But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 11 - we see the widely read "Hall of Faith" where many of the Biblical heroes are described as enduring through fear, suffering, etc. and looking beyond their current circumstances to what God had in store for them - all based on their faith. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3 describes God as Creator, and His Word as the basis for all of creation.  Also, while God's Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12), it is not seen as creation as seen.  Throughout the text God is seen as faithful to those described. In v16 God is described is unashamed by those who seek Him in faith as He is "preparing for them a city."
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Those mentioned explicitly and even those not not mentioned - vv33-38 - are described with their various attributes of faithfulness.  This faithfulness is described in vv13-16 as feeling more at home in God's kingdom (the eternal one) than in any earthly kingdom - "a better country...a heavenly one."   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid growing comfortable in an earthly body - becoming a friend of the world.  Claim the promise that God is preparing a place for us in New Jerusalem. Follow the many examples detailed here that lived obediently to God's will through faith.  Trust and follow God. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is faithful in all things and You are saving place for me in New Jerusalem.  How awesome!  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 John 20:24-29

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 20:24-29, where, after the resurrection, Jesus appears to the disciples again - this time with Thomas, who did not believe that Jesus had rose from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God does not mind that we doubt - see also Jude 22-23 where we are encouraged to have mercy on those who doubt.  In this case, Jesus overcomes locked doors (not a difficult feat for God) to bring Thomas to faith.  Jesus uses this as a teaching moment to encourage belief in Jesus without full evidence - this is faith.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: All of us, like Thomas, have sufficient evidence to know that God exists - without excuse (general revelation) - see Romans 1:20. Yet many continue to doubt - if this is you, I would encourage you to lean into God because if You seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13) (special revelation).
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid testing God - see the latter remarks of this post. Claim the promise that Jesus is who He says He is - King of Kings, the Good Shepherd, and your personal Lord and Savior who has already defeated sin and death and rose again giving believers life now to the full and for eternity.  Follow the example of those who have not seen everything but believe - have faith.  Trust God's promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are my personal Lord and Savior and I know I can never be separated from Your love.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled....Jesus wept.

John 11:28-37

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled....Jesus wept. John 11:33,35

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 11:28-37, where we continue the story of Lazarus, whom we know from the larger story arc is ill and dies, and that Jesus raises him from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: After learning of Lazarus' illness earlier in chapter 11, and then staying where He was for two more days, Jesus is now seen approaching the village where Martha, Mary, and Lazarus lived.  In response to Mary falling to Jesus' feet in grief over her brother's death (vv32), Jesus "was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled...[and He also] wept" (vv33,35).  Jesus sympathizes with us and our cares, concerns and worries.  Believers should understand that because Jesus took on flesh as the Incarnate Son of God, "we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15-16).     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: In v32, Mary reacts first in worship towards Jesus, as she falls to Jesus' feet.  Similar to her sister Martha (v21), Mary then expresses frustration towards Jesus as she believes that if Jesus had come earlier He would have healed Lazarus (v32) - this is frustration yes but also faith because Mary was definitive that "if you had been here, my brother would not have died."  The Jews in the village and with Mary and Martha consoled and loved them, and wept with them (vv31, 33) - this is a great example of how we are to love others (second greatest commandment).  Some of the Jews marveled at Jesus' love for Lazarus, while others questioned the extent of Jesus' authority and power as He recently healed the blind man (chapter 9), but He was not to keep Lazarus from dying (vv36-37).  There will always be people who doubt who Jesus is - but believers should never doubt that Jesus is God, and Lord and Savior - Creator and King of Kings - able to do anything (Colossians 1:15-17).    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not doubt Jesus and who He is.  Claim the promise that He saves, is able to do anything, loves us and sympathizes with us.  Follow the example of Mary who worshiped Jesus and saw Him as able to heal her brother.  Love others as the Jews consoled and wept with Mary and Martha.  Believe and have faith.        

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God who loves, saves, and sympathizes with us.  Thank You Jesus for all that You do.  I am not deserving of how You bless and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

 John 11:17-27

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” John 11:21-22

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 11:17-27, where we continue the story of Lazarus, whom we know from the larger story arc is ill and dies, and that Jesus raises him from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God has a plan for everything and his design and plan is perfect.  Jesus knew that and allowed/planned for Lazarus to die (see vv4, 14), and that He would use Lazarus' resurrection from the dead as a means for others to believe in Him and to strengthen their believe in Him.  In v23, Jesus repeats - authoritatively - once more, that Lazarus will rise again. In vv25-26, Jesus shares that through Him there is resurrection and life (see also John 10:10).   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Martha is seen as being frustrated with Jesus - v21 as she sees others who have come to console here (v18) but sees Jesus as being too late to heal Lazarus as he has died and was in the tomb already for four days (v17).  People are often frustrated with Jesus' timing after Martha and Mary had sent their request (not a prayer explicitly) for Jesus to intercede on their behalf to heal Lazarus.  Martha very quickly, however, in vv22, 24, and 27 pivots to a posture of trust and faith in Jesus.  When we have faith in God, He blesses us - we don't know how He will bless us but He does - see Matthew 5:6.  We must understand that God's thoughts and ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8) and that God works all things for good and for His purpose (Romans 8:28).   We exist to glorify God.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid frustration in God's timing as this is a form of a complaint.  We should claim the promise that Jesus gives us life now (abundantly or to the full) and for eternity - He saves.  We should follow the example of Martha who sees the err of her ways and quickly turns to Jesus - this can be seen as true repentance.  We should believe.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You work all things for good and for Your purpose.  Thank You Jesus for Your love and for revealing Yourself to me.  I am not deserving of how You love, bless, and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.”

John 7:25-31

But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” John 7:27-29

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 7:25-31, where we see continued reactions to Jesus' teaching in the temple during the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus shares that His origin is from the Father who is True (vv28-29).  He also shares that the people do not know God the Father - He who sent Jesus (v29). In v30 we see that nothing will stop God's plan of Jesus' death and resurrection despite the Jewish leadership having opportunity to arrest Him.       
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The people of Jerusalem struggle to understand why the Jews - who are seeking to kill Jesus (v25) - are not confronting Jesus now that He is in plain sight and not avoiding the Jews (in contrast to vv1-3,6,8).  The people think they know Jesus based on where He is from and from their incomplete understanding of OT prophecies of Jesus (OT prophecies are clear that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem, but prophecies of Jesus' hometown being Nazareth are inconclusive - see this).  Regardless, the people's understanding of scripture should lead them to believe that Jesus IS the Christ, the Promised Messiah. Many believed in Jesus - see v31 - although the text shares that they believed because of the signs He performed not that they believed He is the Promised Messiah.      
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid making claims about Jesus that are not scripturally accurate.  Claim the promise that Jesus was sent by the Father and the Father is Truth so Jesus is Truth because all things have been given by the Father to the Son.  Claim the promise also that nothing will stop God's plan - of course with certainty we can say that He will come again, and believers are saved.  Follow Jesus' example to challenge those who claim to know scripture but add to/subtract from the Word to support their own motives. Bring the Word everywhere! 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

 John 6:60-71

And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” John 6:65

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 6:60-71, where we see Jesus turning His attention to the disciples who are struggling to comprehend Jesus' words in response to the Jews vv41-59.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God wants us to follow Him even when we have doubts and questions about what He says...even when it is scary what He is asking us to do. Once again we should not grumble about (or to) God but do His will.  V65 reinforces how we are to lean into Him to help us with our unbelief - see also Mark 9:24 where the father of a son with a spirit that makes him mute" cries out to Jesus "help my unbelief." It is only Him who gives us faith - Ephesians 2:8-9. Stay close to God - maintain a daily practice of scripture study and prayer. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: It's not just the Jews who struggle to comprehend Jesus' words that He is the Bread of Life and that to abide and follow Him you must "feed on [His] flesh and drink [His] blood" (vv53-58).  The disciples struggle, sharing that "[t]his is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (v60).  The Gospel message trips up many people - see also the story of the rich young ruler from Mark 10:17-31, Matthew 19:16-30, and Luke 18:18-30.  Ultimately, there are those who cannot overcome their questions and doubts about the Gospel message, what it requires of them, and do not believe - it is these who are not believers anyway, they fall away and are condemned eternally - like we see with those who fall away in v66 and also with Judas in vv70-71.  In contrast, Peter has faith, sharing that he will not leave or betray Jesus, sharing "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God (vv68-69).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid grumbling and complaining about what Jesus says or wants us to do, claim the promise that every word of God is perfect, follow the example of Peter who has nowhere else to go and is desperate for Jesus, abide in Him through daily study of His Word and through prayer.     

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God full of mercy and love.  Thank You for Your patience and mercy with me and for the love that You show me to save.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life[.]

 John 6:22-40

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life[.] John 6:27a

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 6:22-40 - where shares that He is the Bread of Life. Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The crowds fed during the Feeding of the Five Thousand (vv1-15), seek Jesus and when they find Him (v25), Jesus does not directly answer the question they ask.  Instead, once again acting with intention, Jesus cuts to the heart of the matter by sharing in v26 - starting with "truly, truly" to emphasize His authority - that He knows why they seek Him; they seek Him because He provides for their physical needs (food). He wants the people to see that He provides spiritual nourishment (v27).  He wants them to believe in Him for this spiritual nourishment, and they want to know how to believe (vv29-30). They seek a sign to believe Him (v30), and Jesus admonishes them for believing that Moses provided manna to the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness (v32) - He wants them to see how it was the Father who provided the manna. Jesus then wants them to see how the Father is now sending the Son to be the Bread of Life (vv33,35). In v35, Jesus builds on what He shared with the Samaritan woman at the well where He encourages the woman to drink from the Living Water and never thirst again. V36 furthers Jesus' admonishment of the crowd that they have "seen [Him] yet do not believe." Jesus then promises that if we believe in Him, we will never be cast out (v37).  In vv38-40 we Jesus describing how He came to do the Father's will, that He will not lose anything given from the Father to Him, that those who believe in Him will have eternal life, and the Father will raise the Son up on the last day. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People often seek help with physical needs from Jesus, when instead we should KNOW that He provides for our physical needs and that it is more important that we have our spiritual needs met. We also see people that seek signs and evidence before they believe in Him.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeking signs or testing of God.  See Romans 1:20 where creation alone provides enough evidence to at least seek Him. Claim the promise of eternal life and that Jesus is the Living Water and Bread of Life who meets our most important needs - spiritual needs.  Follow the example of Jesus who does the will of God. Believe and trust in Him. 

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God that meets my most important needs - You save and deliver mercies every morning that never cease...and so much more!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her caner cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

 John 5:19-24

Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:23b-24

I continue my study of John, and today, I move to start unpacking Jesus' extended response to the Jews persecuting and seeking to kill Him (which started in vv16-18).  This response continues through the end of the chapter (last verse is v47), so I am going to tackle this in chunks starting with vv19-24 - here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus speaks with authority as the Son of God, sent by the Father - v19 uses language from scripture elsewhere "truly, truly" as He emphasizes His authority on the matter.  He not only speaks with authority, He acts with authority doing what the Father tells Him to do, as the Father does the same and because the Father "loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing" (v20). Both Father and Son raise the dead and give life, and the Son gives life "to whom He will" (v21).  This is key because we know that some believe in Jesus and some do not - faith is a gift from God, not of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8), and He alone saves. Vv22-23 share how the authority to judge has been delegated from the Father to the Son and that we are then called to honor the Son based on this authority.  V24 gives us an important promise repeated most famously in John 3:16 that whoever hears the gospel, believes that Jesus was sent by God and believes God (affirms authority of both God the Father and the Son) has eternal life and will not be condemned (implied also that such a person - believer - will have rebirth or regeneration).  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: While not explicitly stated, we can infer in the text that those who do not believe in Jesus and His authority as Lord of All (and Savior) will suffer eternal condemnation.         
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid not honoring God or not believing in Him, follow the example of Jesus who did the will of the Father (dying on the cross, etc.), claim the promise of ("greater works") life now to the full and for eternity in Heaven based on belief in Him.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves and gives life now to the full and for eternity.  Thank You thank You!  Of course I am not deserving of such love and blessing....my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

 John 4:46-54

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. John 4:50

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 4:46-54 using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: In response to the official who requested that Jesus "come down and heal his son who was ill," Jesus shares that "[u]nless you see signs and wonders you will not believe" (v48).  The order of events is key here as Jesus challenges the official to believe before he sees his son's healing.  God seeks faith in Him that He will deliver upon His promises as He is faithful (see 2 Corinthians 1:20).  In response, the official once again pleads with Jesus to come heal his son (v49).  Jesus then shares that "[g]o; your son will live."  The text then shares that the official then believed (v50) before he sees his son healed (vv51-53) - see a similar story in scripture where Jesus heals a centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10).  The text also shares that this the second sign from Jesus after he came from Judea to Galilee (v54). 
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People often want evidence or results before they believe - this is the nature of how the human mind works.  When Jesus makes claims that He saves or offers eternal life, for many this is a "bridge too far."  This is a hardened heart.  At the same time, many reach a point in their life where they are so desperate for what Jesus offers that they are prepared to believe Him and have faith - see also Psalm 42:1.  In the text, vv51-53 describes how the official returns home to learn that his son has been healed and the healing corresponds with the hour when Jesus told him that his son would be healed.  The official's faith started in v50 with faith in the "word" Jesus shared that his "son will live." In v53, faith in Jesus as His Lord and Savior then followed when he witnessed (at least heard of it) the miracle of his son's healing.  The official's faith and witness/testimony then became the basis for the faith of "all his household" (v53).
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Do not demand evidence of Jesus or put God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16).  Claim the promise that God is faithful.  Follow the example of the official and the centurion to have faith. Abide in Him to grow in your faith and to bear fruit - what He seeks from us.        

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My Prayer: Father God You are an awesome God who loves, saves, and who is faithful!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:1-21

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:17-18

I continue my study of John.  After reviewing John 3:1-21 using the Sword Bible Study Method over the past two days, today I recap my observations with a main point for the text and an outline.

Main point: Confess, repent, and believe to be saved, and to become a new creation, and a light to others.  

1. Faith requires regeneration – to be born again as a new creation, as one is no longer slave to sin but slave to God – vv3,5
2. To be born again is an act of God alone – who loves and chooses us while we are still sinners, enemies of and hostile to Him (acting out of flesh desires vs those of the Spirit) – vv6-8
3. An intellectual understanding of the gospel and belief in signs/miracles is insufficient for faith; faith requires both an accurate understanding of Jesus (Father Son, and Holy Spirit), confession of sins and repentance upon an acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior – vv11-14
4. Faith and belief in Him saves and gives eternal life – vv15-16
5. God sent Jesus into the world not to judge and condemn but to save – the gospel is a message of hope not judgement or condemnation; condemnation is not an act of God but act that results from one’s own lack of faith – vv17-18
6. Unbelievers are slave to sin and to the fear and shame of having their sin known and exposed for others to see; an unwillingness to confess sin, repent, and believe in Him results in condemnation – vv19-20
7. In contrast, believers seek to repent and allow God to work in and through them so that God’s work can be known and seen by others as believers’ lives are transformed through regeneration and sanctification – v21 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for giving me the greatest gift of all time....I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and. Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

Mark 11:27-33

Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. Mark 11:29-32

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 11:27-33.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv29-32):

• The title of the first division per the commentary is "They Refuse to Examine Honestly the Evidence."
• "Those who come to Jesus with hostile intentions never receive a direct answer. The response forces them to think. Jesus twice commands them, “Answer Me.” The implication is they lack the courage to give an honest answer."
• "They do not deny the evidence as they huddle up to draft their response. They struggle with how to set it aside. John was popular with the people, and his ministry was universally believed to have been given to him by God. So what if he had no human credentials, he had God’s! Yet in spite of the evidence, the religious leaders rejected him and did not lift a finger when he was unjustly murdered by Herod (6:14-29)." 
• "When Mark began his Gospel, he cited Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3, linking the ministries of John and Jesus to prophetic promise. The evidence is there, but the hearts of these men will not embrace it. They may attempt to put forth a rational argument against Jesus, but in the end it is an emotional reaction rooted in a fear of losing control, losing their position, and losing their way of life. For so many people the real problem is not the evidence. The problem is internal: it is us and our sin. The idols of the heart are the real issue. If I accept that Jesus is the Son of God who died for my sins and was raised from the dead, then my life will never be the same. But I like my life. With eyes shut and ears plugged, I do not want to talk about this anymore."

The core question all of us must answer: is Jesus who He says He is?  The scribes and Jewish elders did not believe Jesus.  Their reason is the same or very similar to anyone who rejects Jesus - they don't have enough evidence.  Yet that is the point of faith - see Hebrews 11, in particular v1: "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  We should also understand that faith itself is a gift from God - that He alone hardens and softens hearts to hear and respond to the Good News by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior - see Ephesians 2:8.  For believers we must extend grace to non-believers in the same way Jesus did for us - we were all saved while still an enemy and hostile (see Colossians 1:21) to Jesus - that is grace! Extend grace as Jude 22-23 describes. 

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My Prayers: Father God, thank You for the mercy and grace You poured out for me by saving me while still an enemy and hostile to You.  Thank You for my salvation - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:12-25

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  Mark 11:22-24

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 11:12-25.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division (vv20-25):

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Jesus Will Challenge Us to Believe in God, but He Understands Doubt."
• "Mark concludes the fig tree/temple story with lessons on faith, prayer, and forgiveness, the very things the people should have found through God’s temple. The fig tree event brackets and interprets the temple story. Jesus did not just cleanse the temple, He cursed it. It had failed in the divine assignment, and it would be destroyed. With no fruit, its use was at an end. God would remove it: in less than a generation (AD 70), the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Jesus uses all of this as an opportunity to teach His disciples two more valuable spiritual truths." 
• "When they passed the fig tree the next day, it was dead (v. 20). Any sympathy for a soulless tree in our day is badly misplaced and says much about our sloppy, sentimental culture and its tragic perversion of real values. God had told Jonah to weep over lost people, not a plant (Jonah 4:10-11)! Jesus says to weep over a dead temple, not a dead tree."
• We are referred to John 15:1-10 where Jesus teaches the disciples to abide in Him, the True Vine and He warns them that if they do not they will be "thrown into the fire."  We are urged to take this warning very seriously!
• We are also encouraged to pray - and see prayer as a "commitment to God's will."  We are referred to Matthew 6:9-10; Mark 14:36; John 14:13-14; 15:7; 16:23-24; and 1 John 5:14-15. 
• "[W]hen we pray, we trust not only in His power to give us what we ask but also in His wisdom to give us what we need! I trust Him enough to have Him turn me down if that is what He chooses." 
• "[W]e are to be such a temple extending the same forgiveness that we have received from the God we now call Father."

Prayer is a demonstration of our utter dependence on God.  Help me Father with the unbelief in my life so that I can live more of a life of prayer.  I desperately need You.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God the loves, saves, and intercedes on my behalf.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Mark 11:12-25

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 11:12-25, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: V12 - we see a great example of how the Incarnate Son of God took on flesh and experience all of the humanity we experience - He is able to sympathize like no other (see also Hebrews 4:14-16).  Vv13-14 we see Jesus curse a fig tree - this is the same God who has the power to raise people from the dead so why doesn't he produce fruit from a tree even if it is not the season?  The mystery of God - He has a plan and He will reveal it to us when He is ready - see vv20-21.  In vv15-17 we see a reliance on ALL of scripture, as Jesus reaches back to the Old Testament (and new in Matthew) to ensure we see the temple and God's house appropriately.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: In vv15-17 people seek to use God and His house the temple for their glory and good. In v18 we see jealousy and envy on the part of the chief priests and scribes - they fear loss of their own position, status, etc. vs seeing Jesus as the Promised Messiah.    
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): There should be reverent fear of God in all respects as we should not twist God into something He is not nor into something that should serve us - on the contrary we exist to bring glory to God.  Vv22-24 contains a great promise to claim on faith and prayer.  

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My Prayer: Father God, Jesus, You are an awesome God that loves and saves!  Thank You for my salvation and for Your Word.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.

Mark 10:46-52

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:52

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:46-52.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division (vv49-51):

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Never Be Surprised at How the Most Undesirable Respond to Grace."
• The commentary first refers us to Job 42:5 where the text records starting in chapter 26 through 41 (1) Job's response (including his indignant response to God) to his friends whose counsel led Job down a wrong view of God, (2) Elihu's response/rebuke of Job and his friends, (3) Elihu extolling God's greatness and majesty, and (4) finally, God response to Job and his friends.  In Job 42:5 we are reminded that Job has a deeply personal encounter with God - just as Bartimaeus does in Mark.  
• "Jesus simply and quickly responds to the cry for grace and mercy from the blind beggar, 'Go your way...your faith has healed you.'  When Jesus refers to the man’s faith, Jesus is not saying that the man has earned anything....Bartimaeus did not have empty faith. No, Bartimaeus directed his faith to the only One who could heal, the only One who could save!" 
• It is noted and emphasized that Bartimaeus followed Jesus and it is implied he did so immediately upon his healing.  For anyone that has a deeply personal encounter with Jesus, this is the proper response!  He not only saw physically but spiritually his eyes were opened and most importantly his heart!
• "This is the last healing miracle in the Gospel of Mark. It began with His healing a blind man (8:22-26), and it closes with His healing a blind man (10:46-52). But then like Bartimaeus we were all blind until Jesus gave us sight. We were poor beggars until He saved us as our ransom. We brought to Him nothing but our weakness and need, and He graced us with His power and blessing. Praise God Jesus stopped and had time for Bartimaeus. Praise God Jesus had time for you and me!" 

If you don't know God or feel pain or hurt and need healing - I urge you to cry out to Jesus as Bartimaeus did to "Son of David [Jesus] have mercy on me!"  Confess your sins, have faith and He will hear your cry and save you! Romans 10:10. 

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My Prayer: Father God, thank You for hearing my cry to be saved and for saving me.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Mark 10:46-52

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:47-48

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 10:46-52, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: True to His Word (v45) where Jesus shares how He came to serve, Jesus sought those who needed both a physical and spiritual healing.  While many sought to silence Bartimaeus, Jesus sought to see and speak to him.  See vv49.  Jesus goes even further, asking Bartimaeus what He can do for him.  Jesus gives Bartimaeus what He seeks - his sight.  Jesus attributes this miracle to Bartimaeus' faith that he could be healed - this is what God seeks from us - faith and belief that God can do anything, that we can bring any request to God we seek - not that He will grant it but that we have faith that He is able.   
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: We should not presume that we know Jesus'  intentions. See v48 where many rebuked Bartimaeus for calling out to Jesus - the assumption is that those rebuking Bartimaeus might not have felt Bartimaeus was worthy of an encounter with Jesus....or that they somehow knew that Jesus did not want such an encounter. People often claim to know God's will - without truly knowing God.  Also, Bartimaeus was desperate, hence he cried out to Jesus to have mercy on him - twice - see vv47-48.  Bartimaeus believed that he somehow deserved his blindness - as he asked for mercy, which is different than compassion.  We all need mercy because we should be reminded that we all sin and the wages of sin are death (Romans 3:23, 6:23).  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We can only know God's will if we submit to Him, and allow Him to direct our steps and plans - see Proverbs 16:9, 19:21, 20:24. We can take comfort that our faith can make us well - v52 - whether it be during this life or in Heaven when all believers receive their Heavenly boy and are healed from all earthly infirmities. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that serves and heals - You are able of all things and You are worthy of all praise, honor, and glory.  Thank You for my salvation and for the mercies and blessings You pour out every single day for me.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:14-19

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 9:14-29.  Excerpts from the second (of three) division (vv19-27):

• For the second division, the title is: "We Never Advance Beyond Our Need for Faith."
• "The author of Hebrews tells us, “Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him” (11:6). But how much belief—how much faith—do we need? A lot? Must it be perfect? No. Faith the size of a tiny little mustard seed will do just fine (Matthew 17:20). The key is not the depth of our faith but the direction of our faith. What is important is not the potency of our faith but the Person our faith is in. A little faith in a great Savior gets amazing results!"  
• "Though the man’s faith is weak and small, he is at least looking in the right direction and asking the right Person for help. Unlike the leper in Mark 1:40-45, the father raised not a “would” question but a “could” question. The leper knew Jesus could help, but would He? The father believed Jesus would help, but could He? Well, he is about to find out!"  
• "Jesus responds in surprise. If He can?! “Everything is possible to the one who believes.” Divine ability is not the problem; human unbelief is. There is a reliable bridge between human weakness on the one hand and divine sufficiency and power on the other. It is called faith, trust, and dependency. Psalm 34:8 says, 'Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!'"  
• "Jesus here provides insight into the meaning of His own death and resurrection. Satanic powers bring death, but divine power brings resurrection life. This is what dependent faith can see!"

Encouraging words from the text and emphasized by the commentary: that our weakness and utter dependence on God for His provision and protection should drive us into His arms.  I am reminded of those in scripture - such as the woman bleeding for 12 years - simply wanted to touch Jesus' garment to access the His power. See this in the following gospels: Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48.

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that heals and saves.  I have seen the work of Your hand and I am grateful.  I am not deserving of such blessings as my salvation and how You pour out mercies for me daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Will You please help me with my unbelief - it continues I know in corners of my life.  Please provide wisdom and energy to Lisa and myself.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

 

But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Mark 5:21-43

But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark  5:33-34

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 5:21-43, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers three divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv24-34): 

• The commentary's title for the second division is "Jesus Responds to the Pain of the Diseased."
• The text focuses on Jesus's healing of a woman with discharge of blood for twelve years (v25), and the commentary first points us to Old Testament law (see Leviticus 15:25-30, 22:1-9, Numbers 5:1-4) led to those with discharge to live not just with their malady, but also with heavy stigma of being labeled as "unclean" and "ostracized" from the community.  This is of course a heavy burden with which to live. Yet once again, we Jesus help this woman.  
• Not fully understand who Jesus is, the woman did nonetheless believe that Jesus could heal her so she simply touches His garment. She believed and was healed immediately.  Upon being discovered by Jesus that she did this, she fell at His feet acknowledging her act.  Jesus demonstrates love and compassion as she serves as an example of why Jesus came - to heal.    

If you are an unbeliever, you must start with acknowledging that all of humanity is unclean without Jesus - Romans 3:10-12, 23, and 1 John 1:8. Just as He did with the woman in the text, Jesus heals us both spiritually and physically (per Revelation 21:4 upon death our bodies will be perfect and never decay).  If we confess our sin, seek forgiveness and then acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior then we are saved (Romans 10:10).  Jesus seeks this type of faith where if we believe that Jesus will help us, then He will, and we must be prepared in desperate circumstances, like this woman, to fall down before Jesus in prayer.  Jesus saves and He hears and responds to our prayers.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion for me - saving me while an enemy and hostile to You.  You have seen me through desperate circumstances, You never leave or forsake me, and You provide for all of my needs.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation, nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.

Mark 5:21-43

Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. Mark 5:23

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 5:21-43, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God is all powerful, able to do what no mortal being can do - He raises Jairus's daughter from the dead and heals the bleeding woman (after she had spent all that she had with doctors and her condition not only did not improve but grew worse).  God is also one of great compassion, referring to those who come in faith as daughter (v34) and He takes Jairus's daughter by her hand (v41) - He wants us to be part of His family which is a family with bonds much stronger than with earthly families.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People are desperate for Him, yet they don't fully understand who is He is as He is still referred to as Teacher.  Of course He is Teacher but He is the One True God and it is only the demons that recognize Him at this point in scripture - they even laugh at Him (v40).  People both seek Jesus and they fear Him (v33) for His power - this is a reverent fear and it is appropriate because if we anger or disappoint Him, He holds our lives in His hands  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We can claim the promise that Jesus heals - this is guaranteed both spiritually and physically and while it may not be in this life, it will be in Heaven (see Revelation 21:4). Jesus came to seek and save the lost so we should as well - following His lead as well as those such as Paul who mission work and fruit is detailed in Acts and much of the New Testament. Our faith should follow those of Jairus and the bleeding woman who sought simply a touch. I am reminded of the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is seeks for us to be part of His family - You care for us SO much that You sent Your One and Only Son Jesus to die for us.  Thank You Father!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Mark 4:35-41

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's fifth (of six) division (v40): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "Trials and Difficulties Come for the Benefit of Our Faith."  
• Describing the disciples likely reaction to Jesus's mild rebuke of them for the lack of faith, the commentary shares that "[b]y now they should have a greater comprehension and increased faith in His person. This was a golden teaching moment, but they came up short. In the eye of the storm, rather than trusting Him, the disciples accuse Jesus of forsaking them (v. 38). Unfortunately, this will not be the last time Jesus must point out their lack of faith (7:18; 8:17,21,33; 9:9). Until they see the resurrected Christ and fully understand what He did for them on the cross, they are going to struggle." 
• At the same time, we are encouraged us to grow in our faith as the commentary shares: "[w]e, in contrast, have no excuse. We know Jesus is all-powerful and all-knowing God. We know He has taken care of all our sin. We know He rose from the dead. We know He can be trusted no matter what! Trials and difficulties are divine appointments to strengthen our faith."   

Until we meet Jesus once again upon our death (glorification) or until He returns (second coming), all believers are a work in progress as we strive to grow in in our knowledge and love of Him, and as a result become more like Him (sanctification).  This is a day-by-day progressive process - we may often feel as if this process is too slow but we can be comforted that God is always at work.  Importantly, God is at work in the trials and difficulties of life.  See also Colossians 1:17b where the text shares that Jesus "holds all things together."  We don't know what He is doing (Isaiah 55:8), but we can take comfort that God is in "all things [to] work [them] together for good" (Romans 8:28).  We of course should also know that we will also overcome the world (John 16:33) and see Jesus face to face and at that point our sanctification will be complete!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that I know is at work in me.  Thank You Jesus for working in my life and heart and of course for my salvation.  Please continue because I know I am still a work in progress and there is more sin to shed.  Please forgive me of this sin and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

 Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 1:14-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Here the text shares/describes:

• that John the Baptist is arrested
• that Jesus went into Galilee, sharing the Gospel - "repent and believe"
• how Jesus calls the first disciples: brothers Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and brothers James and John  

Jesus' preparation for His ministry includes going to temple and learning God's word (see Luke 2:41-52), His baptism, His time in the wilderness (experiencing the temptations humanity faces), and of course His experience growing up with faithful families (Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah) who modeled faith for Him.  Jesus knew that His ministry was a fulfillment of prophecy so part of the Good News is to remind the Jews that He is the One promised in Old Testament scripture.  This point reinforces my post from a couple of days ago that we must understand how all of scripture points to Jesus.  Core to the Good News is humility and repentance - we all sin and need salvation or forgiveness of sins (not just an annual offering at the altar but a one time sacrifice of our life devoted to God and submitting to Him). Of course we should be struck by how both of the sets of brothers immediately (see both v18 and v20) left the safety of their fishing business and followed Him, not knowing what that truly meant.  If we read our Bible and are faithful, we will see the sanctification process unfold as Jesus makes us more like Him - the renewing of the mind per Romans 12:2.  As our thoughts become more like Jesus, we can see His will for our lives and His desires for our lives and dropping everything for Him becomes easier as we first and foremost seek to please Him vs ourselves. See also 1 John 5:3 where John shares how obedience to God is not burdensome.  Repent, believe, submit to Him, and watch God work in your heart and life!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that not only forgives sins, but You also save, provide the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and the church to equip us to become more like You because that is our desire.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving...my sin continues every day - anger, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.