A Voice for the Unborn

This is the praise report-back to our attendance outside the Magistrate’s Court Pietermaritzburg this morning; being a voice for the unborn. There were about 20 persons in attendance and our Father Almighty God gave us opportunities to engage persons in conversation, and be a visible force with placards calling for Justice. Hundreds of Gospel booklets, tracts and abortion pamphlets were handed out…. I read Psalm 139 and then preached the Law and the Gospel of Grace unhindered to a gathering of persons waiting outside the courts’ building – praise God for His faithfulness to an answer to our prayers. Hallelujah!

God gave us favour and we were later notified when word got out to us on the frontlines that there is talk that the Magistrate presiding over the case of the backstreet abortionist is being subtituted by another, not sure why – God does – and this is a first (for me at least) – the attorney representing the accused is stepping down as he is “traumatised” by the “paid persons standing outside the courts.” We do this lovingly and for free, but the accused must now get someone else to take his case. We will see the press how they report on this, if any. However, this sounds like a case of conviction of the conscience. Praise God in the Highest.

Tomorrow morning, Lord willing, the court case proceeds … and we will be there again proclaiming the Name of our King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ the Righteous. Thank you for your prayers.

We left the court precinct rejoicing, and Lungisa Nhlakanipho Zondi and I continued preaching the Gospel, having conversations and handing out many more Scripture booklets and tracts in Church Street, Pietermaritzburg. All Glory to GOD!

Psalm 139 – To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. (1) O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. (2) Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (3) Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. (4) For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. (5) Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (6) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (7) Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (13) For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. (14) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! (18) If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. (19) Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. (20) For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. (21) Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? (22) I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. (23) Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Mark 8

Four thousand fed by a miracle.

Mar 8:1-10  In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,  (2)  I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:  (3)  And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.  (4)  And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?  (5)  And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.  (6)  And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.  (7)  And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.  (8)  So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.  (9)  And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.  (10)  And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

Mark 8:1-10 Our Lord Jesus encouraged the meanest to come to him for life and grace. Christ knows and considers our frames. The bounty of Christ is always ready; to show that, he repeated this miracle. His favours are renewed, as our wants and necessities are. And those need not fear want, who have Christ to live upon by faith, and do so with thanksgiving.

Christ cautions against the Pharisees and Herodians.

Mar 8:11-21  (11)  And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.  (12)  And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.  (13)  And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.  (14)  Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.  (15)  And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.  (16)  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.  (17)  And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?  (18)  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?  (19)  When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.  (20)  And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.  (21)  And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

Mark 8:11-21 Obstinate unbelief will have something to say, though ever so unreasonable. Christ refused to answer their demand. If they will not be convinced, they shall not. Alas! what cause we have to lament for those around us, who destroy themselves and others by their perverse and obstinate unbelief, and enmity to the gospel! When we forget the works of God, and distrust him, we should chide ourselves severely, as Christ here reproves his disciples. How is it that we so often mistake his meaning, disregard his warnings, and distrust his providence?

A blind man healed.

Mar 8:22-26  (22)  And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.  (23)  And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.  (24)  And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.  (25)  After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.  (26)  And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

Mark 8:22-26 Here is a blind man brought to Christ by his friends. Therein appeared the faith of those that brought him. If those who are spiritually blind, do not pray for themselves, yet their friends and relations should pray for them, that Christ would be pleased to touch them. The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord’s miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but, like the light of the morning, it shines more and more to the perfect day, and then they see all things clearly. Slighting Christ’s favours is forfeiting them; and he will make those who do so know the worth of privileges by the want of them.

Peter’s testimony to Christ.

Mar 8:27-33  (27)  And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?  (28)  And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.  (29)  And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.  (30)  And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.  (31)  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.  (32)  And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.  (33)  But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

Mark 8:27-33 These things are written, that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. These miracles of our Lord assure us that he was not conquered, but a Conqueror. Now the disciples are convinced that Jesus is the Christ; they may bear to hear of his sufferings, of which Christ here begins to give them notice. He sees that amiss in what we say and do, of which we ourselves are not aware, and knows what manner of spirit we are of, when we ourselves do not. The wisdom of man is folly, when it pretends to limit the Divine counsels. Peter did not rightly understand the nature of Christ’s kingdom.

Christ must be followed.

Mar 8:34-38  (34)  And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (35)  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.  (36)  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  (37)  Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  (38)  Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Mark 8:34-38 Frequent notice is taken of the great flocking there was to Christ for help in various cases. All are concerned to know this, if they expect him to heal their souls. They must not indulge the ease of the body. As the happiness of heaven with Christ, is enough to make up for the loss of life itself for him, so the gain of all the world in sin, will not make up for the ruin of the soul by sin. And there is a day coming, when the cause of Christ will appear as glorious, as some now think it mean and contemptible. May we think of that season, and view every earthly object as we shall do at that great day.

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e-Sword – the Sword of the LORD with an electronic edge: King James Bible with Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary