Pressing In

 

“Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well.” – Matthew Henry

 

Read:  Mark 6

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

 

S:  And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.  Mark 6:56

 

O:  In the beginning of the chapter it said the people had unbelief.  Why?  Commentator Chuck Smith points out two reasons, 1) They were very mistaken when they thought they knew Him. They only possessed a head knowledge of Him and 2) There was much about Him they did not know. Their unbelief was based upon insufficient knowledge of Him.  But more importantly to note is the result of their unbelief – He could not do any works there.  Chuck Smith points out these two facts, 1) The reluctance or unwillingness was not on His part and 2) Your unbelief can keep you from coming to Him, and thus miss all of the blessings and benefits that He desires to bestow upon your life.

 

This is why studying daily is so important.  We do not want to miss out on seeking His face and knowing Him more and more.  Why?  Because as we reach out to touch Him as the last verse of the passage suggests He will make us whole.  Whole in a lot of ways, but I believe also whole in our understanding of Him.  He can remove any unbelief or wrong beliefs we have, if we are willing.  He will feed us both spiritually and physically and give us rest and meet our needs as verses 31-44 describe. 

 

The Master invites us to “Come away into a desert place, and rest a while” (verse 31).  And I love verse 34, “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”  I love that Jesus was moved with compassion.  What moved Him?  He saw A LOT of people.  What was going on with them?  They were shepherdless.  They needed to be taught and so Jesus began to teach them many things.  Again they had insufficient knowledge.

 

I will say being in school and studying the subjects I have been studying I can relate to this!!  I thought I knew a fair amount about Jesus and the Bible before attending classes, but I quickly found out how much I didn’t know!  Perhaps Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw me and is now beginning to teach me many things! J

 

Where was Jesus prior to “coming out” to the desert?  He had been in the mountains praying.  Just before this scene we read about John the Baptist and what happened to him.  This was Jesus’ cousin and no doubt the news disturbed Him.  He went away by Himself to seek the Father and to no doubt be comforted in this time of loss.

 

The other gospels tell us during this time that Passover was near.  Many people were flocking to Jerusalem.  Jesus however had to stay away from Jerusalem at this time because there were a lot of people that wanted to kill him as well and it was not time for Him to lay down His life yet.  Passover was another reason there were so many people around when Jesus came to the desert especially men because it was only required of the men to come up to Jerusalem for the feast, but no doubt there were women and children there also, but perhaps not as many as the men which is why the feeding of the crowds focused on numbering the men.

 

A:  You could apply this passage in a lot of ways, but for me I have found that seeking Jesus and knowing Him is a life long journey I think.  We must constantly press in to know more, but not to have a head full of knowledge only, but to experience Him; to be called away to times of rest and times of teaching and times of being filled.  Where do you find yourself today?  Are you pressing in?  Do you need rest?  Do you need healing?  Where are you today?

 

P:  Father in Heaven, I pray LORD to reach out and touch You today.  So often we pray for a touch from You and certainly there are times You reach out to us, but today I come seeking You – just to reach out that I might touch You if possible, even just the corner of Your garment, Your tzit-tzit.  It says in this passage that many came, but not all got to touch You, but as many as did they were healed.  I pray we would press in and be persistent enough for as long as it takes to get close enough to reach You.  It’s not that You are far away or even that You require some huge effort on our part because Your Word is clear that You give to us freely, but my prayer is that we would not walk away too soon that we miss out on all that You would have for us, but that we would stay and rest and be taught by You.  Through Christ I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

 

 

 

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

 

 

Local friends:  I will be speaking further on this topic today at the Nazarene Church on Bagdad at 11:15 a.m. this morning 2/27/16.  All are welcome J

 

He helps me

 

 

Read:  Psalm 28 and Mark 5

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and He helps me.  Psalm 28:7a

 

O:  Today in the Gospel of Mark Jesus helped three people.

 

1.       The man with the unclean spirits

2.     A woman who had been sick for many years

3.     A young girl of 12 who had died and Jesus brought her back to life

 

In yesterday’s passage Jesus had told his disciples they were going to cross the lake.  We read how a storm came up and the disciples doubted that they were going to make it to the other side.  Today’s passage opens up with these words, “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.”  So the first thing we note is that they made it across just as Jesus had said they would. 

 

The word translated Gerasenes is also known in some translations as Gadarenes meaning “reward at the end”.  This is a region located off the Lake of Gennesaret east of the Jordan.

 

Jesus had special works of healing to do there – he had three appointments which drew him to this region.  His first appointment was at “the tombs” (verse 2) where he met a man who lived his life by himself in the mountains and the tombs (verse 5).  He was alone.  He cried.  He hurt himself often.  Jesus saw past the exterior of this man and dealt straight with the unclean spirit(s) that had been torturing him for so long.  After meeting Jesus this man was left in his right mind.  That word is sophroneo – to be of sound mind, to be self-controlled, to be sane, to be sober minded, to be safe.  Some of you reading this today know of people who need this kind of healing in their life.  Before meeting Jesus this man was “krazo” is the literal Greek word.  He would cry out loudly or scream or shriek or call out loudly.  He would hurt himself physically and he was alone and no other person could help him.  They even tried to chain him up to possibly protect his own self and others, but there was no help for him UNTIL he met Jesus, the Son of the Most High God.

 

Next Jesus departed from there and went on to his next appointment where he met Jairus and his daughter who was sick.  On his way to meet Jairus’ daughter, a woman came seeking healing from Jesus and she reached out in faith and touched the tzit-tzit on the garment of Jesus cloak.  This woman was so desperate to be healed.  She tried EVERYTHING!  She spent all her money and visited many doctors, but there was no healing found in those places, UNTIL she met Jesus!

 

Jesus continued on to the third appointment at the home of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue.  As they approached the house they were given the sad news that she had died, to which Jesus replied, “Be not afraid, only believe.”  Jesus came to her bedside and took her hand and instructed her to “Arise” and she got up and walked.  This little girl was sick and had died, UNTIL she met Jesus.

 

A:  Meeting Jesus changes lives!  He puts us in our right minds, He restores our health even when no one else, even doctors, do not have the answers and He restores life to us physically and spiritually.

 

 

 

P:  Our Father in Heaven, Thank You LORD that You have the power to do what no one else can do for us!  Thank You that when we come face to face with Your glory and power that we can be changed and healed and given new life!  Help us Father to recognize the many ways You work in our life and to be ready and able to give a testimony for the wonderful ways You have healed and restored us.  Father I pray for those who are sick and need healing in their minds and in their bodies.  Father there are several people who come to mind that need Your healing touch.  Father I pray that You would meet them in very real ways and touch their lives and bring healing to them and their families.  Let all those who see and hear of their healing be amazed by You!  We need not be afraid, but only BELIEVE!  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

When Life Gets MESSY!

 

Read:  Psalm 29 and Mark 4

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.  Mark 4:33

 

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”  Mark 4:40

 

O:  Psalm 29 talks about the voice of God (the qowl [voice] of YHVH – the covenant keeping name of God) which is described as majestic and something to invoke in us awe and even fear.  A couple of nights ago we had a thunder storm.  I happened to sleep through it without hearing a thing.  But the next day at work people were describing the storm as “loud”.  One lady said one of the claps of thunder made her sit up in bed and gasp for air because it startled her so much.  Another one said it sounded like “a bomb going off”.  I was amazed at all of their descriptions because literally I heard nothing.  I slept through it like a baby.

 

The words here used to describe the qowl of YHVH are similar.  A voice that breaks cedars and strips the trees of their bark and divides the flames of fire; this is a voice of authority and power.  But it is the last verse that I love the most, “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace [shalom = wholeness].” (verse 11)  The voice of the LORD strengthens us and blesses us!  As my friend Sandra would say, Ah-Main!

 

As we flip over to Mark chapter 4.  Again we see the authority and power of the qowl of YHVH through Jesus Christ our Lord – Yeshua HaMashiach as he speaks to the wind and the waves.  Ever since I heard Joyce Meyer teach on this passage I have a great affection for it. 

 

First of all Jesus says to his disciples in verse 35, “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’”  I love what Joyce brought out that I had never seen before in this passage.  Jesus said “Let’s go over to the other side.”  If Jesus says we are going to go to the other side of the lake, we are going to go over!  What Jesus says to us we can believe!!!  Which is one reason He rebuked His disciples after everything was said and done when He asked them where their faith was.  Basically He was asking them, “Don’t you believe Me?”  It is like a parent telling a child, “I said I would do it and you can trust my word!” 

 

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.”  Verse 37-38 tells us Jesus was sleeping through the storm just like I was the other night, in the meantime the disciples were very awake and very scared!  They weren’t thinking about Jesus’ words that they were going to the other side, no, they were looking at the waves and the water in the boat and thinking, “we are going to drown” (verse 38b).  Joyce points out here that sometimes the middle is messy! 

 

 

 

You may have received a promise from the LORD and you know you are going to the other side of it, but often times the middle is messy!  We as parents know that by the grace of God we will get through potty training, their first days of school, learning to read and write and into middle school and finally graduation, but we also know there is going to be some MESS in the middle of all that.  Potty training is not for the faint of heart and there are going to be some MESSY days (literally!).  Learning new things at school and in life for our kids are hard and MESSY!  Middle school years and hormonal changes are MESSY!  But we get through them and we do get to the other side.

 

Life is MESSY!  Let’s face it!  But with Jesus in our proverbial boats of life we will get to the other side!  Even when you think He is being silent and “not caring”.  That’s what the disciple thought and even asked him, “Don’t you even care that we are going to drown???????”  They were probably screaming at Him because they were scared.  Jesus even asked them, “What are you afraid of?”

 

So I pose that question to you, “What are you afraid of today?”  Where does life seem messy to you right now?  I used the example of raising kids, but I know there are A LOT of other “messy middles” that some of you are going through.  Some of you reading this today may be going through or have experienced cancer, some of you are dealing with deaths of loved ones, some are possibly going through divorces or other messy situations.  And if you are not experiencing them yourself then you know of those who are.  Life is MESSY! 

 

 

 

I would love to hear your comments below.  What messes are you experiencing?  Let us as a group lift those up to the LORD in prayer and let His Powerful Voice speak to those situations.  Where has God strengthen your faith in the middle of current or past messes?  Your testimony may be the encouragement someone needs to hear today.  Comment on times when you felt God was silent and you possibly felt like you were about to drown, but then how you saw Him work through the mess and get you to the other side.

 

A:  My application for myself today is to remember to trust God in the MESS!  And to cling to the promise that we will get to the other side in this life or the next we are going to get through it!

 

 

 

P:  Father in Heaven, thank you so much that Your voice is powerful!  Thank you that You can speak to any situation with Authority!  Father I thank You that with You ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!  God with You we know that we can make it through to the other side of all things.  We may go through feelings like the disciples when we think You are not there seeing what we are seeing or that perhaps You don’t care, but God we know that You do care for us.  God You know the numbers of the hairs on our head.  You know EVERYTHING about us and our situations.  God thank You that we can trust You to get us to the other side even when things look really, really, really MESSY and even scary LORD!  Father I pray that each one reading this today would have their faith strengthened.  God that You would speak into each of their situations strength and blessing.  Thank You LORD that You are ever present with us and that You love us so very much!  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

True Intercession, Consequences and Words

 

Read:  Numbers 14

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

 

S:  Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.”  Numbers 14:9b

 

24 But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.  Numbers 14:24

 

30 Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.  Numbers 14:30

 

O:  We left Chapter 13 with the Children of Israel feeling small like grasshoppers.  Chapter 14 opens up with them crying and weeping like little children who are scared to face something they never have faced before.  They retaliate against their “parents” Aaron and Moshe (Moses).  Like little children sometimes do, they said they wanted “new parents”.  They began to talk about going back to Egypt – to what they have always known.

 

Then God comes on the scene in verses 11-12 and says this, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?  I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.’”

 

God was not angered with the people when they were crying and fearful.  We all have a choice when fear hits us.  We are human, yes, and we may cry and pitch a fit, but then we need to get up and cry out to the One who can assail our fears.  We need to take our concerns to God Almighty.  “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”  I Peter 5:7 and “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

 

But when they started talking about going back to Egypt, back into bondage and slavery, God came on the scene and was ready to make a new people out of Moses.  So Moses interceded for the people.  Note how Moses interceded.  Yes it was for the people, but also to protect God’s character.  When we are praying and interceding for others it must be with the right or godly motives.  Sometimes when I have interceded and prayed for people it has been like a little child tattling on their brother or sister.  The prayer might look something like this, “Dear LORD, You see the way that person treated me, God You know that was wrong, please stand up for me.”  At other times I might storm into the throne room of God and just start listing off everything “that person” is doing that shouldn’t be done.  “They did this wrong, and that wrong, ohhhhh and you know they are this way and things will never change ….”  On and on we go like a little child tattling.

 

This week as I was praying God reminded me about Moses and Jesus and how they prayed.  What did Jesus pray from the cross?  “Father forgive them for they do not know what they do.”  Moses as we see here today prayed for God’s character to be protected.  Moses knew the people were wrong, but he asked to spare them for the sake of God’s name.  At other times Moses prayed like this, “But now, please forgive their sin--but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written."  Exodus 32:32  Now I don’t know about you, but how hard would it be to pray, LORD, please forgive so and so’s sin, and if you don’t then blot me out of the Book of Life?  Let’s be truthful here, even for the people I love the most it would be difficult for me to be willing to give up heaven and eternity with Christ for the sin of another person.  But God sent His Son to die for the sins of each one of us.  Jesus prayed from the cross, forgive them.  My heart broke when God reminded me of these things and what the heart of a true intercessor looks like.  He or she literally stands in the gap for others.  They have a “blot me out too” type of heart and they don’t come tattling, but lifting up and supporting those who they are bringing to Christ.  They have a heart that wants to protect God’s name and character and wants God to receive ALL the glory when those prayers are answered.

 

There is so much in this chapter!  This is probably only one of about three or four things I think the LORD could teach us here today.  The other two things I will mention briefly for the sake of time.

 

1)      Be careful about the words you speak.  God judged the people by their own words.  They cried out to Moses and said they were going to die in the wilderness and that was their judgment.  Our words have power!  I could go into great detail and give lots of examples through Scripture of this, but again for the sake of time I will not do that here today.

2)    In the last paragraph the Children of Israel (again like little children) went against their Papa’s words and did what they wanted to do.  I have a strong willed child.  They on occasion after I have said no will go about trying to do what they want to do and I can promise you that most of the time it ends badly for them!  And most of the time it is the natural consequences they suffer as a result of their actions.  Here God told the people “No”, but they refused to listen.  They got up with the intent of taking the Promised Land in their own power and failed miserably!  I, as my mother would assure you, was also a strong willed child.  It has taken me a llllloooooonnnnngggggg time to get to the place in my life where I can be at rest and not try to “buck the system” so to speak.  Let’s use the wisdom of the LORD and be patient and follow closely after Him so we do not have to suffer unnecessary consequences.

 

A:  So what kind of intercessor are you?  Does this explanation of prayer change the way you will pray for and intercede for others in the future?  Have you ever seen the power of words in your life?  Are you or do you know others who are strong willed?  I’d love to hear your comments on Numbers 14 and what God is teaching you through these readings.

 

P:  Our Father in Heaven, I ask You to teach us through Your Word and to grow us up into all Truth.  Do not let our hearts be deceived by the evil one.  Thank You for times when You open up our hearts and minds to truths that are new to us.  I praise You that You are compassionate and forgiving.  God we know that even though You forgive us there are consequences for our actions.  Father I pray that we could limit those consequences by following close to You and that we would not be tempted to go astray.  Protect us and guide us today.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

I pray we would all go out from here with the Spirit of Moses', Joshua and Caleb! 

 

Be strong and courageous and trusting in the Almighty!

Who is your defense attorney?

 

“Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.”  Habakkuk 2:2

“Real faith grows between the deadline and the deliverance.” – James Watkins

Read:  Acts 25

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  “ … they simply had some points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a dead man, Jesus, whom Paul asserted to be alive …”  Acts 25:19

 

O:  We are nearing the end of the book of Acts and I hope you have enjoyed reading through the life and ministry of Paul with me.  Yesterday we left Paul in prison after two years of being there and ministering to Felix.  Now Festus arrives. 

 

In history we know that Porcius Festus was procurator of Judea from about AD 59 to 62, succeeding Antonius Felix.  Festus inherited all of the problems of his predecessor in regard to the Roman practice of creating civic privileges for Jews.   The Apostle Paul had his final hearing before Festus. In Acts 25:12, Festus sought to induce Paul to go to Jerusalem for trial; Paul appealed to the Emperor.  The appeal resulted in Paul being sent to Rome for judgment by the Emperor himself although Festus had difficulty in detailing charges against him (Acts 25-26).  (The above was excerpted from Wikipedia.)

 

Festus hears the case and asks Paul to go to Jerusalem, but Paul knows he will not receive a fair trial there so he appeals to Caesar, but before Festus can send him to Rome he has to have charges to write up to send Paul with (vs. 27).  So King Agrippa arrives and Festus shares this problem with Agrippa and Agrippa asks to hear the case as well.  So today we leave Paul standing in front of King Agrippa in the auditorium …  

 

“Here was a noble assembly brought together to hear the truths of the gospel, though they only meant to gratify their curiosity by attending to the defense of a prisoner. Many, even now, attend at the places of hearing the word of God with "great pomp," and too often with no better motive than curiosity. And though ministers do not now stand as prisoners to make a defense for their lives, yet numbers affect to sit in judgment upon them, desirous to make them offenders for a word, rather than to learn from them the truth and will of God, for the salvation of their souls.” – Matthew Henry

 

A:  To keep learning the truth and the will of God and to be patient and wait on Him even when the road seems long and seems to be going no where.

 

P:  Dear Jesus, Thank You for examples like Paul who stood up for what he believed in even if that meant staying in prison or appealing to a higher court.  You gave Paul confidence and wisdom and You LORD were Paul’s defense attorney.  There was no other person standing with or defending Paul, but we know You were and are in charge of all things and Your justice will be done.  Thank You LORD for wisdom and truth!  Thank You for being present to walk beside us and even when we are tired and weary of the journey You Lord continue to travel beside us and You lead and guide us.  Thank You!  In Jesus Name, Amen & Amen.

 

Matthew Henry points out the God can make even our enemies do us right!

 

For additional encouragement on waiting on God’s timing see http://www.jameswatkins.com/articles-2/hopeful/neverlate/

Fearing the Unknown

 

Read:  Leviticus 25:17-19; Psalm 25; and Acts 22

 

“We fear what we do not know.” ~ Unknown

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.  Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.  Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred.  Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.  Psalms 25:17-20

 

O:  I imagine the above Scripture passage was a prayer Paul might have prayed often.  The Psalms are a great prayer prompter for the things we are facing in our lives!

 

As I read through the Leviticus passage I was impressed with the fact that God’s got a plan and He has it all under control!  (See Leviticus 25:17-19)  All we have to do is follow His plan!

 

A man by the name of Dan Brown writes in The Lost Symbol this quote, "What we don't understand, we fear. What we fear, we judge as evil. What we judge as evil, we attempt to control. And what we cannot control...we attack." UNKNOWN

 

I think that quote sums up Paul’s life after his conversion.  The religious Jewish leaders did not understand Paul’s conversion.  They were fearful of him and what he was teaching.  They judged him harshly and as “not religious” and therefore evil.  When he tried to explain and give his testimony they listened up to the point he began telling them about the Gentiles; then they began to attack him.  Their prejudices and jealousy kept them from understanding and it kept them bound to fear.

 

When we deal with people who do not understand our conversion stories do not be surprised when instead of being received we are attacked.  Partly it is from a lack of understanding and fear on their part and partly from reading Psalm 25 I think it is because the enemy of God uses people to afflict us and to tear us down, not because of you and I, but because of the One who lives in us. 

 

The enemy was doing everything in his weak power to thwart the message of Paul, but time and time again God won through Paul and used him mightily to further His Kingdom.  We must do as Psalm 25 says and WAIT ON THE LORD!  We must be patient.  God is at work and He does have everything in control and HE HAS A PLAN!

 

A:  Wait on the LORD.  Walk in the ways He shows me and to trust in Him.

 

P:  To You O LORD do I lift up my soul.  It is in You God that I trust.  Do not let me be ashamed or let the enemy exult himself over me.  LORD I pray for good understanding.  I pray that You would teach me Your ways and truth.  Thank you for being my Salvation!  I will wait on You all the days of my life.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.