Courage. Life demands we be courageous doesn't it? Courage isn't merely something that exists in extraordinary circumstances though some will argue that it does. For some people day to day life takes courage, in fact for a lot of people. Life holds many challenges and for some merely getting through a day is remarkable. Our hearts can grow weak and we need them to be strengthened and only the Lord can do that for us. People will tell others to be strong, to pull themselves together, to take care of themselves, they will point to a person and tell them only they can fix themselves and that leaves a person of little courage very little, in not no hope at all because they have no faith at all in themselves to be able to fix themselves, to manufacture courage from thin air. We have to point to someone much stronger than we are, someone that isn't just another person able to let us down because even the most celebrated person with an ability to help others will let people down. Only God can truly help us. God asks us to trust Him and when we turn from trusting Him to trying to trust ourselves or other people we will always fail, maybe not immediately because Satan loves to set us up for great falls, but we will fail when we put our trust anywhere but in the Lord.
We need to wait on the Lord. Wait. People don't like to wait, they consider waiting a waste of time that could be otherwise used elsewhere doing better things. If they have to wait, why it better be a short wait, the shorter the better. When we are told to wait on the Lord we are told to be of 'good courage'.
courage (kûr´îj, kùr´-) noun
The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery.
Good courage- able to face danger, fear... It's plausible to say that good courage enables us to face life without falling apart.
'Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the LORD.'
Wait...trust, believe, have faith in the Lord, the Lord will strengthen our hearts, but we need to wait on Him. Jesus said, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation...but be of good cheer...I have overcome the world.'
WE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION!
Tribulation is never fun, never easy and is often painful in many ways. Our courage has to be found in the LORD knowing that HE overcame the world for us. We have to wait on the LORD, trust in the LORD, be of good cheer-- find our happiness in knowing Jesus overcame the world for us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, by the righteousness of our Savior, in His love now and forever.
Amen.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psa 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
cheer
tharseo?
thar-seh'-o
From G2294; to have courage: - be of good cheer (comfort). Compare G2292.
Act 28:15 And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wiles of the Devil
Eph 6:11
(ASV) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(Bishops) Put on all the armour of God, that ye may stande agaynst the assaultes of the deuyll.
(CEV) Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.
(DRB) Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
(KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(KJV-1611) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the deuill.
(KJVA) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wiles
Assaults
Tricks
Deceits
When we think of the devil we do think of an evil being, a figment of an evil being, an imaginary evil, and when we start to believe he's a real force in the world we scare *sane* people.
The devil isn't an imaginary scapegoat used by people to place blame upon so they don't have to take responsibility for their own actions- though some probably do try to do that. Some flippantly, some realistically.
The devil has wiles and he knows exactly how to use them having thousands of years to practice them on human beings. The devil has tricks, deceits and he does assault people in many, many ways, in fact in any way that will deceive you into following him. He especially loves it when people follow him while they think they are following God. The satsifaction he must receive watching people pray and worship him in disguise has to be tremendous.
We are told to put on the WHOLE armor of God to stand against the devil's wiles. The whole armor not just one piece of it. Fat lot of good it will do someone being assaulted in the chest if they're only wearing a helmet and not their breastplate. Put on the WHOLE armor of God. Dress appropriately every single day because the battle you're in goes on every day without end until Christ returns.
Helmet
Breastplate
Girt loins
Shod feet
Shield
Sword
Prayer
Salvation
Righteousness
Truth
Peace
Faith
Word of God
Prayer
Dressed for God in the battle between Him and satan, a battle won by Christ- a battle we win in Christ through His righteousness. It's wonderful to know which side has won and we are fools if in knowing we still choose to join the losing side.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior God's Son, may we be fully dressed in the armor of God every day as we face the unending wiles, deceit, trickery, and assaults of the devil.
In Christ's amazing love!
Amen.
(ASV) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(Bishops) Put on all the armour of God, that ye may stande agaynst the assaultes of the deuyll.
(CEV) Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.
(DRB) Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
(KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(KJV-1611) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the deuill.
(KJVA) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Wiles
Assaults
Tricks
Deceits
When we think of the devil we do think of an evil being, a figment of an evil being, an imaginary evil, and when we start to believe he's a real force in the world we scare *sane* people.
The devil isn't an imaginary scapegoat used by people to place blame upon so they don't have to take responsibility for their own actions- though some probably do try to do that. Some flippantly, some realistically.
The devil has wiles and he knows exactly how to use them having thousands of years to practice them on human beings. The devil has tricks, deceits and he does assault people in many, many ways, in fact in any way that will deceive you into following him. He especially loves it when people follow him while they think they are following God. The satsifaction he must receive watching people pray and worship him in disguise has to be tremendous.
We are told to put on the WHOLE armor of God to stand against the devil's wiles. The whole armor not just one piece of it. Fat lot of good it will do someone being assaulted in the chest if they're only wearing a helmet and not their breastplate. Put on the WHOLE armor of God. Dress appropriately every single day because the battle you're in goes on every day without end until Christ returns.
Helmet
Breastplate
Girt loins
Shod feet
Shield
Sword
Prayer
Salvation
Righteousness
Truth
Peace
Faith
Word of God
Prayer
Dressed for God in the battle between Him and satan, a battle won by Christ- a battle we win in Christ through His righteousness. It's wonderful to know which side has won and we are fools if in knowing we still choose to join the losing side.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord, our Savior God's Son, may we be fully dressed in the armor of God every day as we face the unending wiles, deceit, trickery, and assaults of the devil.
In Christ's amazing love!
Amen.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Spiritually Clothed
Imagine getting up in the morning and getting dressed for the day. You have your clothes on and then you need to put on more...
You grab up a protective skirt and pull it on. Then you snatch a protective vest and don that. Slipping your feet into some protective shoes you then reach for a shield, helmet, and a sword and now you're ready to start your day.
Can you imagine being dressed that way? Seriously? Maybe if you're in some medieval show or some such but as a rule people don't dress this way nowadays. Having protective gear on means you're in a job of some sort of danger. You could be in a SWAT team, or the Army, and your sword and shield well... a gun and no shield, or perhaps a shield but they're more rare, right?
The idea here being we are to ALWAYS be dressed in our Spiritual armor and that armor never changes no matter the year- a 1000 years ago, 2000 years ago, yesterday or today, it doesn't matter.
Spiritual clothing. The idea of putting on clothes is we are protecting ourselves with the clothing. Our spiritual clothing is our spiritual protection. We daily dress ourselves in our physical clothing and we need to daily dress in our spiritual clothing.
We need to put on our armor. The truth, Christ's righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God.
If we have these things we are protected spiritually.
We need to pray for this protective armor always.
Tomorrow as you get dressed for the day question yourself, ask yourself if you have your spiritual clothing on. We really shouldn't go about our days until we are spiritually clothed. The wiles of the devil are many and when we aren't spiritually clothed and protected we are open to all of his assaults in whatever form he chooses to use against us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in His righteousness, His amazing love may we be spiritually protected in our spiritual clothing through His power and might.
All glory and honor to God now and forever.
Amen!
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
You grab up a protective skirt and pull it on. Then you snatch a protective vest and don that. Slipping your feet into some protective shoes you then reach for a shield, helmet, and a sword and now you're ready to start your day.
Can you imagine being dressed that way? Seriously? Maybe if you're in some medieval show or some such but as a rule people don't dress this way nowadays. Having protective gear on means you're in a job of some sort of danger. You could be in a SWAT team, or the Army, and your sword and shield well... a gun and no shield, or perhaps a shield but they're more rare, right?
The idea here being we are to ALWAYS be dressed in our Spiritual armor and that armor never changes no matter the year- a 1000 years ago, 2000 years ago, yesterday or today, it doesn't matter.
Spiritual clothing. The idea of putting on clothes is we are protecting ourselves with the clothing. Our spiritual clothing is our spiritual protection. We daily dress ourselves in our physical clothing and we need to daily dress in our spiritual clothing.
We need to put on our armor. The truth, Christ's righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the word of God.
If we have these things we are protected spiritually.
We need to pray for this protective armor always.
Tomorrow as you get dressed for the day question yourself, ask yourself if you have your spiritual clothing on. We really shouldn't go about our days until we are spiritually clothed. The wiles of the devil are many and when we aren't spiritually clothed and protected we are open to all of his assaults in whatever form he chooses to use against us.
By the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior, in His righteousness, His amazing love may we be spiritually protected in our spiritual clothing through His power and might.
All glory and honor to God now and forever.
Amen!
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
As Unto Christ
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Eph 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Servants be obedient to them that are your masters... could we interpret this to mean people be obedient to those who are your bosses? Seriously, could we interpret it to mean that? In days of old people who worked under others often called those they worked for masters, right? And it wasn't always in a slave way but a respectful way. The master teaching the servant, the student. Even so, when we have bosses today we aren't always in a learning situation but rather we might be in a position that never changes with little hope for advancement and we'll forever have a boss. Very few people are the 'boss' so to speak in comparison to the many who are the employees. A servant gets paid, a master pays the servant. So if we equate these verses to the employer/boss situation we really need to reconsider our thinking don't we? Or maybe it's a situation where an elder is the 'master' to the younger 'servant' in a home situation, a father over a child, or a husband over a wife.
Servants be obedient to them that are your masters.
Employees be obedient to them that are your bosses.
Be obedient with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart AS UNTO CHRIST.
We are to be obedient with fear and trembling in singleness of our hearts AS TO CHRIST. When we are being obedient to others we are doing so as if they were Christ. Of course we know they're not and in no way are we to even for a heartbeat believe they ARE Christ. We are to respect others as we would respect Christ.
It goes on to say don't treat them disrespectfully - the exact wording - 'as menpleasers, with eyeservice' People who are nice to the face of others but in their hearts they are far from being so.
We have to do the will of God from the heart, with good will AS TO THE LORD and NOT TO MEN.
Will our attitude change if we believe we are working for Christ in ALL we do, with all those we interact with even those with the most surly of demeanors? No, Christ wouldn't have a surly demeanor but we are to treat others as we would treat Christ the Bible tells us this. Would we be nasty to Christ? Would we be condescending? Would we be hateful and hurtful, demeaning and abusive to Christ? When we act in such ways we as representatives of Christ's followers are representing Him very well at all, are we? We are to treat others as we would treat Christ and we are to represent Christ as His followers revealing His love, not our own.
This isn't easy, no one said it was easy, our hearts, our natural inclinations are not focused on being good. We are sinners and the inclination runs in that direction. It's a DAILY, hourly, minutely decision to be Christ's and as such we choose to act as Christ would have us to act. It's a choice not a happenstance. It's like love between a man and woman... really, it is, because after the newness wears off it's a choice to love in good times and in bad times. Those vows spoken saying in sickness in health, etc are relevant. A choice is made to love, to forgive, to walk as Christ would have us walk.
May God help us through His power to be as He would have us be. May we treat those around us as we would treat Christ through the power of Christ's righteousness and love, by His grace and mercy.
Please Lord help us all.
Amen.
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Eph 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Servants be obedient to them that are your masters... could we interpret this to mean people be obedient to those who are your bosses? Seriously, could we interpret it to mean that? In days of old people who worked under others often called those they worked for masters, right? And it wasn't always in a slave way but a respectful way. The master teaching the servant, the student. Even so, when we have bosses today we aren't always in a learning situation but rather we might be in a position that never changes with little hope for advancement and we'll forever have a boss. Very few people are the 'boss' so to speak in comparison to the many who are the employees. A servant gets paid, a master pays the servant. So if we equate these verses to the employer/boss situation we really need to reconsider our thinking don't we? Or maybe it's a situation where an elder is the 'master' to the younger 'servant' in a home situation, a father over a child, or a husband over a wife.
Servants be obedient to them that are your masters.
Employees be obedient to them that are your bosses.
Be obedient with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart AS UNTO CHRIST.
We are to be obedient with fear and trembling in singleness of our hearts AS TO CHRIST. When we are being obedient to others we are doing so as if they were Christ. Of course we know they're not and in no way are we to even for a heartbeat believe they ARE Christ. We are to respect others as we would respect Christ.
It goes on to say don't treat them disrespectfully - the exact wording - 'as menpleasers, with eyeservice' People who are nice to the face of others but in their hearts they are far from being so.
We have to do the will of God from the heart, with good will AS TO THE LORD and NOT TO MEN.
Will our attitude change if we believe we are working for Christ in ALL we do, with all those we interact with even those with the most surly of demeanors? No, Christ wouldn't have a surly demeanor but we are to treat others as we would treat Christ the Bible tells us this. Would we be nasty to Christ? Would we be condescending? Would we be hateful and hurtful, demeaning and abusive to Christ? When we act in such ways we as representatives of Christ's followers are representing Him very well at all, are we? We are to treat others as we would treat Christ and we are to represent Christ as His followers revealing His love, not our own.
This isn't easy, no one said it was easy, our hearts, our natural inclinations are not focused on being good. We are sinners and the inclination runs in that direction. It's a DAILY, hourly, minutely decision to be Christ's and as such we choose to act as Christ would have us to act. It's a choice not a happenstance. It's like love between a man and woman... really, it is, because after the newness wears off it's a choice to love in good times and in bad times. Those vows spoken saying in sickness in health, etc are relevant. A choice is made to love, to forgive, to walk as Christ would have us walk.
May God help us through His power to be as He would have us be. May we treat those around us as we would treat Christ through the power of Christ's righteousness and love, by His grace and mercy.
Please Lord help us all.
Amen.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Can the dead hear?
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Resurrection of life.
Resurrection of damnation.
Life or damnation.
All that are in the grave shall hear HIS voice.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Can the dead hear? No.
If the dead know not any thing then they can't hear can they? You know things because you hear things. I can't know something someone else knows unless they tell me, right?
I can know something if I see it, so can the dead see anything? No. How much more clearer can those words be- 'the dead know not any thing'? You have to be aware of things to know them. Even a patient in a coma is said to know nothing. They wake up and have no memory of life having passed them by. They might remember a few things hear and there but their overall awareness if virtually gone. None in a coma wake up knowing life as it's passed as one who isn't in a coma knows it.
The dead know not any thing.
We want to believe our dead loved ones know things, that they hear us, that they see us, that they're aware of us because it makes US feel better as if we haven't lost their presence entirely. It relieves guilt when we believe we can tell them we're sorry about things and then we believe that because they are dead of course they forgive us. We like to pretend they're still around to offer us comfort in some way, but the truth is... the dead know not anything. The dead don't hear, the dead don't see, the dead know not ANY thing. They are sleeping.
The Bible tells us that Jesus said- 'All that are in the grave shall hear HIS voice.' If a person is alive after death without death being a sleep, then they'd already hear His voice wouldn't they? What need would they have to hear His voice from the grave? They wouldn't. Surely Jesus speaks the truth and the time will come when ALL that are in the grave shall hear His voice--And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Only when ALL are in their graves that are ever going to be in their graves will this time come because only then will ALL the dead throughout all time wake to hear the voice of Jesus and they shall come forth from death - some to life everlasting, others to permanent damnation.
There is an amazing justice in this isn't there? All the dead throughout all time sleep upon death and while some have slept for 6000 years and others will have slept in the grave for only a single hour, they will wake at the same time to their eternal fate.
Death is but a sleep.
Life is when Jesus calls us all from the grave at the same time.
May we be found in Jesus as we wake if we sleep in the grave, may our loved ones be found in Him all of us rising to life everlasting in Him, in His amazing love. By His mercy and His grace, through His righteousness alone.
Amen.
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Resurrection of life.
Resurrection of damnation.
Life or damnation.
All that are in the grave shall hear HIS voice.
Ecc 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Can the dead hear? No.
If the dead know not any thing then they can't hear can they? You know things because you hear things. I can't know something someone else knows unless they tell me, right?
I can know something if I see it, so can the dead see anything? No. How much more clearer can those words be- 'the dead know not any thing'? You have to be aware of things to know them. Even a patient in a coma is said to know nothing. They wake up and have no memory of life having passed them by. They might remember a few things hear and there but their overall awareness if virtually gone. None in a coma wake up knowing life as it's passed as one who isn't in a coma knows it.
The dead know not any thing.
We want to believe our dead loved ones know things, that they hear us, that they see us, that they're aware of us because it makes US feel better as if we haven't lost their presence entirely. It relieves guilt when we believe we can tell them we're sorry about things and then we believe that because they are dead of course they forgive us. We like to pretend they're still around to offer us comfort in some way, but the truth is... the dead know not anything. The dead don't hear, the dead don't see, the dead know not ANY thing. They are sleeping.
The Bible tells us that Jesus said- 'All that are in the grave shall hear HIS voice.' If a person is alive after death without death being a sleep, then they'd already hear His voice wouldn't they? What need would they have to hear His voice from the grave? They wouldn't. Surely Jesus speaks the truth and the time will come when ALL that are in the grave shall hear His voice--And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Only when ALL are in their graves that are ever going to be in their graves will this time come because only then will ALL the dead throughout all time wake to hear the voice of Jesus and they shall come forth from death - some to life everlasting, others to permanent damnation.
There is an amazing justice in this isn't there? All the dead throughout all time sleep upon death and while some have slept for 6000 years and others will have slept in the grave for only a single hour, they will wake at the same time to their eternal fate.
Death is but a sleep.
Life is when Jesus calls us all from the grave at the same time.
May we be found in Jesus as we wake if we sleep in the grave, may our loved ones be found in Him all of us rising to life everlasting in Him, in His amazing love. By His mercy and His grace, through His righteousness alone.
Amen.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Will we be made whole
Joh 5:6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
Wilt thou be made whole?
The man had no hope of being made whole, or rather he had little hope. He had just enough hope that he came to the pool of Bethesda. This pool was a healing pool but a conditional healing pool. Not just anyone could be healed but the first to make it in the pool when the healing angel troubled the water.
Joh 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
A pool of miracles. If such a pool existed today people would be overwhelming the place fighting to be the first. With no time table and no telling when the water would be troubled it's possible it was one time a year, right? Or maybe once every six months? There's no way of knowing and because of that people had to stay by the pool possibly for long periods of time just watching the water maybe afraid to even sleep because they'd miss the troubling of the water.
Here was a man lame for 38 years! 38 years unable to walk and who knows how often he stayed by the pool of water. Who knows how often he witnessed the troubling of the water only to watch another go down into the pool and be healed. He stayed by the pool with that little bit of hope or else he wouldn't have wasted his time being near it at all. The hope he had was so small though that he told Jesus this when asked if he'd be made whole...
Joh 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
The man would try to make his way there but each time he tried another moved into the water before him reaping the benefits. How many times had he seen it happen? How many times had he watched another be healed? Was he hoping Jesus would offer to put him in the pool? But that would mean Jesus staying near him and waiting until the angel troubling the water made their appearance. The man wanted to be healed of his infirmity he stayed near the pool. Jesus knew of his longing, Jesus knew that the man spoke truthfully. Jesus loved this man, Jesus had pity on this man, Jesus' compassion was roused for this poor man and so he healed him right then and there.
Joh 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Joh 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked
Immediately the man was made whole! To be made whole meant that he wasn't whole. His infirmity, his unwholeness was taken away, he was healed.
Later Jesus said this to that man--
Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Jesus told him to 'sin no more' if he sinned a worse thing would come on him. Can you imagine having an infirmity that made you lame for 38 years and then being told something worse could come upon you if you sinned? We are sinners by nature, was this a trap for the man? Sinning is a WILLFUL act, a heart set to do evil, to disobey God. If this man set his heart to oppose God, to do evil to God, to break the laws of God he would receive something worse than being lame for 38 years. It makes you wonder about something... how old was this man made whole? What sins had he committed before? We, in our enlightened ways don't believe at all that our illnesses and infirmities are a result of any sinning, that's like supernatural stuff, right? Yet from Jesus' own mouth came those words. Do we believe in Jesus? Do we really? Can we believe that sinning would have the result of an illnesses, or infirmities, of bad luck? We don't want to believe that because it leaves us feeling hopeless because we know how much we sin. We want to believe our illnesses are just part of life and anything else is just nonsense, germs are germs, diseases are diseases and whether or not we sin means very little. Is it true? No way a baby born with a disease is guilty...but perhaps the sins of the parents or their parents or...well you get the picture. We don't know beyond any doubt, the things of God are His, what we need to know we can know. Is sinning ever good? No, sinning is NEVER good. By the mercy of our Lord and Savior we can be forgiven of our sins, we can live with His righteousness it's the only way to really live-- in Him.
Wilt we be made whole?
In Christ.
Amen.
Wilt thou be made whole?
The man had no hope of being made whole, or rather he had little hope. He had just enough hope that he came to the pool of Bethesda. This pool was a healing pool but a conditional healing pool. Not just anyone could be healed but the first to make it in the pool when the healing angel troubled the water.
Joh 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
A pool of miracles. If such a pool existed today people would be overwhelming the place fighting to be the first. With no time table and no telling when the water would be troubled it's possible it was one time a year, right? Or maybe once every six months? There's no way of knowing and because of that people had to stay by the pool possibly for long periods of time just watching the water maybe afraid to even sleep because they'd miss the troubling of the water.
Here was a man lame for 38 years! 38 years unable to walk and who knows how often he stayed by the pool of water. Who knows how often he witnessed the troubling of the water only to watch another go down into the pool and be healed. He stayed by the pool with that little bit of hope or else he wouldn't have wasted his time being near it at all. The hope he had was so small though that he told Jesus this when asked if he'd be made whole...
Joh 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
The man would try to make his way there but each time he tried another moved into the water before him reaping the benefits. How many times had he seen it happen? How many times had he watched another be healed? Was he hoping Jesus would offer to put him in the pool? But that would mean Jesus staying near him and waiting until the angel troubling the water made their appearance. The man wanted to be healed of his infirmity he stayed near the pool. Jesus knew of his longing, Jesus knew that the man spoke truthfully. Jesus loved this man, Jesus had pity on this man, Jesus' compassion was roused for this poor man and so he healed him right then and there.
Joh 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Joh 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked
Immediately the man was made whole! To be made whole meant that he wasn't whole. His infirmity, his unwholeness was taken away, he was healed.
Later Jesus said this to that man--
Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Jesus told him to 'sin no more' if he sinned a worse thing would come on him. Can you imagine having an infirmity that made you lame for 38 years and then being told something worse could come upon you if you sinned? We are sinners by nature, was this a trap for the man? Sinning is a WILLFUL act, a heart set to do evil, to disobey God. If this man set his heart to oppose God, to do evil to God, to break the laws of God he would receive something worse than being lame for 38 years. It makes you wonder about something... how old was this man made whole? What sins had he committed before? We, in our enlightened ways don't believe at all that our illnesses and infirmities are a result of any sinning, that's like supernatural stuff, right? Yet from Jesus' own mouth came those words. Do we believe in Jesus? Do we really? Can we believe that sinning would have the result of an illnesses, or infirmities, of bad luck? We don't want to believe that because it leaves us feeling hopeless because we know how much we sin. We want to believe our illnesses are just part of life and anything else is just nonsense, germs are germs, diseases are diseases and whether or not we sin means very little. Is it true? No way a baby born with a disease is guilty...but perhaps the sins of the parents or their parents or...well you get the picture. We don't know beyond any doubt, the things of God are His, what we need to know we can know. Is sinning ever good? No, sinning is NEVER good. By the mercy of our Lord and Savior we can be forgiven of our sins, we can live with His righteousness it's the only way to really live-- in Him.
Wilt we be made whole?
In Christ.
Amen.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Ye shall afflict your souls and do no work.
An atonement is a cleansing from all sin.
An atonement for the holy sanctuary- a cleansing of all the sins attached to the holy sanctuary.
An atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation and the alter - a cleansing of all sin in places of worship.
An atonement for the priest- a cleansing of all sin for those who serve the people for God.
An atonement for all the people of the congregation- a cleansing of all sin for all God's people.
With the tabernacle on earth an example of the heavenly we know the temple service on earth foreshadowed Christ's life and death. The temple was a place for people to go to offering sacifices for their sins, a place to worship God, a place where God was to dwell when on earth. Christ, God's Son uniquely begotten on earth, God's Son who lived and died offering Himself as the only sacrifice needed for our sins. No building can truly compare to God fully realized on earth in Jesus. All the services of the temple pointed to the Messiah's life and death and life again. The once yearly full cleansing points to the once only cleansing we will have before Christ returns. Think about it... nothing unclean, nothing with sin, will enter heaven, nothing with sin will go with Christ upon His return. To be Christ's is to be His fully claiming His righteousness as ours, trusting in His righteousness, His forgiveness, His cleansing of us.
If the temple served as an example of the heavenly truly the day of atonement serves as an example of the earth's final cleansing.
Ye shall afflict your souls and do no work.
We can only fall at the feet of Jesus in soul affliction as we realize our helpless, sinless state. We cannot do any work to save ourselves, none. We have to believe that the Messiah will cleanse us of all our sins before the Lord.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Fear and trembling, afflicted souls. We work out our own salvation WITH fear and trembling. We fall before the feet of our Savior knowing that in our own unworthiness it's all we can possibly do, it's the only work we can possibly perform.
Lev 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
Lev 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Lev 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
Lev 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev 23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
*******
May we afflict our souls with fear and trembling as we seek salvation in our Lord and Savior the Son of God, our Messiah, the only place salvation is found.
Amen
An atonement for the holy sanctuary- a cleansing of all the sins attached to the holy sanctuary.
An atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation and the alter - a cleansing of all sin in places of worship.
An atonement for the priest- a cleansing of all sin for those who serve the people for God.
An atonement for all the people of the congregation- a cleansing of all sin for all God's people.
With the tabernacle on earth an example of the heavenly we know the temple service on earth foreshadowed Christ's life and death. The temple was a place for people to go to offering sacifices for their sins, a place to worship God, a place where God was to dwell when on earth. Christ, God's Son uniquely begotten on earth, God's Son who lived and died offering Himself as the only sacrifice needed for our sins. No building can truly compare to God fully realized on earth in Jesus. All the services of the temple pointed to the Messiah's life and death and life again. The once yearly full cleansing points to the once only cleansing we will have before Christ returns. Think about it... nothing unclean, nothing with sin, will enter heaven, nothing with sin will go with Christ upon His return. To be Christ's is to be His fully claiming His righteousness as ours, trusting in His righteousness, His forgiveness, His cleansing of us.
If the temple served as an example of the heavenly truly the day of atonement serves as an example of the earth's final cleansing.
Ye shall afflict your souls and do no work.
We can only fall at the feet of Jesus in soul affliction as we realize our helpless, sinless state. We cannot do any work to save ourselves, none. We have to believe that the Messiah will cleanse us of all our sins before the Lord.
Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Fear and trembling, afflicted souls. We work out our own salvation WITH fear and trembling. We fall before the feet of our Savior knowing that in our own unworthiness it's all we can possibly do, it's the only work we can possibly perform.
Lev 16:33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.
Lev 16:34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Lev 16:29 And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
Lev 16:30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.
Lev 23:27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
Lev 23:28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
Lev 23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
Lev 23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
*******
May we afflict our souls with fear and trembling as we seek salvation in our Lord and Savior the Son of God, our Messiah, the only place salvation is found.
Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)