The Messiah's Secret - Jesus, the Son of man had nowhere to Lay His Head

Andy Murray has set his face like flint, mentally sharpened up in his determination to win the men’s final at tennis at the Wimbledon Tournament. 

Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem   Luke 9: 51-62. In our Gospel reading Jesus knows that his ministry will soon be fulfilled, so there was a sense of urgency to get the kingdom message out. In this incident at the Samaritan village Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy. "For the Lord our God helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore my face is like a flint, and I know I shall not be put to shame." Isaiah 50: 7.
Jesus was not deflected from his task by the Samaritan's rejection of him.

Jesus had sent messengers before him to make it known to the people in the Samaritan village that he was coming.  The men on entering the village would look for hospitality where he was going to eat or maybe sleep and where he would preach and minister. When the disciples made contact with the people at the Samaritan village, the residents did not want Jesus to come to them. It no doubt was because the religion of the Jews differed from the Samaritans.   

Dake’s  Annotated Reference Bible. The Samaritans. “These were the descendants of the pagans that settled in the land at the time of the captivities along with the few Jews who remained in the land. (2 Kings 17: 24-34.)They formed their own religion, a mixture of Judaism and paganism. They adopted the Pentateuch as the sole sacred book and erected a temple on Mt Gerizim near Shechem. 331 BC. The returning exiles rejected their help in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. (Ezra 4. Nehemiah 1. 4. 6.) The breach between the returning Jews became permanent and so acute that the Jews would not pass through Samaria to go into Galilee, but had a circuitous(round about) route east of Jordan.”(John 4: 9. 8: 48) 

The disciples James and John wanted Jesus to send fire down from heaven against these Samaritan villagers, who in fact were their neighbours. But we read that Jesus was not pleased, he rebuked them for their suggestion and they went to another village.
The Samaritans were their neighbours and we know that Jesus taught that the law was fufilled in loving God and our neighbours as ourselves.

Paul in his letter to the Galatians  wrote that they should not use their freedom in Christ to return to sinful ways: like retaliation against our neighbours.  Galatians 5:1, 13-25 
Today retaliation figures high amongst people who bear grudges, it is as a result of unforgiveness and in many cases it continues down the generations. 

Always Follow Jesus.
Below a children's quiz with 8 pictures based on the Gospel reading with a boy and girl on skate boards going around the board.1. Fox. 2. Birds. 3. Roundabout (keep going and don't look back). 4. Joseph and Mary. 5. Wreath. 6. House. 7. Mum waving goodbye. 8. Plow.The right answers to questions about the story to move around the board. For example: What were the people called who lived in the village? Where do foxes live? Bird build themselves ----- to lay their eggs in. etc.

 “As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you, wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, the birds have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said,”Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9: 57 – 62. 

The three people who are mentioned in the reading two of them were identified by Matthew in his account of this incident. Matthew 8: 18-22.  

Matthews writes, “Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side of the lake. “And there a scribe came up to him. . .”   

The first man was the scribe, he said “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied that foxes find shelter and rest in holes in the ground and the birds have nests. The scribe was making his commitment to Jesus, unlike many of his fellow scribes who had turned away from Jesus. 

In Jesus’ reply he indicated his sorrow for the people of the Samaritan village he had been refused somewhere to lay his head, a bed for the night. Jesus' ministry was to bring healing between Jew and Samaritan. The parable of the 'Good Samaritan' is where the Jewish man who was injured and robbed was helped by the Samaritan and taken to the Inn to be cared for. Also the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus spoke to her and in their conversation Jesus made it known to her that he was the Messiah. She then went and evangelized the people at Sychar her home town and many came to faith.

The second person - Matthew identifies as a disciple. Jesus spoke to him saying; ‘Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  

He genuinely had a problem with his father's death, under law the eldest son had the duty to see to the funeral arrangements. This man’s family would not be too pleased if he did not comply with the law. 'The dead bury the dead' - his family would put duty over following Jesus.

But here Jesus who is God revealed in the flesh, he instituted the law. He was giving this man leave to be set free from the law with its customs and rules.   

Jesus was giving this disciple the freedom to go and proclaim the Kingdom of God message.  In the following verse in Chapter 10 Jesus chose seventy disciples to go ahead of him. Maybe two of these three disciples had been chosen by Jesus to go before him with the message.    

“Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, “The Kingdom of God has come near to you” Luke 10: 1, 9.  

The third person said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  

Had this man last minute nerves making an excuse to delay going out with the seventy or maybe in his love for his family, he wanted to go and say goodbye before setting out with the other disciples.  

First and foremost we are called to love the Lord our God.   

A father asked his child, how much do you love me? I            I so much. He repeated: how much do you love me? I                              I  and again, how much do you love me? I   arms stretched wide I.  I love you that much Jesus loves us that much embracing all our sin on his cross, setting us free from our sins.   

Matthew’s testimony  Matthew shared with me his testimony - When a visiting Methodist preacher Otto from South Africa stayed for a short time with the Methodist Circuit  in  Rossendale. On this particular Sunday he was preaching at Longholme Methodist Church, during his sermon he went around the congregation asking people face to face, “Do you love me?” When he came to Matthew and looked at him squarely in the face and said, ‘Do you love me,”  Matthew’s head knowledge about Jesus became heart knowledge at that moment.  He knew how much Jesus loved him  so much to die for him, bearing his sin on his cross. 

Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."  

Paul and Barnabas had been joined by another disciple John Mark at Salamis Cyprus. However, he left them shortly afterwards and returned to Jerusalem. Acts 13: 5, 13. When Barnabas and Paul decided to make a return visit to all the churches where they had been. Barnabas wanted John Mark to accompany them, but Paul thought it best not to take him with them, as he had withdrawn from them at Phamphylia and had not gone with them to do the work. Acts 15: 36-41. 

Paul and Barnabas their faces were like flint towards their task, but John Mark looked back he was not up to the task he perhaps looked to himself and his own capabilities rather than keeping focused on Jesus.  

The plowman has to focus on his plow going in a straight line and keeping as close as possible to the furrow. Keeping our eyes focused on Jesus and for him to be the center of our life. 

Jesus at the center of all we do. 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look into his wonderful face and the things of the earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.” Hymn Mission Praise

Eddie Askew in his book, “Talking with Hedgehogs’ It is a collection from his Radio Programme ‘Thoughts for the Day.’ 

Eddie’s radio spot first thing every morning was designed to start the day focusing on the ‘Word’ Jesus. Often the Lord gave him something that he had observed in his daily life and related it to scripture, so that the word would speak to his radio listeners at various times during the day, making Jesus’ comforting presence apparent within us.                                                 

The  Messiah’s  Secret –  The Woman with the Alabaster Flask

Readings: Galatians  2: 15-21.  Luke 7: 36, 8: 3. 

Reading the Gospel in parts with the reading being mimed, acted out at the same time.  

We recalled that Jesus had been invited to join Simon and his friends for a meal at his house. Jesus was reclining at the table when a lady, described as a woman of the city a sinner, a prostitute, carrying a flask of ointment came in and interrupted their meal.        

She had heard that Jesus was at Simon’s house having a meal there, so she planned her visit. it would appear to be unannounced as Luke used the word, “And behold, a woman of the city . . . 

From the reading we read that this lady was under a strong conviction of her need to get right with God. Prior to this, some hours before, she may have listened to the message from Jesus or from a disciple, “Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” And this led her to come to Jesus in faith and repentance, as her contrition, her contrite, broken heart for her sin, would indicate. 

She had brought with her an alabaster flask of ointment  and stood behind Jesus weeping, as he sat reclined at the table, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 

Some Christian theologians suggest that she would have used similar perfumes in her trade as a woman of the city. This then was an anointing of the feet that carried a symbol of her trade, prostitution, and bore it on the cross.

Jesus forgave her sin.

Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world but to redeem the world from sin so that whosoever believe in him are set from sin, so It is through faith in Jesus.

Faith – is not by sight but by the things hoped for, but not yet realised . 

Faith is like posting a letter we put the address and the stamp on the envelope and post it, believing that it will reach its destination and also we may expect a reply in due course.

The woman’s faith brought her to Jesus, the only person who was able to justify, declared not guilty by God, to vindicate, and absolve her sin.                                        

She showed her love for God and her love fulfilled the law.  

Also in the reading these aspects of love – The woman showing her love, in wanting to please God by coming to Jesus in repentance, saying sorry and in her gratitude and respect anointing his feet. 

God’s love - Jesus forgave her without hesitation in his love for her.  

When Simon watched the woman, his face must have shown his disgust.  
Simon thought that he was justified by the Jewish law and he was indignant towards Jesus and the woman. He thought that Jesus should not have allowed this woman to touch him.                                                                                                                    

Jesus told the parable to prove that Simon was not justified, declared not guilty before God by the law, Simon was still a sinner in God’s eyes. 

“A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed him 500 denarii, and the other 5o. When they could not pay he forgave them both. Now which one will love him the more?” Simon answered, “The one I suppose, to whom he forgave the more.” Jesus said, “You have judged rightly.”

Through the woman’s actions, Jesus pointed out to Simon his sin. 
He had failed to show Jesus the customary hospitality shown to a special guest. Jesus said to Simon, “I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet. You gave me no kiss. You did not anoint my feet with oil. Therefore; he, who is forgiven little, loves little.”  

Simon’s sin coming from love of self: showed no remorse, no gratitude or respect for Jesus.  
The parable almost gives us a graf. 500 Danarii the greater, whereas, Simon’s 50 Danarii a big dip. The great outpouring of love and a trickle of love. 

Both had sinned and both were forgiven, both were debtors to God. 

We have another example in John’s Gospel were those present had varying degrees of sin: the woman caught in the act of adultery. John 8: 3- 11    

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus who was accused of committing adultery, which was punishable by stoning her to death. They wanted Jesus to make a judgement over her. Jesus' response he brought the scribes and Pharisees and all those present to account for their sin.  “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” When they heard these words, they went away, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. He forgave her sin and told her to sin no more.
Jesus had the authority to forgive the lady her sins.
Those sat at the table began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 
Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, forgave both their debts as both were debtors to God.

The Messiah’s Secret page 57 
Jesus had the authority to forgive sins without an offering been made at the temple or a ritual of washing. Jesus was God revealed in the flesh. Jesus proved that he had the authority to forgive sins by his healing ministry. The Jews believed that sin resulted in sickness and only God could forgive sin and as a result heal the person. Psalm 41: 4. Jesus therefore proved his authority by forgiveness of sin and healing the person. Mark 2: 1-12.  
Not every sickness is a result of sin John 9: 2, 3, 14.  

Peter Meadows & Joseph Steinberg in their book "Beyond Belief" page 50 They confirm this view concerning Jesus' authority to forgive sins in connection with his healing ministry. "To Jewish people, only God could forgive sins. So when Jesus told someone their sins were forgiven it was no different from saying 'I'm God'. And when he healed people of their disease or disfigurement he was putting out the same message. Jewish people believed physical suffering was caused by the person's sin. For a person to be healed meant that their sin had been dealt with - only God could do that."  

Jesus showed no partiality between the women, Simon the Pharisee and the scribes and other people present. By the same standards in the Parable they were all debtors to God, sin against God.  

It is through faith in Jesus we are freed from our debt, our sin against God. We can not justify ourselves.  
The law was a stumbling block to the Jews because they thought it would save them.
For us Gentiles because the Hebrew Scriptures prove through the prophesies that God had planned to send a Saviour we read their scriptures, and through those scriptures we become aware of sin against God, and were God put in place the law as a guide to what sin is.  But Christians are not under Jewish law.                                                                                                                                      

New Testament

Jesus taught that through faith in him who through his life laid down. We are justified by his blood that was the final sacrifice for sin and the forgiveness of sin.

“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God.” Hebrews 9: 14  

At the last supper Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 28  

The words ‘for many’ include the Gentiles, therefore, Jesus is the only one who is able to justify, and declare us not guilty and absolve us from our sin against God.  

When we like the woman recognise our need to get right with God, we will be convicted to seek God out.  

Some times Jesus meets a person as they cry out in desperation or it may be through hearing about Jesus from someone or even through reading the message on a board outside a church.   

For example: 

We feel like this kettle, empty, discontented with life.  When we accept  Jesus as our Saviour it is like filling the kettle with water, filling our empty space within. When we put the plug attached to the kettle into the socket on the wall, we switch it on and the current flows into the kettle and boils the water.  

Likewise, our faith connects us with Jesus, the current between us and God is his Spirit, and he shows his love and power to forgive us, absolving us from all our sin. As a result we have an amazing freedom and peace within, that the world cannot give. 

We are crucified with Christ, this is realised when we know that our sins against God have been forgiven and we feel how God feels about sin. When we do fall into sin, we are like the sheep that falls into the ditch and is not comfortable there.  
“But if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1: 7.

The Devil attacks the holy love of God. 
He tries to pollute the love of God with the universal love that is tainted by sin due to the fall of Adam and Eve. But we like the woman in our reading we have turned away from sin, and we are justified, declared not guilty by the blood of Jesus that testifies to our new nature in Christ, God’s nature.

God shows no partiality between races and cultures across the world and he blesses only the truth about his Word Jesus. 
Paul in his letter to the Galatians. “And from those who were reputed to be something (what they are makes no difference to me: God shows no partiality.” Galatians 2: 6.  “Peter said, “Truly, I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right and acceptable to him.” Acts 10: 34                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

The Messiah’s Secret – The Surging Crowds

Evening Lectionary Mark 3: 7-19  Genesis 4: 1-16.

The celebrities of today have huge following both on line and at gigs. They also have people around them who look after their well being, especially when the teenagers want more than a glimpse of their celebrity. They would like an autograph or something that belongs to them or just to touch them.

Jesus began his ministry in Galilee and we read that he had a tremendous healing ministry. As a result thousands of people followed him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Galilee, Tyre and Sidon and from beyond the Jordan. 

There were so many people Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the Sea of Galilee. Jesus told his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that he would be kept safe from the swell of the crowd surging forward in order to touch him.  

“For he healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him.” Mark 3: 10. Luke 6: 17-19.  

Jesus instructed his recently chosen disciples to assist him by having a boat ready for him because of the crowd, in case they should crush him. Part of the disciples ministry was to protect Jesus from the enthusiastic crowd. 

Jesus used the boats that sailed on the Galilee to transport him from place to place.  

In Mark Chapter five Jesus went from there (Gerasenes) by boat and crossed over to the other side of the sea and as soon as he landed a great crown gathered around him. Jairus a ruler of the synagogue came to him and asked him if he would go with him and lay his hands on his dying daughter so that she would be made well and live.

                                                                                        

From among the crowds that were following Jesus on the way to Jairus' house, was a woman who had heard the reports about Jesus, so she came up behind him and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well.” We read that she was healed immediately. Jesus perceived that someone had touched him as he felt the power leave his body. He stopped and turning to the crowd he asked who had touched him. His disciples were surprised that he asked this question when there were so many people pressing up against him. The woman acknowledged that it was she who had touched him. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:21-34.   

The crowds wanted to touch Jesus. 

Whether it was as a result of this woman’s healing that the crowds wanted to touch Jesus or whether other people had been healed through touching his garments and she had heard about it and responded in faith seizing the opportunity.  

News Spread abroad  

The disciples were surprised when Jesus asked, “Who touched me.’ If a person had been healed on a previous occasion they perhaps would have reacted differently. But we read it did become a frequent occurrence, as we follow Jesus and his disciples on their journey from Bethsaida across the Sea of Galilee to Gennesaret. The news quickly spread that Jesus had arrived in their vicinity. When the people there heard he was about to come to a town or a city or country they brought out their sick on pallets and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment and as many touched it were made well. Mark 6: 53-56.   

On the fringe of his garment were prayer tassels, small knotting along the edge. Numbers 15: 37-41. Matthew 23: 5.                                             

From the security of the boat Jesus preached and healed many people.  
There were so many people wanting to be healed that the boat was an ideal platform to preach from, Jesus must have had a strong clear voice to be heard above the water lapping on the shore and the movement of children, The disciples were more than likely helping to control the flow of those who came forward for healing.

In Mark Chapter four Jesus preached from the boat the parable of ‘The Sower’. We see a connection with this parable with our reading in Genesis. Cain the eldest son of Adam and Eve was a tiller (worked on the land/gardener) of the ground, he was following in his father Adam’s footsteps.  

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to till it and keep it Genesis 2: 5, 15. 3: 23.   

Cain’s offering to God was the produce from the ground that had been cursed; as a result God was not pleased with his offering.  

Why was Cain’s offering of fruit not pleasing to God? 

Adam working in the garden was instructed by God not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 
Moses illustrated through this Adam's innocence had been compromised. To be obedient to God was good, and both Adam and Eve only had that knowledge. Disobedience - listening to the Devil took them into a place of understanding evil, as the Devil opposed God. (cast out of heaven)
Now they were separated from God and fell under the tempters power. Afterwards they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and the ground was cursed by God.  

Adam still worked on the land, only now his job was much harder as he toiled and sweated removing the thorns and the thistles that grew among the crops. Unless they were weeded out they would choke the crops.  

Parable of the ‘Sower.’ “Other seed fell among the thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no grain.”  (Under the curse)

Jesus interpreted the parable: the Sower sows the words of the kingdom of God. “The ones sown among the thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Mark 4: 7, 18. 

Cain’s younger brother Abel was a keeper of sheep; he gave the produce of his labour the firstlings of his flock and their fat portions which pleased God.  

Abel's innocent blood.
God used animal skins and made them into garments for Adam and Eve. Abel’s offering was prophetic in its association with the shedding of the blood of a lamb in order to cover the hereditary sins of Adam and Eve. 
The Passover lambs blood brought freedom for God’s people Israel from Egyptian slavery. Jesus the Son of God, the Lamb of God his blood shed brought freedom from the slavery of sin and death for all mankind. 
Judas Escariot when he took back the 30 pieces of silver and threw them down onto the temple floor he said that he had betrayed innocent blood, in reference to the innocent blood of Abel. (Also the Messiah)
Before Jesus made his way to Calvary, the Roman soldiers placed upon his head a platted, entangled, crown of thorns. Through Jesus' death on the cross he redeemed us from the curses that God placed upon Adam and Eve and their descendants and he redeemed the land. 

We can see why Cain’s offering was not pleasing to God, the produce was from the land that was cursed. His response we read that he was downcast and angry as a result he killed his younger brother Abel. God warned Cain that sin was couching at the door: its desire is for you, but you must master it.” He did not master the thoughts that led to his actions when he killed his brother. 

Cain had been given a verbal warning by God, the words were snatched away by Satan as Jesus described in the parable of the Sower. The seeds, the words of the kingdom sown along the path the birds came and ate them. These were those who heard the word, then Satan came and snatched the words away from them. Mark 4: 15. 

God questioned Cain about his brother Abel’s death, but he denied it. But we read that God could hear his brother’s blood cry out to him from the land. 
Jesus mentioned this when he was dining at a Pharisees home the Pharisee was astonished when Jesus did not wash before dinner, he spoke of their hypocrisy, “The blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah.” Luke 11: 50, 51. 2 Chronicles 24: 20, 21. 

The Israelites in their history turned against their prophets because the words of the prophets shed God’s light on their thoughts, words and deeds. 

In the previous verses in Chapter three the Pharisees and Herodians were displeased when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath Day, they plotted against Jesus wanting to see his demise.

Jesus continued to heal people even though the thoughts and spirit of the Pharisees and Herodians were against him and his disciples.   

I do not think that the crowd that surrounded Jesus were influenced by the Pharisees and Herodians. The crowd had no intention to cause Jesus any hurt. Through pressure of numbers and desperation to find a cure for their ailments they were understandably pushing forward to get their healing.            

The parable of the Sower concludes with a blessing to those who hear and receive the seeds the words of the kingdom will produce fruit  in abundance that is pleasing to God.

As Jesus and his disciples travelled from place to place by boat Jesus managed the crowds with the help of his disciples.  

Learning to sail with the Holy Spirit.

(The passages begin with words in bold that have been taken from ‘Learning to Sail’ Web Site)  
To learn to sail is to learn about what the terminology means and to put theory into practice and so it it for us to put what we believe and taught into practice.

It is a good idea to practice procedures on a calm day. Knowing how to right your boat is a necessary skill.

My brother and his colleague before they started the voyage crossing the Atlantic in his boat ‘Henry Wood’ they had to go through this safety procedure, ' rescuing a man overboard to save him from drowning. (he had to notify the relevant authorities beforehand.)          
Getting right with God, through faith in Jesus he will save us, rescuing us from certain eternal death, as a result entering into the freedom of the Lord’s forgiveness. 

                                                                       

Adjust for the wind. Sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind.  

Discerning the movement of the wind. A desirable change has taken place in our lives and we listen for the sound of the wind God’s Holy Spirit. When we first feel the movement of the Holy Spirit we are filled with joy and we are gently moved on: like sailing on a warm comfortable breeze and the new found calm of a fulfilled life in knowledge and in fellowship with God our Father.  

You will start tilting away from the wind. A heel of more than 20 degrees usually indicates that you are being overpowered. Releasing the mainsheet momentarily lessons the amount of heel, and you will return to a more comfortable sailing angle of 10 to 15 degrees of heel.    

A new Christian will find that Satan will try to regain his hold over us, but to no avail as we are upheld by the prayers of other Christians.     

Sail into the wind to a destination. Sail a heading that is as close to the wind as you can.  

Our destination is God’s eternal kingdom. As we are on a journey with many twists and turns along the way, it's necessary to keep close to Jesus, our eyes focused on him and on his word and listening for the Holy Spirit's guidance to do God's will. 

The wind may change direction; If anything changes, you have to adjust the sails in response.  

Constant vigilance on keeping our lives on track is not easy, it places demands on us to spend time in prayer and study.”As therefore your received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2: 6, 7.    

Close reach. Your sails are acting like the airfoil of an airplane: the wind is pulling the boat instead of pushing it.   

We can be moving in the wrong direction and therefore, we struggle trying to work out what the Lord has called us to do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.” Proverbs 3: 5. Do not lean on your own understanding. (King James Bible) 

Watch your wind indicators (telltales). If you see it change so that the wind is coming from a direction that is more behind you, you will be wasting energy. Let out the sail till it luffs, and tighten again till it stops. You will be doing this constantly; watching the sails, the telltales, and trimming sails if for no other reason than to see where you're at.  

The Lord calls his people to ‘Watch and Pray’ pray for discernment and wisdom. These gifts the Lord will give to us in abundance. James 1: 5. 

When running with the wind, you can sometimes you can pull the jib over to the other side of the boat where it will fill. This is called wing-on-wing, and you have to maintain a steady hand on the tiller to keep this sail configuration. Be sure to be vigilant of obstacles and other vessels, as having both sails in front of you blocks a significant portion of your view. 

James the Lord's brother refers to the tiller of the boat in connection with teachers of the word of God. "Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs." James 3: 4. The responsibility of the teacher to teach the truth, knowing that the truth sets a person free from the world's strong winds of unbelief in Jesus. 

Christ's body. This reminds us that we are part of a bigger picture that Jesus is the head of his world-wide Church.

Be careful—when the boat is running, the sails will be way off to the side, and because the wind is basically behind you the boom can change sides suddenly, coming across the cockpit with quite a bit of force. When this happens the boom can hit you with enough force to knock you unconscious and out of the boat (overboard). 

Many a time I seem to be stopped from entering into a problem of one kind or another. The Holy Spirit will bring scripture to mind that helps to make what turns out to have been the right decision.  I also believe in the ministry of angels.

Sail safely. Remember that your anchor and its cable are important pieces of safety gear and can be used to stop your boat from going aground or can even be used to get the vessel floating again should grounding occur.

St Paul on his way to Rome to stand trial, he traveled by boat. A storm blew up and four anchors were used to try and stop the boat going aground.
Very often when we pray, we receive the assurance of our prayer being answered, and on some occasions in the way that we have been led to pray. As a result overcoming the situation and we sail through the storms of life.  

When the wind is at your back and side, this is the most efficient point of sail as both sails are full of wind and pushing the boat at full force. 

Thank you, Lord, for your Holy Spirit's ministry among us in making Jesus known to us and directing our path to rescue with the guidance of the Holy Spirit those who are drowning in a sea of despondency,  fear, worry, pain and grief with no hope of life after death, for them and others to come to know Jesus.