April 17, 2012

GOD LIKES TO SHOW OFF . . . IN US!!!

John 9

Zech Lumpkin
Tuesday's Devo

April 17, 2012

Tuesday's Devo

April 17, 2012

Central Truth

Our hardships and struggles are an incredible opportunity to bear witness to the work God has done/is doing in our lives!

Key Verse | John 9:3

Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:3)

John 9

Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

18 The Jews 1 9:18 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 22 did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20 His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22 (His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus 2 9:22 Greek him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 3 9:35 Some manuscripts the Son of God 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; 4 9:41 Greek you would not have sin but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Footnotes

[1] 9:18 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verse 22
[2] 9:22 Greek him
[3] 9:35 Some manuscripts the Son of God
[4] 9:41 Greek you would not have sin

Dive Deeper | John 9

There is nothing God needs. In fact, this story proves that statement by showing He can use anything to fulfill His will. This man had nothing to offer that could help his own situation, so Jesus used something that no one would ever expect to heal this man's lifelong blindness -- spit and dirt, "so that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:3)

Like the disciples in verse 2, I have at times in my past asked God, "Why?" Almost eight years ago, my wife confessed she had a physical affair. I felt hurt and abandoned. Almost immediately, however, God showed me that I was in no way innocent, so I confessed that I had been continually struggling with lust and pornography. God began to show me that had I been the leader He intended me to be, this probably wouldn't have happened. I soon envisioned how God was going to use this experience for good (Romans 8:28). So began the "the works of God."

Over the next three to four years, we sought counseling and successfully put into practice most of the things we were learning. I began to see how my struggles with pornography had caused me to be a distant invalidater, which, in turn, caused my wife to build up resentment brick by brick until there was a wall between us -- a wall I helped build. Amazingly, I was able to own MY part in her affair! (Matthew 7:4) So continued "the works of God."

Through all of this, even though I was learning a lot about my wife, I still fumbled at being the spiritual leader God wanted me to be. I believe God placed us in our community group so that I could learn to be that spiritual leader. Through living out Proverbs 27:17 with the guys in my group, I have become a spiritual leader. We have facilitated a ReEngage group (Watermark's marriage ministry), using our story to encourage couples who have similarly painful stories. God's work in me has brought to life the vision He gave me to use this experience for good. So continue "the works of God."

Discussion Questions

1. Think of a time someone sinned against you. Now think about what part YOU might have played in that. Have you owned your part? Have you confessed it? God works wonders through our confession to others. See James 5:16.

2. Are you meeting regularly with a community group? Is your time with them intentionally focused on "sharpening" your walk with Christ? If not, what role can you take in turning surface-level interaction into spiritual growth for your group? If you're not part of a community group, why not?

3. How can you use your experiences to "show off" what God has worked in you?

WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY

JOHN 8-12 (APRIL 16-20)

Read John 11:1-45.

* What was wrong with Lazarus?
* Who did Mary and Martha ask for help?
* Did Jesus immediately go to help His friends?
* Have you ever had something hard going on in your life that you prayed to God to change and it did not change right away?
* Was it hard to wait?
* Why do you think Jesus cried when He arrived even though He already knew Lazarus had died? (compassion for His hurting friends)
* Does it comfort you to know that Jesus cares when you are hurting?
* Why did Jesus wait for Lazarus to die and then raise Him from the dead? See verses 14, 15 & 45!
* Everything that happens in our lives -- whether good, hard, or a time of waiting -- can be a time that brings God great glory. How can you trust God in the midst of the hard answers and the waiting?

Activity: Lifeline -- Fold a piece of paper lengthwise. Draw across the line with a pen. At one end, write your birthday; at the other end, put today's date. On the top half of the paper, list great things that have happened in your life and the way God was glorified and your faith grew. Across the bottom half of the paper, write down hard things that have happened and how God was glorified and your faith was grew. Be sure to share with each other what you wrote and to take time to pray, thanking God for taking care of you and asking that His name will be glorified more in your life.