bsfblog – Page 7 – The Notes are Good

18 BSF Matthew Week 18, Day 2

My Daily Journal:

Unveiled Glory: In Exodus 34 we learn that after Moses would leave the sanctuary, from being in the presence of the glory of the Lord, he would veil His face because the Israelites could not handle the shine of his face.

In 2 Cor 3:13 Paul wrote: “We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.”

Jesus did not hide what was going to happen from His disciples or from us. It wasn’t veiled in a parable. It wasn’t disguised in code. It was as plainly spoken as one could speak. He would be put to death and then rise 3 days later.

It was not that Jesus had less shine than Moses. Just the opposite. But it was time for the glory to be unveiled. Like a bride at marriage lifts her veil when joined to her spouse. The bridegroom had arrived and the time had come and was coming for the veil to be removed.

My Answers

3.
a.
up a high mountain

b.
Peter James and John

c.
spending time with the disciples

4.
a.
transfomed into holy radiance. He was in communion with the saints and prophets, His appearance and being reflected His soul, one free and clean of sin

b.
He was an eye-witness. He saw and heard it as fact, not story

c.
Both

5.
Matt: coming on the clouds of heaven
John: seen the glory of the Son
John: Glorify your son that your Son may glorify you
Acts: a light, brighter than the sun – voice from heaven
Phil: exalted by God – given the name above all names
Rev: son of man, his face shining like the sun, hair white as snow and eyes blazing like fire

BSF Matthew Week 16, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal

Jews didn’t eat with gentiles, much less feed 4000 of them. But that is the miracle Jesus performs.

We saw on similar before, with the feeding of the 5000. So similar that it is easy to miss some of the differences.

The Jews sat of grass, the gentiles on the ground. This reminded me of the parable of the sower. The Jews were a field with existing growth, not to mention a number of weeds, but the gentile soil was barren and ready to be be planted.

The feeding of the 5000 had 12 baskets of food left over, the feeding of the 4000 had 7 baskets of food left over. Interesting that there were 12 tribes of Israel and 7 tribes of Canaan.

But I think most interesting and applicable to my life was the response of the Apostles. The apostles had not only been present at the feeding of the 5000, but they were in the middle of the whole thing. Now, just a very short time later, when Jesus turns to them in verse 32 and says, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” Not one of His disciples says, “no problem, we have some fish and loaves, let’s do that thing again.” Not one of them asked Him what to do, even though they now recognized and knew that He was the Son of God. Instead, their first response was totally self-reliant. “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”

Before I get too harsh on the apostles, I need to confess – this is me. I know who Jesus is, but I don’t ask for miracles. I see the way He has miraculously provided for me and my family, and then the next day I begin worrying about how I’m going to figure things out on my own. I open my eyes and see limited resources instead of looking at things through the lens of faith and seeing unlimited possibilities.

There is a song I enjoy called, “Are you ready for a miracle?” If I’m honest, though, I am too like the apostles – most of the days the answer to the question is no, not really.

How can I make the knowledge of these passages part of my life? I can follow the example of the Canaanite mother. I can pray for miracles for myself and for others. I can not only pray, but I can pray with confidence in the One who has the power to perform those miracles. When I don’t hear an answer, I can keep praying, in faith. When I don’t understand something, I can be like Peter and ask. When I don’t have the strength to carry on, lest I may collapse on the way, I can sit at the feet of Jesus and not only be fed, but be satisfied, knowing that when He provides that provision is magnified. I can be ready for a miracle!

My Answers

13.
a.
Jews      Gentiles
grass              ground
5000               4000
started by apostle, started by Jesus
5 loaves, 7 loaves
2 fishes, some fishes
12 baskets, 7 baskets

b.
Better to get the left-overs, there is more left over than the first served

c.
trust and rely on Jesus alone, He has full power to provide for all my needs, I am blessed to help, not needed to help

BSF Matthew Week 16, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

In building rennovation, sometimes the only way to build something up is to first tear down the weak support structures. In gardening, to allow room for growth you sometimes need to cut back or pull out the weeds. The parables and teachings of the past few weeks lessons are culminating this week as Jesus continues that work with His apostles.

The apostles were Jews, raised in the traditions of the elders. The teachers and pharisees from Jerusalem would have been like getting a visit from the big bosses from the top office at corporate headquarters.

The idea that these bastions of knowledge and wisdom were wrong must have been like a wrecking ball striking the main support beam of what the apostles knew about being an observant Jew. Clean and unclean were not just cornerstones, they had come to be a foundation of the religious.

But Jesus was not simply tearing down the apostles faith, He was building it. He was removing the weak, infested structures and replacing them with rock. The pharisees were offended, but millions would be saved. To secure the foundation of the church, he could not build on the traditions of the elders. He had to build on love, compassion, healing, serving. He had to build on faith in the Word of God.

Sometimes we cannot focus our eyes. There may be an astigmatism or injury. But just like a doctor may prescribe glasses, we can be given sight and the ability to focus through the lens of God’s Word, Jesus Christ.

My Answers:

6.
Rigidly following rules doesn’t make one holy. What flows forth from their heart is a sign of their holiness.

7.
a.
The pharisees were offended

b.
every plan that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots – leave them, they are blind guides

c.
If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit

d.
He was blinded – he thought of the priests and pharisees as holy men who were teaching right things

8.
a.
Your actions and thoughts, the things that come out of you or that you do from your own motivation – not outside influences, but inside: evil thoughts, lust, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, malice and deceit, slander, lewdness, envy, arrogance, folly

b.
envy, worry, greed, slander, folly – yes

12.5 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Now we are getting somewhere. The pharisees and religious leaders recognize that Jesus has super-natural power. Literally. Natural power is power related to nature, to the physical world. But they have taken a huge step forward and proclaimed that Jesus has power that is greater than that. It is from out-of-the world, super-natural, it is from the spirit world.

There are only two possible sources for the power: heaven or hell. Having acknowledged that Jesus was more than man, they then had to decide from where He and His power originates.

They chose wrong. All of scripture, every prophecy, every law, every sacrifice, every word that they studied and taught every day pointed to and was being fulfilled in this man Jesus. While they had dedicated their life to this teaching – they wanted more. They weren’t satisfied with the relationship God had provided, they wanted something else. They wanted to commit adultery against the scripture.

Jesus spoke to them very clearly. He said the only sign they would receive was one from scripture. He said, you have correctly deduced the situation – heaven or hell. But, since hell and the devil makes no sense and can be eliminated, then you must acknowledge Jesus is from Heaven. To not do so is to choose hell themselves.

Do you acknowledge that Jesus was more than a man? If so, He is super-natural and every sign, every word, every prophecy tells which uniform he wears: a white robe dipped in blood and emblazoned with the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

My Answers:

11.
a.
His power and authority over demons

b.
Prince of this world (John 12:31) will be driven out also John 14:30. Baal-zebub 2 Kings 1 Philistine god, Satan, the adversary, devil (James 4:7), the god of this age (2 Cor 4:). This house is the earth

12.
The H/S teaches and convicts me of my sin. If I had rejected the H/S fully, then I would not face such warning or conviction, but instead I would appoint myself as judge and judge my sin to be right and acceptable

13.
I use too few words that proclaim the glory of Christ. I miss opportunities to have serious engagement by joking.

14.
a.
Every sign and prophecy of the old testament pointed to Christ and was being fulfilled, in their presence, by Him. But they wanted something outside of all of those teachings, some other sign

b.
The sign of Jonah. Jesus’ death and resurrection

c.
We are not to be empty shells. The goal of salvation is not to empty us of evil and impurity but to fill us with the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

15.
In love and giving to brothers and sisters in Christ. In coming alongside missionaries and pastors and teachers. By walking that road myself and with my family

12.3 BSF Matthew Week 12, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I slipped in the garage the other day. I didn’t fall, but, the floor was dusty and my shoes were not giving me the traction I needed for the work I was doing. I had been out in the yard previously and when I looked at the soles of my shoes they had become caked in dirt, with the grooves filled in so the surface lacked texture.

That is how our heart and soul can become in the muck of this world. We can become calloused. We can become caked over. We can see the word of the gospel but it does not have traction in our lives.

Jesus tells us to achieve true rest first requires real work. We have to re-cut the furrows, the grooves, in the field of our life. We have to dig out the weeds and stones and replace them with living seeds. We have to prepare our heart to receive peace and rest.

But Jesus also tells us that this work is not for us to do alone. He calls us to yoke to Him. To ask Him to work along side of us and, when we do, we will find rest in Him.

My Answers:

6.
a.
Chorizin/Bethsaida to Tyre/Sidon (they would have been in sackcloth and ashes, more bearable for them than you; Capernaum to Hades. If miracles in you in Sodom, it would have remained, more bearable for Sodom @ Judgment

b.
They witnessed the promised one. They saw first hand the miracles. And, they still chose to turn away from Jesus.

c.
We have the full bible. We have the full record of Jesus’ saving act, the old and new testaments

7.
Revelation of God is only through God, not to be “deduced” by the logic of man. While we have free will, that does not usurp God’s control and His desire to show Himself only through Jesus, His son.

8.
a. all who are weary and burdened
b. I will give you rest
c. take my yoke upon you and learn from me
d. To be co-yoked with Christ is to be the apprentice with the master, doing His work with Him. Through this we find rest.

11.02 BSF Matthew Week 11, Day 2

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

I think the harvest field is such a beautiful and fitting image of the calling of Christians. When we plant crops, we turn them over to God. He is the only one who can make something grow. To take it from a seed to a plant producing fruit and seeds. He provides the soil. He provides the nutrients. He provides the rain and sunshine. There is work to be done, including the work of bringing in the harvest, but, as we learn this week, He even provides for that. He doesn’t say go and hire people or go and beg people or go and threaten people or go and scare/guilt people into the work. He says to pray and God will provide.

We often forget this and begin to think we (you and I) need to get busy making plans and recruiting. We need to get out there and polish our sales pitch. God does call us to get out of our “holy huddle”, but it also makes it abundantly clear that the workers, the work, the power, the authority and even the harvest all are from and for Him alone. Anything we allow ourselves to be tricked into thinking comes from our own power is an insult to the One from whom the true power and authority belongs.

My Answers:

3.
a.
It is His nature. They were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd

b.
Ps: The Lord is my shepherd
Is: We all like sheep (Lord laid on Him the iniquity of all) He bore our sins
Je: lost sheep, scattered flock, led astray by shepherds, wandering
Ez: cared for self rather than flock, I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable
Jo: I am the good shepherd, not a hired hand

c.
Those in churches which do not follow scripture, everyone believe what they want, not the truth of God

4.
a.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers

b.
authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness

c.
Authority of truth of His word. Power: the hope, the riches, His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead (Eph 1)

10.4 BSF Matthew Week 10, Day 4

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

“While He was saying this…” Be careful as you read the passage this week that you don’t miss those 5 opening words.

What was He saying? “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

What does that have to do with this synagogue leader showing up with this request?

Let’s compare/contrast the actions of this leader/father with his dying/dead child and that of another biblical leader/father and his dying/dead child. Let’s turn back to 2 Samuel 12:14-24.

David is only a man. He was a faithful man and loved by God, but he was only a man. Jesus is the “son of David.” Later in Matthew we will hear him called this by the blind men. It is a true statement and important for fulfillment of prophecies. But Jesus does not stand on David. He is not a reincarnation of that king. He is not an add-on, a patch, an addition to what has come before. He is something new (but also something eternal). He is King Jesus from the authority of sitting at the throne of God, not from sitting at the throne of David. His power and authority do not end at death.

What an amazing comfort for all who have lost loved ones. They are not dead. In God’s eyes and power, they are only asleep. With a single calling from His lips they will rise to life again, none worse for having experienced the sleep of death.

My Answers:

10.
a.
25-26 woman, 12 years, bleeding, uncured, Docs, broke, 27 touched, 28 “if touch be healed” 29 healed
30 Jesus asked who? L45, Denial L46, Power Mrk33, Confession, 22. “your faith has healed you” Mrk 34 “go in peace and be free from suffering”

b.
She had been bleeding for 12 years. Long suffering afflictions are simply waiting on God’s timing

11.
a.
Synagogue leader

b.
She was on death’s door. None of his discussion was about Jesus it was about his daughter. He must have held out hope that Jesus could save her, but, is that faith or desparation?

c.
He did not judge Darius and his faith (or lack there of), instead He took on the love of this father for His child

09.5 BSF Matthew Week 9, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Pop-Quiz Time for the Apostles.

Let’s review.

They heard the sermon on the mount where Jesus told them not to worry.

They heard Him teach them how to pray. They also heard the promise that God will answer those prayers.

They heard Him speak with authority, above that of any one in the temple.

They heard Him speak of coming to fulfill prophecy.

They saw His authority over all forms of infirmities and His ability to heal.

They heard Him say to leave your old life behind, don’t rely on what you used to know and do but follow Him first and only.

So, here comes the pop-quiz. Where should you test a bunch of fishermen? How about, on a boat?!?

How should the test be conducted? How about a storm? Something along the lines of, “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat…” (see Matthew 7:25) What, oh what, would a wise man do???

What did they do? Pray or panic? They panicked. Oh, you of little faith. C- grade at best! (get it? “below “c” level”…sorry, bad storm on the sea pun!)

I don’t mean to be hard on the apostles. How often do we do the same thing? How often do I? I hear the words, I understand them and I want to apply them, but when storms come up, I go blank, I rely on myself, I show my “little faith.”

But, like the apostles, Jesus saves me. And, let’s be clear, this must have been a major storm… these were guys who made their living on the water… they knew a deadly storm. But, Jesus tells us we don’t need to fear even the deadly storms.

We don’t even need to fear the demon possessed.

I thought it interesting that the demons are aware of their ultimate outcome. “Did you come to torture us before the appointed time?” They know what is ahead. They know who is in control and who is the judge, the administrator of justice.

But how often do we fail the test, too? Do we put worry about livelihood over faith in eternal life? Do we put profit concerns over prophecy fulfilled. What is eternal life and salvation worth? 2000 pigs? I would hope so.

Finally, when we are called to follow Jesus, we are also appointed a place for that calling. The demon possessed man wanted to get out of town. He wanted to start anew. But Jesus had a special mission field for him and it was in his own backyard. This may have been the hardest mission field imaginable – but he obeyed. What an amazing transformation. From living in the tombs of the dead to being the one inviting others to eternal life!

My Answers:

12.
a.
Jesus was sleeping, he got up and rebuked the storm

b.
Authority over nature

c.
They had heard Him call Himself Lord, they had seen others put their faith in Him – would he then die in a storm? Did they trust the power of the storm over the power of God

d.
Heart issues – Ezek 36:26

13.
a.
lived in the tombs – so violent that no one could pass that way

b.
The demons identified Jesus for whom He is, the Son of God. They identified that there was an appointed time at which the demons would be tortured

c.
Asked to come with Jesus but Jeses did not let him and told him to stay and witness

d.
To leave – they loved their livelihood more than their lives. Swines over Salvation. Profit over Prophecy Fulfilled.

e.
“keep faith under wraps – it may offend someone and lose a sale” We don’t want our faith to interfere with our livelihood

08.5 BSF Matthew Week 8, Day 5

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

Stolen words used for unearned earthly gain.

The words of the bible are precious. They are not just words, they have power, meaning and purpose. But when people use these words in a twisted fashion, they don’t just deceive, they are thieves.

If I take a tool from my neighbors garage, I am a thief. If I take credit for artwork I did not create, I am a thief. If I take the Words of God and use them for my glory instead of His, I am a thief.

We may deceive ourselves into justifying our theft. We may think that watering down the scripture is a means to get people in the door. We may think that it is better to avoid the “controversial” parts of the gospel. But what does Jesus say? There is never a time that Jesus does not reflect the glory of God alone. His food was the do the will of Him who sent Him and to finish His work.

What do you stand on? Is it what you want to be true? Is it what you would like the bible to say? Or do you stand on the one and only solid foundation.

Actually, standing is not enough. We are not just called to stand on the cornerstone, we are called to be built on it, as it says in 1 Peter, into a holy house of worship to the Living God.

My Answers:

11.
a.
Matt: Jesus knowing them (not His sheep)
Luke: do not do what Jesus says
John: refuse to come to Christ, do not have the love of God in heart, do not accept Christ
John: Belief in the Father
Hosea: rejected what is good, set up own kingship aside from God, made idols

b.
The words that came out of their mouth were lies and for show. The words did not reflect submission to the rule of God or a contrite spirit, they were stolen words used for illegal earthly gain, which does not carry into heaven

c.
I am, myself, at times. When I rely on myself and not the H/S, I lie to myself. When I pray afterwards instead of before, I am being my own prince, When I put trust in men who look the part and sound good instead of the word of God, I live a lie.

12.
That He alone is the Judge on Judgment Day. No one enters except by His knowledge. He alone is Lord.

13.
a.
Hear the words of the Lord AND put them into practice

b.
They don’t practice their faith (if they have any at all). They put it in a box (Sunday morning) or on a shelf (unread bible) and go about living their life with what they think is right or what they want right to be.

c.
Isaiah: Lay a stone in Zion, tested stone, precious cornerstone, rely on it never stricken w/ panic
1 Cor: No one can lay any other foundation: Jesus Christ
1 Peter: Living stone, rejected by humans chosen by God, we on Him a spiritual house, holy priesthood

d.
On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand

08.3 BSF Matthew Week 8, Day 3

Today’s Scriptures

My Daily Journal:

My wife gets some friendly teasing from her group for her passion for getting deep into God’s word and looking up the Greek behind our English biblical words. She jokingly said this morning that she looked up the word “knock” in Greek and it means to “knock, as on a door.”

While she said this tongue in cheek, it is actually a very relevant point.

Lots of people ask. They scream out in their words and actions. Some people seek. They look for answers. They look for help. But knocking – that is something different.

You can ask from afar and anonymously. You can seek answers from unreliable sources. We have a neighbor who asks her deepest questions to Google search like some sort of magic eight ball to give guidance to her life.

But knocking requires personal action and personal involvement. To knock in prayer, you have to show up on God’s doorstep. You have to know the right house, the right door. You must spiritually get up and carry your prayers to Him. You have to extend your hand. You have to take action, engage directly and personally.

God does not just want our requests and wishes, He wants our connection with Him. He doesn’t want us to just phone it in, He wants us to enter His home.

My Answers:

6.
a.
Ask, Seek, Knock

b.
Yes, sick child, guidance for another child, restful sleep for spouse

7.
The promise of the Holy Spirit. Good gifts could mean any blessing, but the H/S is the ultimate gift and blessing

8.
a.
The ultimate answer to prayer (according to God’s will) is salvation and reconciliation. He purchased that gift for us while we were still sinner (Rom 5:8), but we still must choose to accept the gift and submit to Him

b.
God is not a vending machine that you insert prayer and out pops blessings or your get your own way. God does what is in His will and His mercy out of love. All prayer is heard and answered, some not as we wish for teaching/change

c.
It fits unselfish love. God has nothing to gain through prayer, but through His love of us He delights in giving