Falling in love with Jesus pt 2

MARY AND GOD’S WILL (Day 4 and 5)

          Mary’s answer to Gabriel as he brings God’s message to her that she will bear the Son of God is significant “I AM THE LORD’S SERVANT, MARY ANWERED, MAY IT BE TO ME AS YOU HAVE SAID.”

1. 1.     DO YOU WONDER HOW YOU WOULD HAVE ANSWERED?
2. 2.     Mary’s response shows belief, trust, and relinquishment and total obedience.

          HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN IT IS GOD’S WILL?

          As the story between Mary and Elizabeth begins to unfold we see the steps of KNOWING GOD’S WILL.

1. 1.     THE SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

          Gabriel, the messenger of God tells Mary she will bear the Son of God.  He benchmarks the date that it was being told in the 6^th month of her relative Elizabeth’s pregnancy.  (Remember Elizabeth’s age and that she has been in seclusion for 5 months)

1. 2.     THE TRUST & OBEDIENCE

          May it Be as you have said.  Mary submits to God’s will in the face of tremendous personal jeopardy. (vs.38)

1. 3.     THE CONFIRMATION FROM THE SAINTS

          Elizabeth’s baby – John the Baptist – leaps for joy in his mother’s womb upon Mary’s arrival.  (Remember no one knows yet of Mary’s pregnancy.)  There was a reason for Elizabeth & Mary being together the 1^st 3 months of Mary’s pregnancy.  We don’t know all of the reasons, but we do see specifically that it was to confirm to Mary that she was indeed carrying God’s son.

1. 4.     THE CONFIRMATION SCRIPTURALLY

          Elizabeth prophesizes and says to Mary – “the mother of my Lord.

a.  An idea or thought will come to us in our hearts and minds.

b.  Confirmation will come through His Word.  Never contradictory.

c.  Confirmation will come thru the saints.

d.  There will not be any red lights.  If you get a yellow it means caution, or wait.  Green light – YOU GO GIRL!

1. 5.     THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP

          There are two types of mentoring relationships…formal and informal.

1. 1.     INFORMAL – Usually a friendship relationship.  But includes learning spiritual truths and sharing joys and concerns from one another.  Iron sharpening Iron.
2. 2.     FORMAL – A teacher, student relationship, mentor, mentee.  Always has a focus of maturing in their most Holy faith.  Growing from the milk of the Word to the Meat.

      Shows them how to walk in the Light –being filled with the Spirit.  Learning to apply God’s truths to practical living.

Zep. 3:17 – HE QUIETS US WITH HIS LOVE

IN ALL SITUATIONS ‘AM I NOT STILL GOD’S

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by Leona Kidd

Falling in love with Jesus Lesson 2

1.  RELATIONSHIPS

          A wonderful relationship between the Elizabeth, mother of John, and Mary, mother of Jesus.  We do see informal mentoring between the two women by their words and encouragements.

2.  ANTICIPATION (Days 1 and 2)

          1.  We should have a godly anticipation of seeing Jesus face to face.

          2.  Jesus made the world, but the world did not recognize Him (John         1:10)  WILL YOU RECOGNIZE HIM WHEN HE COMES FOR

                   YOU? 

1. 3.     We are drawn to Jesus thru His creation.  God draws and woos us thru His Holy Spirit.  In Psalms 8:3-4 “WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM?”
2. 4.     WHEN DID YOU BECOME AWARE THAT GOD WAS PERSONAL AND MINDFUL OF YOU?
3. 5.     C.S. Lewis says he was “Surprised by joy” at his conversion.  WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE.  DID YOU SAY THAT SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENED IN MY LIFE.  OUR HEART OF HEARTS KNOWS!!!!
4. 6.     We are cautioned about losing that passion of our first love.  Rev. 2:4 says “YOU HAVE FORSAKEN YOUR FIRST LOVE.  REMEMBER THE HEIGHT FROM WHICH YOU HAVE FALLEN.  REPENT AND DO THE THINGS YOU DID AT FIRST.”

If you have believed in the Lord Jesus as your Savior with your heart, mind and soul, the OVERFLOW will be a confession of faith (Rom. 10:10)

You will want to tell others and share your JOY

3.  BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Day 3)

          The study uses fairy tales to illustrate “Love’s Eyes”.  In Beauty and the Beast the illustration is simple.  She is gorgeous and he is beastly. 

As we walk in the light of God’s holiness we develop “Love’s Eyes”  We see

Jesus and others with eyes of love. Unconditional love, instead of conditional.

God always honors prayer – Have you asked Him to help you fall more in love with Jesus and to grow in confidence of His love for you?

Listen to this bible study - diamonds

INTRODUCTION

Palestine in Jesus’ day was 120 miles from north to south, there were three specific division of territory.  In the north was the province of Galilee; in the south Judea; and in the middle was the land called Samaria.

The Assyrians conquered Samaria and deported a large number of Jews.

Later King Assyria brought in pagan peoples to occupy Samaria and they intermarried with the remaining Jews.

A feud separated the Jews of north and south from the Samaratans.  Jews traveling from Judea to Galilee went around Samaria even though it was twice as long just to avoid contamination.

Jesus and His disciples left Judea and headed towards Galilee.

“NOW HE HAD TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA.”

We are not told why in scriptures that Jesus had to go through Samaria, but as he takes this journey we see that this became a Divine Appointment.

I.  FIRST STAGE OF CONVERSATION

A.  Upon arriving in Samaria Jesus sat down at Jacob’s Well to rest – while the disciples went into town to buy food.

B.  While they were gone a Samaritan woman approached the well carrying her water jug on her head.

This woman was an outcast, a woman of ill repute.

C.  Jesus wins the woman’s confidence when He asks her “Will you give me a drink?”

A rabbi was forbidden to ever greet a woman in public, not even if it is his wife, daughter, or sister.

Here we see Jesus speaking openly to the Samariatan woman, knowing is a woman of ill repute.

D.  We also see here that Jesus’ asking for a service immediately places Himself under a kind obligation to her.

E.  The woman replies (4:9)

“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?”

P.  By taking the initiative the Lord broke down all barriers and softened the woman heart.

II.  SECOND STAGE OF CONVERSATION (4:10-12)

A.  Jesus’ answer has 4 points:

1.  “If you knew the gift of God”

2.   “If you knew who I am”

3.   “If You would have asked Him for living

water”

4.   “I would have given you the living

water.”

Jesus alone has the power to give God’s gift of “living water” (fresh, flowing, spring water) not still or stagnant water.

The “Living Water” that Jesus gives to a person who asks is the Holy Spirit.

Spiritually “living water” symbolizes the inner spring of joy of the heart’s satisfaction that resides in the heart of the true believer.,

III.  THIRD STAGE OF COMMUNICATION

A.  Jesus explains the meaning of His offer of living water.

1.  Earthly water satisfies for only a moment (vs 13) and depends on external objects for conscious happiness.

So many people suffer from this kind of thirst.  They are alone, bored and miserable.  The Bible describes this thirst as the lust of the eyes (more things to own) and the cravings of sinful man. (more things to feel).  And the boasting of what he has (more things to be proud about)  SUCH THIRST IS A BOTTOMLESS PIT.

“For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world.    The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (I John 2:16-17)

2.  Spiritual water satisfies permanently (vs 14)

Key words are “eternal life” and “never thirst”.

3.  To drink of the living water Jesus promises to have one’s inmost needs met.  It is as though one had an eternal spring at the deepest core of our being.  The soul’s deepest thirst for love, peace, joy, and for a meaning to existence is immediately met.

Amid all of our trials and suffering that is part of every human being God’s gift of living water produces a profound contentment with God.

4.  The woman seemingly confused asks Jesus,

“Sir give me this water so that I won’t be thirsty.”

IV. FOURTH STAGE OF COMMUNICATION

A.  Conviction and Confession of Sin is a process.

Jesus tells the woman, “Go, call your husband”

That was Jesus’ way of revealing the woman’s deepest need.

He began opening the wound at the place where His cure was to begin.

The woman answers, “I have no husband.”

Her honest answer clears the way for a sincere confession.

Jesus brings everything into a clear light when he answers her “No husband, you have had five husbands….five divorces and now an illegitimate relationship.

Jesus used strong words that caused her to see her true state on her past life from God’s perspective.

BUT, in all this Jesus did not condemn her for her sin.  But awakened within her a heart hunger for God.  He leads her to know how to worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

THE FINALE….

The woman said, I know that the Messiah is coming.  When he comes he will explain everything to us.

JESUS DECLARED……

“I WHO SPEAK TO YOU AM HE.”

The woman went back to the town and said ‘COME SEE A MAN WHO TOLD ME EVERYTHING I EVER DID.”

Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony.

1.  They went out to see Jesus

2.  They heard

3.  They believed

Looking back on this we see that Jesus broke down walls of separation by journeying thru Samaria.

There was no discrimination

MANY BELIEVED and were added to the household of FAITH

Women Growing In Faith

Speaker:  Leona M. Kidd

A DIAMOND AMONGST THE COAL

John 4:1-54

February 2, 2011

Picture the scene.  The stone had been removed, and the grave lay open for all to see.  Jews clothed their dead in a linen garment, then tied up the arms and legs with bandages and wrapped the head in a towel.

Everyone knew that Lazarus was dead.

“Lazarus, come out!” echoed in the still air as onlookers were terrified as Lazarus appeared in the entrance of the cave.  His face was still covered with the burial cloth and his hand and feet bound with grave bandages.

Are you there.  Do you see.  Imagine the awed silence as Jesus quietly commanded Martha and Mary to untie the headcloth and the other bandages and they watched Lazarus walk over
to his Friend, the Lord Jesus, to thank Him.

Mary undoubtedly wept with joy, and Martha probably hurried into the house to change the funeral meal to a banquet of thanksgiving to God.

The Effect on the Sign on the bystanders; Always  a work of God and words of God
will divide the audience into two camps.

a. Those who believe the sign points to the divine authority of Jesus stand in contrast to those who insist that it just happened as one of those things and that it proves nothing.

b.   Many believed; others in opposition, informed the Pharisees.
CONCLUSION:

The raising of Lazarus is the precursor to Jesus ‘ resurrection. It is the last Sign of what is to come.

The journey begins and ends at the cross!

“It is written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31

The journey begins against the disciples objections and concern for jesus’ safety.  They reminded Jesus that a short while ago the Jews tried to stone Him.

JESUS’ REPLY TO THEM IS A PRINCIPLE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE.  ThE EMPHASIZED THAT THE lORD’S CHILDREN MUST WALK IN gOD’S LIGHT TO FINISH GOD’S WORK, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

TO WALK BY DAY IS TO WALK ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL.  TO DO THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS, FOR NO ONE CAN TOUCH US WHO ARE IN GOD’S WILL UNTI GOD’S ALLOTTED LIFE SPAN FOR US IS OVER.

Jesus’ arrival in Bethany was in the midst of Jewish mourning in full progress.  Lazarus was dead and because of the hot climate, had already been buried four days.

Martha and Mary were tormented with the IF ONLY scourge that plagues all of us in times of sorrow. “If only we had sent for Him earlier”; If only He had been here.”; then follows the second lash of the scourge. “It didn’t have to come to this”

Martha is a good example of continuing in this negative first reaction and she moved forward in faith (11:22)
Questions to comment on:

Will you adopt Martha’s stand which leads the way for us as Christians to stand in our faith in Jesus?

Will you say “God has some new blessing for me that will give glory to Himself”?

Will you expect this blessing and cooperate in faith will God for whatever He wants to do for you in and through this disaster or circumstance?

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 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!

Patience and Perseverance one in the same?

Consider the book of James 1:2-4

NIV

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

and

NKJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Much like the saying “God helps those who help themselves,” it is quite possible that being patient is more akin to persevering. Not necessarily suffering needlessly but more just being a strong and faithful believer without a doubt.

At gotQuestions.org their article “What does the Bible say about patience?” tells us the following:

“Although most people consider patience to be a passive waiting or gentle tolerance, most of the Greek words translated “patience” in the New Testament (KJV) are active, robust words. Consider, for example, Hebrews 12:1: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

Does one run a race by passively waiting for slow-pokes or gently tolerating cheaters? Certainly not! The word translated patience in this verse means endurance. A Christian runs the race patiently by persevering through difficulties in hope of heaven. In the Bible, patience is persevering towards a goal, enduring trials, or expectantly waiting for a promise to be fulfilled.”

Next time you tell someone they are trying your patience then perhaps you are complimenting you both. With maturity we strengthen our patience. We persevere, we endure and through it all we have faith and are rewarded for not doubting.

With this new perspective do you find that perhaps where you thought you were failing as being patient, that now perhaps you were actually succeeding as a persevering Christian?

When you consider being patient what first comes to mind? Are you waiting for something? Are you wanting and actively going after something?