Living By Faith, Hope and Love Pastor Paul Brintley

Who is Mark? 1. Peter’s spiritual son 1 Peter 5:13 2. John Mark 3. Mark 14:51 Naked Boy A. Lazarus B. Rich Young Man C. 4. Born 10 years after Jesus Shortest gospel Fast moving- immediately, quickly, and now over 1000 references John Mark moms house is where Peter was being prayed for Acts 12 Just about the time Jesus was finished healing the ear of the servant of the high priest named Malchus, the Gospel of Mark tells us a naked young man was found in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 14:51,52 says, “And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.” Who was this young man? Why was he following Jesus? Why was he naked? Why was he draped in a linen cloth instead of wearing normal clothes? And why was the Holy Spirit so careful to include this unique story in Mark’s account of the Gospel? What is the significance of this event? The key to identifying this young man lies in the “linen cloth” he had lightly draped about his body. The particular Greek word that is used for this “linen cloth” is used in only one other event in the New Testament — to depict the “linen cloth” in which the body of Jesus was wrapped for burial Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, and Luke 23:53). Thus, the only reference we have for this kind of cloth in the New Testament is that of a burial shroud used for covering a dead body in the grave. Some scholars have tried to say this naked young man was Mark himself. They assume that when Mark heard about Jesus’ arrest, he quickly jumped out of bed and dashed to the Garden of Gethsemane. But the Garden was remotely located, and no one could have run there so quickly. It is simply a physical impossibility. Others have speculated that Mark threw off his clothes in an attempt to shock and distract the soldiers so Jesus could escape. This idea is preposterous. Others have tried with similar vain attempts to assert that this naked young man was the apostle John. But why would John be walking naked in the Garden of Gethsemane? As I said, the answer to this naked young man’s identity lies in the cloth he had wrapped around his body. You see, when a body was prepared for burial, it was washed, ceremonially cleaned, and buried naked in a linen cloth exactly like the one described here in the Gospel of Mark. Furthermore, the Garden of Gethsemane was situated on the side of the Mount of Olives. Toward the base of that mount is a heavily populated cemetery, with many of its graves going back to the time of Jesus. When Jesus said, “I AM,” the power that was released was so tremendous that it knocked the soldiers backward. But evidently it also caused a rumbling in the local cemetery! When that blast of power was released, a young boy, draped in a linen burial cloth in accordance with the tradition of that time, crawled out from his tomb — raised from the dead! The reason he “followed” Jesus was to get a glimpse of the One who had resurrected him. The word “followed” here means to continuously follow. This tells us that this resurrected young man trailed the soldiers as they took Jesus through the Garden on the way to His trial. When the soldiers discovered the young man who was following Jesus, they tried to apprehend him. But when they reached out to grab him, he broke free from their grip and fled, leaving the linen cloth in their possession.

Praying Effectively Does it matter if we pray? Does it matter how long we pray? Does it matter what we say in prayer? Isaiah knew how to pray & get his prayers answered. Ch. 62-63 Isaiah 62:1; 62:6-7 Isaiah 62:1 KJV For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. Isaiah 62:6-7 KJV I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, [7] And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. —NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS -The tradition with some people at the end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year is to make some effort at changing their life. -Here are some of the top things that have been identified as New Year’s Resolutions: • Lose Weight • Volunteer to Help Others • Quit Smoking • Get a Better Education • Get a Better Job • Save Money • Get Fit • Eat Healthy Food • Manage Stress • Manage Debt • Take a Trip • Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle • Drink Less Alcohol -Many do their best but often fail at making the necessary changes to be successful at them. In fact some researchers have pointed out that within less than 20 days most of the resolutions have fallen by the wayside. -It takes great effort to change! -The greatest need for change is that which is in the spiritual life of people. TO PREVAIL IN PRAYER REQUIRES TIME -The passage in Isaiah serves as a leaping off point for us as we lead up to our prayer revival. -There may be times that prevailing prayer is a fierce but brief battle but normally the type of prayer that will be effective is going to take time. There are few instant answers that we find in prayer. Certainly there are moments when God has performed instant miracles in prayer but those are few and far between. -Prevailing prayer will require a commitment of time. It is important to understand that we are not speaking of a commitment to the clock but a commitment to purpose in prayer. Those who are immature in their prayer life will watch the clock but those who are mature in prayer find that they are more concerned with a purpose in their prayer. Find purpose in your praying and the time will take care of itself. -Listen to Isaiah’s testimony: • I will not keep silent! • For Jerusalem’s sake, I will not remain quiet! • The purpose in the prayer was for righteousness to shine like the rising sun and salvation to be a brilliant blazing torch! • Purpose in prayer will put a watchman on his wall! • Purpose in prayer will keep that watchman from silence in prayer! -You who call on the Lord. . . give yourselves no rest. Furthermore by your commitment to prayer, the Lord will never cease to listen to you. -That means that a man ought to be a praying man and that a church should be a praying church. -Nehemiah prevailed in his praying: Nehemiah 1:6 KJV Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. -The record of Scripture tells us that Daniel set aside a routine in prayer. . . Three times a day with his windows opened toward heaven. . . But there came a time when he spent as much as three weeks prevailing in a time of special need. Daniel 10:2-3 KJV In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. [3] I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. -Paul also found a commitment to time in his prayers. He was prevailing for new converts and for the new churches that he had established. 1 Thessalonians 3:10 KJV Night and day praying exceeding

1. Acknowledge your inability (Phil. 4:13)
When self-reliance dies, faith is birthed.
Faith is a gift from God.
Repeating a mantra will not impart faith. You cannot control God.

2. Press in (James 4:8)
Call on God. Don’t wait for God to visit you.
Only God can impart faith, and then only to the man and woman who knows God.
Discover what God’s plan is, and do it.
Cleanse your heart, get serious.

3. Get hold of a promise
Whatever your situation, there is a promise in the Word to meet it.
Grow your faith like a muscle—little by little.
Walk in all the faith you have today, and you will have more tomorrow.
If God immediately answered every prayer, how would your faith grow?

I. Sam 17:36 David’s answer was based on past hard evidence of God’s deliverance. (the lion and the bear)