Do you know Him as I know Him? Our Situation In his book, “The True Vine” Andrew Murray said these words: “The Divine Husbandman will do all that is needed to make us bear more fruit. All He asks is, that we set our heart’s desire on it, entrust ourselves to His working and care, and joyfully look to Him to do His perfect work in us.” How well do you know your heavenly Father? Do you trust Him to be the “husbandman” in your life? The Scripture: John 7

1. What did Jesus brothers suggest He do? Why?

2. Why did Jesus not go up with his brothers to the feast? Why did He go later?

3. Where did Jesus claim His authority from?

4. How did Jesus handle their accusations of His “disobeying” of the law in regard to the Sabbath?

5. What did Jesus say to the religious leaders that caused them to want to seize Him?

6. On the last day of the feast, in contrast to what the religious leaders were doing, what did Jesus encourage the people to do?

Our Professor Jesus knew to go to Jerusalem would be a trap. His brothers didn’t understand His “mission” nor did they believe in who He was. He wasn’t interested in making a name for Himself. His desire was for people to know His Father! It’s always amazing to me to study and observe how Jesus handled difficult circumstances. In a workshop I attended while on our last home assignment, one of the presenters described Jesus as “The great debriefer.” He always knew the right questions to ask at the right time to draw out people’s hearts. I think we could take some lessons from Jesus in this area. The things He said revealed the hearts of the religious leaders, and it helped the people to believe. The religious leaders’ response revealed their heart, and Jesus publically acknowledged that they did not REALLY know God in their hearts! These men had spent their life teaching God’s Word and standing in a place of “spiritual” leadership, and yet Jesus says, “You don’t know the Father!” In contrast, Jesus invites the crowds, “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink…” God’s Purpose How well do you know your heavenly Father? In “The True Vine” Andrew Murray describes Jesus relationship with His Father with these words, “With such a Husbandman as His Father, He (Christ) could enter death and the grave. He could trust God to raise Him up. All that Christ is and has, He has, not in Himself, but from the Father In 1 Peter 2:23-24 Peter said, “and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross…” That is how well Jesus knew His Father. Andrew Murray went on to say, “At the very root of all Christian life lies the thought that God is to do all, that our one work is to give and leave ourselves in His hands, in the confession of utter helplessness and dependence, in the assured confidence that He gives all we need.” My prayer for you today is that it would not be said of you that, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.. but You DO NOT KNOW HIM who sent me.” I pray that instead you would be one who would want to know the Father as Jesus knew the Father and listen to Jesus words, “If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink…”

What’s more important?

Our Situation

Can you think of a time when someone taught you something, not by what they said, but by what they did? How effective was the lesson? In God’s shepherding of your life, have you learned lessons from what you observe in other’s lives? What are some of the things that God has taught you as you observed others lives?

The Scripture

Luke 9:28-36; Mark 9:2-13

1. What differences do you see between the Mark passage and the Luke passage? Why do you think Luke emphasized what he did?

2. What do you think the significance is of Luke’s statement about what the three transfigured men were talking about?

3. Why do you think it was Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus and not David or some other historical person?

4. What was wrong with Peter’s suggestion? What point was God the Father making?

5. What can we learn about God’s shepherding of the disciples in this passage?

Our Professor

I mentioned last time that Jesus has just finished a series of lessons helping His disciples come to a clear understanding of His Messiah-ship. The lesson I believe that Jesus is trying to teach His disciples now is that, even though He is the Messiah, His first concern is to do the will of His Father over everything else. As Jesus models this lesson before His disciples, Jesus desires for His disciples to catch on and live their lives in the same way.

The first opportunity to learn this lesson came right away. As we saw last time, immediately following Peter’s declaration, Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer.” Upon hearing and understanding what Jesus was saying, Peter rejected it and verbally rebuked Jesus. Peter failed the first lesson. Peter’s desire to see the glorious Millennial Kingdom ushered in physically had not placed the will of God first, for God’s glory is found in the working of His will, not in establishing his “position” as The Messiah.

The very next passage Jesus says to the crowd, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” That’s exactly what Jesus was modeling to the disciples.

The second opportunity for the disciples to learn this lesson came in the very next event. Jesus took Peter James and John up on the mountain and was transfigured before them. In His glorified state, Elijah and Moses appeared and talked with Him.

When Peter saw what was going on, in his typical fashion, he spouted off at the mouth and declared that they should make 3 shrines, one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus. Before Jesus could respond, God the Father straightened Peter out, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” What was Jesus talking about that God was exhorting them to listen to?

It’s interesting that of the 3 accounts, Luke is the only one who records what Jesus was talking to the other two men about. Luke says, “they spoke of His decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” (V31)

This may be getting too technical, but I think it’s interesting to ask the question, why was He talking with Moses and Elijah and not someone else? I believe that Moses represented the law and Elijah the prophets. In talking to them, it was confirming that the law and the prophets supported what Jesus was going to do.

Although He is the Messiah He was not pushing for public recognition of His Messiah-ship. As Peter learned previously, usurping His position and authority was not Jesus objective. Jesus objective was to do the will of His Father, and in doing so, He was going to suffer and die.

The Purpose

So, what’s the point? God’s will, not mine! The law and the prophets confirmed it… Jesus stated it… the disciples needed to believe it and learn to live by it. Peter needed to lay “his will” aside and trust God’s plan.

It’s not about Elijah and Moses… it’s not about Jesus being a public Messiah to give social freedom… It’s about the Messiah who is going to die and pay the penalty for the sin of all mankind. God’s plan to bring this about is what was going to bring glory to Himself, nothing else! Not Elijah and Moses in shiny clothes, not even Jesus in shiny clothes… the point was Jesus, of whom God said, “He is my Son in whom I am well pleased…” because He did not His own will, but the will of Him who sent Him!

The main focus of His life was doing His Father’s will. Even though He knew that was the cross, He despised the shame and He committed Himself to the one who judges righteously. He lived an example to the disciples! As was His desire for those disciples, He desires for us to walk in His footsteps as well.

God’s Grace in the Forefront Our Situation When is the last time that you really worshipped God for the riches of His grace? I mean really took time to praise Him and thank Him for the riches of His grace bestowed on your behalf? In my life so often I go day to day without really even thinking much about God’s grace on my behalf. But, how much more rich would our relationship with God be if we lived in the constant awareness and appreciation of His grace? What will it take to keep the riches of God’s grace in forefront in our lives? The Scripture Luke 18:9-14; Deut 4:1-14, 32-40 Take a few minutes to read these two passages and ponder the questions below.

1. In the Luke passage, what contrasts do you see in the prayer of the Pharisee and the prayer of the publican?

2. Why do you think Jesus verbalized the fact that the publican went away justified and not the Pharisee? What was Jesus audience?

3. Compare Deut 4:7-9 and 32-30 with the publican’s prayer. What application can you make as you compare the two?

4. From these two passages, what do you think will help us to keep the riches of God’s grace in the forefront of our lives? Our Professor In the first chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses reviews the history of Israel’s relationship to their God. Chapter 4 really sums up what Moses wants the people to remember. In a previous study I shared some more about that, so I won’t go into that. But what I was challenged with today as I compared this passage with the Luke passage is, what will help us to remember? What did Moses do here with the people? He reviewed God’s grace on their behalf. Listen to these verses: V7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord is to us? V8 What great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as what God gave you? V10, 12 Never forget the day you stood before the Lord your God at Sinai… and the Lord spoke to you… V35 He showed you things so you would know that the Lord is God and there is no other.. Moses challenged them not to forget God’s grace on their behalf When the Pharisee prayed, what was his focus? When the publican prayed, what was his focus? What can we learn from these things? The Purpose How can we keep God’s grace forefront in our minds especially when “life is easy?” It is going to take what the publican did… an acknowledgement of our sin, and an acknowledgement of what God has done for us. Like Moses when he challenged the people, we too need to not forget His incredible grace on our behalf. The more time we spend acknowledging our sinfulness and praising Him, worshipping Him and thanking Him for the riches of His grace which He displayed on our behalf, the more His grace will be at the forefront of our lives. When that becomes true, it will change the way we live!

God’s Pursuit Our Situation How well to you really know God? I mean really. Not just what you say, not just what you want others to think, but really deep down inside, do you REALLY know Him? God created us for the purpose of fellowship. He didn’t need us, nor did he need anything else in creation. But He created it all for us. Then He created us for Himself, for fellowship, for companionships, for someone He could love, and someone who would love Him back! He desires that and He pursues that! Do you desire it too? The Scripture Mark 6-8; John 6 This is a bit of review from the last few articles I have written from the Gospels. I am not expecting you to read the entirety of each of these passages, but, please take a few minutes to read the verses highlighted below and ponder the questions following each:

1. Mark 6:30-44 Feeding of the 5000 Read John 6:6: As you think about the feeding of the 5000, what does John 6:6 seem to indicate regarding Jesus Shepherding of the disciples?

2. Mark 6:45-52 Jesus walks on water; Read Mark 6:52: Although they had witnessed all Jesus had done to this point and the feeding of the 5000, what does Jesus say about their faith? What was Jesus doing about it?

3. John 6:22-71 The Bread of Life: In light of the previous two questions, how do you think the discussion about the Bread of Life added to what Jesus was teaching them?

4. Mark 6:53-7:37 Jesus heals the sick, debates the religious leaders, heals a woman who is not a Jew, then heals a deaf man. How do these events add to our discussion regarding Jesus’ shepherding of the disciples?

5. Mark 8:1-21 Feeding of the 4000 and afterwards: Read Mark 8:14-21: As you think about Jesus comments in these verses, what does that communicate to you regarding the purpose of those events and His desired response from the disciples?

6. Healing the Blind Man: Read Mark 8:22-26: Why do you think Jesus healed this blind man the way He did? What was Jesus trying to communicate to the disciples?

7. Peter’s confession: Read Mark 8:27-30: Looking back at the above points, how do you think this entire thing factors into Peter’s confession? Our Professor In the beginning it’s almost as if the disciples were just along for the ride. Their faith wasn’t vibrant nor was it authentic. From the feeding of the 5000 to Peter’s declaration Jesus was trying to get them off the wagon of mediocrity into a vibrant faith. I wonder if Jesus ever grew tired of trying to get them to REALLY understand. They were with Him all the time, saw all He did, but still failed to apply it to their hearts. Yes, they could see He was a great teacher, a prophet etc. But was He someone who they would be willing to lay their lives down for? He needed to be… and Jesus really wanted to see that change! In our human thinking, it sure seems like He could have given up on them and found some other men that would have caught on quicker. But thank the Lord that He doesn’t tire of being our shepherd! In order for these men to be the apostles of the book of Acts, they had to have a vibrant faith that was more than just “along for the ride.” As I have studied these passages, over and over I see God’s incredible desire to shepherd the disciples faith and help them to really get the picture. Jesus didn’t give up on these men. For every failed lesson, Jesus gave them another. All along Jesus was, graciously, lovingly, tenderly leading them like a shepherd does his sheep. He desired for them to know Him intimately and He pursued it. The Purpose This is God’s desire for our lives as well. How far is God willing to go in order to shepherd our faith, to help us to see Him for who He really is, and to trust Him with our lives? Will he go to the extreme that he did with Abraham? Remember the extent He went to stretch Abraham’s faith? He asked him to sacrifice his ONLY son! With the disciples, He took great pains to bring them along so they too would learn to trust and depend on Him. What is He doing in your life? Maybe the process is painful. Maybe you question what He is doing at times. But, I believe we need to learn to see every event in our lives through new eyes? Just like the disciples, God has a special plan for you. He wants to use your life in an amazing way. (Jer 29:11) He used the disciples to turn the world upside down. But it took failed lesson after failed lesson to get them ready for the task! Peter’s declaration in Mark 8 wasn’t the end. It was a small break through. Jesus helped them get to the place where the Holy Spirit could reveal the truth to them. This is the same care God is taking in our lives! He wants us to see the truth of His desire to grow our faith and to see Him for who He really is. Are we going to remain like the blind man who could only see a fuzzy picture, or can we step out in faith and learn to trust God to shepherd and authenticate our faith?

Our Problem How often do you fully understand a lesson the first time you learn it? When you were in school, how many times did you have to practice something before you got it right every time? I was working on multiplication flashcards with my 8 year old the other day. We went over and over the same problems. Sometimes he would get them right, sometimes not, but every time he would have to go through the thinking process to figure it out. How often is that not the case in our spiritual lives as well? God is constantly working to shepherd our faith. He is continually giving us problems to work through in our minds, opportunities to respond in faith. He wants us to get to the place where we don’t have to go through the thinking process to figure out the answer. Like my son, God wants us to get to the place where we know the answer straight away, and respond accordingly. Where are you in that process? The Passage Matt 16:5-12; Mark 8:13-26 Take a few minutes to read these two accounts and ponder the questions below:

1. What was the point Jesus was trying to make regarding the bread and the yeast?

2. How do you think they felt about being accused of the same things Jesus accused the religious leaders of (Ears but can’t hear, eyes, but can’t see)?

3. Jesus tells them, “Do you still not understand?” What was Jesus referring to?

4. How do you think the way in which Jesus healed the blind man relates to the lesson Jesus was trying to teach His disciples? Our Professor In the last couple of passages we have seen Jesus doing some amazing things. He fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. He walked on the water and calmed the sea. He healed the sick and cast out demons. Finally, in the previous passage (Mark 7:31-8:9) Jesus took 7 loaves and fed 4000 people. You would think that the disciples would understand through all of this who Jesus was. Yet, in this passage Jesus has to ask the question again (Mark 8:21) “Do you still not understand?” He goes on to say they have eyes but they don’t see and ears but they don’t hear! What was wrong? One of my commentaries made this point: “Jesus wanted his disciples to draw a conclusion from the feedings. How could they worry about not having enough to eat when they had witnessed so many miraculous events? If Jesus can feed over nine thousand people, they must have thought surely he can supply our basic needs.” As Jesus took a two step process to heal the blind man, I have to wonder if his thoughts were along these lines concerning his disciples faith: “Your faith is like this man’s sight. Your eyes of faith have been opened slightly, but you still can’t see clearly! Just like this blind man, I want to take you through a process that will help your spiritual eyes of faith see clearly. Jesus is once again graciously and lovingly shepherding the faith of these disciples! The Purpose NTM is here in PNG to plant churches among indigenous peoples. We have an amazing curriculum (Chronological Teaching) that we have seen used to change lives over and over again. But as I have thought about this passage, I was challenged with the fact that the teaching method is not what changes lives. The disciples had the best Bible Teacher there ever was, with the best teaching methods and curriculum… but they still missed the point. It’s not about the curriculum… or the teacher… it’s about life change. Jesus was taking great pains to help these men not just see and hear the truth, but to take the truth and apply it. He desired that the truth would change their lives. That was the problem with the religious leaders! Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” They had the truth, but the truth did not affect their lives! Jesus’ objective was changed lives, not just miracles and amazing sermons! Why do we teach the way we do? What is the ultimate objective? Is it just “good Bible teaching?” Or is our goal, like Jesus, to see the truth affect lives? What about you? What will it take for your spiritual eyes to see clearly with eyes of faith? Maybe you are like my son and his multiplication at the moment. Every time you face a situation, you have to go through the thinking process and remind yourself of what God has said. That’s OK; because God’s purpose in the situations He allows in your life is to help you come to know the truth so well that you will be able to know the right answer straight away (Rom 3:3-5). But on the same hand, just like my 8 year old son and his multiplication drills, it will only come with lots of practice!

Our Problem: Have you ever had a situation when you were trying to teach something and those you were teaching just didn’t get it? Maybe it is one of your children, or a student you had, or maybe a church member… Have you ever been tempted to say, “Are they ever going to get it?” Or, “They should have gotten it by now!” Living in PNG, I have experienced this a number of times as I have tried to teach a few PNG people “western” ways of doing things. PNG is very much a here and now culture. Many have never learned the art of thinking ahead and planning for the future. Everything about their life centers on today. Whether it has to do with the upkeep on a vehicle or where to get food from, many of them live from one day to the next. Cars break down because they don’t know how to do “preventative” maintenance. The roads are in sorry condition because they only fix it when it breaks. So, when I tried to teach my worker how to plan out his week and schedule tasks so that the work is spread out over 5 days instead of being overloaded one day and not have anything to do on other days, it was a totally foreign concept. No matter how I tried to teach him he just couldn’t get it. Can you relate to this? What has been your experience? Do you think God has ever felt that way about you? The Passage: Instruction Through the Storm Matt 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:14-21 Take a few minutes to read the different accounts and ponder the questions below:

1. What characters are involved in this story?

2. What did God allowed in each of their lives? (The disciples, and Jesus)

3. How do you think Jesus felt about these guys? Compare John 6:6 with Mark 6:51-52. What observation do you have?

4. How did Jesus handle their lack of faith?

5. What observations do you have concerning God’s shepherding of the disciples faith?

Comments: Even after Jesus purposefully tested their faith, and made a point to challenge them, they still didn’t get it. Incredible! One of the most amazing miracles in the Bible (the feeding of the 5000) and the disciples failed to “see Jesus” for who He really was! Our Professor What an amazing scene. The disciples have just witnessed one of the Jesus most incredible miracles. In fact, this one was so great that it convinced the crowds that Jesus was the Messiah. There was only one slight problem with that, they were looking for a kingly Messiah, not a lowly humble one. As a result they wanted to make Jesus their king. So, Jesus quickly sent his disciples off in a boat so he could “quietly” dismiss the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain overlooking the Lake to pray. While Jesus was on the mountain praying, the disciples were on the sea toiling. What was Jesus praying for? Could this have been another faith shepherding moment? Praying for their faith, giving them another opportunity to be stretched? Jesus watched and prayed. When it seemed that they could toil no longer, went out to them, walking on the water. Jesus went with grace, he was met with fear and unbelief. They had heard rumors of ghosts appearing to sailors right before something terrible was going to happen. They assumed the worst. When Jesus got into the boat, he was amazed at their unbelief. They had failed to understand the lesson of the loaves and the fish, they didn’t get it. The Purpose I wonder how often God feels this way with us? “I wish they would just get it.” Of course, God is always so much more patient with us than we are with others. He always graciously, lovingly continues giving us opportunities to be stretched and grow in faith. Dear friends, what is it going to take for God to convince you that He IS who He says He is, He loves you desperately, He has all the power in the universe and the wisdom to know how to use it. He WILL always take care of you and He DOES provide for your needs. We see the winds and the waves, and we assume God forgot about us! These are such simple truths, and yet we so often doubt. I will be praying for you that you will find His grace to rest in your knowledge of Him no matter what comes walking on the water to meet you this week.

Our Problem:

Have you ever had times in your life when you really questioned what God was doing? Of those times, has there been an opportunity afterwards for you to see glimpses of what God was really doing? He is not obligated to reveal what he is doing, but at times He allows us to get little glimpses just so we know that He is in control.

While we were on home assignment last, we experienced this. Our oldest son needed some major dental work done. Our dentist was not able to do it, so he had to refer us to a “specialist.” The price was way more than we could realistically afford. So, we went to God in prayer and brought it to our church to pray with us also.

By the end of the week, we found out that the daughter of one of the members of our church “happened” to work for another specialist in the same field, and after inquiring, this doctor offered to do the work pro bono. We were amazed at our Great Shepherd once again!

Can you think of a time when you fretted and worried over something, only to have God work things out in some incredible way? What did you learn from that experience? What impact has it made on your trust in God now?

The Passage:

Feeding the Five Thousand

Matt 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13

This is one of the few stories that is covered in all 4 gospels. It’s interesting to look at the different perspectives each of the gospel writers bring. Take a few minutes to read the different accounts and ponder the questions below:

1. What characters are involved in this story?

2. What did God allowed in each of their lives?

3. What would it have been like for the disciples, when facing thousands of people, for Jesus to tell them, “You give them something to eat?”

4. While the disciples were concerned about the physical needs of the people, what was Jesus thinking about?

In the passage for today the disciples were completely unable to perform what Jesus asked them to do. Even the barley loaves that they came up with were insufficient. The Mishnah calls barley “the food of animals.” Wheat bread is what the common Jew ate.

Our Professor:

Jesus gave these guys an impossible command. If God didn’t really expect for them to be able to fulfill it, then why did He give them the command? John tells us Jesus had something else in mind. (Jn 6:6)

One of the commentaries I was reading made the following comments: “The failure to meet the physical needs of the people was a lesson to teach the followers of Jesus that they don’t have the ability of themselves to meet the spiritual needs of people either. But, when they make available what they have the Lord can take it and multiply and use them to minster to the multitudes.” Jesus was using a physical picture to teach a spiritual lesson to His disciples.

How often do you see physical struggles and challenges as an opportunity for God to teach you a spiritual lesson? These are your “green pastures.” Every time I think of those words, the words of Hannah Whitall Smith come to mind, “The Shepherd knows what pastures are best for His sheep, and they must not question or doubt, but must trustingly follow Him. Perhaps He sees that the best pastures for some of us are to be found in the midst of opposition or of earthly trials. If He leads you there, you may be sure they are green pastures for you, and that you will grow to be made strong by feeding in them.”

The Purpose:

In this passage, we can clearly see what Jesus purpose was in the challenge He gave to His disciples. In my life, I could see God’s purpose in causing my son to need major dental work. God was shepherding my faith. How about you? Do you see God’s purpose in the events of your life? Can you “trustingly follow” your shepherd, and in faith believe that what He has for you right now are green pastures and you will grow to be made strong by feeding in them! I am praying for that in your life this week!

Our Problem During our family devotions this morning, we were reading in Mark 9. It’s the story about the disciples being unable to cast out a demon. When they asked Jesus why, Jesus said, “Everything is possible for Him who believes… This kind can come out only by prayer.” Jesus had granted them the power to cast out demons, but they were unable to utilize that power because they were relying on themselves instead of depending in faith upon God. How often do we find ourselves in the same place? I wonder how often God is hindered or unable to work because either we just don’t believe Him, or we try to do things in our own strength? This is such a challenging thought to me. One author I was reading used the term, “Omnipotence Shackled.” It’s amazing to think that all the power in the universe can be shackled and stopped by my lack of faith! How about you? Is the Omnipotence of God shackled in your life by lack of faith? Take a few minutes to ponder that thought. When have you been guilty of shackling God’s Omnipotence? Have you maybe hindered God by not believing or praying for Him to do something you thought was not possible? The Passage Matt 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6 Take a few minutes to read these passages. As you read, think about these questions:

1. What characters are involved in this story?

2.What had God allowed in each of their lives?

3.What would it have been like for Jesus to come home and face this kind of opposition?

4. Did it stop Jesus from ministering?

5.What hindered Jesus ministry?

6. What excuse did the people use to discredit Jesus’ ministry? In the passage for today, the people of Nazareth shackled the power of God through unbelief. Jesus wanted to authenticate His ministry and who He was to them… but they would not believe, and therefore Jesus was “shackled!” Our Professor In the last few passages we have seen Jesus cross over the lake for the purpose of confronting a legion of demons… to deliver a man that was “beyond hope.” Coming back to Galilee he was confronted by Jairus, a skeptical synagogue ruler who’s daughter was dying. On the way to Jairus’ house a woman in faith touches Him and is instantly healed. He then continues to Jairus’ house. By now his daughter is dead, so Jesus raises her from the dead. From there he heals two blind men and delivers another man from demons. Everywhere Jesus has gone, the people have been amazed at His power. The people acknowledged that never in Israel’s history had they witnessed such amazing things. Their response indicates their willingness to accept Jesus for who He claimed to be. Then Jesus came to Nazareth. The Purpose

What a challenge! Do we really believe that God is omnipotent and nothing is impossible for Him? Do we discredit God’s work through His servants because of lack of credentials? How often does our faith hinder God’s work? This week, what are some things that you are going to believe God for that will strengthen your faith? (Mk 11:24) What are you going to do this week to un-shackle God’s Omnipotence? Will you enable God to work by believing Him to do something you thought was not possible? I will pray for you this week that you will grow in unshackling faith.

Is Our God Too Small

Our Problem

As I have been studying God’s Shepherding Care over us, I am beginning to see a correlation between God’s Shepherding and our prayer life. Do we really believe God will answer prayer? When we do pray, do we go to God BELIEVING that He WILL answer? Or is prayer just one of those religious things you do before a meal or at bed time with your kids? There is a big difference between Core Values and Core Beliefs. Core Values are our ideals. Core Beliefs on the other hand, are those underlying principles that consistently motivate our behavior. They may not even be things we mentally acknowledge. With that in mind, what is prayer to you? Is a Core Belief, something that consistently motivates your behavior, or does your behavior concerning prayer, reveal that it’s really more of a Core Value, just an ideal that you don’t really live up to? I don’t know about you, but far too often, prayer in my life is nothing more than an ideal that I don’t live up to.

The Passage

Matt 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56 Take a few minutes to read these passages. If you don’t have time for all of them just read the Mark account. As you read, think about these questions:

1. What characters are involved in this story?

2.What had God allowed in each of their lives?

3.Compare Jairus with the woman, what observations do you have in how they came to Jesus?

4. What can you learn about prayer from these verses?

5.What can we learn about the lengths God will go in shepherding our faith

Our Professor

What do we believe God can do? Max Lucado in his book “Cast of Characters” retells this story in a modern context in chapter 18. It would be worth a read. Max portrays Jairus as a skeptic, religious leader whose daughter is dying. Out of complete desperation he goes to Jesus. Jesus waited long enough for his daughter to die before he stepped in. The woman with the blood disease, on the other hand, although she had spent all she had in trying to procure a cure, she did that before she knew of Jesus. When she learned of Jesus, she went to Him in faith, a faith that was strong enough to simply touched his garment to receive healing. When we go to God in prayer, how do we approach it? Do we go like Jairus, trying to take Jesus by the hand and make him do what we want, or do we go like the woman, in faith, believing He can do what we ask? For many years, we as NTM missionaries living here at the main NTM PNG center have had a heart for the Papua New Guinean people in our local community. But, I think we have always seen it as our responsibility to reach them. In the last few months some amazing things have been happening. I certainly didn’t have the faith to pray for this… I never thought it was even a possibility. But a group of tribal believers from a neighboring tribe who have been sending out “missionaries” to teach in the national language all over the country, recently targeted the local villages here around the main NTM PNG center. They have 3 Bible Studies going already, and have plans to start a full blown outreach after the first of the year. This is something we would have never thought to trust God for. Praise God He doesn’t wait for us to pray and ask Him to work! At the same time, God is beginning to do some amazing things in the English community in the capital city. The potential of what is happening there is truly amazing. Again, we as NTM missionaries would never have thought to pray for and reach out to that community. Is our God too small?

The Purpose

What is it going to take for us to have a prayer life of faith? How are we going to make prayer part of our everyday life? Prayer should be the conversation of a love relationship with God! This week what are some practical things that you can do to cultivate this kind of prayer life?

The Scripture
Matt 12:22-37, 13:10-17; Mark 3:20-30

The Scene
As Jesus went from town to town in Galilee, he had been sowing seeds. Some seeds had fallen on fertile ground, some on weedy ground, some just got gobbled up by the birds. Not too long ago, while confined to a prison cell, John had questioned whether Jesus was really the chosen one. Jesus had replied, “watch and see.” He healed the sick, raised the dead, and gave blind back their site and deaf their hearing. He told the crowds, “Come to me all you who are weary…” The crowds were weary. They were weary of the 450 plus laws and regulations of the religious leaders. They were weary of the corrupt priestly system and the temple “sacrifice scouts” who would only accept “official” sacrifices which they made the people buy. They were weary of their heavy burden, and Jesus was offering relief from all of that. Some had come. A woman, a sinful woman, known for her sinful public lifestyle, had come. She found open arms, forgiveness and overwhelming grace and cleansing. Mary Magdalene had come. She found deliverance from 7 demons. Many had heard and seen these things, so they came. The religious leaders had come too. But, they didn’t come to take part in what Jesus had to offer. They came to trick Jesus, and to try and keep him from giving his offer to the people. They claimed John had a demon. They called Jesus a glutton and a drunkard. Now, after seeing all these things, and hearing Jesus share truth many times, instead of accepting what Jesus was offering, they attributed everything He had done to the power of Satan. Jesus said of them, “Though seeing, they don’t see, though hearing, they don’t hear or understand.” In them is fulfilled this prophecy: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding. You will be ever seeing, but never perceiving. For this people’s hearts have become calloused…. But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

The School Master
Are you weary today? Is your burden heavy today? Jesus is inviting you to come to him. The truth is available, and the seeds have been sown, the question is what kind of soil are you? What kind of soil were these religious leaders? Why were they not receptive? It wasn’t for lack of teaching that’s for sure. What happened with these guys? What kind of thinking produced their response? When Jesus made his offer, it was for them too. Why did they reject it? How did they come to the conclusions they did? These religious leaders had made their conclusions based on their own thinking. They had placed their foot so strongly on what they thought was true that when the real truth came they couldn’t hear it or see it? How often are we guilty of the same thing? Jesus has offered us an easy yoke and a light burden, but it may not necessarily be a physical one. It certainly wasn’t for Jesus. What Jesus is offering, I believe, will come from placing our foot so strongly on what IS true, that nothing will shake us off from what we know is true about God. God is all powerful and is therefore able to do the very best for us. God is all knowing, and therefore, He knows what is best for us. Finally God is so full of love for us that He is compelled… He must do the very best for us! What kind of soil are you? Are you prepared, fertile ground, that receives God’s word readily? Or is your minds so filled with your own conclusions that the birds come and just gobble God’s seeds up from underneath you? May you fill your minds with truth so that you will be able to hear and see what God wants to teach you through whatever circumstance you find yourself in today.