In our text, Paul is near the end of his life. In this letter, he speaks of those who have left him and those who remain with him. He urges Timothy to come quickly. He adds to his note, he asks that he bring Mark with him. The bible says that Mark is profitable to Paul’s ministry. It had not always been that way with Mark. He had a checkered past. He grew up at a time during the great revival. His house was a place of great revival in the early church. He went on one of the first mission trips with Paul and Barnabas. He was a man on the way up. He had been called and chosen. Something happened along the way on this trip. Maybe it was more than he was prepared to do. The bible does not tell us why, but when he was with Paul and Barnabas into the interior plains of Asia, John Mark lost his heart for it. He left the trip and returned home. In modern parlance, he chickened out. Paul was none too happy with John Mark about this. Paul and Barnabas continued their journey and returned home. After a time they were led to make the trip again to take the message again. Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark, but Paul refused. It caused such dissent, that the two men parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and went on, and Paul took Silas and went on his way. The bible does not mention the two together again. The balance of the book of Acts does not have much to say about John Mark. Word spread quickly about John Mark's defection and it must have affected his ministry. Some people are never able to recover from a moment of failure, but apparently, John Mark was not one of them. The bible does not tell us what happened, but at the end of Paul's life, he pays a huge compliment to John Mark by referring to him as profitable. What a transformation. How could such a transformation be accomplished after such a failure? How does one recover from a failure such as this. Something happened in John Mark heart that caused him to overcome his early shortcoming. He must have had a good hard look at himself. He must have decided that he didn't like what he say and resolved to change it. John Mark faced his faults and overcame them. He didn't stop with self examination. He went further and applied himself to the work of God and the call of that was on his life. He didn't give up and quit serving God. He learned from his mistake and vowed to not make that mistake again. He went further than that. He became a student of the preached word of God. He began to take notes from others preaching. That led to his becoming an interpreter of the preached word. Bible scholars believe that much of the books of first and second Peter were actually written by John Mark as he interpreted Peter's thoughs. John Mark rose back up and got back on his feat and built a successful ministry. A man's failure can make or break him. John Mark made the decision that it would make him. Many people have never taken the time to face themselves. Many people refuse to look in that mirror because they do not like what they will see. John Mark looked at his life and decided to make changes in his life. He saw things that should not be there, and he cut them out. He became a student and leaned how to be a follower again. He leaned how to live for God again. Finally, John Mark refused to let what happened to him label him. He refused to be labeled as a quitter, as unfaithful, and untrustworthy. Somehow he was able to dig his way out of the hole he had dug for himself, and proved himself to be worthy. He recovered his usefulness. He rewrote his story and showed the beauty of recovery.

In our text, Paul is near the end of his life. In this letter, he speaks of those who have left him and those who remain with him. He urges Timothy to come quickly. He adds to his note, he asks that he bring Mark with him. The bible says that Mark is profitable to Paul’s ministry. It had not always been that way with Mark. He had a checkered past. He grew up at a time during the great revival. His house was a place of great revival in the early church. He went on one of the first mission trips with Paul and Barnabas. He was a man on the way up. He had been called and chosen. Something happened along the way on this trip. Maybe it was more than he was prepared to do. The bible does not tell us why, but when he was with Paul and Barnabas into the interior plains of Asia, John Mark lost his heart for it. He left the trip and returned home. In modern parlance, he chickened out. Paul was none too happy with John Mark about this. Paul and Barnabas continued their journey and returned home. After a time they were led to make the trip again to take the message again. Barnabas wanted to bring John Mark, but Paul refused. It caused such dissent, that the two men parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and went on, and Paul took Silas and went on his way. The bible does not mention the two together again. The balance of the book of Acts does not have much to say about John Mark. Word spread quickly about John Mark's defection and it must have affected his ministry. Some people are never able to recover from a moment of failure, but apparently, John Mark was not one of them. The bible does not tell us what happened, but at the end of Paul's life, he pays a huge compliment to John Mark by referring to him as profitable. What a transformation. How could such a transformation be accomplished after such a failure? How does one recover from a failure such as this. Something happened in John Mark heart that caused him to overcome his early shortcoming. He must have had a good hard look at himself. He must have decided that he didn't like what he say and resolved to change it. John Mark faced his faults and overcame them. He didn't stop with self examination. He went further and applied himself to the work of God and the call of that was on his life. He didn't give up and quit serving God. He learned from his mistake and vowed to not make that mistake again. He went further than that. He became a student of the preached word of God. He began to take notes from others preaching. That led to his becoming an interpreter of the preached word. Bible scholars believe that much of the books of first and second Peter were actually written by John Mark as he interpreted Peter's thoughs. John Mark rose back up and got back on his feat and built a successful ministry. A man's failure can make or break him. John Mark made the decision that it would make him. Many people have never taken the time to face themselves. Many people refuse to look in that mirror because they do not like what they will see. John Mark looked at his life and decided to make changes in his life. He saw things that should not be there, and he cut them out. He became a student and leaned how to be a follower again. He leaned how to live for God again. Finally, John Mark refused to let what happened to him label him. He refused to be labeled as a quitter, as unfaithful, and untrustworthy. Somehow he was able to dig his way out of the hole he had dug for himself, and proved himself to be worthy. He recovered his usefulness. He rewrote his story and showed the beauty of recovery.

Many of the fundamental beliefs that have been observed for many generations seem to be falling away. The world and society continually wear away at the foundation that has held us up for many generations. Questions about beliefs and principles circulate through out the religious community. The currents of life that are sweeping around us are moving with such force, that we are propelled into change without even making the conscious decision to do so. There are issues that were in the shadows in the past, but they are being flouted in front of our eyes today. As much as we do not like to admit it, there are currents that are pushing us. If we are not careful, they will move us toward a place that we do not want or need to be. The things that are changing in our life and no one seems to be raising a voice about it. The things that are changing are slipping in with out our even knowing it. The changes are happening so subtly, that we can find our selves down a path that we didn't even know we were on. By the time it is done, we do not even know that it is done. The writer in Hebrews admonishes us to stay vigilant and to pay attention to those things that have eternal consequences. Some things slip away and some things slip in. The writer tells us to take heed. He wasn't just speaking to the the back slider. We are all susceptible to the subtle changes that can happen without our even knowing it. The only way to avode this is just what our text says: Give the more earnest heed. We must be in a constant state of reediness. We must not allow what we know to be right to slip into obscurity. Indifference is the worst danger that we face in our spiritual life. The writer did not say that they would deny or denounce what they know, but that they were going to drift from what they know. Bro. Hughes notes three things that we are drifting way from. First is the Word of God. Some have come to question the word of God as we compare it to our society. There are daily attacks against the Word and spiritual virtues. Not only is the Word slipping away, so is Christ. The world is trying to erode the idea that there is one savior. Jesus is the ONLY way we can be saved. Finally the convicting power of the Holy Ghost is slipping away. We have gotten to the point that we can have church, and do not feel the need to pray or to seek the presence of God. There are a lot of us who have let things slip out of our life, that we need to reclaim.

Many of the fundamental beliefs that have been observed for many generations seem to be falling away. The world and society continually wear away at the foundation that has held us up for many generations. Questions about beliefs and principles circulate through out the religious community. The currents of life that are sweeping around us are moving with such force, that we are propelled into change without even making the conscious decision to do so. There are issues that were in the shadows in the past, but they are being flouted in front of our eyes today. As much as we do not like to admit it, there are currents that are pushing us. If we are not careful, they will move us toward a place that we do not want or need to be. The things that are changing in our life and no one seems to be raising a voice about it. The things that are changing are slipping in with out our even knowing it. The changes are happening so subtly, that we can find our selves down a path that we didn't even know we were on. By the time it is done, we do not even know that it is done. The writer in Hebrews admonishes us to stay vigilant and to pay attention to those things that have eternal consequences. Some things slip away and some things slip in. The writer tells us to take heed. He wasn't just speaking to the the back slider. We are all susceptible to the subtle changes that can happen without our even knowing it. The only way to avode this is just what our text says: Give the more earnest heed. We must be in a constant state of reediness. We must not allow what we know to be right to slip into obscurity. Indifference is the worst danger that we face in our spiritual life. The writer did not say that they would deny or denounce what they know, but that they were going to drift from what they know. Bro. Hughes notes three things that we are drifting way from. First is the Word of God. Some have come to question the word of God as we compare it to our society. There are daily attacks against the Word and spiritual virtues. Not only is the Word slipping away, so is Christ. The world is trying to erode the idea that there is one savior. Jesus is the ONLY way we can be saved. Finally the convicting power of the Holy Ghost is slipping away. We have gotten to the point that we can have church, and do not feel the need to pray or to seek the presence of God. There are a lot of us who have let things slip out of our life, that we need to reclaim.

In our text, Jesus returns to Capernaum. He had been there before and had performed miracles, but He returned this time to preach the word. The miracles and wonders are great, but everyone needs the word in their lives. The Lord was glad to open blind eyes and heal lame limbs, but his purpose was to preach the word. The world would love to tell us that God does not speak and that His word is invalid. If we allow God to speak into our lives, great things will happen. Too many people are content to be spectators and congratulate others on their miracle. If they would allow God's word into their lives, they could experience their own miracle. In our text, Jesus had returned, and the word had spread rapidly. The man on the cot had four friends who carried him about. He was a burden; he was a chore. The man on the cot controlled the lives of the four who carried him about. However, this story is not about the man, but about his friends. Many in life drag their problems around every day. Their burdens control them. Those men woke up that morning to another day of dealing with their burden. When they got close to the house where Jesus was, but they could not get through the crowd. So many have gotten to that place, and decided that they cannot get through. We get used to praying that prayer and carrying that load. Many say "well I have been dealing with it for a while, we will try another day. These four men decided that day would be different. They made a decision that they were going to leave their burdens in the presence of Jesus. They were not going to bring it back up. We have to make a decision to break through the barriers, and leave our burdens in the presence of Jesus.

In our text, Jesus returns to Capernaum. He had been there before and had performed miracles, but He returned this time to preach the word. The miracles and wonders are great, but everyone needs the word in their lives. The Lord was glad to open blind eyes and heal lame limbs, but his purpose was to preach the word. The world would love to tell us that God does not speak and that His word is invalid. If we allow God to speak into our lives, great things will happen. Too many people are content to be spectators and congratulate others on their miracle. If they would allow God's word into their lives, they could experience their own miracle. In our text, Jesus had returned, and the word had spread rapidly. The man on the cot had four friends who carried him about. He was a burden; he was a chore. The man on the cot controlled the lives of the four who carried him about. However, this story is not about the man, but about his friends. Many in life drag their problems around every day. Their burdens control them. Those men woke up that morning to another day of dealing with their burden. When they got close to the house where Jesus was, but they could not get through the crowd. So many have gotten to that place, and decided that they cannot get through. We get used to praying that prayer and carrying that load. Many say "well I have been dealing with it for a while, we will try another day. These four men decided that day would be different. They made a decision that they were going to leave their burdens in the presence of Jesus. They were not going to bring it back up. We have to make a decision to break through the barriers, and leave our burdens in the presence of Jesus.

There are times that God's word to us is so pressing and urgent that it demands our immediate attention. There are times that God's message is so urgent that it is a command not a suggestion. So it was in our text tonight. Abraham was commanded by God to do something that would help him in a crucial time in his life. Some things cannot wait; they have to be done now. Bro. Hughes comes with a now word for us tonight. There is no mention in scripture that there was anything wrong with Abraham, but God knew the inner struggles of Abraham. The concerns and troubles inside Abraham were a concern to God. Abraham must have had fears hidden in his heart, and God knew those fears. God had made promises to Abraham, and it was not apparent in his life that those promises were to come to fruition. God is concerned about each and every one of us. He knows what we are battling. He knows all the secret things that go on in our mind that we do not speak. On that night, God took Abraham on a journey. He begins by telling him to look at the heavens. There are times that it is necessary to frame our temporary problems against the backdrop of eternity. When we deal with fears and discouragement, we contrast that against eternity. Our problems are but temporary, but God's promises are forever. It begins with a look. It begins with opening our eyes to see what is there. The word look means more than to just to see, but to be alert; to be conscious of and to consider. When we look at the heavens, we become ware of how little we know. What we know is nothing compared to what God knows. If God can create the heavens and the earth, our problems are no challenge. When we are out of options, God is never out of options. God tells Abraham to look, and more than look, to count the stars. Science tells us that the human eye can see about 10,000 stars on any given night. Research tells us that there are 40 billion stars just in our own galaxy. Scientists have calculated that there are 10^24 stars in the universe. In that context, our little problems seem so insignificant. A god that can create that with just the words "Let it be..." is able to do anything. When we see the vastness of God's power, we are reminded that His power is limitless. Look up and know that God's power is greater than whatever we may be facing. God's answers are bigger than our problems. We need to stop looking at our problems and look at what God has already done.

There are times that God's word to us is so pressing and urgent that it demands our immediate attention. There are times that God's message is so urgent that it is a command not a suggestion. So it was in our text tonight. Abraham was commanded by God to do something that would help him in a crucial time in his life. Some things cannot wait; they have to be done now. Bro. Hughes comes with a now word for us tonight. There is no mention in scripture that there was anything wrong with Abraham, but God knew the inner struggles of Abraham. The concerns and troubles inside Abraham were a concern to God. Abraham must have had fears hidden in his heart, and God knew those fears. God had made promises to Abraham, and it was not apparent in his life that those promises were to come to fruition. God is concerned about each and every one of us. He knows what we are battling. He knows all the secret things that go on in our mind that we do not speak. On that night, God took Abraham on a journey. He begins by telling him to look at the heavens. There are times that it is necessary to frame our temporary problems against the backdrop of eternity. When we deal with fears and discouragement, we contrast that against eternity. Our problems are but temporary, but God's promises are forever. It begins with a look. It begins with opening our eyes to see what is there. The word look means more than to just to see, but to be alert; to be conscious of and to consider. When we look at the heavens, we become ware of how little we know. What we know is nothing compared to what God knows. If God can create the heavens and the earth, our problems are no challenge. When we are out of options, God is never out of options. God tells Abraham to look, and more than look, to count the stars. Science tells us that the human eye can see about 10,000 stars on any given night. Research tells us that there are 40 billion stars just in our own galaxy. Scientists have calculated that there are 10^24 stars in the universe. In that context, our little problems seem so insignificant. A god that can create that with just the words "Let it be..." is able to do anything. When we see the vastness of God's power, we are reminded that His power is limitless. Look up and know that God's power is greater than whatever we may be facing. God's answers are bigger than our problems. We need to stop looking at our problems and look at what God has already done.

The story of Esau selling his birthright is a familiarize one, and one that is a sad one indeed. How quickly things can be lost and at what a price. Life is often fought int he secret battle ground. Often it is just us and temptation. The quietest hours are the often the most dangerous. How easily can blessing slip through our hands in a weak, unguarded moment. Esau said that he was at the point of death. He misinterpreted what was going on in his life, and that error caused him to sell something the most valuable thing in his life. His flesh was weak and in that moment of weakness, he stumbled. Before we judge Esau too harshly, we must understand that none of us are beyond stumbling. What causes a man with so much in his favor to stumble as did Esau? There were several things that happened to Esau that could easily happen to any of us. First, men stumble when they do not honor who they are. When we forget who we are, how easy it is to let things slip in or to let go of things that should be so dear. In a moment of weakness, Esau forgot who he was and what his place in God's plan. Men will sink to low places when they forget who they are. Each of us is born with a birthright. God has invested in each of us something that is worth keeping. Men stumble when they let the wrong senses and wrong appetites guide their decisions. The flesh will always cost us more than we are willing to pay. Men stumble when they begin to rationalize in their life. Our world rationalizes everything. "What will it hurt..." It will hurt our family, our future and our eternity when we begin to rationalize. Our flesh will tell us that "one time won't hurt," but the truth is that it could hurt a great deal. Making exceptions in life can cause us to stumble. We must all have a line that we draw in life that we will not cross. Men stumble when they lose their sense of perspective. Easu lost it all in a moment because he lost his perspective. Once it was lost, it could never be recovered. When we put the temporal in front of the eternal, we are on dangerous ground. Men stumble when they sell what they do not possess for what they can never have. We live in a time when the footing is so slippery that it is difficult to find a place to stand. We must stand on solid ground. None of us area any better than Esau in that we are just subject to the same temptations. With God's help, we must keep our eyes on the things that are eternal. and not sell out for less than we are entitled. We must be mindful of the hours when men stumble.

The story of Esau selling his birthright is a familiarize one, and one that is a sad one indeed. How quickly things can be lost and at what a price. Life is often fought int he secret battle ground. Often it is just us and temptation. The quietest hours are the often the most dangerous. How easily can blessing slip through our hands in a weak, unguarded moment. Esau said that he was at the point of death. He misinterpreted what was going on in his life, and that error caused him to sell something the most valuable thing in his life. His flesh was weak and in that moment of weakness, he stumbled. Before we judge Esau too harshly, we must understand that none of us are beyond stumbling. What causes a man with so much in his favor to stumble as did Esau? There were several things that happened to Esau that could easily happen to any of us. First, men stumble when they do not honor who they are. When we forget who we are, how easy it is to let things slip in or to let go of things that should be so dear. In a moment of weakness, Esau forgot who he was and what his place in God's plan. Men will sink to low places when they forget who they are. Each of us is born with a birthright. God has invested in each of us something that is worth keeping. Men stumble when they let the wrong senses and wrong appetites guide their decisions. The flesh will always cost us more than we are willing to pay. Men stumble when they begin to rationalize in their life. Our world rationalizes everything. "What will it hurt..." It will hurt our family, our future and our eternity when we begin to rationalize. Our flesh will tell us that "one time won't hurt," but the truth is that it could hurt a great deal. Making exceptions in life can cause us to stumble. We must all have a line that we draw in life that we will not cross. Men stumble when they lose their sense of perspective. Easu lost it all in a moment because he lost his perspective. Once it was lost, it could never be recovered. When we put the temporal in front of the eternal, we are on dangerous ground. Men stumble when they sell what they do not possess for what they can never have. We live in a time when the footing is so slippery that it is difficult to find a place to stand. We must stand on solid ground. None of us area any better than Esau in that we are just subject to the same temptations. With God's help, we must keep our eyes on the things that are eternal. and not sell out for less than we are entitled. We must be mindful of the hours when men stumble.