Spring Break Refinery

Please let me know if your group is not going to meet at the normal time and the normal place. My email is (mike at inquest dot org)

Here are the notes for next week:

Study Notes Mark 1:40-45

I. What Is The Writer Trying To Say (Based on “The Lord and The Leper” by: C. H. Spurgeon)

The lepers faith made him eager to be healed – v.40a

- The word for begged in this verse (parakaleo) is the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit in other passages. It means to come along side or to aid. This man wanted Jesus to come along side him and free him from his misery

The lepers faith made him believe he could be healed – v.40b

- The word for clean in this verse (katharizo) can mean to be cleansed physically or to be cleansed spiritually. In any case to have your faith so validated by Jesus is to be made clean in both senses of the word.

The following quotation may be more than sufficient. Dr. Thomson in his famous work, "The Land and the Book," speaks of lepers in the East, and says, "The hair falls from the head and eye-brows; the nails loosen, decay and drop off; joint after joint of the fingers and toes shrink up and slowly fall away. The gums are absorbed, and the teeth disappear. The nose, the eyes, the tongue and the palate are slowly consumed."
- from “The Lord and The Leper” by C.H. Spurgeon

The lepers faith was fixed on the only person who could heal him – v.41

The lepers faith was rewarded with healing – v.42

The lepers faith caused him to want to tell everyone about Jesus – v.43-45

- The word for “talk freely” (kā-rü's-sō) means to act like a herald. In other words this man was so glad to be healed that he went before Jesus telling everyone what He had done for him.

II. What Is One Question That I Have?

Question: "Why did Jesus command people to not tell others of the miracles He performed?"Answer: After healing a man of leprosy (Mark 1:41-42), "Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone...'" (Mark 1:43-44). To our way of thinking, it would seem that Jesus would want everyone to know about the miracle. But Jesus knew that publicity over such miracles might hinder His mission and divert public attention from His message. Mark records that this is exactly what happened. In this man’s excitement over his being miraculously healed, he disobeyed. As a result, Christ had to move His ministry away from the city and into the desert regions (Mark 1:45) “As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to Him from everywhere.”In addition, Christ, though he had cleansed the leper, still required him to be obedient to the law of the land - to go at once to the priest, and not to make delay by stopping to converse about his being healed. It was also possible that, if he did not go at once, evil-minded men would go before him and prejudice the priest, and prevent his declaring the healing to be true because it was done by Jesus. It was of further importance that the priest should pronounce it to be a genuine cure, that there might be no prejudice among the Jews against its being a real miracle.Finally, Jesus did not want people focusing on the miracles He performed, but rather the message He proclaimed and the death He was going to die. The same is true today. God would rather that we be focused on the healing miracle of salvation through Jesus Christ instead of focusing on other healings and/or miracles.
- http://www.gotquestions.org/do-not-tell.html


Question: "Is it sometimes God's will for believers to be sick?"Answer: The biblical doctrine of the sovereignty of God states that God is almighty over all. He is in complete control of all things—past, present and future—and nothing happens that is out of His jurisdiction. Either He directly causes—or He passively allows—everything that happens. But allowing something to happen and causing something to happen are two different things. For example, God caused the creation of the perfect, sinless Adam and Eve, then He allowed them to rebel against Him. He did not cause them to sin and He certainly could have stopped them, but He chose not to for His own purposes and to bring about His perfect plan. That rebellion brought about all manner of evil, evil that was not caused by God, but which was allowed by Him to exist.Sickness is one manifestation of the two broad types of evil - moral and natural. Moral evil is man's inhumanity to man. Natural evil is composed of things like natural disasters and physical sickness. Evil itself is a perversion or corruption of something that was originally good, but is now missing something. In the case of sickness, illness is a state where good health is missing. The Greek word for evil (ponerous) actually implies a malignancy, something that is corrupting a good and healthy state of being.When Adam sinned, he condemned all of humanity to suffer the consequences of that sin, one of which is sickness. Romans 8:20-22 says, “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” God—the “one who subjected” the creation to frustration following the Fall—did so in order to eventually liberate it from its bondage of sin, just as He liberates us from that bondage through Christ.In the meantime, God uses sickness and other evils to bring about His sovereign purpose, to glorify Himself, and to exalt His holy name. At times, He miraculously heals sickness. Jesus went through Israel healing all manner of sickness and disease (Matthew 4:23) and even raised Lazurus from the dead after illness killed him, and Peter raised Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9). At other times, He uses it as a method of discipline or as a judgment against sin. King Uzziah in the Old Testament was struck with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:19-20). Nebuchadnezzar was driven to madness by God until he came to understand that “the Most High rules in the affairs of men” (Daniel 4). Herod was struck down and eaten by worms because he took God’s glory upon himself (Acts 12:21-23). There is even at least one case where God allowed disease—blindness—not as punishment for sin, but to reveal Himself and His mighty works through that blindness (John 9:1-3).When illness does come, it may not be the result of God’s direct intervention in our lives, but is rather the result of the fallen world, fallen bodies, and poor health and lifestyle choices. And although there are scriptural indicators that God wants us to be in good health, (3 John 2) "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers," all sickness and disease are allowed by Him for His purposes, whether we understand them or not.Sickness is certainly the result of the Fall of man into sin, but God is very much in control and He does indeed determine how far evil can go (just as He did with Satan and Job's trials—Satan was not allowed to exceed those boundaries). He tells us He is all-powerful some fifty-six times in the Bible, and it is amazing to see how His sovereignty dovetails with the choices we make (both bad and good) to work out in a perfect plan (Romans 8:28).For those who are believers and suffering with illnesses such as cancer in this life, the knowledge that they can glorify God through their suffering tempers the uncertainty as to why He has allowed it, something they may not truly understand until they stand in His presence in eternity. At that time, all questions will be answered.
- http://www.gotquestions.org/sickness-will-God.html


III. How Can I Apply This To My Life?

Realize that you are sick – Rom. 3:23

Come to Jesus to be cleansed and healed – 1 Peter 2:23-25

Tell everyone you know what Jesus has done for you – 2 Timothy 1:7-9

Teaching Notes For 3/26/08

Here are the teaching notes for 03/26/08

Teaching Notes For 03/19/08

I know this isnt the normal way of posting the notes, but I'm having computer problems. Please cut and paste this post into your preferred word processing program. Thanks for you patience and understanding.

-Mike

Proverbs 16:1-3

1. What is the writer trying to say?

1. v. 1 – Our plans are only as good as God’s performance of them. (Ps. 10:17;Phil.2:13)

Illustration:

Newscaster Paul Harvey told a remarkable story of God's providential care over thousands of allied prisoners during World War II, many of whom were Christians. One of America's mighty bombers took off from the island of Guam headed for Kokura, Japan, with a deadly cargo. Because clouds covered the target area, the sleek B-29 circled for nearly an hour until its fuel supply reached the danger point. The captain and his crew, frustrated because they were right over the primary target yet not able to fulfill their mission, finally decided they had better go for the secondary target. Changing course, they found that the sky was clear. The command was given, "Bombs away!" and the B-29 headed for its home base. Some time later an officer received some startling information from military intelligence. Just one week before that bombing mission, the Japanese had transferred one of their largest concentrations of captured Americans to the city of Kokura. Upon reading this, the officer exclaimed, "Thank God for that protecting cloud! If the city hadn't been hidden from the bomber, it would have been destroyed and thousands of American boys would have died." God's ways are behind the scenes; but He moves all the scenes which He is behind. We have to learn this, and let Him work.

[NOTE: The Hebrew word for answer in verse 1, ma`aneh, is rendered in the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament as meaning: place for task. In other words, the petition is ours to make but the answer must come from God. Without His help, our plans are useless.(Ps.127:1)]

2. v. 2 – Our plans are only as good as God’s purification of them. (1 Sam. 16:7;1Cor. 4:4-5)

[NOTE: The Hebrew word for weighs in verse 2, tä·kan', is a term that means: to be made even or right, be adjusted to the standard. Even our best intentions are flawed because we are sinful. God can take our plans and bring them up to His standard and then what is done is done from purity. (Proverbs 21:2; Proverbs 12:15; Proverbs 30:12)]

3. v. 3 – Our plans are only as good as provision for them. ( 2 Tim 1:12)

[NOTE: The Hebrew word for established in verse 3, kuwn

, is a term that can be rendered: to fix, make ready, prepare, provide, provide for, furnish. We can work all our lives and seek to do great things but only God’s provision will make what we have don’t last after we are gone. (Ps. 55:22 )]

2. What is one question that I have about this passage?

Question: "How can I know God's will for my life? What does the Bible say about knowing God's will?"

Answer: There are two keys for knowing God's will for a given situation (1) Make sure what you are asking for or considering doing is not something the Bible forbids. (2) Make sure what you are asking for or are considering doing will glorify God and help you grow spiritually. If these two things are true and God still is not giving you what you are asking – then it is likely not God’s will for you to have what you are asking for. Or, perhaps you just need to wait a while longer for it. Knowing God’s will is sometimes difficult. People want God to basically tell them what to do – where to work, where to live, who to marry, etc. Romans 12:2 tells us, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."

God rarely gives people that direct and specific of information. God allows us to make choices regarding those things. The only decision God does not want us to make is the decision to sin or resist His will. God wants us to make choices that are in agreement with His will. So, how do you know what God’s will is for you? If you are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for your life – God will place His desires on your heart. The key is wanting God’s will, not your own. “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). If the Bible does not speak against it, and it can genuinely benefit you spiritually - then the Bible gives you the "permission" to make decisions and to follow your heart.

- http://www.gotquestions.org/know-God-will.html

Question: "How can I be sure I am praying according to the will of God?"

Answer: Man's highest aim should be to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and this includes praying according to His will. First, we must ask for wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:6). In asking for wisdom, we must also trust God that He is gracious and willing to answer our prayers: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting” (James 1:7; also Mark 11:24). So, praying according to the will of God includes asking for wisdom (to know the will of God) and asking in faith (to trust the will of God).

Here are seven Biblical instructions that will guide the believer in praying according to God’s will:

1) Pray for what the Bible commands prayer for. We are told to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44); for God to send missionaries (Luke 10:2); that we do not enter temptation (Matthew 26:41); for ministers of the Word (Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1); for government authorities (1 Timothy 2:1-3); for relief from affliction (James 5:13); and for the healing of fellow believers (James 5:16). Where God commands prayer, we can pray with confidence that we are doing His will.

2) Follow the example of godly characters in Scripture. Paul prayed for the salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1). David prayed for mercy and forgiveness when he sinned (Psalm 51:1-2). The early church prayed for boldness to witness (Acts 4:29). These prayers were according to the will of God, and similar prayers today can be as well. As with Paul and the early church, we should always be praying for the salvation of others, both those we know—loved ones who have not yet come to know Christ—and those we don’t know, especially those in authority over us. For ourselves, we should pray as David prayed, always aware of our sin and bringing it before God before it hinders our relationship with Him and thwarts our prayers.

3) Pray with the right motivation. Selfish motives will not be blessed by God. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3). We should also pray, not so our lofty words can be heard and we may seen by others as “spiritual,” but mostly in private and in secret, so that our heavenly Father will hear in private and reward us openly (Matthew 6:5-6).

4) Pray with a spirit of forgiveness toward others (Mark 11:25). A spirit of bitterness, anger, revenge or hatred toward others will prevent our hearts from praying in total submission to God. Just as we are told not to give offerings to God while there is conflict between ourselves and another Christian (Matthew 5:23-24), in the same way God does not want the offering of our prayers until we have reconciled with our brother or sister in Christ.

5) Pray with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2; Philippians 4:6-7). We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter how burdened we are by our wants or needs. The greatest sufferer that lives in this world of redeeming love, and who has the offer of heaven before him, has reason to be grateful to God.

6) Pray with persistence (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). We should persevere in prayer and not quit or be dejected because we have not received an immediate answer. Part of praying in God’s will is believing that whether His answer is “yes,” “no,” or “wait,” we accept His judgment, submit to His will, and continue to pray.

7) Rely on the Spirit of God in prayer. This is a wonderful truth: “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will” (Romans 8:26-27). We have the Spirit’s help in praying. At the times of our deepest depression or sorrow, those times when we feel that we “just can’t pray,” we have the comfort of knowing that God Himself, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, is actually praying to Himself for us! What an amazing God we have!

What assurance we can have when we are seeking to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh! Then we can have confidence the Holy Spirit will accomplish His work in presenting our prayers to the Father according to His perfect will and timing, and we can rest in the knowledge that He is working all thing together for good (Romans 8:28).

- http://www.gotquestions.org/praying-will-of-God.html

3. How can I apply this passage to my life?

1. Seek God’s blessing on everything you do. – Prov. 12:2; Matt. 6:31-33

2. Examine every decision you make by God’s standards. – Ps. 75:6-7; James 4:7-8

3. Trust God to do what you cannot. – Ps. 37:4-5; Pr. 3:5-6

Leadership Training Reminder

Don't forget that training tonight begins tonight at 5:30 in the worship center. Immediately following the service, we will continue on the 3rd floor.