MACEDONIA AME CHURCH - Scripture Lesons for July 9, 2006 - 5th SUNDAY After Pentecost

Ezekiel 2:1-5

1 And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.”
2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. 3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’
5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Psalm 48

1   Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised
    In the city of our God,
    In His holy mountain.

2   Beautiful in elevation,
    The joy of the whole earth,
    Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
    The city of the great King.

3   God is in her palaces;
    He is known as her refuge.

4   For behold, the kings assembled,
    They passed by together.

5   They saw it, and so they marveled;
    They were troubled, they hastened away.

6   Fear took hold of them there,
    And pain, as of a woman in birth pangs,

7   As when You break the ships of Tarshish
    With an east wind.

8   As we have heard,
    So we have seen
    In the city of the LORD of hosts,
    In the city of our God:
    God will establish it forever.

9   We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness,
    In the midst of Your temple.

10  According to Your name, O God,
    So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
    Your right hand is full of righteousness.

11  Let Mount Zion rejoice,
    Let the daughters of Judah be glad,
    Because of Your judgments.

12  Walk about Zion,
    And go all around her.
    Count her towers;

13  Mark well her bulwarks;
    Consider her palaces;
    That you may tell it to the generation following.

14  For this is God,
    Our God forever and ever;
    He will be our guide
    Even to death.

Mark 6:1-6

1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

2 Corinthians 12:2-10

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.  And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.  For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.