Honoring the Grain

Mark 6:1-6; John 6:1-14

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 NASB

Timber was in first-century Israel.

Thousands of years of , , and diminished Israel’s forests.

The best wood was and expensive.

A principle of being a carpenter in Jesus’ day was no scrap.

In a land of scarcity, the carpenter wood.

The carpenter’s studied the pieces that came his way.

He studied the .

It is impossible to know how Christian a person is just by looking on the behavior.

You have to look below the all the way down to the grain.

Jesus takes us as He us.

He surveys the weaknesses and the . He does the same with the , the , and the .

He never tosses us in despair for another piece of .

He loves us as a carpenter loves his .

Do you remember the when Jesus fed the 5,000?

When they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.”  John 6:12 NASB

The Evidence Of The Grain

• A sense of

This grain tells the story that is needed.

• The inner feeling that says, “I can’t do well .”

This grain lives out: I want to Him but…

This is a grain to through.

• The heavy grain of

This is a thick – running grain.

It needs a lot of fine – and loving care.

This grain comes across as or or .

It’s really hard to get to and smooth it out.

• The deep grain of

Perhaps the greatest is .

are hard for this person.

Really surrendering to is very hard.