Marked (Part 1)

Beloved, our Savior Jesus Christ has inspired me to write unto you from a new subject entitled “Marked”. My favorite apostle, Paul, is quoted as saying, “from henceforth let no man trouble me (or worry me): for I bear in my body the MARKS of the Lord Jesus” (Galatians 6:17). Beloved, it would be a simple matter for us to direct our thoughts toward the sufferings of Jesus, and consider that Paul was referring to the continuation of those sufferings in himself. We understand Paul to say, “(I) now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24). In other words, Paul tells us that his joy in sufferings came from knowing that “the church” would benefit from them.

Chosen Ones, no doubt Paul suffered more than any of his contemporaries, because to him was “given much”, and Jesus said that “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48). Let me pause and say that many of you are marked to suffer some things because you are marked to receive many things. Paul testified of his imprisonments (see II Corinthians 11). He told of the five different times he received thirty nine stripes on his back, of the beatings with rods, of his three shipwrecks, of the hunger, thirst, cold and nakedness that he had to endure. He also told of his many periods of fasting, and of his most severe time of suffering, when he was stoned, dragged out of the city and left for dead. Yes, Beloved, he carried many “marks” of these “sufferings” in “his body”. This was even climaxed by his being beheaded by Nero, the great emperor.

Nevertheless, Precious Ones, I would have you to understand that none of these things fully explains what the apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote that he bore the marks of Jesus Christ in his body (Galatians 6:17). The correct interpretation of Paul’s words is that he was actually speaking of the change that took place in him when he became a new creature in Christ. Beloved, it was a change so sensational that people of Galatia and the nearby regions of Syria (in Greece) marveled and said of Paul, “ he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which he once destroyed” (Galatians 1:23).

I will write more on this subject next Sunday. Until then, know this...

I love you all SO very much.

In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

The School-Master (conclusion)

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “The School-Master” - Paul reminded Timothy that some had swerved and turned aside from their original faith. According to Paul, these were “desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they (said), nor whereof they affirm(ed). But we (Paul and Timothy) know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully” (I Timothy 1:7-8). Beloved, proper teaching concerning the Law is quite necessary for us today, since we were not under the “school-master” in our youth. Before we came to Christ, most of us knew very little of what God required in His Law. Therefore, our knowledge of what constitutes godly righteousness and true holiness was very limited. Because of this, man’s ideas and precepts have crept into the doctrines of many churches. However, I assure you, Anointed Harvest Family, that this will never be a practice of your Pastor. It’s either “chapter and verse or chatter and worse”. You must understand that when men’s ideas and precepts govern a church, this does not help - it only brings divisions among the membership. What we need to know is the truth of God’s law so that we will not sin against Him. Remember, our God is the most offended by sin - not man!

Precious Ones, when an immigrant comes to our country, he or she will know little of our language, customs, dress and laws - the things that U.S. citizens have learned from their youth. Many immigrants, in the process of becoming U.S. citizens, attend night school and special class sessions to learn the things that are well known by us, and they are taught by a “school-master”. Likewise, we Gentiles who have ceased to be “foreigners, but (have become) fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19), need now to go to the “school-master”. His Name is Jesus Christ!

There will be more on this subject next Sunday.

I love you all SO very much,

In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy