I’VE TRIED EVERYTHING, EXCEPT

CARY HOLBERT

Copyright

Copyright © 2013 Cary Holbert

All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicate, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Book cover by Joleene Naylor

Introduction

The Dirty Feet Ministries Bible Studies Series is designed to encourage you to reflect honestly on your life and then make adjustments to improve areas you identify as missing the mark of Jesus. The study is a collection of six actual events, with fictitious names given to the characters, followed by a Bible passage and then probing questions.

Dirty Feet Ministries believes the Word of God is the final rule for faith and life. In other words, all we need to know about God and to live for God is in the Bible. The real life events are given as examples of what life looks like when a person says yes to Jesus Christ and His will, or, in some cases, rebels against Him. The Word of God is given not just to read or develop a theology of words but to reveal God so that we might know Him and enjoy Him.

Our journey as Christians is filled with opportunities from God to exercise our Christian freedom.  The choices we make don’t always look the same and the outcomes are different. It is impossible to fathom the mind of God and how he cares for every one of His people, at the same time allowing uniqueness in our oneness.  What a joy to be free and for the Lord to be the Lord of our conscious, not one another.  This event shares the journey and freedom exercised by two Christians who love the Lord with two different temporal outcomes. May you have the confidence and courage to live the life the Lord Jesus Christ has laid out for you personally.

The Architect of the universe and Creator of all things is saying, Come to me and I will enable you to love, live, and enjoy life to the fullest. In our broken world, it is time for those who know God to fine-tune our lives for Him, and for those who don’t, to turn to Him.

The Event

It has been years with doctor’s visit after doctor’s visit.  Mrs. Robinson didn’t see any improvement but had lots of anxiety before each visit, hoping something would change for the better.

This is a process that typically occurs when you experience a significant physical disease or sickness. God is gracious and we are blessed to have our level of care and I’m sure we prefer this over the type of facilities or knowledge base that existed in the 1800s.  However, is the earthly doctor the only source of help in our times of sickness and disease?  Mrs. Robinson continued to go to the doctors and, as a believer, made known her circumstances to the body of believers. They threw their prayer darts to heaven, asking for God to heal, and offering whatever other type of help, such as transport, organizing visits to the doctor, or cooking meals, that may be needed.  Isn’t this the normal process in most churches?

This is great that we share one another’s burdens but is that all that is available from within the community of believers?  Mrs. Robinson was just one of many who are struggling with some type of physical impairment. How many friends or acquaintances do you have who have some type of illness or disease right this moment and are going from treatment to treatment?  Over the years, the list has grown to the point it is impossible to keep track of everyone you have known who has been through or is going through, or who has already passed away from a physical ailment or disease.

Mr. Peace has been diagnosed with the dreaded C word, cancer.  If you know or have known anyone who has or had cancer, there are similar paths of treatment: radiation, chemo, experimental drugs and, in some cases, surgery.  Modern medicine is attempting to help identify through studies of our DNA makeup the probabilities of your having, say, for example, cancer and thereby taking preventive actions, which may be extreme, in order to avoid the possibility of having that disease.  Time will tell if that will help.  However, it will be limited in focus and this will not keep us from experiencing other physical ailments or diseases. Mr. Peace is a believer and the word spreads to pray for him, but is there more available to assist within the Christian community?  Is there more available in the Christian community than just our darts in heaven?

It is finally more than Mrs. Robinson can take, as the disease is having a significant impact on her life, and no relief is coming through the doctor’s visits or the prayers.  What can Mrs. Robinson do?  Mr. Peace has started the regime of chemo, making the hour-plus journey to the facility and then going home, followed by nausea and fatigue.  What can he do?

It doesn’t look good for either of them. The outcome is probably death in this life.  However, both are prepared to meet Jesus.  Is there anything else that can be done now that will please God, make Him known and possibly extend their lives on earth?  Is there a magical formula? No!   Is there God-given means of grace in this life that He, God, at times chooses to work the miraculous through for His glory? Yes!  The challenge is that the circle of cooperation extends beyond the one affected party.  In the body of believers, the next step to the prayer darts in heaven includes those whom God has called as servant leaders within the body of Christ.

The purposes of God extend way beyond what is seen in any one circumstance.  One thing is for certain: the impact will be positive. Mrs. Robinson took the next step; Mrs. Robinson called for the elders to anoint her with oil and laying of hands on her with prayer.  The next doctor’s visit was different; the doctor saw what was the root of the problem and immediately referred her to a specialist.  Mrs. Robinson had cancer that had not been detected.  Treatment was scheduled and successful, with no reoccurrence of cancer.   Was it coincidental or God’s intervention?  Mr. Peace asked for prayer but not for the elders to anoint him with oil and lay hands on him with prayer.  Mr. Peace will never know nor will anyone else what might have happened.

Lesson I

Preparing for death

The attitude of invincibility flees at the first encounter of injury, disease, or loss of a loved one.

The event

1.  In what ways do all people prepare for death?  How do you think humanity embraces the reality of death?

2.  How did Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Peace prepare for death?

3.  Who surrounded them in their journey?

4.  Do you think death is normal or abnormal?

The Bible Passage

Hebrews 9:11-28

Those who die will live but the question is a matter of location!

1.  Hebrews 9:11, 12

a. What title is Christ given and where is He now?

2.  Hebrews 9:13-23

a. Why did Christ die?

3.  Hebrews 9:24

a. What role is Christ carrying on in heaven?

4.  Hebrews 9:25-26

a. How do we know Christ’s work

accomplished everything that was necessary

for me?

5.  Hebrews 9:27-28

a. Will everyone die?  If yes, how can they

enter heaven upon death in this life?

Remember:

1. Death is inevitable and the first person you

will meet is Jesus. You need to prepare for

that event now by surrendering your heart to

Jesus, accepting Him as your Lord and Savior.

2.  Be encouraged we have an advocate now

in Heaven who is for us.

Lesson II

Talents from God

Not everyone acknowledges God but God is the giver of life, talents, and all good things, including offering eternal life to all who believe in Christ.

The Event

1.  What happens if people decide not to use their talents?

2.  What if those involved don’t acknowledge their talents as God-given?

3.  As Christians, how did they both embrace the talents of others?

4.  What talents do you see utilized in the body of believers?

5.  What talents do we see utilized by those who may or may not be Christians?

6.  What improvements through God-given talents had taken place from the early 1800s until the present?

The Bible Passage

Genesis 1:26-31, Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:6-8, 16-24, Genesis 5:1-3, Genesis 9:6, Matthew 6:26, Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:17-24, Hebrews 1:2-3, Matthew 5:45

1.  Genesis 1:26, 27

a. In whose image is man created?

2.  Genesis 1:28-31

a. How is the quality of God’s workmanship

described?  What are some likeness humanity

bears to God that we can discover from this

passage?

3.  Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:6-8, 16-24

a. What happened in the Garden of Eden?

b. How was man affected?

4.  Genesis 5:1-3, Genesis 9:6, Matthew 6:26

a. Whose image does man still bear after the

Garden of Eden’s failure?  In what way is it

different?

5.  Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:17-24

a. How can a person have that which is

distorted restored?

6.  Hebrews 1:2-3, Matthew 5:45

a. Who upholds the earth and who is

impacted by the graciousness of God?

Remember:

1.  God has given everyone talents.  All good

things come from God.

2.  Not everyone acknowledges that their

talents and things have come from God, but

one day they will.

3.  Don’t worry, God is the one who upholds

the earth.

Lesson III

Believers Freedom

I think it best to not take chemo.  This is my choice and I have a God-given freedom to make that choice.

The event

1.  How did the two make similar choices?

2.  What if they chose not to go to the doctor?

3. What if they chose not to follow the doctor’s treatment plan?

4.  What if they chose not to tell others in the body of Christ about their condition?

5.  One chose to call the elders and the other did not. Does that mean one was closer to God and the other not? Why or why not?

The Bible Passage

1 Corinthians 8:10-13, 1 Corinthians 9:11, 12, 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, Romans 14:6-23

What scripture does not forbid nor my conscience troubled, who then has the right to judge that action in my life?

1.  1 Corinthian 6:19, 20

a. How is a believer’s body described?

Therefore what should we do with our body?

2.  Romans 14:6-12

a. To whom does a believer belong and who

will each one stand before to be judged?

3.  Romans 14:23

a. If something is not commanded but you

believe it to be wrong and do it, what does the

Bible say you are doing?

4.  Romans 14:10, 19-23

a. What should we not be doing to others in

matters that are disputable and absent of

moral implications?

b. What am I not to do with my liberty?

5.  1 Corinthians 9:11, 12

a. What right did Paul freely give up that he

was entitled to?

Remember:

1.  While there are lots of similarities in the

journey for each Christian, there is also uniqueness. We have a tendency to forget that as believers we have been set free and this freedom at times is exercised in a way that gives up certain provisions we may be entitled to receive.

2. The Lord is lord of the conscious, not you or

I.  Our freedom of conscious is under the authority of scripture and not to be used to indulge in evil.

Lesson IV

Sharing our troubles and problems

A proper distribution of weight allows equality on each support.

The event

1.  How did the two individuals bear their own troubles and problems?

2.  Who helped share the burden?

3.  What tangible ways did others help share their troubles and problems?

4.  Are you available to help others?

5.  Was there any obligation for the two individuals to share their troubles or could they have decided to bear this weight themselves? Why or why not?

The Bible Passage

Galatians 6:1-6

Are you too important to help someone?

1.  Galatians 6:1, 2

a. What does it mean to share each other’s

troubles and problems?

2.  Galatians 6:1, 2

a. What types of troubles and problems do we

share? How do we share them with others?

3.  Galatians 6:3

a. If someone needs your help, what do you

do?

4.  Galatians 6:5

a. Does the person who is experiencing the trouble or problem need to carry the load as

well, or are you the dumping ground?

5.  Galatians 6:6

a. Why do you think Paul includes the charge

to “help their teachers by paying them?” How

is this connected to sharing each other’s

troubles and problems?

Remember:

1.  We each need to carry our own load but we

also need to help carry one another’s at times.

2.  Don’t be upset if someone opts out of

sharing their troubles, other than with God.

Lesson V

Enduring trouble

You are not yet what you will be but the process has begun.

The event

1. In what spiritual ways did both endure their present troubles?

2.  How did the body of believers assist spiritually to uphold them?

3.  What tangible ways was help provided to endure their present troubles?

4.  What did both have to look forward to, no matter what the outcome?

5.  Who was holding them each step of the way and how did they know?

The Bible Passage

James 1:2-4, Hebrews 4:14-16, Hebrews 10:24, 25, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, 2 Timothy 3:15, 16, 2 Corinthians 13:13

Means to endure our trouble!

1. James 1:2-4

a. What purpose does trouble serve in the

person who is a Christian?

b. How are we to embrace our troubles?

2. Hebrews 4:14-16

a. What means does God provide for us to get

the help we need?

b. What assurance do we have it will be

provided?

3.  Hebrews 10:24, 25

a. What is expected for all of those who say

they are God’s people?

4.  1 Corinthians 11:23-26

a. How can we receive spiritual nourishment to help in our times of trouble?

5.  2 Timothy 3:15, 16

a. Where do we find the promises of God in

order to stand our ground in times of trouble?

6.  2 Corinthians 13:13

a. Who is our constant companion?

Remember:

1.  God has given us His word so we can draw

strength from the promises He has made to

each of his children.

2.  God uses the trials in your life to refine you

more and more in the image of Christ.

3.  You are not alone; you have the Triune God as your constant companion.

Lesson VI

Surrender of the heart

The wall of my heart is thin and the beat irregular but a new heart is being formed in me.

The event

1.  How does Mr. Peace demonstrate the surrender of his heart to the Lord?

2.  How does Mrs. Robinson demonstrate the surrender of her heart to the Lord?

3.  What confidence do they have in their trouble?

4. How is brokenness used to create wholeness in both of their lives?

5.  What impact does this event have on others around them?

The Bible Passage

Job 17:1-16, Job 19:25-27

As sure as night is night and day is day, I will see the face of My God!

1. Job 17:1, 2

a. How does Job describe his present feelings?

2. Job 17:3-8

a. How is Job treated by others in his

suffering?

3. Job 17:9

a. What is the outcome of anyone’s troubles

that are right with God?

4. Job 17:10-16

a. What is the condition of Job’s heart?

5. Job 19:25, 26

a. What does Job know?

6. Job 19:27

a. How is Job able to rejoice with a broken

heart?

Remember:

1. Don’t crush your friends in their times of

trouble.

2.  The pain we feel from heartache is real but

we can endure under it with the help of the

Lord.

3.  The broken-hearted are those whose hearts

are being made new.

Lesson VII

The elders summoned

The event

I’ve tried everything except calling for the elders.

1.  Who calls for the elders?

2.  How does Mr. Peace choose to deal with his sickness?

3.  Mr. Peace had the option to call the elders but if he chooses not to, who has the right to judge him?

4.  Have you ever been sick and called the elders? When was the last time in your community of faith, you saw the elders anoint a sick person with oil and pray for them?

5.  Have you ever encouraged a sick person to call for the elders to anoint them with oil and pray for them?

The Bible Passage

James 5:14-18

Prayer is not only communication with God and Him with us but it is a way that “His Kingdom comes to earth,” which is trouble free.

1. James 5:14

a. Who should call for the elders?

2. James 5:14, 15

a. What should the elders do if called?

3. James 5:14, 15

a. How is the ceremony to be conducted by

the elders?

4. James 5:16

a. What is a condition for healing?

5. James 5:17, 18

a. What example is given to illustrate God will

act?

Remember:

1. God’s supernatural provision for the sick through calling the elders to anoint you with oil and pray for you is underutilized.  You come in faith, repenting of any known sin with expectations of God fulfilling His word.

2. Those choosing not to summons the elders is a God-given right as well.

Lesson VIII

What now?

Many folks will finish what they’re doing and wash their hands then move on to the next life event.  This pattern repeats itself in the Christian community as well.  You spend 6 to 8 weeks reading, fellowshipping, praying, and completing exercises only to move on to the next event in your life.  Often our faith is not more than an inch deep and nothing but hot air.  We are robbed and rob others of all that God wants for humanity.  In our despair we often treat one another like Job’s friends did in his great hour of trouble.

The two believers who battled diseases both acted in accordance with what they believed to be God’s call on their lives. God, through their brokenness, is refining and molding them more and more in the image of Christ.  The outcome will eventually be the same for both as they will see him with their own eyes.  How can we as believers be those who care, share, and encourage one another through the troubles that visit us in this life?

Author Biography

Cary Holbert is a pastor, public speaker, author, and financial and management advocate. Pastor Cary has successfully helped both non-profit and for-profit organizations in financial and management aspects of their business. With a Master's degree in Pastoral Leadership from the Columbia Biblical Seminary, Pastor Cary currently serves on several non-profit boards and is president of the Dirty Feet Ministries, which writes and publishes ministry training literature, including The Elder Handbook Parts I & II, The Deacon, The Servant Series and The Dirty Feet Ministries Small Group Bible Study Six Part Series.

Books by Dirty Feet Ministries, Inc

Small Group Bible Study:

The Lady Who Couldn't See

I'm Too Old

The Dad Who Left Me

Why Give Money?

I've Tried Everything, Except

Who is Your Timothy or Lydia?

Leadership Training:

The Elder

The Elder in Action

The Deacon

The Servant Series:

1 Peter

Devotional Series:

He is out of his mind: The Gospel of Mark

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