Hope For The Nations, Lesson 1, Fall 2006

“But the multitudes saw them [Jesus and his disciples] departing, and many KNEW HIM and RAN there on foot from all the cities.  They arrived before them and CAME TOGETHER to Him.” (Mark 6:33, NKJV) 

“As soon as they got out of the boat, people RECOGNIZED JESUS.  THEY RAN throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.” (Mark 6:54-55, NIV)

Divine Order: (1) Knowing, (2) Running

(1)  How do we KNOW Him more?

  • Need Light (1 John 1:5-7)
    • “For with You is the fountain of life;/ In Your light we see light.” (Psalm 36:9, NKJV) – Must use God’s light to have light. 
  • God brings light with His Spirit and Word (Gen. 1:2-3)
    • SPIRIT – tells us the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
      • Intimate Union:  “Adam knew Eve” (Gen. 4:1, KJV)…Compare with 1 Cor. 6:16-17.  (Song of Songs 1:4-5 – Bride did not see her darkness in God’s light until she entered the place of intimacy with her Husband)
    • WORD – brings light (Ps. 119:130)
    • Acts 6:4 – ministering the word and prayer
    • John 4:21-24 – we know and worship with the spirit and truth

(2)  The result: RUNNING!

  • “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt. 12:33-35)
    • Luke 5:12-15 – Jesus commands them not to speak, but they couldn’t help it
    • A couple in love cannot help but speak about each other
  • John 4:28-30 – Woman knows Jesus, and cannot help but bring others to Him
    • Like the brides of Isaac (Gen. 24) and Jacob (Gen. 29):  Isaac’s bride had to come to the well with an empty vessel (Gen. 24:14), and Jacob’s bride came to the well with sheep to be watered (Gen. 29:9-10)
  • Mark 5:18-20 – A man touched by Jesus wants to linger with Him, but from his testimony many are amazed.
  • Acts 4:18-20 – They could not but speak of Jesus!
    • Acts 4:13 – boldness for Jesus comes from knowing Him intimately
  • Jeremiah 20:9

(3)  The Remedy for lackluster intimacy…  

  • Song of Songs 3 – a relationship restored:
  1. v. 3 – ask the watchmen (those more mature in the Lord; see Heb. 13:17)
  2. v. 4 – return to place of origin (“first love”, Gal. 3:3)
  3. vv. 6-10 – Traveling and resting in another power.
    1. “pillars of smoke” = power of Holy Spirit (Acts 4:31) 
    2. “They all hold swords” = power of God’s Word (Heb. 4:12)
      1. God defends and sustains your life according to His Word (Gen. 3:24; John 6:63)  

“Ministry had become an idol.  Working for God had taken the place of loving God…

“I was still getting up every morning at five o’clock and praying with other church leaders, and I was still reading my Bible every day, but I was doing these things out of obligation and habit, and not from a willing heart flowing from my relationship with Jesus.” – Brother Yun