Mark 5

Sometimes in an unexpected situations even when we get out of the ordered life, we can find an opportunity to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, such as patience, love and joy. It takes maturity to wait in patience and trust God.

Learn how to wait for the Lord from Mark 5. A desperate father, a well-respected synagogue official, came to Jesus begging him at his feet for the healing of his daughter. For Jesus is the answer and solution to his desperate need, As he got Jesus coming with him towards his home in the midst of a big crowd, a sick woman got into their way and received Jesus' attention. How would a desperate father think of her, especially as he was told of his daughter's death while waiting? Impatient with Jesus?

God has his many funny ways to teach us as His little children, because He has the ultimate answer and solution. So, we don't have to be afraid but believe and wait for Him patiently. 

While waiting in patience, we should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in our lives by doing these things:
Don't forget to see what God is doing. Blessing is all around.
Waiting in patience gives us opportunity to listen to what God is teaching us.
It gives us opportunity to share God's saving love.
It gives us opportunity to be fully dependent on God.
It builds up confidence in who God is. 

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1 Timothy 2:1-4

1 Timothy is like a handbook for church leadership.
1) Correcting False Teachers (Apologetics) – 1:3
2) Communing with God (Prayer) – 2:1-3
3) Calling Godly Leaders (Elders and Deacons) – 3:1-16
4) Conforming himself to the Image of Christ (Godliness) – 4:12
5) Teaching the Word of God (Sound Doctrine) – 4:11, 13-16

Prayer was central to Jesus' ministry. (Mark 6:45-56)
Make one half of your ministry for the success of the other half. 
The most important thing a pastor can do is pray.

How to support your pastor:
Be faithful in praying for your pastor.
Don't expect him to be perfect. Don't criticize him.
Instead, pray for him every day.
Be prayerful, and you will be useful.

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Romans 14:6-8

Who do YOU say that I am? (Matt. 16:13-16).

What is in a name? 
Jesus (Joshua in Hebrew) means Savior (Matt. 1:21).
1) Christ (Messiah in Hebrew) means the Anointed One.
2) The suffering Servant of Isaiah 53

Confession of Jesus as Lord
YHWH (God's name for Israel) means the Lord. 
1) Jesus' own Claim: 
The Great I AM of Exodus 3:14 in John 8:58
David's Lord (Matt. 22:43-45; cf. Ps. 110:1)
Supreme authority based on His resurrection (Matt. 28:18)
2) Paul's claim: A divine person of the OT monotheistic God
Christological redefinition of monotheism (1 Cor. 8:4-6; cf. Deut. 6:4)
Monotheism still preserved (Rom. 3:30; Gal. 3:20)
Identified as the Lord of the OT (Rom. 10:13; cf. Joel 2:32)

The High Christology
The Bible's eschatological claims of Jesus as…
1) Judge of the dead and the living (Matt. 7:21-22)
2) Lord of all (Acts 10:36; Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9-11)

Jesus is asking each one of us: "Who do YOU say I am?"


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Hebrews 12:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Christian life is like a marathon, not a rat-race.

How is life like a race?
1. Its course is mapped out (Ps. 139:6).
2. It has a start and a finish (Jer. 1:5; Heb. 9:27).
3. The course will have its challenges, so steadfastness or resilience is needed (James 1:2; 2 Cor. 4:8). 
4. A judge keeps over the race (Heb. 4:13).
5. There will be honors at the end of the race (Phil. 3:14).

What does it take to be a winner?
1. It is about finishing the race, not finishing first (2 Tim. 4:7).
2. Prevailing any race takes efforts.
3. Running in humble dependence on the Lord
4. We have a couch to guide and teach us.
5. We may fall many times, but one more get up will help us to finish.
6. We don't run alone, but with fellow believers (2 Tim. 2:22). There are 59 verses in the New Testament about "one another." 


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"God’s Workmanship" (Eph. 2:8-10)
 
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph. 2:8-10).
 
1. To boast the cross
We were heading straight for destruction, dead in sins, but God saved us and made us alive! That is only by the cross of Christ, by God’s grace. If we don’t boast about it, what else can we boast? As God’s workmanship we boast about the cross (Gal. 6:14).
2. To boast about our weaknesses
3. To fight against destruction
4. To love Jesus
5. To receive love to love others
Read more...
 
For personal reflection
1) How does understanding grace help you not to go back to the old life, and to fight against destruction?
2) Have you seen God's power revealed through/in your weaknesses before? How did it happen? What was your feeling in that time? What can you learn from it?
3) Read Luke 7:36-47. Think about the feelings and thoughts of the woman: (1) when she decided to do it, (2) while she was doing it, and (3) while she was listing to the conversation between Jesus and Peter.
4) The message suggested five good works. Which work among them do you want to make more active in your life? Why? What will you do for that? What help do you need? Whom will you ask for the help?

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