Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.

 Mark 1:35-45

Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. Mark 1:45b

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 1:35-45, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  My observations from the text using the Sword Bible study method:

• What do we learn about God: Prayer is a priority as v35 shares that the very first thing Jesus does once He rises "very early in the morning, while it was still dark," is prayer.  Jesus also prayed by Himself.  While corporate and group prayer with our brothers and sisters in Christ is encouraged, Jesus seeks for us to avoid praying like the hypocrites who seek to be seen by others as "religious" - see Matthew 6:5-7.  Teaching God's Word is a priority - see v38 where Jesus shares that "this is why I came out."  He taught throughout Galilee (v39).  Compassion, and love and service for others was also a priority as Jesus continued to both physically and spiritually heal those who came to Him - see vv39-42 (see also Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45).  Jesus demonstrated both compassion and understanding of the Old Testament laws that specified only the priests could "pronounce" a leper clean and able to rejoin his community after periods of isolation (see Leviticus 13). Isolation is not good for man and we are designed for community and one another - vv43-44.  
• What do we need to obey: Jesus seeks for us to pray - as prayer is how we communicate with God and demonstrate our utter dependence on Him.  We claim the promise that prayer is powerful - James 5:16-18. As already mentioned we must follow Jesus' example of prayer. We also must teach the Good News according to our roles - this includes parents and heads of households.  
• What do we learn about people: People need Jesus as He promises healing, both physically and spiritually.  We must acknowledge that while our physical healing may not occur now, believers know in Heaven all will be healed - see Revelation 21:4.  The need for Jesus is desperate as v45 mentions that even in "desolate places...people were coming to [Jesus] from every quarter."    

Mark 1:45 stands out this morning as I reflect and attempt to more fully understand where Jesus was in these desolate places and the people He encountered.  This article from DesiringGod.com shares an insight how Jesus swaps roles as the leper rejoins his community while Jesus enters desolation.  Jesus loves us so much that He takes on our sin and shame - to the point of death on the cross. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion for me - taking on my sin and shame and giving me life to the full now and for eternity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  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.  

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

 James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. James 5:17-18

My preparation for teaching this morning on James 5:12-20 ends this morning as I made (what I believe to be) the final tweaks to the presentation I will use to guide our discussion based on an exploration of the question that has lingered this week: why do you think the example of Elijah is provided for prayer in vv17-18?  My source this morning for final preparation is a post from DesiringGod.com from Tony Merida entitled Learning from an Insane Prayer Life. Excerpts from this post regarding why Elijah is an example of prayer in James 5:17-18:

• There are many reasons why one can believe Elijah is not like us: "Elijah’s life is dazzling. Ravens bring him food; God uses a widow to provide daily bread for him in Baal’s territory; Elijah prays and God raises the widow’s son from the dead. Elijah wins the showdown against the prophets of Baal at Carmel; he called down fire from heaven; and he struck down 450 false prophets. Plus, he was an athlete! He ran seventeen miles from Carmel down to Jezreel, outrunning horses and chariots. Elijah was like Moses whom he later appeared with at the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1–7). Like Moses, Elijah went eastward for a season, after an initial confrontation. Like Moses, he lived on God’s abundant provision of bread, meat, and water (Exodus 16). Elijah was also like John the Baptist, whom he is associated with in the New Testament (Malachi 4:5; Luke 1:17). Elijah is a mega prophet, whose coming was to pave the way for the Messianic Age. In many ways, he is not like us."
• "Yet, in the New Testament James makes an extraordinary statement when he says that Elijah was a “man like us.” Us? Yes. While Elijah does hold a unique place in redemptive history, James focuses on the fact that every believer can have an effective prayer life like Elijah."
• "The language James uses is the language Paul and Barnabas used in Lystra, when the people wanted to worship them as gods (Acts 14:15). “We also are men, of like nature with you.”"
• Elijah “was simply claiming the promise of God” that famine was the punishment for idolatry; Deuteronomy 11:16–17

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who uses human agents to help us understand Your Word so that scripture and Your message for us can be clear for us to better understand, love, follow, and glorify You - that is why we exist!  Thank You Jesus for the commentaries and other tools You provide for a better understanding of Your Word.  I am not deserving of this blessing nor any blessing 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 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.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

 James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. James 5:17-18

My preparation for teaching tomorrow on James 5:12-20 continues, and today I modified the presentation I will use to guide our discussion based on an exploration of the question that has lingered this week: why do you think the example of Elijah is provided for prayer in vv17-18?  While the commentary Christ-Centered Exposition series volume for James somewhat addresses this question, John Piper delivers a more expansive response on this question based on a sermon he did in March 1990. Piper starts by sharing how he sees many who believe - incorrectly - that prophets from the Bible like Elijah were somehow extraordinary and "cannot serve as a model for us insofar as they prayed for miracles to occur."  Yet Piper points out that the text is crystal clear in v17 that "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours."  Piper then continues sharing: "[t]he point is: Elijah was just like you so that you can be encouraged that YOUR prayers will have great effect—like stopping the rain for three and a half years....All of us should be praying for each other and our goal in praying should be to live and pray in a way that would have the same kind of healing effects as Elijah had when he prayed for rain after a three-year drought."

Amen - let us pray!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides a community of believers where we pray for one another. Thank You Jesus for this incredible blessing.  I am not deserving of such a God...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.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:12-20

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16b

This morning, I move on to prepare for teaching this upcoming Sunday 25AUG on James 5:12-20.  As part of my preparation, my focus today is an unassisted review (no commentary) of the text. V12 immediately shares an important warning, sharing "but above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation."  My mind goes to those (myself included at one point my life) who say they are going to do something then add a qualifier where they say "I swear to God."  Only God is faithful whose promises all come to pass - because humans are fallen and imperfect we are not faithful as God is so any oath we make carries with it the possibility that we do not honor it.  A quick text search in scripture of "oath" brings up Leviticus 5:4 - a similar text to James 5:12. Moving to vv13-20 the text describes appropriate responses to suffering (prayer), cheerfulness (praise), sickness (engage church elders) - vv13-14.  Prayers of faith for those who are sick - v15 are answered as God will save those who confess their sin and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (see also Romans 10:9-10).  Sins will be forgiven so we are encouraged to confess our sins to one another - v16a.  Vv16b-18 discuss the power of prayer and how Elijah demonstrated the power of prayer.  Vv19-20 shares how we are called to help those wandering from the truth to return to the Lord. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation, and for Your Word, the Holy Spirit the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ and so much more.  My cup overflows.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...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 spouses and friends 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.

Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

1 Samuel 1

Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 1 Samuel 1:18b

As a follow up to a presentation I prepared for teaching and discussion in Sunday school tomorrow, I sought further study on the topic of waiting for the Lord.  I found this awesome short podcast episode - entitled The Miracle of Waiting Faithfully - from DesiringGod.com's Ask Pastor John podcast series. This short podcast highlighted the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 where the Bible chronicled her struggle with infertility.  In 1 Samuel 1:10, scripture shares that Hannah "was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly." In v11, Hannah makes a vow to the Lord that if He gives her a son, then she will give him back to the Lord.  This is amazing on many levels - because first Hannah recognizes that it is God alone that provides all things, including life.  Next, while Hannah desperately wants a son, she knows that all life is created to bring glory to the Lord - that human life exists to glorify God.  Of course, since the Fall we know that sin and evil exists also, but we also know that God has providence over Satan and sin and God uses Satan to serve Himself (see John Piper post here) - there is mystery over how God does this but we can take comfort that as John Piper says, Satan's will is not decisive, God's is.  Hannah's prayer and petition to the Lord is pleasing to Him and one of the priests at the temple - Eli - tells Hannah to no longer be anxious but instead to go in peace (v17).  It's not entirely clear but it seems implied that Eli conveys a message from God that Hannah should go in peace because God both heard her prayer and told Eli that it would be answered. In v18b, Hannah "went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."  This is the definition of supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7)! The podcast guest shares that "I think a lot of times we are praying for things that we have no intention of giving back to God in the first place.  I wonder if Hannah’s heart had changed in such a way where everything that she was going to get from God, and everything that she wanted to get from God, she only wanted it for his glory. I think that part is what changed her heart so that she was able to walk away and no longer be sad by what seemed to be an unanswered prayer — before the prayer was even answered.... I think God is always doing a variety of things in secret that we don’t realize or don’t see. I think the miraculous thing is that faith is not natural to me; sin is, rebellion is, unbelief is. The miraculous thing is that God will somehow use my waiting as a means to grow my faith so that I could see Jesus and want Jesus and crave Jesus."  Crave Jesus indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace, compassion, and mercies...and these blessings are daily!  Thank You Jesus for making me one of Your elect.  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 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. 

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments[.]"

Daniel 9

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments[.]" Daniel 9:4

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 9:1-19 as I lean on my commentary for this text, which outlines the following divisions:

I. Let Your Prayers Flow from Your Study of the Scriptures (9:1-2): The commentary referring to v1-19 as "one of the most remarkable prayers in the whole Bible," as it includes "(1) corporate confession of sin and (2) recognition of the greatness, awesomeness, righteousness, and holiness of God as expressions of his character."  Daniel intercedes on behalf of a a sinful Israel.  The commentary shares how Daniel prays based on his understanding of God and scripture, including the Pentateuch and Jeremiah, the latter of which Daniel knew of because Jeremiah preceded him.  Daniel specifically refers to Israel's exile of 70 years (v2) which is from Jeremiah 25:1-14 and 29:1-11. The commentary describes how Daniel leans on prophecy from Jeremiah and does the math - "knows the end of God’s judgment of exile on his people is coming[,]" as he was exiled in 605 BC and the date of his writing here is from 538 BC.  The commentary for this division wraps by sharing that "[c]onfidence in the promises of God did not move [Daniel] to complacency. It drove him to action and to his knees. Immersion in Scripture will energize prayer!" As we grow in understanding of scripture, so too will our prayers "become richer and more soundly based on who God is."

II. Let Your Prayers Humbly Take You into the Presence of God (9:3): V3 gives us a model how we are to approach God in humility as the commentary describes Daniel as he "turned to the Lord with a heavy heart, a burden he could hardly bear," and how his prayer is similar to the prayer Jesus prayed to His Father in the garden at Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-44).  The commentary describes this posture of how to approach God in prayer: "[i]t is truly unconscionable that we would ever think to burst into God’s presence in arrogance or pride, in hubris or vainglory. When we know our sins and the sins of our people, we will approach God on our knees and with our faces to the ground. Only then can we turn our faces to the Lord with our prayers and pleas."

III. Let Your Prayers Be Characterized by Honest and Full Confession of Sin (9:4-14): Here the commentary shares how "[p]hrase after phrase comes right out of Scripture. There are allusions to Leviticus (26:40) and Deuteronomy (28:64) and Exodus (34:6) and Psalms (44:14) and Jeremiah (25:11)."  The commentary describes Daniel's humility and his solidarity with Israel in using "we", "us" or "our" more than twenty times when he confesses Israel's sin.  He knows that Israel's punishment is deserved and he does not exclude himself from Israel's predicament but instead bears their burden as he "feels responsible for the people under his care."  At this point in Israel's exile, the people should be driven to their knees in confession and repentance but they are not - except Daniel.  The commentary appropriately quotes Billy Graham when he says "[t]o get nations back on their feet, we must first get down on our knees."

IV. Let Your Prayers Move to Petition and Pleas Grounded in God’s Character (9:15-19): The commentary describes how Daniel moves from confession and repentance to petition and pleas as he intercedes on behalf of Israel. Daniel requests mercy not because Israel is deserving but so that God's can be seen as merciful and glorified in how He keeps His covenant with His people. Prayer is emphasized as the commentary wraps for the text: "we should note the important role prayer played in the past but also in the present. In the past, in the garden of Gethsemane, our Lord was troubled and wept in prayer as he prepared to take on the sins of the world and to bear in his own body the judgment and wrath of God. But now, as Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 tell us, we have an intercessor in heaven, a great high priest, who pleads our cause before “the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands” (Dan 9:4).

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My Prayer: Jesus, You are great indeed, as Your mercies are great and they are new every morning as You provide not just mercy but also for all things and You are faithful.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your mercy nor how You provide.  My sins are great and they continue...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 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 all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

2 Corinthians 1

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20

As I focus on my church's men's disciple/small group study of Daniel - which lays out a plan to study Daniel five days a week, I maintain a pause of my study of Hebrews, filling in this two-day a week gap by using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which this morning looks at prayer and how our closing of prayers with Amen as an acknowledgement of our confidence that God hears our prayers, He responds, and He is able to do anything. God makes many promises through scripture, and as today's text proclaims, He is faithful and fulfills all of them.  We can be confident in going to God in prayer.  I am reminded of additional scripture in James on prayer: 

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

I am also reminded of the following verses about how we should approach God with confidence:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

...and how He seeks to carry our burdens:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Praise God for allowing us to go to Him directly in prayer!

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My Prayer: Heavenly Father - You are the Great High Priest - and I know I am able to go to You directly and confidently in prayer!  Thank You Jesus for interceding on my behalf.  I also know 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 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 as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

Daniel 2

 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. Daniel 2:30

I pause in my study of Hebrews to study Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 2 as I lean on a commentary for its observations for v1-30. The commentary for this text highlights a few key themes, including how prayer is not just important but "essential" as it refers to Amos 3:7 and how Daniel and his companions prayed for God to intercede, not just for themselves but for all of the wise men of Babylon (v18).  The commentary also points to how it is implied in the text that Daniel must have had such peace about laying his concerns (including his life and that of his companions and all the wise men of Babylon) at God's feet that he was able to go to sleep (v19).  Daniel's response in song of praise (v20-23) is also highlighted, including key attributes of God: "eternality (v. 20); his omniscience and omnipotence (v. 20); his sovereignty over the nations (v. 21); his gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding (v. 21); his revelation and knowledge (v. 22); his faithfulness to his people (v. 23); and for answering Daniel’s prayer (v. 23)." The commentary wraps by highlighting how Daniel gives all the credit to God for the gift Daniel has in interpreting dreams - building on my post yesterday.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are good and You hear and answer all of my prayers - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You intercede and bless 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 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.

You do not have, because you do not ask.

James 4

You do not have, because you do not ask. James 4:2

Based on a discussion with a good friend and brother in Christ, I sought greater clarity on core questions of prayer, including the extent to which God hears and responds to prayer.  This morning I had doubt about how God does respond to prayers given I agree with John Piper's view - expressed in his book Providence - on how God is sovereign over all details in life.  I could not reconcile how God could change course on any aspect of how He is sovereign, as I have often read about how nothing can stop God's will from coming to pass.

This post from DesiringGod.com helps resolve much of my doubt.  Key to this post are distinctions made between God's will of command and His will of decree. While we can, particularly over time as we grow in our understanding of His Word, understand God's will of command as scripture lays this out for us to understand, we can't grasp God's will of decree (certainly not in advance!). There is also often tension between these two wills - for example as the post uses do not murder as an explicit command from the Ten Commandments as an example of God's will of command.  Yet at the same time, we see how Jesus was murdered as being an example of God's will of decree.  It is not for today for me to unpack and reconcile how God's will may be in conflict in terms of what He commands and what He decrees.  The core focus for my examination today is to look at whether God responds to prayer and the extent to which perhaps God adjusts His course in the context of His will of decree. 

Piper writes the following on the question of whether prayer is pointless:

"A common response to this conclusion is that it seems to make prayer pointless, because answered prayer happens only when God has decreed that something be done. Wouldn’t the decreed event happen anyway? So why pray?

But that kind of response does not come from careful biblical thinking. Careful thinking would see that God really does things in response to prayer. “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2). God wills that events be caused by prayer. And careful biblical thinking would also see that, just as God decrees effects, he also decrees the causes of those effects. As he decrees ends, so he decrees means. As he decrees that a straying saint repent and return, so he decrees the prayers that bring him back.

Prayer is a real cause of real events in this world. God has willed it to be so. And so it is."

Piper's post also offers thoughts on how we should pray: out of humility, out of recognition that we make mistakes, and how we should pray using words "if it is Your will." 

I am encouraged to pray - and we all should be.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - I know You hear my prayers, and I know that You respond to prayers - thank You Jesus for never leaving or forsaking me and for encouraging me to bring my prayers and burdens to 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 sposues 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.

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints[.]

Romans 15

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints[.] Romans 15:30-31

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter nineteen Great Commission Christians, which covers Romans 15:14-15:33.  My focus today is v15:30-33, which my commentary refers to under the heading "Pray for Those on the Front Lines." Paul is indeed on the front lines, and as he aspires to preach the gospel throughout the region to Spain (v15:28) and elsewhere as part of his "holy ambition," he faces resistance, persecution, loneliness, financial strain, etc.  John tells that our journey with Christ will not be without troubles (John 16:33).  Paul asks, indeed "appeal[s]" (v15:30), for prayer - to join him in prayer.  I strive to be generous with my prayer - even as I know I fall short on this.  I pray to be generous in my prayer.  James encourages us to pray as we should understand it is powerful:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

From today's verses, my commentary seeks to have believers understand six aspects of prayer:  

• it is a privilege
• we love others through our prayers
• we should pray passionately and persistently
• we should pray for those on the front lines and for their work to bear fruit
• we should pray with awareness that God may not answer our prayers as we envision
• we should pray not just for immediate needs but for long term desires (and heart change) 

In particular, I know if I more clearly recognize the first two aspects I will move closer to delivering on the last four. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed a great God and I know that You have placed others in my life who have prayer for me.  I have felt these prayers and I know as a result You responded with power and movement in my life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how others have prayed for me as I have sinned greatly and it weighs heavy.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my 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 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.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Acts 12:5

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I finish the story of "Peter: Gospel of the Second Chance*".

*Title of lesson nine from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day five of my study describes how King Herod imprisoned Peter in Acts 12 - he emphasizes how the church responded in prayer (Acts 12:5) and how Peter, once freed by an angel of the Lord, goes to Mary's house where she is holding a prayer vigil for Peter (Acts 12:12). Lucado gives us other verses that encourage prayer:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17: "pray continually"
• Mark 11:17: Jesus refers to the temple as a "house of prayer"
• Matthew 18:19 (MSG): "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action."

We are encouraged to pray first when we encounter difficult circumstances, and to listen for how God IS working as He is always at work. Lucado writes:"[n]o other spiritual activity is guaranteed...results".

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always at work, hearing all of my prayers and moving in my life and in the life of others...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You are at work in my life...my sin of worry, and others sins continue.  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 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 to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 11

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Lazarus: The Final Witness*".

*Title of lesson eight from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day two starts with Max Lucado discussing how an unnamed, yet trusted messenger delivered the message to Jesus that Lazarus was sick (John 11:3) and Lucado points us out that when the messenger reached Jesus, "he did not base his appeal on the imperfect love of the one in need but on the perfect love of the Savior...[and that the] power of prayer, in other words does not depend on the one who makes the prayer but on the One who hears the prayer". Jesus responds that “[t]his sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

Lucado wants us to understand the power of prayer and how God hears and responds to all prayers, even those made by otherwise "insignificant" voices - implying that we are not insignificant in God's eyes.  Lucado also wants us to bring all our cares - big and small - to Him as He wants us to lean on Him for all things.  Lucado leaves us with a few scripture verses on prayer:

• John 14:13-14
• 1 John 5:14-15 
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who hears my cries, and responds!  Thank You Jesus!  I am grateful that You tell me to bring my cares and concerns to You.  I am not deserving of how You do this for me and so much more.  I worry and I am harsh with my words and actions.  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 em 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.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

John 11

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I start the story of "Lazarus: The Final Witness*".

*Title of lesson eight from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado describing a fictional account of a courtroom trial where Lazarus is a final witness to determine whether Jesus could serve as the guardian for the reader of the account (or anyone for that matter). John is Jesus' attorney and asks Lazarus to tell his story which is in John 11. We are to note a few things about this story - one is that Jesus did not come to Lazarus' aide for at least four days as Lazarus was already dead and buried by the time He arrived (John 11:17).  Lucado also wants us to understand that "we don't always know why God delays in answering our request, but we can trust his timing". In this case, we learn from John 11 that Jesus arrived later because He wanted it to give them cause to believe in Jesus' power.

So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. John 11:14-15

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” John 11:41-42

Lucado also encourages us to understand the power of prayer (in God's Name - John 11:21-22) and to share our personal testimony with others as I am sure Lazarus did with others.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who hears our cries answers all of them.  We don't know Your timing but we know that You have a plan for our good and Your glory and we can wait and trust in the Lord.  Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness and that You always hear and reply to our cries.  I am not deserving of all the blessings You pour out for me.  I worry and I have other sins.  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 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.