IBS Week 6

 

NICK:

MAY 19, 2017 MARK 7:15 “THERE IS NOTHING OUTSIDE OF A PERSON THAT BY GOING INTO HIM CAN DEFILE HIM, BUT THE THINGS THAT COME OUT OF A PERSON ARE WHAT DEFILE HIM.”

ITS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THOSE THINGS THAT DEFILE ME, THAT TAKE ME OUT OF THE SPIRIT AND HIS PEACE. JESUS CARES ABOUT OUR HEARTS, NOT ON THE THINGS ON THE OUTSIDE. THESE THINGS DO HAVE SOME IMPORTANCE IN HIS KINGDOM, LIKE STEWARDSHIP, BUT THE CONDITION OF THE HEART IS OF MORE IMPORTANCE. THERE ARE MANY OUTWARD THINGS THAT GOD HAS CALLED ME TO HERE, BUT THEY SHOULD NEVER COME BEFORE THE HEARTS OF MY FAMILY. THE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY WIFE AND SON ARE WEIGHING ON MY HEART AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE COULD BE MORE LOVE DIRECTED TOWARDS THEM. I NEED TO BE SPENDING MORE TIME WITH THEM WHEN NOTHING IS GOING ON AROUND HERE. I CAN BE INVESTING MY TIME INTO THEM SO THEY FEEL MORE LOVED BY ME. LORD I NEED YOUR HELP IN GUIDING ME IN THAT DIRECTION. I CANT FULLY LOVE THEM THE WAY YOU CALL ME TO WITHOUT YOUR HELP. I WANT TO BE A LOVING HUSBAND AND FATHER WHO GIVES THEM MY TIME.

 

Julie:

IBS Week 6

Mark Chapter 5

Mark Chapter 5 has shown me more of who Jesus’ character is.  Which is amazing because I prayed for that before I read this morning.  God is so good!  There is a pattern here with three different occurrences.  The pattern is the “unclean” coming to Jesus in faith and Jesus healing them with compassion.   Jesus goes to Gerasenes and comes in contact with a man that possesses an “unclean spirit”.  Before Jesus arrives, the man is unable to be contained and is cutting himself.  The man was not happy and cried all day and night.  The man sees Jesus (v6), runs to him (v6), and falls at his feet (v6).  And Jesus cast the demon, named Legion, out of him.  Jesus had the compassion to heal this unclean man despite what the old testament says which is to leave the unclean alone.  Because of this man’s faith in Jesus, he was healed.  The second instance is when Jesus heals the woman who was bleeding, which according to the old testament, the women who bled had to remain outside the camp because they were unclean, but Jesus had compassion on her.  She heard who Jesus was (v27), came up to him (v27), and touched him (v27).  Her faith in Jesus and who he was, healed him, as it says in v28 – “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”  And being face to face with Jesus, she fell down before him and confessed (v33).  Her faith and boldness and confession healed her.  The third instance in this chapter is Jarius’s daughter who was dying.  Jarius was a Pharisee or some kind of Jewish worshiper in the synagogue.  He should not have believed in Jesus like the others, but he did!  He saw Jesus (v22), fell at his feet (v22), and implored (or begged) him (v22) to heal his sick daughter.  During all of this, the child did die and Jesus went to her.  And taking her by the hand – actually touching her (v41), she came back to life.  In the old testament it is a law that no one could touch a dead body because it was deemed “unclean”.  Ok – so all of these circumstances occurred for us to remember that Jesus defies the laws!  He actually steps over them in love and grace and heals us!  Us – unclean people – sinners – liars – addicts – dead to Him – doubters – adulterers. I mean, Jesus loves us, as we are!!!!! And if we are willing to recognize him, fall at his feet in humility, and in faith believe that he can heal us a love us then he will (be it his will).  The best way to sum up this chapter is with v36 – “Do not fear, only believe”.  The depressed man, the man opposing Jesus, and the shamed woman I’m sure all had fear in confronting Jesus, but despite that, they did it in faith not fear that he would heal them and he did!!!!



IBS Week 5

NICK:

SATURDAY MAY 13, 2017  MARK 2:9-12 WHICH IS EASIER, TO SAY TO THE PARALYTIC, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN, OR TO SAY, RISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED AND WALK? BUT THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT THE SON OF MAN HAS AUTHORITY ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS-HE SAID TO THE PARALYTIC- I SAY TO YOU RISE, PICK UP YOUR BED, AND GO HOME. AND HE ROSE AND IMMEDIATELY PICKED UP HIS BED AND WENT OUT BEFORE THEM ALL, SO THAT THEY WERE ALL AMAZED AND GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, WE NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

 THE SCRIBES IN THE SCENE COULD NOT SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES THAT JESUS REALLY DID FORGIVE THIS MANS SINS BECAUSE OF THIER LACK OF FAITH AND BELIEF. SO JESUS DECIDED TO GIVE THEM PROOF OF HIS AUTHORITY ON EARTH. HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING EQUALY AS IMPOSSIBLE FROM AN EARTHLY PERSPECTIVE. HE WAS GOING TO HEAL A MAN OF HIS PARALYSIS SO THAT THEY KNOW HE HAS THE POWER TO FORGIVE THIS MAN HIS SINS, REGARDLESS IF THEY BELIEVED OR NOT. HE HEALED THE MAN AND HE JUST WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM. I CAN JUST IMAGINE THE ROOM IN DEAD QUIET AND PEOPLE JUST IN ABSOLUTE AWE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED. IT SAYS THAT THEY WERE AMAZED AN GLORIFIED GOD. THIS EVENT WAS SO INCREDIBLE THAT ALL THEY COULD DO IS GLORIFY GOD. ANOTHER THING IS THAT EVEN THOUGH JESUS HAS ALL AUTHORITY ON EARTH, HE NEVER USED IT FOR BAD OR RETALIATION OF DEFENSE OF EVIL AGAINST HIM. HE ONLY USED IT FOR GOOD. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FAITH OF THE FRIENDS OF THE PARALYTIC WHO BROUGHT HIM TO JESUS. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS WANTS TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE WITH PEOPLE. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE HE WANTS TO DO THE SAME FOR OTHERS AS HE HAS DONE FOR US. HE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO, WE JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH THAT HE WILL, FAITH THAT HE CAN SEE.

 

Julie:

 

IBS Field Time Week 5

Colossians 2:16-19 – Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.  Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

“Let no one pass judgment on you…” and “Let no one disqualify you…” both really spoke to me and ministered to me.  The passing of judgment is regarding the things that we involve ourselves with.  In the old testament, before Jesus, this included Jewish ceremonies to advance spirituality.  Today this means, in my life, raising my child as a Christian the way I see fit in the Lord.  I will not be moved by the world any longer in regards to what I know is the right way to raise Trent.  I had always fallen back into the judgment of other people and let them shake me.  And in fear of them, I changed my way of raising Trent to a more worldly way instead of staying on the Godly path.  The disqualifying of one is in regards to strong self-disciple and strong worship.  Some have looked on my behavior as a Christian and said that “I have taken it too far” or “I’m too radical” or “I’m trying too hard to earn God’s love”.  I have let myself be embarrassed for my outward display of love that I have for Jesus, and I have let it stunt my growth with Him.  I have to remember that only God can truly pass judgment me on my day of going home to heaven, and only He can convict me for over doing any act of disciple or worship for Him.  He alone keeps me pure and grounded.  So why should I let the world sway me with their judgment and disqualifying when I do not answer to them?  (Yes, I do answer to my husband and authority – but only in what’s pleasing to the Lord and I submit to them unto the Lord.)  I will be in prayer to not let the criticism of the world sway me but instead draw me closer to Jesus.  I have to remember that the world tried to judge and disqualify Him first.

 

 



IBS Field Time Week 4

Nick:

“WHO THEN IS THE FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT, WHOM THE MASTER HAS PUT IN CHARGE OF THE SERVANTS IN HIS HOUSEHOLD TO GIVE THEM THEIR FOOD AT THE PROPER TIME? IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THAT SERVANT WHOSE MASTER FINDS HIM DOING SO WHEN HE RETURNS.” MATTHEW 24-45-46

 THE LORD HAS BEEN BRINGING ME BACK TO LISTENING TO HIS VOICE AND BEING OBEDIENT TO IT. I HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED FROM ALL THE BLESSINGS AND SURROUNDINGS THE LORD HAS PLACED IN AND AROUND MY LIFE. EVEN THOUGH I AM IN A MINISTRY WITH OTHER BELIEVERS, THERE STILL IS THE THREAT OF THE ENEMY DISTRACTING ME WITH THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. ALSO FOR MY FLESH TO TRY AND SATISFY ITSELF IN THINGS GOING ON AROUND ME. PRAISE GOD THAT HE HAS BROUGHT ME BACK TO OUR RELATIONSHIP AND HIS VOICE BECAUSE ITS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. ITS WHERE ALL THE FRUIT COMES FROM. ITS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE ACCORDING TO HIS WORD. ITS THE ONLY WAY I CAN LIVE THIS VERSE OUT. THE LORD HAS BLESSED ME WITH A WIFE AND SON AND HAS CALLED ME TO BE IN CHARGE OF MY HOUSEHOLD, AND TO FEED THEM AT THEIR PROPER TIME. IF IM NOT IN THE SPIRIT AND LISTENING FOR AND TO HIS VOICE, HOW AM I TO KNOW WHEN HE IS ASKING ME TO FEED THEM? HOW WILL I KNOW WHAT TO FEED THEM? IF IM TRYING TO DO THIS IN THE FLESH, IM LIKE THE SERVANT IN VERSE 49 THAT BEATS HIS FELLOW WORKERS. THIS IS A VERY TERRIFYING POSITION TO BE IN WHEN NOT RELYING, DEPENDING, AND TRUSTING IN THE LORD. THE LORD ISNT CALLING ME TO PREACH TO MY FAMILY. HE IS ASKING ME TO FEED MY FAMILY AND GUIDE MY FAMILY IN HIS STRENGTH NOT MINE. LIKE PAUL SAID IN ROMANS, “THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!

Julie:

Matthew 23 – “Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees (me)” …

 v3 – They preached but did not practice.  I do not want to be the hypocrite who tells people to have faith during storms but when a storm coms upon me, I have no faith.  V4 – They lay heavy burdens on people’s shoulders.  I do not want to be the wife or friend or sister who lays my burdens on other people to make my load lighter.  It only creates a stumbling block for them in their walk with Christ.  V5 – They do their deeds to be seen by others.  I have recently been convicted of seeking the Lord in vain and it makes me sick that I can be that rotten and self-centered.  I do not want man to look at me and say, “good job, but instead God look at me and say, “well done my good and faithful servant”.  V6 -  They love honor and the best seat and people addressing them as Rabbi.  I can say all day how these kinds of arrogant and assertive people test my patience, but I can very easily be the same way.  When I don’t get the best seat, I want to be happy for the one who does deservingly get it.  V15 – They travel far to recruit but them corrupt them with false doctrine.  I do not want to just be enthusiastic about acts of service, but also give my service the best I can.  I do not want to grow lazy in a responsibility I was once so happy to receive.  V16 – The swear by  the temple, but the gold of the temple is too sacred to swear by.  Wow – that anything could have been more sacred than God, but how many times do I do the same thing?  I do idolize certain things and the real confusion (which could be the same in this passage) is what I idolize relates to God.  So what I’m doing is dressing up my sin of idolatry with God and calling it Holy, but in reality and deep down I know that I am choosing God’s gift to me over God himself.  V23 – They tithe spices but not justice, mercy, and faithfulness.  They were giving away things of the flesh, but not things of the heart.  God asks us to die completely to ourselves and that includes our hearts as well.  I pray that I never let my acts of kindness be more visible than the work it is doing in my heart.  V25 – They clean the outside of the cup while the inside is still dirty.  Can I really think that if I serve every time I can, and always smile, and fast and pray fervently, that no one will see through the façade.  I can clean the outside of my cup till it is crystal clear, but if the inside of my cup is dirty then any water I pour out will be just as filthy.  A dirty cup does not have living water in it.  Only by Christ can our cups be washed clean on the inside.  V30 – They mourn for the martyred and the dead prophets, then boast that their fathers were the ones that killed them.  I never want to be someone who exaggerates who they are to fit in with the crowd they are around.  I once was this way, like a boat without an anchor being tossed by the waves, but now I have an anchor and over any characteristics I have, I am first a daughter of Christ and my full identity is found in Him and His truth.

IBS Field Time Week 3 April 24th-30th

Julie:

Matthew 17:26 “And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.”

In this section, Jesus and Peter are approached by a tax collector who asks Peter if Jesus pays taxes.  Peter answers “yes” and they go on.  But I love the way Jesus turns this into a lesson for Peter.  He asks him if he thinks Kings take taxes from their heirs.  Peter believed that the kings collected taxes from others, and Jesus adds “Then the sons are free.”  I am an heir of the King!  Therefore, I am free and exempt from paying taxes to Him.  The ultimate payment was already made, and that was Jesus Christ.  I am free from having to pay for my sins because I am a child of God.  I do not have to earn my freedom.  I can keep my mouth shut and my body still and I will still be exempt.  And going along with saying that I am a child of God is Matthew 18.  “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  What is a child?  They are vulnerable with their parents.  They are humble enough to ask their parents for help when they are in need.  And they trust that their parents will protect and comfort them in all situations.  This is the child of God I want to be, and who He wants me to be.  I am thankful to be an heir of God, so my prayer is to have more gratitude in my heart.

Field Time Week 2 April 17th-23rd

Nick:
Tuesday April 18, 2017 Matthew 10:27-28 "What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Through the spirit we receive revelation and insight from the Lord. He pours out his wisdom and understanding on us. He shares his truth with us. There will be times when the spirit is compelling us to say things in the light to people. Things that Jesus told us in secret that he wants us to proclaim from the rooftops. He may ordain a certain conversation with somebody, or put us in front of many people. II Corinthians 5:20  "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. God uses us to further his kingdom and for his sovereign will to be done.” And when he does call and ask us to be those messengers, we must not fear flesh and bone. We must fear the one who created us. The one who determines whether it will be heaven or hell.

Julie:

Matthew 13:44 “The Parable of the Hidden Treasure”

This parable has really made an impression on me.  I’ve heard that there are a couple of different ways to view what Jesus means when he says, “the kingdom of heaven”.  When I read this verse, I thought of heaven itself.  Some may think of heaven on earth.  Anyway, the revelation I had was that heaven is my ultimate reward.  My walk with the Lord thus far has been to seek Him, and sometimes when I do that I get discouraged when I get no reward.  Then I realized my heart must be in the wrong place to feel tired of chasing Jesus and coming up short (in my mind).  But, I was missing the heart – the love – the faith.  The man in this parable found his treasure (heaven).  Then he covered it back up and walked away from it.  That must have taken some real faith that it would still be there if he left it there while he went out and handled other business.  His faith becomes even more encouraging when we find out what he left his treasure to go do.  He sold all that he had.  I can’t wrap my head around what everything was to him.  Was it his money and assets, or was it his family, was it himself?  Whatever it was that he sold, the treasure he found was greater.  And once all that he had was gone and he stood alone with some denarii, he didn’t seem to question what his next step was.  He purchased the field that possessed his treasure, so that it could be his.  This man didn’t steal or manipulate or cut corners to get his treasure.  He didn’t say “I want to have my cake and eat it too”.  No, he sold all that he had it hopes to possess the best treasure he had ever seen.  He did this out of faith, and his treasure for that faith was treasure.  What he gave up where things of the world, but what he gained was eternal life.  He didn’t have that child-like mindset that says, “I would rather have one now than a hundred later”.  He knew what was important and he put his mind to it until he possess it.  I am praying that I can be that faithful and steadfast like the man in this parable.

IBS Field Time – Week 1 April 10th-16th

Julie:

Matthew 10:39 – “Whoever find his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

I am finding myself numb, like a robot.  On the plane back to Guatemala and a few days after arriving I was worrying a little inside because I thought I had cracked.  I thought I was broken of connecting my emotions to my actions.  But as I was journaling, I was saying how lost I feel.  I feel like I have lost grips of who I am and what makes me “me”.  I feel like I no longer possess compassion or empathy or happiness or sadness or anger.  I’m just existing right now.  The enemy has tried telling me that people in my life who are emotionless have rubbed off on me.  He has also tried convincing me that Dad dying as so tramatic that I have flipped all my switched off to avoid dealing with it.  But instead of freaking out (which I can’t do anyway), I turned to God.  And God showed me this verse and reminded me that I am on the right path.  I felt so much peace when I read it.  I felt joy – not to be confused with happiness.  I felt my fruits growing not my emotions.  God reminded me that if I lose myself, I will find myself in Jesus.  God is sanctifying me.  He is setting me apart from the way the world thinks.  I do not want my emotions to guide me anymore, but instead the truth.  I felt like I was walking just parallel to the Christian walk, so close that it looked like I was on it, but my path had a cliff that I had just walked off.  But this verse disillusioned the trick the enemy was playing on me.  I feel so comforted knowing that God is transforming and renewing my mind to be more like Him.