“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”—Mark 10:35

Check out Mark 10:35-45 to read about the context of this verse. It’s a great passage about humbling ourselves just like Jesus. But there are other good things we can learn from this passage, such as letting go of our desires. As we can see from the first part of the passage, James and John approach Jesus and tell Him to do what they want to do.

“How rude!” I’ve often thought. Imagine, marching up to Jesus, the Son of God, and telling Him to do whatever it is you want, without any regard for what He wants. The nerve!

I could definitely relate with the other disciples in this passage. When they find out what James and John did, they became indignant (verse 41), which is certainly how I felt. But when I read this verse not too long ago, something suddenly occurred to me. Sadly, I am often more like James and John than the other disciples. How many times do I tell God what I want Him to do without asking Him what He would like? I may be less bossy than James and John, but that doesn’t matter–I still basically tell God to do what I want. But that’s not what God wants. We can ask Him for something, most definitely. The Bible is clear on that in several places, most notably in Matthew 7:7, when Jesus says “Ask and it will be given to you.” But, we need to seek God’s will first and foremost and see what He wants.

Jesus (as always) is the perfect example that we should follow. In the Garden of Gethsemane He asked that God would take away the cup He was about to drink, but He then prayed that God’s will would be done (Matthew 26:39). That’s exactly what we should do. We need to ask for His will to be done, no matter what His will is.

That is not an easy thing to do. It can be a daily struggle, one minute being like Jesus and the next being like James and John. It’s hard to let go of our desires and what we think is best. But when we give up those things and tell God that we are letting Him decide what is best, not only are we obeying Him, but we’re showing God how much we trust Him. It’s a deep and wonderful way of expressing not only our trust, but our love to Him.

_ Read the passage Luke 18:1-8. In your own words describe the main idea of what this parable is about.

_ Read Luke 18:1 again. According to this verse, what is the reason why Jesus tells the parable?

If you didn’t state the reason in two parts above, write the second reason in the area below.

The usual teaching of this passage emphasizes the need for our being persistent in our praying. Jesus teaches the same principle in Luke 11:5-10, so let’s take a look at that passage:

_ Read 1 Luke 11:5-10. The words that are translated by the English “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” are in the Greek present tense. This verb tense denotes an action in the present that continues into the future. It is something that is repeated. Based on the verb tense, then how should you understand Jesus’ imperative that we ask, seek and knock?

That is exactly the same principle as the first reason He gave in the Luke 18 passage for giving the parable–that the disciples “always pray”; i.e., be persistent in their praying. Now let’s look at the second reason He gave:

_ Read Luke 18:4-5 again. What was the unjust judge’s response to the widow persistent requests?

_ Read Luke 18:6-8 again. How did Jesus tie the parable about the widow’s persistent request with the believer’s persistent prayer?

_ Read Luke 18:1 again. So when Jesus says “Don’t lose heart” when you are persistently praying, what does this mean to you? What do we know that we can count on?

…then an in-depth study of the book of Colossians may be just what the doctor ordered.

    Beginning September 7th, Word Within International will offer a new Easy-to-Learn Inductive Bible study on Paul’s letter to the believers in Colossae.  Class will meet every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in Room 2821, Asbury United Methodist Church.  This 10-week study ending November 9th examines God’s plan for making every believer complete in Christ.

    Too many Christians today have strong faith yet find themselves lacking in something.  That something is often simply the knowledge of God’s will for their lives.  Paul prayed for this knowledge for the faithful believers in Colossae in order that they might live a life worthy of the devotion God had showered on them.  Near the end of his own ministry, Paul wants to be sure they fully comprehend the supremacy and suffficiency of Christ, and what it means in their life.

    This book study challenges Christians to a higher standard.  Living the life God intends is not the easiest route to take but certainly it’s the most rewarding.  There are many along the way who would teach  things that are not entirely true, but Paul has prayed for you too, that you would be filled with the knowledge of God and be protected from the deluding influences of these fine-sounding arguments.

    For information and to reserve your place in the class, call 918-492-0945.

    __  Read 2 Peter 3:10-13.  In as few words as possible, answer the following:

            What is coming?

            How will it come?

           What will happen when it comes?

          What attitude are believers to have as they wait on this day?

    __  Read first half of v.12 in as many translations as you can.  Record below the different words you find from different translations as to what we are to do about its coming.

            Looking at the words you recorded above, describe in your own words the instruction Peter is giving about how to regard the day when Christ is to come again.

    __ Read 1 Corinthians 1:7.  How does Paul regard the ways a believer should look at the day when our Lord Jesus Christ will be revealed?

    __  Read Philippians 3:20.  What is the reminder that Paul gives believers here?

    __  Read 2 Timothy 4:8.  How does Paul describe the believer who will receive the crown of righteousness?

    __  Read Hebrews 10:25.  The “day” to which the author of Hebrews refers is the same day to which Peter and Paul make reference.  How does this additional author describe the attitude that should be prevalent in the believer as he or she awaits that day?

    In conclusion, examine your own attitude towards the return of Jesus Christ.  Are you ready?  Do you honestly desire for that day to come as quickly as possible?  What do you need to change in your life in order to feel prepared to meet your Master face-to-face?

   It’s not that this invisible person is not as important as the others.  It’s just that some are more dominant, more assertive, better known to the others.  Our odd-man out simply has not been established as far as the group is concerned.

    In the past, many of us who grew up in the church were reluctant to give the third Person of the Trinity–the Holy Spirit–equal position relative to the Father and the Son.   We spoke easily of God the Father and conversed with Him in prayer.  We were equally comfortable with God the Son.  However, when it came to God the Holy Spirit we referred to Him as an “it” and left Him out of the conversation. 

   This probably happened because we received far less teaching back then about who the Holy Spirit was and what He did.  And because we didn’t know Him as well, we couldn’t see Him as important as the Father and the Son.  This is strange, because both Jesus and the New Testament writers spoke of Him often.

    Over and over in the Bible, we read that Jesus was led by the Spirit, that He was filled with the Spirit, that He was given power by the Spirit.  The works that He did while walking on earth were a manifestation of that power.   Yes, Jesus was God but He gave up His “God-rights” and functioned on earth as a man.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, but a man nonetheless. 

   In addition, Jesus gives a lengthy discourse in the scriptures on the Spirit and His function in the world.  He tells the disciples to wait on the Holy Spirit–so that they can be filled with Him,  just as He was.  And it’s not until the Holy Spirit comes on  the day of Pentecost that believers are finally empowered to spread the Gospel into all the world.

    The Bible instructs believers today to walk in the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit, to be filled with the Spirit and to use the gifts of the Spirit to build up the body of Christ.   That same Spirit who dwelt in Jesus during His days upon the earth is the Spirit who dwells in us today.

    How can  a believer come to know the Holy Spirit as equal to the Father and the Son?  Through prayer.  We must ask the Father to fill us with more of the Spirit.  In Luke we read:  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”  So ask for the Spirit and the Father will give you more of Him. 

   When the Holy Spirit is no longer “odd-man out” in the Holy Trinity, you will begin to realize what He can accomplish through you.

   One of the most noisome of mine–but the least frequently encountered–is my fear of heights.  Acrophobia. 

   Not that I’m actually afraid of being up high; it’s just that when I’m near the edge of anything, I feel like I’m being drawn over the side.  Walking along the edge of a swimming pool, this isn’t such a bad thing.  But walking along a precipice that drops to a thousand feet below, it’s vitally critical.  On the scenic overlook  atop the Empire State Building, for example, I couldn’t begin to peel myself off the interior wall to approach the telescopes for a look-see! 

   A number of summers ago, I found myself  in the mountains northwest of Taos, New Mexico.  I had been on a short-term mission to participate in a maintenance project at McCurdy School when the team ventured north to explore the remains of an obscure cliff dwelling in a National Forest nearby.  Sounded like a great idea to me and I tramped through the woods anticipating a fun day exploring native American antiquities.

   It’s true that my excitement waned a bit at the sight of the first of two ladders leaning against a sheer rock wall. One at a time, I told myself, and placed one foot above the other until I reached the top.  It wasn’t easy turning loose and stepping out onto the dusty path that would take us around and up to a second ladder.   At no time–either while on the ladder or the path–did  I allow an eye to wander down or back.  I probably would have kept both glued shut had it been possible to keep my footing without knowing where I was putting my feet!

   I don’t know how I ever managed to climb that second ladder.  Probably because several team members were behind me and I couldn’t bear to let anyone see how terrified I was.  Up another twenty or so feet and we were all at the top and convinced that we had discovered something most of the world would never see.   An exhilarating experience!  I was so glad that I had made it with the team.

   Then it was time to return to the canyon floor way, way down below.  No problem.  I’d made it up, I could make it down. 

  But at the first step towards the ladder, my feet balked.  In front of me, there was nothing but air.  That ole familiar sensation grabbed at my gut and I had the momentary sensation of falling.  If I took another  step towards the edge of the cliff, I was sure that something would grab me and drag me over the edge.

   The guy behind me didn’t hesitate.  Leaning forward, he took hold of my left hand and placed it on the shoulder of the person in front; then the right.  His lips at ear-level calmly whispered:  “Keep your eyes on Jesus.”

   I made it to the bottom without a hitch.

   Some time later, I was to give my testimony before an audience of  several hundred.  Frozen in fear would be an understatement of what I was feeling at the moment.  As I climbed over those on the pew between me and the aisle, a friend reached for my hand.  I could feel a scrap of paper being stuffed into my palm.

   My shakey knees delivered me up the three steps to the podium.  But when  I looked out over the sea of faces up-turned to hear me speak, words wouldn’t come.  I looked down at the scrap of paper that’d been shoved into my palm.

   “Turn your eyes upon Jesus!”

The Greek word markarios that is read as “blessed” means to be very fortunate or well off. It is sometimes translated “happy.” So Jesus is saying in Acts 20:35 that we are better off when we give to others than when others give to us. We are happier when we give. More fortunate.

Let’s see how this plays out in the rest of Scripture.

_ Read Philippians 4:14-16. What did the church in Philippi do for Paul that no other church did?

_ Read Philippians 4:17. Was Paul looking for a gift? What was he looking for instead?

In your opinion, what did Paul mean by this statement?

[HINT: Remember what Jesus said in Acts 20:35]

_ Read Hebrew 10:32-34. Answer the following questions based on what you learn from the passage.

What kind of suffering is the author referring to in this passage?

What seems to be the attitude of the people who are standing in the face of suffering?

Specifically, how do they accept the confiscation of their property?

What does v.34 tell you about how the believers are able to accept the confiscation with such joy?

_ Now Read Philippians 4:18-19. How does Paul describe the gifts that the Philippians gave to him through Epaphroditus?

What is the benefit to you if your gifts are pleasing to God?

What is the reward Paul promised to those who gave when he was in need? How might that apply to you and your giving?

_ It is written: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” What kind of giver are you?

In this study, we want to now examine The Parable of the Talents and see how it fits with the other two.

_Read Matthew 25:14-30. Keep in mind that a “talent” was a monetary unit of those times. It is believed to have a worth of more than one thousand U.S. dollars today.

Now that you’ve read the entire passage, what would you say is the main teaching that Jesus wants us to learn?

_Re-read vv.14-18. List below who received what from the man when he left on his journey.

1.
2.
3.

Now, beside each of the three listed above, record what that person did with what he received.

_Re-read vv.19-21. What did the man who received five talents receive when he returned it and his earnings to the master?

_Re-read vv.22-23. What did the man who received two talents receive from the master when he returned the two plus what he had earned?

_Re-read vv.24-27. What did the man say who had received only one talent and had earned nothing with it?

What did the master call him? Why?

_Re-read vv.28-30. What punishment did the man who earned nothing with his sum of money receive at the hands of his master?

What happened to his money?

What happened to him?

NOTE: The “darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” is a reference to hell — only unsaved persons go there.

Conclusions: In this story, the master gives money to his bond-servants and rewards those who put the money to work to earn more, but punishes the one who doesn’t put the money to work. In our lives, God gives Spiritual gifts to His people. In what ways can we use these gifts to create “returns” that we can give to Him?

How does God reward believers who use their gifts to serve Him?

Do you know what your Spiritual gifts are? Are you using them to glorify God? When he calls, will you answer with “Here I am, Lord. Send me”?

The life of Jesus best illustrates the role prayer should play in the life of the child of God. Jesus commonly prayed for hours on end, usually very late at night so as to have undisturbed, intimate time with the Father. He retreated up the hillside to pray when He needed respite from the crowds. He prayed before meals. He prayed when He healed the sick. He prayed with the lost for their salvation. He prayed long prayers and He prayed short ones. He prayed when there was a need or concern of any nature and He prayed when there was none at all. But nowhere in scripture do we find where Jesus taught prayer as a “discipline.”

We see throughout the Word of God where prophets, kings, disciples, women and men alike spent time with the Father in prayer. It was the way of life for the people who loved God. But again, nowhere do we see it described as a “discipline” by any of those who lived a life of prayer. Rather, we see prayer as so much a part of their lives that not to pray would undoubtedly have seemed out of the norm.

If prayer was so much a part of Jesus’ life and the lives of His followers, why do so few believers pray as an integral part of their lives today? Perhaps we’ve lost sight of the principle purpose of prayer. God created man to fellowship with Him and fellowship arises out of prayer. Until the day we stand before Him face to face, God’s gift of prayer is our means of conversing with Him. Our fellowship with Him is important to God, and He wants us to value that fellowship as much as He does.

We accept that God is our Father who is in heaven and that He watches over us just as an earthly father would do. We credit many of the attributes of an earthly father to Him and even visualize him as a man in our mind. We can understand these personal relationships with both Jesus and God, but when it comes to the Holy Spirit’s being a person as well, and actually occupying our bodies…well, we just get a little skittish at the thought of it.

God is One, God is three—this is one of the greatest mysteries in scripture and must be taken on faith rather than human reasoning. We worship one God, but there are three eternal distinctions within that one divine essence. If we think of two of the three as “he,” why do we feel compelled to think of the third as “it”?

The Greek word pneuma is used in the Bible for the word “spirit” in the term Holy Spirit. In the King James translation, pneuma is translated as “ghost,” and the third person of the trinity is then referred to as “the Holy Ghost.” The literal meaning of pneuma, however, is a current of air, and that is no more a ghost than it is a spirit. While some are comfortable with the term “ghost,” its use might inhibit others from viewing God’s Spirit as a person just as God the Father and God the Son are seen. By thinking of the Holy Spirit as an “it,” believers might be prone not to fellowship with Him as easily as they do with the Father and the Son.

The Father sent His Spirit to dwell in us in order to comfort us, teach us, convict us, to call us into service, intercede for us and even more. Such activity on the Spirit’s part implies personality. Scripture uses the personal pronoun “he” in reference to the Spirit, so why do we prefer the impersonal pronoun “it”? In order to have the full relationship with God that He has ordained for us, we need to have that personal relationship with all three—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.