Snapshot20 Mark 8:34-38
Community Group Questions
1. What areas of life do you find it hard to deny yourself?
2. What areas do you struggle with being obedient to the Lord?
3. What was the hardest situation in which being obedient to the Lord tested your commitment?
4. Are you continuing in a particular sin because you are stubborn?
5. Do you have a situation in life in which you have been arrogantly telling God what He should do for you?
6. Think about the people around you that are not Christians, where do they find meaning in life?
Vrs 34 Meaning of life according to Jesus
Deny self- William Lane says it this way "Jesus stipulated that those who wish to follow Him must be prepared to shift their center of gravity in their lives from a concern for self to the will of God"
It means we live to glorify God not ourselves. Once we start focusing in ourselves that is when the system breaks down.
Self-denial is not easy.
-It means that when someone wrongs you instead of trying to figure out how you can hurt them you figure out how you can help them.
-It means that when you have things for yourself to do you may have to put those things aside because you need to do something for someone else.
-It means giving up your rights for the rights of others.
Sometimes self denial on behalf of the Lord may end in death.
A trial court in Iran has issued its final verdict, ordering a Christian pastor to be put to death for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity, according to sources close to the pastor and his legal team.
Supporters fear Youcef Na-dark-hani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy, may now be executed at any time without prior warning, as death sentences in Iran may be carried out immediately or dragged out for years.
Most of us would agree that we would not want our self denial to end in physical death especially when you have a wife and two little ones.
=putting the will of Jesus before our own will.
Take up Cross- Positively, one must take up his cross, decisively saying yes to God’s will and way. Cross-bearing was not an established Jewish metaphor. But the figure was appropriate in Roman-occupied Palestine. It brought to mind the sight of a condemned man who was forced to demonstrate his submission to Rome by carrying part of his cross through the city to his place of execution. Thus “to take up one’s cross” was to demonstrate publicly one’s submission/obedience to the authority against which he had previously rebelled. BKC
=Live in submission to Jesus, being committed
What Jesus is saying is... listen to my will not your own will.
The obvious question that each one of us then has is...what is God's will for me?
And He gives us a simple answer.
Follow Me -is a present imperative "let him keep following me" The disciples were following the crowd was following.
Jesus followed the Fathers Will to death. GOSPEL
Inevitably here it was happens...
-We do not deny because we are stubborn. rebellion
-We do not submit because we are arrogant. I can do it by myself.
The test if you are following.
Is there a sin that I continue to commit because I am stubborn.
Is there an area in life in which I am so arrogant that I will not submit.
Bottom line is Jesus is saying deny yourself and submit to me and then you will keep following me.
This type of life to the outside world does not sound fun or seem glamorous. Maybe this contributes to why people look for other purposes in life...this one seems lame.
Vrs 35-37 What is this life worth and what is the real purpose of it. Most people would agree that having a purpose in life is worth everything. They may not say so but when asked what the meaning of life is the majority state things that have some kind of purpose.
In the...Journal of Humanistic Psychology,
Vol. 43 No. 1, Winter 2003
WHAT EMINENT PEOPLE HAVE SAID
ABOUT THE MEANING OF LIFE This was a study based on 230 quotes about the meaning of life from eminent/famous people.
1. To enjoy or experience life. Enjoy the moment,? the ?journey.? This was the most frequently endorsed theme (by 17% of the sample). Ralph Waldo Emerson encouraged his readers ?to laugh often and much? and ?to appreciate beauty?
2. To love, help, or serve others. 13% Einstein stated that ?Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile
3. Life is a mystery. 13% of the sample, Stephen Hawking “If we find an answer to that (why we and the universe exist), it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would know the mind of God.”
4. Life is meaningless. 11% of the sample, George Bernard Shaw once likened life to a disease, ?and the only difference between one man [sic] and another is the stage of the disease at which he lives?
5. To serve or worship God and/or prepare for the next life. In total, 11% of the sample endorsed the theme. For example, Muhammad Ali referred to life as “only a preparation for the eternal home, which is far more important than the short pleasures that seduce us here” Desmond Tutu said that in life we should “give God glory by reflecting His beauty and His love. That is why we are here and that is the purpose of our lives”
6. Life is a struggle. 8% of the sample, And Benjamin Disraeli reflected that ?youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, old age a regret? .
7. To contribute to something that is greater than ourselves. 6% of the sample, the philosopher Will Durant believed that the meaning of life ?lies in the chance it gives us to produce or contribute to something greater than ourselves.?
8. To become self-actualized. To develop or ?evolve? 6% of the sample, Robert Louis Stevenson argued that ?to become what we are capable of becoming is the only end of life?
9. To create your own meaning. 5% of the sample, Grandma Moses stated ?Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be?
10. Life is absurd or a joke. 4% of the sample Charlie Chaplin once described life as ?a tragedy when seen in close-up but a comedy in the long shot?
What the world says this life is for... The teaching that Jesus is conveying is that if you spend your entire life chasing something that is not truth you miss the truth that leads to salvation.
You may have gained by the worlds standards... but through it you lost. Not only did you lose but lost the most important and the only thing that matters for eternity...your soul.
For example: Spend your whole life focusing in on enjoyment in that you may miss the truth of Jesus because statements like what He just made "take up your cross" may not seem enjoyable.
Spend your whole life thinking life is meaningless you will ignore those who come teaching there is meaning.
Spend your whole life trying to create meaning you will ignore the true meaning.
Vrs 38 This verse connects back to verse 35 in saying those who do not trust. Who you trust in this life has everything to do with your judgment into the next life. The use of the word ashamed here carries the idea that a person cannot bare to be frowned upon by the world to look into or trust Christ.
They in turn are trying to preserve or save their life but as Jesus says they will lose it.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Snapshot Series: "The Core of the Gospel"
Snapshot19 Mark 8:27-38
Community Group Questions Mark 8:27-33
1. Who do you say Jesus is?
2. Have you ever had a time in life in which you questioned the plans of God?
3. Looking at these five points, which do you have a problem with? Which do you feel you are doing well with?
• Listen to what Jesus says about Himself. John 14:6
• Renew your mind. Rom. 12:2
• Test the teaching. Acts 17:10-11
• Don’t fear man. Psalm 118:6
• Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14-15At the center of his Gospel Mark placed Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah. Up to this point the underlying question had been, “Who is He?” After Peter’s declaration on behalf of the Twelve, Mark’s narrative is oriented toward the Cross and the Resurrection. From now on, the underlying double question was, “What kind of Messiah is He, and what does it mean to follow Him?” This crucial passage is the point to which the first half of the book leads and from which the second half proceeds. MH
Vrs 27 Christ asked them, not that he might be informed, but that they might observe it themselves, and inform one another. The purpose of this question was to prepare them for the more important question. "who do you say that I am?"
We can take something from Jesus' example here when we are talking with others about the Lord. He asks them questions that lead up to the all important question.
The people that we speak with are all at different spiritual levels and there is no prescribed method for witnessing to people but questions are always helpful to open people up.
One of the many reasons I preach the GOSPEL each week no matter what the passage is that it helps all of you learn how to preach the Gospel no matter what the content of the conversation you are having.
Vrs 28 Though the people came short of the truth, yet they were convinced by his miracles that he was an extraordinary person, sent from the invisible world with a divine commission. These three roles John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the Prophets deny Him of His definitive role as the Messiah.
The temptation in life is rely on who other people say Jesus is.
Here are some statements from some famous and infamous people.
“I came under conviction when I was in the third grade, and I talked with my mother. I told her, ‘I don’t understand this, but I need to talk to you.’ We talked, and she led me to Jesus. The following Sunday I made a public confirmation of my faith. In one sense, it was not terribly eventful for an eight-year-old, but it was the most important event in my life.” — John Grisham
“I believe there is no one deeper, lovelier, more sympathetic and more perfect than Jesus – not only is there no one else like him, there never could be anyone like him.” — Dostoevsky
“For thirty five years of my life I was, in the proper acceptation of the word, nihilist, a man who believed in nothing. Five years ago my faith came to me. I believed in the doctrine of Jesus Christ and my whole life underwent a sudden transformation. Life and death ceased to be evil. Instead of despair, I tasted joy and happiness that death could not take away.” — Leo Tolstoy
“If Christ were here now there is one thing he would not be ‘a Christian’.” — Mark Twain
“There couldn’t possibly be just one way . . .” [Lady in the audience: "What about Jesus?"] “What about Jesus? . . . Does God care about your heart or does God care about if you call his son Jesus?” — Oprah Winfrey
“Jesus was the first socialist, the first to seek a better life for mankind.” — Mikhail Gorbachev
Vrs 29 But "who do you say that I am" Peter acting as the disciples spokes person. "You are the Christ"
This is the question every person must answer.
Vrs 30 Don't open your mouth unless you have it right.
William Lane in his commentary says on this verse "In the first century the crucial question concerned the function of the Messiah, and it was at this point that Jesus' teaching stood in radical opposition to contemporary expectations"
Warren Weirsbe states "Like most orthodox Jews, the Twelve believed that their Messiah would come in power and glory and defeat their enemies, not be defeated by their enemies."
Jesus knew He is God’s Anointed One (cf. 9:41; 14:62), so He accepted Peter’s declaration as correct. However, because of the disciple’s misunderstandings (cf. 8:32-33), He commanded silence (cf. 1:44) until He could explain that as Messiah it was necessary for Him to suffer and die in obedience to God’s will BKC
Peter and the other disciples recognized that Jesus was the Messiah but did not realize what the Messiah had to do.
At this point Jesus will begin to teach...
Vrs 31 The core of the GOSPEL This is the first time in the Gospel in which Jesus clearly teaches about His suffering, death and resurrection.
Vrs 32 Peter's lack of understanding about what the Father's plan Jesus was sparked His rebuke of Jesus.
Sometimes we don't like the plans of God.
Joke about women in the hospital "I didn't recognize you"
How often do we rebuke the Lord because we don't like His plans for us?
How often do we rebuke the Lord because we don't understand the plans He has for us?
Vrs 33 Jesus' rebuke of Peter. This rebuke was intended for all the disciples. It was not that Jesus was calling Peter Satan but He was attributing his line of thinking to something that was influenced by demonic powers & man and not by God.
Setting your mind on the things of God.
-Listen to what Jesus says about Himself. I AM...John 14:6
-Renew your mind: Rom 12:2a Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
-Test whatever those who teach you by the Scriptures. (Bereans) Acts 17:10-11
-Don't fear man fear Jesus. Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
"Man’s way leads to a hopeless end — God’s way leads to an endless hope"
-Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14-15 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Now the rest of Mark's gospel focuses in on who Jesus is and how we set our minds on Him to follow Him.
Community Group Questions Mark 8:27-33
1. Who do you say Jesus is?
2. Have you ever had a time in life in which you questioned the plans of God?
3. Looking at these five points, which do you have a problem with? Which do you feel you are doing well with?
• Listen to what Jesus says about Himself. John 14:6
• Renew your mind. Rom. 12:2
• Test the teaching. Acts 17:10-11
• Don’t fear man. Psalm 118:6
• Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14-15At the center of his Gospel Mark placed Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah. Up to this point the underlying question had been, “Who is He?” After Peter’s declaration on behalf of the Twelve, Mark’s narrative is oriented toward the Cross and the Resurrection. From now on, the underlying double question was, “What kind of Messiah is He, and what does it mean to follow Him?” This crucial passage is the point to which the first half of the book leads and from which the second half proceeds. MH
Vrs 27 Christ asked them, not that he might be informed, but that they might observe it themselves, and inform one another. The purpose of this question was to prepare them for the more important question. "who do you say that I am?"
We can take something from Jesus' example here when we are talking with others about the Lord. He asks them questions that lead up to the all important question.
The people that we speak with are all at different spiritual levels and there is no prescribed method for witnessing to people but questions are always helpful to open people up.
One of the many reasons I preach the GOSPEL each week no matter what the passage is that it helps all of you learn how to preach the Gospel no matter what the content of the conversation you are having.
Vrs 28 Though the people came short of the truth, yet they were convinced by his miracles that he was an extraordinary person, sent from the invisible world with a divine commission. These three roles John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the Prophets deny Him of His definitive role as the Messiah.
The temptation in life is rely on who other people say Jesus is.
Here are some statements from some famous and infamous people.
“I came under conviction when I was in the third grade, and I talked with my mother. I told her, ‘I don’t understand this, but I need to talk to you.’ We talked, and she led me to Jesus. The following Sunday I made a public confirmation of my faith. In one sense, it was not terribly eventful for an eight-year-old, but it was the most important event in my life.” — John Grisham
“I believe there is no one deeper, lovelier, more sympathetic and more perfect than Jesus – not only is there no one else like him, there never could be anyone like him.” — Dostoevsky
“For thirty five years of my life I was, in the proper acceptation of the word, nihilist, a man who believed in nothing. Five years ago my faith came to me. I believed in the doctrine of Jesus Christ and my whole life underwent a sudden transformation. Life and death ceased to be evil. Instead of despair, I tasted joy and happiness that death could not take away.” — Leo Tolstoy
“If Christ were here now there is one thing he would not be ‘a Christian’.” — Mark Twain
“There couldn’t possibly be just one way . . .” [Lady in the audience: "What about Jesus?"] “What about Jesus? . . . Does God care about your heart or does God care about if you call his son Jesus?” — Oprah Winfrey
“Jesus was the first socialist, the first to seek a better life for mankind.” — Mikhail Gorbachev
Vrs 29 But "who do you say that I am" Peter acting as the disciples spokes person. "You are the Christ"
This is the question every person must answer.
Vrs 30 Don't open your mouth unless you have it right.
William Lane in his commentary says on this verse "In the first century the crucial question concerned the function of the Messiah, and it was at this point that Jesus' teaching stood in radical opposition to contemporary expectations"
Warren Weirsbe states "Like most orthodox Jews, the Twelve believed that their Messiah would come in power and glory and defeat their enemies, not be defeated by their enemies."
Jesus knew He is God’s Anointed One (cf. 9:41; 14:62), so He accepted Peter’s declaration as correct. However, because of the disciple’s misunderstandings (cf. 8:32-33), He commanded silence (cf. 1:44) until He could explain that as Messiah it was necessary for Him to suffer and die in obedience to God’s will BKC
Peter and the other disciples recognized that Jesus was the Messiah but did not realize what the Messiah had to do.
At this point Jesus will begin to teach...
Vrs 31 The core of the GOSPEL This is the first time in the Gospel in which Jesus clearly teaches about His suffering, death and resurrection.
Vrs 32 Peter's lack of understanding about what the Father's plan Jesus was sparked His rebuke of Jesus.
Sometimes we don't like the plans of God.
Joke about women in the hospital "I didn't recognize you"
How often do we rebuke the Lord because we don't like His plans for us?
How often do we rebuke the Lord because we don't understand the plans He has for us?
Vrs 33 Jesus' rebuke of Peter. This rebuke was intended for all the disciples. It was not that Jesus was calling Peter Satan but He was attributing his line of thinking to something that was influenced by demonic powers & man and not by God.
Setting your mind on the things of God.
-Listen to what Jesus says about Himself. I AM...John 14:6
-Renew your mind: Rom 12:2a Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
-Test whatever those who teach you by the Scriptures. (Bereans) Acts 17:10-11
-Don't fear man fear Jesus. Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
"Man’s way leads to a hopeless end — God’s way leads to an endless hope"
-Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14-15 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Now the rest of Mark's gospel focuses in on who Jesus is and how we set our minds on Him to follow Him.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Snapshot Series: "Spiritual Blindness"
Community Group Questions
1. Do you know someone who is spiritually blind to the truth of Jesus?
2. What have you done to try to help help them see the Truth?
3. Have you ever been blinded by the world or religion? Explain?
4. Have you ever had a time in your life in which you didn't understand why something happened but then it became clear some time after? Explain?
5. Do you feel that you are growing in your faith? Why?
Snapshot18 Mark 8:11-26 "Spiritual Blindness"
Not being able to see has to be one of the most discouraging things for person. That feeling leaves us helpless and hopeless.
In tonight's passage we see Jesus challenge the religious who were blind and they were trying to blind others and then Jesus shows that He can heal the condition of blindness.
We understand physical blindness can be difficult but there are greater consequences to Spiritual Blindness.
From this passage we see Spiritual Blindness...
• Ignores the Truth Vrs 11-13
The Pharisees were asking for a sign. They wanted to test Jesus. They did not believe He was from God or the Messiah. Basically what they were saying is "see you can't prove your own claim"
They demanded this sign, tempting him; not in hopes that he would give it them, that they might be satisfied, but in hopes that he would not. Matthew Henry
In the Old Testament a “sign” was not so much a demonstration of power as an evidence that an utterance or action was authentic and trustworthy BKC
The words this generation denoted the nation of Israel represented by those religious leaders. BKC
The issue that Jesus is dealing with here is that we do not test God and ask Him for signs. When Jesus was tempted by Satan he told Jesus to throw himself off the high place and Satan quoted Scripture "He shall give His angels charge of you". Then Jesus responds "not to put God to the test"
Do we do that sometimes?? "God if you really love make this or that happen". "God if you are real work out my problems". In a more subtle way and this is preached in what we call prosperity theology "God pour Your blessings on me and I will serve You" that is an ultimatum and should not be our motivation because what happens to our faith when that is not His plan?
We don't need specific signs nor does God have to prove anything to us. John 20:29 "blessed are those who have not seen yet believe"
The GOSPEL is all we need to know that He cares for and loves us.
Unfortunately many people ignore Truth. Many times when people ignore the truth they start to go against it.
• Leads others away from the Truth Vrs 14-15
Did you know that seeing things the wrong way can be very damaging? (When you are in middle school and you perceive that people are talking about you)
Beware of those who try to blind or blindside you.
Leaven= fermented dough that was left over from last weeks dough to add to the new dough. This would spread through the new dough.
Warren Weirsbe says Hypocrisy is the leaven of the Pharisees, and worldly compromise the leaven of Herod.
Two issues here are Religion and Worldliness
Religion- Thinking we can do something to get to God or earn acceptance from God is what the Pharisees were teaching.
Sometimes people get so stuck and so involved in religion that they are blinded to what Truth is and then they try to blind others as well.
This is why religion can be so blinding, people think they are doing fine because they are religious when in actuality they are far from God. In order to feel that they are on the right track they actually ignore the right track.
When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion. Abraham Lincoln
Did you ever meet someone who did not feel bad when the did something wrong? John Wilks Booth "Tell my mother I died for my country" In his diary he said " Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment"
When we follow a man made invention of God and what He wants and how to get to Him it does not work.
Worldliness- Listening to what the world around us says about truth and right and wrong.
We start to believe and accept the things that the world promotes. We compromise and start calling sinful behaviors ok, or agreeing with the world's philosophies.
Worldliness is what makes sin look normal and righteousness seem odd. David F. Wells
Both of these things lead people away from the truth of Jesus
Jesus combats religion and worldliness by reminding them of Himself because Spiritual Blindness...
• Forgets the Truth Vrs16-21
Jesus in this passage is basically saying. "haven't you been paying attention?"
Vrs 17-18 He asks five questions
Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread?
Do you not yet perceive or understand?
Are your hearts hardened?
Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?
And do you not remember?
Jesus heals spiritual blindness. Vrs 22-26
Vrs 23-24 this is very interesting because I think a theological point can be made here. Why is it that this man was healed in stages? His vision was blurry but then things became clear.
Andrew Knowles in the Bible Guide says "It is at this point in the account, with both the Pharisees and the disciples suffering from spiritual blindness, that Mark tells us of an unusual healing. Jesus cures a man of blindness, but in two stages. The disciples, too, are about to receive their spiritual sight in two stages. Very soon, Simon Peter will acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah. But the disciples will still fail to see that being Messiah involves suffering and death. They won’t fully recognize Jesus until after his resurrection."
3 Applications for the 2 stage healing.
1. We trust in Christ for salvation and then after that other things start to become clear. That is why spiritual growth is important.
2. Knowing the Lord's will. There are times when we kind of see things and then clarification comes later. Have you ever had a situation in which things seemed very unclear and then clarification came. At that point you were able to look back and say "that is why that was going on"
3. We will not know all the mysteries of the Lord in this life.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
When Jesus comes in He heals our Spiritual Blindness so that we can see that He is the Truth and the Truth of Jesus will set us free.
1. Do you know someone who is spiritually blind to the truth of Jesus?
2. What have you done to try to help help them see the Truth?
3. Have you ever been blinded by the world or religion? Explain?
4. Have you ever had a time in your life in which you didn't understand why something happened but then it became clear some time after? Explain?
5. Do you feel that you are growing in your faith? Why?
Snapshot18 Mark 8:11-26 "Spiritual Blindness"
Not being able to see has to be one of the most discouraging things for person. That feeling leaves us helpless and hopeless.
In tonight's passage we see Jesus challenge the religious who were blind and they were trying to blind others and then Jesus shows that He can heal the condition of blindness.
We understand physical blindness can be difficult but there are greater consequences to Spiritual Blindness.
From this passage we see Spiritual Blindness...
• Ignores the Truth Vrs 11-13
The Pharisees were asking for a sign. They wanted to test Jesus. They did not believe He was from God or the Messiah. Basically what they were saying is "see you can't prove your own claim"
They demanded this sign, tempting him; not in hopes that he would give it them, that they might be satisfied, but in hopes that he would not. Matthew Henry
In the Old Testament a “sign” was not so much a demonstration of power as an evidence that an utterance or action was authentic and trustworthy BKC
The words this generation denoted the nation of Israel represented by those religious leaders. BKC
The issue that Jesus is dealing with here is that we do not test God and ask Him for signs. When Jesus was tempted by Satan he told Jesus to throw himself off the high place and Satan quoted Scripture "He shall give His angels charge of you". Then Jesus responds "not to put God to the test"
Do we do that sometimes?? "God if you really love make this or that happen". "God if you are real work out my problems". In a more subtle way and this is preached in what we call prosperity theology "God pour Your blessings on me and I will serve You" that is an ultimatum and should not be our motivation because what happens to our faith when that is not His plan?
We don't need specific signs nor does God have to prove anything to us. John 20:29 "blessed are those who have not seen yet believe"
The GOSPEL is all we need to know that He cares for and loves us.
Unfortunately many people ignore Truth. Many times when people ignore the truth they start to go against it.
• Leads others away from the Truth Vrs 14-15
Did you know that seeing things the wrong way can be very damaging? (When you are in middle school and you perceive that people are talking about you)
Beware of those who try to blind or blindside you.
Leaven= fermented dough that was left over from last weeks dough to add to the new dough. This would spread through the new dough.
Warren Weirsbe says Hypocrisy is the leaven of the Pharisees, and worldly compromise the leaven of Herod.
Two issues here are Religion and Worldliness
Religion- Thinking we can do something to get to God or earn acceptance from God is what the Pharisees were teaching.
Sometimes people get so stuck and so involved in religion that they are blinded to what Truth is and then they try to blind others as well.
This is why religion can be so blinding, people think they are doing fine because they are religious when in actuality they are far from God. In order to feel that they are on the right track they actually ignore the right track.
When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad, and that is my religion. Abraham Lincoln
Did you ever meet someone who did not feel bad when the did something wrong? John Wilks Booth "Tell my mother I died for my country" In his diary he said " Our country owed all her troubles to him, and God simply made me the instrument of his punishment"
When we follow a man made invention of God and what He wants and how to get to Him it does not work.
Worldliness- Listening to what the world around us says about truth and right and wrong.
We start to believe and accept the things that the world promotes. We compromise and start calling sinful behaviors ok, or agreeing with the world's philosophies.
Worldliness is what makes sin look normal and righteousness seem odd. David F. Wells
Both of these things lead people away from the truth of Jesus
Jesus combats religion and worldliness by reminding them of Himself because Spiritual Blindness...
• Forgets the Truth Vrs16-21
Jesus in this passage is basically saying. "haven't you been paying attention?"
Vrs 17-18 He asks five questions
Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread?
Do you not yet perceive or understand?
Are your hearts hardened?
Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?
And do you not remember?
Jesus heals spiritual blindness. Vrs 22-26
Vrs 23-24 this is very interesting because I think a theological point can be made here. Why is it that this man was healed in stages? His vision was blurry but then things became clear.
Andrew Knowles in the Bible Guide says "It is at this point in the account, with both the Pharisees and the disciples suffering from spiritual blindness, that Mark tells us of an unusual healing. Jesus cures a man of blindness, but in two stages. The disciples, too, are about to receive their spiritual sight in two stages. Very soon, Simon Peter will acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah. But the disciples will still fail to see that being Messiah involves suffering and death. They won’t fully recognize Jesus until after his resurrection."
3 Applications for the 2 stage healing.
1. We trust in Christ for salvation and then after that other things start to become clear. That is why spiritual growth is important.
2. Knowing the Lord's will. There are times when we kind of see things and then clarification comes later. Have you ever had a situation in which things seemed very unclear and then clarification came. At that point you were able to look back and say "that is why that was going on"
3. We will not know all the mysteries of the Lord in this life.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
When Jesus comes in He heals our Spiritual Blindness so that we can see that He is the Truth and the Truth of Jesus will set us free.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
"Snapshot Series": Grace and Power
Snapshot17 Mark 7:24-8:10 “Grace and Power”
Questions for Community Groups
1. Have you ever felt that God was rejecting you?
2. Are you dealing with a "spiritual stronghold"? (A sin or issue that does not seem to go away)
3. How is your communication with Jesus? Explain.
4. How does it make you feel that Jesus has compassion on you in your times of trouble?
5. Have you witnessed a time of God's grace in your life?
6. Have you witnessed a time of God's power in your life?
Grace is getting something good that we don't deserve.
Power is the ability to do something.
In this next grouping of passages we see that Jesus displays His power and sheds His grace among the Gentiles. This is an important section to those of that day because Israel was know as His children but those outside were not. To the Jews Gentiles were not accepted by God. They did not know God and God did not want to know them. For the Gentiles to have Jesus meet their needs communicated that He cared for them and wanted to deliver them.
It is important to us in this day because it communicates that Jesus cares and has enough Grace and Power to help us. Now we all realize that we are created by God and through faith in Jesus we become His children. He cares for His creation and His Children and wants to come in with grace and power to help our spiritual problems. What could we consider a Spiritual problems?
Vrs 24-30 Syrophoenician women's daughter. -Jesus has grace and power to accept us. Jesus statement in verse 27 is not to be taken as derogatory. The term Dogs was sometimes used as a derogatory term by the Jews for Gentiles.
Alexander McClaren states it this way. 'Let the children first be filled.' And that 'first' distinctly says that their prerogative is priority, not monopoly. If there is a 'first,' there will follow a second. The very image of the great house in which the children sit at the table, and the 'little dogs' are in the room, implies that children and dogs are part of one household; and Jesus meant by it just what the woman found in it,--the assurance that the meal-time for the dogs would come when the children had done.
This is a Biblical concept that the Gospel goes out first to the Jew then to Gentile. Does this mean that God cares more about the Jews and considers certain people to be more important then others? No in God's time He will accept those who seek after Him.
Jesus was impressed by this women's statement because she was seeking after Him.
App. Point: Maybe you feel like you have done things and because of those things God will not accept you. The nature of the Gospel is that God accepts based upon Himself and what He did for us. GOSPEL
The next thing we learn from this passage is...
Jesus has grace and power to break spiritual strongholds.
She also had a deep spiritual stronghold in her house. Her daughter had a demon.
Spiritual Stronghold can be something in your life that you have been dealing with such as a sinful behavior or sometimes like this little girl an "inner demon" you have heard people say they are battling "inner demons" referring to abusive and destructive behavior issues.
Drug, alcohol, lust, anger, bitterness, anxiety, self image issues
Do you have a spiritual stronghold and you feel that Jesus has forgotten you? Maybe you have been praying about something for some time and it seems that God is not answering it. Maybe you see other people being delivered from strongholds and you feel that Jesus thinks they are more important then you?
App Point: Trust that Jesus can break that stronghold. Give it to Him.
The next passage in many senses sometime describes where we are at spiritually when we have acceptance issues and stronghold issues.
Vrs 31-37 Deaf, mute man -Jesus has grace and power over spiritual communication. (Eph-pha-tha)
In this account we have a deaf-mute who was a Gentile brought to Jesus by his friends (I presume). We see Jesus heals the mans hearing and apparently speech.
We may have acceptance issues we may have spiritual stronghold issues but maybe they are coming from our spiritual communication issues.
At face value Jesus shows that He has power to heal the physical but it is interesting that earlier in the chapter when Jesus was teaching the people that what comes out of the heart is what defiles in verse 16 He says "He who has ears let Him hear" Those who are spiritually ready to communicate with Him.
Imagine for a moment that your world was quiet and because of that quiet world you never learned to speak properly.
As Christians we can fall into that trap we don't hear God because we are not listening. We check out of church, reading His word, listening to spiritually uplifting music and solid Bible teaching on the radio or podcasts.
Because we are not listening we really don't talk back...we have nothing to say. We don't pray we don't tell the Lord our fears and hopes and issues. We are a spiritual deaf mute.
What happens it almost feels like we do not know God because we don't listen to Him or talk to Him.
App Point: Regularly communicate with Him.
Here is what happens when we do that. We become better at it. Morris Code illustration "if you understand this come in"
You understand God deeper in a deeper way.
Maybe you are suffering with one of these three problems acceptance, strongholds and communication with Him.
The next passage shows us the character of Jesus and that fact that He is more then willing to help us.
He is motivated by compassion. Vrs 1-10 4,000 fed.
This is a different account then the 5000 this is a group of Gentiles, the first group was primarily Jews.
Vrs 2 is what I want to focus in on the fact that Jesus had compassion and was willing to meet a huge need. It is evident that through this miracle Jesus displays power, it is also evident that it is a display of Grace but the driving force behind what He does is His compassion.
Compassion is : the concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others misfortunes.
Guess what? We all have misfortunes we all suffer and Jesus cares.
So how does this help us?
Now as we look back we understand that Jesus will accept us because He has compassion, He will break spiritual strongholds because He has compassion and He will be open to communication with us because He has compassion.
Questions for Community Groups
1. Have you ever felt that God was rejecting you?
2. Are you dealing with a "spiritual stronghold"? (A sin or issue that does not seem to go away)
3. How is your communication with Jesus? Explain.
4. How does it make you feel that Jesus has compassion on you in your times of trouble?
5. Have you witnessed a time of God's grace in your life?
6. Have you witnessed a time of God's power in your life?
Grace is getting something good that we don't deserve.
Power is the ability to do something.
In this next grouping of passages we see that Jesus displays His power and sheds His grace among the Gentiles. This is an important section to those of that day because Israel was know as His children but those outside were not. To the Jews Gentiles were not accepted by God. They did not know God and God did not want to know them. For the Gentiles to have Jesus meet their needs communicated that He cared for them and wanted to deliver them.
It is important to us in this day because it communicates that Jesus cares and has enough Grace and Power to help us. Now we all realize that we are created by God and through faith in Jesus we become His children. He cares for His creation and His Children and wants to come in with grace and power to help our spiritual problems. What could we consider a Spiritual problems?
Vrs 24-30 Syrophoenician women's daughter. -Jesus has grace and power to accept us. Jesus statement in verse 27 is not to be taken as derogatory. The term Dogs was sometimes used as a derogatory term by the Jews for Gentiles.
Alexander McClaren states it this way. 'Let the children first be filled.' And that 'first' distinctly says that their prerogative is priority, not monopoly. If there is a 'first,' there will follow a second. The very image of the great house in which the children sit at the table, and the 'little dogs' are in the room, implies that children and dogs are part of one household; and Jesus meant by it just what the woman found in it,--the assurance that the meal-time for the dogs would come when the children had done.
This is a Biblical concept that the Gospel goes out first to the Jew then to Gentile. Does this mean that God cares more about the Jews and considers certain people to be more important then others? No in God's time He will accept those who seek after Him.
Jesus was impressed by this women's statement because she was seeking after Him.
App. Point: Maybe you feel like you have done things and because of those things God will not accept you. The nature of the Gospel is that God accepts based upon Himself and what He did for us. GOSPEL
The next thing we learn from this passage is...
Jesus has grace and power to break spiritual strongholds.
She also had a deep spiritual stronghold in her house. Her daughter had a demon.
Spiritual Stronghold can be something in your life that you have been dealing with such as a sinful behavior or sometimes like this little girl an "inner demon" you have heard people say they are battling "inner demons" referring to abusive and destructive behavior issues.
Drug, alcohol, lust, anger, bitterness, anxiety, self image issues
Do you have a spiritual stronghold and you feel that Jesus has forgotten you? Maybe you have been praying about something for some time and it seems that God is not answering it. Maybe you see other people being delivered from strongholds and you feel that Jesus thinks they are more important then you?
App Point: Trust that Jesus can break that stronghold. Give it to Him.
The next passage in many senses sometime describes where we are at spiritually when we have acceptance issues and stronghold issues.
Vrs 31-37 Deaf, mute man -Jesus has grace and power over spiritual communication. (Eph-pha-tha)
In this account we have a deaf-mute who was a Gentile brought to Jesus by his friends (I presume). We see Jesus heals the mans hearing and apparently speech.
We may have acceptance issues we may have spiritual stronghold issues but maybe they are coming from our spiritual communication issues.
At face value Jesus shows that He has power to heal the physical but it is interesting that earlier in the chapter when Jesus was teaching the people that what comes out of the heart is what defiles in verse 16 He says "He who has ears let Him hear" Those who are spiritually ready to communicate with Him.
Imagine for a moment that your world was quiet and because of that quiet world you never learned to speak properly.
As Christians we can fall into that trap we don't hear God because we are not listening. We check out of church, reading His word, listening to spiritually uplifting music and solid Bible teaching on the radio or podcasts.
Because we are not listening we really don't talk back...we have nothing to say. We don't pray we don't tell the Lord our fears and hopes and issues. We are a spiritual deaf mute.
What happens it almost feels like we do not know God because we don't listen to Him or talk to Him.
App Point: Regularly communicate with Him.
Here is what happens when we do that. We become better at it. Morris Code illustration "if you understand this come in"
You understand God deeper in a deeper way.
Maybe you are suffering with one of these three problems acceptance, strongholds and communication with Him.
The next passage shows us the character of Jesus and that fact that He is more then willing to help us.
He is motivated by compassion. Vrs 1-10 4,000 fed.
This is a different account then the 5000 this is a group of Gentiles, the first group was primarily Jews.
Vrs 2 is what I want to focus in on the fact that Jesus had compassion and was willing to meet a huge need. It is evident that through this miracle Jesus displays power, it is also evident that it is a display of Grace but the driving force behind what He does is His compassion.
Compassion is : the concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others misfortunes.
Guess what? We all have misfortunes we all suffer and Jesus cares.
So how does this help us?
Now as we look back we understand that Jesus will accept us because He has compassion, He will break spiritual strongholds because He has compassion and He will be open to communication with us because He has compassion.
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