A Day of Forgiveness
I had been feeling so horrible the past week... my struggle has really always been with relationships and with forgiveness but yet Good Friday reminded me the significance of forgiveness.
Lesson on Praying
Pray by akkia
As I made my way to cell group, I picked up my bible and started to read it on the bus. I was flipping through and trying to find something that would help me to co-lead worship later and pray (turned out that one of my cell group members took over. Phew! am always jittery about praying in groups and especially so on Good Friday, just not confident).
Anyway, what I got from that short bible study taught me great deals about praying and also reminded me of the significance of Good Friday.
On faith when praying (Mark 11:24):
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. On forgiveness when praying (Mark 11:25):
On trusting God's purpose for you when praying (Mark 14:35-6 - Jesus knew that he was to be betrayed, arrested and crucified. He was waiting for the "hour" and prays to God in Gethsamane):
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
On being genuine when praying (Mark 12: 38-40):
38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
The Righteous will not be Challenged
As I continue reading... I came to be in awe of Jesus' wisdom and how He took courage to speak of the truth... The religious leaders hated Jesus and wanted Him killed and so were trying to trap Him:
He was questioned several times (Mark 11:27 - 12:40) and different topics and were able to handle each challenge with much wisdom. I was particularly amazed by His answer when challenged about taxes (Mark 12:13-17):
13Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.
14They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?
15Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it."
16They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.
17Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him.
Jesus Teaches about Staying Watchful & Speaks of the Second Coming
Deceitful Claims to be the Messiah (Mark 13:5-6, 21-23):
5 Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many.
21 At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ[c]!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.
22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.
23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
The World Becomes Chaotic (Mark 13:7-8, 12):
7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
12 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
Testing of Faith of Believers (Mark 13:9-11):
9 "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.
11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
Signs of the Second Coming (Mark 13:24-31):
24 "But in those days, following that distress, " 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
26 "At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door.
30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Staying Watchful (mark 13:32-7):
32 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
34 It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.
36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "
Jesus Died, We Live
Jesus Christ 4 by benny201
Cell discussion was on the crucificion of Jesus and as we read through the witnesses account of the treatment he received: nailed onto the cross; given cheap wine; had His clothes divided out among the soldiers; had insults hurled at him by passerbys and even the 2 theives crucified with Him, endured people's disbelief of Him as the son of God. But yet, Jesus understood why He was sent down as a human;
- to die on the cross for our sins, so that we may live...
- to be condemned so we may be justified,
- to pay a debt we can't pay
This is the ultimate forgiveness and if Jesus could endure so much for us, what little is our grudges with people. There was a kind of serenity and calmness which came back upon realizing this. Interestingly, there was also a breakthrough in the issue I had with the "friend who was beginning to hate me". He messaged wishing me a Happy Easter and I replied back... Seriously, I can't recall specifically what hurt me although I remember being hurt but these just didn't seem to matter any more. In fact, I even thought of inviting him out for a drink but still in the end did not get to do because I just wasn't as emotionally ready as yet. But we ended off our messaging and I wished him a smooth-going career (he left his old workplace) and wished for God's blessings in his life.
Oh ya, I collected my new glasses... have new image now... look a bit different with glasses... :)
posted by me at 6:12 PM
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