The Mystery Of Prayer

SCRIPTURE

“Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”

~John 11:21-22, NLT

QUOTE

God answers all true prayer, either in kind or in kindness.

~Adoniram Judson

I love John 11: in verse 3 we have the sisters prayer request–So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.” Then in verse 4 we have Jesus response —“Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” Jesus delayed his coming for two days and when He gets to Bethany, Lazarus is physically dead and in a tomb. Then we have the sister’s response to Jesus not coming immediately or in time to heal Lazarus.

1. They blame…“Lord, if only YOU had been here, my brother would not have died.” {Both said the same thing}
2. They are disappointed.
3. They are bewildered: they do not understand why Jesus was not there when they needed Him most.
4. They are filled with grief.
5. Mary may have been depressed: she did not leave the house to met Jesus.

Lesson from the story:

1. Jesus answered their prayer but just not as they had imagined. God’s plans are much better than our expectations. Actually, His plans are better than our dreams.
2. The sisters wanted a ‘healing’ but Jesus gave them a ‘resurrection.’ A resurrection trumps a healing.
3. We all experience the same negative emotions when Christ does not respond to our prayer in the way that we had imagined–disappointment, grief, doubt, fear and despair.
4. It all boils down to FAITH in CHRIST. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died but even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord, I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who has come into the world from God.”
5. Mary’s devotion was off the charts but it was Martha {the OCD pot banger} who had the greatest faith. Never underestimate the Martha’s.

• Gary is making slow progress: he is extremely weak.
• Kane Hogan: {from Michelle at 8:30 pm last night…9/12/15} The steroid is really playing with Kane’s blood suger. We are going on a week in the hospital. The insulin keeps getting increased but the blood suger still climbs in the evening. We will be in the hospital until they get the right combination. They tell us it is all medical. They have done this. Now we wait for the chemo to hit his system they say it is ruff stuff. He feels fine and we are thankful for that. He takes 3 to 6 shots of insulin a day right now.
• Today’s schedule: Coffee, Biscuits and donuts at 9:00, LCBS at 9:15, Worship at 10:15 and 6:15. AWANA and VISITATION at 5:30.
• LORD willing, we will be in REVIVAL at Belleview today through Wednesday night.
• What about this weather. I went for a walk around 6:00 last night and came in at dark and my hands were cold.
• I got home at 1:30 am Friday night and that is why there was no EXTRA.
• I think you are going to love the PARKING LOT. One caution: do not park on the areas where you see the wheat straw; we have back filled those areas and reseeded them. Your not going to need a shade tree to park under today.

Martha, Martha!

SCRIPTURE

The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things.  One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won’t be taken away from her.”

~Luke 10:41-42, CEB

QUOTE

  It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, ‘What are we busy about?

~ Henry David Thoreau

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials. When someone repeats your name as Jesus did with Martha, it generally means that you need to stop and think. Martha was so busy that she had not taken time to think. First of all, you do not give Jesus instructions…”Tell my sister to help me.” We just don’t tell God what to do; obviously Martha was not thinking. Secondly, Martha was distracted about many things. She lacked the power to focus. Meditation, contemplation, solitude, prayer–all these things help us clear our minds so we can focus on the One thing most important instead of being occupied by a multitude of things that mean nothing. Thirdly, Martha’s haste, her business kept her from knowing, being aware of what Jesus really wanted. Martha pretense was to please Jesus but she was actually doing as she pleased. In truth, she had not taken the time to see what Jesus wanted most. Jesus had Mary’s undivided attention and He wanted Martha’s also. Have you ever given anyone your undivided attention lately? It is a precious gift.

TODAY WE PRAY FOR THOSE ENDURING TRIALS

• We had a healing service: we took June to Kroger’s after church: she is OK now. She ask some of the grandkids what they were going to be when they grew up. Ryder is going to play right tackle for Auburn and then go to the NFL. He plans to do ventriloquism in the off season. Josie want to be a school teacher like her mom and a veterinarian but she said, “I don’t think I can do both so I guess I’ll be a teacher.” Ty didn’t exactly shoot for the stars. He is going to marry a hot chick with $5,000 and they are putting in an in ground swimming pool. Of the three, I would say that Josie is the most realistic.
• Miss Clara is sick again. I will be at the office today but if you call, use my cell number. The phone doesn’t work in my office. {Not kidding}
• Great Music again last night: every band member was there doing their job but every church member was not there in support. We need REVIVAL!
• May 21-26 Mandy is on Vacation. If you need help with your phone, she will be available Wednesday May 27.
• May 29 Senior Adult Cook Out. BBQ chicken and ribs.
• June 6…Rally for Biblical Marriage in Montgomery. I think the time is 3:00 PM
• June 8-12…VBS and VBX

VBS-VBX June 8-12

Mary, Martha and MY HOPE

Pray For MY HOPE

MY HOPE

Dr. Billy Graham will be 95 on November 7 which is the scheduled night for MY HOPE parties to begin. Dr. Graham will be speaking to the nation on this historic night. There are many professing Christians and even Para church groups that are ignoring MY HOPE. They are pressing on with their agenda as though MY HOPE was a passing fad. I believe that Dr. Graham is America’s pastor and the LORD laid this on his heart. I believe it is a God thing. I believe Dr. Graham has been sitting at Jesus feet. We have a lot of Martha’s who are doing things in Jesus name but in reality, they are pursuing their own selfish agenda. Martha was doing a good thing for Jesus but He neither commanded it or desired it: it was all her idea and in most instances, it would have been a good idea. I beg you folks, don’t be distracted by good things from doing the main thing and I am convinced that MY HOPE is the main thing.

SCRIPTURE

Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.

~Luke 10:39-40, NLT

QUOTE

Evangelism is not a professional job for a few trained men, but is instead the unrelenting responsibility of every person who belongs to the company of Jesus.

~Elton Trueblood

COMMENTARY

Martha was not doing anything bad or evil but she was distracted from the main thing. Sometimes we allow good things to keep us from the main thing. Martha assumed that she knew what Jesus desired and needed but she was actually trying to serve Him her way. His hunger for food was not as great as His hunger for love and understanding. The most difficult thing in life is to keep our focus on the main thing.

EXTRA

I question the judgment of America. We have made some very poor and idiotic decisions. Dr. Graham warned us last September about the danger of re-electing a man who has no Christian values and we did not listen. Dr. Graham made Gallops top 50 “Most Admired Persons” for 50 of the last 53 years. This includes 49 consecutive years running. This is something that no other person has accomplished. I challenge you to go to YouTube and listen to Michael W. Smith song written for Dr. Grahams 95th birthday…it is called TAKE ME HOME. Folks, this great saint is ready to depart but before he goes, he wants to see REVIVAL in America. It is a crying shame that American’s, including millions of professing Christians are turning a deaf ear. I dare you to watch the video.

95 on November 7