Friday, June 29, 2012

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].


[http://twitter.com/sowersoftheword].


JESUS IS LORD.


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

SOWERS OF THE WORD TEXT MINISTRY


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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].


[http://twitter.com/sowersoftheword]. 


JESUS IS LORD.