A Call to Fast

This week I will be calling our congregation to a period of fasting for forty days.

Now that I have your attention.....

Below are three outlines which are almost verbatim copies of Mark Copeland's exegesis on the subject as found at executableoutlines.com (topical sermons).

After review of this and biblical readings I have come to the understanding that such a spiritual activity may be engaged in service for God in the 21st century. Perhaps you may come to the same conclusion as me. Of course I am not of the persuasion to make this activity a 'test of fellowship' with anyone.

We have an elder (45 yrs old) who is undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma. He is desperately needed for the continuation of the growth of the leadership here. The family within the past year has lost the Father, and the oldest Son both to heart attacks. I feel another loss would be more than they could bear. Please if you are of this persuasion (fasting) you put Jim Terry on your prayer list and us as a congregation (Asbury) so we may go forth. Thank You - Kirk White



REMEMBER, THIS IS THREE LESSONS

"FASTING" Fasting In The Old Testament
INTRODUCTION
1. In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the "GOLDEN ARCHES" and an assortment of "PIZZA TEMPLES", fasting seems out of place, out of step with the times - Richard Foster, The Celebration Of Discipline, p. 47
2. As I begin to deal with subject like fasting, I do so with some hesitation for several reasons:
a. It is a very EMOTIONAL and VOLATILE subject
1) Views about fasting usually go to extremes
a) "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason, and others have utterly disregarded it." -- JOHN WESLEY
b) Some consider fasting unnecessary, undesirable, and therefore to be ignored
c) Others think fasting is to be bound as a matter of faith (like baptism)
2) It touches upon a matter very personal to us: FOOD!
a) Many people are very dependent upon food 1/ Not just for survival
2/ But for dealing with anxiety, depression, boredom, etc. 3/ Rather than eating to live, they live to eat
b) It is like preaching on gluttony or smoking, it often touches on raw nerves
b. It is an UNTRADITIONAL subject
1) You rarely hear sermons on this subject
2) One person found in his research that not a single book was published on fasting among some brethren from 1861 to 1954
3. But the Scriptures have so much to say about fasting...
a. The list of Biblical persons who fasted becomes a "Who's Who" of Scripture:
1) Moses the lawgiver 2) David the king 3) Elijah the prophet 4) Esther the queen
5) Daniel the seer 6) Anna the prophetess 7) Jesus the Son Of God 8) Paul the apostle -- Richard Foster, p.48, ibid.
b. There is more teaching in the NT on fasting than repentance and confession!
c. Jesus taught more on fasting than on baptism and the Lord's Supper!
4. What would account for this almost total disregard for a subject so frequently mentioned in Scripture?
a. FIRST, fasting has developed a bad reputation as a result of the excessive ascetic practices of the Middle Ages - Foster, ibid.
b. SECOND, many have simply concluded that fasting was a Jewish custom, of no vlue or need in the Christian age
c. THIRD, we have been convinced through constant propaganda that if we do not have three large meals each day, with several snacks in between, we are on the verge of starvation (we eat, not because we NEED to eat. but because it's TIME to eat) - Foster, ibid.
5. Because the Bible has so much to say about fasting, it is only right that we consider what it says. As we do so, I have several REQUESTS:
a. Please withhold judgment until you have heard all the material - cf.Pr 18:13
1) Let's be "EXPLORERS" and not "ENGINEERS" with the Bible
2) I.e., explore and follow what is there instead of rearranging what is there to fit our designs
b. Don't be hasty in drawing conclusions or applying what you hear - cf. Pr 14:29
c. If you have any additional information, questions or viewpoints, please feel free to share them with me - cf. Pr 11:14
[In this lesson, then, we shall take a look at "Fasting In The Old Testament", beginning with... ]

I. OCCASIONS OF FASTING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
A. THE "DAY OF ATONEMENT"...
1. Lev 16:29-31; 23:26-32; Num 29:7
2. This was the only fast commanded by the Law, to be observed on the tenth day of the seventh month
3. Though not called "fasting", the phrase "afflicting one's soul" was understood to refer to fasting
a. Cf. Ps 69:10 ("chastened my soul with fasting") b. Cf. Ac 27:9 (where the term "Fast" refers to the Day of Atonement)
4. The use of the phrase "afflict one's soul" to refer to fasting suggests a PURPOSE of fasting:
a. To have an affect on the SOUL (not particularly the body)
b. The goal of such affliction or chastening we shall notice later
B. OTHER FASTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT... -- People often fasted without specific commandment in time of distress; some were communal affairs while others were acts of the private individual
1. THEY FASTED IN WAR, OR AT THE THREAT OF IT
a. Israel fasted at Bethel in the war against the Benjamites - Judg 20:26
b. Also at Mizpah in the Philistine war 1 Sam 7:6
2. THEY FASTED WHEN LOVED ONES WERE SICK
a. David fasted and wept for his son while the boy was ill - 2 Sam12:16-23
b. The psalmist also mentions fasting for his enemies - Ps 35:11-13
3. THEY FASTED WHEN LOVED ONES DIED
a. The men of Jabesh-gilead fasted seven days for Saul - 1 Sa 31:13; 1Chron 10:12
b. David and the people fasted for Saul and Jonathan - 2 Sa 1:12
4. THEY FASTED WHEN THEY SOUGHT GOD'S FORGIVENESS
a. Moses fasted forty days because of the sin of Israel - Deu 9:15-18
b. Ahab fasted to be forgiven - 1 Ki 21:17-29
c. Nineveh fasted at the preaching of Jonah - Jonah 3:4-10
d. Daniel fasted as he confessed the sins of Israel - Da 9:3-5
e. The general fast at the communal reading of the Law by Ezra was an act of penitence - Neh 9:1-3
5. THEY FASTED WHEN FACED WITH IMPENDING DANGER a. Jehoshaphat fasted when threatened by Edom - 2 Chron 20:3 b. Ezra led a fast when seeking the favor of God toward his return from exile (a journey fraught with danger) - Ez 8:21 c. Nehemiah fasted when he heard of the state of Jerusalem - Neh 1:4 d. The Jews fasted when they heard that Haman had obtained the king's decree against them - Esth 4:3 e. Esther and Mordecai fasted before she went before the king - Esth 4:16
6. THEY SET UP FASTS TO COMMEMORATE CERTAIN CALAMITIES -- During and after the Exile special fasts were observed on the days the calamities had befallen Jerusalem
a. The tenth of the fifth month was the burning of the Temple - Jer 52:12,13
b. The second day of the seventh month was the murder of Gedaliah - 2 Ki 25:23-95; Jer 41:1ff
c. On the tenth day of the tenth month was the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem - 2 Ki 25:1
d. On the ninth day of the fourth was its fall - 2 Ki 25:3,4
II. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FASTING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
A. THE PURPOSE OF FASTING...
1. Some fasting was a natural reaction to grief over the loss of a loved one (like the men of Jabesh-gilead and David)
2. But more often, fasting was done to purposely:
a. "afflict the soul" - Lev 23:26-32
b. "chasten the soul" - Ps 69:10
3. The purpose of such affliction or chastening was to "humble" the soul (Ps 35:13), and not for any affect it might have on the body
4. Evidently, they felt that by so humbling themselves they would more likely incur God's favor - cf. Ezra 8:21-23; Is 57:15; 66:1-2
5. So they would fast when they needed:
a. Forgiveness for sin (Moses, Ahab, Daniel) b. Their loved ones restored to health (David) c. Protection from danger (Ezra) d. Deliverance from their enemies (the Israelites)
6. Because they were seeking God's favor, FASTING WOULD ALMOST ALWAYS BE ACCOMPANIED WITH PRAYER
B. THE NATURE OF FASTING...
1. The NORMAL means of fasting involved ABSTAINING FROM ALL FOOD BUT NOT WATER
2. Sometimes the fast was but PARTIAL - a restriction of diet but not total abstention - cf. Da 10:2-3
3. On rare occasions there was the ABSOLUTE fast
a. As in the case of the people of Nineveh, who also included the animals in their fast - cf. Jonah 3:5-10
b. As in the case of Queen Esther - Esth 4:16 (cf. Paul, Ac 9:9)
c. The absolute fasts of Moses and Elijah must have had divine assistance - Deu 9:9; 1 Ki 19:8
C. THE LENGTH OF FASTS...
1. A fast was often for ONE DAY, from sunrise to sunset, and after sundown food would be taken - Judg 20:26; 1 Sam 14:24; 2 Sam 1:12; 3:35
2. A fast might be for ONE NIGHT - Dan 6:18
3. The fast of Esther continued for THREE DAYS, day and night, which seems to have been a special case - Esth 4:16
4. At the burial of Saul, the fast by Jabesh-Gilead was SEVEN DAYS - 1Sam 31:13; 1 Chron 10:12
5. David fasted SEVEN DAYS when his child was ill - 2 Sam 12: 16-18
6. The longest fasts recorded in Scripture were the FORTY DAY fasts by Moses, Elijah, and Jesus - Exod 34:28; Deut 9:9; 1 Ki 19:8; Mt 4:2; Lk 4:2
D. WARNINGS CONCERNING FASTING...
1. Fasting CAN EASILY TURN INTO AN EXTERNAL SHOW AND CEREMONIAL
RITUALISM; when it did, the prophets spoke out against it
2. The most vigorous attack against such fasting is made in Isaiah 58
a. The people complained that they had fasted and God had not seen -Isa 58:3a
b. They had not been fasting for the right reason (to be heard by God)- Isa 58:3b-4
c. In contrast to simply an external display of bowing one's head like a bulrush and spreading sackcloth and ashes, the Lord would rather they:
1) Loose the bonds of wickedness 2) Let the oppressed go free 3) Share bread with the hungry 4) Bring the poor into one's house 5) Cover the naked --Then they should be heard in their prayers - Isa 58:6-9
d. I.e. fasting without true repentance defeats the purpose of fasting: to have your prayers heard by the Lord!
3. The same point was made about the ceremonial fasts that had been added by the Israelites to commemorate certain occasions - Zech 7:1-14
a. The people wanted to know if they should fast on the special occasions as they had done - Zech 7:1-3
b. The Lord responded that the fasts had not be done for Him - Zech 7:4-6
c. They should have instead done the will of the Lord - Zech 7:7-10
d. But because they did not, the fasting in the past was of no value - Zech 7:11-14

CONCLUSION
1. At this point we have not tried to establish whether fasting is for Christians today
2. Rather, we have just considered the practice of fasting as found in the O.T., to have a better understanding of why people of God fasted
3. What have we learned?
a. Only one fast was specifically commanded in the O.T. (The Day Of Atonement)
b. But people often fasted when they wanted God to hear their prayers
1) The purpose of the fast was to humble themselves by "afflicting their souls"
2) Believing such humiliation would be pleasing in God's sight (and it often was)
c. However, fasting was fruitless...
1) When it was done for the wrong reason
2) When it was done without true repentance
d. We have also seen that there were no set principles concerning the length or nature of fasting
4. In our next lesson, we shall look at fasting as found in the New Testament







Fasting In The New Testament
INTRODUCTION
1. In our last lesson we examined the subject of Fasting in the Old Testament.
2. Here is what we found:
a. Only one fast was specifically commanded in the 0. T. (on the Day of Atonement)
b. But people often fasted when they wanted God to hear their prayers:
1) In times of war or at the threat of it 2) When loved ones were sick
3) When seeking God's forgiveness 4) When faced with impending danger 5) When seeking God's will.
c. The purpose of such fasting: 1) To humble themselves by "afflicting their souls"
2) Believing that such humiliation would be pleasing in God's sight (and it often was)
d. However, fasting was fruitless when: 1) It was gone ceremonially 2) It was done without true repentance
e. There were also no set principles governing the length or nature of fasting
3. We shall now examine "Fasting In The New Testament", as taught and exemplified by: a. Jesus b. His church c. The apostle Paul ...in an effort to determine whether Christians can or should fast today! [We begin by considering...]
I. FASTING IN THE LIFE OF JESUS
A. JESUS FASTED FORTY DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS - Mt 4:1-9; Lk 4:1-2
1. He was led into the wilderness "to be tempted" (Mt)
2. He was "tempted for forty days by the devil" (Lk)
3. "in those days He ate nothing" (Lk) -- Throughout this forty day period of temptation, Jesus felt it appropriate to fast
B. JESUS TAUGHT ON FASTING IN HIS "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" - Mt 6:16-18
1. Jesus said "when", not "if"; assuming his disciples WOULD fast
2. When done properly a person would be rewarded by the Father...
a. Suggesting that fasting was like prayer and giving alms
b. I.e., an act of righteousness done to please the Father -- Fasting appears to have a place in the righteousness expected of those who would be citizens of the kingdom of heaven
C. WHEN QUESTIONED BY JOHN'S DISCIPLES - Mt 9:14-17 (Mk 2:18-20; Lk 5:33-39)
1. Jesus described a time when his disciples would fast
2. But it is inappropriate to fast when the occasion does not call for it -- Fasting would have a place in the disciples' lives, but only on appropriate occasions (not as a ceremonial rite)
D. THE COMBINED POWER OF PRAYER AND FASTING - Mt 17:14-21 (Mk 9: 14-29)
1. There are times when faith alone is not enough
2. At these times prayer joined with fasting is necessary -- Fasting joined with prayer may accomplish things which normal faith may not [Now let's take a look at...]




II. FASTING IN THE LORD'S CHURCH
A. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH - Ac 13:1-3
1. They were fasting as a group while ministering to the Lord
2. They fasted and prayed in preparation to sending out Barnabas and Saul -- Fasting, when accompanied with prayer, can done as a group when involved in serving the Lord
B. THE CHURCHES IN GALATIA - Ac 14:21-23
1. Again, an example of fasting and prayer as a group; this time, in conjunction with the serious task of appointing elders
2. Notice that this was done "in every church"
a. Not just in one or two churches
b. Not just in what might be consider "Jewish" churches where fasting might be considered "just a Jewish custom" -- Again, fasting can be a group activity in the work of a local church [Now let's examine...]
III. FASTING IN THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
A. FASTING WAS A MARK OF HIS MINISTRY...
1. We have already noticed where he fasted with several churches
2. But notice also:
a. 2 Co 6:4-10 (cf. verse 5) b. 2 Co 11:23-28 (cf. verse 27 where fasting is mentioned separately from normal hunger and thirst) -- In both of these passages, Paul mentioned fasting as a mark of his ministry and of his good standing as a minister of Christ!
B. HE ALSO TAUGHT THAT FASTING MIGHT HAVE A PLACE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

1. Cf. 1 Co 7:5 2. The only time husbands and wives may deprive one another is when by consent they devote themselves to fasting and prayer for a specific period of time
CONCLUSION
1. Though not actually Christians at the time, we also have other examples of those who fasted and were blessed by God...
a. Anna - Lk 2:36-38 b. Saul - Ac 9:9 c. Cornelius - Ac 10:30-31 2.
2. As a summary, then, here is what we have seen in this study:
a. That our Lord fasted in time of temptation
b. That He taught His disciples about fasting on several occasions
c. That He foretold of a time in which His disciples would fast
d. That there are times when the combination of fasting and prayer might be more efficacious than prayer alone
e. That the early church fasted in their service to the Lord
f. That Paul regarded fasting as a mark of his ministry
g. That prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, utilized whenever there was a strong desire for God's blessing and guidance -- In view of such things, I can only conclude that fast does indeed have a place in the lives of Christians today In our next lesson on this subject, we will consider some thoughts concerning the WHY, WHEN, and HOW of fasting, as found in the New Testament.

"FASTING" Fasting By Christians Today
INTRODUCTION
1. Our two previous lessons enlightened us on the subject of fasting as found in the Bible.
2. In this final lesson, we shall directly address the questions that brought up this subject: "Should Christians fast today, and if so, why? When would they do it, and how?"
I. SHOULD CHRISTIANS FAST TODAY?
A. YES! BECAUSE OF THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS...
1. He assumed his disciples would fast ("when," not "if") - Mt 6:16-17; Mt 9:14-15
2. He taught His disciples...
a. How to fast so as to incur God's favor - Mt 6:16-18
b. That when done properly, fasting WOULD incur God's good favor - Mt 6:18b
c. Fasting should be done only when the occasion properly calls for it Mt 9:14-17
d. Prayer joined with fasting might be needed - Mt 17:20-21
B. YES! BECAUSE WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF THE CHURCH FASTING...
1. The brethren at Antioch - Ac 13:1-3
a. Fasting in their service to Lord b. Fasting and praying when they send out Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey
2. The churches in Galatia - Ac 14:21-23
a. There was fasting in every church; and appointing elders to watch over the flock
C. YES! BECAUSE PAUL FASTED AS A MINISTER OF CHRIST...
1. He listed fasting among those things which proved him as a minister of Jesus Christ
- 2 Co 11:23-28
2. Are we not commanded to imitate him, even as he imitated Christ? - 1 Co 11:1 (and they both fasted in their service to God!)[At the very least, we can say that it would not be inappropriate for Christians to fast today. Unless there are medical reasons not to fast, we have very good examples to motivate us to utilize fasting in our service to the Lord!]
II. WHY SHOULD CHRISTIANS FAST?
A. PEOPLE FAST TODAY FOR VARIOUS REASONS...
1. Some purposefully, for health reasons. Some without thinking, in times of grief and sorrow. Others, in an effort to gain some kind of self-control -- But these are not the reasons Christian should fast in their service to God - cf. Co 2:20-23
B. CHRISTIANS SHOULD FAST, FOR THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE ARE NEED OF DIVINE HELP...
1. This is consistent with the majority of fasting in the O.T.; they fasted...
a. In times of war or at the threat of it (Israel) b. When loved ones were sick (David) c. When
seeking God's forgiveness (Ahab, Daniel) d. When seeking God's protection (Ezra)
2. This is consistent with the examples of fasting in the N.T.; they fasted...
a. When dealing with temptations (Jesus) b. When serving the Lord (Antioch) c. When beginning
a work for the Lord (Antioch) d. When selecting and appointing elders (Galatia)
3. Such fasting is should be done in conjunction with prayer
a. For fasting, when done properly...
1) Humbles the soul - Ps 35:13 2) Chastens the soul - Ps 69:10
b. And the prayers of a humble person are more likely to be heard! - cf. Ezra 8:21-23
III. WHEN SHOULD CHRISTIANS FAST?
A. WHENEVER OCCASIONS REQUIRING DIVINE HELP SHOULD ARISE...
1. These may be occasions on an individual level
a. When faced with difficult temptations
b. When faced with the serious illness of a loved one
2. These occasions might be on a congregational level
a. As when appointing elders
b. As when sending out missionaries
B. WHATEVER OCCASIONS CALL FOR PERSISTENT PRAYERS MIGHT CALL FOR FASTING JOINED WITH PRAYER...
1. Are we not taught that God is more likely to answer our prayers if we are persistent? - cf. Lk 18:1-8
2. And also if we fast in the proper manner? - Mt 6:17-18
IV. HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS FAST?
A. NOT TO BE SEEN OF MEN...
1. Cf. Mt 6:16-18
2. Whether fasting as individuals or with others, it is important that we not do it for "show"
B. NOT AS SOME REGULAR RITUAL...
1. Cf. Mt 9:14-17
2. It should be done only when the occasion calls for it
3. Such as situations where you would be spending much time in prayer
C. NOT WITHOUT TRUE REPENTANCE...
1. Cf. Isa 58:3-9 It is of no avail if not accompanied with penitent obedience
D. SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS...
1. Don't go out and fast just because it sounds like a neat thing to do
a. Take the subject seriously b. Fast only when the occasion is a serious one
c. One in which you desperately desire God's help
2. If you have never fasted before...
a. Start slow, fasting only for brief periods of time b. End slow, gradually breaking your fast with fresh fruits and vegetables in small amounts
3. Fast when you have time to spend in prayerful meditation
a. Remember the purpose for fasting b. To humble oneself in God's sight
c. To seek favorable answer to prayer for some important plea

CONCLUSION
1. There is probably much more that could be said on the subject of fasting
2. But I hope that this is enough to stimulate our thinking on a subject which has often been neglected in both study and practice
3. As with any subject, the Word of God is the last word, and I hope that this study has shed some light on what His Word says on the subject of fasting
1. Here is what I propose, with the approval of the elders here, they have given me the green light to call the church to a fast upon the behalf of Jim and his family.
a. Offer reasons why - why start with him? One may live without hand, not head. Each member is important, but sometimes your preacher has not developed or is not aware of things of divine assistance until he matures himself. We are not saying that others are of less significance that Jim, just that as all good things begin, we must begin as one, with one mind and one purpose. If you choose to include in your fast others which are just as in need as him - please do so. If you feel someone is not living up to their spiritual expectations of the body - pray intently for them as well. Go to your directory and write down beside every member the blessing you feel they need and pray for that.
2. As with anything we do for the Lord there must be some kind of order to this proclamation
a. I am asking you to sign up for a forty day fast. We will not all fast for forty days rather one person at a time will fast unto the Lord for forty days.The sheet in the foyer is to be taken home and brought back with the names of those in your family who will participate. For those who will volunteer, you will be given a guideline on how to proceed with the fast with some general thoughts and instructions about proceeding to do this ministering unto the Lord. I will set up a roster at home and call and ask if such and such a time will be convenient for you to exercise your fast on a certain date.
3. Just because you do not sign up does not make you less spiritual than others. We are not making this mandatory. We are not going to make this issue a test of fellowship, but I feel I have presented enough evidence to practice this service and given enough reason to motivate you to rise to the call. There may be obvious reasons why you couldn't perform this task. God knows and God understands your condition and in the end that is all that matters.

Revitalizing Prayer

The holidaze is over. Time to write 2005 and scratch through it several times on important papers till March. All is looking good for this newyear. Generally speaking my house is healthy, not too wealthy, and could be a little wiser so we have something to look forward to. Hope your year will be a great success for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. - Kirk

Revitalizing Prayer
Jn. 14:12-24
The short of it:
1. The joy to REQUEST 12 - 14.
2. The blessing to RECEIVE 16, 17.
3. The duty to RESPOND 15, 21a, 24.
4. The opportunity for God to REVEAL himself 20, 21b.
5. The pleasure of him taking up RESIDENCE within us 23.
The long version:
Revitalizing Prayer
Jn. 14:12-24
Introduction
A. Definition of Revitalize
1. Webster: To bring back after a decline. - Examp. Inner City Projects; Corporate Mergers; Marriage seminars. One may make a quick connect to the word REVIVAL.
B. Could it be the case that we need to revitalize our prayer life.
1. Not only is it commanded - “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). It’s what spiritual minded people do - “When you pray....” (Matt. 6:5).
C. A lack of prayer ties the hands of God and holds back showers of blessings.
1. Psa. 81:10 “Open mouth wide...”
a. How many things are not received because we simply failed to ask?
D. Perhaps we have been taught “too well” not to abuse the privilege of prayer to the point that we fail to pray as we ought.
1. James 4 - Christians were praying to heap it upon their lusts.
2. Matt. 6:5ff - to be seen and heard of men.
3. Lk. 18:10ff - without humility
4. These and many other “rules of engagement” must not be used as “suppressers of the heart.” (Phil. 4:6) “Let your prayers be KNOWN unto God.”
E. Today I wish to examine five ways to revitalize, renew, bring back, our prayer life.
1. The joy to REQUEST 12 - 14.
2. The blessing to RECEIVE 16, 17.
3. The duty to RESPOND 15, 21a, 24.
4. The opportunity for God to REVEAL himself 20, 21b.
5. The pleasure of him taking up RESIDENCE within us 23.
I. A child of God must count it a joy to MAKE REQUEST to a CAN DO God 14:12 - 14.
A. If Jesus said you can do greater works than him we must be working for a “can do” God.
1. The works Jesus did were actions which pointed the people to God.
a. There was just one Jesus, who fed 5,000 - universally, the church may feed thousands daily.
b. He was but one voice - Today there are millions of voices working the works of God.
c. Therefore since we work for a “can do” God - together we are doing greater works than Jesus - therefore......
B. Ask - make request - don’t be shy (Matt. 7:7, 8).
1. The very words; ask, seek and knock seem to suggest an ever increasing intensity in prayer.
2. Every father wants his children to come to him for whatever they need. Our heavenly Father wants us to ask Him for anything we need. There is no prayer request too big to ask the Father. Your heavenly Father is waiting for you to ask because He’s waiting to do what you need Him to do. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” Where we see an obstacle, He sees an opportunity to show Himself strong. Where we see an impossibility, God sees a chance to show that what is impossible with man is possible with Him. There is nothing that we can’t ask because there is nothing He can’t do.
3. Do you think that walking on the dry bed of the Red Sea, or the Jordan river would prompt you to ask for great things? Would being fed bread from heaven or quail from the earth cause you to ask the desire of your heart? Could it be that if we watched the walls of Jericho fall flat, the sun standing still, or Lazarus coming forth from the tomb this would stir desire in our weary spirit to ask more frequently? If these are just stories to you, then of course not! But if you believe in these events....Ephesians 3:20 then what you ask is really nothing. God is above what we can ask or think. The only thing that we can’t ask is what we can’t think.
C. Preacher, you want me to ask anything?
1. Anything that brings glory to God - absolutely! v. 13b Rom. 8:27, 28 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” v. 28 and we know - called according to his purpose.

How an individual approaches God and what that individual is willing to ask for reveals how he or she views God. Revitalize your requests because we serve a ‘can do’ God.

II. Which leads us to know... What a blessing it is to RECEIVE that for which we’ve made request 14:16, 17.
A. Though the apostles did not request it, they received what they needed most - future direction.
1. The text would naturally be interpreted that since Jesus was communicating to the 11 (Judas being absent) this Helper, Comforter, Paraclete would be given with a specific mission in mind - To continue to dispense truth to the apostles.
2. Since it is not in man to direct his footsteps (Jerm. 10:23), and because every man thinks he is right in his own heart (Prov. 14:12), it became the mission of the Holy Spirit to guide the apostles into all truth (Jn. 16:13).
3. After receiving His instruction and making a written record, you and I may be guided into all truth today as we read and live that which is written (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
4. Direction for righteousness and heaven is what man needs most.
“Things” are not.
B. FOR WHAT ARE YOU ASKING? Lk. 11:13.
1. Jesus stands ready to give you the Holy Spirit if you ask.
2. Since the purpose of the Holy Spirit is to guide one into all truth, should not that be our request - to be guided into all truth?
a. Many are asking to perform miracles, see signs, speak in tongues - what man needs to seek is the truth - “buy the truth and sell it not” (Prov. 23:23).
C. God is longing to give gifts (Luke 11:1-13) Midnight friend of importunity (5-8)
1. Importunate – troublesomely urgent: overly persistent in request of demand. (Pressing, burning, clamant, clamorous, crying, imperative, insistent, instant, urgent). Importunity is not asking repeatedly. Importunity is having the nerve just to ask in the first place. In John 11:41-42, Jesus tells us that we don’t have to beg for everything.
a. Our grandpuppy (Springier Spaniel) comes over and stares at you while you eat. He doesn’t lick, harass, or get in your face, he just sits until his longing look is satisfied with a morsel. Though he never says a word, he expectantly looks for satisfaction because he knows the nature of the owners and the love his grandparents have for him. Importunity is not asking repeatedly. It is having the nerve to ask initially, then maintaining a stand to wait for God to drop down his blessing. Importunity looks for opportunity to ask. Importunity has the guts, the gall, and the gump to ask what most people won’t ask. Importunity knows how to ask, seek, and knock. “Wait on the Lord and he will bring it to pass” (Psa. 37:5).
D. The message should be clear - first seek truth, then receive the blessings.

It is such a joy to make our requests made known to God, It is a wonderful blessing to receive that which we ask. Which brings us to our next important step in revitalizing our prayer life -

III. Each one of us have a duty to RESPOND to the instruction of God v15, 21a, 24.
A. The eye of the Lord is upon the righteous and his ear open to their prayer, but his face is against those who do evil (1 Pet. 3:12).
1. Herein lies the problem with most prayers - unfaithfulness.
2. Love requires duty - Jesus understood duty - the cross proved that.
3. Obedience requires sacrifice and service - If you love - KEEP.
B. Keep the commandments does not mean to love them from afar, but to write them upon your heart and mind then putting them into practice (Heb. 8:10).
C. Rebellious lives ties the hands of God and stops up the windows of heaven.
1. Repentance and obedience is the key to revitalizing your prayer life.
When this is done.....
IV. God is given the opportunity to REVEAL himself to you v. 18, 20, 21b.
A. The manifestation of God is not seen:
1. On a grill cheese sandwich sold on Ebay and many other false illusions.
2. God is manifested to us each time our prayers are answered whether His response is, “Yes” or “No.”
3. Man may look to the beauty of the earth and say, “I see God manifested in the face of a flower or the aura of the sunset.” Another may exclaim, “I see God manifesting himself in the wonders of the heavens, the stars, planets, galaxies.” Yet another may say, “Every time you see a new born baby, you know God is revealing himself.”
4. God manifested himself by his son Jesus (Col. 1:15). All these created things cannot love you like God does. Even your own child may turn against you, but never the savior (Matt. 28:20). Every time you see the cross you see God and know he desires to reveal himself unto you. See past the wood, look beyond the anguish, behold the love of God as he sent the only one who can redeem you and me from our sins. Herein is love, not that we love him, but “he first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).
5. Every time we pray, and each time he answers he is revealing himself more and more. Look back in your life and see how God has revealed himself to you by the prayers you’ve prayed and the answers you’ve received.
6. So if any man is in Christ, seek those things which are above (Col. 3:2).
7. To get into Christ one must respond to his commands (Gal. 3:27).
When this happens........
V. God takes the pleasure to take up RESIDENCE in us v. 23 This alone should cause us to revitalize our prayer life.
A. Now Paul wrote that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith (Eph.3:17).
1. The mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations has been revealed in the saints - Christ in you, the hope of glory! (Col. 1:26, 27)
2. This hope was given on the day we obeyed the gospel and by that baptism, we received the gift of the holy spirit (Acts 2:38) which will never leave us orphaned so long as we walk after the spirit and not according to the flesh (Gal. 5:16; Rom. 8).
B. One may say, “Well I don’t feel God/Christ/Sprit in me.”
1. Its not about feeling. Do you feel your mother or father in you? Well then will you deny that they are your parents? Do you not have habitual traits of your parents?
2. Then we know God is in us when we deny the pleasures of the flesh and do that which we normally wouldn’t do because the Holy Spirit has taught us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust as we study him daily. Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. Recall the latter words of Eph. 3:20 - according to the power that works in us. - That power is that which the gospel has done for us in redeeming us from all ungodliness. That power is the faith we have which prompts us into godly action when the flesh pitches a temper tantrum when we deny it devilish pleasures.
3. Its not about feelings - its about behavior. But isn’t it true... one has never felt better who is going about doing good.
4. Knowing that the divine presence of God takes up residence with us should help us revitalize our prayer life.

CONCLUSION
1. There is a great joy to make our REQUEST known unto God.
a. Together, we can do greater works than Christ. I’ve never raised the dead, but I have brought congregations back to life. You may never have healed one who was sick, but if you opened their eyes to the gospel you have cured a sin sick soul.
b. We serve a ‘can do’ God. Let’s pray like he can.
2. What a blessing it is to RECEIVE gifts from God.
a. Especially the Holy Spirit, the word of truth. Let the words of this Book guide you to receive that which you so desperately need - Salvation, comfort, hope.
3. Remember, to revitalize our prayer life there is a duty to RESPOND.
a. Love and Keep the commands. You can’t live like a sinner and die like a saint.
4. Every time you pray, he has the opportunity to REVEAL more and more of himself to you. Therefore, pray more and more so you may get to know God better.
5. Take pleasure in the truth that he RESIDES in us.
a. For this reason, I bow the knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family of heaven and earth is named. That he might grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might, through his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your heart by faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love.....(Eph. 3:14-21)
b. The greatest man standing is the one not afraid to fall on his knees.

Haven’t you ever wanted to take your food back to the counter of a fast-food restaurant, and point to the picture on the overhead menu, and asked, “Can I have one that looks like that?” Sometimes we get the one which was smushed, reheated, and generally unappealing.
At those places, many times we get LESS than what we ask for.

The stories in the Bible reveal that GOD GIVES MAN MORE THAN HE ASKS FOR. Wonder what we would get if we would only ask more?

Rise and Fall of Many

Feas and naughty dogs to everyone. May your day be scratchy and bright
and may you keep your nose out of the cold so it dosen't turn red.
I do hope all my friends and family will have a safe and delightful holiday. However you celeberate it, please enjoy your family! Kirk

The short of it: The Rise and Fall of Many Lk. 2:28-35
I. Intro:
A. Many great things have been said concerning the birth of Christ.
B. Text discusses some encouraging and disturbing information.
C. Lesson will deal with the prophecy concerning the 'rising and falling
of many.'
II. There is a great need to choose sides.
A. Joshuah said,
B. Jesus said,
C. Apostles said,
III. Great rewards for those who choose wisely.
IV. Those who fallen against the Christ.
A. Religious leaders during the life of Christ
B. False prophets
C. Discontented brethren
D. Evil rulers
E. Theories
V. Those who have risen with the Christ
A. Restoration plea
B. Those who trust in the authorative word of God.
C. Those who have died properly

The Long of it:

Rise and Fall of Many
Lk. 2:21-35
I. Introduction
Christmas. Christians are sometimes perplexed as how to celebrate. Go with the Santa Clause concept - you are secular. Go with religious - not commanded. Get in the middle you feel hypocritical. We know not the day Christ was born, We do not know if Mary rode a donkey to the inn. We do not know how many wise men there were. We do know the wise men did not visit Christ at the manger, no drummer boy played him a tune and a statue of Santa clause and his reindeer were not stationed outside the stable. We are not here to discuss how you celebrate or not celebrate this day. I pray that we have come to worship God because he gave us the privilege to do so. While we are here let us make good use of our time together as we drink today from the pure waters of life.
A. Many wonderful things were said concerning the birth of Christ.
1. Gabriel - Called, Emanuel, the son of the Highest, kingdom never end, save/sin.
2. Angels - Singing, ‘peace on earth good will to men.’
3. Wise men - King of the Jews.
4. Shepherds - reported angels proclaiming him as Christ the Lord.
B. Here in Lk. 2:28-35 Simeon disclosed the blessed and disturbing news.
1. All nations would rejoice in this child v. 32.
2. But, there would be great division in the world over him v. 34.
3. You will suffer soul wrenching sorrow v. 35.
C. This lesson will center around v. 34 - “This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against.”
1. This lesson will reveal some of the realities of this prophecy by noting those who fell against Christ and those who rose up with Christ.
II. The Bible has always implied a need for you and me to choose sides.
A. From days of Old (Josh 24:15)
B. Jesus (Lk. 14:28) count the cost.
C. Apostles (Acts 5:29) obey God rather than men.
III. Ready rewards to those who choose wisely.
A. Listed in who’s who among people of faith (Heb. 11).
B. Blessing in this life and that to come (Lk. 18:30).
IV. Historical Perspective on Those Who Oppose Christ.
A. Religious leaders during the life of Christ (Matt. 27:39-43).
B. False Prophets (Matt. 24:11).
1. Some who proclaimed themselves the ‘New Messiah’ by acts of war on Rome.
2. Far eastern religions.
3. Islam - Muhammad, At first the infidels were those who were idolatrous, he soon turned against Christianity also.
a. More recently, in a December 8, 2001 Worldnet Daily article by Art Moore, it was reported that more than 50,000 Christians in the Central Sulawesi province town of Tentena were in imminent danger of attack by a paramilitary group called Laskar Jihad, a group whose goal is the total elimination of Christians from the region. According to Voice of the Martyrs, an organization that reports on Christian persecution, At least 600 homes and six churches in Tentena were burned during attacks in November of 2001, and 15,000 Christians were forced to flee. In Indonesia Laskar Jihad waged a violent campaign against Christians in neighboring Maluku province where at least 9,000 Christians have been killed since 1999. This religious cleansing can be found in all areas of the world where Islam has rooted itself. The quest for an Islamic world, taken by force if need be, still continues today, all in the name of Allah, and as taught and practiced by the prophet Muhammad.
4. Reverend Sun Moon, Jim Jones, David Koresh, Johnny Applewhite, et. al..
C. Discontented brethren (Acts 20:30).
1. Alexander, Hymaneaus, Diothrophes.
2. 1 Tim. 1:6; 5:15; 2 Tim. 2:2-4.
D. Evil Rulers (Acts 4:26).
1. Nero and other Roman Emperors.
2. Fascism & Communism.
3. Modern political terrorist.
E. Theories (2 Pet. 3:4).
1. Evolution
2. Form Criticism
a. Bible is not preserved well enough to be the Word of God.
b. There are supposed contradictions.
c. Apostles borrowed from ‘mystery religions’ to create Christianity.
3. Eccumentalism - all going to heaven, different denominations/religions take you there.
V. Those in Christ will overcome.
A. Restoration plea. - not a theory but advocated throughout Scripture.
1. Josiah (2 Chron. 34).
2. Jerm. 6:16 Restore ye the old paths.
3. Gal. 6:1 Restore such a one to repentance.
B. Seeker who puts their trust in the authoritative word of God will always rise to the top.
C. A proper death, gives birth to a glorious resurrection (Rom. 6:1-7).
1. Will you not raise Christ up in your heart? If so, you and I must die to our personal pleasures and submit to his will.

CONCLUSION
A. Why put faith in things which will make you fall?
1. Religions which oppose the Christ, Prophets who denounce his dietyship; Brethren who advocate change to ‘fit in’ with the rest of religions; theories which confuse, weaken, and destroy faith.
B. Be raised up so you may walk in newness of life.
1. Which category of people do you walk with this hour?

Show Us the Father

Just a cold rain here in the Tennesse Valley. Snow and Ice is falling upon the mountains. Thankfully, our house is warm. Hope your week will be filled with great spiritual experiences.

Show us the Father
Basic Points:
We may see the face of God by looking into the face of Jesus.
1. He is like that Door (10:9) – An inviting portal to find rest.
2. He is that pathway (14:6) – A pleasant well traveled road.
3. He is Bread (6:47) – Warm, tasteful, satisfying, the Great Provider.
4. He is that Shepherd on a hill (10:11) – Who is watching our every move, our protector.
5. He is the Light (8:12) – No monster hidden by the darkness.
6. He is the Vine (15:1) – One who desires direct contact with his creation.
7. He is the source of Life (11:25) – Our hope of a resurrection.

Show Us The Father : full text
Jn. 14:8, 9
Introduction:
A. Let’s play fill in the blank for a few moments:
1. My favorite color is .................... I could eat ................... all day long. If I only had one vacation in my life, I would go to ....................... I’d give anything to meet ..............
2. In the Chicago Tribune Magazine actor Kyle Chandler was asked a series of finish-the-sentence questions. One question was, "I'd give anything to meet .........."
Chandler answered, "God Almighty. I'd like to share my favorite meal with him, and I'd let him do all the talking."
B. We all would like to meet God face to face (and one day we will).
1. Scripture reveal that is impossible to look God in the eye and live (Exod. 33:20).
2. However God has not hid himself from man.
a. To the ancients he appeared through angels (Gen. 18; Judg. 6:22); by dreams (Gen. 28); by fire (Exod. 3); by cloud (Exod. 13); by a glowing form called the “glory of the Lord” (Exod. 40: 24) and through visions (Isa. 6, Rev 1).
C. What John wanted his reader to recognize is, that, it is through Jesus we might gain insight to the appearance of God.
1. Jesus said, “God is a spirit” (Jn. 4:24); yet if you wish to see God, just look at me (Jn. 14:9).
a. Even Paul noted we may see God through Christ (Col. 1:15).
D. I would like to present God in familiar term by which Jesus described himself.
1. Is it not possible to get to know someone though you have never seen them?
a. Biographies; stories passed down through generations about family members.
2. The Bible is the biography of God. It tells us in human terms what he is like. Some love him, others despise, regardless, we are not left clueless.
3. It is my task this hour to draw upon the canvas of your heart the image of God.
4. I will draw him as I would:
a. A door; or a path, a piece of bread, a shepherd on a hill, flaming torch lighting a dungeon, a great vine stretching for miles, and a garden of Eden, abundant of life.
b. I pray each of these terms will bring us into focus a real divine being.
III. The images explained:
A. Jesus said in Jn. 10:7-10 that he was the door.
1. Doors by design are made for acceptable subjects to gain access to the building.
a. One who enters by any other means is considered a threat and worthy of prosecution.
2. Are not doors representative of places which we frequent?
a. A drunk may frequent a place which doors lead him to a bar. A lustful man, a door which leads him to a bed. A spiritual man, doors which give access to a room to worship.
3. We all enter a familiar door to a place we call “home.” What does yours look like?
a. When we see it we delight to open it for on the other side our cherished ones anxiously wait to greet us.
b. When we touch its handle it brings relief to us for we know inside rest awaits us.
c. This door represents the place I belong. It is the place from where I depart and where I return time after time.
4. Jesus pictures God like a door.
a. Not something frightening, but inviting. Not something we would fear to open but something we would love to pass through.
b. We may picture him as a giant door as a gate to an ancient city. If we have the key, the shape of a cross (which is obedience to his truth), we may enter and find security.
c. His door remains unlocked with the exception of one class of people - fools who do not prepare (Matt. 25:1ff).
5. Visualizing God as a door lets me know that I am invited to come and see him.
B. Another object Jesus uses to illustrate God is - “the way” or for clarification, a path (Jn. 14:6)
1. There are paths or roads in which we are very familiar.
a. As a child I would forge through the woods to my aunt’s house by means of a well traveled path.
2. There are paths which are not well known, but marked, such as a nature park.
3. Then there are paths which may require a map. In our great Smoky Mountains, there is a path which leads from Maine to Georgia called the Appalachian Trail, a path which is 2,175 long.
4. The path which may describe God is one that is not all too unfamiliar (Acts 17:27).
a. Most know the basics of good morals. In America, most understand Christian principles.
b. It’s not that we don’t really know the path, its that we don’t like to stay on the path as we are tempted by other trails which appear to have a short cut or an easier way of passage (Matt. 7:13, 14).
5. Illustrating God by means of a path simply implies that there is safe passage through this hostile world if we continue to walk upon it (Psa.23:4 paths of right).
C. Next, Jesus illustrates God as bread (Jn. 6:47).
1. There are so many varieties of bread which one may consume, but only one really satisfies.
2. Bread is something you smell, handle, taste, appealing. My mother’s table was never absent of bread. It is the staple of life.
3. God, being pictured as bread indicates he is needed, good, satisfying. He is one whom we may feast upon and never tire.
4. In his book entitled God’s Psychiatry, Charles Allen tells this story: As World War II was drawing to a close, the Allied armies gathered up many hungry orphans. They were placed in camps where they were well-fed. Despite excellent care, they slept poorly. They seemed nervous and afraid. Finally, a psychologist came up with the solution. Each child was given a piece of bread to hold after he was put to bed. This particular piece of bread was just to be held—not eaten. The piece of bread produced wonderful results. The children went to bed knowing instinctively they would have food to eat the next day. That guarantee gave the children a restful and contented sleep.
5. God is always near, always available, always ready to fill our emptiness, or restlessness our fears and anxieties. All we need to do is to take him with us wherever we go.
D. Again Jesus illustrates the face of God by way of shepherding (Jn.10:11-14).
1. The Psalmist aptly describes God as Shepherd (Psa. 23).
a. A Great Overseer who provides the sheep every need, food, water, direction, healing, protection, rest.
2. Shepherds were not all that popular - so it is with God.
3. Shepherds were brave, enduring harsh climate, often alone.
4. Can you see God upon his hill, looking over us in duty and love?
E. Another illustration Jesus uses to show us God is Light (Jn. 8:12; 1 Jn. 1:5).
1. Revisit the darkest place you have ever been (closet, cave) now turn on a light - that’s God! No one in their right mind prefers darkness.
a. I recall as a youth hating to find the bathroom light out.
2. Hell is described as a place of outer darkness (Matt. 25:30) while heaven is portrayed as a city set on a hill, well lit, having the glory of God in its mist, where there is neither the need of sun or moon (Rev. 21, 22).
3. All life needs light to survive, therefore every person needs God.
4. Light brings warmth, reveals beauty, beacons weary travelers, exposes danger.
5. Since God is described as light, then he is no monster. He exists for our help. He is a being worthy of welcoming in our heart to give us true light so we in turn may become the light of the world. As many may bathe in the sun, may we all bathe in the light of God’s love.
F. Again, Jesus describes the face of God to us through the imagery of a vine (Jn. 15:1ff).
1. What is being illustrated is the trunk of grape vine. From it comes forth branches which in turn bears the fruit. Now the branches cannot bear fruit apart from the vine and the vine can be of no purpose unless the branches abide on the vine.
2. That pictures God as a being that needs contact with his creation.
3. If you are not in contact with God it is because of two reasons:
a. Either we are not attached to the at all to the Vine, or;
b. Our attachment to the Vine has in some way been blocked, so that the sap isn’t flowing into us (spiritual blood clot).
4. Seeing God as the vine helps me understand my relationship to him.
a. I need pruning - things which would prohibit my spiritual development must be severed. Things which may harm me physically needs to be removed.
b. He needs my production - my efforts to preserve the knowledge of Him in others.
5. This imagery helps us cast aside the idea that God has no use for me and I no use for him. It sustains me when I am alone. For the Christian is never alone when he is “in Christ.”
G. Finally, Jesus identifies the face of God as life (Jn. 11:25).
1. Behold the spring - glow of summer - the change of fall - the sleep of winter. As long as the world stands these will never cease to be (Gen.8:22). Herein lies a promise of perpetual life.
2. The question man asks is (Job. 14:14) if a man dies, shall he live again?
3. Though there was limited information on this subject in the O.T., Through Christ all men may know that whether one dies in his spring (youth) or fall of life, he will live.
4. When the angel rolled the stone away he not only let Christ out, but he let man in. Man observed the carefully folded head wrap, the visitation of the angels, the confrontation to see the scars, and the ascension into the clouds. This leave no room for doubt that all of the human family will rise one day.
5. If a man be in Christ he will rise to eternal peace, if a man rejects the Christ, he is hopeless and doomed to a devil’s hell.
6. As you look about you, in whatever season that is upon us, life is abundant. Animals, foul, fish, children. In this we see the face of God because God is life eternal. Though all creatures will die in their own time, God has promised one species, the human family, that they will live again. It is that promise of living forever that motivates one to live for him while it is called ‘today’ for we may never know if tomorrow will ever come.
7. It is revealed that Satan brought forth death upon man. Man fears death and instinctively should fear the devil. God brought life into existence and can continue it forever. See the face of God by observing life.

CONCLUSION

Remember the question I asked earlier, “Is it not possible to get to know someone though you have never seen them?” and I answered, “Yes” through biographies and made mention that the Bible is the biography of God?

Max Lucado retells a story about a man finding love without ever seeing the face of his lover.
John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose.
His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell.
With time and effort, he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting—7:00 P.M. at the Grand Central in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened.
A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were as blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small provocative smile turned her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell.
She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was quickly walking away. I felt as though I was split in two. So keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and upheld mine. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful.
I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?" The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in die green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!" '

We may see the face of God by looking into the face of Jesus.
1. He is like that Door (10:9) – An inviting portal to find rest.
2. He is that pathway (14:6) – A pleasant well traveled road.
3. He is Bread (6:47) – Warm, tasteful, satisfying, the Great Provider.
4. He is that Shepherd on a hill (10:11) – Who is watching our every move, our protector.
5. He is the Light (8:12) – No monster hidden by the darkness.
6. He is the Vine (15:1) – One who desires direct contact with his creation.
7. He is the source of Life (11:25) – Our hope of a resurrection. Can you see God now?

Discovering heaven

It's been a great week so far. I am about ready for the holidays to be over. Hope you have a great week - Kirk

Five words to discover the way to heaven:
Short Outline: Jn. 14:2b, 3 "I go to prepare for you, and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also."
1. Go
2. Ready
3. Return
4. Recive
5. Reunion

Full Text:
The Way To Heaven
Jn. 14:1-6
Introduction
A. It was the hour of Darkness (13:30).
1. Judas had went out to barter for the capture of Jesus. - This brought sadness.
2. Peter gives his sacrificial “I will die for you “ speech, thinking that would change Jesus’ mind about leaving (13:37). Jesus responded by telling him that he would fail before daybreak. - This brought distress.
3. The anxiety of the disciples may be summed up like this, “If you are going to leave and Peter can’t hold up under pressure, what are we going to do?” Now we see them deeply troubled.
B. The word ‘troubled’ (Greek - tarasso) means to agitate, to roil like water.
1. You may have seen a terrazzo floor which is made of tiny pieces of stone. The stone is all jumbled up with no particular pattern. This was the disciples heart. They were terrified, their hearts had that sinking feeling you get when you hear about some terrible news.
C. It was in the mist of this agitation, this turmoil, Jesus spoke one of the most cherished statements of all time.
1. It is read by people who are extremely depressed about the condition of the world, it is read by or to loved ones who are near death, it is read and discussed by gospel preachers at funerals everywhere.
2. It is that prized cache of words which offer comfort and hope to troubled people.
3. Quote passage.
D. Our study today will center around vs. 2b, 3 in “Discovering the Way to Heaven.”
1. There are five words which qualify what it took Jesus to bring the hope of heaven to our troubled hearts.

I. Go - 14:2b
A. This word implies a purpose and a destination.
1. No one goes anywhere without having a reason to travel or a place to reach.
2. Jesus said, “I go” to a place - Calvary! I have a destination - Right hand of God.
B. Christian, the way to heaven requires us to GO!
1. Go to your Bible to receive instruction (2 Tim. 2:15).
2. Go to the water to receive forgiveness and the Holy Spirit.
a. That’s where the first Christians were commanded to go (Acts 2:38,47).
b. That’s where the Samaritans were commanded to go (Acts 8:12).
c. That’s where the Ethopian Treasurer as commanded to go (Acts 8:36-38).
d. That’s where Saul of Tarsus was commanded to go (Acts 9:18; 22:16).
e. That’s where Cornelius was commanded to go (Acts 10:48).
f. That’s where Lydia was commanded to go (Acts 16:15).
g. That’s where the Philipian Jailer was commanded to go (Acts 16:32, 33).
I. NOW THERE’S a lot of folk who attempt to discredit this activity but it is a divine order. We must go to the water for remission (Acts 2:38); for washing away sin (Acts 22:16) and for regeneration and salvation (Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:21) having faith in the blood of Christ that it will do what he said it would perform.
3. Afterward, if a Christian wishes to discover the way to heaven he must go to church (Heb. 10:25).
4. Discovering the way to heaven means that the Christian must Go.
II. Prepare or Ready v. 3
A. Jesus readied a place for us.
1. The dwelling places were already in tact “In my Father’s house are many...”
2. Jesus readied a place for us by:
a. Preparing his body (Heb. 10:5, 10).
b. Preparing his apostles (Lk. 24:45ff) through knowledge.
c. Preparing his church for service (Matt 23:23). Formalism is a sham.
B. Dear Christian, if you want to discover the way to heaven, you must ready yourself.
1. Why go to scripture if you are only going to argue with what it says. Why go to the water if you are not planning to follow. Why go to church if you do not plan to ready yourself for service?
2. Since Jesus has been portrayed as the greatest servant of all time who do we think we are when we hear and do not listen, see and do not act, pray and do not serve.
3. The house of God is a place of EMPLOYMENT not enjoyment!
4. Phil. 2:12 tells the Christian servant to WORK or continue doing things which need to be done for spiritual growth and development of the kingdom of God. Work not to earn but because you are indebted.
5. Ready yourself in your godliness, holiness, manner of living. Ready yourself in your duties of attendance, prayer, and washing the saint’s feet. Ready yourself in showing others the way (Matt. 28:20). Prepare now to go to heaven, you can’t live like a sinner and die like a saint.
III. Return
A. Jesus promised to come again.
1. To go without returning seems so futile (this is what atheist believe).
2. To return without a purpose is just as lame (2 Thess. 1:7-9; Jn. 5:28, 29).
B. Christian man or woman, boy or girl, if you want to discover heaven you too must return.
1. Return frequently to your Bible classes, worship times and church work activities, and so much the more as you see day drawing near (Heb. 10:25).
2. Return to your prayer life, your study habits, your spiritual labors.
3. Return to your brother who has asked forgiveness and forgive from your heart.
4. Return to the Shepherd and Bishop of your soul if you are wandering in sin (Jerm. 3:22 Return you backsliding children and I will heal). What joy will be had, like the shepherd who found his sheep, the woman who recovered her jewelry, or the father who welcomed his errant child: So joy will be made in heaven (Lk. 15).
IV. Receive
A. Jesus to helps us discover the way to heaven, by his willingness to receive all who come.
1. On earth he was known as the friend of the tax man and the sinner (Mk. 2:15).
2. His primary mission was to the lost house of Israel, but other sheep he had in mind (Jn. 10:16).
3. Though he will receive anyone, they must be willing to repent and follow (Jn. 15:14). You may come just as you are, but don’t remain just as you were (Mt. 16:24ff).
B. My fellow soldiers of Christ, we too must receive some things in discovering the way to heaven.
1. Receive the teachings and admonition of Christ.
a. To argue with a stop sign does not change its meaning. People want ‘Jesus in their heart’ with no rules or expectations. Jesus did not come to make men religious, he came to make them religiously correct. Some worshipped idols, others, who knew the truth only put on a show.
b. Cain substituted, Pharaoh hardened his heart, Korah rebelled, Jehoiakim cut it up, Pharisees doctored it up, Alexander and Hymaneaus made shipwreck of them.
2. Receive the teaching of his apostles and ministers.
a. That which is written in black and white is just as binding as that written in red.
b. To maintain purity of doctrine we must remind men to preach the same things everywhere in every church (1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Cor. 1:10ff).
3. To discover the way to heaven we must receive forgiveness the Bible way not by traditions of men.
a. Salvation is not by dreams, visions or near death experiences. Salvation is not by just living a good moral life, but by hearing and obeying the word of God (Rom. 10:17; Lk. 13:3, 5; Acts 8:37; 22:16).
V. Reunion (go, ready, return, receive, reunion)
A. “Where I am, there you will be also,” places us INSIDE the Beautiful Gate!
1. Heavenly scenes, as revealed by John, puts ‘God in our mist’ (Rev.21:3).
2. Today, Christ Jesus may dwell in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17), but there we will be able to sit down with him face to face (Rev. 3:21).
B. As dear children of God, we must believe in this great reunion.
1. If we don’t we might loose our first love (Rev. 2:4).
2. If we don’t we might become factious (1 Cor. 6).
3. The resurrection of Jesus should place desire in the heart of man.
a. We desire to be with the one we love here on earth. This is my greatest joy during the holidays.
b. If we desire to be with loved ones, should we not desire to be with Jesus! It is he who saved us and intercedes for us.
c. When we get to heaven who is the first person we should seek out? And though we may long to see those who have passed on before us, let us be noble enough to desire to see Jesus and worship him throughout all eternity!
4. Discover the way to heaven by anticipating that great reunion between you and your God!

CONCLUSION:
A. Troubles: Someone wrote, “If you could kick the person responsible for most of your troubles in the backside, you wouldn't be able to sit down for two weeks.”
Bits and Pieces, December 1990.
1. Sure we are troubled and will have many more troubles but let not your heart be troubled because:
B Jesus has shown us the way to heaven:
1. He would go through life with purpose - to prepare a body for a perfect sacrifice and a place where he could intercede for you and me.
2. He readied us to enter those mansions fair by giving the apostles the instructions they needed and by dying on the cross.
3. He promised to return with a purpose - judge.
4. He will receive all who choose to repent and follow.
5. Because he has this strong desire to be host to you in the great reunion feast.
C. Will we not discover the way to heaven?
1. Will we not go to the scriptures for truth then go to the water and church?
2. Will we not ready ourselves to service?
3. Will we not return to our tasks we have left behind, our brother who has offended, the Shepherd and Bishop of our soul?
4. We can discover heaven if we will receive his teaching, his apostles instructions, and their plan of salvation.
5. Is it your desire to be reunited with God? Love and live for him daily.

As I Love You

Its nice and crisp this morning - 28 degrees. We have had some snow on
the mountains. Mt. Leconte received 8 inches last week. They are hinting
snow fluries in the valley this weekend. In this lesson I took a
different approach to the normal view of Jn. 13:34, 35 as I pondered on
the phrase "As I have loved you." I tried to imagine how Jesus
demonstrated his love for the twelve and tried to make application.
Prehaps you can come up with some better ideas but here they are. I have
given a brief outline then the full thoughts on the points I made following. Hope your Sunday will be a joy filled Son day. Kirk

Quick outline:
I. Introduction
A. Christianity is based upon the principle of love.
B. We know the commands, we talk a good talk; but what a challenge it is to commit ourselves to these earth changing ideals
C. Today we will examine why we must love one another and note some ways Jesus demonstrated his love for his disciples and ways which we can mitate that.
II. There is a Great Need to Love One another.
A. How can Jesus command us to feel love?
B. We need to love one another because:
III. When we love one another as we ought....
A. We contribute to world peace.
B. We contribute to family peace (Eph. 5).
C. We are known in the community as being “peacemakers” (Matt. 5).
D. We are known as being children of God (1 Jn. 4:7), and God is known to be “love.”
IV. Jesus Taught, “Love as I have Loved You.”
A. The word “new” (Greek; neos) has two meanings.
B. The kind of Love Jesus want us to have is not about feelings, it’s about action.
C. So lets turn our attention to the way Jesus loved his disciples and make some applications.
1. He had a mobilizing love not a paralyzing one.
2. He had a kind of love which calms one during their crisis.
3. He had a providential love.
4. He had a love that took nothing from them except their time and heart.
5. He had a love that was sacrificial, giving spiritual gifts to men.

Here are the details:

As I Love You
Jn. 13:31-35
I. Introduction
A. Christianity is based upon the principle of love.
1. Love neighbor as self.
2. Lend without expecting return.
3. Help carry someone’s load not just one mile but two.
4. Pray for your enemy and do good to them.
B. We know the commands, we talk a good talk; but what a challenge it is to commit ourselves to these earth changing ideals.
1. Think of a food that makes you gag. You can’t force yourself to like it.......
2. But if your survival depended upon it - you’d eat it.
3. Jesus commanded us to love one another! A command is not a suggestion. A command is not a request. A command is an order! This is one of the positive commands of Jesus. Do it because he knows what’s best for us! Jesus commanded us to love one another!
C. Today we will examine why we must love one another and note some ways Jesus demonstrated his love for his disciples in which we can imitate toward one another.

II. There is a Great Need to Love One another.
A. How can Jesus command us to feel love?
1. If I couldn’t even make myself like a reutabegar, how in the world can I make myself feel love for every person? Especially since there are a lot of people in the world who are not very likable, much less lovable. The world is filled with jerky, creepy, weird people! The world is filled with mean, ugly, hateful people! The world is filled with people with whom I disagree on many issues - from politics to theology to nose rings. There are a lot of people in the world who are not very likable, much less lovable. But Jesus told us to love one another. But Why?
B. We need to love one another because:
1. Satan has filled the world with abuse and hatred.
a. Abuse of innocent children, women and those less capable of wise investments.
b. Hatred by prejudice, nationality, race, religion, politics, power and greed.
2. If the world does not see kindness, compassion, hospitality in action it grows cold.
3. If the world does not see the children of God at peace, the world will be at war.
III. When we love one another as we ought....
A. We contribute to world peace.
B. We contribute to family peace (Eph. 5).
C. We are known in the community as being “peacemakers” (Matt. 5).
D. We are known as being children of God (1 Jn. 4:7), and God is known to be “love.”

As we look at our text it tells us that.....

IV. Jesus Taught, “Love as I have Loved You.”
A. The word “new” (Greek; neos) has two meanings.
1. One may use it in the context of something which is recent, off the assembly line, like a house which has just been built or the purchase of new clothes.
2. Another way new is expressed, is, “as in form or design.” That which is novel, distinct, like the new hybrid vehicles or fusion powered engines.
3. It is the latter which Jesus anticipates us to employ one toward another.
4. The love he describes is new in kind, in form or design.
5. Gary Chapman, in his book The Five Love Languages relates the results of studies of the “falling in love” phenomenon.
a. The researchers set out to determine how long people maintain the intense “in love” feelings when they “fall in love.” Any guesses on how long? The researchers discovered that the “in love” feeling is intense for about two years. A slow trickle of adrenaline is released for about 30 months, then for some undetermined reason it automatically shuts off.
B. The kind of Love Jesus want us to have is not about feelings, it’s about action.
1. How many of you in your role as parents ever done things for your children that you didn’t really want to do? Diaper changing, eating at odd hours, chauffeuring, letting them date.
2. One of the greatest temptations on earth is to reduce godly love to human terms -- to talk love instead of living it. Love is something you do! It is duty in action. Words are cheap (unless you hire a lawyer) it's easy to talk love.
3. A comic strip depicted a young man declaring his undying love for his girl friend: "I love you with all my heart," he said, "I love you more than life itself; my love would move mountains and change the course of mighty rivers for you," he says fervently. To all this, in the second frame, his girlfriend replies, "Can you come over Saturday and help me clean the junk out of my garage?" In the final frame the guy looks up and says, "I hate people who take advantage."
4. The rule for us all is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; respond as if you do. As soon as we practice this, we learn one of the great secrets Jesus is trying to teach. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love them.
5. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.
There is however one exception. If you do him a good turn, not to please God and obey the law of love, but to show him what a fine forgiving chap you are, and to put him in your debt, and then sit down to wait for his "gratitude," you will probably be disappointed....
C. So lets turn our attention to the way Jesus loved his disciples and make some applications.
1. He had a love which mobilized them (Jn. 6:5-10). The 12 saw the multitude as too much for them to handle. Jesus taught them that if they organized, they could handle much more than what they thought they could, providing they kept him in the mix of things.
a. So we should have a love for one another which mobilizes not paralyzes. A love which is pro-active not reactive. A love that just doesn’t see the need but fills the need. It does the church little good to practice handing out goodies to the neighborhood without empowering them to become more than a beggar. (During this holiday season, you may have heard about the rewards program? You earn points by doing community service then you may select various gifts based upon the points you have earned). We want to mobilize people not paralyze them.
2. He had a love which calmed them (Mk. 4:36-41) - Peace be still. He could calm the forces which raged against them or strengthen their heart when forces opposed them (Acts 5:29).
a. Too many times we are brutally cruel in our response to crisis others face. Everyone has a phobia. Some crisis are very real; “I lost my job.” Others appear less significant; “my boyfriend of two weeks broke up with me.” What may seem like a summer shower to us may to our brother seem like a tornado.
b. A elderly Christian man and his wife were in a hurry one Sunday to meet family after services. They had only a short window of opportunity to see this family member due to the great distance they had to travel to see them. As he cross the church parking lot, a young boy, unaware of the urgency called out to godly man for some chit chat. Patiently the Christian man listened to the boy’s weekly highlights as if he was the only person in the world. If the couple had much time with their family that day, I do not know. But what that man did to that boy and others who knew what was going on has left a standing impression for generations to come. - Love is patient, is kind, is not self serving (1 Cor. 13). A crisis becomes greater if no man share in his conflict.
3. He had a provisional love (Mark 6:7-11). Jesus never lets his laborer go unrequited.
a. Our provisional care extends to those who preach, the widows and orphans in need, and our fellow man who has fallen on hard times. This love lends, hoping nothing in return so we may be the children of the Highest (Lk. 6:35).
4. He had a saving love (Matt. 14:25-31). A few steps on faith, one step in doubt yet the compassionate Jesus spared his life. Why let a good man drown because of one false move?
a. Herein lies a colossal challenge - to rescue the perishing time and time again. Like a starfish which as been washed ashore but is tossed back into the sea may be swept again tomorrow back onto the sand. How many times shall I forgive my brother? As many times as you can help him back into the sea.
5. He had a love which never took anything from them except their time and their heart (Matt. 19:27-29).
a. You love your freedom? Pay taxes. You love to do your own thing? Prepare for the consequences. You love God? Expect blessings - not financial freedom but blessings. Loving one another as we ought means when the unexpected happens we should be Christian brethren who help replace the loss and discomfort; who heals and nurtures the wounded; who visit when imprisoned by despair. We should be people who owes no man but to love him more and more (Rom. 13:8).
6. Finally we see Jesus having a love which was sacrificial (Jn. 15:13). But not only did he lay his life down, he left gifts for us to be filled with all the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:7, 8, 11-13).
a. A man may die for his country simply because he believes in that‘cause’ for which he is fighting. Then a man may give his life in service to his fellow man because he wants what is best for others. Jesus wants us to have heaven. We will never earn it.
Likewise, we should love one another in helping them get to heaven because that is what we want for them. Share the love, and that is what you will get for yourself. When Jesus died he left gifts for men - What gift will you leave for your fellow man? How to be a good parent, how to face personal tragedy with unwavering faith, how to be patient with the needy, how to give liberally, how to save souls, how to .... you fill in the blank. Loving our brethren as Jesus love his disciples will help us fill in the blank.

CONCLUSION:
A. A new commandment - love in action - not merely in words or emotions.
B. We need to love because this world becomes a very hostile place without it.
C. We want to love as Jesus love his disciples -
a. Have a mobilizing love not a paralyzing one.
b. Have a kind of love which calms one during their crisis.
c. Have a love that provides for our brother’s need.
d. Have a love that will not take nothing from another except their timeand heart.
e. Have a love that is sacrificial, giving spiritual gifts to men.
After I leave for worlds unknown - what will I leave behind?

Don't Loose Hope

Here it is - make it a better one. Brrr.. its cold --- Yeah!

Lk. 13:10-17 The text in Luke gives three reasons why there is hope for me.
I. Jesus Notices And Cares About My Pain. That’s why there’s hope for me.
II. Jesus Is Powerful Enough To Heal My Affliction. That’s why there’s hope for me.
III. Jesus Will Explain That Satan, Not God, Is The Cause of All Misery We Encounter. Therefore, I can hope in God. Truth be told, there are probably many here this hour dealing with unresolved hurt. Pain in their lives over something that is still lingering to this very day. Maybe it is the loss of a loved one. Perhaps a broken relationship. Possibly a failure in the workplace, or a moral indiscretion in your life, or simply letting someone down. It could be you’ve recently received some bad news. Whatever be the case, one thing is certain—unless hurts are dealt with, they will haunt you for the rest of your life. When we let the hurt linger, we open the door to resentment—resentment toward others, ourselves, even God. And often, instead of dealing with the hurt immediately, we have the tendency to hide it away, ignore it, and try to never deal with it. What is likely to happen is that we begin that process we begin that hour to live lives of regret, resentment, and remorse - spiritual collapse.

The problem comes when we try and resolve hurts and disappointments in ways other than God intended. Some people try and resolve their pain in tangible things. Sometimes it’s alcohol, cigarettes, drugs. Sometimes it is in shopping—you know, go on a shopping binge. It could be that, it’s a cleaning binge. You know, you get so mad, you’ve just gotta clean something. Or maybe it’s a drive, or a golf outing, or all kinds of different things. (some of which are not wrong in and of themselves) But when you try and substitute your own method of resolving hurts, painful disappointments, you will never resolve them, only postpone them.

Read Luke 13:10-17

Bum Phillips, professional football coach once made the comment, "There are two types of coaches in the NFL: them that have been fired, and them that are gonna be fired." His statements applies to our topic today as well. There are two types of people in the world. Those who have been hurt, and those who will be hurt. We can’t escape it. Neither can we avoid it. At some time or another, we’ll all get damaged. When you make a commitment to follow Christ, you don’t receive an exemption from receiving demonic devilish damage. Source www.sermonnotes.com “Hope For Those Who Hurt” by Steve May.

Even though all of us will experience hurts, sometimes very deep hurts, in life, we do not have to lose hope. And hope is a recurrent melody throughout the Bible. When Eve lost Able, hope of righteousness was revived in Seth. When the world became corrupt, hope for man was reestablished through Noah. When it appeared all humanity had fallen again into the clutches of paganism and idolatry, hope was found in the faith of Abraham and promises given to him which offered not only him hope, but the entire race of humankind until the end of the world. When Abraham’s descendants seemed to be forgotten in a foreign land, hope came about through a man called Moses, who reminded us that there was one coming after him who was greater than he. When it appeared that the cause of deliverance was lost, hope was manifested in the parting of the Red Sea. Even after the conquest of the land of Promise, and every man doing that which was right in his own eyes, God offered hope by protecting his future through Judges, kings and divine intervention. When his people faltered on their part of the divine contract, (you obey I’ll bless) the holy spirit offered hope, through the prophets, to those in captivity promising to return the faithful remnant to the land which was promised. And after 400 years of silence, hope was revived when they heard ‘a voice in the wilderness’ preaching, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight.” After all the miracles, teachings, and divine activity, man betrayed and killed the Hope of glory. But you can’t kill divine hope. Hope ascended in no less than three days as a mighty angel rolled the stone away and the Son of God came forth to sit on the right hand of God where he intercedes for you and me this very hour giving us hope. Jesus offers hope to the hurting. May we all be encouraged this hour - regardless of our seemingly hopeless situation, God knows how to offer HOPE!

The text in Luke gives three reasons why there is hope for me.
I. Jesus Notices And Cares About My Pain. That’s why there’s hope for me.
II. Jesus Is Powerful Enough To Heal My Affliction. That’s why there’s hope for me.
III. Jesus Will Explain That Satan, Not God, Is The Cause of All Misery We Encounter. Therefore, I can hope in God.

Before I begin to explain and expound these three reasons as they are found in our Scripture text today, I want to briefly explain this woman’s condition. In verse 11 the Bible says that she was crippled, bent over and could not straighten up at all and that she had been this way for eighteen years.

Medically, this disease is probably what physician’s today would call Marie-Strümpell Disease, a fusion of the spinal bones. Early in the course of the disease, sufferers often find that the pain is relieved somewhat when they lean forward. So they often go through the day leaning slightly forward, and gradually their spine begins to fuse. The more they lean, in order to relieve the pain, the greater the angle, until a patient might be bent almost double, as the lady in our story. Source: Healing the Woman with a Bent Back by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson www.jesuswalk.com

What a terrible disease! Wreaking havoc on every aspect of her life: physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, etc. Her hurts and bondage is symbolic of all of our hurts and needs. We are doubled over by our pain, disappointments, and grieved by our sins. The way Jesus responded to her dilemma is the way we can expect Him to respond to ours.

There is hope for me because…

I. Jesus Notices And Cares About My Pain. Verses 10-12 One of the first things I want you to observe in these verses is that Jesus was not indifferent to the hurt, pain and despair which this woman was experiencing. She did not go unnoticed by Jesus. He has an eye for the hurting. He noticed and called to her even though there is no record that she ever approached him. He reached out to her in the midst of her pain because He is aware and concerned with her hurts as well as all of our struggles.

This was not a typical way to conduct the synagogue service! Jesus response to her was not socially expected or even accepted. Women in that culture were generally thought little of and usually ignored. Why then did Jesus take notice of her and make a point to respond to her need immediately and publicly? Is it not because Jesus notices and cares about people in pain! He has great compassion on those who are burdened, depressed, overwhelmed, and often ignored by people in general.

Yes, Jesus cares for all people but those who were hurting always seemed to receive special attention and responses from Him. In New Testament times women, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and widows were the most oppressed, ignored, hurting, and hopeless of people yet these are the very people to whom Jesus ministered most often and most powerfully. Why? It is just his nature: Jesus Notices And Cares for Hurting People.

You do not ever need to think that Jesus is unaware of your situation or unmoved by your tears (Psa. 56:8). If he numbered every hair on my head he knows every tear which has fallen from my eye. Jesus is not indifferent to your pain. Some people have an erroneous idea that God does not take personal and emotional interest in us petty humans. This just isn’t the truth. Jesus expressed compassion for the hurting on numerous occasions and He is the perfect expression of God the Father. Through His life we know that God cares deeply for hurting people. You may not understand many things that you are going through or why your prayers appear to be unheard but you can be confident that God notices and cares about your pain. Even when Paul was in great distress he could offer hope to the troubled Corinthian church - 2 Cor. 1:3-4. God doesn’t just have compassion, He designed compassion. God doesn’t just comfort us; HE IS COMFORT.

Since we have a Lord who notices the hurting and has compassion on the burdened, we have the responsibility to do the same! We should not be indifferent to the hurting or unresponsive to the sorrowful and troubled. Hurting people should not be an afterthought in our prayers or our daily lives rather they should be our first priority. Verses 14,15

In these two verses we see that Jesus rebuked those who ignored people in despair. This religious leader was more focused on religious rules and maintaining the order of service than in ministering to hurting people. He had no joy, no praise, and no relief at this woman’s healing. Jesus was greatly angered by this uncaring, indifferent response. There is a message for us in this text. Jesus is saying, you can have your praise and worship, teachings, and communion and still be lost. Never forget that hurting people matter to God. Make sure you reach out to them. This religious leader basically said to this woman and to the crowd that now is not the time or the place for healing but to comeback at another time. What hypocrisy! She has been this way for eighteen years! You wouldn’t let your animal go without water one day because of religious tradition or scruples why should this "daughter of Abraham", an Israelite, wait another moment? Jesus expects hurting people to be the priority. Jesus cares for the hurting and He insists that we do so also.

Illustration: Six young men were slated to compete against one another in Seattle, Washington. The event was the hundred-yard dash. The men lined up, waited for the starting gun and took off in a sprint. About halfway down the track the man in front stumbled and fell, skinning his hands and knees. The other five men stopped and helped him up. After they brushed him off they decided to finish the race together, holding hands. None of the judges could tell who won the blue ribbon; none of them could see through their tears. No one in the stands that day would ever forget this demonstration of compassion. As the race ended the crowd stood and cheered for 10 minutes. These young men were competing in the Special Olympics; and they showed that they cared more for a hurting friend than for winning a race. There is hope for you if you are hurting today because God does not leave you behind in the race of life. He is not indifferent to your pain and the brethren here are not indifferent to your anxieties and wish to help.

II. Now let’s notice that Jesus Is Powerful Enough To Heal Hurting People. 12,13 That’s why I can have hope. Jesus’ compassion would be nice but of limited comfort and encouragement if that is all that He can offer us. If the only thing Jesus can do is sympathize with us then we are still hopeless. The good news is that Jesus is not only compassionate but He is also powerful! He can heal your hurts; He can lose your bondage’s, and He can change your situation.

As we see in this story, there is no situation, no matter how bad that is too great for Jesus. This was the worst kind of medical condition. A medical condition that to this day does not have a cure. Yet this did not pose a problem for Jesus. She had also been in this situation a long, long time but again that was not a problem for Jesus. I want you to understand that nothing you are going through or ever will go through is beyond the power of Jesus Christ to heal and restore if you work with him on his terms.

You may have suffered for many years as this woman did but you can still be hopeful. There is hope because there is Jesus. He set this woman free from her infirmity and He can set you free from yours also. Never ever give up hope! No matter what type of problem, hurt, or bondage you may be facing you can be hopeful because... Jesus Is Powerful Enough To Heal Hurting People.

If you are physically sick - He can heal you. A man was dying from cancer. The preacher came to visit and asked him, “How are you today.” The man looked into the eyes of the preacher and said, “I’m almost well.” If your marriage is troubled - He can restore it. If your ministry is a mess - He can repair it. There is nothing beyond the power of Jesus Christ. I know some of you may have been hurting for a long time and you have lost hope. I know some of you no longer really expect Jesus to intervene in your situation or need. I need you to look at this story and renew your faith and expectations. Let your faith be strengthened by God’s word. Keep your hopes up because Jesus still heals the hurting. I’ve been to too many hospitals and came back rejoicing because Jesus heals. I rejoice everytime I hear about new procedures which can extend life. Don’t tell me that man is doing this on his own. Man can’t do anything without God permitting it to happen. Jesus is powerful, yea powerful beyond the abilities of man. And when I hear, “There is nothing we can do,” and a person rises from their bed whole, I again am caused to hope in God who can raise the living and the dead!

Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see in fear and put their trust in the Lord.”

There are Christians today who no longer pray for healing because they have lost their faith and don’t think God can heal. There are Christians today whose marriages are failing yet they have no real expectation for Jesus to restore their marriage because they think it is too late. There are people who have quit serving in ministry out of discouragement because they think their situation is beyond God’s help. Our thinking needs to change if it is like this. We should never lose hope because… Jesus Is Powerful Enough To Heal Hurting People. I thus far have taught you, and you’ve been good listeners - that - Jesus Notices And Cares About My Pain. That’s why there’s hope for me. And, Jesus Is Powerful Enough To Heal My Affliction. That’s why there’s hope for me. Now let’s change gears and see that:

III. Jesus Will Explain, Satan, Not God, Is The Cause of All Misery We Encounter. Therefore, I can hope in God. Verses 15,16

People frequently ask: Why is God putting me through this? Why did God give me cancer? Why did God take my child? Why is God breaking apart my family? Why did it have to be me that got laid off. Many times people assume that God must be behind all of our hurting and that there must be some mysterious divine plan in all of this. How can we have hope if we believe that God is the cause of our hurting? You can’t!

Fortunately there is hope for our hurting because Jesus explains that our discomfort is not God’s doing! He clearly says, “Satan (not God) has kept (this women) bound for eighteen long years.” (Vs. 16) In verse 11 Luke also explicitly notes that an evil spirit caused this woman’s physical infirmity.

Freud has taught us to blame our parents for all the bad behavior we encounter. I guess this ideology has passed on to some Christians. It is wrong to blame Father God for all of the bad things in life. The Bible teaches us that Satan is the one who brought pain, suffering and sorrow into the world through sin. God created everything good!

Look at the ministry of Jesus. Much of his ministry was spent healing and easing the suffering of people. Jesus looked upon death and diseases as intruders and aliens in God’s world.

The next time something really bad happens to you, don’t be so sure to blame God for that. It might be worth asking “Could this be the work of Satan against me?” Source: STRUGGLING WITH SUFFERING by Mark A. Scott

Having said that, I want to emphasize that in the majority of cases the Bible tells us that Satan is directly or indirectly the explanation for the troubles, pains, and hurts of this world. This is good news and reason for those who are hurting to have hope because it means that God is not against us rather He is for us. There is reason to hope because Jesus is greater than Satan. As John explains, “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world” 1 Jn. 4:4. There is hope for the hurting because… Jesus Explains That Satan, Not God, Is The Cause of Hurting People.

It was a balmy October afternoon in 1982. Badger Stadium in Madison Wisconsin was packed. That day there were more than 60,000 die-hard University of Wisconsin football fans watching their team take on the Michigan State Spartans. It didn’t take long to determine who the better team was. Michigan State was moping up the field with the Badgers. But what seemed odd was that even as the score became increasingly lopsided, there were bursts of applause and shouts of joy from the Wisconsin fans. How could they cheer when their team was getting trounced so decisively? It turns out that 70 miles away the Milwaukee Brewers were beating the St. Louis Cardinals in game 3 of the 1982 World Series. Many of the fans in the stands were listening to portable radios and responding to what was going on in another game, in another sport, in another place.

There is something to be said for being plugged into what is going on elsewhere. Sometimes, the things that are going on where you are have become extremely difficult. It may do us well, that during these stressful moments we get plugged into what is going on elsewhere. No matter how difficult or even desperate our situation seems, Paul says we can face it with hope. (Read 1 Cor. 15:14-19)
1. Our hope keeps us from settling for the things of this world. Isn’t it strange, that the only thing said about Methuselah is that he lived to be 969 years old. If all we want to do is live with out living for God we have no hope.
TIM BOND: A philosopher of earlier in this century, Bertrand Russell was an outspoken atheist. He even wrote a book called Why I Am Not A Christian. When Russell was 81 years old, he was interviewed on a British Broadcasting Corporation radio talk show. The interviewer asked him what he had to hang onto when death was obviously so close. Russell responded, "I have nothing to hang onto but grim, unyielding despair." What an honest yet hopeless response. You see, when you live only for this life, when you invest your life in the flesh, when you think that this is all there is, you can’t help but live in despair. We must be tuned in elsewhere during our pain and misery.
2. This kind of hope turns our eyes away from our pain to God’s glory. I have taught us that Jesus Notices And Cares for Hurting People, that he is powerful enough to heal our hurt and that Satan is the cause of all pain, sorrow and misery in this world. What we must do now is “tune in elsewhere” during our painful moments. We must strive to find a way to give God glory in the mist of our misery. Job did - Paul did - Jesus did - we can too.

A little girl had to pass every day by a cemetery to go home. When asked if she was afraid, she said, “No, my home is just on the other side.” Jesus cares when we hurt, we must care for those who hurt. Jesus is powerful enough to heal us when we hurt. We must believe and live like he can. So let’s not settle for the things this world has to offer, let us be tuned in elsewhere so when we do hurt we can find a way to turn our eyes away from our pain to God’s glory and the glory God has prepared for the Christian.
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