We began the day with a game called “Don’t Wake the Bear.” The objective of this game is to steal the baby bear without letting the mama or papa bear see you. To do this the entire class starts at the opposite side of the room to where the parent bear is. With the mama bear facing away from the group the class tries to sneak up and grab the baby bear (teddy bear) without the big bear (person) seeing you. Whenever the mama bear turns their back to the class the class moves, but if the mama bear turns around and sees you moving you are out. The person to grab the baby bear without getting caught became the mama or papa bear. Ramey, Billy, Kaley, Sam and Kayla were the valiant souls that risked their lives and grabbed the baby bear.
This week we are on a Quest for ZOE. What in the world is ZOE? ZOE is more valuable than any treasure. It is an ancient word that the Greeks used that was more valuable than any amount of gold. Fame was exciting. Having, riches, gold and power were things that people longed for but if one found ZOE they found a treasure that was more valuable than a combination of all the riches of the most powerful kings in the world.
ZOE is a word that the Greeks use for life. It means more than just being alive. It is the life that God gives. It is a life active and vigorous, devoted to God; a life of adventure.
Where in the Bible do we find ZOE? In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come to bring LIFE and LIFE TO THE FULL.” Jesus came to bring life. In other words, Jesus came to bring ZOE— a life real and genuine; one that is filled with excitement and productivity. A life filled with energy and a power to change the world. A life filled with adventure, conquering armies, exploring and destroying the kingdom of darkness.
There are characters in history that have found this ZOE which I speak of. In I Samuel a young man named Jonathan found ZOE. When Jonathan was a young man the Philistine army had taken control of his country, Israel. All of Israel was hiding in fear from the enemy. Not a soldier with Saul and Jonathan had a sword or spear in his hand; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. Jonathan was sick of the enemy ruling his homeland so one day he looked at his armor bearer and said, “Let’s go over to the Philistine outpost.” Jonathan went to the outpost and said to his armor bearer, “If they tell us to come up to them, then that will be a sign that God has given them into our hands. If they tell us to wait here, then God has not given them into our hands yet.” When the enemy saw Jonathan and his armor bearer in the valley below they yelled at them, “Come up here, and we will teach you two a lesson.” Jonathan looked at his armor bearer and said, “Sweet! God has given them into our hands.” With their bare hands Jonathan and his partner began climbing up the face of the cliff. When they finally reached the top the power of God fell and the Philistines began going crazy, “Oh my! There’s two of them!” One by one the two young men took out the enemy and brought freedom back to Israel that day.
Another character in history that found ZOE was Elisha. One day a woman came to Elisha and told him that her son had just died and she wanted help. Elisha turned to his servant Gehazi and told him to run to the boy’s house and lay his staff on the boys face. Gehazi ran to the boy and laid his staff on the boys face but nothing happened. Gehazi told Elisha it didn’t work. Elisha then came into the house of the boy and shut the door on the mother and Gehazi and began to battle in prayer for the boy. After praying he laid his body across the boy and the boy’s body became warm. Elisha then got up and prayed more and laid himself across the boy’s body again. The boy then came back to life.
Jonathan and Elisha both found ZOE. What separated these men from the rest? What was it that they possessed inside of them that enabled them to discover this treasure?
The first thing is they were determined to see change. Jonathan was sick of the Philistines ruling the land. He was sick of his generation doing nothing. He determined that his generation would change the world, even if he was the only one to face the giants. Elisha was determined for God to heal the boy. He went the extra mile. Then he did it again (laid himself across the boy 2xs).
The second thing they did was they closed the door of negativity. Elisha shut the door on the crying woman and frustrated Gehazi. Jonathan separated from the complaining, negative army. They did not let the lies of the enemy get to them.
Finally, they realized that God is bigger than the boogey man. He is bigger than any problem you will ever face. They both knew that God is not limited by what men can do. He just needs someone who will make a move.
If we find Jesus and have a determination to change, close the doors of negativity and believe that God is bigger than any obstacle that we face we too will find a life of adventure; one that changes the world.
