Verse: Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And He continued questioning them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and *said to Him, “You are the Christ.” And He warned them to tell no one about Him. Mark 8:27-30

Background: Jesus at Bethsaida healed a man who was blind, from there Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?”

Hearing the right Question: Are you hearing the right question in the journey of life, Jesus asking 2 questions

1. Who do people say that I am?”
2. “But who do you say that I am?” 

Are we so busy we never even heard that question? Slow down to hear the question from the Almighty, most of the time we hear the world and evil asking questions, where is God in all this? – verse the Lord asking, “Who do people say that Jesus is?” Mark 8:27

Answer what the world thinks: They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” Mark 8:28 – This was the answer to what Jesus asked – “Who do people say that I am?” There is every possibility for us to set a worldview and personal view by borrowing what the world thinks. The majority agrees, every other person believes is the voice satan wants us to hear. Jesus is teaching a great lesson, know what the world says, but do get influenced

Do we really know: Peter replied: Peter answered and *said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Mark 8:29 Are we Peter of this generation, knowing Jesus as Christ? Do we really know how big our Lord is? Do you know how awesome He is, does that come as a constant reminder to live a life of intentionality to please Jesus Christ?

Know what to share to whom: Jesus said, And He warned them to tell no one about Him. Mark 8:30 Why Jesus strictly warned them not to share this with anyone. There is time to share and for His glory, oh that we are led by the Holy Spirit to share the right message, at the right time and in the right place

Verse: Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For or he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. Psalm 36:1-2

This psalm is titled To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. Psalm 18 also uses the phrase the servant of the LORD in the title, and John Trapp observed that Psalm 18 comes from David’s old age, and Psalm 36 comes from a younger David. From youth to old age, he was David the servant of the LORD, and “He took more pleasure in the names of duty than of dignity.” (John Trapp)

Sin is rooted deeply within the human heart (Jeremiah 17:9). That innate wickedness is the source of our evil actions (Matthew 15:18–19). Here, David notes that those who reject God find themselves overtaken by sin. They lose all respect for the Lord (Proverbs 1:7), and all fear of eternal consequences for their actions. Instead, they assume that what they do will never be punished, or never even found out. Sin is so addictive that those who turn from God find themselves constantly pursuing depravity, even when they try to sleep (Psalm 36:1–4).

We are living in a world where we need to talk so highly about ourselves and describe our achievements, David here says flatters himself, that even a normal conversation is all about what we did, work achievements, ministry fruitfulness, kids’ progress list goes on, I am so convicted to read this; spiritual blindness is the result of self and self-promotion. Lord help me to be called your servant as David did in this Psalm. And to take privilege in this and let that alone be our boasting – a bondservant of God

In contrast, God’s character is flawless and perfect. In mercy, God extends a measure of grace to all people and all animals. This is seen in His continued provision in nature. The Lord’s graciousness is also expressed in His “steadfast love,” or “lovingkindness,” from the Hebrew term hesed. This passage uses the imagery of God’s protection extending like the wings of a mother bird (Psalm 36:5–9).

Verse: I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

Background: Life is full of challenges and the world is becoming more and more an unsafe place to live in. When we face tough situations, that make us fearful, what should we do? Let us look at David when he faced one of his toughest situations and when he was fearful.

This was a situation in the life of David where he had just discovered with certainty Saul’s murderous intentions for him. So, he decided to flee to Gath and came before the king of Gath named Achish – Abimelech was the title for Philistine kings.

But when David discovered that the servants of Achish had identified him and might kill David, he decided to pretend to be insane. The trick worked and he was allowed to leave. Psalm title says David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

Those events are recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-22:1. Following that, David went to the cave at Adullam where many desperate men joined him. This joyful and wise psalm seems to have been written from that cave and sung in the presence of those men.

Lesson: When we are fearful, what is the right thing to do? – We know the answer is to seek the Lord, Having said that situations can make us fearful, but do we fear the Lord? Do we really think of the Lord in every step of life, David in this Psalm had only one reference to his fear of situation, but he had four references of fear of the Lord

1. Protection: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7. Are we worried about our protection, or do we fear the great I AM
2. Provision: “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, or those who fear him have no lack!” Psalm 34:9. For a true disciple the sign of growth is their fear of the Almighty increases as they grow in the Lord
3. Practice: “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Psalm 34:11. Life is so busy, unless we are intentional about meditating and going to the presence of the Lord frequently, we will never learn to fear the Lord, and we need to teach others to fear the Lord

Background: Many scholars believe, that Psalm 51 – was clearly written after David’s sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah – David promised to “teach transgressors Your ways” (Psalm 51:13), and this psalm [32] may be the fulfillment of that vow. John Trapp said that Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 are “tuned together.”

Examination: David in this Psalm talks about what was it like when he lived in sin, did not confess and change. Psalm 32:3-4 “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.”

How dreadful it is when we are not convicted of our sins, the world has become so busy that we even stopped hearing the prompts from the Holy Spirit. Pulpits has convinced us that grace is a license to live in sin. Oh Lord you send a flood of light into our lives.

Response: David once he realized, Psalm 51 is pleading to the Lord to restore his relationship. True repentance is the most powerful act, and it is so beautiful when the Lord almighty accepts it. That’s why David said in Psalm 32:5-6 “⁵ I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore, let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found”

The mere thought there is time that we can find the Lord, what is that time, surely it is when the Lord convicts you. It is the time when our loving savior reminds us to take a U-turn, are we ignoring the Lord s prompting?

Miracle: What is a true miracle? What is the greatest blessing? Nothing but a sinner is forgiven, and Lord Jesus started a good work in a sinner’s life and starts the journey of sanctification, that’s why Psalm 32:1 David said “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit, there is no deceit.”

And if we truly confess and change, how do we live in this fallen world, The Holy Spirit will guide you, Jesus will intercede and Father hears our cries, how beautifully David mentioned what the Lord says in Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

Warning: Do not ignore the prompting of the Lord, David mentioned in Psalm 32:9 “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.”

Verse: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,. Hebrews 12:1-2

What does it mean to lay aside? How is it related to Christian life? How does our relationship with sinful life change? What was the primary purpose of explaining the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

1. Remember Witnesses: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 
   • Witnesses mentioned in Hebrews 11, that most of them lived in a very corrupt era, and in many cases, they were the only righteous people in their times, so we have no excuses to give about our surroundings as the Bible stated them as examples [remember Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham etc all were loners during their times] – [2 Cor 5:9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.]
2. Lay Aside sin.
   • Grace gave us free entrance to the kingdom of God. True disciples will intentionally put all effort to lay aside the sins that are revealed in their lives, They will ask the Lord the Father to anoint them with the Holy Spirit to lay aside and be blameless [Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?]
3. Lay Aside Weight: let us also lay aside every weight, 
   • Consciously examining and laying aside all other hindrances that are stopping us from a godly life [is there some friendships, addictions, social media, etc that are stealing our time] – [Heb 2:1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.]
4. Sin Clings: which clings so closely, 
   • We need to be so careful and intentional to take every precaution to protect and preserve us when we get any opportunity to sin.[2 Tim 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.]
5. Run: race with with endurance that is set before us, 
   • Jesus asked us to overcome the world and its patterns [John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”]

The Author next says looking to Jesus [Only look at Jesus if not we will fall], the founder and perfecter of our faith[Jesus started a work in us, will complete], who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross [We were so precious Jesus endured the cross], despising the shame[there is a shameful price for sin, Jesus paid it full on the cross], and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God [We have eternity and reward one day that is our hope]