Th.12.11.14...Connecting with our King...REAP- Explore

The last couple days, we’ve begun to learn how to better connect with our Lord, for if we aren’t abiding in Him, we wither and won’t have what is essential to pass on to our proteges and others. Monday we began with prayer as we approached God and his word. Then yesterday, we started to look at how we can REAP from God’s word. R= Reading God’s word, for this is the essential way that God communicates to us so that we might commune with him. (It is a frustrating error to expect God to speak apart from his word.) Today we want to Explore what we read like a treasure seeker. We are to "search for it as for hidden treasure" Prov.2:4. May each of us and our proteges have a longing, "a Jones" (a craving) for exploring and discovering such treasures in God's word.

This is what the E of REAP stands for- Explore. As we explore the treasures of what we read, we are seeking to understand what the author meant. We could go really deep here and delve into using commentaries and concordances, (and we will down the road), but right now I want us to focus on a simple way to explore the treasure rooms of God’s word. It starts by asking questions to understand what we are reading. Notice this is what Phillip did when he was directed to evangelize the Ethiopian eunuch- The official “on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.”Acts 8:28-31. He was a Bible explorer. The official was reading from Isaiah 53. Some have called it the John 3:16 of the Old Testament. (Wouldn’t you love to meet men reading the gospel of John who ask you to explain it to them? O Lord, give us such treasure seekers to evangelize and mentor!)

1.-Let’s Explore what this incredible passage has to say. It actually runs from Is.52:13 through the end of ch.53. To understand any passage, first seek to summarize it. Read it through and then summarize it in just one short sentence. Read it over a few times if need be. I usually do. Sure, your sentence won’t capture every detail, but it should help someone else know generally what the passage is about. So how would you summarize the treasures of this passage?

When you can summarize it, you can say, “Yes!” to Phillip’s question above- “Do you understand what you are reading?” Yes, I understand the main story, though I may need help clarifying some details.

2. Pick one golden phrase you discovered from your reading of Isaiah 52:12-53:12 and share it with us. Now put it on your 3x5 to review and enrich yourself today. Let me know that you “Did it” when you did it.

This passage is also amazing because it proves to us that the Bible is from God. No other religious book in all of history has prophecies that are fulfilled in them! So certain was this prophecy to come to pass that it was written in the prophetic past tense as if Christ’s crucifixion had already happened. You could ask a doubter to read the passage and then ask, “Who do you think this is about?” Undoubtedly they will say, “Jesus.” Then let them know it was written 700 years before he was ever born. What are the odds of that? That’s not lucky, that’s impossible apart from our Lord! God's word is a better treasure than any archaeologist could ever hope to find.

I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure. Ps.119:162

You men are proving you are faithful to your word and commitment no matter what!

		G=God's Word	R	E	A	T
		For Tues.12.9.14
	Alpha Force	100%!
	Fire Team 1
1	Jack Rogers	Y
2	Daniel Contreras	Y
3	Roger Vinlasaca	Y
	Fire Team 2
4	Israel Fuentes	Y
5	John Pallozzi	Y
6	Sam Vargas	Y
	Delta Force	100%!
	Fire Team 3
1	Alvin James	Y
2	Dave Heidekruger	Y
3	Mark Estrada	Y
4	Mike Pagan	Y
	Fire Team 4
5	Eddie Morales	Y
6	Gary Remson	Y
7	Ismael Andrade	Y