It sounds like we listen to some of the same music. I have a CD of the Franz Family in my collection. They broke up as a group after the mother passed away. Emmitt Franz plays dobro now with the Petersen's (another great group) as you already know. I also have three CD's of the Petersen's, Homesick for a Country being my favorite. The song "I know who holds tomorrow" is probably my favorite on that album, almost as good as Alison Krauss and the Cox family.
Sorry, I know this is not your main topic, but I got a little excited knowing someone else here listens to the same music as myself.
Proverbs 3:9-10 may be a favorite verse of prosperity preachers. It states:
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
It is too bad they don't go on to the next verse which says: My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights. (verses 11 and 12-so next TWO verses).
This concept of correction also makes Job 21:13 a frightening perspective because it describes them thriving until the moment of death; then the wrath of God afterwards (see rest of chapter and other parts of the book of Job as well).
Malachi 3:10 also discusses putting tithes in the storehouse and God's blessings; as well as pointing out their stinginess earlier in the book where they offer lame and sick animals ( Malachi 1:8). Naturally; if the first appeal doesn't work guilt trips like this are also utilized; any trick in the book to get the coffers filled.
The blessings of God are conditional on obedience to the Lord to His statutes and commandments; and of course that deals with matters of the heart as this verse in Malachi and similar references in Isaiah 1; for example. One can surmise that when one sin (covetousness which breaks the 10th Commandment) there is another; and that often is adulteries and adulterous remarriages that this type of celebrity pastor commonly is involved in. Since the church rarely stands up as they should to these matters with other members they sometimes can seemingly get by; but sometimes this does cost them a significant number of members.
In my next post I am going to explore factors in society that make such con artists thrive that exist today; as well as that form the personality types of individuals that tend to start on these ventures.
Dear Heavenly Father, this brother needs the healing that comes from You for he is so very sick right now. We know that You hear our prayers and will answer when we come to You in the name of Jesus. Sp, thank You for your tender love and care for all of us but especially for this brother today. Amen.
Hypothetical questions require carnal wisdom while every nuance set down by the Holy Spirit requires truth. I excuse myself from indulging in such 'what ifs.' Nuance of seven is not merely a number. Perfection of the church as was in the mind of the Father was left for the Son to fulfill it. The number gives us a spiritual underpinning to Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. The Spirit also gives an additional clue. " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Cloud is another term nuance of which casts shadow and it is on the same scale of the shadow of Peter, "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."(Ac.5:15). Elijah would bend over the dead boy, casting a shadow' "And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again./ And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." Three times hold nuance and he did it as a double for the Son. Besides taking the dead boy to the attic and bringing him back alive to hand him to his mother is nuanced.
To compare, here's two similar terrible situations
Ps.34:19-Many are the afflictions of the righteous:but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Acts 14:22-We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of GOD
The KING of DARKNESS,the Devil, showed to JESUS all the kingdoms of the world,the glory of them,and said:All will I give thee,if thou fall down and worship me.Mat.4:8-9.
Re.13:1&15:
1 I stood upon the sand of the sea(John was a citzen of Israel),and saw a(MAN)Beast rise up out of the sea(Gentile nations),having 7 heads,10 horns, upon his HORNS 10 crowns(CROWNS UPON HORNS?),and upon his heads a NAME of blasphemy.
15 And he-MAN Beast of earth-Re.13:11-a false messiah- John 5:43-47,had power to give life unto the Beast's image,that the image should speak,who worships not the image must be killed.
Daniel 3:2-20
The KING sent to gather the princes,governors,the captains,judges, counsellors,all the rulers of the provinces,to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.They stood before the image and an herald cried:To you is commanded,O people,NATIONS,and languages,that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,flute, harp,and all kinds of musick,ye fall down and worship the image the king has set up:Whoso falls not down and worships shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.But Shadrach,Meshach,Abednego,O king, have not regarded thee,they serve not thy gods,nor worship the image you has set up.So in his rage and fury the KING commanded to bring them,and said:Is it true,O Shadrach,Meshach,Abednego,do not ye serve my gods,nor worship the IMAGE I have set up?When you hear the sound of the cornet,all kinds of musick,ye fall down and worship the image I have made;well:if not,ye shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace;who is that GOD that shall deliver you out of my hands?
O king,our GOD whom we serve is able to deliver us from furnace,thy hands,and we will not serve thy gods,nor worship the image you have set up.
Dear Brothers and Sisters , how do wild animals treat the most vulnerable members of their herd ? The elderly , the sick , the disabled or deformed ? Those that can't function in the usual expected way ? They abandon them to their fate ,or they may even turn on them and kill them themselves , it's called survival of the fittest . Are we just animals , the cleverest evolutionary step on the ladder ? We are not , we are created in the image of our God and we are all His children , even those who don't believe are still His children . We are not to treat the most vulnerable people in the way that animals do to their own kind . This world and the people of it seek to denegrate and dehumanise the most vulnerable in society , accusing them of being worthless scroungers who should be trying much harder to be as useful and productive as everyone else when they are not like everyone else . They are weaker in some way and need our help , they are our brothers and sisters and God is watching us , seeing how we treat our weaker members . Are we like Cain ? Will we reply to God ' am I my brother's keeper ' when He asks us about our treatment of others who are weaker than us ? Would we dare say that to our God ?
The enemy of our souls has a problem (actually as sick as he is a lot of issues) but I am focusing on one in particular. He can't stand humans; in reality even those who do his bidding but is out of necessity offering many temporary pleasures to turn men away from God and in reality; of course put people into bondage. Since he can't stand God; Christ or His holiness as well as human beings the last thing he wants is to see someone be drawn to Christ's mercy and salvation through God's love. No doubt that sickens him. Some say his primary motive is to have us in hell with him. Since he hates us already having our company there isn't going to make him feel better; and of course he will be too busy suffering himself to care anyway. It may give him pleasure for now; since he misses out on such suffering until the confinement period of the Millennium is over and the final conflagration occurs; to think of men in constant agony. What he really wants as from the beginning is worship. His motive is simply overthrow of God and heaven which his demented mind still thinks can be attained; but at the same time he probably knows better since his time is short. Daniel 8:10 even seems to suggest he tramples on some of his own demonic horde when cast out of heaven in the Tribulation; likely enraged that they couldn't fight hard enough to keep his position up there any longer.
The whole Satanic mantra (Such as Aleister Crowley's "do as thou wilt") in a nutshell explains all of the enemy's tactics.
The devil only wants to serve himself. He will use his best tool music (read Isaiah 14 or Ezekiel 28) to delude the masses.
He doesn't rule over hell; at least after the cross as souls now go straight to heaven and not remain in the paradise under the earth. His contracts with people can't hold water with the shed blood on the cross of His atonement. 1 Corinthians 15:56; Romans 6:23). Christ conquered sin at Calvary.
Before we go into the parables Jesus employed them in order to illustrate realities of heaven from that of the earth. In Matt21:.45-46 we read that "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet". It was not for want of intelligence that they rejected Jesus but out of envy. The multitude took Jesus as a prophet so when he spoke truth it resonated within and accepted as truth. Besides God had given such power for the Son of man healed the sick and cast out the demons from among them. Faith is the only that can reconcile both the worlds.
12:1 " A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country." God is who planted the vineyard, the world. He made man his steward. By far country the heaven is implied. The world is hedged about refers the blessings God had promised in the everlasting covenant. The tower and the wine fat signifies the spirit of God and soul of man of which he has to give account. "The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me," (Le.25:23)explains the significance of letting out to husbandmen.
v.2 "And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant," In next three verses we are considering Moses and the Law which as Israel set to work became for breaking the tradition of their fathers. The stoning of Stephen (Ac.7:59-60)
vv6-8 Jesus foretells of what the Jews intended to do. "And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard."
in v.9 "What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do?" The Gentile nations come in. The chief priests and Pharisees understood but without faith it was lost on them.
Scripture Interpretation: Part 2 on introduction to the law and differences in Old and New Testaments
A general concept as pointed out in my last post is that the Old Testament law and sacrifices had temporal methods and sufficiency and were based on behaviors of Israel as to whether blessings or cursings resulted. The Spirit of God was more transient and was no guarantee of salvation such as seen in the example of Saul's prophesying as well as Baalam's repeated attempts to curse Israel and being overtaken to make proclamations under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David even asked God not to remove His Holy Spirit as apparently happened with Saul who needed David to play music for a temporary "fix" to his bizarre disorders.
John 16:8 essentially gives indication of permanent residence of the Father and Son in a believer and thus sealing them until the Day of Redemption. What we cannot do is glibly assume we are saved without testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; and certain behaviors especially illustrated in Corinthians show the result of sickness and death with communion taken unworthily and the case of the man sleeping with his father's wife. There is always hope of repentance if someone is alive; but we cannot continue a LIFESTYLE of sin and be presumptuous thinking God will overlook our sin as an exception to His rule for the rest of mankind.
Matthew 5:17 states that Christ came not to abolish but fulfill the law and the prophets. This is a segway into the second theme in this introduction: Prophecy...
INTRO.
Prophecy begins with Genesis 3:15 in the garden with the serpent being told that he would receive a deadly wound and that Christ would recieve a wound on the heel (the seed of the woman representing the virgin Birth and the wound that of His piercing on the cross). Jesus was the end of Prophecy as THE Prophet; but in real time we still see Him as the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1; and we still see 2 Prophets in Rev. 11.
Continuing on the Revelation 21:8 warnings of those in hell we see this category. This would no doubt encompass ALL types of sexual immorality; whether fornication or adultery which are two categories deliberately separated in many scriptures as different types of sin. I am not going to use this forum to go into in length my viewpoint on adulterous marriages; but will say that unless that is what is referred to it seems a lot harder to categorize a lifestyle of sin as committing adultery than it would to say someone likes to fornicate a lot (sleep around). There may be a few sick folks who deliberately want the thrill of having a fling with a married person but for the sake of their own security and simple convenience they probably will find it easier much of the time having relatinships with unmarried or "available" women. Therefore I have to deduce it is indeed adulterous marriages referred to; and that of a state of continuing sin as long as a relationship isn't a true covenant before God. I'll leave it to the readers to study the verses on the subject and the so called "exception or escape clause"; something I have studied in great detail but don't want to raise friction with on this site. Before moving on; I will note that adultery meant an instant death penalty in the Old Testament according to the law (if proven by witnesses and both parties should be present hence invalidating the presentation of John 8:1-11.) Fornication is a different penalty in O.T. law. Also there can be people who are prostitutes or just generally immoral as related to the term "whoremongers". The end result of LIFESTYLES of any of these sins is hell; which is a warning to someone calling themselves a believer who doesn't turn away from sin when making a verbal confirmation of repentance. Of course ANY sin leads us to hell; hence we are all doomed without His atoning sacrifice. Therefore all lost fit into one or more of these descriptions in Revelation 21:8
"(Jesus)he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."
As with the raising of Jairus' daughter Jesus does healing and St Mark intends us to see it as significant. "And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him./And he took him aside from the multitude,." In the case of the man with palsy, "And it was noised that he was in the house."(2:1) He saw the faith who found an ingenious way to get the man before Jesus. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."(2:1-5,10) Who was Jesus? "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," it was faith that connected him to the world. His Father sent him with a mandate that made sin standing athwart man and his malady. So he addressed it by forgiving him. Their faith was good as of the impotent man.
Whether in the house or in the open, the man in need of a cure was on one-to -one with Jesus and faith was what effected the healing. In the case of the Syrophoenician woman who sought out Jesus when he visited their environs, the demon-possessed damsel was in her house while her mother displayed her faith. She was as much an intercessor as Jesus stood in relation to his Father. "Behold I and the children which God hath given me./ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;/And deliver them.(He.2:13-15)" Her daughter was instantly healed as in the case of the deaf and dumb man. " And straightway his ears were opened,... and he spake plain."(v.35) What is the significance of a man's spittle when it was the means to heal him? It just proves," Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." His humanity fits with his need.
John 6:54 states: Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
" and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him."
Herod was not farther from truth to set John in relation to Jesus. Nevertheless he had blood on his hand. Satan is a murderer. (John8:44) Mark set the Gadarenes episode to bring out the similarities with the unclean spirits, be it one or legion having the same cast of mind, they know the truth when they see or hear it. Is is under the department of conscience. Herod's conscience pricked that he put to death an innocent man. But Satan had given him safe cover as with the man with the legion at his throat. He would not cast them out by faith. Instead he did some monkeying. his untamed spirit was such the Marvel comics could have found their superhero, 'dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:"(5:3)
Satan had given his seat and authority as he did with the beast. (" and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority-"Re.13:2)"For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly." In what was his fear different from the Jews? "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me./Howbeit in vain do they worship me."(7:6-7) Herod read the script given to him and he had a part to play. Hearing with his heart and understanding the will of God and being converted was not allowed. Instead Satan gave him pomp and circumstance, as sop to the dignity of a ruler. Do we not see such honor unravelling before our very eyes? Power is potent as a drink. Even after drawn over hot coals of impeachment what do we hear? "They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."(Pr.23:35)
Such honor is like the golden ring on the snout of a swine.
While studying the significance of the command numbers Twelve and Seven respectively their place in the body of Scriptures is to fix the role of the Son as the heir of all things and the Son of man who is the Word become flesh. It is in the latter role whose humanity sets the doctrine of God as the good news since he died and rose again. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."(He.2:9). So he appointed the twelve in obedience to the Word who was with God.( John 1:1). By healing two, where twelve years are a reminder of the word of God stated in Ge.6:3. As the Word become flesh he obeyed the word of God. Similarly when virtue went out Jesus it was the Spirit's way of reminding that he was anointed for his ministry. He was the Servant-Messiah, fulfilling what was spoken of him by the prophets, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."(Matt.8:17)
For this reason the Spirit gives us the number of baskets as twelve, which serves as a testimony to God. "And they did all eat, and were filled./And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes."(vv.42-43)
The Holy Spirit tags the entities who made the everlasting covenant as the Father and the Son. Of the latter John says,"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made./In him was life; and the life was the light of men."(John1:3-4). Fulfilling the divine Will of the Father we have the tag Seven which is Perfect number. Seven provisions in the covenant therefore are seven days. Thus when the angel warns "for the hour of his judgment is come" the hour is set in heaven and it is not as we count earth time. Ministry of Jesus is from heaven so what role did all the prophets until John did? ( Luke 16:16)
"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years," The Spirit gives us when it comes to the healing of the daughter of Jairus and the woman with an issue of blood the number in terms of years in both cases.
In the previous post we covered the Command number 12 being assigned to the gospel whether in heaven or on the earth. For this reason the Spirit refers to the everlasting gospel. ("And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."-Re.14:6)
The spiritual significance of the gospel is set in terms of man. In the case of Noah we have this rule:"And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."(Ge.6:3) Life of The two who stood in need of healing was set in context of the word of God. By the same token having decreed a day for the Son (Ps.2:7-8) the seven 'days' are not days as we normally apply the duration of 24 hours. Instead it is set in the context of the everlasting covenant between God and Man. It is how we approach the entire opening chapter of the Book of Genesis. 'Days' and years" are kangaroo words so we are warned to look beyond the chronological time. We are considering the word as eternal and his promises are yea in his Son.
The woman with the issue of blood came where Jesus was present in order to get the healing. He was in a throng did not stop her, She herself thought of a way and "She said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole./ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague./ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?"(vv.28-30) She was a pioneer for this reason. We read in 6:56 the sick touching the hem.
"It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth."(v.31). Mark is referring to the same as intended in the Gospel of Matthew.However emphases differ. 'The little one' in Matthew is compared to a grain. It is less than all the seeds in the earth. However it is not the same when Matthew says it was "which a man took, and sowed in his field.". He refers to their position as it is set in heaven. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."(Matt.18:10). Matthew is serving the parable in terms of Jesus Christ on Alpha and Omega mode. The field is the world.(Matt.13:38)
Mark sets the parable in terms of heaven and the earth so the grain of mustard despite of its physical 'littleness" is empowered by the Spirit of God.
"t groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."(v.32) Compare the tree in the king's dream, "the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof" (Dan.4:12). The shadow as the Spirit has indicated in several places signify the authority of God. For instance people brought their sick," Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."(Ac.5:15) Mark is consistent in setting the Power of God casting its shadow so that the fowls of the air may under the shadow of it. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;/And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how." (4:26-27)
Luke is closer to the parable in which it is cast into his garden.( Luke 13:19)
For significance of the fowls of the heaven, Re.19:17-18)
"St Mark presents the parables of Jesus as mysteries so 'his doctrine' explains the familial relationship of the Father Son in terms of the earth."
"And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,/Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow"
Here we see what makes the Gospel of St Mark distinct from others, especially that of St Matthew to which it has more affinity an others. In three chapters St Mark having revealed the power of the Son in healing of demons states the concept of family with God as the only Father includes both heaven and the earth on single standard: faith.
The significance of the Parable of the Sower owes to the faith which incorporates both heaven and the earth as one entity: the kingdom of God.
Before the worlds began God sent forth his word which shall not return to him void. So the harvest at the end ought to teach us the one world at a time as interpreted by false teachers is not from God. Satan has spread his tares so denying deity to Jesus the word become flesh by some is from bad motives. "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."(v.29)
The seed is good as the ground which is good. So we have the yield. "And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."(v.8). The variation in yield shows up the nature of heart, a spiritual space. God formed all hearts alike and tries their works. :He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.:(Ps.33:15)
St Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount, which in order to give a context of the Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son is set against the mountain. St Marks presents 'his doctrine' in terms of the two worlds framed by his word. So the earth is not to be detached from heaven where the word sown , fruit of which are yet to collected as well.
" No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house."
Of whose house are we? " But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (He.3:6).One whose hope is firm to the end and works are done in faith cannot be a weak vessel. He is instead an overcomer" Jesus Christ has overcome the world and abiding in him all things are possible because he has promised and we know all promiseds of God are yea in his Son. If we have the Son we have the Father as well.
The verse speaks of anyone who serves God and mammon; like Samson there comes a point in his life that he gets taken like the dumb beast for the slaughter-house. "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."(Ju.16:20)
Parable of Jesus tells how the unclean spirit spoils his house.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none./ Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished./Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." (Matt.12:43-45)
When Jesus sent his disciples he authorized them to cast out demons. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."(Matt.10:1) Jesus was among them as a sign; so are believers whose lives identify with it. "And these signs shall follow them,"(16:17). 'In my name'
"When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Jesus as the Son of God knew what was in the mind of man. But he did not make it a point to separate man according to his profession or morals before he condescended to sit with him or sup in any convivial company. But when he say faith among them he responded. It was thus at the house he came to heal the man with palsy what struck him was the faith of four who took trouble to bring him to the fore. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."(2:5).He understood man was sinful so how sinful the matter of degrees did not interest him. The word of his Father was sent out calling all unto repentance. It was potent enough to enthuse the good to hear the call and make peace with God. For example St Luke speaks of Simeon of Jerusalem who was just and devout,"waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him./And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ./ And he came by the Spirit into the temple."( Luke 2:25-27). God let him see his heart's desire before he died. Then there was Anna the prophetess. It is of them Jesus meant when he referred the righteous. They were led by the Spirit of Christ and the anointing of the Holy Ghost would come only after hid resurrection.
But sinners whom came as in the case of Levi or the man with palsy did not came across him by coincidence,- but the call had gone forth before the worlds began and went to the ends of the world; it was their faith in exercising completed the calling and election sure. vv.15-16 The house of Levi was a microcosm of the world. So many were saved as there were many who went away as they came in because of their disbelief.
1:22-24 "And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,/ Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us?"
How come the Gospels are replete with the aspect of Trinity and yet man stumble over it? Devil has set him to coin outlandish concepts of 'accelerationalism' as though an historical imperative to bring down his own house. God is in charge and ungodly men cannot know the unclean spirit that spins his head to think of his home a charnel house. This is how the unclean spirit tore down the man in the synagogue of Capernaum.
Similarly when Jesus would heal the man with palsy, his detractors cried 'blasphemy'. Do we not see it in our own times, After kicking the dog what does man say, He howls, hasten his end,'hang him',
Jesus worked so he would say,"Mu Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
vv.10-12
"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)/I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house./And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all.
Thank you for taking time to help me understand Isaiah 53:5.
Healing puts back in place something that is out of order. Healing fixes things. Jesus' purpose in the land of the living was to make us whole.
It seems that Jesus reassured people that came to him for healing that their sins would not hinder their healing if they believed. Isaiah 53:5 is referring to both body and soul. In one scripture , the devils knew the prophesy of Isaiah concerning him. Jesus not only heals the "sin-sick soul, (transgression, iniquities) but the mind, BODY and soul. (COVID, Cancer, AIDS, Heart
Trouble, High blood pressure, diabetes) I noticed that in many conversation with the sick, Jesus mentions "sin." He was connecting sickness and sin.
St. James also mentioned Elders of the Church in relations to prayers for healing "sickness. and "sin."
The words " the chastisement of our peace, (our anxieties)
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." "Jesus stripes" are talking about healing every part of us that need fixing.
The Plaxovid seems to be working welll to give me restful sleep and relief of symptoms. Just want to avoid getting anyone else sick here in our home, especially with Vivian being pregnant and 28 weeks along. Her iron is very low and will be having an iron infusion on Friday. She has not been able to tolerate iron supplement pills, so I thought this would be needed for her. Please pray for her iron levels to get back to normal for the rest of her pregnancy.
Dear Loisanne: I pray that you will get some rest; physically; emotionally or spiritually as needed in due time.
I have had to face my own mortality since getting some adhesion issues after abdominal surgery last summer; where complications kept me hospitalized a couple sessions adding up to a total of 21 days. There are some other issues trying to care and live with my parents in their nineties.
We both know that our sojourn here is brief; life is as a vapor. I have seen in my lifetime since a generation ago the interest in the Rapture which has been delayed past when expected (there is a verse that says when hope is deferred it makes the heart sick). I have felt called to preach on the end times since then; but never have found a "niche" in that sort of ministry. What we expect and what is the actual meaning of the "Fig Tree Generation" clearly has had some misunderstanding; which has lead some to go the way of Preterism (the Lord somehow has mysteriously returned in some form); or Post Millennial persuasion not believing in the Rapture. Sadder still; of course is that those that espouse a belief in such often are so lukewarm that one wonders what their true spritual state is in making the Rapture.
I don't know your situation from the posting; many such as I went through betrayal from a spouse and divorce. I have my own conviction in preaching that remarriage is wrong based on scripture while my spouse is still alive despite her remarriage. It has led to much confusion; nonetheless there are those out there that support that view. I am the only believer in my family as well. I'm grateful to have a roof over my head and food on the table in a well policed suburban area. I have known in the past the fear of living next to a Satan worshipper; drug dealers loose in my apartment; and those having violent altercations below me. I pray God grants you courage wherever you are.
I pray that we as Paul can rejoice during these momentary trials.
I thanks fully of your prayers in the name of the Lord JESUS
You know that the Lord's Church is living in perilous times- 1Timothy 4:1-2- , I also pray to the Lord asking Him to help us and keep us under His powerful hands- Acts 11:21- , and He bless His people in whole Earth; giving them victories in struggles, in difficulties, and supplying the needs of each one, and healing illnesses and warding off the evils and the sickness in the among His people. And above all in giving Wisdom and understanding of His Word to all, lifting up the fallen, strengthening the weak and downcast by the Power of His Word. Amen. Matthew 28:18.
Our Lord JESUS promised: Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance... Matthew 25:29. Amen.
May our Lord GOD bless us, and keep us, and give us His protection
Sarah, So sorry to hear your Mom is sick. I will be happy to pray for her.
Dear heavenly Father, we come tonight in the name of Jesus asking for You to bring swift healing for Sarah's dear Mom. Cause her to begin to feel better right now and take away the pain and symptoms that are bothering her so. We ask that You do a great healing work in her body and that she will receive comfort, peace and rest while her body heals and is strengthened by Your amazing power, grace, and . Amen
"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."(Ps.107:20). Here we have the complete will of God the Father. By healing the sick and demon-possessed Jesus was not working miracles but fulfilling the will of his Father.
At Bethesda we see an instance where the angel fulfills the office of the word. "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." Jesus did not have to ask the helpless man to step in the pool. He simply fulfilled the divine Will.
Now the text:
"Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches./ In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water./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./And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years./ 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?/ 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./Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk./And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked."
The Spirit qualifies God as Jehovah Rapha. But fall of man rendered man's labor wasted; his ground tainted and the climate maleficent. His sin causing collateral damage and all the poison man pumps as weedkillers affect even the sexuality of mankind(DNA of Male brains found in female brain.etc.,) are manifestations of our world. For those who trust in the word of God should believe God as the healer.
oh Jema, I am sorry that your family had this illness over the past few weeks. But your upbeat perspective is refreshing. The family member who was to host our gathering had a sick household with the flu just a week or so ago. But gladly, they were better before Christmas, so everything went as planned. It was good to share the day with my husband's family.
Blessings from the Lord come in different ways, don't they?
Herod beheaded John the Baptist on a whim. His personal honor was at stake lest he did not commit the crime and give his head to the damsel who has had not an iota of understanding. One who lives for pleasure is dead since truth with which one may stake claim, rightly so, for life everlasting is let go. What else is he good for if he had lost his saltines, truth?
It was for this reason Jesus said,'Let the dead bury their dead'. ("But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.1 Ti.5:6)They are drunk with power as Herod was and mindless pleasure as we get to see nowadays in news media are like wise dead. "They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."(Pr.23:35). Such are the dead men walking of which Herod is a good example. What was his honor worth when 'he feared the multitude'? In such a pusillanimous spirit what made him equate John whom he had beheaded with Jesus? For that matter what has resurrection to do with one who was given to pleasure. It is what we call truth in his inward parts, the inner man nudging his callous conscience to itself. The Preacher says, "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."(Ec.3:11).We have the key in this verse, "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."( John 6:28-29) 'The work that God maketh' is believing in the Son whom he sent. So Jesus is the only Way for 'the dead', "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."(Ep.5:14)
It sounds like we listen to some of the same music. I have a CD of the Franz Family in my collection. They broke up as a group after the mother passed away. Emmitt Franz plays dobro now with the Petersen's (another great group) as you already know. I also have three CD's of the Petersen's, Homesick for a Country being my favorite. The song "I know who holds tomorrow" is probably my favorite on that album, almost as good as Alison Krauss and the Cox family.
Sorry, I know this is not your main topic, but I got a little excited knowing someone else here listens to the same music as myself.
Proverbs 3:9-10 may be a favorite verse of prosperity preachers. It states:
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
It is too bad they don't go on to the next verse which says: My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights. (verses 11 and 12-so next TWO verses).
This concept of correction also makes Job 21:13 a frightening perspective because it describes them thriving until the moment of death; then the wrath of God afterwards (see rest of chapter and other parts of the book of Job as well).
Malachi 3:10 also discusses putting tithes in the storehouse and God's blessings; as well as pointing out their stinginess earlier in the book where they offer lame and sick animals ( Malachi 1:8). Naturally; if the first appeal doesn't work guilt trips like this are also utilized; any trick in the book to get the coffers filled.
The blessings of God are conditional on obedience to the Lord to His statutes and commandments; and of course that deals with matters of the heart as this verse in Malachi and similar references in Isaiah 1; for example. One can surmise that when one sin (covetousness which breaks the 10th Commandment) there is another; and that often is adulteries and adulterous remarriages that this type of celebrity pastor commonly is involved in. Since the church rarely stands up as they should to these matters with other members they sometimes can seemingly get by; but sometimes this does cost them a significant number of members.
In my next post I am going to explore factors in society that make such con artists thrive that exist today; as well as that form the personality types of individuals that tend to start on these ventures.
I will pray for your brother now.
Dear Heavenly Father, this brother needs the healing that comes from You for he is so very sick right now. We know that You hear our prayers and will answer when we come to You in the name of Jesus. Sp, thank You for your tender love and care for all of us but especially for this brother today. Amen.
Hypothetical questions require carnal wisdom while every nuance set down by the Holy Spirit requires truth. I excuse myself from indulging in such 'what ifs.' Nuance of seven is not merely a number. Perfection of the church as was in the mind of the Father was left for the Son to fulfill it. The number gives us a spiritual underpinning to Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. The Spirit also gives an additional clue. " He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
Cloud is another term nuance of which casts shadow and it is on the same scale of the shadow of Peter, "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."(Ac.5:15). Elijah would bend over the dead boy, casting a shadow' "And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again./ And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." Three times hold nuance and he did it as a double for the Son. Besides taking the dead boy to the attic and bringing him back alive to hand him to his mother is nuanced.
Ps.34:19-Many are the afflictions of the righteous:but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Acts 14:22-We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of GOD
The KING of DARKNESS,the Devil, showed to JESUS all the kingdoms of the world,the glory of them,and said:All will I give thee,if thou fall down and worship me.Mat.4:8-9.
Re.13:1&15:
1 I stood upon the sand of the sea(John was a citzen of Israel),and saw a(MAN)Beast rise up out of the sea(Gentile nations),having 7 heads,10 horns, upon his HORNS 10 crowns(CROWNS UPON HORNS?),and upon his heads a NAME of blasphemy.
15 And he-MAN Beast of earth-Re.13:11-a false messiah- John 5:43-47,had power to give life unto the Beast's image,that the image should speak,who worships not the image must be killed.
Daniel 3:2-20
The KING sent to gather the princes,governors,the captains,judges, counsellors,all the rulers of the provinces,to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.They stood before the image and an herald cried:To you is commanded,O people,NATIONS,and languages,that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet,flute, harp,and all kinds of musick,ye fall down and worship the image the king has set up:Whoso falls not down and worships shall be cast into the burning fiery furnace.But Shadrach,Meshach,Abednego,O king, have not regarded thee,they serve not thy gods,nor worship the image you has set up.So in his rage and fury the KING commanded to bring them,and said:Is it true,O Shadrach,Meshach,Abednego,do not ye serve my gods,nor worship the IMAGE I have set up?When you hear the sound of the cornet,all kinds of musick,ye fall down and worship the image I have made;well:if not,ye shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace;who is that GOD that shall deliver you out of my hands?
O king,our GOD whom we serve is able to deliver us from furnace,thy hands,and we will not serve thy gods,nor worship the image you have set up.
That said,Get ready
The enemy of our souls has a problem (actually as sick as he is a lot of issues) but I am focusing on one in particular. He can't stand humans; in reality even those who do his bidding but is out of necessity offering many temporary pleasures to turn men away from God and in reality; of course put people into bondage. Since he can't stand God; Christ or His holiness as well as human beings the last thing he wants is to see someone be drawn to Christ's mercy and salvation through God's love. No doubt that sickens him. Some say his primary motive is to have us in hell with him. Since he hates us already having our company there isn't going to make him feel better; and of course he will be too busy suffering himself to care anyway. It may give him pleasure for now; since he misses out on such suffering until the confinement period of the Millennium is over and the final conflagration occurs; to think of men in constant agony. What he really wants as from the beginning is worship. His motive is simply overthrow of God and heaven which his demented mind still thinks can be attained; but at the same time he probably knows better since his time is short. Daniel 8:10 even seems to suggest he tramples on some of his own demonic horde when cast out of heaven in the Tribulation; likely enraged that they couldn't fight hard enough to keep his position up there any longer.
The whole Satanic mantra (Such as Aleister Crowley's "do as thou wilt") in a nutshell explains all of the enemy's tactics.
The devil only wants to serve himself. He will use his best tool music (read Isaiah 14 or Ezekiel 28) to delude the masses.
He doesn't rule over hell; at least after the cross as souls now go straight to heaven and not remain in the paradise under the earth. His contracts with people can't hold water with the shed blood on the cross of His atonement. 1 Corinthians 15:56; Romans 6:23). Christ conquered sin at Calvary.
Before we go into the parables Jesus employed them in order to illustrate realities of heaven from that of the earth. In Matt21:.45-46 we read that "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them./But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet". It was not for want of intelligence that they rejected Jesus but out of envy. The multitude took Jesus as a prophet so when he spoke truth it resonated within and accepted as truth. Besides God had given such power for the Son of man healed the sick and cast out the demons from among them. Faith is the only that can reconcile both the worlds.
12:1 " A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country." God is who planted the vineyard, the world. He made man his steward. By far country the heaven is implied. The world is hedged about refers the blessings God had promised in the everlasting covenant. The tower and the wine fat signifies the spirit of God and soul of man of which he has to give account. "The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me," (Le.25:23)explains the significance of letting out to husbandmen.
v.2 "And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant," In next three verses we are considering Moses and the Law which as Israel set to work became for breaking the tradition of their fathers. The stoning of Stephen (Ac.7:59-60)
vv6-8 Jesus foretells of what the Jews intended to do. "And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard."
in v.9 "What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do?" The Gentile nations come in. The chief priests and Pharisees understood but without faith it was lost on them.
A general concept as pointed out in my last post is that the Old Testament law and sacrifices had temporal methods and sufficiency and were based on behaviors of Israel as to whether blessings or cursings resulted. The Spirit of God was more transient and was no guarantee of salvation such as seen in the example of Saul's prophesying as well as Baalam's repeated attempts to curse Israel and being overtaken to make proclamations under the influence of the Holy Spirit. David even asked God not to remove His Holy Spirit as apparently happened with Saul who needed David to play music for a temporary "fix" to his bizarre disorders.
John 16:8 essentially gives indication of permanent residence of the Father and Son in a believer and thus sealing them until the Day of Redemption. What we cannot do is glibly assume we are saved without testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith; and certain behaviors especially illustrated in Corinthians show the result of sickness and death with communion taken unworthily and the case of the man sleeping with his father's wife. There is always hope of repentance if someone is alive; but we cannot continue a LIFESTYLE of sin and be presumptuous thinking God will overlook our sin as an exception to His rule for the rest of mankind.
Matthew 5:17 states that Christ came not to abolish but fulfill the law and the prophets. This is a segway into the second theme in this introduction: Prophecy...
INTRO.
Prophecy begins with Genesis 3:15 in the garden with the serpent being told that he would receive a deadly wound and that Christ would recieve a wound on the heel (the seed of the woman representing the virgin Birth and the wound that of His piercing on the cross). Jesus was the end of Prophecy as THE Prophet; but in real time we still see Him as the Alpha and Omega in Revelation 1; and we still see 2 Prophets in Rev. 11.
Continuing on the Revelation 21:8 warnings of those in hell we see this category. This would no doubt encompass ALL types of sexual immorality; whether fornication or adultery which are two categories deliberately separated in many scriptures as different types of sin. I am not going to use this forum to go into in length my viewpoint on adulterous marriages; but will say that unless that is what is referred to it seems a lot harder to categorize a lifestyle of sin as committing adultery than it would to say someone likes to fornicate a lot (sleep around). There may be a few sick folks who deliberately want the thrill of having a fling with a married person but for the sake of their own security and simple convenience they probably will find it easier much of the time having relatinships with unmarried or "available" women. Therefore I have to deduce it is indeed adulterous marriages referred to; and that of a state of continuing sin as long as a relationship isn't a true covenant before God. I'll leave it to the readers to study the verses on the subject and the so called "exception or escape clause"; something I have studied in great detail but don't want to raise friction with on this site. Before moving on; I will note that adultery meant an instant death penalty in the Old Testament according to the law (if proven by witnesses and both parties should be present hence invalidating the presentation of John 8:1-11.) Fornication is a different penalty in O.T. law. Also there can be people who are prostitutes or just generally immoral as related to the term "whoremongers". The end result of LIFESTYLES of any of these sins is hell; which is a warning to someone calling themselves a believer who doesn't turn away from sin when making a verbal confirmation of repentance. Of course ANY sin leads us to hell; hence we are all doomed without His atoning sacrifice. Therefore all lost fit into one or more of these descriptions in Revelation 21:8
"(Jesus)he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak."
As with the raising of Jairus' daughter Jesus does healing and St Mark intends us to see it as significant. "And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him./And he took him aside from the multitude,." In the case of the man with palsy, "And it was noised that he was in the house."(2:1) He saw the faith who found an ingenious way to get the man before Jesus. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."(2:1-5,10) Who was Jesus? "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," it was faith that connected him to the world. His Father sent him with a mandate that made sin standing athwart man and his malady. So he addressed it by forgiving him. Their faith was good as of the impotent man.
Whether in the house or in the open, the man in need of a cure was on one-to -one with Jesus and faith was what effected the healing. In the case of the Syrophoenician woman who sought out Jesus when he visited their environs, the demon-possessed damsel was in her house while her mother displayed her faith. She was as much an intercessor as Jesus stood in relation to his Father. "Behold I and the children which God hath given me./ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;/And deliver them.(He.2:13-15)" Her daughter was instantly healed as in the case of the deaf and dumb man. " And straightway his ears were opened,... and he spake plain."(v.35) What is the significance of a man's spittle when it was the means to heal him? It just proves," Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." His humanity fits with his need.
There are two views on the subject; the "transubstantiation" argument of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions and the purely symbolic or metaphorical doctrines we find in many Protestant churches. In the first view we have to hold to an abhorrent view that there is an ongoing or perpetual reinstitution of Christ's sacrifice at every communion; clearly contrary to where Christ stated "it is finished" on the cross and Hebrews 9:28 speaking of His one time sacrifice for many. The Protestant viewpoint; however can tend to treat communion and in fact many other rites or ceremonies as merely symbolic and thus be calloused to verses such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 which states that many have become sick and died (fallen asleep) due to taking communion unworthily.
Communion therefore is something which each individual is held accountable for but also involves a union in the Body of Christ through the function of the Holy Spirit. We certainly can't isolate these warnings just for communion; for instance we have no business being baptized without a proper confession of faith and marriages also need to be taken seriously in regard to the covenant vows. The New Covenant brings the blood ATONEMENT which essentially exchanges His life for our own as our spiritual sustenance; along with His broken body. He purchased us with the cost of His life and redeemed us from death and hell by taking our place on the cross of Calvary. Such a detestable imagery of a snake on a pole was an early representation of this Numbers 21. A man was cursed when hung on a tree ( Deut. 21:22-23). We are then partakers in Christ and His sufferings ( 1 Peter 4:13); see also Hebrews 3:14 on enduring to the end.
In terms of eternal physical life; we of course have the tree of life as mentioned in the Garden. We also will be raised incorruptible if we are in Him.
" and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him."
Herod was not farther from truth to set John in relation to Jesus. Nevertheless he had blood on his hand. Satan is a murderer. (John8:44) Mark set the Gadarenes episode to bring out the similarities with the unclean spirits, be it one or legion having the same cast of mind, they know the truth when they see or hear it. Is is under the department of conscience. Herod's conscience pricked that he put to death an innocent man. But Satan had given him safe cover as with the man with the legion at his throat. He would not cast them out by faith. Instead he did some monkeying. his untamed spirit was such the Marvel comics could have found their superhero, 'dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:"(5:3)
Satan had given his seat and authority as he did with the beast. (" and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority-"Re.13:2)"For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly." In what was his fear different from the Jews? "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me./Howbeit in vain do they worship me."(7:6-7) Herod read the script given to him and he had a part to play. Hearing with his heart and understanding the will of God and being converted was not allowed. Instead Satan gave him pomp and circumstance, as sop to the dignity of a ruler. Do we not see such honor unravelling before our very eyes? Power is potent as a drink. Even after drawn over hot coals of impeachment what do we hear? "They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."(Pr.23:35)
Such honor is like the golden ring on the snout of a swine.
While studying the significance of the command numbers Twelve and Seven respectively their place in the body of Scriptures is to fix the role of the Son as the heir of all things and the Son of man who is the Word become flesh. It is in the latter role whose humanity sets the doctrine of God as the good news since he died and rose again. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."(He.2:9). So he appointed the twelve in obedience to the Word who was with God.( John 1:1). By healing two, where twelve years are a reminder of the word of God stated in Ge.6:3. As the Word become flesh he obeyed the word of God. Similarly when virtue went out Jesus it was the Spirit's way of reminding that he was anointed for his ministry. He was the Servant-Messiah, fulfilling what was spoken of him by the prophets, "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses."(Matt.8:17)
For this reason the Spirit gives us the number of baskets as twelve, which serves as a testimony to God. "And they did all eat, and were filled./And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes."(vv.42-43)
The Holy Spirit tags the entities who made the everlasting covenant as the Father and the Son. Of the latter John says,"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made./In him was life; and the life was the light of men."(John1:3-4). Fulfilling the divine Will of the Father we have the tag Seven which is Perfect number. Seven provisions in the covenant therefore are seven days. Thus when the angel warns "for the hour of his judgment is come" the hour is set in heaven and it is not as we count earth time. Ministry of Jesus is from heaven so what role did all the prophets until John did? ( Luke 16:16)
"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years," The Spirit gives us when it comes to the healing of the daughter of Jairus and the woman with an issue of blood the number in terms of years in both cases.
In the previous post we covered the Command number 12 being assigned to the gospel whether in heaven or on the earth. For this reason the Spirit refers to the everlasting gospel. ("And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."-Re.14:6)
The spiritual significance of the gospel is set in terms of man. In the case of Noah we have this rule:"And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years."(Ge.6:3) Life of The two who stood in need of healing was set in context of the word of God. By the same token having decreed a day for the Son (Ps.2:7-8) the seven 'days' are not days as we normally apply the duration of 24 hours. Instead it is set in the context of the everlasting covenant between God and Man. It is how we approach the entire opening chapter of the Book of Genesis. 'Days' and years" are kangaroo words so we are warned to look beyond the chronological time. We are considering the word as eternal and his promises are yea in his Son.
The woman with the issue of blood came where Jesus was present in order to get the healing. He was in a throng did not stop her, She herself thought of a way and "She said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole./ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague./ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?"(vv.28-30) She was a pioneer for this reason. We read in 6:56 the sick touching the hem.
"It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth."(v.31). Mark is referring to the same as intended in the Gospel of Matthew.However emphases differ. 'The little one' in Matthew is compared to a grain. It is less than all the seeds in the earth. However it is not the same when Matthew says it was "which a man took, and sowed in his field.". He refers to their position as it is set in heaven. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven."(Matt.18:10). Matthew is serving the parable in terms of Jesus Christ on Alpha and Omega mode. The field is the world.(Matt.13:38)
Mark sets the parable in terms of heaven and the earth so the grain of mustard despite of its physical 'littleness" is empowered by the Spirit of God.
"t groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."(v.32) Compare the tree in the king's dream, "the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof" (Dan.4:12). The shadow as the Spirit has indicated in several places signify the authority of God. For instance people brought their sick," Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."(Ac.5:15) Mark is consistent in setting the Power of God casting its shadow so that the fowls of the air may under the shadow of it. "And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;/And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how." (4:26-27)
Luke is closer to the parable in which it is cast into his garden.( Luke 13:19)
For significance of the fowls of the heaven, Re.19:17-18)
"St Mark presents the parables of Jesus as mysteries so 'his doctrine' explains the familial relationship of the Father Son in terms of the earth."
"And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,/Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow"
Here we see what makes the Gospel of St Mark distinct from others, especially that of St Matthew to which it has more affinity an others. In three chapters St Mark having revealed the power of the Son in healing of demons states the concept of family with God as the only Father includes both heaven and the earth on single standard: faith.
The significance of the Parable of the Sower owes to the faith which incorporates both heaven and the earth as one entity: the kingdom of God.
Before the worlds began God sent forth his word which shall not return to him void. So the harvest at the end ought to teach us the one world at a time as interpreted by false teachers is not from God. Satan has spread his tares so denying deity to Jesus the word become flesh by some is from bad motives. "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."(v.29)
The seed is good as the ground which is good. So we have the yield. "And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."(v.8). The variation in yield shows up the nature of heart, a spiritual space. God formed all hearts alike and tries their works. :He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.:(Ps.33:15)
St Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount, which in order to give a context of the Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son is set against the mountain. St Marks presents 'his doctrine' in terms of the two worlds framed by his word. So the earth is not to be detached from heaven where the word sown , fruit of which are yet to collected as well.
" No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house."
Of whose house are we? " But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (He.3:6).One whose hope is firm to the end and works are done in faith cannot be a weak vessel. He is instead an overcomer" Jesus Christ has overcome the world and abiding in him all things are possible because he has promised and we know all promiseds of God are yea in his Son. If we have the Son we have the Father as well.
The verse speaks of anyone who serves God and mammon; like Samson there comes a point in his life that he gets taken like the dumb beast for the slaughter-house. "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."(Ju.16:20)
Parable of Jesus tells how the unclean spirit spoils his house.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none./ Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished./Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." (Matt.12:43-45)
When Jesus sent his disciples he authorized them to cast out demons. "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."(Matt.10:1) Jesus was among them as a sign; so are believers whose lives identify with it. "And these signs shall follow them,"(16:17). 'In my name'
"When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Jesus as the Son of God knew what was in the mind of man. But he did not make it a point to separate man according to his profession or morals before he condescended to sit with him or sup in any convivial company. But when he say faith among them he responded. It was thus at the house he came to heal the man with palsy what struck him was the faith of four who took trouble to bring him to the fore. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."(2:5).He understood man was sinful so how sinful the matter of degrees did not interest him. The word of his Father was sent out calling all unto repentance. It was potent enough to enthuse the good to hear the call and make peace with God. For example St Luke speaks of Simeon of Jerusalem who was just and devout,"waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him./And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ./ And he came by the Spirit into the temple."( Luke 2:25-27). God let him see his heart's desire before he died. Then there was Anna the prophetess. It is of them Jesus meant when he referred the righteous. They were led by the Spirit of Christ and the anointing of the Holy Ghost would come only after hid resurrection.
But sinners whom came as in the case of Levi or the man with palsy did not came across him by coincidence,- but the call had gone forth before the worlds began and went to the ends of the world; it was their faith in exercising completed the calling and election sure. vv.15-16 The house of Levi was a microcosm of the world. So many were saved as there were many who went away as they came in because of their disbelief.
1:22-24 "And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,/ Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us?"
How come the Gospels are replete with the aspect of Trinity and yet man stumble over it? Devil has set him to coin outlandish concepts of 'accelerationalism' as though an historical imperative to bring down his own house. God is in charge and ungodly men cannot know the unclean spirit that spins his head to think of his home a charnel house. This is how the unclean spirit tore down the man in the synagogue of Capernaum.
Similarly when Jesus would heal the man with palsy, his detractors cried 'blasphemy'. Do we not see it in our own times, After kicking the dog what does man say, He howls, hasten his end,'hang him',
Jesus worked so he would say,"Mu Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
vv.10-12
"But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)/I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house./And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all.
Thank you for taking time to help me understand Isaiah 53:5.
Healing puts back in place something that is out of order. Healing fixes things. Jesus' purpose in the land of the living was to make us whole.
It seems that Jesus reassured people that came to him for healing that their sins would not hinder their healing if they believed. Isaiah 53:5 is referring to both body and soul. In one scripture , the devils knew the prophesy of Isaiah concerning him. Jesus not only heals the "sin-sick soul, (transgression, iniquities) but the mind, BODY and soul. (COVID, Cancer, AIDS, Heart
Trouble, High blood pressure, diabetes) I noticed that in many conversation with the sick, Jesus mentions "sin." He was connecting sickness and sin.
St. James also mentioned Elders of the Church in relations to prayers for healing "sickness. and "sin."
The words " the chastisement of our peace, (our anxieties)
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." "Jesus stripes" are talking about healing every part of us that need fixing.
God is in control. "The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." (Ps.41:3)
With joy and peace in him,
The Plaxovid seems to be working welll to give me restful sleep and relief of symptoms. Just want to avoid getting anyone else sick here in our home, especially with Vivian being pregnant and 28 weeks along. Her iron is very low and will be having an iron infusion on Friday. She has not been able to tolerate iron supplement pills, so I thought this would be needed for her. Please pray for her iron levels to get back to normal for the rest of her pregnancy.
stripes we are healed." It shows us that
God promised and and that the sick can be healed. There is power in these words to restore the ailing.
When we speak them in their presence, they are reminded as well as encouraged that God loves them and has made a way for them to be healed.
May God strengthen you. May he restore the sick among you! Amen.
I have had to face my own mortality since getting some adhesion issues after abdominal surgery last summer; where complications kept me hospitalized a couple sessions adding up to a total of 21 days. There are some other issues trying to care and live with my parents in their nineties.
We both know that our sojourn here is brief; life is as a vapor. I have seen in my lifetime since a generation ago the interest in the Rapture which has been delayed past when expected (there is a verse that says when hope is deferred it makes the heart sick). I have felt called to preach on the end times since then; but never have found a "niche" in that sort of ministry. What we expect and what is the actual meaning of the "Fig Tree Generation" clearly has had some misunderstanding; which has lead some to go the way of Preterism (the Lord somehow has mysteriously returned in some form); or Post Millennial persuasion not believing in the Rapture. Sadder still; of course is that those that espouse a belief in such often are so lukewarm that one wonders what their true spritual state is in making the Rapture.
I don't know your situation from the posting; many such as I went through betrayal from a spouse and divorce. I have my own conviction in preaching that remarriage is wrong based on scripture while my spouse is still alive despite her remarriage. It has led to much confusion; nonetheless there are those out there that support that view. I am the only believer in my family as well. I'm grateful to have a roof over my head and food on the table in a well policed suburban area. I have known in the past the fear of living next to a Satan worshipper; drug dealers loose in my apartment; and those having violent altercations below me. I pray God grants you courage wherever you are.
I pray that we as Paul can rejoice during these momentary trials.
GiGi
I thanks fully of your prayers in the name of the Lord JESUS
You know that the Lord's Church is living in perilous times- 1Timothy 4:1-2- , I also pray to the Lord asking Him to help us and keep us under His powerful hands- Acts 11:21- , and He bless His people in whole Earth; giving them victories in struggles, in difficulties, and supplying the needs of each one, and healing illnesses and warding off the evils and the sickness in the among His people. And above all in giving Wisdom and understanding of His Word to all, lifting up the fallen, strengthening the weak and downcast by the Power of His Word. Amen. Matthew 28:18.
Our Lord JESUS promised: Unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance... Matthew 25:29. Amen.
May our Lord GOD bless us, and keep us, and give us His protection
Amen
Dear heavenly Father, we come tonight in the name of Jesus asking for You to bring swift healing for Sarah's dear Mom. Cause her to begin to feel better right now and take away the pain and symptoms that are bothering her so. We ask that You do a great healing work in her body and that she will receive comfort, peace and rest while her body heals and is strengthened by Your amazing power, grace, and . Amen
"He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."(Ps.107:20). Here we have the complete will of God the Father. By healing the sick and demon-possessed Jesus was not working miracles but fulfilling the will of his Father.
At Bethesda we see an instance where the angel fulfills the office of the word. "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." Jesus did not have to ask the helpless man to step in the pool. He simply fulfilled the divine Will.
Now the text:
"Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches./ In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water./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./And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years./ 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?/ 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./Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk./And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked."
The Spirit qualifies God as Jehovah Rapha. But fall of man rendered man's labor wasted; his ground tainted and the climate maleficent. His sin causing collateral damage and all the poison man pumps as weedkillers affect even the sexuality of mankind(DNA of Male brains found in female brain.etc.,) are manifestations of our world. For those who trust in the word of God should believe God as the healer.
Blessings from the Lord come in different ways, don't they?
vv.1-12
Herod beheaded John the Baptist on a whim. His personal honor was at stake lest he did not commit the crime and give his head to the damsel who has had not an iota of understanding. One who lives for pleasure is dead since truth with which one may stake claim, rightly so, for life everlasting is let go. What else is he good for if he had lost his saltines, truth?
It was for this reason Jesus said,'Let the dead bury their dead'. ("But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.1 Ti.5:6)They are drunk with power as Herod was and mindless pleasure as we get to see nowadays in news media are like wise dead. "They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."(Pr.23:35). Such are the dead men walking of which Herod is a good example. What was his honor worth when 'he feared the multitude'? In such a pusillanimous spirit what made him equate John whom he had beheaded with Jesus? For that matter what has resurrection to do with one who was given to pleasure. It is what we call truth in his inward parts, the inner man nudging his callous conscience to itself. The Preacher says, "He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."(Ec.3:11).We have the key in this verse, "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."( John 6:28-29) 'The work that God maketh' is believing in the Son whom he sent. So Jesus is the only Way for 'the dead', "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."(Ep.5:14)
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