John 11 – The Journey – JESUS’ MESSAGE FROM HIS FRIENDS

These verses present a little family that perhaps was the closest of any in the human
affections of Jesus.  The two sisters , Martha and Mary are mentioned in Luke 10; In this chapter Mary takes the spotlight.   In chapter 11 it is Martha who appears at her best.

1. It was after his conversation with Martha that Jesus gave the greatest proof all
   demonstrations of His power.
2. It was Martha whose faith was involved in rolling away the stone.
3. It was Martha whose obedient faith moved forward to cooperate with the Lord.
4. It was Martha who saw the glory of God.

Lazarus was a beloved friend of Jesus.  Scripture gives a wonderful picture of the human life of the Lord in this little private family in the village  of Bethany.

1. This family welcomed Him and offered him a place to rest and the refreshment of loving human fellowship.

2. Jesus loved them all with tender personal affection. (11:5)

3. The sisters were so sure of their friendship that they sent word to Jesus that they urgently needed Him. “LORD THE ONE YOU LOVE IS SICK”

4. Jesus sent back words of encouragement “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it
is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

5. Jesus waited two days before going to them.  He waited for God’s timing for His Journey.  Knowing that only as He was in His Father’s will would God’s fullest blessing
come to this family that He loved so dearly.

6. Jesus waiting upon God resulted in a far greater miracle and glory to God than if He had simply healed Lazarus.  It gave birth to faith in those who visited the Bethany family and in an outstanding development of faith in Martha.

7. We need to follow Jesus’ actions. We need to beware of following a routine of merely obvious actions and decisions.

8. First acknowledge God by prayer in all our ways so that He may direct our paths into His ways. (Proverbs 3:5-6) This will result in new reactions and meaningful attitudes.

“It is said that sometimes the good is the enemy of the best.”

Questions to Comment on:

Do you sometimes lose blessings because you act only upon your initiative instead of first asking God for His highest will for you in your present circumstance.

Are you sometimes too impatient to wait for His time but instead “run” before Him in impulsive actions?

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1. The raising of Lazarus demonstrated the truth of Jesus’ claims as Lord and giver of life.  This final sign in itself constitutes the most powerful commentary and the greatest proof of any claim Jesus had made.
2. The raising of Lazarus anticipated in measure the resurrection at the last day of
   all who believe in Jesus.  It is “in measure’ Lazarus emerged in the same perishable body as before. The Christian, you and I, is to be raised with an
   imperishable body that has been substantially changed by God. (See ICorinthians 6:14; 15:51-53; Philippians 3:20-21; IJohn 3:2-3.)
3. The resurrection of Lazarus from death to life on this earth symbolizes Christian conversion.  The pattern of every true Christian life is that of being “made alive” from the state of being “dead in our sins, and “raised” to live a new quality of life on earth in preparation for the full redemption from all sin in heaven.

I came across this some time ago and have always enjoyed the principle of the story….ENJOY..

CARROT, EGG OR COFFEE BEAN

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. 

She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up.  She was tired of fighting and struggling.

It seemed as one problem was solved and a new one arose.

Her mother without answering led her daughter to the kitchen.  She filled three pots with water.  Without saying a word she placed a carrot in one, an egg in another, and coffee beans in the third.

When the water came to a boil she carefully removed each items and placed them in separate bowls. 

The curious daughter looking intently asked, “What’s the point, mother?” 

Turning to her daughter she asked “Tell me what you see”

Carrots, eggs, and coffee.” She replied. 

Her mother said, “feel the carrots.  She did and noted that they were soft.

“Break one of the eggs, her mother directed.  After pulling off the shell she observed the hard-boiled egg.  Finally she sipped the coffee.  The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. 

Ok, Mom, what’s the point? 

Her mom explained that each of the objects had faced the same adversity (circumstances, or unwanted change), boiling water, but each reacted differently.

The carrot, strong, hard, unrelenting going in.  After being subjected to the water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell protected its liquid interior.  After sitting in the boiling water (the adversity) its inside became hardened. 

The ground coffee beans were unique, in the boiling water, they changed the water.

“WHICH ARE YOU?” The mother asked her daughter.  WHEN ADVERSITY KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR, HOW DO YOU RESPOND, ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN.

BECOMING GODLY IN AN UNGODLY WORLD

by Leona M. Kidd

PART I 

INTRODUCTION

Godliness outside of the Word of God and an intimate relationship with Jesus and others will not happen.  God’s Word is how he reveals himself to us…..His word is our plumb line, our standard. 

TITUS 1:1-2

          “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”

Principle:  KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S TRUTH LEADS TO GODLINESS

TITUS 2:1-1

In verse 1 Paul is exhorting Titus in his responsibility to “speak the things of sound doctrine” 

Just as a little baby needs the right conditions to grow and develop, so must we as Christians be in right relationships for the feeding and rooting of ourselves in the Word of God.  We need to be in an environment and relationship that nurtures the Word of God IN us. 

Principle:  SOUND DOCTRINE will produce a rooted Christian who then will produce fruit.  The renewing of our minds comes from reading, hearing and meditating on the Word of God.

TEACH-TRAIN-BE AN EXAMPLE is what Paul is instructing Titus to train Christians to do. 

To teach, train, and be an example requires a teacher, student relationship.  This is the relationship of a disciple, or a mentor, and a mentee.  We need these close relationships to develop into a godly woman of God.

JOHN 13:35

          “By this all men will know that you are my DISCIPLES, if you have love for one another.”

We are exhorted in Matthew, “A disciple is not above his/her teacher, nor a slave above his master.”  There is no higher ground in God’s kingdom. (Matt. 10:24)

Principle:  DISCIPLESHIP/MENTORING IS THE TEACHING OF SOUND DOCTRINE AND IS COMMITTED TO THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF GOD’S WORD IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES.

Today we will talk about the P.M.S. of a mentoring relationships:

PURPOSE, METHOD, & SATISFACTION FOR MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS

RELATIONSHIPS for the purpose of Mentoring is to be BASED ON SOUND DOCTRINE and has a GOAL……This then brings us to the purpose

1.    PURPOSE FOR A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP

Ø    Train to love

Ø    Spiritual growth

Ø    Accountability

A.    TRAIN TO LOVE

Jesus in the book of John commands us to Love one another (John 13:34-35, John 15:17) and in Matthew

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus tells us, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND….YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

Principle:  Our relationships with others is the manifestation of God’s love in our lives. 

1 John 4:12….”If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”   “From our innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”

When we are in relationships with another – we will reflect the love of Jesus.

B.    SPIRITUAL GROWTH

   OUR INNER PERSON will Grow when we are in A right relationship with God and one another.  It will develop fruit. 

 In Gal. 5:22-23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Principle: You know you are producing fruit from the inner manifestation of the Holy Spirit IF others defer to your purity/godliness.

 Spiritual Growth Promotes:  ACTION

                     The fruit KINDNESS involves an outward

                      action and is gentle. 

      In Luke 7:13 Jesus demonstrated kindness, He SAW the widow bringing her only son out of the city for burial, He FELT compassion, then He ACTED in saying “Young man arise.”

  Spiritual Growth will:

Stretch us out of our comfort zones.  We will grow spiritually when we get involved in another person’s life.  It will develop our patience, acceptance as we learn to love one another. 

Principle:  A close relationship with another will grow us up spiritually, and deepen our faith in God.  We will learn to respond properly to stress, pain, and suffering in our lives. 

          C.  ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountability to another leads to confession.

We are to confess our sins to God, and one another. 

Confession holds us accountable….we are to have an attitude of readiness to admit our failures and accept responsibility.  Be HONEST

We are told in the scriptures to “share our burdens with one another”, and to confess our sins.

Confession requires repentance.  Repentance is a complete turning away from our sin. 

Guilt over sin will be used by the enemy of our souls as a stronghold to accuse us day and night, weaken our faith, and render us ineffective.

When we confess our sins to God He is faithful to remove them as far as the east is from the west.

When we can be truly honest with another, confessing our sins, and praying with another.  God’s healing is promoted.

Our Tendency Is To Confess FOR one another, and pray AT one another.

     CONFIDENTIALLITY – In any relationship is vital.  What is said to you is never yours to share.  We are to “Share OUR burdens,” not someone else’s.

GOALS OF THE PURPOSE OF MENTORING

Ø    Train to love God and others

Ø    Spiritually grow in our inner person, promote action towards others, & stretching growth

Ø    Accountability to another includes confession, repentance, and confidentiality

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED – Luke 7:36-50  Part 1, Scenes 1 and 2

                                       Study by Para-chaplain Leona Kidd

SCENE 1

READ:  LUKE  7:36

  Jesus was into the home of the Pharisees.  The Pharisees were a Jewish sect, upholders of tradition, lovers of display (show n tell), they were cruel persecutors; they perverted scripture, were blind to spiritual things and refused to accept Christ.         Jesus later described them in

                        Matt.12:34, 34, as SNAKES

                        Matt 15:12-14, as BLIND

                         Matt. 23:13-19, as HYPOCRITES

                         Matt. 23:33, as SONS OF VIPERS

                         John 8:13,44 as CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL

YET – JESUS WENT IN AND DINED WITH THEM.

WHY would Jesus who knew all of these things about them willingly go into the home of Simon the Pharisee?

 Because Jesus is a “FRIEND to the worst sort of sinners, and he was also willing to be a friend to the Pharisees who would LISTEN to Him

JESUS ACCEPTS ALL WHO WILL COME TO HIM.  THATS WHEN WE ARE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

SCENE 2

READ Verses (Luke 7:37-39)

Close your eyes – picture a small room – Several men stretched out around a low table covered with food.  Their feet point away from the table. They are talking – when a woman enters the room – she is a known prostitute.

Yet  No one chases her out, which would have been customary, as a prophet did not allow a sinful woman to touch them.

This immoral, sinful woman begins anointing Jesus’ feet. Her tears fall on His feet; she takes her hair and begins wiping them with her long hair.  (proper women did not undo their hair in public) But she doesn’t care. 

Then she breaks the Alabaster jar of expensive oil and fills the room with its sweet fragrance.  She breaks the jar – symbolic of breaking away from her sins.  Her actions are an expression of her deep devotion to Jesus.

DID YOU GET THE PICTURE –

This woman was a prostitute.  We all know the definition of a prostitute.  You might be thinking WELL I’M NOT A PROSTITUTE But did you know that it also means someone devoted to corrupt or unworthy purposes.  Or a person who deliberately debases his or her talents. 

If we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness – Jesus will forgive us -  in the Greek forgiveness is  (Salach – saw-lakh)   He “Blots them out”, “Pardons us” and “Heals us from wounding”

 He removes our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.  (NOT NORTH TO SOUTH – EARTH REVOLVES IN THAT DIRECTION- BUT FROM EAST TO WEST – NEVER TO MEET UP WITH YOU AGAIN)

ROMAN 4:8 “…WHAT JOY FOR THOSE WHOSE SIN IS NO LONGER COUNTED AGAINST THEM BY THE LORD.”

God does not continue to credit unrighteousness to the sinner who repents, but forgives him.

I JOHN 1:8-9, “IF WE SAY WE HAVE NOT SIN, WE ARE ONLY FOOLING OURSELVES AND REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH.  BUT IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS TO HIM HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US AND TO CLEANSE US FROM EVERY WRONG.”

Asking for forgiveness provides us with a forgiveness that restores our communion with God. 

There is an old saying that says, “If you feel like God is not near, Guess who moved?” 

If you want to FEEL close to Jesus – STAY close to Jesus. 

When we have believed that Jesus is the Son of God, that he lived, died on the cross, and on the third day rose again, removing the bondage of our sins, and today sits at the right hand of God —– then WE ARE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. 

    (To be continued)

III.  SPIRITUAL MOTIVATION OF ONE WHO FORGIVES (19-25)

1.     Recognition of an Unpayable debt (19) Paul’s promise to make restitution – restore what was taken.  (example: Time, money, broken relationships, etc.) This requires Grace

2.     Possibility of Being a blessing (20)  Paul’s appeal is for Philemon to refresh his heart3.     Necessity of Obedience and accountability(21) Paul appeals to his knowledge of Philemon’s character – and his obedience to what was spiritually right “confident of your obedience”4.     Importance of Maintaining Fellowship (22-24) Paul begins conclusion of his letter with the expectation of hospitality, and sends greetings from fellow laborers Paul’s closing prayer is for their health and peace is an expression of love and respect.He then ends with his salutation:  (vs.25)“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”Grace –  Is God’s free favor and love for us because of what Jesus completed on the cross   The spirit – influences the whole person and is tobe an outflow in gracious and holy living Jesus is in communion with our spirit Thought:  WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LOVE AND FORGIVENESS CAN YOU FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED OR OFFENDED YOU. ***Can you let it go?***Can you before a Holy God go and say FATHER      FORGIVE ME, FATHER I FORGIVE THEM? ***Can you in your heart of hearts forgive and receive that       person back? True Forgiveness means to treat the one we have forgiven as we would want to be treated. Is there someone you have forgiven but you need to show kindness or receive back? Do you need to demonstrate self sacrifice towards another?  Do you need to show grace to somebody else – Not because they deserve it.  But the same way that God gives us grace when He welcomes us into His arms and takes us in as His daughter/son, an heir to the throne? The greatest commandment of all was when Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with your soul and with all your mind.  And love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-38, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28) Our relationship with God will enable us to have restored relationships with one another.   

We are called to demonstrate Agape love, unconditional love, that God showed and it is only through that love we can exhibit love and forgiveness

What are some things you have learned about love and forgiveness?

RECEPTION is the first step in the process of forgiveness (10-14)*It involves opening up your life and heart taking back the one who offended.* Philemon needed to receive Onesimus back because he was repentant, he was transformed, and had been proven faithful.Paul gives testimony to that in verses 10 he calls him “my son, Onesimus” and vs. 12 he says, “who is my very heart”   Sin is not glossed over nor the consequeneces of sinAs we look at 13 and 14 we see that Paul does not keep Onesimus for himself, and does not deny Philmenon’s civil rights – so he sends Onesimus back –  with the letter of appeal for Forgiveness and Reconciliation & offers Restitution FORGIVENESS, RECONCILLIATION, RESTORATION  (15-16)*Paul asks Philemon not only to welcome Onesimus back, but to restore him to service.   “No longer a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother. “               Forgiveness holds no hostages – God covers our sins with divine grace RESTITUTION (17-18)  is an essential component of forgiveness.  Paul offers to pay the debt for Onesimus – an essential component of forgiveness.Forgiveness….Reconcilliation…Restoration…Restitution          ***IT IS SAID THAT ‘NEVER ARE WE MORE LIKE GOD THAN WHEN WE FORGIVE. ***NEVER ARE WE MORE LIKE CHRIST THAN WHEN WE PAY SOMEONE ELSE’S DEBT SO THAT RECONCILIATION CAN TAKE PLACE.   Paul’s willingness to suffer the temporal consequences of Onesimus’s sin mirrors Christ’s willingness to suffer the eternal consequences of our sin on the Cross. The forgiveness that a believer finds in Christ is beautifully portrayed by this analogy in PhilemonØ     Onesimus is quilty (vs 11,18)Ø     Paul intercedes on his behalf (vs 10, 17)Ø     Paul becomes Onesimus substitute and pays his debt (vs 8, 18,19)Ø     By Philemon’s gracious act Onesimus will be restored in a new relationship (as a beloved brother and not a useless slave. (Vs 15,16)Ø     We are much like Onesimus in our sinsØ     Paul becomes his advocacy is parallel to Christ’s work of mediation for us before the Father.

Ø     Onesimus was condemned by law – but saved by Grace.

 Who should you be open to forgive today

I am enamored at the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift of Jesus. That God has given us new life and rewritten old laws is incredible. Today I’ll read from Matthew 12:1-21 from the New International Version, you can read along at BibleGateway.com if you’d like.

Fruit of the Spirit – The Love Podcast
To read along…

Matthew 12:18 from the NIV

Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

That is my favorite verse. God gave this gift to Jesus and he in turn gave it to us. How incredible is that. He gave it to “the one I love.” Does that not speak volumes about love? We can empower good through loving others.

Is there someone you can love where you think love could make a real impact on another’s life?

Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Love was the first fruit listed in Galatians 5:22. Why? Because it is the most important. We have to love God with all our heart, love ourselves and love our neighbor. Without this love it seems hard to accomplish any of the fruit of the Spirit.

How should we love? As God loves us.

I hope you all found something meaningful in this week’s topic of patience. If not, be patient with me because God isn’t finished with me yet…I couldn’t resist.

I thank Mikey the Rhino from Election-Coverage.com for his post, Dear Christian and hope that we all learned how Christians are perceived. Hopefully we are exercising the first Fruit of the Spirit and remembering to love others that do not have the Spirit of God present in their lives and we hope that we have patience with God because saving people is on His timeline, not ours.

If you have any thoughts on patience please let us know. We’ll be patient and wait for your comments. Enjoy your weekend and God Bless!