The Plan

Prayer Focus: Slovakia

Bible Reading: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, Luke 19:1-27

Scripture:

31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him;33 they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” 34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. 35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?”“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:1-43)

Observation:

I've always seen this passage metaphorically as the huddle before the last play.  Jesus calls his disciples over and quietly gives them a heads up on what's going to happen next.  He doesn't want them caught unaware.  Even so, even after explaining it by the numbers, they didn't get it.  The bible says that "the meaning was hidden from them" but when the events of the week unfold and they went over the order of events this moment returned to them (and thus are available for us).

I wonder if this frustrated him, that they didn't get it.  Lots of other scripture in other places give us glimpses into Jesus's frustration with their lack of understanding in general, though it's not specifically mentioned in this passage.  Instead, Jesus keeps his thoughts (disappointment?) to himself and continues his walk toward Jerusalem.

As he passes by Jericho, on the roadside is a beggar, forced to those circumstances by blindness.  He hears the others  talking.  He knows this man called Jesus!  He knows not only who he is by reputation, but also what his destiny is!  He knows what scripture  and prophesy has to say about "The Son of David",  and in the crowd, he calls out "Jesus!  Son of David!"  They try to shush him, but he just yells louder!  He's excited!  Here is the man he has wanted to see with his own eyes,  the man who can heal him.  Change him.

Just as Jesus is passing by and wondering if he's had enough time to impart wisdom and truth to his disciples, he hears this voice in the crowd.  Just as he's wondering  "would they ever get it?" there is a man who blindly sees what his disciples have missed.  Jesus stops in his tracks and locks on to this poor begging man and asks "What would you have me do?"

Application:

I can't help but wonder how often Jesus feels this way about me.  I so often don't get it.  I forget what his big plan really is, cause I get caught up in my own little dramas.  I'm distracted by the by plays that happen on the sidelines or in the bleachers.

I'm grateful that he still does miracles, heals people in front of me.  He reminds me that he has a plan, that even death doesn't stop Him from it.

Prayer:

Lord, may I not be like the ones on the side of the road, squelching and shushing others from coming to you.  Thank you for striving with me, being patent with me while I learn and grow.  And Lord, I especially pray for those who come to you for healing.  Nothing is impossible for you!  Amen!

If You Can?

Prayer Focus: Saudi Arabia

Bible Reading: Matthew 17-18, Mark 9:2-50, Luke 9:28-56

Scripture:

^{14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them.15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.16"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.17 A man in the crowd answered, "Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not."19"You unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."20  So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?""From childhood," he answered.22"It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."23"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for one who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead."27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"29 He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."  (Mark 9: 17-29)}

Observation:

Jesus has just come from the transfiguration, where he glows physically from the glory of the meeting with Elijah and Moses.  God audibly declares Jesus as his son and that he is pleased with him.  Then commands all who could hear to listen to what Jesus says.   Talk about a heavenly endorsement.  No clever metaphors, no riddles, the voice of God speaking.  This should clinch it, right?  This surely should be all the evidence that they need for belief, right?

Then when he comes down off the mountain, still glowing from the experience, he hears a fight breaking out.  The scene painted is that of a desperate father who has heard that there is a man who heals people, and he's come to get help.  The impression I have - though it's not stated this way - is that his desire for healing is what has brought him to the camp,  not because he's a believer.  When the disciples could not heal his son, he demands to see Jesus.  (I think this is where things got heated), and Jesus steps into the scene asking what's wrong.   But when approached, Jesus keys into the wording of the request, this is what clues him in to what's going on in this father's heart.  "If you can?" He repeats back to the boy's father.  He makes the link between his own faith, and the miracle he's asking Jesus to do.  "Everything is possible for one who believes."  And he heals him.  Later, the disciples come and ask why they couldn't throw out the demon, and Jesus tells them that this kind only comes out by prayer.

Application:

I struggled with this scripture, up to the last moments before hitting the "publish" button.  You see, I have a child who was diagnosed with epilepsy just this year.  I wrestle with why she would have this affliction, and like the parent in the scriptures, I pray for healing too.  The epilepsy hasn't gone away.  The worry and fear chases each other in my mind.

While chewing this out loud for you I can hear the Holy Spirit keying in on the specific words I am using in describing my situation, in much the same way that Jesus did for the distraught father: I "struggle" instead of rest in Him.  I "wrestle" with "worry and fear".  I know I shouldn't.  I know better, but I do it any way.

So I read verse 29 over and over to myself and gain comfort.  "This kind comes out only by prayer."  And that's where I want to leave you, dear friend, in prayer.  When we are praying, we are in conversation with the one who gives us the fruits of the spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and they are very things that pull us away from worry and fear.  Sometimes God has reasons that we don't know for not healing, but in all times and places, God has called us to approach Him in faith,  asking and believing.

We leave the answers with Him.

Prayer:

Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.

Fill My Cup

Prayer Focus: Russia

Bible Reading: Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3:22-35, Luke 8:19-21, Luke 11:14-54

Scripture:

33"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:33-37)

Observation:

First off, let me remind you that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  (Rom. 3:23) We are none of us perfect or able to always get it right.  (Rom. 3:10)  What IS right, is the atoning power of Christ who through his gift of grace, became the price for our sin, thereby making a way for us to come to Him.  (Eph. 2:8-9)

Once saved, He adopted us into His family.  As his children, we still screw it up.  (Eph. 1:5)  Being saved doesn't mean we are perfect, suddenly able to always say, do or even think the right things.  It only means that we are forgiven, if we confess and repent so that we don't have to carry the load around with us any more.  (1 John 1:9)

Now, with that said, I'd like to point you to something in this passage that gets me excited.  It's the idea of "storing up".   When the Holy Spirit resides inside of us, it rooms with our own spirit, that tends toward selfishness.  Which side is bigger?

The one we feed.

How can you know?  The bible is pretty clear about the care and feeding of Christians:

Do you give yourself permission to think of yourself and your own wants first? (Mat. 6:33)  Do you harbor and nurse secret sins?  (Prov. 28:13) Do you wallow in self-pity? That is the side that will grow.

Do you discipline yourself by holding every thought captive?  (2 Cor. 10:5) Do you practice  patience, kindness, goodness and self-control?  (Gal. 5:22-23) Do you conform to the world or are you transformed by the renewing of your mind? (Rom. 12:2)

We live in a culture that encourages us to "do what we feel is right", to "be happy", "Have it our way", "Obey our thirst", because "We deserve it".  If we feed the part of us that tends toward selfishness and justification, then the larger part of what will feel right will come out of that.

But if we have stored up on good... well, you get the picture.

Application:

A dear friend of mine gave me a word picture that I think about often.  She said, "Imagine that your life is like a full cup that gets spilled every time you get bumped.  I want my life to be so full of Christ, that when bumped by the world, His grace, His kindness, His mercy is what spills out."

How do you care for the people who are under your authority?  How about the pets that are at your mercy?  Are you the same person with the anonymity of the internet, in the privacy of your car, or over the threshold of your home as you are at church, or in front of people you want to impress?

If the answer to any of those questions makes you squirm, then I'd spend time examining what you are "storing up" inside your heart.

Prayer:

Father God, as I meditate on your word, I pray that my house would stand undivided.  Amen

A New Light

Prayer Focus: Phillipines

Bible Reading: Mt. 4:1-22, Mt.  13:54-58, Mk. 1:12-20, Mk. 6:1-6, Lk. 4:-30, Lk 5:1-11, Jn 1;35-51, Jn 2:-12

Scripture:  

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—14to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:15"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."17From that time on Jesus began to preach, (Matthew 4:11-17)

Observation:

Jesus had just finished 40 days in the desert, fasting, While Satan tempted him.  The bible is full of wry understatements, it says earlier in this passage: “he was hungry.”  While you can only survive three days without water, you can only go 40 days without food.  This means that he was very near death before Satan left him and the angels came to tend to him.  We don’t know if the angels instantaneously healed him or nursed him slowly back to health.  We do know that they stayed with him long enough to give him the news that John was in prison.

This is significant, because it ushers in the beginning of his ministry.

The inaugural speech for this time in history was written generations ago, by Isaiah.  "The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned."  In this verse, Isaiah quotes a psalm  written by King David, generations before HIS time.  Psalm 23:4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Application:

We all live in the valley of the shadow of death.  We all know darkness.  But some of you reading today may be so overshadowed, that you can't tell which side is up.  You may feel like you can't navigate through your situation, that the darkness is too debilitating to function.

In John 16:33  Jesus says that "in this life you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world!"  Isaiah, in the reference we read today says "a new light has dawned"

I beg you to take your crisis to the Lord.  Let Him turn on the lights in your path.

When you stumble in the dark for too long, you stop looking up.  It's hard to hope, plan, vision, and imagine when you are so defeated that you can't take your eyes off yourself.

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful that you have overcome the world.  I pray you increase the hope of those who are reading today, that you would use the rod and staff of your word to guide an goad them into the light.  Amen.