Bible Study 3-16-08 [Mustard Seed]

[Madeline]

Today I figure we can go with the name of our guild - the Mustard Seed.

Matthew 13:31-32 "He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

Matthew 17:19-20 "Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

Luke 17:5-6 "The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' The Lord replied. 'If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.'"


This is something that I admittedly struggle with every day; having faith during the day's and month's challenges. Sometimes it is easy, like when I have prayed and prayed and it came to pass - other times when the answer is no, it can be harder.

Jesus was illustrating even the smallest of faith can do miracles. The problem was that the disciples were having trouble mustering (sorry for the pun) even that much faith in something that was new to them and they couldn't really believe yet. Even Peter, though he was the only one who got out of the boat and walked on water, had his own difficulty with this concept.

We all do. This was to show that because we are human and have a sin nature, it fights against what we know is true - God responds to our faith. There are many examples of this, and I am sure you can list some in your own life - but when I have faith that God will handle something and I truly hand it to Him (and don't take it back and worry) - amazing things happen. God has such mercy on us that he responds to such a thing as faith. What an amazing Lord we have.

Give an example of God responding to your faith. :D

[lilbluebird_sandstalker]

Just too clarify, from what I read on another post, are we meant to respond here or in game?

[OhioRogue]

Well, since God created all energy, laws of science, the universe, etc. and since He is everything this is and every was, ... any power (love) bestowed by Him would be unlimited also. So, If He can create all the stars (millions of suns and planets) in just a blink of an eye, the power that we can have (by his grace) is also unlimited. We just don't realize it. Or, as in Satins case, realize it and want it for all the selfish reasons. Therefore, He won't give us "magical" powers here on Earth. Imagine how much destruction people would cause even with the best intension's. We are way to ignorant. But one day, all temptation WILL be gone. ..... did I hear a trumpet blowing!??!
Side note: it is a relief to know we may all bow at the feet of the greatest Gamer in the universe. (all respect intended)

[Madeline]

Just too clarify, from what I read on another post, are we meant to respond here or in game?

Here is good, you have time to compose your thoughts and not have it scroll too fast :D

[Kleburg]

This is something that I admittedly struggle with every day; having faith during the day's and month's challenges. Sometimes it is easy, like when I have prayed and prayed and it came to pass - other times when the answer is no, it can be harder.

First of all when you pray and don't hear the anwser it's not because it is "No" it is in fact that it's not the right time for it to be anwsered for it's God's plan for you to experience something before that pray is anwsered.
Now several years ago my wife and I were struggling, her not working or very and little and me, between Firefighting and part time job, didn't have muchand were finding it hard to make ends meet. She recieved a call one day in December and was asked if she was looking for work, of course she said yes then called me and asked me what should she do. With out thinking long about I told that she should take the interview, although she was little hesitant, she asked what if it doesn't go good, I said what does God tell you to do? If it is time it will come. We prayed about it for days and when the time came for the interview she was offered the job and started in January.
Boy talk about a step of faith just when you down and all you have is faith something like this is right in your face. Also during this time of doubt and misunderstanding faith we just need hold on to it because you never know what waits ahead of you but God does.

[Madeline]

Tonight the special movie was "The Ten Commandments" with Charlton Heston. I cried during a lot of it because I forgot in my rounds with doctors and such - and having NO income for the last month - how big God really is.

My biggest struggle has always been finances, and giving them to God is very hard for me. Since I lost my job I have spent most of my time on the phone with our utilities and mortgage folks telling them what the situation was. They were patient and I was able to get them caught up last month with a large check from unemployment. Now the unemployment stopped and I am racking up the hospital/doctor bills on top of our other commitments.

Tonight I am reading the bible and realizing that it is silly for me to hang on to something I cannot control. God has always provided for His people, and He is so much bigger than me and has the power to do everything. I have noticed in my life He comes through at the last minute and in unexpected ways. And doing this bible study (although I am painfully new at it) is more beneficial for me than for anyone else because I need the reminders to look outside my problems and see Him. So this is more a blessing for me than you can know, but I am very grateful....

And now for Easter! :D

[Critforce]

Thinking back to my many prayers, it's only been during the worst trials of my life that I've gotten direct answers to prayer. I think that is due to a couple of reasons, those times when I am the most broken, the most desperate are the same times when I've gotten past my pride and truly been able to rely on God that His will would be done not my. It's has only been out of my true repentance and wailing that I have truly relied on Him. At once it makes me sad at how much it takes for me to get on my knees and put God's will in front of my own, but at the same time I feel lucky that I've been able to experience that. Not only the experience of the brokenness but also the experience of God moving in my life.

I think the key for me is that the more times I get to that point, of totally giving over to God's will and not injecting my own, the easier it is to get there the next time. It scares the heck out of me but when I'm truly living in faith I ask God to break me.

[Madeline]

Boy, do I understand that feeling. Crit, you got to the crux of it. :D

[Mordos]

John Piper once said that Prayer is a war time walkie-talkie. If you are not using it to better the War for God then you are better not to use it.

When I thought about that it is huge. It mean when you pray for healing of someone that you say "If it better serves you to heal this persons then heal them, but if it doesn't then take them." Really puts an insight into prayer as well as giving true reverance to God, he is in control after all.