H
agar was an unwilling victim…a servant who represented the world that He wanted to bless. God loved
had to do what Abraham and Sarah said. When Hagar as much as He loved Abraham!
suddenly her world turned upside down, she
A
must have thought, I’m not going to stay around and take nd God loves you, and God loves me, and God
this. The pagans back in Egypt treated me better than these so loves the whole world that He sent The Angel
so-called “godly” people. I’ll just go back to Egypt. So Hagar, of the Lord to seek those who are separated from
carrying Abraham’s unborn child, ran away. Back to pagan Him, and on the run. The Angel of the Lord is no longer
gods and spiritual darkness. Away from God’s people and pre-incarnate, but post-incarnate. He is Abraham’s ultimate
God’s presence and God’s promises. promised Seed, the unique Son of God, who left His throne
in heaven and came down into the world to seek and to save
Are you running? From someone or something? Whoever what was lost. He finds us on the desert road…the place
or whatever it is, don’t blame God. I understand the of emptiness and spiritual dryness, running away from our
desperate desire to run from them, but not from Him. And hurt and pain and grief and anger into the nothingness and
besides, running away never really solves anything, does it? helplessness and hopelessness of a world that is in rebellion
It just delays resolving the issue. and separated from Him by sin.
But Hagar ran. As her sandaled feet moved swiftly over the Are you someone who is on the desert road of despair,
rough, rocky terrain that emptied into an endless desert, she running away into anything or anywhere as long as it’s not
must have been feeling lonely and confused and terrified where you’ve been? My prayer is that you will be found by
and angry. Her heart must have been beating out of her the Spirit of the same Angel of the Lord who sought and
chest when . . . The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a found Hagar.
spring in the desert. (16:7) Scholars agree that when The
Angel of the Lord appeared in the Old Testament, it was a
“theophany” or an appearance of the pre-incarnate Son of
God . . . Jesus before Bethlehem. This is the first time we
encounter Him in Scripture . . . right here, at the spring that
is beside the road to Shur, (16:7) revealing Himself . . .
Did Hagar choke on her sobs, her breath coming in Hagar turned around, not petulantly or reluctantly or hesi-
ragged gasps, as she poured out her heart to Him? I’m tatingly, but with the joy of knowing she herself . . . not just
running away from my mistress, Sarai. (16:8) She told Abraham, but a little Egyptian servant girl . . . she herself had
Him exactly what she was doing. a personal relationship with the living God, the Creator of
the Universe! I can almost see her clasping her hands to
And did He put His arms around her, pull her head her chest, eyes wide with wonder, as she exclaimed, You are
onto His chest, stroke her hair, and just hold her close to the God who sees me . . . I have now seen the One who sees
His heart for a few moments until her sobs grew quieter me.(16:14)
and her breathing more regular? Then did He gently
whisper as He instructed, Go back to your mistress and As Hagar slipped back into Abraham’s household that night,
submit to her . . . I will so increase your descendants that ignoring the stares of the other servants and the glare of her
they will be too numerous to count. (16:9-10) In other mistress, was there a purpose to her steps and a light in her
words, Hagar, the only way to resolve this entire mess is to eyes and a glow on her face and a smile on her lips and a peace
repent of your sin. Turn around. Go back. If you do, I will in her heart? Did she look past the stars in the sky that were
bless you immeasurably. not as numerous as her descendants would be, and whisper
to herself, He sees me. He sees me! God sees me . . . and I have
D
o you really want to resolve the mess you’re seen Him! 1
running away from? Do you want God’s
P
blessing to fall on you? Then the first step is
to turn around in your attitude, reverse the direction of raise God! The miracle of Christmas is that God has
your self-will, and submit to His authority wherever He seen you and me! He has come down to find us on
places you. our path of sin and self-destruction because He loves us! And
in the Baby of Bethlehem, we have seen Him!
Turning around is so hard to do, isn’t it? It’s painful to
turn around, to admit your fault, to face the person, to Merry Christmas!
pay the price, to confront your own shortcomings and
sin while leaving the other person to God. But I can
almost hear the applause of heaven as those who have
gone before encourage and challenge us, Repent, then,
and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that
times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he
may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even
Jesus.
Read Mark 10:46-52 **How was he discouraged from crying out? How are you
From this passage, write a description of Bartimaeus. being discouraged from crying out, and who is discouraging
For example: you?
He was blind, meaning he probably felt lonely . . . what
else? **Would you open your heart and cry out to Him now?
He was sitting on the roadside, meaning he was outcast
. . . what else? II. JESUS HEEDS YOUR CALL Mark 10:49-50
He was begging, meaning he had financial needs . . . what
else? **What two or more things did Jesus do in response to
How do you relate to Bartimaeus, or who do you know Bartimaeus’ cry?
who does?
**Why do you think Jesus won’t stop everything He is
I. JESUS HEARS YOUR CRY Mark 10:46-48 doing, and answer your cry?
**Do you think Jesus knew Bartimaeus was sitting by the **How does God describe Himself in Exodus 34:6? How is
roadside? this description the basis of Nehemiah’s prayer in
Nehemiah 9:5-37? Give the phrases with verse numbers
**Do you think Jesus would have stopped to help if that include the word “compassion” or “compassionate.”
Bartimaeus had not cried out?
**What encouragement do you receive from Isaiah 54:10?
**Describe a similar scene in Mark 6:47-50; Matthew 9:36? 14:14? 15:32? 20:34? Mark 1:41?
in Luke 24:28-29. What does this teach you? 2 Corinthians 1:3?
**Give phrases from the following verses that encourage you **Once he knew he had Jesus’ attention, what did
to cry out: Genesis 21:17-18; Exodus 3:7-10; Bartimaeus do? What do you need to “throw off ” in order
1 Samuel 9:16; 2 Samuel 22:7-20; 1 Kings 17:17-24; to experience the difference Jesus can make in your life?
Psalm 6:9, 34:15-18, 55:16-17, 116:1-2, 145:17-19; Hebrews 12:1; Luke 5:32; Acts 3:19; Ephesians 4:22-24;
Romans 8:15-16. Colossians 3:8-10.
MY JESUS IS . . . EVERYTHING!
Stay focused on Jesus even in the midst of storms with this beautifully-formatted gift
book. Bonus CD narrated by Anne and accompanied by Fernando Ortega’s
arrangement of Give Me Jesus.
Hardback Book -Special offer available until January 15, 2010 263 $ 8.00
DAILY LIGHT
An elegant, leather-bound volume of morning and evening Bible readings for every day
of the year, with an exclusive section of readings for special moments.
Black 047 $ 18.00
Tan 063 $ 18.00
Burgundy 064 $ 18.00
During a very intense media launch in New York City for The
Magnificent Obsession, I was invited to speak at The Bowery
Mission Chapel. So on my 43rd wedding anniversary, I shared Also available in late December
the Gospel in the very place that had greatly impacted my for the start of 2010 is Anne’s new
husband’s spiritual life when he was a 15-year-old who played 52-week Bible Study devotion,
the trumpet when his father preached there! This time, about a Into the Word. Like the disciples
dozen men and women came forward at the end of the message to of old, we need to draw aside with
claim Jesus Christ as their Savior. Jesus. Anne will help guide you in
a weekly retreat as she challenges
for christmas shipping deadlines and you to read, study and reflect upon
office hours, please visit our website, Scripture using this resource.
www.annegrahamlotz.com
Itinerary
NOVEMBER
12-15 NORTH CAROLINA, Asheville - Filling Up
To Overflow Billy Graham Training Center at
The Cove; 1-800-950-2092
DECEMBER
2 VIRGINIA, Lynchburg - Liberty University -
Chapel Service
JANUARY
10 NEW YORK, Northport - Northport Baptist
Church - I Saw The LORD Conference
www.nbc.org
15 ARIZONA, Phoenix - Leaders in Fellowship
Together Meeting; www.liftaz.org
(open only to women ministry leaders)
16-17 ARIZONA, Phoenix - Calvary Community
Church - I Saw The LORD Conference
www.calvaryphx.com
30 CANADA, Edmonton, Alberta - Break Forth
Canada Conference
www.breakforthministries.com
FEBRUARY
9 GEORGIA, Atlanta - Kingdom Advisors
Conference; www.kingdomadvisors.org
20 FLORIDA, Fort Myers - FCA President’s
Weekend
MARCH
7 MARYLAND, Landover - First Baptist Church
of Glenarden; www.fbcglenarden.org
19-20 SOUTH CAROLINA, Greenville - Just Give
Me Jesus/Upstate SC
JGMJesusSC@givemeJesusSC.com
864-349-1039
25 NORTH CAROLINA, Raleigh - Hearts of
Hope Luncheon sponsored by Raleigh Rescue
Mission; www.raleighrescue.org
APRIL
23-24 CALIFORNIA, Pasadena - Christian Ministries
Training Association; sktyall@aol.com
**For the positive reviews and the successful release of both the
book and the audio recording of The Magnificent Obsession, and
for the multiple media opportunities it has provided to extend
God’s offer of a personal relationship with Himself.
PRAYER
**For Filling Up To Overflow, our 4-day intensive seminar at
The Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove: to be fully
attended, fully blessed, equipping each one who comes to
effectively present God’s Word in order to change lives.