I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Mark1:01-08

 Mark1:01-08

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Why?

Mark described Jesus came as the prophet Isaiah the prophet said. He is Jesus the Messiah.

Many people went out to the Judean countryside to accept the baptism by water by John, but Jesus came will baptize them with the Holy Spirit.

John described he can not compare with the authority of Jesus. John said even he is not worthy to stoop down and untie Jesus's sandals.

John preaches the message of confession, but Jesus preaches the message of resurrection.

How?

Knowing Jesus Christ is our savior, John Bapritse come to implement his mission to introduce Jesus coming. My mission is to preach the good message of Jesus and be a witness of Jesus Christ in this world.

I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me

 Psalm 120:1-7

I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me. Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues. What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush. Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

Why?

Many psalms, like this one, are full of references to the sins of the tongue = lies, scandal, slander, hypocrisy, The followers of God may suffer as much from what people say as from what they do.

Meshek lives in the north of Israel, and Kedar is living in the south of Israel, both like to fight people. So they don't like peace, No everyone like peace. But sometimes victory doesn't mean going through war is the only solution. Our God can give us victory in His way.

How?

Call on the Lord in my distress, God will answer me and save me.

Preserve my life according to your promise

Psalm 119:153-176

Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.

Your compassion, Lord, is great; preserve my life according to your laws.

See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands.

May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.

I long for your salvation, Lord, and your law gives me delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

Why?

No matter what suffering and worse situation, I have not forgotten your law. I will always obey God's word, this is the psalmist's faith, so he asked the Lord to preserve his life. For the Lord is faithful and has love and promise to his people.

If we can obey God's word we don't be afraid, we won't be stumbled.

I long for your salvation the Psalmist is so strong faith. Do I have strong faith to trust in God's word and obey his word?

How?
Great peace has those who love God's law, May my life long for your word forever and your word be my way and my light in life.

The unfolding of your words gives light

Psalm 119:129-152

Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light;  it gives understanding to the simple.

Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name. Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts. Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees. Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.

Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

Look on my suffering and deliver me, for I have not forgotten your law. Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.

I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord, and I will obey your decrees. I call out to you; save me and I will keep your statutes. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word.

Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws.

Why?

God's words are wonderful when the unfolding of God's words gives light

Pray for 4 items: 1)Turn to me and have mercy on me, 2). Direct my footsteps according to your word, 3) Redeem me from human oppression. 4) Make your face shine on your servant.

We need the understanding God's word so that we may live.

Psalmists wake up early to read God's words. So am I should do the same thing for God's word are wonderful.

Each pray to the Lord is with action to obey God's commands. Obey your decrees, keep your states, and put my hope in your word.

Please preserve my life, not according to my prayer, but according to your laws.

How?

Please give me an understanding of your words so that I may live!

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path

Psalm 119:105-128

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, Lord, according to your word. Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

I hate double-minded people,  but I love your law. You are my refuge and my shield;  I have put my hope in your word. Away from me, you evildoers,  that I may keep the commands of my God! Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;  do not let my hopes be dashed. Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees. You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.

Why?
This is faithful in God's word, and I really know that the word of the Lord is important to everyone who loves the Lord.

Love the Lord is not a word in the mouth but in behavior and meditation in our hearts and shows up in our behavior.

The word of God is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path, so I won't miss my way to the Lord.

Double-minded people who like to get profit in this world and in heaven, so there will come to nothing in the end.

How?

Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless

Psalm 119:81-104

My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me?” Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors?

In your unfailing love preserve my life,  that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts. The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes. To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless.

I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders,  for I obey your precepts.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Why?
The psalmist knew that the word of the Lord is a base of blessing. Do I have put my hope in God's word? Yes!

When we under depress or in trouble we will feel no hope no way to go with distress angry.   Only God's word can give me hope and promise.

To all perfection I see a limit, yes, no one is perfect in this world, only God's word and commands are boundless.

When I have meditated on God's statutes, I will have more understanding than the elders.

How?

Never forget God's precepts and always meditate on God's statutes.

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decree

Psalm 119:65-80

Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight. May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts. May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes. May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.

Why?

Five prayers for God's unfailing love be my comfort, God's compassion comes to me, Those who fear you turn to me, I wholeheartedly follow your decrees.

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Those suffering may let us grow up in Spiritual life and know the Lord more.

All of us was afflicted and went astray, now we know the Lord, so I obey God's word, may the Lord teach me his decrees.

How?

Teach me knowledge and good judgment So I may wholeheartedly follow your decrees.