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

 

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!

Unhindered

 

Theme:  Unhindered

 

un·hin·dered:  adjective: unhindered - not hindered or obstructed

 

Read:  Numbers 9:15-23 and Acts 28

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out; they kept the Lord’s charge, according to the command of the Lord through Moses.  Numbers 9:23

 

O:  We end our study of Acts today (sadly).  I have so enjoyed reading and studying the life and ministry of Paul, but as our passage in Numbers says, sometimes we camp and sometimes we move on.  Tomorrow we will be going back into the gospels and studying through the book of Mark.  I feel like I know Paul a little more after our month long study through the book of Acts.  I have so enjoyed getting to know the characters of the book and seeing the story come to life!

 

In today’s reading, Paul and the other passengers found themselves on the Island of Malta where Paul did many great works of healing.  After winter they sailed from Malta to Syracuse, to Rhegium, to Puteoli (what is known as modern day Sicily and Italy) and finally to Rome.

 

 

 

An interesting side note is that Malta today has a day they celebrate Paul’s Shipwreck on February 10^th of each year.  In Malta, it is called 'San Pawl Nawfragu'.  The day is a time for family gatherings and it is observed by religious ceremonies and processions, particularly at the the Church of St. Paul Shipwrecked in Valletta.

 

After Paul arrived in Rome it says he was there two years preaching with openness and unhindered.  Nicole Querido says this, “Isn’t it amazing and so like our God, to take the very thing that from our human perspective would seem to cause the greatest hindrance to Paul’s ministry, turn it around, and cause it to remove all hindrances instead?  Here is Paul, a prisoner for two years, continuing to preach and teach about Jesus without all the difficulties he faced during his time traveling.”  She goes on to say this, “We too are called to an unhindered life, called to be a testimony, a convincing proof that Jesus is alive and powerful.”  As Beth Moore once said, “We don’t have time for bondage;” let’s “do what it takes to be free!” 

 

A:  What hinders you from being an unhindered testimony?  As Nicole Querido states, “Let’s throw off all that hinders and surrender whatever life circumstances we are in right now to our all loving God.  It just may be the perfect place to proclaim the kingdom unhindered and show the all surpassing power of a life lived for God.”

 

P:  Dear Jesus, Thank You for this study on the life of Paul.  Thank you that we have this example of how Paul shared the gospel “unhindered”.  What a beautiful picture of what we are called to be.  LORD, so often we (I) have lived hindered and weighted down with things I should never be carrying.  God I pray that all who are reading this today, including myself, would surrender anything that is hindering our testimony and that we would move past those things and be FREE to share about Your Kingdom through words, but also through the visible example of our lives.  In the Freeing Name of Yeshua our Messiah I pray, Amen & Amen.

Shipwrecked

“Many errors have been made in attempts to understand God.” – Millard J. Erickson, Introducing Christian Doctrine

 

Read:  Psalm 23 and Acts 27

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  “… neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.” Acts 27:20

 

O:  In my Christian Doctrine class this week I am learning the need for correct doctrine.  Why is correct doctrine important?  As the textbook pointed out we often have common distorted understandings about God.  The Bible teaches us that God is both immanent = present and active within His creation, even with non-believers and God is transcendent = He transcends us i.e., His ways are higher than our ways.  But “If we [for example] emphasize immanence too much, we may identify everything that happens as God’s will and working … [and] if we emphasize transcendence too much we may expect God to work miracles at all times, while he may purpose instead to work through our effort.”  (Erickson, Christian Doctrine, pg. 88)

 

These words really gave me something to chew on.  It is so important that we have a correct view of God.  As I read in Acts 27 today I see even more importantly why the correct view of God is important.

 

In today’s world we see things happening like the cyclone this weekend in Fiji or in Paul’s case the storm that shipwrecked his boat while he and the other prisoners and passengers (226 persons in all) were on their way to Caesar.  It was winter and apparently the seas were not cooperating with their plan to sail.  Verse 20 (see above) says that they faced many dark days and they were getting hungry because they would not eat (vs. 33-35) and Paul boldly stands up and tells them basically, “I told you so”.  He said that they should have stayed on the island of Crete as he had previously suggested.  But he goes on to say that ‘even though you didn’t listen to me then, listen to me now’.  Paul then goes on to encourage them, “Keep up your courage!” he says.

 

How long had they been being toss about?  Atleast fourteen days according to verse 27!  Anyone who has ever been seasick knows that 14 days is too long, much less 14 days!

 

 

Paul had however received a message and a promise from God that he would indeed stand before Caesar.  So Paul encouraged them, based on that promise, to take some food and they did.  Finally as dawn was approaching the boat was run into the ground and it broke apart, but using the broken pieces of the boat everyone made it to the shore of the island. 

 

 

A:  What do you do when your life seems tossed about?  What do you do when life seems to be in a wreck?  Where do you go for the courage to go on?  Who encourages you with promises from God?  What are some of the “broken pieces” of your life that have actually saved you?

 

P:  Lord Jesus, I know that I do not understand everything about you.  But one thing I can take hold of is that You are my Shepherd!  You are the One who leads me and guides me.  You are the One who brings me to green pastures to be fed and You are the One who quiets the waters.  Father God, Psalm 23 reminds us that we do not have to be afraid even when things look their darkest and it looks like we are about to be shipwrecked because Your Word encourages us that You are always with us and You will not leave us nor forsake us even on our deathbeds.  Father we have that everlasting promise that one day we will dwell with You forever.  Thank you for those who you bring to encourage us through life’s storms.  God I lift up and pray for those today who are facing storms in their life – either real storms, like those in Fiji, or “storms” or circumstances and illnesses that are causing our lives to not be at rest.  God I pray that whatever we are facing, big or small, that we would cling to You, the Rock of our Salvation!  Help us to know or be reminded of Your promises that we can cling to.  And bring encouragers into our lives that will give us the courage or strength to proceed on and to bring us “good cheer” (euthumeo, vs. 22) even or especially when we can’t see the outcome.  In the Mighty, Saving, Ever-Present Name of Jesus I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

I encourage you to take some time today and think about and comment on the Application Questions above.  I would love to hear your comments and testimonies so that we can encourage each other.  We all face tough situations.  I know some of you reading this have faced hard things like cancer or recent deaths in your families.  Some have dealt with various sickness’ in their own bodies for a long time.  Maybe you are trusting God for the salvation of unbelieving family members or you are facing tough situations with your kids?  There might be some dealing with addictions in your life or in those you love?  How do you deal with those hard life situations and how can you encourage others today with your testimony?  I know it sounds kind of clichéish but let your tests become your testimony for others.  Let your messes become your messages to help others get through their messes!