Author Archives: Joe

Elisha’s Bones

Check out the bible’s account of Elisha’s last days:

14 The prophet Elisha was sick with a fatal disease, and as he lay dying, King Jehoash of Israel went to visit him. “My father, my father!” he exclaimed as he wept. “You have been the mighty defender of Israel!”

15 “Get a bow and some arrows,” Elisha ordered him. Jehoash got them, 16 and Elisha told him to get ready to shoot. The king did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king’s hands. 17 Then, following the prophet’s instructions, the king opened the window that faced toward Syria. “Shoot the arrow!” Elisha ordered. As soon as the king shot the arrow, the prophet exclaimed, “You are the Lord’s arrow, with which he will win victory over Syria. You will fight the Syrians in Aphek until you defeat them.” (Good News Bible)

In this passage, what did Elisha do when he lay there dying of sickness?  I’m sure most of us would’ve forgiven Elisha if he was more concerned about his own health and wellbeing at this point, but no; he carried on the Lord’s work, doing the work as the prophet he was called to be.  Right up to the end – amazing.  Furthermore, he even got angry with the Israelite King for not trying hard enough (a verse later).  So thorough in his work as a prophet, this shows even more how dead-set Elisha was on the Lord’s plans and purposes.

Even after Elisha’s death, God works through him:

20 Elisha died and was buried.

Every year bands of Moabites used to invade the land of Israel. 21 One time during a funeral, one of those bands was seen, and the people threw the corpse into Elisha’s tomb and ran off. As soon as the body came into contact with Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life and stood up

Why did this happen?  At this point, Neither Elisha, the dead man, or the raiders were conscious of this miracle when it happened, God just did it, and he chose Elisha’s bones – so we’ll never fully know why, but at least we can certainly learn something out of this story.  Be encouraged to keep going right to the end, and we never know what works he will do through us, even at times we’re not aware!

Bible Study: Act Your Shoesize!

Jesus says to receive the kingdom of God as a little child.  This of course, isn’t to act childish, as 1 Corinthians 13:11 puts it:

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

So we’re called to enter like a little child.  Before starting the study, ask:  What does Jesus mean by ‘little child’?  What characteristics come to mind?  Jesus often talked in a way that all people may understand, and the image of a little child conjures up many characteristics e.g. humility, obedience etc.  Here are the passages to look at:

Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

 Matthew 18:1-9

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Philippians 2:1-18

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Questions

  1. Mark 10:13-16.  Why must we enter the kingdom of God like a little child?
  2. Matthew 18:1-9.  Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
  3. (Same Passage) Verse 5-6:  Name some ideas for how we could apply the passage ‘whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me’ in our own lives.
  4. Philippians 2:1-18. Why is it good to be a child of God?

Shoebox Sunday 2012!

Shoebox Sunday 2012 was a great success – about 200 boxes from Bethany, 150 from schools and a further 200 or so already in the van ready to go to the village of Suceava in Romania – that’s over 500 boxes that will be gratefully received by children who wouldn’t have otherwise received presents this Christmas.  Thanks to all the folks who took part and made a box; even though you can’t give it yourself, you’ve made a personal impact and ministry for each and every child that receives a gift.  Thank you.

Bible Study: Gentleness

Bible Study Passage:  John 8:1-11, 2 Timothy 2:22-26, 1 Timothy 6:11-12.  Gentleness is a fruit of the spirit, and this week we’re digging a little deeper, by recalling a story of Jesus.  When confronted with another typical ‘catch 22’ situation by the Pharisees, Jesus dealt with the situation in a rather unusual way.  Seldom does he do the same thing twice, but in this particular passage (John 8:1-11), he is gentle with his accusers, and with the accused.  Here’s the excerpt of John 8:1-11:

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.Now what do you say?”6 They were using this question as a trap,in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stoneat her.”8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Here are the other excerpts we’re to look at in the passage.  2 Timothy 2:22-26

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

And lastly, 1 Timothy 6:11-12:

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Questions

  1. 2 Timothy 2:22-26.  How can gentleness make a difference?
  2. John 8:1-11.  How did Jesus handle the Pharisees?
  3. (Same passage).  How did Jesus handle the woman?
  4. Bonus Round: 1 Timothy 6:11-12:  The bible talks of gentleness then, immediately after, fighting the good fight.  Comment on why this might be?

Bible Study: Joy

Luke 15:1-10, Habakkuk 3:17-18, Isaiah 61:10.  Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit, and a fundamental part of our relationship with God.  He takes joy in us, and we in him.  We look at defining this joy, and examples of it in the bible.  Most notably, two parables that Jesus spoke of – the lost sheep and the lost coin.  Here’s the main bible passage in Luke 15:1-10:

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Here are the other smaller excerpts from the bible used in this study.  Habakkuk 3:17-18.

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Psalm 126:5

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Questions

  1. Habakkuk 3:17-18. Describe the joy in this passage.  How is it different to what we would normally expect?
  2. Luke 15:1-10. Think back to how you felt when you lost something and found it, and how it relates with these parables?  Why did Jesus pick this ‘lost and found’ scenario to teach about joy?
  3. What do the parables say of God’s joy for us?
  4. Bonus Question Psalm 126:5. How does this relate to Jesus’ parables?

 

Romania: November 2012

John and Christine have returned from Romania this week, providing support for the poor villages.  The trip was a success, and as it turned out, more necessary than ever.

Over the summer months, there was a long drought and a severe hailstorm in Romania, completely destroying the crops.  Food was in very short supply, but God is good – through Bethany, he has answered the prayers of many families this year, to keep them warm and fed over the coming winter months.  Please continue to pray and support us – we’ve still to send the shoeboxes out this year for Christmas, so we pray that will be successful.

The Still Small Voice

God’s ‘Still Small Voice’ is a familiar passage of scripture.  It comes from 1 Kings, and it’s about Elijah.  Elijah had just done amazing things – defeated prophets of a false God, and even prophesied the end to a three-year long drought.

Shortly after, and perhaps a sign of his human-nature, Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel, because she wanted to kill him.  Furthermore, he asked God to take his life because it was all too much – he was staying in a cave in Mount Sinai, when in 1 Kings 19, God does something unexpected (NIV):

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord wasnot in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

So why the quietness?  Well, first came the wind, earthquake and fire, and afterwards the quietness.  Was it this that caught Elijah’s attention and beckoned him out of the cave?  Either way, God gave him words instruction, and reassurance at just the right time – Elijah thought he was the only one left that hadn’t bowed the knee to Baal (a false God).  What a boost it must have been to receive news that he wasn’t on his own – 7000 others hadn’t!

The same applies to us today.  When things just get too much and we end up in our own proverbial cave, God knows what to do.  Sometimes it might be a miracle or a helping hand; others, simply being reassured and encouraged to keep going is what we need!