October 9, 2011
Leading Us into the Unfamiliar!
Dave Bollenbacher

“I will not find Christ at the end of the journey, unless He accompanies me along the way.” Esther De Waal from the Celtic Way of Prayer

Mark 8:22-26

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” –Matthew 11:28-29

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. “But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” –Jeremiah 6:16

Christ leads us into the unfamiliar.

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” –Isaiah 42:16

To awaken within in us…

Intimacy with Him.

“Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means teacher), where are You staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come, and you will see.’ So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.” –John 1:35-39

Dependency on Him

“Who is among you that fears the Lord, that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in the darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and among the brands you have set ablaze. This you will have from my hand; You will lie down in torment.” –Isaiah 50:10-11

Reality from Him

“For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” -Hebrews 4:18-19

Jesus responds in ways contrary to my expectations.

Question: What am I looking at intently these days?

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” –Isaiah 42:16