“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Anxiety doesn’t help at all. Our merciful Lord will listen to your prayer.”
Frencesco Forgione, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
Passage
22Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
23After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
24But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.
Matthew 14:22–24 (NASB95)
"The Coming Storm" by ikewinski is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Background
Quote-First Francesco Forgione, better known as Padre Pio and also Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (25 May 1887 – 23 September 1968), was an Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar, priest, stigmatist, and mystic. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
Padre Pio became famous for exhibiting stigmata for most of his life, thereby generating much interest and controversy. He was both beatified in 1999 and canonized in 2002 by Pope John Paul II. The Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina is located in San Giovanni Rotondo, Province of Foggia, Italy.
Passage-The book of Matthew is a Gospel that contains Narrative History, Genealogy, Parables, Sermons, and some Prophetic Oracles. It was written by Matthew (Levi), the Disciple of Christ around 48-50 A.D. The key word in Matthew is "Kingdom" and is used 28 times.
The personalities of this book include the Messiah Jesus Christ, His parents Mary and Joseph, the Twelve Disciples, the prophet John the Baptist, and other kinds of leaders. These leaders include those in government like Pilate and religious leaders such as the Pharisees (who attempt to hinder the work of Jesus).
The book of Matthew is the first of the synoptic gospels and it was written to reveal the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, from the line of David. It also was written to convince the Jews that Jesus Christ was indeed their long-awaited Messiah.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
Guidance and hope are intertwined. When we ask for advice, it helps very much to be listening to the answer. We need to remember that when we have run out of answers for our problems and ask for counsel from others, they respond out of experience that should not be dismissed simply because we don’t like the answer.
Ask: What is guidance, and where does it come from?
Point: (see the Definitions) Guidance comes from someone who knows more than we do.
Ask: How do we get guidance?
Point: We ask for it.
28“For they are a nation lacking in counsel, And there is no understanding in them.
29“Would that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would discern their future!
Deuteronomy 32:28–29 (NASB95)
Ask: Who do we ask?
Point: The local church leaders and Christians we trust.
3When they were near the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young man, the Levite; and they turned aside there and said to him, “Who brought you here? And what are you doing in this place? And what do you have here?”
4He said to them, “Thus and so has Micah done to me, and he has hired me and I have become his priest.”
5They said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether our way on which we are going will be prosperous.”
6The priest said to them, “Go in peace; your way in which you are going has the Lord’s approval.”
Judges 18:3–6 (NASB95)
Ask: Anyone else?
Point: Those people with more experience than us.
12“Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding.
13“With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding.
Job 12:12–13 (NASB95)
Ask: Is there anyone else we can or should seek counsel from?
Point: God.
29A wicked man displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
30There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.
Proverbs 21:29–31 (NASB95)
Ask: How do we ask God for counsel?
Point: Pray.
Re-read verse 23 from today’s passage:
23After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Matthew 14:23 (NASB95)
Ask: Why do we want guidance and counsel from God, the church, and people with more experience than we have?
Point: We don’t know what to do, and we are in a situation we want to resolve in a good, happy, and satisfactory way.
Ask: When we get this good advice, what does that do for us immediately?
Point: It gives us hope that the good outcome we want is something we can obtain.
Ask: So, what do we do with this good advice that gives us hope for a good outcome?
Point: Act upon it. Make a decision. Do something.
3“Give us advice, make a decision; Cast your shadow like night at high noon; Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive.
Isaiah 16:3 (NASB95)
Ask: What does that mean to “cast your shadow like night at high noon?”
Point: Have a clear delineation of your decision. Let there be no ambiguity of purpose for what you have decided to do, and do it.
Closing Statement
14“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
15‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
17‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
21‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”
Revelation 3:14–22 (NASB95)
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Who do you seek counsel from for guidance?
Question 2 Do you use prayer to seek guidance from God?
Question 3 Consider what it takes to “believe” someone when they give you advice after you ask them for their counsel.
Question 4 Write in your journal as much or as little as you are led to write concerning seeking guidance from God and others.
Definitions
Guidance
gahyd-ns
noun
The act or function of guiding; leadership; direction.
Advice or counseling, especially that provided for students choosing a course of study or preparing for a vocation.
Supervised care or assistance, especially therapeutic help in the treatment of minor emotional disturbances.
Something that guides.
the process by which the flight of a missile or rocket may be altered in speed and direction in response to controls situated either wholly in the Projectile or partly at a base.
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