Think for a moment what you would be like if you could instantly heal the sick by praying for them. How would you use this gift? Can you see at all why Jesus wanted to say "below the radar"? If you had the cure for ADHD and everyone found out about it all at once - how might that change your life! You would have a mob of stressed out parents surrounding your house!
Read John 6:14-16. The more people saw Jesus' power the more they wanted it for themselves or at least to get Jesus to use it for their personal benefit. If he would become king he could save them from the oppression of Rome. Obviously this is not what Jesus came for. Jesus came set people free spiritually. To teach them how to love again. To have a full abundant life dependent on God - a life rooted in the very things of God.
There's a really cool book that I've never read but have heard about called, "Dog and Cat Theology." The basic concept is - do we act more like a dog or a cat in our relationship with God? A cat can receive all the pampering and special treatment in the world and think, "wow, I must be special - what else can to I get." A dog on the other hand receiving special treatment will think, "wow - how amazing my master is - what else can I do to serve him."
questions
1) Who is Jesus to you? (really spend some time here!) Is He a credit card, big brother who bails you out of trouble, a friend who only listens to your problems or is he Lord?
2) What selfish things have you tried to get God to do for you that really don't fit his purpose?
observation
1) Many times we can determine our perception of God by observing our prayer life. The more we grow in our faith the more or prayers will consist of thanking God, praising God and praying for others rather than "give me, give me, give me." The following prayer is based off the acronym A.C.T.S.
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication (God meeting our needs). This week each prayer will follow this acronym to help us develop our prayer life.
Prayer
(Adoration) Father I praise you for being big enough to know my prayers before I even ask! I see the beauty of your creation and the power of your hand all around me as I look out the window. (Confession) I confess that I have been selfish by...., I confess that I have been more focused on ..... than serving you. (Thanksgiving) I thank you for blessing me last week when you gave me... I thank you for my friend... who encourages me. (Supplication) Please Lord give me strength today to love...(think of a difficult person). Please Lord supply me with the time and finances I need this week.
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