Sarah Aug. 18

Ladies Bible Study Aug. 18

We began with prayer presented by Shera

Discussion begins with Mark 9- Sarah is in her tent listening to the Lord. Is anything impossible with the Lord.

At the beginning of Mark 9 is the transfiguration.  What a wonderful experience and when they came down from the mountain there were 9 other disciples left there.  The scribes had been questioning these disciples and a man stepped out of the crowd to speak to Jesus.  This man said he needed Jesus to heal his son and Jesus’ disciples could not remove the demon from the boy.  Jesus refers to the crowd as a faithless generation and the boy begins convulsing and falling into the fire.  The man explains that this has been happening throughout the boy’s youth.  The man said to Jesus IF you can you could remove the spirit and Jesus replies If you can believe, with God all things are possible. The man said I believe, help my unbelief!

Then we see the responses of the Leper and then the lady with the issue of blood.  Peter’s mother in law was sick with a fever and Jesus just walks over and touches her

The ultimate end was that they all believed and all had healing and all were touched by God.  People may not be looking for God, but God has a purpose in all that he does.   Our salvation, healing, or whatever, is not of us it is all of God, for HIS GLORY!!  We get so much more when we do believe. When we believe we begin to see more of the whole picture of God’s movements. 

When looking at our moment of salvation and looking at the thief on the cross, we don’t know when his salvation happened, but we do know that at the end he is receiving the blessings poured out upon him. Like Sarah, we don’t know when Sarah received her moment of salvation, but she too received the blessings poured out upon her.  Sarah is an example placed in God’s word for an example of a faithful woman.

Hebrews 11:11- We looked at the paper prepared by Pastor Jon, and Shera asked us to be careful of what versions we are reading.  The Hermeneutics of Biblical study = the thoughts of another combined with the thoughts written in another language. 

Question 2 pg. 20

The promise isn’t what was important, what IS important is the knowing that God who is in control.  Corrie Ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to an unknown God.”  Sarah trusted God and we have that opportunity too! Trusting God through all things in our lives!   Sarah counted God faithful in all, knowing that through all her making a mess He still loved her and fulfilled his promise through her.

1Tim. 12:1-15

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sarah had faith but she also had doubts, she had jealousy of her maid servant, her child, lived with her weaknesses, she was totally human, just like us.  But, God knew her heart and all her weaknesses and God saw great things.  His faithfulness doesn’t rely on us.  

Shera shared the story of her brother’s death and how her mother’s strength in God was unwavering. At the same time of her brother’s death the marines in the American embassy in Iran were killed.  Her mom said, “Oh, I need to pray for those families that have lost family” Her thoughts were on others even in her worst times.

In Genesis God tells them that there will be enmity between the serpent and man as a prediction of the coming of the Savior.  

Edith brought the story of her mother-in-law and how she got sick on Thanksgiving and died of bone cancer by Christmas.  Her mother-in-law when asked if she was upset replied, “Christians look forward to going home!”  How some have tremendous faith and they are a great inspiration to us.

In 1 Samuel 30:4-6 tells of all the sadness of having their families taken, but David encouraged himself in the Lord His GOD!  How do we give out our Christian heart; how do we show our heart and not have it be a platitude, when we say “God really cares for you.”  That person may hate what we say but sometimes we need to say it.  Sometimes words unspoken are better and actions need to be done.