TAKE TIME TO REST WITH THE LORD

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:30-34).


30 Mark resumes the account of the mission of the Twelve. The disciples, here called "apostles" returned to Jesus with a report on their apostolic work of preaching, casting out demons, and healing.


31-32 Their activities had created much interest. So many people were coming and going that that the disciples had no time even to eat.Since the disciples were doubtless tired from their missionary activities and from the demands of the crowds, Jesus decided to to seek rest for them in a quite and solitary place.
      Jesus may have had another reason for going to a deserted area in addition to seeking rest. It was in the desert that God had given rest to his ancient people after their Exodus fro Egypt. Prophets such as  Isaiah (63:14) and Jeremiah (31:2) saw the Israelites in the desert as a type of a second rest promised to the new people of God in a second exodus. Jesus and his disciples fulfill this promise. Jesus, not the pillar and the cloud, is God's presence, and the Bread (instead of the manna) is God's provision of sustenance.

33-34  The best way for Jesus and his disciples to get away from the crowds was by boat, going to the northeast side of the lake. But the crowd saw it and followed by land. Somehow they managed to walk around the lake and arrive at the landing place ahead of the boat (v.33).
      Jesus had every right to be annoyed with the crowd. They had prevented him and his disciples from having a much needed rest. But instead of being irritated, he responded compassionately and in love (v.34), seeing them as "sheep without a shepherd" (cf. Num. 27:17; Ezek. 34:5). These two OT passages associate the shepherd theme with the desert. Jesus, like Moses, was leading his people in the desert and, like David (cf. Ezek. 34:23, 25), was providing rest for them. 
[NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 2: New Testament].


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PRAY TO GOD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU HIS PEACE

Be anxious for nothing, but by everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
(Philippians 4:6-7).


4:6 Paul exhorts the Philippians to pray about their circumstances instead of worrying over them. be anxious for nothing: although the same word in 2:20 describes Timothy's concern for the Philippians, here Paul uses the word to refer to worry. He prohibits the Philippians from worrying about their own problems. Instead they are to commit their problems to God in prayer, trusting that He will provide deliverance.


4:7 will guard: Paul's choice of a military term implies that the mind is in the battle zone and needs to be "protected by a military guard." Since the purpose of such a guard in a wartime situation is either to prevent a hostile invasion or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from escaping, the peace of God operates in the same way: to protect the mind from external corrupting influences and to keep the mind focused on God's truth.
[THE NKJV STUDY BIBLE Second Edition].


6 Believers should be prayerful instead of "anxious". This verb can mean "to be concerned about" in a proper Christian sense (cf. 2:20), but here the meaning is clearly that of anxiety, fretfulness, or undue concern (cf. Matt. 6:25-34). Paul is not calling for apathy or inaction, for as we make plans in light of our circumstances, it is our Christian privilege to do so in full trust that our Father hears our prayers for what we need. The answer to anxiety is "prayer", a word that denotes the petitioner's attitude of mind as worshipful. "Petition" denotes prayers as expressions of need. "Thanksgiving" should accompany all Christian praying, as the supplicants acknowledge that whatever God sends is for their good (Rom. 8:28). It may also include remembrance of previous blessings.


7 Paul attaches to this classic exhortation to pray the beautiful promise that when we turn from anxiety to prayer and thanksgiving, God will give us his own "peace." This peace is for those who are already at peace with God through justification by faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1). This peace of God "transcends all understanding," for it is not only sufficient for us but far surpasses human comprehension. It acts as a sentry to guard our hearts and thoughts from all anxiety and despair.
[NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 2: New Testament].


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DON'T BE SELFISH! HELP YOUR PARTNER UP!

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 


9-12 The drive to succeed is mature when it has its interplay with the whole of society. Two acting together are better than one selfish individual; they can support each other when there is need for support. This proverb applies to all relationships. Individualism and divisions make for weakness. There is a proper complex of power in a three-strand rope, provided the strands are good and support one another. 
[NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 1: Old Testament].


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HOW TO STAY IN THE LORD'S WILL AND GLORIFY GOD

   I AM the true Vine and My Father is the Vinedresser.
2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit-that stops bearing-He cuts away (trims off, take away). And He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.
3 You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the Word which I have given you-the teachings I have discussed with you.
4 Dwell in Me and I will dwell in you.-Live in Me and I will live in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me-cut off from vital union with Me-you can do nothing.
6 If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out as a [broken-off] branch and withers. Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and they are burned.
7 If you live in Me-abide vitally united to Me-and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.
8 When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified; and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.
9 I have loved you [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love-continue in His love with Me.
10 If you keep My commandments-if you continue to obey my instructions-you will abide in My love and live on in it; just as I have obeyed My Father's commandments and live on in His love.
11 I have told you these things that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness maybe full measure and complete and overflowing. (John 15:1-11).


7 The connection is maintained by obedience and prayer. To remain in Christ and to allow his words to remain in oneself means a conscious acceptance of the authority of his word and a constant contact with him by prayer. The prayer request itself must be related to a definite need and must be for an object Jesus himself would desire. Jesus never promises to gratify every chance whim believers may have. But as long as they are seeking the Lord's will for their lives, Jesus promises to grant every request that will help accomplish this end.


8 The proof of discipleship is fruitbearing (see also Matt. 7:20; Lk. 6:43-44). Just as Jesus glorified God by his life, so also his disciples will glorify God by theirs.


8-11 Love unites the disciples to Christ as branches are united to the vine. Two results stem from this relationship: obedience and joy. Obedience marks the cause of their fruitfulness; joy is it result. Jesus intends his disciples to be both spontaneous and happy rather than burdensome and boring. Obedience in carrying out his purpose gaurantess success, for Jesus never plans failure for his disciples. Joy logically follows when the disciples realize that the life of Christ in them is bringing fruit-something they could never produce in their own strength.
[NIV BIBLE COMMENTARY Volume 2: New Testament].


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PRAISE GOD IN ADVANCE FOR THE VICTORY

KEY VERSES: 2 CHRONICLES 20:18-30.


18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high. 20 So the rose up early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever." 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise , the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated 23 For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them and abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. 26 And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah ("blessing" or "praise"), for they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. 29 And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.


(READ: 2 CHRONICLES 20:1-30).


[THE NKJV STUDY BIBLE Second Edition].


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 JESUS IS LORD.