Check Your Baggage Here

We all carry baggage that we don’t need to carry.  We’re going to look at four common bags we lug around that we don’t need to carry. 

* The Baggage of Worry: Leaves us paralyzed as we strain under the weight of it             

* The Baggage of Past Mistakes: They haunt us and leave us with guilt.

* The Baggage of Unforgiveness: It rides on our backs and makes us bitter.

* The Baggage of Insecurity: We struggle beneath the weight of not being good enough.

The Baggage of Worry

1. Read Matthew 6:25-34. What did Jesus say about “worry” in these verses? Take it verse by verse and list what He says not to worry about.

2. According to Jesus, why shouldn’t we worry?

Jesus isn’t simply asking us not to worry in this passage. According to the grammatical codes used in the original Greek, He is commanding the reader or listener to stop worrying right now. What is so brilliant about Jesus is He doesn’t just command us to stop doing something, He also tells us why. When we worry, we take the control out of God’s hands and take control ourselves. God already has a plan, purpose and provision for each believer. All we have to do is trust Him.

3.  Read Matthew 11:28-30. What is Jesus inviting us to do? 

     What does He say He will give us? 

     What does He mean by taking on His “yoke”? 

     Why should we take on His “yoke”? 

     How does He describe Himself? 

     What is the result of being obedient to this command Jesus gives us?

Jesus reminds us of the benefits of laying down life’s “yoke” and picking up His “yoke.” A yoke is control. It directs the path of the one wearing it. The yokes we place on ourselves are heavy and burdensome.  His yoke allows us to rest and be revived by our Creator.  His direction is always right.

Jesus commands us to lay our control aside and allow Him to take control. He knows what He’s doing. Because His ways are right, the inward burden we place on ourselves is lifted. He takes the load. We can rest as we trust that His ways are correct. When we leave the driving up to Him, we’re able to rest in the backseat. 

The Baggage of Past Mistakes

4. Read Romans 8:1. What does it say about those who are in Christ Jesus? How is this comforting?

5. Read Philippians 3:12-14. What does the Apostle Paul say to do? (Verse 13) What should we press on toward? What is the goal he speaks about?

When we give our lives over to the Leadership of Jesus, we are no longer condemned to spiritual death as a result of our past sins. We are free to live under His control and rest in the knowledge we are forgiven for our past. Once we have received Jesus’ forgiveness our job is to keep pressing forward and not to hang on to what tripped us up and made us fall before we knew Him. Satan wants us to believe we don’t have hope and we can never be free from our past. The truth is found in Christ. 

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) 

6. What from your past keeps holding you back and weighing you down? What does  the Bible tell you to do about your past? 

The Baggage of Unforgiveness

There are two kinds of unforgiveness we can have: 1.) Unforgiveness of others. 2.) Unforgiveness of ourselves. We may have one or both as baggage. Both weigh heavily on a person and can cause undue stress that can result in depression, physical illness, bitterness, etc. 

7. Read Matthew 6:14-15. What do these verses say about forgiveness? Take time to ask God if there is any unforgiveness you are holding onto. Are you willing to forgive? Why or why not?

8. Read  1 John 3:19-20. Who is greater than our condemnation of ourselves? Why is His opinion more valuable than ours.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Who are we to say His forgiveness is not enough? What He did on the cross for us to be made right with God should remind us we must forgive ourselves. If we don’t forgive ourselves it’s like saying to Jesus, “What you did on the cross isn’t enough.” Holding on to the baggage of unforgiveness is pointless and harmful. We have already been forgiven in the eyes of the One who knows us best and loves us most. Who are we to hang on to unforgiveness?

The Baggage of Insecurity

We may struggle beneath the weight of insecurity. "Am I smart enough? Do I fit in? Am I attractive?".... On and on and on the questions and doubt plague us. First of all, God made us and that should be enough. Our identity is found in Him if He is our Lord. Our insecurities stem from looking for our value and purpose in other’s opinions and in our accomplishments rather than in Jesus.

9. Read 1 Peter 2:9-10. How are we, as believers in Jesus, viewed by God? Who do we belong to? What has God called us out of? What have we received from Him?

We find our value in knowing we belong to God. He has set us apart as His bride, pure and clean in His eyes. There is no greater value than to be called a child of the Great King. Our God created us in love and when we give our lives to Him we become His. The world’s value standard can never compare to God’s. 

10. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. “May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace,  encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.”

      What has Jesus Himself and God our Father given you?

      What does “eternal encouragement and good hope by grace” mean to you? What’s         

       the benefit of believing this?

We get our eternal encouragement and good hope by grace from our Lord Jesus and God our Father. Their approval is all that matters. We were created to live in relationship with Him and to delight in this relationship. We have been given the task of doing good works through Jesus Christ to bring glory to God. Our value is found in Him and in nothing else. When we get discouraged, the right place to go is to Jesus and rest in knowing He loves us and wants to encourage us in His perfect love.

“ Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen. The things that can be seen don’t last, but the things that can’t be seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

If we have baggage weighing us down, we should put it down and focus on the fact we are loved beyond all reason by God through Christ Jesus. Instead of focusing on the temporary things of earthly value, our focus must be on our eternal value. Our focus must be on Jesus and the wonderful love He has for us. 

He wants to lift us up and set us beside Him. Why should we hold on to the temporal when we own the eternal because we are children dearly loved by God? Instead, we should lay all our baggage down and find peace, rest, comfort, value, identity, focus, purpose and all He has for His children.

I pray we feel God’s presence deeply this week and allow Him to help us put down all the baggage we may be carrying.

What in the World Do We Need?

1. Take time to read the Mark 2:1-12. What city does this story take place? Where was Jesus? What was the atmosphere?


Jesus had just returned from the desert after being tempted by Satan for forty days and nights. As soon as He was back His ministry exploded. People came to Him to be healed and to listen to His teachings. So many people wanted to be near Him and be healed. When they came to Him they found He was offering so much more than physical healing.

2. Read verse 2 again. We read the room where Jesus was teaching, located in Simon Peter’s home in Capernaum, was packed. People crowded around the doorway even hoping to catch a glimpse of Jesus. What if you were one of the people in need and couldn’t get to Him for healing. Describe how you would feel? What if you were paralyzed and had no way of getting to Him?

The room was crowded and people pressed in on all sides to jostling to be where Jesus was. The desperation to be touched and healed by Rabbi Jesus made the room pulse. It was probably hot and stuffy in this little Capernaum house. The needs of people very evident. They needed Jesus.

Desperation itself causes internal pressure to us much like the atmosphere in Peter’s home. In our desperation we can sometimes press toward anything that may relieve the pain we are experiencing. If we seek Jesus we go to the right place. Oftentimes we look for relief from the wrong places. The people in Capernaum that day, were pressing in on the right source for relief of their anxieties. They may not have realized all Jesus offered them, but they were in the right place.

3. What are some places, other than going to Jesus, you often go to when you are desperate or in need?  

As Jesus was teaching about God’s Word, a commotion was taking place. Up on the flat roof of this little house four men were pealing back the thatched roof to lower a paralyzed man down to the room where Jesus was. Who was this man and who were these men who took the time and effort to bring him to Jesus? We don’t know who they were or why they helped him, but they were part of the healing Jesus was about to do. (See verse 4)

4. Read Verse 5. What did Jesus see in these men? What did He say to the man?

What was Jesus doing? 

They didn’t bring the man to be forgiven but to be healed. 

What was Jesus thinking?

 Didn’t He see the obvious need of the man laying on the mat? 

I think we often think our need is one thing, when Jesus knows our greatest need ~ forgiveness and restoring us to a right relationship with Him. His priority for us is restoration to God. He knows this body and this world we live in now is temporary. Our eternal destiny is what’s really important. That doesn’t mean Jesus is not sympathetic to our physical and emotional needs here on earth. He knows how we feel.

“It’s obvious, of course, that he didn’t go to all this trouble for angels. 

It was for people like us, children of Abraham. 

That’s why he had to enter into every detail of human life. 

Then, when he came before God as high priest to get rid of the people’s sins, 

he would have already experienced it all himself—all the pain, all the testing—

and would be able to help where help was needed.” Hebrews 2:16-18

5. Read Verses 6-8. What were the Scribes, (religious scholars) thinking? Why were they calling Jesus a blasphemer? Note: Blasphemy means irreverence, sacrilege, cursing?

There were religious teachers in the room with Jesus. I’m sure they had no trouble getting in the front door because of their status. Everything was going great until Jesus said, “Son your sins are forgiven.” They didn’t say it out loud, but they were condemning Jesus in their hearts. They didn’t see Jesus as who He really was ~ God. And they didn’t see the real need of this man, (really all people for that matter), as needing forgiveness of sins.

“Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.” Psalm 66:16-20 (NLT) 

6. Why do think Jesus forgave the man’s sin before healing him physically? 

Jesus knew the greatest need for this man was forgiveness of sins. Even if the man didn’t get physical healing that day, he had the greatest gift of all ~ forgiveness and being made right with God. Jesus came to make us right with God. Sin had separated us from Him. It didn’t stop His love for us, rather God sent Love to us in the form of a man who was God ~ Jesus. The religious leaders didn’t see this. No one did. No one but Jesus.

7. Read Verse 9. What did Jesus ask the religious leaders? Put yourself in their shoes and answer the question as they may have. (There’s no right or wrong answer.)

Read Verses 10-12. How did Jesus show the religious leaders He had authority to forgive sins? 

Pure amazement! What would it have been like to hear Jesus say, “Your sins are forgiven” and “I say to you, pick up your mat and walk.” I get goosebumps thinking about it. He silenced His critics, forgave a man’s sins and healed his paralyzed body. Jesus fulfilled his greatest need. He does the same for all who come to Him. Our greatest need is forgiveness of our sins so we can have a restored relationship with God.

8. What do you think being a follower of Jesus offers that other religions of this world offer?


“There is one great benefit that the Christian gospel offers that transcends all other benefits and leads to all other benefits. It is a benefit frankly that corresponds directly to man's greatest need, and that is where Christianity marks itself out from all other religions on the planet. It alone addresses man's greatest need. There are religions that offer ethics and morality, and social responsibility, and family values, and a measure of love and peace, somewhat a measure of fulfillment, satisfaction, maybe even a certain measure of happiness.


But what is man's greatest need? The greatest need of man simply put is to escape the wrath of God poured out on sinners eternally in hell. Only Christianity, only the Christian gospel offers the benefit that meets that need. Only through the Christian gospel can anyone escape the wrath of God poured out on sinners eternally in hell.” ~ John MacArthur

Jesus saw our greatest need because He came down from His throne in heaven to provide for just that. He came to forgive us our sins. The physical healing was secondary. For many, many years, since the first sin in the garden, we’ve been in need of forgiveness. Millions of animals were sacrificed to cover our sins temporarily so God could tolerate us. He knew there had to be a complete remedy for this chasm between God and people so He sent it through His Son Jesus. Jesus bridges the gap between us and God.

9. Read John 3:17. What did Jesus come to the world to do? 

Our greatest need is to be forgiven from our sins so we can be reconciled to God. Jesus knew this when the man was lowered before Him through a hole in the roof. Four faithful men brought their friend to Jesus for healing. Because of the faith Jesus saw in these friends, He was moved to give the paralyzed man what he truly needed ~ forgiveness. Then He healed his physical needs.

I once heard a description about the difference between other religions and Christianity. Religion is man seeking to find a way to God. It’s like hiking up a mountain to find Him. Christianity is God coming down to man as a human. It’s like God hiking down from the mountain to meet us where we are at and accompanying us to a place of relationship with Him. He does the work. All we have to do is reach out and receive what He has to offer.

Like the paralyzed man on the mat, we are all in need of healing. We may be paralyzed by our needs and not realize we need to be made right with God. Jesus sees all our needs but sees our greatest need and that is forgiveness. You may be desperate right now. God wants to comfort you. He sent His Son to bring you to God.

Spend time in prayer. Ask Jesus to fill your greatest need ~ forgiveness. Ask Him for healing. He is right here with you. Lower yourself before Him and allow His Holy Spirit to surround you and lift you up to Him.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”  

2 Corinthians 1:3

A Lesson From Leftovers

1. Read Mark 6:14-29. Briefly summarize what takes place in these verses.


King Herod has heard about the miracles Jesus was doing and he was afraid because he had heard rumors Jesus was really John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. Herod had reason to be afraid because he had just had John murdered. Two of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew and John, (see John 1:44)  had previously been John the Baptist’s disciples before they began following Jesus. So when they heard the news of John’s death, by Herod’s order, they were more than likely distressed from grief and fear. Even though they had just returned from going from town-to-town casting out demons and healing the sick, this news brought them down quickly from their high of the successful missionary work Jesus had just sent them on.

2. Can you think of a time when you had a wonderful spiritual high only to come down with a crash after devastating news? Describe what you felt at the time?


It is from this spiritual high the disciples had fallen from when they heard the news of John the Baptist’s murder. They were tired and distressed. Jesus knew this and wanted to get them alone to rest and spend some alone time with Him to heal and be comforted.


3. Read Mark 6:30-31. What does verse 30 tell us about the conversation the disciples had with Jesus? What was Jesus response to them in verse 31?

The word “rest” comes from a Greek word that describes it “like the relaxing or letting down of chords or strings which have been strained or drawn tight.” This describes stress rather well don’t you think? We have all had stress like this, some more that others. Jesus saw the disciples needed rest from all their worries, sorrow and even the great missionary trip as well.

4. Why do you think it is so important to get away from stressful situations, whether good or bad, and spend time alone with Jesus? Have you ever taken the time to do so? If so, describe an experience you’ve had. If not, why not?


Jesus knew their need for time alone with Him so the disciples could get some rest. So they got in their boat and headed to a solitary place. But, some people saw them and followed them. So much for time alone. Let’s see what happens next.

5. Read Mark 6:32-34. How did the people who recognized Jesus and His disciples, get to where Jesus had gone?  What did Jesus feel for them? What did He do for them?


When they got to shore, the crowd of people were there waiting for Jesus. Jesus had great compassion on these folks. They were looking for hope and healing and thought they’d find it in Jesus. Little did they know how right they were. Jesus was going to give them a wonderful lesson and feed them too.

6. Read Mark 6:35-38. What time of day was it? What did the disciples say to Jesus? What was Jesus tell them to do? What was the disciples response? What did Jesus ask them? What was their answer?


Remember, the disciples were bone-tired from the mission Jesus had just sent them on in the surrounding villages. Not only that, but they had lost someone very dear to them. Maybe they were thinking, “Hey you said we’d get some rest and now look at all these people! You want us to feed them? We’re hungry ourselves. All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish. There are twelve of us and that isn’t even enough to feed all of us. How do you expect us to feed this mob?” 

7. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed some rest and refreshment and ended up taking care of someone else? How did you react towards God?


8. Read Mark 6:39-44. What did Jesus direct the disciples to do? What, then, did Jesus do? How much food was left over? Why do you think Jesus had the disciples pick up the leftovers?


What was to be a time of rest and renewal became a great lesson on God’s provision. Jesus was teaching the disciples to see where their hope lies in. Renewal became relearning what to do in times of overwhelming need. Jesus, took what the disciples gave Him, gave thanks to God the Father and provided more than enough to fill the empty bellies of all the people and the disciples. Everyone was satisfied.

After everyone had eaten, Jesus had the disciples pick up the leftovers. Do you think it may have been to have them physically take the extra provision God had given? I do. I think when we experience things both visually and physically we learn a better. Jesus often taught about and showed the extravagant gifts of the Father.

2 Corinthians 9:9-11. ”As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.  Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”

The disciples were learning from the Master Himself that provision of our needs comes from the hand of God. He provides what we need when we need it even when we don’t see where it could possibly come from. God does provide and increases our resources when we turn to Him and ask with a thankful heart. We can expect Him to provide us with what we need. It may not come in the way we thought, but God is faithful and will provide.

9. Read Mark 6:45-46. After this miraculous picnic, what did Jesus make the disciples do? What did Jesus do?


Jesus needed time alone with His father. So He sent His disciples on to the next town and spent time on the mountain top talking with God. Jesus knew where to be refreshed and renewed so He went out alone. We should take this example and spend time everyday with the One who knows us best and loves us most. Since He is the Source of our provision we should seek to spend time with Him and allow Him to love and renew us. Jesus knew the importance of spending time with His Father.

10. Read Mark 6:47-50. What was happening to the disciples in their boat when Jesus was on land? What happened next?


I can’t imagine what it must have been like to see Jesus walking on the water. This is another example of God doing something so out of the ordinary we wouldn’t even think of it as a solution to our problem. God has a way of doing things so extraordinary it couldn’t possibly come from anyone but Him. On this night and in this storm God the Son walked through a storm, on water, to rescue those He loved. He will do the same for all those He loves. Maybe not in the same way, but in a way perfectly matched for the need we are facing.

11. Read Mark 6:51-52. What did Jesus say to them? What happened when He climbed into the boat? Why were the disciples completely amazed?


Even though they had just experienced the miracle of feeding five thousand men (not counting women and children) they still didn’t fully understand what Jesus was teaching them about God’s provision. They didn’t cry out to God and ask for help. They were paralyzed in their fear. It wasn’t till Jesus spoke that they calmed down. Peace came immediately when they knew it was Him. After Jesus was crucified, resurrected and taken back to heaven, the disciples finally got it. This is miracle is the only one that is reported in all four Gospels  probably because it made such an impact on them.

12. What has made an impact on you from the two miracles we just studied?


13. Read Mark 6:53-56. Where did they land their boat? What happened as soon as they got out of the boat? What happened when people touched Jesus?


The people in Gennesaret knew who Jesus was and ran to Him with their sick and dying. Even when they touched the hem of His cloak they were healed. There is such power in the Name of Jesus. Do you recognize Him? Do you run to Him to meet your need? Jesus wants us to learn that provision comes from Him. Nowhere else can we find complete fulfillment. Let’s learn the lesson of the five loaves and two fish. Look up and give thanks to God for He alone is wholly faithful.


I Thessalonians 5:23-24. “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful."

Fresh Air

Discovering the original Hebrew and Greek meaning of words can help us see what the text really means.  The Hebrew and Greek Languages are very descriptive and sometimes the pronunciation of the words even sounds like the meaning of the word. For instance, the word “Spirit” in Hebrew is “Ruwach” and is pronounced, “roo-haa,” and means “wind, breath.” Can you just imagine the Spirit of the Living God breathing life into Adam as He formed Him from the dust of the ground? That same Spirit, eternal in all aspects, breathes God’s eternal breath into us, His human creations. It is in this vein I want us to look at the Scriptures we have for this lesson. Allow the breath of God, His “Ruwach”  “roo-haa” to blow into your spirit.

1. Read Genesis 1:1-2. Focus on verse 2. What does the passage say hovered over the waters? 

“Roo-haa” hovered over the waters. The Creator, as the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit blew Their eternal breath as the One Eternal God over the silent waters. The earth was  formless and empty and God blew His life and things began to happen. Can you imagine the emptiness? God took this empty nothingness and “roo-haa” there was the beginning of the earth and the waters of the earth. God’s breath created all we know out of complete nothingness. No one else could do what He did and what He continues to do.

Sometimes we believe God cannot help in our lives. He can create life, but can He repair our broken marriages, families, finances? Can He take the circumstances in life and breathe new life into it? The answer is a resounding “yes.” He can and He will.

2. What are some areas in your life you need God’s Spirit to blow on you? Tell Him.

Our text today is from Psalm 139:7-14. This whole chapter could be preached on for a year in my opinion. It speaks of God as the One who has cared for His creation and is caring for His creation and will care for His creation. We matter to God. He didn’t throw humans together willy-nilly. He had a plan and has a plan for each of us.

3. Read Psalm 139:7-10. Where can you go to escape or hide from God’s Holy Spirit? Where is God?

There is nothing we can do to escape from the One who watches over us continually and eternally. That should be a comfort. We aren’t left alone on this earth to fend for ourselves, although it may seem like it at times. The problem is that we don’t always acknowledge God’s presence. We don’t always turn to Him for help and comfort. We don’t always remember He is our constant companion an ever-present help in times of trouble.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

4. Read John 14:16-17. What did Jesus ask God the Father for on our behalf? Why? Who is able to receive this gift?

If you know Jesus as your Lord, the Leader of your life, then you have been given this wonderful gift of God’s Holy Spirit. This eternal breath, life-giving and truth-filled Spirit, resides inside each believer. The sad thing is, we often don’t take advantage of Him and allow Him to counsel us in our everyday lives. He’s there willing and able to help us at all times. Even if we think, “Aw this is not too bad, I can deal with it,” His Holy Spirit desires to lead us in every aspect of our lives. He’s there for the big and the little things we face. All it takes is for us to ask Him. We must to tap into this awesome power from God.

5. Read Psalm 139:11-12. The dark can getting pretty dark so that even the seemingly easy and benign things in life seem too much for us to bear. What do these two verses say about how God views darkness? What are some areas in your life where you feel alone and in the dark?

The dark isn’t dark to God. He sent His Light into the world through His Son. Those who trust their lives to Him have no need to fear dark areas that seem to crowd in. “The night will shine like day; for darkness is as light to You.” Have you ever tried to speak truth to the darkness you face? Try saying, “Darkness, you have no authority over me because the Light of God’s Truth resides in me in Jesus’ Name.” Speaking truth into our life helps. It gets us to focus on Jesus and His Power given to us by the Holy Spirit. The evil one knows Truth (Jesus) and flees from Him. Christ is victorious over all darkness. Hold on to that.

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. 

He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.” John 15:26

Our Advocate, the One who goes to bat for us, resides in us. He continually breathes the “roo-haa” of God testifying to the Truth that is Jesus. Spend time listening to the Holy Spirit and breathe in His power to lighten the darkness you may face.

6. Read Psalm 139:13-14. What did God create within you? Where did He do this? What should we praise Him for? 

Do we really understand the knowledge God has about us? He knew us before we were born. He did the “knitting” and we are His design. “God don’t make no junk.” You are one-of-a-kind, perfectly created by God’s Hand. He cares deeply for you. Our earthly bodies may not be perfect by the world’s standards, but God’s standards are different. He created us out of the pureness and perfect purpose of His love.

This world is temporary. It’s pain and problems only a mist. He is drawing us to Him. He continues to whittle and shape the rough aspects of our being to line up perfectly with His ultimate design. He wants us to look and act like the only perfect One ~ Jesus. All we need to do is submit to the Master Designer.

7. Read Titus 3:4-7 (NLT) “ 4. When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5. he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

    Circle the following words above.

    revealed- (vs. 4); kindness and love (vs. 4); saved- (vs.5); mercy (vs.5); washes (vs.5);       
    new birth and new life- (vs. 5); generously poured (vs.6) Spirit- (vs 6); grace- (vs. 7); 
    declared- (vs.7); righteous- (vs. 7); confidence- (verse 7); life- (vs. 7)


Look at all these words and take in the enormity of what God has breathed into all who have given their lives to Jesus. What does this say to you? How does it fit with the way you live your day-to-day life? You may know these things in your head, but have they made it down into your spirit, your heart, the eternal “roo-haa” God has breathed into you? His Spirit is active and powerful wanting us to tap into Him. Breathe in, breath out the Spirit of God as you live daily.

8. Read 2 Timothy 1:7. What did God NOT give you? What DID God give you? Why should this matter in your life?

The Holy Spirit gives us courage. He denies the lies the world and the evil one tells us. Instead He gives us an limitless supply of power, love and self-discipline. We can’t do it alone. We must rely solely on the Holy Spirit residing within us.

9. What are you afraid of in your life? According to scripture you aren’t subject to this fear any longer. Would you take the time to lay these fears before Jesus and allow His Spirit to replace your dread?

 Whose power do you depend on? Your’s or God’s? Explain.

You, friend, are filled with the same power that raised Jesus from the grave. In fact, it propelled Him from the grips of death and thrust Him to life as our Redeemer and King. He loves you so much He propelled you from death to eternal life. He didn’t leave you alone to fend for yourself. As He created you, His will was to fill you with His Spirit, “Ruwach” actively breathing every moment of everyday. He looks on you as His dearly loved creation and He’s made a way for us to be in perfect relationship with Him through Christ. Breathe Him in and live out your life knowing His Spirit lives within you.

“Jesus has the power of God, 

by which He has given us everything we need

 to live and to serve God. 

We have these things because we know Him. 

Jesus called us by His glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3

A Night Meeting

The term “born again” has gotten a bad rap for some people. To many it connotes an uptight, fundamental, ridged, judgmental, self-righteous goody-two-shoes person. Being born-again has been used and abused by many people including Christians themselves. But, its really the most wonderful and awe producing term because it was first spoke of by Jesus Himself.

1. What does the term “born again” say to you? How do you feel when you hear it?

In our text for today,  Jesus was speaking to a religious leader of the day named Nicodemus.  He was a Pharisee. The name Hebrew word “Pharisee” means “separatist, or the separated one.” They thought more highly of themselves and were viewed as the ultimate authority on Scripture and the Law. So to have a Pharisee meet with a common Rabbi and ask questions was extremely unusual and pretty risky since Jesus was causing a ruckus among the leaders of Israel by all He was saying and doing.

2. Read John 3:1-2. When did Jesus and Nicodemus meet? What does Nicodemus say to Jesus? Why is this significant?

Jesus met with Nicodemus at night. This was more than likely because Nicodemus was afraid of what the other Pharisees and leaders of Israel would think of (or possibly do to) him. Even though Nicodemus was considered an expert on God’s Word, he didn’t realize who Jesus really was. All he knew was Jesus was a teacher who came from God. Jesus was about to rock his world with what He was about to say.

3. Read John 3:3. What was Jesus’ reply to Nicodemus? 

Notice Jesus began His conversation with, “I tell you the truth...” He was stating He was only going to tell the whole truth no matter what Nicodemus thought. In other words, He was saying, “Here is the whole truth as to why I am here doing what I am doing, so listen closely, what I have to say comes from God.”

Nicodemus’ response to Jesus was another question. “How can a man be born when he is old? ...surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” He was dumbfound and little taken-back  by Jesus’ words. It was like Nicodemus was saying, “you have got to be kidding me...that’s impossible.” He didn’t yet understand what Jesus was saying.

4. Read John 1:12-13. Who does Jesus give the right to become children of God? How does this passage  define being  “reborn”?

Being born again (reborn) is not something we can accomplish on our own. It is a gift of God’s grace to mankind. Our only requirement is to accept this transforming gift to be a part of God’s eternal kingdom and have a relationship with Him.

 5. Read John 3:5-8. What do you think Jesus means by “being born of water and the Spirit”?

God’s Kingdom is not of human origin. It is Spirit ~ His Spirit. Our earthly bodies are limited and will die. The spirit we have within us is eternal. In order for our spirits to be joined with God and become His, we must give up our right to our lives and give the reins over to Jesus. Jesus knew this was a hard concept for Nicodemus just as it is for us now. It’s just like trying to figure out where the wind comes from. We don’t know how this rebirth happens. All we need to  know is that the Holy Spirit accomplishes it. He is the Source of this rebirth into God’s Kingdom. It’s nothing any person can do on their own. It all comes from God’s gift of grace.

6. Read John 3:9-15.  What did Nicodemus ask Jesus? Why did Jesus think Nicodemus should know what He was talking about? 

What does Jesus mean by saying, “I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?"

What does the passage mean by this statement Jesus made, “...the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”?

“Nicodemus was a very important person. As “Israel’s teacher,” he was a recognized authority on the Old Testament. Jesus implied that the Old Testament teaches a new birth, and so His own reference to being born again should not have shocked His visitor: Does the Old Testament teach this? Yes. Through Ezekiel God promised to take away His people’s heart of stone and give His people a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19), and through Jeremiah God promised to write His Law on the heart rather than on tablets of stone. (Jeremiah 31:33)” ~ 735 Baffling Bible Questions Answered” by Larry Richards page 330

Nicodemus was a very religious person and an expert on God’s Word. He should have understood what Jesus said right away but he didn’t. Jesus knew the Holy Spirit would have to soften Nicodemus’ heart to allow him to understand what it meant to be born again. All of this is done by God’s Holy Spirit working on the heart of a person no matter how religious and Bible-savvy they are. No matter who we are, we must be born-again by the Spirit of God. How did God make a way to be born again?

 7. Read John 3:16-21.  Write out verses 16-17 in your own words:

    There is no judgment by God for whom? 

    What is in store for those who do not believe in God’s one and only Son?

    What is God’s judgment based on?

    What does darkness represent? What does the light expose?

    What do those who come to the light show to the world?

We are condemned by the sin in our lives. There is nothing we can do on our own to cleanse our guilt. It is only through believing in Jesus as the One and Only pure sacrifice for our penalty of sin that we have any hope of being cleansed and made right with God.

This was a stunning proposition for an old Pharisee like Nicodemus. His whole life was about being above all those around him. He was an expert at following all the rules and regulations of religion. Now he was hearing Jesus, who he believed was sent by God, say a person can only come to God through Him ~ Jesus.

8. Read John 19:38-40. Who went with Joseph of Arimathea to take Jesus’ body and prepare it for burial?

Do you suppose Nicodemus was confused by Jesus’ death?

Jesus had told Nicodemus that the Son of Man was to be lifted up like Moses lifted the snake up for the people of Israel to look upon and to be healed. He had just seen Jesus being lifted up on a cross. I’m sure the night Jesus spoke to him came rushing in. I choose to believe that he did come to Jesus and became born again. Maybe he was able to look beyond his religion and accept the grace of God given by the Son of Man ~ Jesus.

9. Read 2 Peter 3:18. What does it mean to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”?

Just like Nicodemus, we may be full of knowledge but haven’t received the grace God offers through Jesus. This gift of grace is given to anyone who acknowledges Jesus as the only way to God. Is there something that is getting in the way of your receiving the gift of grace from God found in the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins on the cross so long ago?

10. Read  Romans 3:23-26. Who has sinned? How can sinners be made right with God? Why do you or don’t you believe this?

Like Nicodemus, take time to meet with Jesus. He can answer your questions about who He is. The best news is this, Jesus has made a way to know God intimately and become a member of His Eternal Kingdom. You too can take part in this wonderful story of God’s grace through Jesus. God loves you so much He sent His only Son to make a way for you to be forgiven of all you have done wrong and draw you into life with Him forever.

Which Prodigal Are You?

1. Read Luke 15:11-12. What did the younger son request of his father?

What did the father do in response to the son?

The young son in this parable was very bold and obviously selfish. According to Middle Eastern culture of the time, the son coming to the living father and asking for his inheritance before the father’s death was like saying, “Drop dead Dad.”  His actions were brazen and went against the honor of the father-son relationship. The community would be outraged.

Similarly, the father’s reaction to the son was contrary to the traditional response expected. This was to take his left hand and backhand the son across the face, disowning and banishing him from his presence. Rather than exploding with anger, the father divides his money. The literal interpretation means he “divided his life” between the two sons. He allowed the younger son to divide the family and leave to do his own thing. The local community would look down on the father’s response to the son and could even cause him harm. He lost credibility in among his peers.

The father had two choices in his response to the son:
* He could choose to protect himself by rejecting his son and banish him.

* He could choose the way of suffering by letting his son go and take half of his fortune, and in this case his heart.

God responds to His children with great compassion and mercy. Though He could respond to us in anger when we sin against Him, He shows love. Like the prodigal’s father, God allows us the freedom to make our own choices.

2. Read Luke 15:13-16. Describe what the son did after he got his inheritance from his father?

What unexpected occurrence also affected him and the country was   living in?

Where and how did he end up?

The prodigal son left the will of his father and the protection he gave. He no longer lived under his direction but took out on his own. Without much thought of the consequences, he squandered all his money on “wild living.” A famine hit and knocked the young man into extreme poverty. He didn’t see it coming and wasn’t prepared for it. Alone and hungry, without protection and provisions, he looked for work and finally hired himself out to feed pigs. In Jewish Law, pigs were ceremonially “unclean” and never to be eaten or touched. (See Leviticus 11) Here the young man found himself living in the most degrading and filthy environment.

3. Read Luke 15:-19. Look at the King James Version below and underline “came to himself.”

“And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!”

The only other time this phrase, “came to himself” is found in Acts 12 where Peter is miraculously freed from prison by God’s angels. The whole time Peter thought he was dreaming until the angle left him in the street. Verse 11 says, ‘Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a shadow of a doubt that the Lord has sent His angel to rescue me...”’ This phrase literally means “to come to reality.” Peter finally realized all he was experiencing was real.

This same phrase happens here Luke 15. The young man finally realized his surroundings and situation in life were real. His life had come to living with pigs and wanting their leftovers. He woke up and accepted how he was living and what he left behind when he demanded his way and left his father.

4. When have you ever experienced reality’s cold slap in the face? Explain.

The prodigal son is not yet at a place of repentance. He is only in a place of desperation and thinks he has figured out how to remedy the situation. Servants of his father were treated well and he wanted to at least be able to have a life like theirs. By working he could pay off his debt to his father all the while being fed and clothed. So with determination in his steps he heads on home.

“In the Middle East, it was considered humiliating for men over age forty to run. As the father ran, he would have had to lift his robe—another humiliation. As the father drew closer, the son would see not anger—but joy. And when the father reached him, the father kissed him over and over on the neck.” ~ Dr. Ken Bailey

5. Read Luke 15:20. Describe what happens in this verse.

To have seen the young man in the distance, the father would have had to be looking for him. Being a parent myself I can just imagine the father going to the end of his driveway everyday looking for his son to return. His heart longed to see his boy again. When the father sees him, his heart is filled with compassion and he runs to greet him. He had every right to turn away from him and never accept him home. Instead he threw his arms around him and kissed him. It wasn’t about the money, it was about the condition of the father’s heart towards the son and the son’s heart toward him.

God’s heart towards you and me is one of great compassion. He is right in his part of our relationship with Him. It’s our heart and it’s condition that is in question. The son had finally turned toward home but was still relying on his own abilities and not his father’s love. He thought he could earn back the money he lost as a worker for him.

The Middle Eastern custom of the time was to punish sons for ever bringing shame to their father. The father knew his son had done this. He knew what the community required him to do. So, he ran out to meet him and threw himself on his child, protecting him from harm. He protected him with his love and his physical body from the punishment he knew the community would want to give the boy.

“As the son comes closer to his home, he would likely experience fear and shame. He (had) wished his father dead; left family and community; and now he has lost everything. He expects to face his father’s and brother’s rejection and anger. Further, the community would reject and banish him—as was the custom. Any Jew who lost his money among foreigners would face the Kezazah (literally “the cutting off.”) The Kezazah would be performed by breaking a clay pot at the feet of the prodigal as visual symbol that the community rejected him forever.” ~ Dr. Ken Bailey

6. Read Luke 15:21. What did the son say to his father? Read Psalm 51:4. What similarities are there with Luke 15:21?

Psalm 51:4 was written years before by King David. David has committed adultery and murder and was repentant before God. Perhaps Jesus quoted this in His parable to bring His point home to the Pharisees who were among a crowd of tax collectors and sinners. They would have readily recognized this passage of Scripture.

7. Read Luke 15:22-24. What is the Father’s response? What does he do?

“Experiencing the father’s visible, costly love for him, his contrived speech melts away. All that is left is feeling that he is is not worthy to be the father’s son. The grace is too overwhelming. Then the father restores the son—showering him with the best robe, providing shoes for his feet (slaves were bare-footed: sons wore shoes), placing a ring on his finger (a signet ring would give him the power to transact business).

The imagery here is that of the son returning with dirty rags on his back and a contrived speech. Yet it was the father’s costly, unexpected outpouring of visible love that turns the son’s heart toward him—perhaps for the first time. The son’s work (repentance) is simply accepting being found by the father.” ~ Dr. Ken Bailey

Can you see it? The father doesn’t care what his son has done. He cares that he has come home and has now repented. Our Father in heaven is reflected in this story. He stands at the end of his driveway scanning the horizon for his child to come home. When we come home, when we repent, He runs to us, hugs our neck and pours out his gift of life unlike anything we could ever ask or imagine. We are dead without Him. He gives us eternal life when we ask Him.

In the parable, the young man knew he had done wrong and was ready to receive whatever came from the father’s hand. He knew he deserved the punishment he was due. His heart changed from thinking he could earn back what he owed to being humbled by the act of compassion and grace on the part of His father.

All of us should be able relate to the prodigal son. We have all sinned against our heavenly father and deserve the penalty that comes with it. We deserve death. (See Romans 3:23 and 6:23)

8. How we define repentance defines how we interact with God and with others. How do you define repentance?

The Parable takes a sharp turn from all out rejoicing to shock, disappointment and anger of the older brother. We leave the music and laughter of the celebration to peek in on a hard and wounded heart.

9. Read Luke 15:25-27. Where had the older son been before he heard the music and dancing? 
      
      Who did he ask about the party? What did the servant tell him and what was
      the older brother’s response? 

      What was his father’s explanation? 

The older brother seems to have been a dutiful son while the younger brother squander his inheritance. We can see from his anger he had some other issues brewing within his heart. He was resentful and bitter not only towards his brother but also towards his father. The older son probably harbored all his feelings for a long time and they’d finally come to the surface.

10. Read Luke 15:28-30. What was the response the older son gave to his father’s explanation?
      What was the father’s response?

The older boy had depended on the father noticing what he had done for him over the years. It was all about what he did for the father and not on what the father provided for his sons.

11. Read Micah 6:8. What does this verse tell us is required of God’s children? How can a person have bitterness and anger in their hearts and continue to be humble and walk in obedience to God? 

When the older son finally faces his father, he does so from an adversarial position. He spews his anger he had harbored for so long and the father responds with the same kind of love he had just shown the younger son.

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

12. What was the older son’s response to the last thing his father said?

There was no response. In the parable, Jesus leaves us with no resolution to the older son’s attitude. Perhaps He wanted those in the crowd, particularly the Pharisees, to understand it was they who represent the older son in the story. The younger son represented the “tax collectors” and “sinners.” It causes me to reflect on my own heart issue. Am I repentant of my anger and bitterness; my sin and disobedience? I am both sons at times. What about you?

The father was defending His joy over his younger son’s return. He wanted the older son to reunite with and celebrate in the repentant younger son return home. The boy was lost and now was found. God defends His joy over and over and over in His Word. He delights in restored relationships with Himself. He grieves over those who can’t or won’t grasp the grace and mercy He extends through His Son Jesus.

13.  Are you willing to accept God’s grace and mercy? Are you willing to listen to the Father as He draws you into his joy? Take this moment to listen. Open your heart to Him and receive the delight He so freely gives.

God desires His children to enter His presence, His joy, His delight. All we have to do is accept the invitation to repentance and celebration. He wants to envelop us with His love.

Praying for God’s Perspective

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; 

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, 

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;

Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;

Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;

Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:

Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won, 

May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, 

Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Words: Attributed to Dallan Forgaill, 8th Century (Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride); translated from ancient Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne, in “Eriú,” Journal of the School of Irish Learning, 1905, and versed by Eleanor H. Hull, 1912, alt.

I want nothing more than to see as God sees. This should be my earnest request. It is a petition worth more than any other. To see as God truly sees is the greatest answer to all my needs. My desire is for His will and for me to understand it as He speaks it to me. We cannot regard Him with anything less than who He is ~ holy.

1. Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Why shouldn’t we lose heart when our earthly bodies fail or circumstances come hard against us?

Even though we think of our circumstances as hard and at times unsolvable, through God’s eyes they are viewed differently. How does God view them?

What are our troubles achieving for us?

Who should we fix our eyes on? Why?

What is the difference between “seen” and “unseen”?

2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:7. (NIV) Fill in the blanks:

“We live by _____________ and not by__________________.”

So often we become exasperated with what is happening in our lives. Sometimes we can’t even put a finger on what is bothering us. Other times we face insurmountable circumstances in our lives. With the Lord they aren’t insurmountable. He can do anything. We must see God in a heavenly perspective and not our limited earthly perspective. Living by faith, is not depending on our own limited vision. It is an active belief in the Almighty who we cannot see, but know is with us always. Faith is using the vision of the heavens, not the limited vision we have on earth.

3. Read 1 Peter 1:3-9. Why should we praise God?

Describe the eternal inheritance we will receive as followers of Christ?

What are we shielded by?

Why should we rejoice?

What will have to endure for a little while? Why?

Even though we do not see Jesus physically now, we believe in Him. What are we filled with?

What are we receiving?

Receiving the vision of God is receiving 

a perspective of the heavenly kind.

When we pray we praise God for who He is, the position He holds and the power and mercy He has. Our prayers are heard in the very presence of God because God the Son made the way for us to be reconciled with God. The power and counsel of the Holy Spirit give us the words to say because He knows our deepest needs and knows exactly how to fill us.

In our communication with God the Father ~ God the Son ~ God the Holy Spirit, we worship, thanking God for who He is and what He has done. We lay our needs before Him and expect the best from His infinite provision. We seek to have the vision of God, a heavenly perspective, not this blurred, obscured, and distorted vision of this world.

4. Read Hebrews 11:1, 6. What is the definition of “faith”? 

What happens when we don’t have faith? Why? 

If we believe God what do we receive?

Believing God is essential to living full lives, especially in our prayer time. But, what’s cool about God is that He provides the faith that we need, all we have to do is ask Him. He supplies for every need that we have. So, in our petitioning of God, we must include our need for better vision ~ the vision from a heavenly perspective, God’s perspective.

As we close this study on prayer, it is my prayer that you have grown in your understanding of how God desires to communicate with you and draw you into the divine relationship He has within the Trinity. There is so much more that He will teach us as we learn our position in regard to His heavenly and righteous position. Through prayer and trust in God through His Son Jesus, we tap into the power provided by His Holy Spirit living within us. Continue growing in His Word and in responding to Him in your prayers. May God richly bless you as you go on by faith with a new heavenly perspective.

Prayer Time
God wants to give us the heavenly perspective that He has. All we have to do is ask. Go to your prayer journal and write out your request for the heavenly perspective from God’s hand and not the limited earthly vision the world has.

Discussion Questions
1. So many times we become exasperated with what is happening in our lives. Sometimes we can’t even put a finger on what is bothering us. Other times we face insurmountable circumstances in our lives. Share an incident that was/or is like this in your life.

2. You should want nothing more than to see as God sees. This should be your earnest request. It is a petition worth more than any other. Give an example of how having God’s perspective of something you have gone through or are going through that has not made sense to you before?

3. Believing God is essential in our lives, especially in our prayer lives. But, what’s cool about God is that He provides the faith that we need, all we have to do is ask Him. He supplies for every need that we have. So, in our petitioning of God, we must include our need for better vision ~ the vision from a heavenly perspective, God’s perspective. Have you ever prayed for the perspective of God? If so, how did it affect your faith? If not, why not?

4. After studying about prayer what is it that you have learned that has affected you most? Share.