Category: Bible Challenge

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”  v.35

What a lesson!  Jesus made time to commune with The Father.  He was always busy, but even He made time to get away and meet with God.  It’s easy to get caught up with ministry, work, school, and life for that matter, that we begin to neglect these times of solitude, individual worship, and prayer.  Perhaps you need to redesign your schedule to find time for earnest prayer.  It is vitally important to:

1. Seek the Lord before your busy schedule takes over your day.
2. Withdraw from the noise and demands so you can focus on God.
3. Have Jesus’ attitude toward regular communion with God.
4. Reflect on your priorities, compared to Jesus’ priorities.
5. Determine to pray more consistently, not just in times of crisis.

If prayer was important for Jesus, then it must be important for His followers.  PRAY – even if you have to get up early in the morning to do it.

My wife and I are reading a great book called “Secrets of the Secret Place”  it talks about meeting with God and how important it is.  Very good you can order it here!

“But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.” v. 24

The awesome thing about Jesus is when someone commits their life to him, He can take that mess and make it a masterpiece.  However, sometimes people that know you, don’t necessarily look at the person you are today, they remember the person you used to be.  It’s the old saying, “Your Reputation Precedes You.”  Even Jesus, who was God, was rejected by his home town.  People didn’t believe he could be the Messiah because of his social status.  But Jesus didn’t let that stop him.  He knew what His purpose was and He wasn’t going to let some unbelief keep him from fulfilling it.

I remember when I was 18 and God started moving in my life.  I knew that God was speaking to me and calling me to work specifically with teenagers, but I was scared to death.  One day as I was talking with my Youth Pastor, I don’t know what we were talking about, but I remember the words that he said.  At the time, God was doing so much in my life simply because it was so different than the way I used to be.  But the words were hard to hear.  Another staff person at the church said, “Dan doesn’t have the leadership to be in youth ministry.”  I was at a loss, maybe at the time, i was just wanting to prove him wrong.  However, the enemy has tried to use these words over and over in my head to keep me from fulfilling what God wants to do in my life and sadly, he will do the same to you.  But we can be encouraged by Jesus words when he says, “But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.”

Don’t let other people, who may not understand all that God is doing in you keep you from living and doing what God has called you to do.  Even when you feel beat up, pray and ask God to remind you of your calling, and to give you the strength you need to faithfully do the things that He has called you and prepared you to do.  That’s when He will get all the Glory and you will see Him move in mighty ways in you, and others.

“Jesus asked, ‘Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?’” v.48

What does it take for us to believe in Jesus?  Do we believe what He says, not just some of it, but all of it?  If Jesus says it will happen, it will happen.  The father in this story knew that Jesus could heal his son.  He walked several miles in hopes to bring Jesus to his son.  When Jesus tells him to go home, your son is healed, he goes home.  He took Jesus at his word and had faith in what he said.  I’m sure all of would say that if we talked to Jesus face to face like that and he told us to go home we would do it.  But would you really?  Are you sure you wouldn’t say something like, “I have walked 20 miles to talk to you, I want to make sure my son is well before you leave.”

Jesus words are powerful.  The reason this boy was healed is the fact that Jesus said so, but also that the father believed what Jesus said.  Jesus has said many things for that apply to us today.  However, our faithlessness limits what we see God do.  Today will you join with me in praying for stronger faith?  Lord will you help us have stronger faith, so we can expereince the fulness of your glory!

“‘But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.’” v.23-24

One of my favorite passages describing authentic, true and humble worship.  Where we worship isn’t as important as who and how we worship.  I admit, sometimes it’s easy to participate in worship but never worship.  It’s easy to sing the songs but not focus on the words and Who we are singing about and for .  My prayer for myself is that I could be an authentic worshiper, who doesn’t go through the motions, but one who is authentic and near the heart of God!

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” v.30

As a pastor, it is easy to look at other ministries, churches, people and see things that we desire or wished we had. Sometimes we even begin to compete with those same ministries, churches, and people, forgetting that we are on the same team trying to accomplish the same things, Bringing people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Johns disciples were at seeing Jesus start His ministry and when they saw some people choosing to be baptized by Jesus instead of John, they said, “everyone is going to him instead of us.” John’s response is so humble, yet mature when he says, “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John understood his purpose was to point people to Jesus. Instead of feeling attacked or less effective, he realized his role and continued to do the things God had called him to do. He was more concerned about God’s Kingdom than his kingdom. He was more concerned about people following Jesus than people following him!

What about me? What about you? Can we begin to be people that understand how and where God has called us? Can we be more about advancing His Kingdom instead or our kingdom? Can we begin to celebrate what God is doing in other ministries, churches, and people, without feeling like there is something wrong with us when others begin to advance the Kingdom? Can we truly be people that say and mean, may He become Greater and I become less?

“‘There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.’” v.18-21

Nicodemus, a Pharisee (Jewish religious leader) seeks Jesus out after dark to ask questions.  Some very good questions I might add, well worth reading on your own.   I do believe Nicodemus is at a crossroads.  He wants to believe Jesus and realizes who Jesus is, but the pull from the other Pharisees causes him to be timid, fearful and cautious.  Thats why he seeks Jesus at night.

I think though when it comes to sin (darkness) and truth (light) we all have that battle of knowing what we should do, but for some reason we stay stuck in the sin that we wish we didn’t do.  I hope that make since.  Jesus words are piercingly true.  We run from the light if we feel it will expose that dark place in our heart that we are battling or struggling with.  For some we avoid that light because we like the sin or darkness. We are fearful of conviction and the shame that might follow if it is exposed. Sometimes we would rather live in the sin, because we don’t like to deal with the guilt and shame that comes we feel when we compare our lives to God truth and light.

However, if we ever want to be more like Jesus, if we ever want to be freed from a specific, we have to let the light shine in all areas of our life, exposing those dark secret places, that sin, that we try to hide so often.  Today, what secret sin need to be exposed to the light?  Who is one person you could talk with and share your struggle and ask them to pray and hold you accountable as you bring this situation into the light so God can deal with it and you can experience freedom from it?  May we be people who aren’t afraid of the light of Christ, knowing that it make us more like Him and less like sin.

“Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.” v.23-25

Jesus has just turned water into wine, using ceremonial hand washing water (aka dirty water) and cleared the temple of money changers. People are beginning to ask, “who is this guy?” After clearing the temple the Jewish leaders ask him who has given him the authority to do such a thing? He simply responds with, “destroy this Temple and I will rebuild it in three day.” Little did they know that he was talking about his own body and not the temple building.

After seeing these two things, Jesus own disciples believed even more that he was the Messiah, but a crowd began to emerge as well. The verses above say that Jesus didn’t trust the crowd. Ouch! Why didn’t he trust the crowd? Because he knows how we are. It is easy to follow Christ and when we are in environments conducive to that on a mission trip, at camp, or a conference. It’s easy to follow when we see awesome things happen in His Name. I guess the point is . . . it’s easy to follow Christ when things are easy and others are doing the same thing.

Sadly, life isn’t always easy, and people don’t alway value becoming like Christ or living like Christ. Camp, Retreats, Mission Trips, and Conferences end and we have to go back to the “everyday us.” This is where I see many people give up, loose heart, forget what God has said to them and go back to an old life style. It’s a shame to have to say, but it so easy for us to fall victim too if we don’t spend time with God daily through prayer, reading His Word, and Fellowship with other Believers. We need it!!!

How about you, do you find yourself on a roller coaster ride when it comes to your faith? Have you had great experiences with God and then seemed to have given up? Why don’t you ask God for His help and begin today with a new start by spending time with Him. It may take some time, but you can begin to see and experience Him in your “everyday life”.

“John announced: ‘Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!’” v. 7-8

The prophet Isaiah said that the Messiah would have someone preparing the people for His coming. This someone was who we call John the Baptist. John was calling people to repentance and baptizing them to show outwardly that they had repented from their sin and were turning to God.

John knew his mission: declare the coming of the Messiah! One day as John was baptizing, Jesus comes to be baptized. Jesus didn’t have to be baptized because he hadn’t sinned, and well, He had the whole God things going on. But Jesus was baptized for a couple of reasons.

(1) His Baptism marked the beginning of His earthly Ministry to bring Salvation to all people.

(2) His Baptism showed support of John Ministry.

(3) His Baptism allowed him to identify with us, sinners who needed salvation, forgiveness of sin.

(4) His Baptism gave us an example to follow.

Later, the church would use Baptism as a way to show on the outside what Jesus had done on the inside, changing a persons heart. Baptism is a symbol of Jesus Death, Burial and Resurrection. When someone is baptized they are showing people that:

(1) They Believe they are a sinner in need of a savior.

(2) They Believe Jesus to be the Savior of the world.

(3) They Believe Jesus is the only way to experience this Salvation.

(4) They have put their Faith and Hope in Him and plan to live the rest of their life for Him.

Have you experienced Jesus in this way? Have you followed the example of Christ by being Baptized?

“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” v.52 (NLT)

It’s easy to forget that Jesus had a childhood just like us. That means he experienced some of the same childhood experiences that you and I experience. Even though he was God, He was still fully human and had to continually grow in the four areas mentioned in this verse. He grew in Wisdom (mental growth), Stature (physical growth), Favor with God (spiritual growth), Favor with all people (social growth).

This was a life long process for Him and should be for us! If you were to evaluate yourself in these four areas how are you growing? Maybe a better question is, Are you growing in each of these areas? I am talking about becoming healthier!! If you aren’t what is keeping you from growing in these areas? What are you going to start doing today in order to begin growing healthier and more like Christ?

“After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,’ the angel said. ‘Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’” v. 13

On the move, Joseph, Mary and Jesus move to Egypt to escape Herod’s decree to kill the baby boys 2 years old and younger. Herod was trying to secure his kingdom. He was fearful that Jesus would replace him as king, therefore he tried to eliminate Him (Jesus) by having all baby boys killed. What Herod didn’t realize is that Jesus wasn’t here to take his kingdom but to bring people back to a relationship with God and advance an Eternal Kingdom. Herod was more worried about his earthly kingdom, then the Eternal Kingdom Jesus would establish.

Ouch, how many times are we more concerned about building our own kingdoms than advancing the Eternal Kingdom Jesus came to establish. Sometimes we do this out of our own selfish desires, pride, unconfessed sin, a hardened heart, and/or lack of faith. Everyday we must learn to deny ourselves and pray, “God, today, may it be more about YOUR Kingdom than MY kingdom. May I decrees today so you can increase, in the areas that I am weak, will you be strong.” When we begin to have a heart like this, God is very pleased, and we are more available to be used by Him!