Keep Rowing God bless you. Sometimes we all become weary in well doing.

Especially in the heat of the day or in the midst of a spiritual battle. God's word advises us all to, "let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9) It's not the one who begins the race of faith "but he (or she) that endures to the end, the same shall be saved." (Mark 13:13). Are you burdened down by sin? He will forgive it all if you confess and forsake it. (Proverbs 28:13) Nothing can stand before your redemption in Christ except you. (Romans 8:31-39) And all those who wait upon the Lord Jesus will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31) God will give us the victory through Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57) He will be with us every step of the way. (Hebrews 13:5) No weapon of the enemy will ultimately be able to overcome us. (Isaiah 54:17) To that end, let's look to a text that speaks loudly of our good and faithful works for God (faith without works is dead James 2:20,26), and the pain and suffering that we (you and I) are consequentially experiencing as a result of persistently continuing to perform those good and godly deeds. For a moment imagine yourself inside the following Bible narrative, and that you are one of His disciples in the ship (a spiritual allegory of Christ, see Acts 27:31). THE BIBLE TEXT (Mark 6:45,46) And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. AN AMPLIFICATION OF THE BIBLE TEXT (Mark 6:45,46) And straightway [immediately after Jesus had fed the five thousand in the wilderness east of the Sea of Galilee] he constrained [Greek: to necessitate: compelled] his disciples [his saved pupils; those students chosen (John 15:16) to study under him] to get into the ship [symbolically, to get into the church which is a vessel sent by God to convey us to Heaven; it is the Gospel ship], and to go to the other side [go to Palestine, go to The Promised Land] before unto Bethsaida [sailing under Bethsaida located on the NW end of the Sea of Galilee], while he sent away the [multitude of unsaved] people [who will (sadly) not ever be permitted to enter into The Promised Land (a type of Heaven)]. And when he had sent them [the unsaved multitude] away, he departed into a mountain to pray [a type and shadow of Acts 1:9, the ascension of Jesus Christ]. 1. Commentary: to go to the other side = the disciples were commanded to go from the wilderness land east of the Sea of Galilee into The Promised Land (a type of Heaven) positioned west of the Sea of Galilee; symbolically, we are commanded to go in your mind (Rom 12:2) from the wild (disobedient state) to the tamed (obedient state). There are no wild animals (or wild people) in Heaven. 2. Commentary: Jesus does not ever suggest things to us; He is God and commands. Jesus commanded His disciples to go to the other side. Please note this most important

thought, that whatsoever He commands of us, He also empowers us to accomplish. THE BIBLE TEXT (Mark 6:47,48) And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. AN AMPLIFICATION OF THE BIBLE TEXT (Mark 6:47,48) And when even [Gk: nightfall] was come, the [Gospel] ship was in the midst of the sea [fully occupying the attention of His disciples: Occupy till I come Luke 19:13], and he alone on the land. And he saw them [the disciples] toiling [Greek: in torture: pained, tormented, tossed] in rowing; for the wind was contrary [Gk: opposite; fig. antagonistic: against] unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night [about 6am, about dawn, about 12 hours since they had embarked] he comes unto them [Jesus Second Coming unto them], walking upon the sea [the sea is a biblical symbol of humanity; fig. He was walking upon the waters of humanity as King of Kings and Lord of Lords], and would have passed by them. 1. Commentary: the ship was in the midst of the sea = The Gospel ship was about halfway across the 7 miles wide Sea of Galilee, or about five and twenty or thirty furlongs (John 6:19) which is equal to about 3 miles. 2. Commentary: toiling in rowing = The sails were securely tied down because of the severe, powerful, boisterous (Mat 14:30) raging of the wind and the threat of high crushing waves; and the twelve disciples (you and I) were being tossed about, painfully rowing, single-minded and focused, striving to ignore the treacherous distractions of the world, and to obediently striving to enter into The Promised Land. 3. Commentary: for the wind was contrary unto them = The average normal walking speed of a man or woman is 3 miles per hour. The cyclonic storm is a vivid indicator of the adverse ferocity that this world has (the relentlessly contrary howling wind and heavy crashing waves) toward the disciples of Christ (you and I). Satan, who is the god of this world (2 Cor 4:4), has arrayed his servant elements in battle attack formation and sent them to oppose, obstruct, and destroy us by blocking our entrance into The Promised Land (Heaven). Please note that the storm of the world was so exceeding strong against and contrary to the earnest efforts of the disciples (you and I) that it took them (us) 12 hours, equaling 36 miles at normal walking speed, to row just 3 miles. Please also note that the disciples did indeed successfully proceed 3 miles closer to Heaven in the face of the storm (hallelujah!), and that they were continuing to proceed even closer when Jesus Christ suddenly appeared (His Second Coming) walking out of the mist, walking upon the sea. (beautiful picture that). 4. Commentary: Why does the Bible reveal that while observing and acknowledging the pain, struggling, and suffering in the rowing of the disciples (you and I) who are the ones

whom He has sent to contend against the deadly ferocity of the infuriated wind and waves of this world, that Jesus would have passed by them? Plainly, it is Father Gods intention to comfort us and to reassure us in our daily struggles with this world by illustrating in this narrative that whatsoever Jesus Christ commands of us, He also empowers us to accomplish. May you take great personal encouragement in what the Lord is saying unto you, that in fact the ship (the church), the Gospel ship and the disciples serving in it (you and I), although embattled, beleaguered, besieged, and under utmost attack, being tossed to and fro exceedingly by a menacing and hostile world, was never mentioned as being in danger of sinking, and not one disciple ever was lost overboard from the ship. In this, we may be spiritually strengthened with full confidence that the obstacles Satan sets before us are merely attempts to divert us from our primary objective, attempts that are destined to failure, and that one day soon we shall successfully and most happily arrive to the other side. Keep rowing dear brothers and sisters, keep rowing. (Mark 6:49-51) But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship [His Second Coming consummated]; and the wind ceased [all adversity was made powerless]: and they were sore amazed [Gk: exceedingly astounded] in themselves beyond measure [at awesome God], and wondered [Gk: have in admiration]. Lastly, remember the great commission that was commanded for us to obey by Christ. And he [Jesus] said unto them [you and I], Go ye into all the world [Gk: kosmos; cosmos] [universe], and preach the gospel [of love] to every creature [the word creature includes man, but is not limited to man]. He that believeth [action is born by belief] and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not [all sin is unbelief] shall be damned. (Mark 16:15-16)