
      • Acts 22:16, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
    • Baptism represents SALVATION
      • John 3:5, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
• What does God’s approval entail?
  • Verses 12-13, “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;”
  • God’s Approval has seemingly unforeseen consequences for the believer.
    • In general, life is rough.
      • Job 14:1 tells us, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.”
    • But then after you have received “God’s Approval”, it gets even rougher…
      • 2Corinthians 4:8-10, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
    • We can see that God’s Approval is met with specific requirements and ramifications:
      • Requires BAPTISM but is often followed by TEMPTATION
      • Requires OBEDIENCE but is often followed by STRUGGLE
      • Requires SALVATION but is often followed by CHASTISEMENT
      • Requires SUBMISSION but is often followed by OPPRESSION
      • Requires WORSHIP but is often followed by RIDICULE
• Then look more closely at the conditions that Jesus had to endure…
  • Verse 13, “and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him”
    • While Jesus was with the wild beasts, the angels ministered to him!!
      • The “wild beasts” è enemies or trials
      • PICTURE THIS
        • Jesus is hungry, tired, and weak
        • Jesus has been affirmed as God’s Son
        • Jesus has just been tempted by Satan
        • Jesus is STILL in the presence of wild beasts à but He is not harmed
        • Jesus is fed the Word of God à knowing that this is His TRUE life!!
      • Jesus had a lot going on…just like we do in our lives
        • You know that God is sovereign
        • God has delivered you before
        • You are tired and weak
        • Life is one problem after another
        • You are in the middle of a situation
        • AND THEN GOD!!!!
          • Changes YOU in the situation
          • Gives you the strength to fight…the courage to endure…and the wisdom to walk circumspectly

 

Conclusion:

• It’s alright cause just like Jesus God sends an angel to minister to us and feed us!
  • Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• If you wonder what I am talking about, look at God’s Word…
  • Psalms 23:5, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
    • God “preparest a table” à God WILL take care of you!
    • God “anointest my head with oil” à God allows His Spirit to sanctify us for His presence and use.
    • God “my cup runneth over” à God gives me MORE than I can hold and allows the rest to SPILL over onto others à THIS IS MINISTRY!!
    • 2Corinthians 4:16 further explains, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
      • Psalms 119:143, “Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.”
      • Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

With God’s Approval, we have HELP!!!!

 

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