hope – Page 6 – Me From the Inside Out

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters

Endure Suffering …

Posted on July 19, 2023July 19, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w6d3

Today’s Scripture: Romans 12 / SOAP: 12:2 and 12

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 12:2

Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 12:12
Romans 12:2 and 12

Observations

In verses nine through twenty-one, Paul basically makes a list of things that Christians should do, or ways they should live, in order to please God. He starts with the importance of love without pretense (9), and ends the list with instructions to not be overcome with evil but rather to overcome evil with good(21).

Verse twelve, the second of our SOAP / focus verses, is so important to our study that I wanted to share this Scripture ‘nugget’ I found by Bibleref.com – I encourage you to really take the time to carefully read through this explanation of “rejoicing in hope and enduring suffering,”as well as the role prayer plays in it all.

The first command to Christians is to rejoice in hope. Often, we resist instruction about what we should feel: that we should change our attitudes to be joyful. The idea here, though, is more about declaring ourselves as having reason for joy. It’s not a command to be happy, but to have the right perspective on our situation. We should agree with God that our hope is worth rejoicing over. What hope? Paul is referring to the hope of the redemption of our bodies and being united with our Father forever once our adoption is complete (Romans 8:23–24).

The next command is to be patient [endure] in tribulation or affliction. This becomes much easier if we are keeping the other two commands. Those who see their future worth celebrating and who pray to the Father continually will have a much easier time being [enduring] during hardship. Paul is not downplaying the genuine pain of those experiences. Life can be unpleasant, and not all moments are happy moments. Yet Paul has pointed out that the struggles of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory to come (Romans 8:18). So, we wait with patience (Romans 8:25).

The final command of the verse also connects with Paul’s thoughts in Romans chapter 8. We’re commanded to be constant in prayer, or to keep praying continually. During any time of suffering, while waiting for what we’re hoping in, we should pray. Prayer brings a connection with our Father through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26–27). He hears, understands, and helps in response to even our clumsiest attempts to communicate with Him.

Keep in mind that none of this is possible without the transformation of our minds, which is the focus of verse two, our other SOAP verse. In a recent message by one of our pastors, this verse was explained as such: “God wants a transformation, meaning a continual moving toward God, and allowing Him to change and renew the way we think. However, prior to this transformation we must be intentional to guard ourselves from being “conformed to(or to copy the behavior of…) this world.” Pastor Yates went on to clarify that being conformed to the world involves a continual renunciation of God for the ways of the world.”

Application

Consider these applications found at Bibleref.com and from Pastor Yates’ sermon …

Bibleref – 12:2 / “…God may continue to provide us with pleasure, possessions, and status in various forms, but he urges us to learn how to look at life with a new question: What does God want for me? What is truly a good, acceptable, and perfect use of my life for His purposes and not just for my own?”

Pastor Yates –

“God wants a presentation” –

We are to …

be a living sacrifice
- “a vehicle through which we serve Christ”
be set apart for God
- to be holy as He is holy=====
be pleasing to God (Malachi 1:6-8_
- “second best is not pleasing to God”
be a true worshiper

Prayer, Response to God’s Word

Father, Your Word is living and active and life-changing when we yield to Your instructions. Help us to faithfully present ourselves to You as living sacrifices … to live set apart for You, pleasing You by really loving others. Help us to hate what is wrong and hold tightly to what is good, to work hard and serve You enthusiastically, being eager to show hospitality. Let us rejoice in the hope we have in You, patiently endure – even in our suffering, and to always keep praying. If we are persecuted may we bless our persecutor and not curse them – and may we even pray for them to know God’s blessing. Remind us to be happy with those who are happy, to weep with those who weep, and to live in peaceful harmony with all people – as much as is possible with You. Guard us from vengeance or paying back evil for evil, and in all of this may You be glorified – In Jesus’ Name – Amen!

Going Further

Enhance today’s reading with the LGG Blog Post

Even If

Posted on July 17, 2023July 17, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w6d1

Today’s Scripture: Job 3:25-26; 6:11-12;9:14-20;13:15; and 42:`1-15 / SOAP: 13:15

Even if he slays me, I will hope in him;
I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Job 13:15

Job, for no reason known to him, has lost basically everything he held dear for reasons beyond his understanding. Scripture says it was “the very thing he had dreaded and feared. It brought him unrest and heightened turmoil. His strength was weakened and he was filled with bitterness. In chapter six we are told that he saw no reason to go on living. Clearly he had lost hope – yet, Job did not curse God! instead Job announces that “Even if God should slay me, I will hope in Him.”

In his writing on Job’s losses, Evangelist, Scott Pauley, wrote:

You can lose things and get more. You can lose family but know that you will see them again. You can lose health and regain it. You can lose relationships and have them restored. The one thing that sustains a man through the hardships of life is hope. “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” (Proverbs 18:14). To lose hope is to lose heart. To lose hope means that you have lost sight of the goodness of God and of the future.

We are living in days of tremendous loss. Most of us have lost loved ones. Many have lost their health. Some have lost their business and financial security. All of us have suffered some sense of loss with the ever changing circumstances in our world. There is one thing that must not be lost – hope!
Scott Pauley

I believe our remedy to maintaining our hope is found in not only knowing who our God is but in remembering who He is. We must be careful to remember, whether on the mountain of blessings or in anguishing loss or real and present crisis – that God is good. We must continually, and often intentionally, recall that He is full of compassion, faithful in mercy, sufficient in grace, and abounding in love. To do anything less puts us in grave jeopardy of hopelessness.

Some Noteworthy Observations

“Job was a faithful servant of God.” These horrific events/losses did not just happen to anyone. They happened to Job for a reason, not because he was unfaithful but rather because he was faithful.

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. …

⁶One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. ⁷“Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

⁸Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

⁹Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. ¹⁰You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! ¹¹But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

¹²“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
Job 1:1, and 6-12

Job spoke openly and honestly with God. There was no pretense about how the devastating losses had affected him. Even though Job knew he was innocent, he “could only plead with [his] judge for mercy.” Job also knew that he was weak and that God was strong.

Perhaps the best observation is the one we read at the end of our passages today – “So the LORD blessed the second part of Job’s life more than the first.” There is no question that the righteous suffer but Scripture also bears witness that the faithful of God are blessed.

A Notable Application

Remember Who God is and what He has done for us, how He loves His people,
When we are questioning our strength, or when fears, dread, sorrows (great and small) rise within and around us, or when we sense our weakness in any situation, not just loss – we would be wise to remember: our help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth. When the “mountains” of this life loom ahead of us or when the losses of life weigh us down – we can endure with hope in our Creator.
Look to God

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Psalm 121:2

Prayerful Response to God’s Word

Father thank You for the example of Your faithful servant Job. When we think of him please guard us from thinking or dwelling on all of his losses but rather help us to faithfully recall Who You are and what You’ve been doing and will do on behalf of us, Your children. May we be faithful to say, on the mountains and in the valleys, Even if he slays me, I will hope in You, my God]

Worship through Music

Let’s Go Further:

Check out today’s LGG Blog post for today

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Jars of Clay

Posted on July 13, 2023March 11, 2026 by

based on the LGG study, Enduring Hope / w4d5

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 / SOAP:7-10

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. ⁸We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, ¹⁰always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Observations:

The first question that begs to be asked when ‘soaping’ this passage is – what is the “treasure” mentioned in verse seven? According to 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, the treasure is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus. In other words, the Treasure is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

According to a commentary by Bibleref.com, “Paul has been defending himself from allegations of practicing falseness with the Corinthians. Some may have even accused him of being manipulative or a false apostle. To counter these arguments, Paul has emphasized his sole mission: to deliver the true gospel of Jesus and to proclaim that Christ is Lord. Paul insists that he and his friends see themselves as mere servants to the Corinthians for Christ’s sake. In his first letter to this church, Paul gave numerous indications that he was not interested in personal gain or fame” (1 Corinthians 1:10–17; 9:12–16).
BibleRef.com / 2 Corinthians 4:7-8

The next question then, is what, or who, are the clay jars? To Paul’s original audience, the clay jars would have represented something very fragile, and as Paul explained to the Corinthians – God used the fragile vessel “so that” everyone would understand, “the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” However, metaphorically speaking, Paul, in an effort to answer – or better yet – silence those accusing him and his team of “practicing falseness”, Paul was referencing himself and his team as the clay jars. Paul’s heart was the vessel that God had shown His light in. The same is true of everyone who names the name of Christ today, and according to Scripture, we too, have been given the mission to carry this Gospel message to the world.”

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
Mark 16:15

So often it seems we are bombarded with ‘trouble’. Even then – perhaps, especially then – we can, like Paul and his team,, be reflections of Jesus. We must remember though, it wasn’t because of their power or strength but because of God in them; and as we saw in our recent post, it was also the power of God through the prayers of others.

Paul’s illustration of suffering was meant to help the Corinthians see and understand that what others were seeing in and from him was all about God’s power and glory – as the “life of Jesus was made visible in them.” This should have been evident in the way they handled all of their ‘troubles’, for through it all, even in their weakness and struggle, they did not turn away from following Christ and making Him known to others. They knew He had not abandoned them and they endured with hope of the “eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (15-17) to what they were experiencing now.

Application

Do not let today’s trouble crush you or drive you to despair. If you are persecuted or suffering because of following Jesus, remember He has not abandoned you. If your troubles have knocked you down or simply knocked the wind out of your sail, don’t lose hope – for you belong to Jesus and to God the Father, and in them we cannot and will not be destroyed.

While it may not be easy to live for Jesus in this world – we must remember the goal set before us – and that is to make Him known. May all our troubles, and our responses to the troubles, make Him visible to the watching world.

Prayer: Response to God’s Word

Father, Paul’s words are challenging. I confess it is sometimes easy to lose hope or to despair. Yet they are equally encouraging to be reminded that You have not and will not abandon us. We belong to You and we will not be destroyed. These are the truths that help me to endure with hope. Guard us Father where we are vulnerable and strengthen us where we are weak – and in all these things grace us with Your protection. Through it all and above it all help us to make Jesus visible to the watching world. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen and amen –

Going Deeper

2 Corinthians 4:6

2 Corinthians 4:9

2 Corinthians 4:10

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Posted on July 11, 2023July 12, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w5d3

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3 / SOAP: 1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ²We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ³Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.
Hebrews 12:1-3

Observations and applications

There are many lessons packed into these three small verses, like how Jesus is the pioneer of our faith, meaning He led the way or set the example for the life of faith He has called us to live. Perhaps the most beautiful lesson is the way the author wrote about what and how Jesus “endured”, namely the cross, “disregarding its shame”. This only sinless son of God took our sin and shame and we should , as Bibleref.com writes – “make every effort to ‘hold fast’ (Hebrews 3:6; 10:23), setting aside sin and selfishness as we pursue whatever path God has placed in front of us. This is the essence of godly faith: to trust God with our future, despite how hard it might be in the present.”

Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to endure.

To run the race God has mapped out for us – we must get rid of things that hinder us – such as sin and things of earth that bind us or weigh us down. We must also keep our eyes on Jesus, the champion of our faith. Why? Because it is just too easy to give into fears and weariness when our eyes are not on Him. Remember, our battles are different than the typical earthly warfares. In Ephesians, chapter six, Paul explained that our battles are not against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. Since we cannot see our enemy we must prepare our minds for the battle. This, at least in part, is why Scripture teaches, or warns us, to guard the mind and to keep our thoughts on Him. Actually, Paul shared his personal battle of the mind with the church at Rome. He told them that there was another power within him that was at war with his mind. The power made him a slave to the sin that was still in him and he wanted to help others who might also struggle with this. Because of this, it seems, Paul used letter after letter to drill the warning into New Testament believers and not just the warning but the ways to overcome the battle, whether it was of the mind or present and real earthly matters.

Because I have found them very helpful to my own battles many of the “how tos’ are referenced here with the hope that they will also help you.

Romans 12;2 … To avoid copying the customs and behaviors of this world we must let God change the way we think.
Colossians 3:2 … Think about the things of heaven not the things of earth
Philippians 2:5 … Think like Christ – You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had…
Philippians 4:8 … Think on these things …
1 Peter 1:13 … Prepare your mind for action
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 … Take every thought captive.

who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death
Philippians 2:6-8

Jesus Himself made it known the importance of the mind in relation to His followers.According to Jesus’ teaching, both the focus and the allegiance of the mind were important to God.

But [Jesus} turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.” Matthew 16:23

We even hear its importance in His infamous answer to the Pharisee in Matthew 22:37, where He replied – “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all of your mind.'”

Long before Jesus walked on the earth Isaiah told the people, “[God] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him, all whose thoughts are fixed on Him.”

The Bible is full of helpful tips, promises, and more when it comes to overcoming the enemy – which is key to our endurance – and why Scripture is the believer’s greatest weapon of warfare. Consider Paul’s words to the believers in Ephesus and, by extension, to believers today concerning the armor of God.

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. ¹¹Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. ¹³For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, ¹⁶and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). ¹⁸With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18

If we want to endure, and not just endure, but endure with hope we must be prepared to stand firm. However we cannot stand firm without the Word of God, which is specifically referred to by Paul as the Sword of the spirit. While the other pieces of armor may not specifically be referred to by Paul as the “Word of God”, almost all have some connection to the Word. Check out today’s, ‘Going Deeper’ for more details.

Going Deeper

The belt of Truth

The Good News/Gospel

The Shield of Faith

Today’s LGG Blog Post

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Don’t Throw It Away!

Posted on July 10, 2023July 11, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w5d2

Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-39; 1 Peter 5:5-11 / SOAP: Hebrews 10:35-36

Scripture/Observations/Application

straight from the pages of my journal –

Faith – A Spiritual Preservative

I found verse thirty-nine a wonderful reminder of the power of our faith. While most translations render the verse – “whose souls will be saved“, the NET version translates it like this: “But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith ‘and preserve their souls.’ “ I love this! It means the same thing, of course, as the other translations but it jumped off the page at me with the emphasis of faith’s longevity. Faith is a spiritual preservative – so powerful of a preservative – it will never expire.

Faith is a spiritual preservative – so powerful of a preservative – it will never expire.
MefromtheNsideout

Going Deeper

Building Your Endurance

Posted on July 10, 2023July 10, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w5d1

Today’s Scripture: James 1:2-8, 12 / SOAP: 1:2-4

My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
James 1:2-4

Observations

My mom, who is in a rehab facility, wants to come home so much. Sadly, she has to stay so she can get daily therapy in order to become strong enough to stand and walk on her own when we aren’t with her. We’ve been having a lot of conversations about this lately, so while I was reading today’s passage, I was reminded that this same principle applies to our spiritual lives. You see, we can work out every day to build up our physical strength and endurance, but if we don’t use the muscles we’ve worked out we will never progress. The same is true spiritually. If we are not spending daily time in God’s Word and putting into practice what we read, we will become spiritually weak and unable to “endure” when troubles come our way. However, when the trials come and we continue to follow Jesus’ way – our roots grow deeper in Jesus’ strength and godly character, and we become more sure-footed with every trial. When our roots are planted deep in Him and our way of thinking is ‘trained’ or focused on Him – we will stand firm in our faith and live a life that truly reflects Him and deters the enemy.

Trials not only reveal the genuineness of our faith, they strengthen our faith.

Application

We can learn much from James’ opening remarks here, in verse two. We are encouraged to consider our trials or troubles nothing but joy. This type of consideration will require us to retrain our thinking, our outlook, and perspective. Paul made similar statements through out his writings and included the “how-to” instructions. One of my favorites is Philippians 4:6-8, where we read:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:6-8

With a diet, when the end of the day comes you either feel good/stronger if you stayed on track, or weak and frustrated, if you didn’t. It seems, as I read James 1:12, that in essence James is saying something similar; like, ‘when the “end of the day comes” we will rejoice if we have done well – reaping the benefits of His promises; and borrowing from Matthew 25:21, perhaps the blessing of hearing God say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

Prayer, in response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit who not only teaches us from it but reminds us of all that Christ said. Thank You for the strength that this builds in us and the power it has to enable us to stand firm in the troubles that come our way. Thank You for the reminder that our trials are meant to make us stronger. Help us to endure each trial with patience and the intention of glorifying You by keeping our eyes on the goal of being perfect and complete, not lacking in anything. – In Jesus’ Name, amen

From the Word to Worship, through song

Through it all – I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus – I’ve learned to trust in God! Through it all – I’ve learned to depend upon Hs Word …

Going Deeper

The Testing Of Your Faith

Today’s LGG Blog

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Faith is the Victory

Posted on July 8, 2023July 8, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w4d5

Today’s Reading: Hebrews chapter 11 / SOAP 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

This is another very familiar passage, often referred to as the “Hall of Faith”. It’s a passage easy to gloss over as we read it but have you ever stopped to consider the beauty and the reality of the author’s choice descriptions of the faith of those who have gone before us? Challenge yourself to consider, not just verse 1 and it’s concise definition of faith, but all those that follow. For instance, the beauty of these truths about faith:

FAITH is the way we understand how God created the world
It is the means by which we are declared righteous
It is how we please God and –
- Without FAITH we cannot please God
FAITH lives on
It is a catalyst of obedience
FAITH is the source of life
and it is how we experience the impossible –
Faith is how we offer sacrifices to God
and it is the source of strength to do the right thing

While these are all awe-inspiring and certainly stood out to me it was the statement about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthath, and David, and Samuel, and the Prophets that I found captivating and a wonderful picture of the power that moves when we live by FAITH!

Through FAITH they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle and put foreign armies to flight …
Hebrews 11:35

An Inspiring Song of Worship – Faith is the Victory

I cannot help but think of the old hymn we often sang in church when I was growing up – called – Faith is the Victory. Perhaps you remember it – I’ve included the lyrics in case you want to join me in using it as a victorious battle cry – particularly the chorus:

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers rise, and press the battle ere the night – shall veil the glowing skies; Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled; Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.
His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God; We tread the road and the saints before with shouts of triumph trod. By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath, swept on o’er every field; The faith by which they conquered death be still our shining shield.
O every hand the foe we find drawn up in dread array; let tents of ease be left behind, and onward to the fray. Salvation’s helmet on each head, with truth all girt about, The earth shall tremble ‘neath our tread, and echo with our shout.
To him that overcomes the foe, white raiment shall be giv’n; Before the angels he shall know His name confessed in heav’n; Then onward from the halls of light, Our hearts with love aflame, We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night in Jesus’ conqu’ring name.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
John Henry Yates

Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for the Victory, that is ours through FAITH in Christ Jesus! May we be steadfast in the heart of it – that others may see and know that You are an awesome God! And may the faith you have instilled in us be what strengthens and ignites us to endure with hope – even to the end. – Amen and Amen – In Jesus’ Name!

Going Deeper

The Love God Greatly Blog

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

A Touch – A Cloak – And Faith

Posted on July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w4d4

Today’s Reading: luke 8:43-48 / SOAP: Luke 8:43 and 48

Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone. – Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
Luke 8:43, 48

I encourage you to read this recap as though you’ve never heard the story before.

Hope Surged

She had suffered from the hemorrhage for twelve years now. She sought help and had suffered at the hands of the doctors, she had spent all the money she had trying to find relief but no one could heal her. To make it worse, this particular disease, being one of blood, would have prohibited her from worshipping or sacrificing at the Temple, and most likely lonely – as no one would want to come near her- for to do so made them unclean. Imagine, twelve years of constant bleeding, twelve years of jeers and stares and little to no contact with others, twelve years of searching for help, but to no avail. Weakened by the disease and emotionally tired of it all, her hope fading away as she had nothing left to give for help. At the end of herself, there seemed to be one last strand of hope. She had heard about a man named Jesus, a teacher and a prophet, but what captured her attention was that He was known to be a healer. Hope surged within her, believing if she could just touch His robe, she would be healed. In desperation she made her way through the crowd and reached out from behind him – managing to just touch the edge of His coat – but with that one touch the bleeding stopped and her body was healed.

The Power of Our Faith

Imagine now her excitement and relief mixed with what must have been a certain concern and anxiousness to escape the crowd without being noticed. Remember, those who recognized her would not have been happy that she had been in their midst lest they had been ‘contaminated’ by her touch and certainly she would not have wanted her touch to have rendered the healer contaminated. Yet, somehow Jesus knew that someone had touched Him and he wanted to know who. Now imagine her fear of being found out but then her delight as she fell before Him and shared the details of what had transpired and heard Him say, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. God in peace.”

Afterthoughts:

Simply and Profoundly Faith
- It seems at first glance that just touching the hem of His garment was enough to bring the full power of his healing to her body! Perhaps, indirectly it was ; however, we must not miss Jesus’ reply to her as she explained the reason and result of her touch. He did not commend her for reaching out, nor did He boast of some power in His garment, but rather, He made it clear that it was simply and profoundly her faith that made her well .
The Only One
- Jesus wasn’t the only one she looked to for help – but He was the only one who had the power to truly heal her – and He charged her nothing.

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”
31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”
32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”
Mark 5:25-34

Response to God’s Word

Father, may my faith always be so strong that I draw near and reach out when I am suffering or hurting or afraid or in need – believing that even just a touch of You will be enough to bring healing and peace.

Going Deeper

Before Jesus gets far, however, He feels power going out of Him. He discovers that a woman who suffers from chronic bleeding has had the courage to touch His robe in faith, hoping she will be healed. When she realizes Jesus knows what she did, she is understandably frightened. A woman—a woman with an issue of blood who was therefore considered unclean—touching a rabbi was unheard of. She rightly expects Jesus to be angry despite the deliverance she senses she has received. To her surprise, He calls her “daughter,” praises her faith, and blesses her. For the first noted time, Jesus heals with no overt intent; the woman and her faith call on His power and she is healed.
BibleRef.com / (Mark 5:25–34)

What does Mark 5:26 mean?

What does Mark 5:27 mean?

What does Mark 5:28 mean?

What does Mark 5:29 mean?

What does Mark 5:30 mean?

What does Mark 5:33 mean?

What does Mark 5:34 mean?

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Contentment in God or …?

Posted on July 5, 2023July 5, 2023 by

based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope / w4d3

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 / SOAP – 1:15-16

But Hannah replied, “Not so, my lord! I am a woman under a great deal of stress. I haven’t drunk wine or beer. But I have poured out my soul before the Lord. ¹⁶Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman. It’s just that, to this point, I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.”
1 Samuel 1:15-16

If you’ve known me long, heard me teach, or read many of my blogs you have likely heard or read my story of being childless for the first eight years of marriage. It is tempting to apologize for the repetitiveness, but I don’t, for it is the testimony of God’s work in my life. It was a time when He revealed my lack of contentment in Him. My desire for a child had become so much greater than my desire for God that my trust and hope in Him were barely visible at times. I was hurt when I saw or heard about others who were pregnant; and I was disappointed, even angry, with God every month when I realized, yet again, that I wasn’t pregnant.

In the beginning, I would cry out to God in prayer – much like Hannah, but as the years went on I would “act out”, so to speak. I would chase after other things that I believed could satisfy – for somewhere in my mind I had traded hope in God for hope in my circumstances. My hope had been shaken and shaken hard. I was a good “church girl”, so on Sundays and Wednesdays glimpses of faith and hope would shine light into the wilderness I was trapped in. I was miserable, my marriage was on shaky ground, my friends were having babies so my friendships were threatened – some were even ruined, and I found myself just going through the motions of life … until I found myself spilling my anguish out to my mother one afternoon as we sat on the front porch of her home. While we had a good relationship it was not one where we talked about personal issues like this, so trust me when I say it was a God thing, His perfect timing. I whined about not being pregnant and told her how miserable I was in every area of life and she said, something to the effect of – maybe you just need to learn to be content – which was followed up with some Scripture her Pastor had recently shared in a message. Her response perturbed me at first but I listened to her talk, dried my tears and eventually went home – and poured myself out to God like never before. In the days that followed God began working on my heart and mind and changing me from the inside-out. And, much like with Rachel and Leah in our previous post and Hannah from today, God ‘remembered’ me and within a very short time I learned I was pregnant.

… for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
1 Corinthians 4:11-13

In today’s story, Hannah poured herself out before the LORD. She was so caught up in her prayer, she didn’t realize that Eli, the priest, was watching her; nor did Eli realize that Hannah was praying in her mind to God – instead he thought she was drunk and encouraged her to put away her wine. Of course, Hannah replies that she isn’t drunk but rather under a great deal of stress and pouring out her “soul before the LORD.” She doesn’t elaborate on the source of stress but does request that Eli not consider her a wicked woman but rather to understand that she was pouring herself out before the LORD. She wasn’t speaking from drunkenness but rather from deep pain and anguish.

Scripture says that Eli told Hannah to, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17) Following her encounter with Eli and his encouraging blessing, Hannah “went her way and got something to eat. Her face no longer looked sad.” She had been refreshed by the prayer of Eli and the next day her mind and heart were occupied with God in worship before returning home. Scripture tells us that soon after this Hannah learned she was pregnant.

The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea, ²⁰and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the Lord for him.”
1 Samuel 1:19b-20

Response to God’s Word

Father, thank You for allowing us to pour our “souls” out to You. We are a people who need You and You have made it clear from Old Testament to New that we can bring You our fears, our desires like ‘childlessness”, our finances, our concerns, worries, and needs. Help us to trust in You even when we cannot see Your hand. You are a good and faithful father. – Amen!

Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

When God Remembers

Posted on July 3, 2023July 4, 2023 by

based on the Love God Greatly Study, Enduring Hope / w4d2

Today’s Reading: Genesis 29:31-30:24 / SOAP 30:22-24

Then Leah said, “God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons.” So she named him Zebulun.

²¹After that she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.

²²Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant. ²³She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said, “God has taken away my shame.” ²⁴She named him Joseph, saying, “May the Lord give me yet another son.”

Genesis 30:22-24

The Back Story

Jacob’s story with Leah and Rachel is best understood by going back to the day his father, Isaac, sent him on a journey. “You must not marry a Canaanite woman! Leave immediately for Paddan Aram! Go to the house of Bethuel, your mother’s father, and find yourself a wife there, among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. May the Sovereign God bless you! May he make you fruitful and give you a multitude of descendants! Then you will become a large nation. May he give you and your descendants the blessing he gave to Abraham so that you may possess the land God gave to Abraham, the land where you have been living as a temporary resident.”

After Isaac had spoken these words , he sent Jacob on his way, and Jacob went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean and brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau. Along the wayJacob falls asleep and has a dream, in which he hears God say, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on.Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. And so all the families of the earth may receive blessings through you and through your descendants.I am with you! I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!”

Following this, Jacob made a vow, saying: “If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, and I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will become my God. Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.” Afterwards, Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people.

And So It Began

This is where the ‘today’s story’ begins. For it is here that Jacob met and fell in love with Rachel, It is also here that Jacob was deceived by Laban, his mother’s brother. It is because of that deception that we find the two sisters, Rachel and Leah, both married to Jacob, one loved and the other unloved, one betrayed by her father and the other used in the deception of Jacob. While the events and desires or plans of Jacob’s life had become disrupted by man’s schemes, God was (and is) in perfect and complete control. He was not working only in and for Jacob – but for Leah and Rachel and the children they would bear and when they would bear them

Leah had given Jacob four sons but Rachel was unable to give Jacob children. Jealous of Leah and desperate for children, rather than trust God she schemes and manipulates the situation by giving her servant to Jacob so that she could conceive for her. Perhaps culturally acceptable in that day, this decision and manipulation never ceases to amaze me. However, I’m even more amazed and have learned much from the fact that she gives God the credit and the glory for something she manipulated.

“God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son.”
Genesis 30:6

The manipulation and the competitive actions of the sisters continue. Leah longing for Jacob to love her and Rachel longing to give her husband a son. The women seem to be pawns in Laban’s schemes and obviously manipulative themselves, but God did not forget them, (Genesis 30:17 and 22). Because God did not forget them, because He is in complete and perfect control of all things, Leah was able to conceive two more sons and a daughter. Rachel also became pregnant and gave Jacob two sons, Joseph and Benjamin, (Genesis 35:24). Because God’s love and power are seen in His Word I can endure the times of waiting and unfulfilled desires with Hope.

Response to God’s Word

Father, how often in the past have I not been patient for You to answer or trusted that You would answer according to my desires. In my impatience and self-consumed desires I have often pushed ahead and manipulated people and situations to attain my wants and my goals. I look back with regret on many of these things and yet I also see Your power to work all these things together for the good of those who love you, who have been called according to Your purpose. Thank You for the lessons of Scripture and for those You have taught me through life’s experiences. Thank You for forgiveness of sin and for Your perfect and complete control in all things. Thank You for remembering me when I was childless and desperate and for letting me look back now and see how you opened my womb when the time was just as You desired and knew it should be, for both Your will and my benefit, in the years to come! Blessed be Your name and power – O LORD, my God and Father.

Going Deeper

The Back Story