faithful

Fervent Faith {Mark 2}

9:50 AM

Today's Scripture Passage: Mark 2


Have you ever desired something so bad, it haunted you?

Life would be perfect if only _____ (you can fill in the blank). And the enemy seems to know what our greatest desires are, for he seems to always be right there to discourage us; "It will never happen." He knows if he can keep us discouraged, he can keep us from praying, and doing all we can to bring our desires to reality!






The Book of Mark is called the Gospel of action, and Mark 2 opens with exciting news - Jesus is back in town! He's just down the street at the house of Peter’s relative.

But before going further in this passage (Mark 2:1-5) there are two observations that jumped out right away:
  1. This man was paralyzed - he wasn't able to help himself. (v. 3) There was no way he could get to Jesus by himself. Do you know people who are not able to help themselves?
  2.  He had friends that would stop at nothing to get him to Jesus. (v. 4) Are you that kind of friend?
    Faith is seeing light with your heart when all others see darkness. 
"Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men. And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay." (Mark 2:3-4)
Have you ever had such determination? I'm sure there were people there attempting to discourage the men! Who cuts a hole in another man's roof?
I had to stop and wonder if I would be so willing to bring another to Jesus.
Which was when the Lord reminded me that I had been once. It was back almost 20 years ago now. My father had such a hard heart and wanted nothing to do with God or His Son. In fact, he'd leave the room if anyone decided to start talking about God. 


And so I kept on praying for years asking the Lord if one day He would give me a chance to share with my dad about Jesus and my hope of salvation, and I believed He would since God is faithful even when I'm not. 

One night after we were all sleeping I received a call from my mom. My father had gone to the hospital for a regular test, but something had gone terribly wrong and his heart had stopped right there during the procedure. The doctors were able to resuscitate, but he remained in a medically induced comma and it didn't look like he would recover. 

With all the confidence in the world, I told my mother emphatically that he would most certainly wake up, because The Lord had promised me a conversation with my dad before he died, and I hung up the phone and planed to travel back to NH to wait for him to wake. 

I was there over a week and things were not looking good, yet every time I would pray the Lord would assure me He would wake him up, but as soon as I lifted my head reality would hit until finally the doctors gave us no hope and recommended we turn off life support and let him go... and so we did... and he woke up! Still the doctors gave us no hope and told us he'd pass in the night. 

That night The Lord woke me at 3:30 am with such a fervency to pray and pray HARD! The next morning when I finally got a hold of my mother by phone she told me that the hospital had called her at that exact time and told her she should come, but he probably would already be gone by the time she got there. When she arrived, he had revived again and he never went back down. The medical staff all attributed it to nothing short of a miracle, and exactly one week (7 days) after they had turned off my father's life support I got to introduce him to Jesus! 
He's home with Him now waiting on the rest of us.
BUT here's what I want you to take with you:
"And when Jesus saw the men's faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God]." (Mark 2:5 emphasis mine)
It was the faith of the men that moved Jesus to act, to heal and to forgive his sins! Not the man's faith.

James 5:16b says, "The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]."

Beloved, don't let the enemy, others, or circumstances discourage you. Take them to Jesus! Especially those who can't take themselves!

Blessings, 

Sue

Acts

Peter Knocked, Rhoda was Shocked, and the Saints Mocked {Acts 12}

4:09 PM


Monday Feb. 24, “Walking In Wisdom”


The Bible is filled with godly women whose stories both teach and inspire. And one of these is Rhoda. Although only mentioned briefly in Acts, the story of this servant girl, whose name means Rose, is one of my favorites. Her overwhelming delight is infectious, and the excitement she felt, causing her to leave Peter standing at the door, brings a chuckle to my lips and a gladness to my heart. But more than just a cute tale, Rhoda is an example of persistence, and expectant faith in the Lord. 

The chapter begins in Jerusalem with king Herod who, trying to win favor with the Jews, beheads James, the brother of John, and imprisons Peter. But as Herod kept Peter jailed, "prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God." (v. 5)  A group of believers had gathered at the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, to plead to God on Peter's behalf. While they were earnestly praying, there came a knock on the door at the gate. As Rhoda went to answer, to her delight, she heard the familiar voice of Peter. And in her excitement, instead of opening the gate and letting Peter in, she ran to tell the others. But Rhoda was not believed. She was told she was crazy; that it must have been an angel she heard. Yet she didn't back down, and through her insistence and the continued knocking of Peter, Mary and the others soon learned how God had answered their prayers, how the Lord led Peter from prison, and how Rhoda was right all along!

You know what I admire about Rhoda? First, her determination. Even though her story was doubted, she didn’t give up. Rhoda knew Peter truly was at the door, and nothing was going to keep her from her telling her truth. As Christians we may have times like Rhoda, when in sharing our truth our stories are doubted. Some may call us crazy. Others may try to convince us that our faith in the Lord is misguided. But no matter what anyone says, we will not be dissuaded. For as Jesus tells us, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 8:32,14:6)

I also admire her eagerness. Rhoda couldn’t wait to share the good news about Peter's deliverance. I want to be just as eager and excited to share the Good Newsof the saving grace through faith in Christ. As our Redeemer, Teacher, and Lord, Jesus commands us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20) Rhoda knew the great joy her news would bring, just as we know the great joy awaiting those who receive Jesus as their Savior. 

Finally I admire Rhoda’s expectant faith. She obviously knew Peter, and I have no doubt Rhoda was among those praying for his release. Yet unlike the others who had to be convinced that God had answered their prayers, all it took was the sound of Peter’s voice for Rhoda to believe. She had complete faith in Jesus who said, “If two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in Heaven.”(Matt. 18:19) Like Rhoda, when we pray, we must do so with expectant faith in God. Faith, “That if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."  (1 John 5:14)

I want to be like Rhoda. I want to be jubilant, excited, and full of faith in God. I want to pray expectantly and be overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness when those prayers are answered. Peter’s deliverance shows how there is the great power in prayer. And so the next time I find myself bound in chains, and stuck behind closed gates, I will pray. For through my own power I can do nothing, but through the power of God, “All things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26)


Blessing

More Than Enough {Luke 8:40-9:62}

12:00 AM


After returning from being sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel, the disciples returned to give an account to the Lord of all they had done. Wanting to hear their news and spend time alone with them, Jesus took the twelve to the city of Bethsaida. However, eager for the teaching and healing of the Lord, a large crowd followed. Jesus spent the day ministering to the people, and in the evening the disciples approached Him saying, “Send the crowd away that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.” (vs. 9:12) But instead of encouraging the people to leave Jesus responded, “You give them something to eat!” (vs. 9:13)

I’m sure Jesus’ command must have caught the disciples off guard. Surrounded by a sea of hungry people, and with no apparent way to fill their growling stomachs, the options were bleak. There were no stores to purchase food, and even if there were they didn’t have the money needed to provide for everyone. While the disciples searched for solutions, Andrew found a boy with a meager lunch of five barley loaves and two fish. He presented the small offering to Jesus asking, “But what are these for so many people?” (John 6:9) 

Have you ever felt like Andrew? With all of the hurt and need in the world do you ever feel like what you have to offer is too little to make a difference? But as the disciples found out, when we bring all we have to Jesus, no matter how small, it is not only enough, in the hands of God it becomes more than enough. 

After having the disciples seat the people in groups of fifty, the Lord took the bread and fish, “and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them, to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they left over were picked up, twelve baskets full.” (vs. 9:16-17) 

I can just imagine the wonder and amazement felt as the bread and fish kept flowing. Most of all I imagine that young boy who watched the meager lunch he so graciously gave, feed the masses. What a glorious feeling must have filled his heart as he witnessed how through his one small gift, thousands were blessed. Isn’t it wonderful how God works! He takes what we offer and not only does He use it to bless others, but He blesses us by graciously allowing us to join in His work. For just as Proverbs 11:25 tells us, “the one who blesses others is abundantly blessed.” By merely speaking a word Jesus could have manifested food right then and there, but instead He allowed both great and small to share in the blessing by feeding the crowd with the sparse food of a boy and with the hands of the disciples who passed out the meal to the people. 

Just like that young lad, God wants us to bring to Him what we have. He isn’t concerned with the size of our offering, but rather the condition of our heart when we give it. Even though the boy’s gift seemed no more than a drop in the bucket compared to the need, because he eagerly gave it to the Lord in faith and trust, a seemingly insufficient donation became an abundance of blessing! And how thankful are we for a Lord who when we work hand in hand with Him to meet the needs of others, promises to meet ours in ways we can scarcely imagine!