Storming the Gates of Hell - a letter to my friends

Dear Friends,

“There is a glory to your life that your Enemy fears, and he is hell-bent on destroying that glory before you act on it. This part of the answer will sound unbelievable at first; perhaps it will sound too good to be true; certainly, you will wonder if it is true for you. But once you begin to see with those eyes, once you have begun to know it is true from the bottom of your heart it will change everything.”

“The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it.” (John Eldredge Waking the Dead, 33-34)

When I read the above quote five months ago it stopped me right there…right in the tracks of my daily mundane life. In that moment, it became so real. I knew it like I had never known it before. I was at war…I mean real war. And that war wasn’t with just “any old enemy”. I was at war with the King of Darkness himself…Satan…the enemy of God.

It surprised me…but it shouldn’t have. I know about Spiritual Warfare…it’s not new to me. I believe in Spiritual Warfare. I’ve even taught about Spiritual Warfare. But never before have I been so aware of Spiritual Warfare. Never before have I thought of Satan as one who fears me. But why shouldn’t he? He fears Christ. Christ is in me. Christ in me is a threat to him and all that he sets out to do. He knows that I am a living stone in Christ’s living church with a mandate from Jesus himself, to storm the gates of the prison fortress Hell. And, Matthew 16:17 tells me that the fortified gates of hell will not prevail…they will fall to Christ and his church. Yes, Satan is afraid…he is very afraid indeed.

Last Thursday night I just couldn’t get away from God’s Word. We were scurrying around, getting our daughter’s things ready for college. We were supposed to leave for Oklahoma the next day…and there was still so much left to pack. The last thing I had time to do that night was read my Bible.

My asthma was acting up and I had to take a breathing treatment. As I was taking the treatment, I got on my PC Bible Study program and began reading in Ephesians chapter six. I had fully intended to stop reading when my treatment was through…but I just couldn’t. The Holy Spirit was speaking to me through His Word…leading me down a scripture path…one verse right after the next. His footsteps were strong. His presence was powerful. And the scriptures he was leading me to all had one thing in common. They were all battle scriptures.

My husband, Paul, came in the room to check on me and talk about our plans for leaving the next day. That’s a nice way of saying he was checking to see why I wasn’t working. I told him that I thought we should put the packing on hold and I began share with him what God was speaking to my heart. We both knew there wasn’t really time to read all these scriptures…to follow the path that the Holy Spirit seemed to be leading down. Tomorrow morning was going to be here before we knew it. The suitcases weren’t going to pack themselves. But we decided to press the “pause” button on our own schedule anyway. I felt absolutely compelled to follow the path that the Holy Spirit was leading me down.

I remember looking at Paul and sharing with him that I didn’t know what the week held for us, our friends, our family, or our church, but the scriptures God was leading me to, were battle scriptures. I told Paul that I felt I was being asked to raise my shield…as if a life or death situation was just ahead.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16

When I had started reading that evening, I had been reading about the “shield of faith” in Ephesians 6:16. God has been teaching me about his armor and specifically the shield for the last several weeks. I knew quite a bit about the shield. I had even made a replica out of construction paper for my Bible Study group. Let me list a couple of things for you that I had learned.

Over the past several weeks I had learned that the shield spoken of In Ephesians 6:16 was not a generic shield… it was a very specific shield, 4 feet high, 2 feet wide, shaped like a door, slightly curved…in the Greek language…a thureos.

The thureos-shield protected the Roman soldier from flaming missiles…arrows that were set on fire…and then fired at the soldier.

I had learned a couple of things about the “evil one” too. Specifically I had learned what his name meant. God could have chosen any name to describe this King of Darkness…but the one God chose was Diabolos…Devil. Diabolos means “a traducer”…literally “to cause humiliation or disgrace to by making malicious or false statements.” He is a liar…a bringer of false messages about who we are…our worth and value to God. His mission is to assault us with his messages…to destroy our hearts and minds. He does not want us to know or believe who we are in Christ. He wants us to feel abandoned, rejected, and alone.

I felt like I understood the Ephesians 6:16 shield pretty well. It was a shield…not physical…but spiritual…a truth…a faith…that I could hide behind. A faith-shield that would protect my heart and mind from the enemy’s attacks until I got to heaven. I had no idea that the shield meant so much more…no idea at all.

The information the Holy Spirit led me to last Thursday night forever changed how I see the shield. It forever changed the ultimate purpose that I see the shield used for. I was and still am amazed at what I learned. I had no idea just how much I didn’t know about the thureos…the shield. I had no idea that God was asking me to be part of a battle formation…called the Testudo.

The Testudo…Latin for “tortoise”…turtle. The Testudo was a battle formation used by Roman legionnaires to advance against a fortress. This unique formation was created by holding their shields overhead, providing safety from the enemy archers stationed on top of the fortresses gates and wall, and the flaming missals that they would fire down on the Roman soldiers as they laid siege to the entrances of the fortress. In other words, it allowed the Roman legionnaires to launch an aggressive offense while remaining protected.

A group of 27 men would form up in four ranks. It was usually the same men in each testudo as each had to know exactly where he was to be placed. Then they would raise their shields in a set pattern. The outer men would have their shields by their sides and the ones in the middle would hold the shields above their heads.

As little flesh was exposed as possible, and the shields would overlap to avoid any openings in their armour. This made a protective shell (like a turtle) around the soldiers. They would then crouch down and walk steadily toward the target as a uniform unit. Missiels, javelins and arrows thrown by the defenders would bounce off the shields.

When they arrived at the gates of the fortress, they would either use a small battering ram to break open the doors, or set a fire to burn them down. If there was more than one entrance, then a testudo would be deployed for each one to ensure maximum effect.

When the defenses had been breached, more soldiers would advance testudo fashion into the complex. Once inside, all hell broke loose as the Romans would slaughter without mercy all those inside.

As I began to read about the Testudo…I was absolutely overwhelmed. I thought of the job description that Jesus had given the church…Storm the Gates of Hell…they won’t prevail against you.

…on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:17

The word overcome in the original Greek comes from two words that mean “to push down”. Do you see what Jesus was and is saying? On this rock I will build my church…and the Devil and his Demon soldiers on top of Hell’s Gates and Hell’s Fortified Prison Wall won’t be able to push the Church down as we attack the fortress. The Church will breach the Gates of Hell! And prisoners will be set free!

After all isn’t this the very image that Jesus used when he began his ministry in his own synagogue in Nazareth.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4:18-21

To do this we have to form a Spiritual Testudo.

The traditionally ancient shields were red…the color of blood…to intimidate the enemy. So here is the picture. All of us…raising our red testudo-shields…overlapping them…forming the tortoise…digging our hobnailed sandals into the ground and advancing…together…against the gates of Satan’s Prison Fortress.

The Devil is real and he will hurl all the flaming arrows he has down on us, as we seek to share the good news of freedom to those who have been deceived and are in bondage to him. And to do this we all have to stay together…as a moving testudo of faith shields. No wonder Jesus prayed that we would be unified.

Listen to his prayer for us…

“My prayer is not for them alone (his disciples). I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message (that’s you and me friends), that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:20-23

We in the American church have searched so many places for the “secret formula” to the church’s “success”. Could it be that it’s not found at the latest seminar, or the latest book, or even in a 5 year growth plan. Could it be as simple as unity. True oneness with God and each other. Agape love. Loving the Lord with all our heart…and loving each other…and loving our neighbors…with all our heart.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34

Oneness…unity…raising our shields together. We can each make it to Heaven alone…behind our own shield…but the only way we can pierce the Kingdom of Darkness and rescue the perishing is to do it together. It is our unity…our love for each other and for Christ that shows the world we are his disciples and that God is real. It is the unity of our raised shields that deflects the flaming missiles the Devil hurls the church. If one shield falls…the testudo is breached.

As those of us in my own local church advance against Satan’s “fortress” in our inner-city neighborhood, he will hurl his missiles. He does not want the gates of his prison fortress to be breached. He does not want the people of our neighborhood to know who Jesus is and who they can be in him. He does not want them to know that they are loved, chosen, and sought after. Satan is scared to death of who they can be in Christ. He will hurl his attacks. God’s Word tells us we are not to be unaware of his schemes. We cannot let Satan’s arrows pierce our minds and deliver mortal wounds that kill our hearts.

Last Thursday night as God was leading me into the truth of his Shield…his Battle Formation…he led me to the book of Nahum…a small book of prophecy against the city of Nineveh. The three chapters that make up the book Nahum, contain the prophesy of God coming as the DIVINE WARRIOR…and God, himself, defeating the evil king of Assyria and its capitol city…Nineveh. But this book isn’t just a prophecy about the end of a wicked king and kingdom…it is also a prophecy about the final defeat of Satan.

Some of the imagery in the book of Revelation comes directly from the book of Nahum. As I read the words of Nahum last Thursday night I substituted the name Satan and his demonic kingdom for the words Nineveh and Assyria. What a powerful picture it gave me.

Paul and I gathered our children and we read the words of Nahum together. We read about how one day…in the future, Christ, the DIVINE WARRIOR is coming (remember the picture of Christ in Revelation – remember the sword in his mouth)…and he is going to make everything right.

We shared with them how Satan, the Devil, the master of lies, and evil, and pain, and bondage, and humiliation, and suffering, and darkness will be destroyed. We told the children that we did not know what the next week held, but that we were going to pick up our shields and form a testudo…and we were going to storm the gates of Hell for ourselves and our people. One day the Evil One will be punished. This is what we read.

1 Nineveh (Satan), armies are coming to attack you. Guard the forts! Watch the roads! Get ready! Gather all of your strength!

2 Assyria (Satan) once took everything of value from God's people. Its army destroyed all of their vines. But the Lord will bring back the glory of Jacob's people. He'll make Israel glorious again.

3 The shields of the soldiers attacking Nineveh are red. The armies are dressed in bright red uniforms. (the DIVINE WARRIOR”S soldiers are advancing in a formation of red shields)
The metal on their chariots flashes when they are prepared for war. Their spears are ready to use.

4 The chariots race through the main streets. They rush back and forth through them. They look like flaming torches. They dart around like lightning.

5 The commander of the attackers sends for his special troops. But they trip and fall on their way. They run toward the city wall (the battle place) . They keep their shield in front of them.

6 They open the gates that hold back the waters of the river. And the palace falls down.

7 The attackers order that the city's people be taken away as prisoners. The female slaves cry like sad doves. They beat their chests.

8 Nineveh (Satan) is like a pool. Its water is draining away. "Stop running away!" someone cries out. But no one turns back.

9 "Steal the silver!" the attackers shout. "Grab the gold!" The supply is endless. There is plenty of wealth among all of the city's treasures.

10 Nineveh (Satan) is destroyed, robbed and stripped! Hearts melt away in fear. Knees give way. Bodies tremble with fear. Everyone's face turns pale.

11 Assyria (Satan) is like a lion. (the Devil is like a roaring lion…seeking whom he may devour) Where is the lions' den now? Where did they feed their cubs? Where did all of the lions go? In their den they had nothing to fear.

12 The lion killed enough for his cubs to eat. He choked what he caught for his mate. He filled his home with what he had killed. He brought to his dens what he had caught.

13 "Nineveh (Satan), I am against you," announces the Lord who rules over all. "I will burn up your chariots with fire. Your young lions will be killed with swords. I will leave you nothing on earth to catch. The voices of your messengers will no longer be heard." (Diabolos, the Devil, will not bring anymore false messages.)

1 How terrible it will be for Nineveh (Satan)! It is a city of murderers! It is full of liars! It's filled with stolen goods! The killing never stops! (Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy)

2 Whips crack! Wheels clack! Horses charge! Chariots rumble!

3 Horsemen attack! Swords flash! Spears gleam! Many people die. Dead bodies pile up. They can't even be counted. People trip over them.

4 All of that was caused by the evil longings of the prostitute Nineveh (Satan). That woman who practiced evil magic was very beautiful. She used her sinful charms to make slaves out of the nations. She worshiped evil powers in order to trap others. (Rev. chapter 17 tells us of the image of the great Prostitute - Rev 19:2 tells of her end)

5 "Nineveh (Satan), I am against you," announces the Lord who rules over all. "I will pull your skirts up over your face. I will show the nations your naked body. Kingdoms will make fun of your shame. (God will do to Satan what Satan has done to God's people...including what Satan did to Christ himself...when he was crucified naked and exposed on the cross)

6 I will throw garbage (dung) at you. I will look down on you. I will make an example out of you.

7 All those who see you will run away from you. They will say, 'Nineveh is destroyed. Who will sob over it?' Where can I find someone to comfort your people?"

8 Nineveh , are you better than Thebes on the Nile River? There was water all around that city. The river helped to keep it safe. The waters were like a wall around it.

9 Cush and Egypt gave it all of the strength it needed. Put and Libya also helped it.


10 But Thebes was captured anyway. Its people were taken away as prisoners. Its babies were smashed to pieces at every street corner. The Assyrian soldiers cast lots for all of its great leaders. They put them in chains and made slaves out of them.

11 People of Nineveh (Satan), you too will get drunk. You will try to hide from your enemies. You will look for a place of safety.

12 All of your forts are like fig trees that have their first ripe fruit on them. When the trees are shaken, the figs fall into the mouths of those who eat them. (Rev 6:12 moon will turn the color of blood, the battle color, and the stars in the sky will fall to earth as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind)

13 Look at your troops. All of them are weak. The gates of your forts are wide open to your enemies. Fire has destroyed their heavy metal bars.

14 Prepare for the attack by storing up water! Make your walls as strong as you can! Make some bricks out of clay! Mix the mud to hold them together! Use them to repair the walls!

15 In spite of all of your hard work, fire will burn you up inside your city. Your enemies will cut you down with their swords. They will destroy you just as grasshoppers eat up crops. Multiply like grasshoppers! Increase your numbers like locusts!

16 You have more traders than the number of stars in the sky. But like locusts they strip the land. Then they fly away.

17 Your guards are like grasshoppers. Your officials are like large numbers of locusts. They settle in the walls on a cold day. But when the sun appears, they fly away. And no one knows where they go.

18 King of Assyria (Satan), your leaders are asleep. Your nobles lie down to rest. Your people are scattered on the mountains. No one is left to gather them together.

19 Nothing can heal your wounds. You will die of them. All those who hear the news about you clap their hands because you have fallen from power. All of them suffered because you never showed them any pity. Nahum chapter 2 and 3

New International Reader's Version

In 612 BC Nineveh fell and archeological excavations have shown that it happened just exactly as God's words described it would. The same thing will happen to Satan. He knows Jesus defeated him, but he will continue to wage war until one day the Divine Warrior return to execute judgment he so deserves.

I want you all to know… we are raising up our shields for you. We are lifting you up in prayer. One of our prayers is that God will give us all spiritual eyes to see that we are in a spiritual battle and that the battle is the Lord's to win. We are not alone. We keep our eyes on the finish line. Nothing can separate us from the love of God...and one day HE will make everything right. Jesus will not come back as a lamb...He will come back as the LION OF JUDAH the DIVINE WARRIOR and he will avenge us. So that brings me back to where I started...
"The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one (Satan) who knows what you could be and fears it."

The Hero is on his way...He is coming and His robe is dipped in blood. He is riding a white horse and He is coming to rescue you. He is coming to defeat the one who desires to destroy you. Because you are his Beloved...you are his Bride.

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

"KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16

And what will God do to Satan? He will beat him with a scepter...to the music of tambourines and harps...the same music pagans played when making a human sacrifice. He will then hurl Satan into Topheth...the burning idol of human sacrifice. And then…with his own breath…HE WILL LIGHT THE MATCH! Compared to Jesus...Rambo will look like Bambi.

"The voice of the LORD will shatter Assyria; with his scepter he will strike them down. Every stroke the LORD lays on them with his punishing rod will be to the music of tambourines and harps, as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm. Topheth has long been prepared; it has been made ready for the king (Satan). Its fire pit has been made deep and wide, with an abundance of fire and wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur, sets it ablaze. " Isaiah 30:33

Your Hero is coming soon! He will make everything right!

Until then…always remember…you are Sought After,

Cynthia

When Storms Come

Day 1... I have mine...do you have yours...sun block...floppy hat...old tennis shoes...good book? I'm going to the lake. I'm going to rest, relax, and get away from it all. Want to come along? Try to find a few quiet moments today and reflect on this verse.

"There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain." Isaiah 4:6

Have you ever been to the ocean...the lake...or maybe a pond? I don't know about you, but I love the peaceful sound of the water...the feel of the wind in my hair. I love the quiet feeling I get inside when I just sit and enjoy the view. If you are like me, the sea is a place of rest and recreation…but it was just the oposite to the people of the ancient world. To them the sea was an evil abyss, a monster of chaos, with the power to destroy. In the eyes of the ancient world, the sea was one of the biggest evils out there…and they felt completely powerless over it.

I was thinking about the image…of the sea being "evil". Where did that image come from I wondered? Then it hit me. I truly believe the image came from Noah's flood. Imagine what it must have been like for the people outside the ark as the water began to rise. It didn’t just rain. The Bible tells us in Genesis 7:11 that the "fountains of the great deep burst open." That meant there were probably massive earthquakes, explosions of water, landslides and tsunamis. Do you get the picture? The ocean literally took over the world and killed everything and everyone, except Noah, his family, and the animals in the ark.

Noah’s descendants never forgot the flood. All over the world, we find stories of the flood in ancient writings. Some of the stories twist the facts a little…but it is amazing how similar they all are. As Noah’s descendents spread across the earth, they not only took the story of the flood with them...but I believe they also took the fear. They never forgot the incredible power of the sea. They never forgot how in just moments it could destroy them.

Not all of us have been in a severe flood, but most of us have witnessed one on television. Remember the horrible Christmas Tsunami? Most of us watched in horror as the sea consumed people in the blink of an eye. Take a few minutes and think of a storm you have seen.

How powerful was the wind?
How powerful was the water?
Would you go out on the sea without weather information?
Today we are blessed to have weather forecasts…but the people of the ancient world were not.

This week we are going to talk about storms. Not everyone has experienced a devastating storm on the sea…but most all of us have gone through the storms of life. Some of you might be going through a storm right now. This week, as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we will learn how to weather the storms…and we will learn that we are not alone.

Good for you...you finished Day 1. As I watch the weather before I go to bed tonight, I’m going to see if any storms are coming...and if there are…I’m going to remember that I am not alone.





Day 2... Have you ever wondered if God was real? I remember when I did. It was a difficult time for me…trying to decide if I "believed" in Him. Try to find a few quiet moments today and reflect on these verses.

Then he (Jesus) got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. Matthew 8:23-24

Twelve men, called disciples, traveled with Jesus. They literally lived with him, followed him and learned from him as he taught about the Kingdom of Heaven. As they spent time with Jesus, each was deciding if they truly "believed" in Him. Was he the Messiah? Was he the Christ? Was he the son of God? I wonder what they thought about as they went to sleep each night. At times, I am sure it all felt like a dream.

The disciples had many incredible experiences as they spent time with Jesus. Let’s read about one of them.

Then he (Jesus) got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27

How did the disciples feel when they saw Jesus calm the storm?

Many scriptures in the Old Testament tell of God providing water. The disciples knew these scriptures and we read some of them last week, in our Living Water lesson. The disciples also knew other scriptures…scriptures that described God’s power over water...as being the one who controls the water. Let’s read a few.

For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar…the LORD Almighty is his name. Isaiah 51:15

Who stirs up the sea?

He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. Job 9:8

What does God do to the waves of the sea?

Now let’s read an incredible scripture passage from the book of Psalms.

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty water. They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.

They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:23-30

Jesus' disciples knew God’s word. They had heard Psalm 107 their entire lives. They knew of God’s power over water. They knew the text told them God could calm the sea, and could tread (a marching walk) on the tops of the waves. And one day, they got into a boat with Jesus, and watched Jesus do exactly what God’s word, Psalm 107, said God could do. God’s word came to life before their very eyes.

The Word (Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

God knows what it is like to be human...he knows our thoughts and our questions. Jesus knew his disciples were trying to decide if He really was the Christ. So Jesus got into a boat with them as they rowed out onto the "evil abyss" and let them face the powers of a terrible storm...so that they could see that God's Word had become flesh.

If you are still trying to decide if you "believe" in Jesus, he is right here…waiting for you. He loves you and wants to show you how real he is. Some of you are praying for someone you love that does not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. It feels as if you are in a great storm. You are not in the boat alone...he is right there with you too.

Good for you...You finished Day 2. In the midst of the storms I face, I am going to seek out the peace of Jesus and know that He is right there with me in the boat.




Day 3... When you were a child, did you ever stay up late at night with your friends and tell spooky stories? You know the ones I’m talking about…the ones that made it hard to walk into a dark room by yourself. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this scripture.

"Who alone stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea?" Job 9:8

Behind our elementary school was a very large park with a cement trail winding through it. In the shadows of the trees, a long wooden fence stood a few feet off the trail. That is where the witch lived. At least that is what we believed. All the children attending my school knew about her. We knew that if we didn’t run…as fast as we could…when we passed her back fence…she would get us! I always...I mean ALWAYS ran! As an adult, I asked my older cousins about the witch story and sure enough, they knew exactly what I was talking about. I guess the tale had been handed down from year to year...and for all I know it is still being told.

Jesus disciples got into a situation that they couldn't run away from...and it just about scared them to death.

I wish I could really get to know Jesus' disciples. I can only imagine what they must have been like. Some fishermen...a tax collector...men from different places and backgrounds…men brought together out of devotion to Jesus. They were strong men...men who had been on the water many times...men who were about to experience an incredible event.

In the book of Matthew chapter 14:22-33 we read another story about the disciples getting into trouble in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. The disciples were with Jesus when he told them to get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake and he would be there later. As they left, Jesus went up to the mountain to pray.

The text tells us that it was evening and they were in the middle of the lake. They were in trouble. The wind was very strong and their rowing was not getting them anywhere. The Greek word used to describe how hard it was to row means "torture". This was not just any storm...this was torturous rowing on the dark sea...on the "evil abyss." They knew they could die...and this time Jesus wasn't with them.

Then they saw something...someone…walking on top of the water. They absolutely lost it. The text says they "cried out." The Greek word translated “cried out” is the word “krazo." It means to "croak" like a raven...scream...shriek. The disciples were screaming like a flock of scared crows. And what is it that made them scream? They thought they saw a ghost or as the original Greek text says... a "phantasma"...a phantom. They were terrified!!!

Let’s look at the story together.

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. .Matthew 14 22-26

In the middle of their screams, Jesus spoke to them.

"Take courage, it is I do not be afraid." Matthew 14:27.

Then one of the disciples named Peter asked to get out of the boat and walk to Jesus…on the water. I can imagine the other men thought he was crazy. They probably thought he was a fool. But Peter was willing to follow Jesus no matter how it looked. He stepped out of the boat onto the "evil abyss" with his Lord.

Sometimes the Lord asks us to do something for him and it seems as if everything goes wrong. In those times, we can't take our eyes off Jesus. We can't look at the waves. We can't listen to the wind. We can’t forget that in the midst of our storm we are not alone. We have to keep our focus and our faith...on Jesus. Try to think of a time when you were being obedient to God and things seemed to go wrong.

How did you respond?

He is there waiting for you to call on him when the waves start washing over the side of your boat.

Good for you...you finished Day 3. As I go to sleep tonight, I am going to ask the Lord to help me remember to have the courage of Peter and to step out of the boat and follow Him.




Day 4 ... Have you looked at your feet lately? I mean really “looked” at your feet. The Bible talks a lot about feet...especially what’s under them. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

"And he put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:22-23

If you live in the Middle East, you know never to show the bottom of your foot to anyone. Showing the bottom of your foot to someone is an obscene gesture...a vulgar insult...a huge put-down. It can get you into big trouble.

The image of "under the feet" is found throughout the Bible. Psalm 18:37-38 tells us,

"I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and I did not turn back until they were consumed. I shattered them so that they were not able to rise; They fell under my feet."

Deuteronomy 11:24 tells us that the Israelites will possess the land, "on which the sole of your foot treads."

Oppression and persecution are also pictured by the image of the foot..."trampled by ones foes".
If something was under your feet, you controlled it, possessed it, or had conquered it.

Let's think back to the sea. What image did the people think of? That's right the "evil abyss". The sea represented evil’s domain or home. When Jesus came to the boat "walking on the water" what was under His feet?

That's right...the sea. He wasn't just showing his disciples that he could do "cool" miracles. He wasn't just showing his disciples that He was the Word made flesh. He was also showing them that the "evil abyss" was under His feet. He controlled it, he possessed it, and he came to conquer it!

Jesus gave his disciples a visual "picture" of His power over Satan. He didn't just tell them that He had power over evil. He showed them. Let’s read Ephesians 1:18-20.

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms…

Look at the part about hope and power. Where is Christ seated?

Now let’s read verses 21-23.

…far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

What is Christ seated above?

That's right...all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given…forever. Did you see the part about power and dominion....that means Satan and his demonic horde.

Now let’s read Ephesians 2:4-6.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus…

When we were dead, who did God make us alive with?
Where does verse 6 say we are seated?

That's right...what's under His feet is also under our feet!

Christ paid the full price for our sins. We accept this gift of salvation. We ask for forgiveness...and turn from sin. We are seated with Him in the Heavenly places. Remind the devil of this the next time He tries to defeat you. Remind him that he lost and Christ won...and remind him that he is under your feet!

Good for you...You finished Day 4. Remember the young Iraqi boy that hit the fallen statue of Sadaam Hussien over and over again with his sandal? It was his way of telling the watching world, "This leader has fallen...he is under my feet!" Praise be to God, Satan has fallen...and thanks to Christ he is under our feet! Think about that the next time you look at the bottom of your shoe.



Day 5...Time to go fishing again...this time we will go to the Sea of Galilee instead of the Dead Sea. You'll like it much better. Grab your pole. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

"And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him." Matthew 4:19-20

Sometimes, when I have been fishing, I sure wished I had a net instead of a pole. The only net I have is one to scoop the fish into the boat with after it is caught. If I just had a net that I could throw and then...bam...fish all caught. If only it was that easy.

Fishing with a net takes a lot of practice and skill. It takes patience and also someone to teach you. Some of Jesus closest disciples were fishermen. Boats, nets, fish...that had been their life. Jesus had a different plan for them. Jesus asked the fishermen...to become fishers of men. Fishing for men takes a lot of patience and it takes someone to teach you. Sometimes it even means getting on a boat and rowing through some really big storms.

Do you go people fishing much? If you have decided to follow Jesus, part of following him is becoming a fisher of men. The first step to becoming a fisher of men is to surrender your all to God. Let his Spirit fill you. We talked about this earlier...sanctification…being set apart for God’s service and being filled with his Spirit. Stepping out of a self-centered heart and stepping into a God centered heart. Without the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our life, we will spend a lot of time rowing in the wrong direction, in the wrong boat, and fishing with the wrong nets. We need the Holy Spirit to come along side us, to lead us, empower us, and guide us.

Trade in your nets....for his nets. You will never regret it.

Good for you...You have finished Day 5. I am going to check my nets for rips and tears and see if any of them need to be mended.



Day 6...Today we are going back to the pasture with the shepherd and the sheep. Today we trade in our nets for a rod and a staff. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

"He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." John 21:16

Let's fast forward from the time Peter walked on the water with Jesus to the time Jesus was arrested, convicted and killed. Peter didn't stand by the Lord...he denied that he even knew Jesus. Peter totally gave into his fear. Then the miracle happened...Jesus arose from the dead. Peter found out Jesus was alive. Now, you're ready for the next part of the story...Peter decided to go fishing.

He got back in the boat and fished all night...didn't catch anything. He looked up and saw a man on shore at daybreak. Peter didn't realize it was Jesus. Jesus told the fishermen where to throw the net and they caught a boatload! One of the disciples realized it was Jesus and told Peter. Peter jumped out of the boat and ran through the water to Jesus.

Jesus had cooked breakfast for the guys. Can you imagine eating a breakfast cooked by Jesus! Then, Jesus and Peter had a talk. Let’s read John 21:15-17 together.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”

He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep...”

Jesus told Peter to feed (pasture) his lambs (lambkins) and shepherd (tend, lead, supervise) his sheep. Do you remember our lesson on The Lord is My Shepherd? Do you see what Jesus is asking Peter to do? He is asking him to trade his boat and net for a shepherd's rod and staff. He is asking him to become a shepherd. Remember the job of the shepherd? Find the water...everyday. Find the grass...everyday. Lead the sheep...everyday.

Then Jesus said this to Peter. " Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished, but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." John 21:18

Peter was no longer to walk "wherever he wished"...he was now to walk a shepherd's path…a path of leadership and sacrifice...a path that would lead Peter to his own death for being a follower of Jesus. So, we say to our sheep..."Follow me as...I follow Him".

The secret to being a good fisherman is to learn to be a shepherd. Are you walking the shepherd's path or are you walking wherever you wish? Have you traded in your "nets" for a shepherds staff?

Good for you...You finished Day 6. Good fish...Bad fish...sheep...goats...following the Shepherd...walking where you wish. God leaves the choices up to us. And just like Peter...who had messed up and denied Christ three times...God will give us a fresh start...and the privilege of walking in the footsteps of the Shepherd.

Never forget...You are Sought After.

Until next time,

Cynthia

Links for those who want to dig a little deeper.

Faith Lesson – When Storms Come
1. Sea Of Galilee http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1806
2. Perceptions of Water http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1807
3. A Terrifying Night http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1808
4. Peter’s Courage http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1809
5. Facing Our Seas http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1810
6. Courage in the Storm http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1811

More Information
The New Testament And The Abyss http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1559
They Left Their Nets Behind http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2799
To Be A Talmid (Disciple) http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2075
Across The Sea http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2103

Living Water

Day 1…I just love a story that begins with “Once upon a time” and ends with “and they all lived happily ever after”. Today’s story is even better than a fairy tale…because it really happened! Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

“…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain…” Revelation 21:4

Have you ever felt like you were on the outside looking in…your nose pressed against the window while the party inside goes on without you…alone…outcast…misfit…rejected. What a horrible way to feel.

The Samaritan woman didn’t go to the well when everyone else did. She went in the middle of the day…when it was hot…when no one else would be there. She went when she wouldn’t have to hear anyone talking about her…she went when her face wouldn’t have to turn red from shame. She went when she would be alone.

What did she think about while she was there getting her water? Did she think about what a mess her life was in…married 5 times…and now living with a guy she wasn’t even married to? Did she wish she could just start all over again? In the middle of her shame did she have any hope left at all?

And then there were all those love stories that she had grown up hearing… it seemed they all happened at a well. She could tell you the stories in her sleep…man on a journey meets girl at well… girl rushes home to tell everyone what happened… man meets girl’s parents…man and girl engaged. A well might have helped Zipporah and Moses, Isaac and Rebekah, and Rachel and Jacob find each other…but all she had ever found at a well was loneliness.

One day everything changed…she got to the well and He was there. He was tired from His journey and He asked her for a drink. He actually talked to her! He offered her “Living Water” and told her she would never be thirsty again. How she wanted that water.

She learned that He knew everything about her…all the broken relationships in her past. He even knew about the guy she was living with. It was if He had been there waiting just for her. Before long, she knew Jesus wasn’t like all the other men in her life...He was different. She asked Him if He was the Messiah (the Christ) and the answer was yes! She dropped her water jar and rushed back home to tell everyone what had happened. For two days, Jesus met with her people… and many of her people found Jesus as their Savior.

Do you know that in the Bible, Jesus calls himself the “bridegroom”? And do you know that the Bible calls followers of Jesus, his “bride”? Are you starting to see the picture? She went to the well an outcast…while there, she met The Bridegroom. He spent time with her people and when He left she was the “bride to be” of the Prince of Peace.

One day Jesus is returning for His “bride”. If you haven’t met the bridegroom He’s waiting for you right by the well. He will take away your shame. He will give you Living Water. He will change your life…and one day He will wipe every tear from your eyes.

Good for you…You finished Day 1. As I drift off to sleep tonight, I am going to think about how God knows my name and my thoughts and my tears. I am going to remember the day He was sitting right there by the well…waiting for me.



Day 2… Okay, pretend you are on a trip in the wilderness and you are really weary… and hot… and thirsty…and dry…and thirsty… and hot… and did I mention thirsty? You have walked for miles and it seems you don’t have one tiny bit of strength left. Then you see it…up ahead…tiny bits of green poking up between the rocks. Is it a dream…is it a mirage…could it be…an oasis? It is!!!! It is!!! It is an oasis. Congratulations…you just found the “Living Water”. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

“For the Lord your God is brining you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills” Deuteronomy 8:7

If you were to go to a restaurant today there is a question I am pretty sure you won’t be asked, “What can I get for you folks this evening, Living Water or Dead Water?” I think if I was ever given that choice I would leave pretty quickly. But in Jesus' time, people knew exactly what Living Water was. Living Water was water from natural springs or fountains. It was free-flowing, always new, refreshing and cool. You didn’t have to dig a well and draw up the water to drink. The water was right there, bubbling out of the rock like a miracle.

As God’s people were being led like sheep, on their wilderness journey to the “Promised Land” they had to trust God for everything! He led them with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. He fed them manna from Heaven. He provided water for them. Let’s look up Deuteronomy 8:15.

He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. Dt 8:15

What did God lead them through?
What did God bring out of the rock for them?

Isaiah 41:18, 20 says this…

I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs (vs 18).

…so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it. (vs20)

God was letting everyone know that these special water fountains…these “Living Water” fountains were proof of His existence and His provision for His people.

Jesus understood all about people that were thirsty. They didn’t live in the wilderness…their lives were the wilderness. That is why He offered the woman at the well “Living Water”. He offered the one thing that would help her to never be thirsty again…He offered her Himself. He offered her salvation for her sins…he offered her a hope and a future. He offered her a fresh start.

If you need a fresh start He is still there. The fountain of “Living Water” still flows. It has never run dry. If you know someone who needs a fresh start, begin to pray today that they will find the fountain.

Good for you…you finished Day 2. The next time I see a beautiful fountain, I am going to stop for a few minutes and thank God for His “Living Water”.



Day 3… Nasty tasting fish-flavored water...ever had it? I sure hope not! Every time the lake turns over the water at my house tastes like nasty, stinky fish. One day I had enough of the fish water. I called the water people and within a week, fresh spring water was delivered to my door in beautiful 5-gallon jugs. Ahhhh! Fresh spring water…as long as I have enough money I will never have to drink stinky fish water again. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13

God’s people had finally made it to the Promised Land. They had left the wilderness behind and now entered into a beautiful land full of springs and fountains. However, there was a problem. Although God was giving them the land…there were battles to fight. God wanted them to trust him and to enter the land as his people…his holy people.

God’s people thought of God as their shepherd… their wilderness God. He had led them through the desert…but now they were in farm country. The people in this land worshiped a different god…a farm god…the false god of fertile ground. Worshiping the false god was about as far from holy as a person could get.

The people of Canaan thought that their false god Baal went down to Hades every winter and they wanted him to come back in the spring and bring rain for their crops. So the people would gather at their local high place that was dedicated to Baal and his mistress/mother Asherah. They would engage in immoral sex hoping to persuade Baal to have sex with Asherah and as these false gods had sex, they believed rain would fall. Sometimes people would even take their first born children and place them on an altar of fire so that the children could be burned alive and make the false god happy. This false fertility religion was sick, cruel, and perverted. This religion was the driving force of the land of Canaan.

Our scripture today talks about people forsaking springs of living water for cisterns. What was a cistern? A cistern was a very large cave like, bottle shaped pit carved out of the ground to hold rainwater. The water was collected from rain runoff. As the water ran off the roofs, down the filthy streets and into these pits we can only imagine how dirty it was. Sometimes it would even have dead animals floating in it. At its very best cistern water was stale, dirty, and old. Compared to bubbly clean spring water…living water…we can easily call cistern water…dead water. And the Israelites chose this dead water instead of God’s living water. What does that mean? It means that God’s people began to worship the false fertility god Baal.

The thought of that makes me so incredibly sad…but it is also something that I don’t want to ever forget. God has given us all a job to do…just like the Israelites were to have undivided hearts for God as they entered the land of Canaan, we are to have undivided hearts for God as we reach out to a sinful rebellious world. When temptation comes our way, we are to resist it and stay devoted to God. Cisterns were also called pits and they were used sometimes as temporary prisons. When we give in to the temptation of sin, we put ourselves into those prisons.

I would like for you to read Psalm 40…It’s a beautiful psalm about being lifted out of a pit. It talks about being put on firm ground, and the wonders of God’s plans for us. It talks about the new song God gives us. As we get to know God through His word and we are changed and filled with God’s Holy Spirit we will be able to turn away from temptation and keep our heart undivided for the One True God.

Psalm 40
For the director of music. Of David, A psalm.

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offering and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come – it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do you will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.

Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me. May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.

May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” be appalled at their own shame. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, “The LORD be exalted!”

Yet I am poor and needy; may the LORD think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.


Good for you…you finished Day 3. As I drift off to sleep tonight...I am going to think of this scripture, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!” Isaiah 55:1 And I am going to thank God that whether I have money or not…His water is always free.



Day 4… I just love to go fishing! There is just something so calm and soothing about being on the water. Today we are going to go on a little fishing trip. Grab your pole and climb on board. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:38

On my daddy’s boat we had something called a fishfinder. It was like a little radar that would help us peak under the water to find the fish. It was a helpful little machine. OK…are you all ready to fish?

Let’s turn on our fishfinder...do you see anything yet? Nope…me either. Hold on a second while I make a quick call and see if I can find out what’s the matter with this thing. “What…you mean the machine isn’t broken…we’re on the what…the Dead Sea…you’re kidding…no fish in the sea at all…well I never…sea too salty…nothing can live in it…you don’t say…no wonder I got such a good deal on this little fishfindin’ machine.”

We could have the fanciest fishfindin’ machine in the world and it wouldn’t do us any good at all if we were fishing on the Dead Sea. Why…you might ask? Because you can’t catch something that isn’t there. There isn’t a single fish living in the Dead Sea…no not one…hard to believe isn’t it. Nothing can survive in its super salty water.

The Dead Sea is such a beautiful body of water. It’s about 50 miles long and about 10 miles wide…but it is just so salty. I’m sure you know how salty ocean water is…well the Dead Sea is five times saltier. How did it get so dead and salty you might wonder…well it’s really pretty simple. Water flows into the lake but it doesn’t flow out.

You might also wonder what in the world the Dead Sea has to do with our lesson this week. It’s simple...we don’t want to be like the Dead Sea. We don’t want to take in all the good fresh “Living Water” and just keep it all to ourselves. We have to let it flow out of us to others. Let’s look at a scripture together…look at the beginning of Isaiah 41:17.

The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

Who is searching for water?
Is there any water to find?
What is parched with thirst?

This is what we have been called to do...be filled with God’s “Living Water.” As we spend time… intimate fellowship time, with God our Father, the natural result is that his living water flows out of us to a thirsty world. I’m not talking about an “organized” church program, or a rigid, regimented time of Bible reading and prayer. I am talking about a moment to moment relationship with God. He is real…he is with us…we are not alone.


Good for you…you finished Day 4. As I drift off to sleep tonight, I am going to talk to God…like I would talk to my most intimate, most trustworthy friend. He is that…and so much more.



Day 5… Have you ever been to an oasis? Today we will visit En Gedi and I hope you leave refreshed. Try to find a few quit moments today to reflect on this verse.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” Psalm 42:1-2

We don’t have to look very hard to find the wilderness today. We live in a world that believes very differently than we do. Don’t believe me? Just turn on the TV. Sometimes I get really tired while trying to live a life of service to people who don’t always return my love. Do you? Sometimes God asks us to do something or to face a fear that feels so big we are just ready to shut down. Sometimes people really persecute us for doing the right thing.

Have you ever felt like you just can’t go on step further? Have you ever given yourself until there seems to be nothing left? I have. Sometimes I feel so empty and so alone…just plain exhausted. We need our strength renewed…we need to enjoy God’s living water. We need En Gedi, the beautiful spring fed waterfall near the Dead Sea. We need its oasis in the wilderness.

Take a minute and click on the link for En Gedi. http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1544 Have you ever seen such a beautiful waterfall? Its living water is right there by the Dead Sea. Can you imagine what it would feel like to wander through the parched, barren wilderness and stumble upon this spring? Talk about refreshing!

We are all refreshed differently. Visiting En Gedi for some of us is sinking into God’s Word, or talking to the LORD through prayer. For others it is fellowship with true, genuine believers. En Gedi for others can be a walk through a beautiful forest, or beach, or even canoeing on one of God’s rivers. Sometimes our En Gedi can be as simple as a fragrant bubble bath and the dim glowing light of flickering candles.

It is at En Gedi that we drink God’s “Living Water". As followers of Jesus, we have got to take time for activities that fill us up…that refresh us. If we don’t… we set ourselves up for burnout.

Are you tired and weary
When was the last time you visited En Gedi?

Isaiah 35 tells about the joy that those who follow God will find in Him. Let’s listen to some of the words.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance, with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way, wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:3-10

What will the burning sand become?
What will the Highway be called?
Who will walk on the Highway?

Will there be lions there?
What will be on their heads?
What will sorrow and sighing do?
Doesn’t it sound like a wonderful place…that oasis in the wilderness!

Meet God there…He is waiting for you.

Good for you…you have finished Day 5. When you are weary and afraid…God will provide for you. He will lead you to an En Gedi…and he will refresh your soul.



Day 6…Sometimes people cannot get to En Gedi because they are imprisoned in a cistern. Try to find some quiet time today and reflect on these verses.

“…you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58:11-12

Did you know that they are out there everywhere? Thirsty people in a thirsty world. People trying to find a refreshing drink…one that will take away their thirst. They look for it in so many places. They look for it in drugs, sex, darkness, shopping, money, alcohol, work, in the approval of others…sometimes they even look for it by keeping busy with church jobs…the list could just go on and on.

This Isaiah chapter 58 is powerful. It truly tells us our mission as followers of Jesus. Let’s walk through its words together.

Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins. (It is easy to keep quiet and not “rock the boat” )

For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.

‘Why have we fasted’, they say, ‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? (Do you know someone who is really good at placing blame…and it is never on them. Sometimes they even put on a “golly, gee, whiz, I’m really humble and broken” front. Do they twist things around to make their way “right” but in your heart of heart you know that they are mistreating others?)

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen; to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? (Do you know someone that is being treated unjustly? God has called you to smash some things…like chains and cords and yokes!)

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? (Do you know someone who desperately needs provisions…what about your own family…do any of them need you to fight for them?)

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer, you will cry for help and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. ( Do you know anyone that has a finger pointed at them…do you know anyone being oppressed…FIGHT FOR THEM…FREE THEM…don’t just stand around and act like what you think a Christian acts like…act like your Savior…rebuke the oppressor…and FIGHT FOR THEM)

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:1-12 (things don’t have to stay the way they are…they can be restored and rebuilt…even if the rubble is really old. But before anything can be rebuilt…chains have to be broken…and prisoners have to be freed…sometimes the first prisoner that needs to be freed is you.)

This is what giving ourselves to others in God’s service is all about. We are Repairers of Broken Walls…we free people whose walls are crumbling and whose gates have been burned. Sometimes we ourselves, have to be freed first! This is true Christianity. It’s not “church programs”… it’s not keeping the “status quo”…it is a “bust it up” kind of ministry…it is not meek and quiet and serene. It is hard, and uncomfortable, and scary, and misunderstood. As a matter of fact…it is the very image that Jesus used to “formally announce” his ministry to the world.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1

May God help us all as we bring freedom to the oppressed and as we confront the oppressor…in the precious name of Jesus. It is then that we become like a spring whose waters never fail.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11


Good for you…You finished Day 6. The next time I pour a cup of cold water I am going to think of Him and find a prisoner to give it to.

Never forget...you are Sought After,

Until next time,

Cynthia

Links for those who want to dig a little deeper

En Gedi - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1544
Water in the Wilderness - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1544
Living Water - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2079
Dead Water - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2080
God as Our Oasis - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2081
No Substitutes - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2082
Living in a Thirsty World - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2083


Faith Lesson - Living Water http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1459
Page 1: Woman at the Well http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2169

Page 2: Wilderness Waterfall http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2170

Page 3: Desert Mirage http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2171

Page 4: Muddy Cistern http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2172

Page 6: Living Water http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2174

Living Water - Jesus and the Feast of Sukkot http://community.gospelcom.net/Brix?pageID=2797

The Lord is My Shepherd

Day 1 ... Sometimes life can be like a wilderness. Isn't it wonderful to know that we don't have to walk through our "wilderness" alone. Our devotions this week have a few questions in them. You can answer the questions by filling in the blanks or you can just think and reflect on the questions without writing...the important thing isn't the writing...it's the thinking. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want..." Psalm 23:1

Here in Texas we see a lot of cows, but we don’t see many sheep…at least where I come from. Maybe you know a little about sheep…not me…so I did some research. It didn’t take long to learn that sheep just can't make it on their own. I mean really! If they don’t have a shepherd they are history.

Back in the ancient Bible days, sheep needed a shepherd just as much as they do now. Without a shepherd they would fall off cliffs, drown in wadis (a wadi is a narrow canyon that is dry except for in the rainy season…then it’s full of roaring water), they would be eaten for supper by jackals or leopards. Sheep depended on their shepherd for everything...I mean everything...because…now pay attention here…sheep are pretty dumb critters. And to be a sheep…in the wilderness…without a shepherd…it just didn’t get much more dangerous than that.

Life is a lot like that for us...and like the sheep we just can't make it on our own. We need a shepherd.

Does your world ever feel like a dangerous wilderness?


When the going gets rough and dangerous do you have a loving shepherd that you follow? If you do...think about how it helps.

If you don't...think about what it would be like to have a loving shepherd lead you.

During the day the sheep would follow their shepherd...but as it became night the shepherd would walk with his sheep…right there…next to them. They knew he was there. They could hear his voice and they felt calmer…safer. At night he would lead them to their sheepfold and then he would lie down in front of the gate. He guarded them through the night and kept them safe.

I have a Good Shepherd…and he is with me through each day and night. When the "night" comes...you know... those really tough, hard times that we all go through...the times when we can't see our way... what we need most is to find our shepherd and be comforted by his presence. He's always there, calling, waiting, for us to follow Him. He is my shepherd…and I am his sheep.

Let’s read Mark 6:34 (Jesus compares a group of people to sheep).

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Mark 6:34

Jesus knew the people were like sheep without a shepherd...and just like Jesus felt compassion for them...he feels that same compassion for you and for me. Isn’t that a wonderful thought? Jesus feels compassion for you and me. There is a Shepherd…all we have to do is choose to follow him.

Good for you...you finished Day 1. It didn't take that long did it? As I drift off to sleep tonight, I am going to think about my Shepherd, Jesus... guarding the gate to keep me safe while I sleep. What a loving God we serve.




Day 2 ... One thing we have in common with sheep is that we get hungry each day. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures;" Psalm 23:2

The pastures of Israel are definitively not like the knee-deep lush, green fields of Ireland. They don't look like pastures at all. They look like rocky, barren hillsides. Have you ever hunted for Easter eggs? Well that is what it is like looking for grass in the wilderness. It's there but it's scattered amidst the rocks. The sheep would starve without the shepherd to find enough grass for them each day.

Somehow when I was growing up I never pictured sheep grazing in the wilderness…but that is exactly what they do. The fertile land in Israel is used to grow crops. Sheep graze in the wilderness…or on the edge of the wilderness. That puts a whole new picture on so much of the shepherd language in the Old Testament. Talk about trust! Every day the shepherd would have to find the grass for the sheep and then lead them there. And the next day he would do the same. And the next. And the next. It was a daily reliance on the shepherd for their very survival…what an incredible picture.

As followers of Jesus, God wants us to trust Him day by day. The Good Shepherd doesn't promise us a life that is problem free, but he will give us the green grass we need for this moment...for this day. Do we really trust Him?

I know that there are times when worry and despair seem to wash over me. When was the last time you were filled with worry about tomorrow? We have a shepherd…and we can trust him. We just have to remember that he IS REAL…and that we can follow him. In Matthew chapter 6 we find the "Lord's Prayer"...some of you may know it as the "Our Father". In verse 11 Jesus talks about each day's need for bread.

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

Are we told to ask for monthly bread, weekly bread...or daily bread?

God so wants us to bring our worry to Him. It is a daily walk...a daily relationship. You may not see it now, but a new tuft of grass will always be there in the morning. He really is our Shepherd.

Good for you! You finished Day 2. When you wake in the morning the Shepherd will be right there with you.


Day 3 ... There is one thing we need each day even more than food. That's right...water! Now I know some of you say you don't drink water...but you do...just look on your soft drink label...see there it is...water. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

"He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul." Psalm 23:2-3

Ok...let's pretend...it's 5:30pm Friday afternoon and you’re at Wal-Mart...(I know your smarter than to go to Wal-Mart at 5:30pm on Friday but it's pretend) and you've been in the checkout line for 45 minutes...it's hot...you're tired...you're thirsty...you reach for a bottle of water (Coke, Dr. Pepper etc.) and just as you pick up your bottle the entire drink machine jumps off the ground and body slams you to the ground. Not a pretty picture is it. Aren’t you glad this was only pretend!

What do you believe is the most frequent cause of death in the wilderness? Did I hear you say starvation, thirst…maybe heat stroke? Would you believe that that most wilderness deaths happen because of floods? That's right...drowning in the desert. The sky can be clear, the sun shining, and suddenly a wall of water can roar through the narrow canyon. Anyone in the wadi will be washed away. That is what can happen to a sheep who finds his own water without the shepherd. Instead of getting a drink he is slammed to the ground and swept away.

It seems that people are so thirsty today…and they don’t always drink safe water…sometimes they try to quench their thirst with money, people, and business. And then there are those that stand in the middle of the wadi…while the flash flood siren is blaring…and quench their thirst on sex outside of marriage, drugs, alcohol. There is no quicker way to drown. Dangerous waters...safe waters...the choices are ours.

What are some of the "waters" people are thirsting for today?
Only our Shepherd knows what waters are safe for us to drink. There is a part of every person on earth that is empty or "thirsty" for God. I want you to read Psalm 63:1-8. It was written in the wilderness. If you have ever been really, really, thirsty try to think of that time when you read these verses.

Psalm 63 A Psalm of David When he was in the Desert of Judah.

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; withsinging lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right handupholds me. Psalm 63:1-8

In verse 5 the writer says "My soul will be satisfied..." Isn't that what just about everyone you know is searching for....they may be looking in the wrong places...but they want to get to a place where there is no anguish, worry, rejection, or pain. Maybe you can tell someone about that verse this week...someone who is really searching for satisfaction and peace...someone who needs a shepherd.

Good for You! You finished Day 3. I can think of nothing safer…warmer…than to sing in the shadow of his wings...thank you Lord.



Day 4... Do you remember in school when you had to walk in a straight line? No talking, no pushing...keep your hands to yourself...don't get out of line! Remember those kids who just couldn't do it? Sheep and Goats...a lot like walking in line at school. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

"He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Psalm 23:3

Did you know that sheep always travel in a straight line? Sounds good doesn't it. Well the bad thing is that they will not walk around a dangerous obstacle...even if it is a steep cliff...they will just fall straight down. That is why the shepherd guides them...to keep them safe.

In Hebrew the same word that is used for "straight" is used for "righteousness". The "straight paths" for the shepherd were the "paths of righteousness" mentioned in Psalm 23. Did you know that God is leading you down a straight sheep path? The question is...are we following?

Most people don’t know that most of the shepherds are children. There is usually an over-shepherd…maybe the father…standing up high on a hill overlooking the flock. And then there are the under-shepherds…usually children. The shepherd children love their sheep. They know their personalities, and their likes and dislikes. When the sheep begin to wander from the flock, the shepherds gently throw stones to one side or the other to guide the sheep back to the flock.

Has God ever had to gently throw a stone to get you back on the path?

If the shepherd's flock were all sheep, their job would be fairly easy…but it’s not…there are also goats. Goats have a mind of their own. They get out of line. They wander away from the "paths of righteousness" and get in to trouble. They try to lead the flock away. They break up flocks. If your flock has more goats than sheep…well…your flock is in big trouble.

It is really important to never... ever... follow a goat. Have you ever known a goat? Have you ever been a goat?

If you've known a goat you are not alone...if you have been a goat you are not alone. God can turn a goat into a sheep...it's his specialty. We pray... ask forgiveness...dwell in his word...give total commitment to the Shepherd...God's formula for turning a goat into a sheep.

Bible teacher, Ray Vander Laan says that as Christians, we are often called to be leaders...maybe of a Sunday school class, or our family, or people we are over at work...really our flock is anyone we have influence over. In each of these "flocks", we will have both sheep and goats. Our sheep bring us joy and we are thankful. They have obedient hearts and aren't too difficult to guide back to the right path...But those goats are a different story. They are not easy...they bring sorrow and strife. They insist on doing everything the difficult way and they just don't seem to learn, even when the discipline seems harsh. A shepherd can spend 90 percent of his time on 20 percent of his flock.

Remember, as Christians, we all are part of God's flock. If we lose sight of the Shepherd, we risk leading our own flocks into great danger. If you act like a goat and cannot follow, can you expect anything different from your flock?

Let’s look at John 10:2-5.

The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger. John 10:2-5

Some questions to think about...Do you know the voice of your Shepherd? Does your "flock" know your voice? Where will you lead them?

Good for you! You finished Day 4. Some serious things to think about today...I am glad that I don't have to figure it all out. One day God will separate the sheep from the goats...I just want to make sure that I'm a sheep!



Day 5... Today we walk through the valley...Did you know that in God's Word the valley is where the battles were fought? That’s right…a group on one mountain and a group on another mountain…with a valley in between. They both want the valley...they both can't have the valley...they fight and one group wins and the other loses. Battle valleys. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on this verse.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

Remember the wadis...the deep narrow canyons with very steep sides...that can flood without notice. This is probably the image of the valley that the Psalm writer was talking about. Imagine being a sheep and walking through a dark canyon like this. Sometimes this is where the sheep have to walk. It sure would help to have your shepherd near.

Sometimes it seems as if darkness will go on forever. That is when we need the shepherd the most. When the sheep are in danger the shepherd goes straight the middle of the flock…and he calls out to them. Did you know that they hear his voice and that they know it? Did you know that he knows each of them by name?

As we spend time with our Shepherd each day…dwelling in his presence…living in his word…we will hear and know his voice too. When we are in danger we will know that we are not alone…he is with us.

One of my favorite names for God is Almighty. It is the Lord God Almighty who is with us in the valley. Let’s read a Psalm 91:1-8 together…it is a beautiful Psalm of protection.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Psalm 91:1-8


We dwell in the shelter of the_____?

We abide in the shadow of the _______?

The image is this...

You are standing in the shadow of a mountain (threatening obstacle) but God Almighty is standing on top of that mountain. You are no longer in the mountain's shadow...you are now in God Almighty's shadow...because he is overshadowing the mountain. The Psalm writer says he knows our name...what a thought.

In many ways each one of us is a "battle valley". Satan stands on one mountain and God stands on the other mountain...and we are in the middle. The battle is for our soul. Each one of us gets to choose who occupies the valley...who gets our fertile ground. Jesus paid a tremendous price to win this battle for us...but he does not force His victory on us...we have to ask for it. We have to ask for the free gift of salvation and turn from our sins.

After receiving that free gift there is still another battle to be won. It is for our heart and our devotion. Do you want Jesus just so you can stay out of Hell…or do you want to give God your all? Do you want to let God sit in the driver’s seat and let yourself become the passenger? Do you truly want to be lead down His straight paths? Let him fill you with His Spirit and let Him change the self-centered heart into a God-centered heart...what a difference it makes in the Wilderness. Let him continue to fill you with His Spirit…it’s part of the daily bread.

Good for you! You finished Day 5. As I drift off to sleep tonight, I am going to think of the mountains…and the valleys…and my heart. Thank you Jesus…for going to battle for me.




Day 6...We will finish Psalm 23 today and think about the wilderness, and the acacia tree...that's right we are sheep and we are also to be like a tree...God keeps it simple to help us remember and to understand. Try to find a few quiet moments today to reflect on these verses.

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:5-6

Don't you love it when you read a good book and it has a happy ending! This Psalm has a really happy ending for the little sheep that is following the shepherd. He finds grass, water, safety, comfort and he can survive even with enemies surrounding him.

Do you have any enemies? How do you treat them?

God's word talks about people that treat us wrong or sin against us...Lets see what it says. First of all there are two types of people....unbelievers and believers...people who are not Christians and people who are our brothers in Christ. Would you believe Jesus tells us to handle them each in a different way. Let’s look at Matthew 5:39.

But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39

What does Jesus tell us to do when an unbeliever (evil man) slaps us on the cheek?

Yep...that's where the saying came from...turn the other cheek. Now read let’s look at a few more verses.

"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (just as a footnote...rain is a good thing...it helps crops to grow...so God is saying he does good things for the righteous and unrighteous)

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect (complete) , therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (complete)." Matthew 5:39-48

This is how we are to treat an "unsaved" enemy. Do you have any unsaved enemies?

What about our brothers and sisters in Christ...are they ever our enemies? There definitely can be problems in our churches...remember the sheep and the goats? Let’s look up Matthew 18:15.

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. Matthew 18:15

If our brother (that is someone who is within our Church) sins what are we to do? Do we turn the other cheek? Jesus tells us to do something totally different than before.

There are three steps.

Step 1 - “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.” Matthew 18:15

Step 2 - “But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’” Matthew 18:16

Step 3 - “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. “ Matthew 18:19

Remember the sheep and the goats...these steps were given to keep the goats from leading the sheep away and breaking up the flock. What if our "brother" asks for forgiveness...which is the goal of these three steps. Does that mean that we can hold grudges against our brothers in Christ when they have sinned? Let's see....

Right after these verses one of Jesus disciples named Peter asks Jesus how often we are to forgive the brother who has sinned against us? What does Jesus tell him? Look in Matthew 18:21-22.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-22

How many times? Wow!

There is one more thing we have to look at before we go confront a sinning brother....Let’s look at Matthew 7:3-5

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matthew 7:3-5

What does Jesus tell us to do before we go talk to a sinning brother?

That's right...we have to check our own eyes for logs. Even in confrontation, reconciliation is the ultimate goal. Do you think it is easy or hard to follow the shepherd in these instructions? I think most of us would say it is not easy. It's hard to confront a sinning brother and it is hard to turn the other cheek to an "evil" unsaved man. That is why we have to spend time with the shepherd...we can't do all of these hard things on our own.

Before we go, let's think for a few minutes about the acacia tree. If we are following Christ we are living in a wilderness and we won't really be in a garden until we receive our reward in Heaven. The acacia tree of the wilderness has deep roots...seeking water...can take the heat...can take the cold...doesn't get knocked down and swept away by a wall of water. God’s word tells us that we can be like this tree.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Psalm 1:3

This wilderness tree has roots that go down to the water. It flourishes in the desert.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched...For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2

Good for you...You finished Day 6. I want to be like the wilderness tree...I want my roots to go down so deep into God's love...and his word...that nothing can knock me over. He is my shepherd...I am his lamb...oh how I love my Shepherd.

Never forget...you are Sought After.

Until next time,

Cynthia

If you want to dig a little deeper...

Shepherd Lifestyle - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1658
Water for the Sheep - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1659
Feeding the Flock - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1660
Watching the Flock - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1661
Sheep Paths - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1662
Sheep or Goat - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2010
Wadis - http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1572

Faith Lesson – The Lord is My Shepherd

Part 1: The Wilderness http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageAD=1779

Part 2: The Lord is My Shepherd

Part 3: Green Pastures

Part 4: Quiet Waters

Part 5: Paths of Righteousness

Part 6: The Valley, the Rod, and the Staff

Part 7: The Table Prepared

Part 8: Honey From the Rock