BIBLE STUDY "SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN" WEEK # 1 PRAYER

 

Father God, I speak to my mountain right now in the name of Jesus; this is a good study, and it will accomplish what the Word need to do in my life through this study. Father God,

I give You praises and glory and honor as I study Your Word, and learn to speak things that please You, and bless others. Teach us Holy Spirit the importance of speaking to the mountains in our life and in all our family's life. I also pray that this will bless others who read it and speak to their mountains as well. We have been blessed to receive the Word of God, so we can live an abundant life now. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace and anointing to receive in Jesus' name, AMEN.

 

 

 

 

GOOD READING:

 

This is a good study!  I have started my book of Mark reading too. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. Amen.

 



 

 

BIBLE STUDY "WEEK # 1" (6/7/15)

"Speak To the Mountain" Mark 11:23

 

 

Prayer:

Father God, I speak to my mountain right now in the name of Jesus; this is a good study, and it will accomplish what the Word need to do in my life through this study. Father God,

I give You praises and glory and honor as I study Your Word, and learn to speak things that please You, and bless others. Teach us Holy Spirit the importance of speaking to the mountains in our life and in all our family's life. I also pray that this will bless others who read it and speak to their mountains as well. We have been blessed to receive the Word of God, so we can live an abundant life now. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace and anointing to receive in Jesus' name, AMEN.

 

Bible Reading:

Scripture:  Mark 11:23-24 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²³ Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.

²⁴ For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

 

Subject:  Jesus gives instructions concerning the mountain or problem

 

Let's Study:

 

It is important to know that it is the believer's responsibility to: . . . .  To believe that you RECEIVE when you pray [Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:21] This is what Jesus instructed the disciples "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." With our mouth we confess, and with our heart we believe (Romans 10:9-10).

 

To SPEAK to the mountain or problem you have; rebuke, give directions to the problem, and cast out the problem from your body, circumstance, or environment [Mark 11:23, Matthew 21:21, Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6, Mark 16:17, Luke 11:20, Matthew 12:28].

 

To SAY what you want to come to pass, into existence [Mark 11:23]. It shall be done , according to God's Word [Matthew 21:21]. O woman, great is your faith! Let it be [ginomai] to you as you desire [Matthew 15:28]. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, be it done unto thee [ginomai] [Matthew 8:13].

 

Jesus promises "it will be done" [Matthew 21:21], it "shall come to pass" [Mark 11:23], it will "obey you" [Luke 17:6], and "it will move" [Matthew 17:20]. Jesus says that it is the believer's responsibility to speak to the mountain.

 

If you don't speak to your mountain, your mountain will SPEAK to you.

 

What is a MOUNTAIN in a believer's life?

 

The mountain is the PROBLEM in your life. The mountain is anything that is adverse or contrary to the Word of God for your life. A mountain is anything that is a barrier to you completing God's Will. A mountain is anything that is slowing down or impeding your progress in the Kingdom of God.

 

Many believers spend time praying to God about their mountain. They describe the mountain in full detail to God. They inform God of the exact dimensions of the mountain. They cry and moan to God about what a hindrance or impossibility the mountain is in their life.

Some people even use the MOUNTAIN as an excuse for nonperformance in their Christian life. Some people make up doctrines and traditions about God, to justify why the mountain is still in their life.

 

Many believers will pray to God for Him to speak to their mountain. God will never do what he has commanded you to do. You pray to God to receive what Jesus has made available to you [Mark 11:24]. It is your responsibility to speak to the mountain in your life.

Praying and fasting will not move a mountain. Prayer and fasting deals with unbelief or lack of confidence in God's Word [Matthew 17:20-21, Mark 9:28-29, Mark 16:14, Luke 8:25, Mark 4:39-41, Matthew 8:24, Matthew 16:8, Mark 8:15, Matthew 14:30].

 

Many people get into natural unbelief by what they see, hear, touch, smell, taste or even feel. You must not allow natural unbelief to be a counter weight to your faith [Matthew 17:20]. Your spirit man must not be dominated by your un-regenerated fallen flesh [Romans 5:5-8, Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 3:9]. You must sow to the Spirit and reap life [Galatians 6:7].

Prayer is about your relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Prayer will increase your confidence about your relationship with God. Prayer is how you receive from God [Matthew 7:8, Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 16:23-24, Matthew 26:41].

 

Fasting food doesn't move God, it moves you. Fasting food takes you out of the natural realm and helps you to be sensitive to the spiritual realm of God. Fasting forces your flesh to submit to your spirit man. God becomes your total source. You live by the Word of God alone [Matthew 4:3-4]. Fasting retrains or disciplines your body to listen to your spirit man. You tell your body to line up with the Word of God and it obeys you. Your spirit man dominates your body or fallen flesh. Pray does the same thing. Prayer disciplines your flesh to submit to your spiritual man. You pray to God, who you cannot see, hear,(at times), taste, smell, and touch [Matthew 6:9, John 20:28]. Prayer trains your flesh to submit to your spiritual man. Prayer and fasting are spiritual disciplines.

 

Scripture References: Psalm 19:14; Matthew 12:36-37; Romans 10:9-10;

 

Very Good Point:

 

Prayer and fasting [Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:29] will move you into a more confident [faithful] position to speak to the mountain [Matthew 17:21, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23].

Jesus didn't tell us to pray to God about our mountain. He said for us to speak to the mountain; speak to the mountain in His Name. Jesus didn't tell us to IGNORE or DENY the mountain or problem. We are not to say, "I don't have a mountain" or "what problem?" We are not to practice positive thinking and say over and over; "I can climb over that mountain, I will go around that mountain, it want stop me". A positive attitude is always good. But a positive attitude is not what Jesus said to do with mountains. Jesus said to speak to the mountain or problem and tell it to be moved [Mark 11:23, Matthew 21:21]. Jesus said that any believer can tell a mountain, "You be lifted up and thrown into the sea" [NLT], or "Go, throw yourself into the sea" [NIV], or "Go jump in the lake -no shuffling or shilly-shallying-and it's as good as done" [Message]. As you can see I love to use many versions to study the Word:

 

Jesus says, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" [Matthew 17:2]. A believer [not a doubter], can say to the mountain [problem] be moved to some other dimension that I don't inhabit. Glory Hallelujah!!!

 

Questions:

1).        What did Jesus instruct the disciples?

2).        What is a mountain in a believer's life?

3).        How do you speak to the mountain?

4).        If you don't speak to your mountain, what will it do?

5).        Who should speak to your mountain?

6).        What do prayer and fasting deals with?

7).        What is natural unbelief?

8).        What does fasting from food do?

9).        Jesus didn't tell us to ______, _______, or ______the mountain or

10).      Explain speaking to the mountain

 

Application:

Start the Day with God:

This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. I start every day with God by speaking life, health, strength, and vitality into my body because I know God's healing power is at work within me. The nature and life of God are resident in my body, driving out all manner of sickness and disease. I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. I believe the word of God above anything that I think, feel, or see. His Word says that I have been redeemed from the curse of sickness. His Word says that by Jesus' stripes I am healed.

My body is free from pain, sickness, and disease. It operates effectively and efficiently free from malfunction of any kind. Every part of my body is functioning properly. Every organ, gland, and system is operating in conjunction with each other in perfect harmony, which is exactly how God designed my body to work. My immune system is strong, vibrant, and healthy. Germs, bacteria, viruses, and parasites cannot exist in my body. If any sickness or disease makes any attempt to try and attack my body, then it is quickly destroyed by the power of God's Word working in me. I boldly declare that I am healed, healthy, and whole. (Psalm 118:24;  Isaiah 53:5; Ephesians 6:10; Galatians 3:13).

 

Application:

Speak to the Mountain: Week 1

My words have power, Jesus said if I would speak to a mountain in my life and tell it to be plucked up and thrown into the sea it would have to obey me. So because Jesus said to do it, and because I am obedient to His commands, I speak to the mountain of sickness in my life

Sickness, I am talking to you! In the name of Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, I command you to be plucked up and thrown out of my life and my body. You have no choice. You can't stay. You have to leave. There is no alternative, no other options. Today's mountain is tomorrow's testimony. It doesn't matter how big the mountain is, and it doesn't matter how long the mountain has been there. What does matter is what Jesus says about the mountain. He said if I speak to the mountain, it has to obey me. My life is mountain free-no mountains of sickness and disease here. The mountain of sickness has been eradicated and eliminated from my life. I am healed, healthy, and whole in Jesus' name. (Mark 11:23, 24; Matthew 17:20; 16:19).

We can speak to every mountain in our life, whether its sickness, financial, relationships,  family problems, marriage problems, disobedient children, school problems, job related problems, or whatever that mountain is, you can speak to it in Jesus' name.

 

Application:

End the Day with God:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He quickens me and gives me strength. In Him I find rest, comfort, and peace. Even in the midst of the storms of life. I am calm, cool, and collected because my mind is focused on Jesus. He keeps me in perfect peace. I have confidence in God's Word, and I trust Him to bring it to pass. I am assured that He will never leave me nor forsake me. I cast all my cares on Him; in obedience to God's Word, I choose not to worry or be anxious about anything. I will not allow myself to be fearful and troubled about any circumstance in my life. Health and healing are mine. Jesus paid the price for them and His Word says they're mine. I have released my faith, I have received my healing according to the promise of His Word, and now all that is left for me to do is rest in Him until the complete manifestation of healing comes to pass. My God has promised to give His beloved sweet sleep. Therefore, I receive a full night sleep every night, and I fully expect to wake up in the morning refreshed, revitalized, and raring to go. (Isaiah 26:3; Deuteronomy 4:31; Proverbs 3:24; Hebrews 13:5)

 

Discovery: Week #1……God and Jesus spoke the Word to all situations

(Genesis 1:2-3)

"The earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³ Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light."

(Mark 4:39)  

Jesus spoke to the storm on the sea: "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."  

 

Reflection question: What did you learn from this week's study?

 

Ending Prayer:

Father God, grant me the knowledge I need to speak to the mountain, and with that knowledge understanding, so that I can use wisdom to move mountains out of my life. This knowledge that I have received now I give You praises. I desire to walk in victory just as Jesus did when He walked on this earth, amen.

 

Weekly Reading:  Mark chapters 1-3

 

BIBLE STUDY INTRODUCTION (5/31/15)

"Speak to the Mountain" Mark 11:23 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer:

 

Father, today I and this community make a commitment to You in the name of Jesus. We turn from speaking idle words and foolishly talking things that are contrary to Your Word, and to our true desire to ourselves and toward others. Your Word says that the tongue defiles, that the tongue sets on fire the course of nature, that the tongue is set on fire of hell.  In the name of Jesus, we submit to godly wisdom that we might learn to control our tongues. We are determined that hell will not set our tongue on fire. We renounce, reject, and repent of every word that has ever proceeded out of our mouth against You, God, and Your plans for our lives. We cancel its power and dedicate our mouth to speak excellent and right things. Our mouth shall utter truth. Because we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, we set the course of our life for obedience, for abundance, for wisdom, for health, and for joy. We set a guard over our mouth, O Lord; help us to keep watch over the door of our lips to speak those things which be not, as we speak to the mountains in our lives. Then the words of our mouth and our deeds shall show forth Your righteousness and Your salvation all of our days. Thank You for Your Word, Your Word tells me that Jesus spoke to the mountain in His days, and we can speak to the mountain today.  We are learning how to apply Your Word to our lives daily. We pray this in Jesus' name, AMEN.

 

We will be reading: (Mark 11:23-24) King James Version (KJV)

 

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

 

Introduction:

In one of my daily quiet times, I asked God to show me what I really needed to study at this time.  I wanted something that would be a blessing to my spiritual growth right now.  I enjoyed my quiet time that morning, and went on to do my daily task, but all of  sudden I saw this "Speak to the Mountain" by Andrew Wommack, who is one of my favorite TV bible teachers. I was so drawn to this subject. I knew it was God giving this to me to study next!  I begin my research on this subject; it is important to us to live a victorious life, and this is a vital lesson for us to learn and to apply to our lives. The results we are looking for in prayer and in living the Christian life can sometimes be boiled down to this one thing; did we speak to the issue?  Wow! ((((Glory Hallelujah!))))

 

It is like telling someone that you want your dog to obey you and you ask them to help. They watch you for a while but then stop what you are doing and simple say, "You need to give your dog a command!" In other words exercise your authority by speaking to your dog.  I love that!  Jesus taught us this: (Mark 11: 22-23) "So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God.  (v23) "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

 

It is amazing but in verse 23 Jesus actually tells us three times to speak, say, or command the mountain. We will look at those in the lesson. We have often spoken to God about our problems not realizing that God had delegated to us the power and authority to speak to our problems. In fact, if we do not speak to our problems in Jesus' name they won't be affected or addressed by God. If Jesus hadn't commanded the demons to leave they would not have left.  Amen.

 

Let me say this, I have been struggling with an issue in my life, and at this point I need to speak to it and make it move.  This is why, I believe, God had me to see this study by Andrew Wommack.  God want me to use my faith and to speak to this issue. Glory to God! 

 

I did some research on this topic and to my surprise, there are few who truly believe that we can speak to the mountain. This is divine revelation some do not understand, nor do they believe that we can speak to our problems or situations and make them go away as led by the Spirit of God.

 

I am excited about this study because I know it will be a blessing to me, personally.  For this study there will be a prayer, questions, a reflection question for each week, a small application of speaking to the mountain, a discovery, and reading of the book of Mark (1-16). This is not a very lengthy study, but a very important one to know.

 

Week # 1          Jesus Give Instructions: "What is a Mountain in a believer's life?"

Week # 2          Authority and the Whatsoever Clause

Week # 3          What will you do with Your mountain?

Week # 4          Mark 11:23-24

Week # 5          Faith and Confession

Week # 6          Can Faith move Mountain?

Week # 7          The power to change is inside you

 

 

BIBLE STUDY "PASSION WEEK" WEEK # 8 CONCLUSION

7 Last Words of Jesus from the Cross

Date (5/22/15)

Week # 8  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

In our conclusion of this study, let's go deeper into what happen after the crucifixion. What did Jesus do and where did Jesus go? These are good questions to learn, so we can be greater witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ. We mention this in one of the study, if not mistaken, it was our introduction. The events following Jesus' death is very important to learn.

 

Events Following Jesus' Death

 

The Earthquake

Matthew 27:51-52 - At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. (NIV)

 

Why did the Temple's curtain rent in part?

 

During the lifetime of Jesus, the holy temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life. The temple was the place where animal sacrifices were carried out and worship according to the Law of Moses was followed faithfully. (Hebrews 9:1-9) tells us that in the temple a veil separated the Holy of Holies—the earthly dwelling place of God's presence—from the rest of the temple where men dwelt. This signified that man was separated from God by sin (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only the high priest was permitted to pass beyond this veil once each year (Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7) to enter into God's presence for all of Israel and make atonement for their sins (Leviticus 16).

Solomon's temple was 30 cubits high (1 Kings 6:2), but Herod had increased the height to 40 cubits, according to the writings of Josephus, a first century Jewish historian. There is uncertainty as to the exact measurement of a cubit, but it is safe to assume that this veil was somewhere near 60 feet high. Josephus also tells us that the veil was four inches thick and that horses tied to each side could not pull the veil apart. The book of Exodus teaches that this thick veil was fashioned from blue, purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen.

The size and thickness of the veil makes the events occurring at the moment of Jesus' death on the cross so much more momentous. "And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom"  (Matthew 27:50-51).

So, what do we make of this? What significance does this torn veil have for us today? Above all, the tearing of the veil at the moment of Jesus' death dramatically symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His own blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile.

When Jesus died, the veil was torn, and God moved out of that place never again to dwell in a temple made with hands (Acts 17:24). God was through with that temple and its religious system, and the temple and Jerusalem were left "desolate" (destroyed by the Romans) in A.D. 70, just as Jesus prophesied in (Luke 13:35). As long as the temple stood, it signified the continuation of the Old Covenant. (Hebrews 9:8-9) refers to the age that was passing away as the new covenant was being established (Hebrews 8:13).

In a sense, the veil was symbolic of Christ Himself as the only way to the Father (John 14:6). This is indicated by the fact that the high priest had to enter the Holy of Holies through the veil. Now Christ is our superior High Priest, and as believers in His finished work, we partake of His better priesthood. We can now enter the Holy of Holies through Him. (Hebrews 10:19-20) says that the faithful enter into the sanctuary by the "blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the veil, that is, through his flesh." Here we see the image of Jesus' flesh being torn for us just as He was tearing the veil for us.

The veil being torn from top to bottom is a fact of history. The profound significance of this event is explained in glorious detail in Hebrews. The things of the temple were shadows of things to come, and they all ultimately point us to Jesus Christ. He was the veil to the Holy of Holies, and through His death the faithful now have free access to God.

The veil in the temple was a constant reminder that sin renders humanity unfit for the presence of God. The fact that the sin offering was offered annually and countless other sacrifices repeated daily showed graphically that sin could not truly be atoned for or erased by mere animal sacrifices. Jesus Christ, through His death, has removed the barriers between God and man, and now we may approach Him with confidence and boldness (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The Centurion - "Surely he was the Son of God!"
(Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:47)

The rending of the veil signified that Christ, by his death, opened a way to God. We have an open way through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When we duly consider Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts should be rent; the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is plainly set forth crucified. The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and how they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to be wise above what is written. The dreadful appearances of God in his providence, sometimes work strangely for the conviction and awakening of sinners. This was expressed in the terror that fell upon the centurion and the Roman soldiers. We may reflect with comfort on the abundant testimonies given to the character of Jesus; and, seeking to give no just cause of offence, we may leave it to the Lord to clear our characters, if we live to Him. Let us, with an eye of faith, behold Christ and him crucified, and be affected with that great love wherewith he loved us. But his friends could give no more than a look; they beheld him, but could not help him. Never were the horrid nature and effects of sin so tremendously displayed, as on that day when the beloved Son of the Father hung upon the cross, suffering for sin, the Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Let us yield ourselves willingly to his service.

 

The Soldiers Break the Thieves' Legs
(John 19:31-33) explaining why the soldiers did not break the legs of Jesus. John's is the only account that shows fulfillment of the prophecies concerning none of Jesus' bones being broken and His side being pierced. (Numbers 9:12 "They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it." (Psalm 34:20) "He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken." (Zechariah 12:10) ""And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." According to prophecy it came to pass.

It was typical at crucifixions for Romans soldiers to show mercy by breaking the criminal's legs, thus causing death to come more quickly. But this night only the thieves had their legs broken, for when the soldiers came to Jesus, they found him already dead. Instead, they pierced his side. Before sunset, Jesus was taken down by Joseph of Arimathea and laid in a tomb according to Jewish tradition.

 

The Soldier Pierces Jesus Side:
(John 19:34) Could Blood and Water have Issued from a Dead Jesus?

Some doubt that any fluids at all could have issued from Jesus because he was already dead when his side was pierced, John 19:33. Once death occurs, the blood does not flow well because the heart stops pumping and the body grows cold. Yet the blood had to flow as a visible sign of his expiatory (atoning) death, because Leviticus 17:11 says: "... the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life" (this is one way Christianity explains expiation (the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement.) [atonement]). Hence, a miracle was likely required to confirm that his expiatory work was now "finished," as Jesus himself says in John 19:30. Jesus was born by a miracle from a young virgin, performed dozens of miracles throughout his short adult life, and his life's end was marked by a miracle, the issue of blood and water. Then came the final miracle: a resurrection from the dead three days later, the New Testament records. He still works miracles, even after His death!!!  There are more………………….

 

Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
(Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)

Jesus Rises from the Dead
(Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9)

Jesus Appear to the Eleven and others: (Mark 16:9; Matthew 28:9, 17; Luke 24:15, 36, 50; I Corinthians 15:5, 6, 7, 8; John 20:19, 26; 21:1; Acts 9:5).

Jesus Ascended to the Father (Acts 1:7-10; Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:51)

Jesus will return again soon, and we must be ready to meet Him and the Father. I encourage you to study to show yourself approval unto God. Please don't be taken by surprise when He returns to take His bride to Heaven. Be watch and prayerful at all times. We know the time is near that He return. These words I leave with you. "The Comfort of Christ's Coming."

^"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." AMEN.  God bless you!
 

BIBLE STUDY "PASSION WEEK" WEEK # 7 (ENDING PRAYER)

 

 

Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!  Dear Lord Jesus, though my memory isn't what it used to be, I join King David today in giving you praise today for Who you are, and all the good gifts you lavish on us in the gospel. I praise you that irrespective of changes in my brain chemistry, you'll never forget me. This is my great hope and centering peace. But while they are fresh on my heart, here are a few things for which I am especially grateful as this day begins. I praise you for forgiving all my sins—past, present, and future—sins of thought, word, and deed.  How staggering a thought!  I used to think you forgive only confessed sins, but now I realize I'm probably aware of only 4 percent of my sins. But your blood covers the other 96 percent as well. Praise the Lord, O my soul, for a perfect and complete forgiveness! I praise you for securing, and healing all my diseases—diseases in my body, heart, and mind. Though I wish you would completely heal me before you return, nonetheless, I have this sure hope: The healing I'm already receiving in the gospel will be brought to completion. Praise the Lord, O my soul, for present, ongoing, and a secured complete healing! I praise you for redeeming my life from all pits—the pit of eternal separation from God, the pits others throw me into, the pits I naively fall into, and the pits I foolishly dig for myself! You've bought and brought me out of all pits into your embrace by taking the ultimate "pit" of God's judgment for us on the cross. Praise the Lord, O my soul, for an-all-pit redemption! I praise you for crowning me with your love and compassion. You've taken away all my guilt and you've borne all my shame. My conscience is no longer under the law and condemnation, but under grace and your rejoicing. Praise the Lord, O my soul, for a coronation of mercy and grace! I praise you for satisfying my desires with good things. Lord, I praise you for the smile of my grandson, the kiss of my wife, the taste of dark chocolate, the rainbow you painted on the side of a trout, the recent encouragement from a friend, and the sounds of great music, to name a few. Praise the Lord, O my soul, for a God who takes my desires seriously and satisfies them in countless ways! Lord Jesus, may the unsearchable, innumerable, and inexhaustible riches of the gospel renew me today with youth-like energy, that I may soar like an eagle and live to the praise of your glorious grace! I pray in your holy and loving name, Amen.

 

Reading:     Week # 7              (John 19-21)

 I really enjoyed this reading. Learn so much more about the Lord and what He did, and about the disciples too. I find so much peace in reading the Word.
 

BIBLE STUDY "PASSION WEEK" WEEK # 7 (SHARING)

The burying place of Jesus Christ:  Garden Tomb

 

 

JERUSALEM –

On Easter Sunday, millions of Christians around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Jerusalem, thousands of Christian pilgrims visit what many believe to be the site of that resurrection. 

Located near the heart of Jerusalem is a place called The Garden Tomb, what some believe was the Garden of Joseph of Arimathea. Here is where some believe Jesus died, was buried, and then rose from the dead.  The garden is a two acre oasis in the often hectic city of Jerusalem. British Christians bought the garden 125 years ago and formed The Garden Tomb Association. For years, they've allowed visitors here free of charge.  "What we do have here in the Garden is a perfect representation of the Biblical accounts at the end of the four Gospels. Everything in those four Gospels matches what we show people here in the Garden," Richard Meryon, director of The Garden Tomb, said.

 

Touring the Garden

Today, nearly a quarter of a million visitors pour into The Garden Tomb each year. Guide Steve Bridge took CBN News on a tour visitors get when they come to the garden.     

"What we plot out is the basic geography that we have in the Bible," he explained. "Jesus was crucified outside of the city walls at a place called Golgotha. And in the immediate area to where Jesus was crucified there was a garden that belonged to a rich man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea." We came first to the place the Bible calls "Golgotha," where the book of Matthew says "and when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull." 

"What are some of the main questions people ask you when they come here?" we asked Bridge.

"Some of the main questions, certainly from Christian groups would be can we be certain that this is the place where Jesus died and He was raised to life," Bridge said. "People often ask how come there are two places here and there is the Holy Sepulcher?"

 

Weighing the Evidence

The question arises because some believe Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the actual place of the crucifixion and resurrection, not the Garden Tomb. Constantine's mother Queen Helena helped build the church in 326 A.D.  The archeological weight supporting the church's claim is substantial. For example, the Roman emperor Hadrian built a temple on the site in the second century because local Christians venerated the site as the place of Golgotha. But the evidence for the Garden can be compelling. The gospel of John says, "... at the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden ... " (John 19: 38; 41).

 

If you have a garden, you need lots of water, especially in the dry Middle East. The Garden Tomb contains one of the oldest and largest cisterns in Jerusalem. It's 2,000 years old and holds about 200,000 gallons of water. "So the tomb we have here is a typical of a first century Jewish rolling stone tomb. It's dated at least 2,000 years, possibly older," Bridge explained to CBN News.

 

The Empty Tomb: 

In the Garden, the Bible also says there was a tomb. "It is carved out of solid rock. It's a man-made tomb and that's how the Bible describes the tomb in which the body of Jesus was laid," Bridge said of the tomb, while we are standing next to its entrance. "This channel that you can see in front of the tomb entrance is where the stone would have sat that would have been rolled to seal the entrance to the tomb. So finally, the most important thing about this tomb itself is that it's empty." We went inside for a look. "What we're looking at when we're looking at this direction is through into the burial chamber itself," Bridge explained. "And what you have inside the burial chamber are these two areas where a body would be laid, one just down here and one on this side." The tomb itself seems to fit the Bible's description. But whether The Garden Tomb or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the site of the resurrection of Jesus, many Christian pilgrims take with them a profound affirmation of their faith "I'm a Bible teacher in the states. And want to take some of this passion back, that Jesus is who he says he is, that he is the son of God, and he did walk this earth," Kelcey Gillespie, a Christian who made a pilgrimage here to Jerusalem, told us.

 

Celebrating the Person

As people celebrate Easter, those at The Garden Tomb stress it's not the place, it's the person.     

"The Bible writers really weren't that interested in establishing where Jesus died. We have very little information," Bridge said. "The Bible writers themselves were much more interested in Jesus Christ himself who he is. Why He died."  "That's what we want people to take away, that the tomb is empty. And we as Christians, of all the world's faiths, serve a living God who's overcome death, who has dealt with the sin in our life," Meryon said. "And Jesus is the centrality of our Christian faith, is He not?"  "And so here at the Garden that's what we want people to take away is the living Lord Jesus. The Easter weekend is the weekend that changed the world," he added. "The weekend that Jesus died and was buried and rose again for me and for you!"