Category: Christianity

The faith of Syrophoenician Woman results in the demon removed from her daughter

Did Jesus Call The Syrophoenician Woman A Dog?

The Syrophoenician Woman

In Matthew 15 and Mark 7, the Gospel writers record the story of Jesus healing the possessed daughter of a Syrophoenician woman. This story has been taught and read so many times that some folks simply take it for granted. That should not be the case. Just the other day I found a blog that claimed in all seriousness that Jesus called a woman a dog. And then presented a case for the insensitivity of the remark. That is religious thinking. If you KNOW Jesus, you are far less likely to make bad assumptions like that. Scripture interprets Scripture, meaning that the entire Word helps you understand individual passages, events, and verses. And if you are a Believer, the Holy Spirit resides in you to lead you to the Truth. So when you read or hear something that seems out of character from Jesus for instance, you should sense there is a problem in your spirit. It is likely that someone has “missed” it. Jesus, our Savior and Lord, Love Himself, did not call the woman a dog. Strap in and prepare, as we take a closer look at this wonderful story.

read more
Adam and Eve

Satan’s War On Women – From The Garden To Victory

Jesus Set Women Free – Why Do The Religious Insist On Bondage?

Starting in the Garden, satan sought to divide mankind from God, and split man from woman. Explaining the results of their sin, and the curse that now was on the Earth, God said there would be hostility between satan and the woman, and between her seed and his seed. Why? Because his downfall would come via a woman. Therefore, the adversary would make childbirth challenging. And finally, Eve would turn away from God towards Adam, and the result would be he would dominate her.

God Who Made THEM From The Beginning, Made THEM Male And Female. (Matthew 19:4)

When was the last time you studied the Creation Story in Genesis, or heard a sermon on it, or read some commentary on those events? The first few chapters are full of Revelation, establishing the foundation for the relationship between man and God, man and satan, and of course man and woman. If it has been a while, think about what you learned in the past, and consider the following questions.

read more
Valley of the ten peaks

Mark 11:21-23 – Speak To The Mountain And Do Not Doubt

God’s Word Is True – An Example From My Life

Today, I was doing some research for an article on Mark 11. This is where Jesus curses the fig tree, and then gives one of the most important lessons on how to release your faith. Both His actions and explanation are so simple a child can understand it. The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple. (Psalm 119:130) So it was quite surprising to stumble across a scholarly paper that harshly rebuked Believers for taking Jesus’ Words literally. After a whole thesaurus of 300 point words, the crux of the argument came down to Believers have it wrong. We are not supposed to have the God kind of faith, nor speak to the obstacles in our life. The religious among us are shocked by such boldness. “Who do you think you are?” They will ask. And quite calmly Believers respond, “New Creatures in Christ, made alive and complete in HIM, children of God and led by the spirt, with a command to imitate our Heavenly Father.”

read more

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? Truth Or Treat?

Much of Halloween glorifies evil and darkness, and is designed to instill fear. Believers should have nothing to do with any of these.

read more
Spiritual or water baptism

One Baptism – Water or Spiritual – Choose Wisely

11 I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. -- Matthew 3:11 <AMP>

That statement was important enough to be recorded in 3 Gospels: Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, and in Acts 1:5. Believers should carefully take note at what the Spirit is trying to tell us.

I Baptize With Water, Unto Repentance

John the Baptist was the last Old Testament prophet. He baptized people with water, preaching the Kingdom of Heaven and repentance to Israel. He recognized that water baptism was just a shadow of what was to come. (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:16, Acts 1:5) His testimony was that there was someone coming after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John recognized that the coming one was superior, and existed before him. John would baptize Jesus to reveal him to Israel, and in so doing, recognized Jesus as Lord, and witnessed him being anointed by the Holy Spirit. (John 1:29-36)


25 And they asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?
26 John answered them, I [only] baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing. [Mal. 3:1.]
27 It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose.

— John 1:25-27 <AMP>

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus lays out a future formula – teach the nations (Israel was not reckoned among the nations – Numbers 23:9), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. A careful reading of those passages shows that neither baptism (John’s, or the one in Matthew 28) applies to the Body of Christ, who are children of God, and neither Jew or Gentile, nor are they accounted among the nations. (1 Corinthians 10:32)

Note that in every example in Acts, nobody uses the three names instructed in Matthew 28. Here are three.

Acts 2:38 (KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 8:16 (KJV)
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Acts 10:48 (KJV)
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Did they disobey Jesus, or rightly understand that Matthew 28 applied to a future time of judgment? This was a slight digression to show that the purpose and type of baptisms can change depending on the age and audience. And we must be careful attempting to apply what belongs to Israel, to the Church, and what belongs to a future dispensation, to the current one. Everything must fall in its proper place and time.

The spiritual rebirth Jesus discusses in John 3 is fully realized in the Body of Christ. In John 4, Jesus mentions God’s desire that all worship Him in spirit and Truth. This reaches its glorious maturity by the change in status from servants to children in the Body of Christ. There are no more Jews who are “zealous of the Law” because all those barriers are gone, along with the traditions and requirements of the Law. Grace is the order of the day. The only Law is the Law of Love. Believers are no longer spiritually dead, but made alive in Christ! What could mere water on the flesh possibly do for a reborn child of God baptized in the Holy Spirit? (Romans 8, Ephesians 1-4) There is no more veil separating man from God, because Believers become the Temple of God. (John 14-17, Romans 1:1-18, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19-20, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Ephesians 2:18-22)

You could take the meanest SOB in the city down to the creek and spend all day sprinkling and dunking him and not change him one bit. What matters is what is in his heart. True spiritual change comes from hearing the Word of God, believing it, and acting on it. That is why we are continually called to preach the Word. It is ALIVE, and capable of truly changing someone from the inside out. Once the confession is made, having believed the Word in the heart, the Holy Spirit transforms the individual from death to life, creating a New Creation in Christ. (Romans 10:8-11, Ephesians 2)

In Colossians 2, Paul puts the hammer down. Believers are COMPLETE IN CHRIST. He talks of a spiritual circumcision, a spiritual baptism through faith, in contrast with all the rudiments of the world – all the religious rituals and ordinances that lead to bondage. Those were a “shadow of things to come.” Believers died with Christ from ceremonialism – whether Jewish in origin, or simply paganized Christianity, it matters not. There is no glory in the flesh, only in the Lord. – Colossians 3:1 (KJV) – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. All the ceremonies and rituals do in this age is divide the Body. Note the silly squabbles, even wars in the past, over infant baptism, and immersion versus sprinkling, etc. A proper understanding of the spiritual new birth ends ALL works of the flesh, and all religious bondage.

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

If you follow the Scriptures from the Gospels, to Paul’s later letters, you will notice a clear trend. At first, its all water baptism, and then gradually its mentions begin to fade, giving way to a spiritual baptism as Paul unveils the Revelation of the Body of Christ, which had been hidden in God. This should be no surprise to Believers in this Age of Grace. The water baptism was meant for spiritually dead people before the resurrection of Jesus. Now that Jesus is glorified, it is unnecessary. Water simply runs off an individual, or evaporates. It does nothing to the spirit. A spiritual baptism, or new birth, changes the heart, creating a new creation in Christ!

How many people throughout time took part in a water baptism and then promptly went back to their life, nothing changed. When Jesus changes your heart, folks will notice. Sinful things that used to be desired gradually lose their appeal. A greater desire comes upon one spiritually baptized to know their Heavenly Father, and live to please him.

Water baptism certainly appeals to the crowd. The local congregation and pastor get the glory, and the person baptized gets wet, along with the praise. But what does God get? If the individual did not have a spiritual baptism, he is not even reborn. It may have been a memorable experience, but deep inside, that person has not changed. And then folks wonder why their new member is back down at the Honky-tonk the following Friday night.

8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] -- Ephesians 2:8-9 <AMP>

read more
Jesus Woman Well

The Chosen – A New Perspective on Jesus And The Woman At The Well

The Chosen – Now Streaming Online

I’ve watched The Chosen, Season 1 & 2 and was quite pleased. The quality is very impressive for a crowd funded production. Unlike Gospel of John, which kept very carefully to the Book, there was plenty of creativity employed. But unlike the debacles of Exodus: Gods and Kings (Moses) and Noah, it does not undermine the story. Instead it supports the narrative. Case in point, the clip below is one of my favorite stories – Jesus and the woman at the well. This story has been butchered and reimagined for centuries. Many have assumed she was a prostitute, or notorious tart – when nothing in Scripture even suggests this. Life was just hard for women in the 1st century. Men died, divorced, and abandoned their wives for a host of reasons. She was a woman who had a very poor self image – no surprise after what she had endured.

read more

He Was A Good Man

There was a recent article that mentioned an exchange between a young boy and the Pope. The boy was allowed to ask the Pope the following question.

“A short time ago, my dad died. He was an atheist, but he had all four of his children baptized. He was a good man. Is Dad in heaven?”

You can hear the Pope’s answer below.

Pope gives sweet answer to heartsick boy who lost his papa

Our hearts break for this little boy who lost his father. When he told Pope Francis that he was worried his papa wasn’t in heaven, the Pope had a beautiful response.

Posted by Detroit Free Press on Friday, April 27, 2018

I’m not here to criticize his response. The question grabbed my attention as I thought about how I would respond. The boy in the picture looked no older than 10. I may be wrong, as kids are getting so much bigger at much earlier ages. Certainly, the child’s maturity would factor into any explanation I would attempt to share.

Only God can answer such a question definitively, as He is the only one that knows what is in every person’s heart. And a mature Believer can be confident, based on God’s Word, of their present state in Christ, and future with His Heavenly Father. (Romans 8:31-39, 1 John 3:18-24)

It is not uncommon for the parents and family of criminals or terrorists, to claim that their child or brother was a good man. They only saw what was on the outside, how the individual behaved in their presence. God knows our thoughts, desires, and dreams. He sees what is done behind closed doors and in darkness. And more importantly, He knows who truly is in His family. (John 10:1-18)

But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 (<AMP>)

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. — Luke 18:18-19 (<KJV>)

read more

Towel Elephant

There Is A Way That Seems Right To Man

For many years the cry from the left was that you could not legislate morality. Now, they openly celebrate the Supreme Court doing exactly that. This latest attempt by the highest court to legislate from the bench has far reaching implications. The Federal government has made behavior, how one chooses to live, a protected class. It has also opened the door for all sorts of legal persecution of people of faith who recognize the Eternal consequences of those choices.

Marriage is not a legal right. The question should never have gone to trial. Marriage is a covenant, ordained by God between one man and one woman. That has always been the ideal. Adam was created first. Eve was taken from him. Meaning that the two together were one complete person. God, who knows the heart of individuals, brings them together in marriage to be a whole person – spirit, soul, and body. Anything that deviates from this original ideal leads to problems, as is obvious from the many examples in the Bible, and life itself.

The question is, in a Constitutional Republic, how do you guarantee the rights of Believers, while accommodating the desires of the world. In this case, the only solution is to get the government completely out of the marriage business. They had no business getting involved in the first place. You don’t redefine and diminish the marriage covenant, to indulge the world.

I will defer to the legal experts on how best to make this work. Instead, I would prefer to address the Biblical and Spiritual aspects of this issue. The moment this case made news, everyone on the planet was suddenly a Biblical scholar. Even some clergy got in the act, telling us that we did not understand God’s Will on this issue. So let’s dive in and see what God’s Word has to say on this topic.

It must be made perfectly clear that a Believer in Jesus, a follower of His Word, does not hate homosexuals, or any sinner for that matter. Sin means separation from God. Everyone is born spiritually dead, the sin nature has severed the connection to God, and instead connected them to the father of lies, Satan. There is only one way to reconnect to your Heavenly Father – faith in Jesus Christ, making Him Lord of your life. (Romans 10:6-13) It is God’s Will, and He is very patient, that all be saved. (Mark 16:14-16, John 3:14-17, 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 2 Peter 3:9) He wants you to choose Life, to choose Him. In this dispensation, He will never force you to choose Him, and protect your right to reject Him, all the way to the grave. And even to the very end, He will continue to love you, reach out to you, and desire that you turn to Him, so that you may be saved, not only in this life, but be eternally with Him.

For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord. — Romans 6:23 (<AMP>)

Its spiritual death, and then the rejection of Jesus that brings judgment. Sins are simply a symptom of the fallen nature in unbelievers, and an unrenewed mind, or the sin nature still influencing a Believer. Sins have consequences, and they are often not pleasant. Satan has one clear mission – to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give Life, in abundance, and to the full. (John 10:10) Don’t make Satan’s job any easier.

Sexual sins – adultery, fornication, homosexuality, molestation, and rape are especially egregious because they so often affect others, sometimes whole nations. From the Bible, we can see how adultery can break up families, lead to murder, and even civil war. Fornication can lead to unwanted pregnancies, murder of the unborn, health complications, and emotional scars. Sexual perversion and abuse creates both physical and emotional victims, who often repeat the cycle. When it comes to sexual sins, there are no winners. That is why God has established the ideal. He is not a killjoy. He identifies sin and tells you to avoid it because He knows what comes from it. He knows you better than you know yourself. He sees the very best in you, and knows that the enemy is looking for an opportunity to deprive you of everything, including your life. Sin may seem exciting at first, but it rarely ends well.

The left is fond of pushing the narrative that anyone who preaches against homosexuality is preaching hate. Some countries are already prosecuting preachers, and the persecution of churches is well underway here in America. The homosexual community once called for tolerance. Now, they demand endorsement of their lifestyle choice. This is done by intimidation, lawsuits, and in some cases violence. In order to accommodate a very tiny, but seemingly powerful group, freedom of speech and religion are to be compromised. What has become of this once free nation? Can we not disagree, and not be disagreeable?

Towel Elephant
The Elephant In The Room

What prompted this article was reading some of the musings of preachers on this issue. I was amazed at their willingness to abandon Scripture, claiming Believers simply misunderstand God’s Word. And even demanding that the Bible be altered to reflect the times we live in and embrace homosexuality, well, in the same way churches have accepted most sexual sins. I am also amused when they change their views based on the majority opinion. Somehow, I don’t think God works by consensus. I’m not going to link to any of their posts because my goal is not to embarrass anyone.

So much of Christendom has become nothing more than religion. They teach a social gospel, having long ago abandoned preaching the Word. The Seed, the Word of God sown in the spirit brings Life. Religion can’t do this. It cannot be earned. Only the Word of God can accomplish this in someone’s heart. God’s Word is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It is the source of the Believer’s armor, and the only offensive weapon for spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-17). Religion evolves, theologians change opinions, but the Word of God is Eternal, Incorruptible Seed (1 Peter 1:13-25). The Word is the source of faith, and its impossible to please God without faith (Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:6). It is milk for babes in Christ, but meat for the spiritually mature. (Hebrews 5:10-14, 1 Peter 2:1-3). If you want to change someone’s fruit, you must first change their root. The only way that happens is by people hearing God’s Word.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? — Amos 3:3 (<KJV>) 

So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. — John 8:31-32 (<AMP>)

read more

Green Is The New Gospel

In the 70s, my elementary school took a break from teaching necessary things like reading, writing, and arithmetic, to scare the britches off us kids about the coming ice age. Our biggest concern in life up to that point was what game would be played at recess. Now, it was how to escape the coming glaciers and make it to Mexico before we froze to death. While the cause of the coming disaster was not directly linked to human activity, there was certainly plenty of hints that it was related to modern society. And the solutions, less freedom, more regulation, and higher taxes, were not that much different than the ones claimed to be necessary to stop global warming, which paused over a decade ago.

I remember my Mother’s expression when I started asking about moving to Mexico. She was a Spirit-filled Believer, and a mature woman of God rarely moved by fear. She sat me down with the Bible and explained from God’s Word His plan for man and the Earth. Even at such a young age, I had peace in my heart. In my head though, I had a whole lot of anger for those who attempted to peddle such nonsense to children. Its bad enough we get this garbage daily through the media, schools, and politicians. When it comes from the religious, especially those who claim to know God and His Word, it is highly offensive.

Archbishop of Canterbury joins faith leaders calling for urgent action on climate change:
https://twitter.com/lambethpalace

Since climate change and the global economy now affect us all, we have to develop a sense of the oneness of humanity.
https://twitter.com/DalaiLama

Apparently, just about every denomination is getting in on the fun, some with a more generic “take care of the planet” response, while others read more like The Communist Manifesto. The latest missive from Rome falls somewhere between the two. Concern for the environment – clean water and air, preservation of species and habitat, and quality of life are all good things. NOBODY is against clean water. Those who are “looking for quick and easy profit” as the Pope puts it, very often are, in fact, truly interested in their preservation. Who is more likely to preserve and care for deer, a government bureaucrat on public property, or a hunter on his own land? Who takes better care of their home, people living on the backs of taxpayers in government housing, or someone who owns their own home?

Take a look at the United States, and the quality of the environment versus developing nations to our South, many of which have been dominated by Catholicism for centuries. What is the difference? There is far more freedom in the US. Prosperity always flows from freedom. Progress always flows from prosperity. A prosperous nation is far more capable of innovation that corrects environmental challenges, whether real or imagined.

Quoting another religious monarch, the Pope added this.

Patriarch Bartholomew has spoken in particular of the need for each of us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet, for “inasmuch as we all generate small ecological damage”, we are called to acknowledge “our contribution, smaller or greater, to the disfigurement and destruction of creation”. He has repeatedly stated this firmly and persuasively, challenging us to acknowledge our sins against creation: “For human beings… to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation; for human beings to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests or destroying its wetlands; for human beings to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its air, and its life – these are sins”. For “to commit a crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against God”.

read more

Freedom From Religion

Around every Christian holiday, I can count on seeing a post or two shared on Facebook from an organization whose mission in life is to be free from religion. Strangely, I strongly endorse their efforts – but likely not in the way they imagine.

To understand what religion is, you must travel back to the beginning. God created Adam from the dust of the ground and filled him with spiritual life. He placed His children in the Garden and gave them dominion over the Earth.

However, they weren’t alone for long. There was an enemy present, Satan. His rebellion before led to a catastrophic judgment of Earth, leaving it in darkness, and covered with water. This was the condition when God recreated the earth in Genesis 1. He was an outsider, an intruder, and had Adam or Eve exercised their authority, they could have sent him packing. Instead, he engaged in a conversation with Eve. And she listened to what he had to say.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.
“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.
“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
— Genesis 3:1-5 (<NLT>)

read more

Love

I Would Not Have You To Be Ignorant, Brethren

As a bored child in church, I would sometimes turn to the back of a hymnal to find anything to occupy my time. There you could find random lists of things like the corresponding dates to the next several decades or so of Easter Sundays. This was somewhat alarming because the list in one particular hymnal ended at the year 2000. In my youthful ignorance, I assumed that the hymnal manufacturer had inside knowledge of the End Times. Having sat through a few sermons on Revelation, and my own time in the book, this was a frightening prospect. Such is the power of religious tradition, and ignorance of God’s Word.

This is where knowledge of God’s Word, His Truth, is so very important. Faith comes from hearing His Word, not fear. If something in the Bible makes you afraid, you may have misunderstood, or failed to rightly divide the Word. The Word of God is Truth. It is meant to set you free from fear, bondage, and even the bondage of religious tradition. Since God has provided so many answers to questions concerning the End Times, its sad to see people ignore what is written.

For Part 1 On The End Times – Its The End Of The World As We Know It

 

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 <KJV>)

read more

Transfiguration

Its The End Of The World As We Know It

In the press leading up to the new Nicholas Cage movie, Left Behind, I came across an interesting quote from someone described as a Christian philosopher. Now I am not quite sure what that is, but it can’t be good. Philosophers work in the field of philosophy, a word handed down by the Greeks (philosophia) which literally means “love of wisdom”. If that is truly the focus of this person’s endeavors, all would be well, since wisdom comes from God and is far superior to even the greatest knowledge of men. (Proverbs 2:1-15, 1 Corinthians 1:17-31, 3:18-20, James 5:1-8). However in practice, philosophy often gets stuck in the reasoning and foolishness of men. That would be very bad. Its the traditions and ideas of men that has led to so much confusion concerning God’s Word. Its the religious that have so confused the simplicity of the Gospel, and given us so many interpretations to divide the Body. God’s Word, His Truth, is designed to unite Believers. God is not the author of division, confusion, and strife. (1 Corinthians 14:33) Its the enemy that has twisted and confused God’s Word from the very beginning, causing the downfall of so many. (Genesis 3:1-4, 2 Corinthians 11:1-3) The enemy has the greatest success turning people away from God’s Truth, His Word, by working through religion.

Where is the wise man (the philosopher)? Where is the scribe (the scholar)? Where is the investigator (the logician, the debater) of this present time and age? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world’s wisdom?
(1 Corinthians 1:20 <AMP>)

Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] wise. For this world’s wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; And again, The Lord knows the thoughts and reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are.
(1 Corinthians 3:18-20 <AMP>)

read more

Read The Word

To Suffer Or Not To Suffer

I recently took part in a discussion on suffering, specifically Christian suffering. All the usual anecdotes were offered, the unborn, the premature death, the physically disabled, those born into poverty, or living in war zones. The usual Biblical examples were dragged out – Job and Paul’s thorn. It makes you wonder what Bible people read. Let’s take a look at some of these examples.

In a passage often quoted from Job 1, Satan complained to God because He had placed a hedge around Job, and blessed all the works of his hands to the point that he was the richest man in the East. For Believers, this should be cause for hope. Instead, this passage is often misunderstood as either God, or Satan, removing the hedge and attacking Job. If this is what you have been taught, you need to dig deeper into God’s Word. The Bible tells you exactly what brought that hedge down, and hindered the Blessing. It definitely was not God, or Satan directly.

read more

The Shining One – The Old Serpent

When I was a wee lad, there was a series of books published featuring the entire Bible illustrated in comic book form. I devoured each one, fascinated by the stories, miracles, and such a wonderful God. I soon graduated to a children’s RSV, and then the Thompson Chain-Reference KJV my parents gave me in high school. Now, I have many translations – electronic, printed, and with the Internet, seemingly an unlimited supply of options to consider.

I have always read the Bible as God’s Truth. I also understand that His Words are filtered through men. Different translations, unfamiliar languages, strange religious practices, or cultural nuances, can make the Bible challenging at times. Religious tradition may create boundaries that make it difficult for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Truth. But if you keep digging, continue searching and expecting God to reveal the meaning of a passage, it will come.

I say all that to set the premise of this post.

For years the idea of a talking snake in the Garden of Eden troubled my spirit. Serpents do not have vocal chords. Other than hissing, it would take a miracle for a snake to captivate, or beguile, Eve. Yes, I know the story of Balaam and his donkey, but that was God, and a much more advanced mammal.

God created all the animals and gave man dominion over them. Adam, created in the image of God and sharing His Glory, named all the animals – charting their destiny. This was much more than just dreaming up cute names. All that God created was good. Knowing all this, how could an animal, a created beast, defy God and His delegated ruler on the Earth, and be used by this fallen, evil spirit? Something about this did not make any sense. I did not have an answer, so I simply agreed with religious tradition that it was a literal snake. But the uneasiness never departed.

Now the Shining One was more clever than any animal of the field that the LORD God had made. It asked the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree of the garden’?”
(Genesis 3:1 <ISV>)

Note the translation above. Before I came across the ISV translation, I had just received E.W. Bullinger’s Companion Bible – I highly recommend this as a resource for any serious Bible student. He was a brilliant theologian/Biblical scholar from the late 19th century, and his books have helped me in many areas of study. It was in his Bible (Appendix 19) where he lays out the case for the word translated serpent (or snake – nachash) can also be translated (shining one, or to shine) as seen in the ISV translation above. This is the only Bible translated this way that I have seen. If you do not have Bullinger’s resource in your library, click on the Appendix 19 link above to see his compelling explanation online.

Bullinger wrote extensively on figures of speech in the Bible, identifying numerous times where this technique is employed. I don’t want to steal his thunder, and honestly can add little to Bullinger’s case. Read the link for yourself with an open mind and see if your spirit agrees. (Colossians 3:13-16)

As you dig deeper into Genesis Chapter 3, it is clear that the author is not talking about a literal serpent. The prophetic phrase “bruise his heel” does not mean a literal snakebite. It is widely accepted as figurative language about the temporary suffering of Jesus. Just as the “crush his head” promise means the absolute destruction of Satan’s plans and power. “On your belly” can be seen in the utter humiliation of Satan, and in God’s promise to make “your enemies a footstool under your feet.” If this is all figurative language, why not the serpent in verse 1? (Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:44, Luke 20:43, Acts 2:35, Romans 16:20)

Without a doubt, all of creation suffered when the curse entered the Earth. The snake was a beautiful animal created by the Wisdom and Love of God. And like many animals, its nature was forever changed by its new ruler Satan, the god of this world. God did not curse His creation. He loved it. The curse came because of sin. Just as the curse was forever broken by the Last Adam. (Psalm 104:21-25, Romans 5:12-21, 8:19-25)

In the wilderness, Satan attempted to beguile Jesus. If he tempted the Last Adam directly, why not the first? You can even see parallels in the questioning of Eve and Jesus – attempting to pervert God’s Word by challenging its veracity, sowing confusion, and then suggesting outright rebellion. An animal could not operate with this level of spiritual knowledge, although perverted, without a spiritual father in complete control. And while demons do seek opportunities to inhabit people, they don’t do so well possessing animals. Note the story of Legion and the herd of pigs. The whole herd stampeded off a cliff and drowned in the water below after the demons entered the pigs. (Matthew 8:23-34, Mark 5:1-8, Luke 8:22-37)

God gave man dominion over all animals in the Garden. If Satan were even able to speak through a serpent, as God did with Balaam’s donkey, would a snake be able to “beguile” Eve? Would not a spiritual being, a “shining one” appearing to Eve have much more influence? Eve had a personal relationship with her Heavenly Father. Would an animal so easily undermine her faith? An animal questioning God’s Word might not get much consideration. However, a spiritual being would get her attention. Paul writes that, “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Is this aside a reference to Satan’s work in the Garden? (2 Corinthians 11:14)

The verb (nachash) is translated enchant, fascinate, charm, hypnotize, bewitch, divine, or occult knowledge. I don’t believe it is a coincidence that these all come from darkness. This is another confirmation that we are dealing with a force that is much greater than even a possessed literal snake – which is essentially the way I reasoned it away for many years. Consider the way Eve was led away from the Truth. The shining one tested her knowledge of God’s Word, causing Eve to doubt God’s Goodness and then she embellished His Truth. With the seed of doubt planted, Satan went in for the kill – the end result would be immediate spiritual death, physical death would come later. Satan defied God, telling her that she would not die, claiming that partaking of the tree would give her knowledge of good and evil – something neither Adam or her needed when they were walking in fellowship with their Creator. Eve heard the lie. She believed the lie. And the deception led her and Adam into sin. Paul explains later by the Holy Spirit that Adam was not deceived, which makes the incident all the more interesting. When the temptation first came, by quoting God’s Word correctly, and trusting in God’s Goodness, the fall would have never happened. (Genesis 3:1-13, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2:14)

The serpent story is a distraction, it causes confusion and is a source of division. God’s Word is perfect and True, but it sometimes must flow through imperfect people. That’s why you have the Holy Spirit. And as Daniel predicted, knowledge is increasing. This is an age where you can access hundreds of Bibles, dictionaries, and commentaries sitting at your laptop. Never in history has there been such a plethora of knowledge available on ancient languages, figures of speech, and customs. There are more Spirit-filled ministries, teachers, and lay people than ever before. There is no reason to not know God’s Truth in every area, and reject any religious tradition that is contrary to God’s Word. (Daniel 12:4, John 16:13-15)

You may be wondering, why does this even matter? Faith is believing in Jesus and trusting God’s Word. As you hear God’s Word, your spirit (heart) recognizes Truth. With the heart you believe, and with your mouth you confess that Jesus is Lord. At that moment you are SPIRITUALLY reborn. God remodels your spirit and takes up residency. You become a New Creation in Christ. Unfortunately, the mind and body must be trained. In the case of the mind, you must renew your mind with the Word of God as you grow in faith by feeding on the Word. This whole process is undermined by doubt, confusion, and unbelief.

For the unbeliever living under Satan’s control, the thought of a talking snake may sound like mythology. That may be enough for them to dismiss the Bible as fiction, and ignore the Gospel completely. It is God’s Living Word that convicts people and leads them to Christ. A simple translation error, or not rightly dividing a figure of speech, should not stand in the way of anyone’s Eternal destination. Satan erects enough barriers in this world to thwart the spread of the Gospel, Christians should not be making his work any easier.

The baby, or carnal Christian, may also be led astray. They might reason that the Bible can’t be trusted. Every supernatural event, or promise of God, may come into question. Because of centuries of religious tradition, teaching, and hundreds of artistic representations of a snake talking to Eve in the Garden of Eden, even a mature Christian may balk at accepting this.

And, if you are like me, you may finally have peace about Genesis 3. I knew Satan was involved, but the role of a snake was an unnecessary distraction. I was not even actively researching this issue when Bullinger’s book arrived. Then, I found the ISV translation, and all the pieces started coming together. I remembered the reference to Satan as the “old serpent which deceiveth the world” in Revelation. If he is referred to as the old serpent there, surely that refers back to the first ‘serpent’ that started this mess. (Revelation 12:9-11)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(1 Peter 5:8 <KJV>)

You must recognize your enemy to put him under your feet. If Satan can hide in the shadows, make you focus on a literal snake in this instance, he can just as easily fool you into thinking that God made you sick. You might blame your Heavenly Father when things go bad instead of the real troublemaker. Or the devil could try to convince you that you will never be good enough for God. Satan can deceive you in a hundred different ways that prevent you from enjoying all that God has given to you. The devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy. His primary weapons are fear, lies, deception, confusion, and strife. Jesus came to give you life, in abundance, to the full, till it overflows.  And Jesus has given you the spiritual tools to whip the enemy, and enjoy all of His Blessing and Favor – Faith, Truth, Love, Peace, and Joy. (John 10:10, 1 Peter 5:6-10)

Peter writes that the adversary is like a lion – yet another use of a figure of speech comparing Satan to an animal. Note that Satan is seeking someone whom he may devour. You don’t have to be his victim. He can’t harm you if you are vigilant, sober, know and speak the Truth. And in case you are wondering, the battle is already won. Satan was defeated. You are more than a conqueror. Meaning that you get to share in the spoils of victory without doing the fighting. Sure persecution comes because of the Word’s sake, but spiritually, you are already seated with Christ. You are simply enforcing Satan’s defeat while you still have a body on this planet. Satan attempts to deceive the world and accuse Believers. But faith in the Blood of Jesus, and God’s Word in your mouth, is too much for the enemy. (Mark 4:17, Romans 8:31-39, Ephesians 2:4-10, Colossians 2:13-15, Revelation 12:9-11)

Birds Eat The Seed Sown
As Birds Eat the Seed Sown On The Path, Satan Comes Immediately To Steal The Word Sown In Your Heart.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
(Matthew 13:19 <KJV>)

read more

Did God Really Say…

In my last post, I discussed the Blessing, the fall of man, along with Satan’s temptation of Eve. If you missed the article, I recommend taking a quick peek back before continuing. One of the most common weapons the devil uses to undermine faith, is to get people to doubt God’s Word. Because if you doubt God’s Word, your faith will definitely fail. How can you have faith in someone, if you don’t trust their word?

Just the other day I was sitting in a church listening to a sermon on Hezekiah, the Assyrian invasion of Judah, and the siege of Jerusalem (2 King 18:13-37, 2 Kings 19:1-37). This is a wonderful story of how God supernaturally destroyed the Assyrian invasion force, 185,000 men in a single night. Hezekiah had heard Sennacherib’s threats, and instead of worrying about it, or focusing on the circumstances, he turned the problem over to someone who could handle it, God.  But that’s where the sermon derailed a bit. The pastor started to undermine the story – maybe it wasn’t 185,000 killed, or perhaps there was a plague, or maybe the writer embellished the story. Though momentarily offtrack, he somewhat recovered by mentioning the decline of the Assyrian Empire from that point, and the fact that Judah would remain independent for another 100+ years until Babylon invaded. Unfortunately though, the damage had already been done. Because you don’t believe the story because historians, theologians, or even archaeologists think its true. You believe the story because God’s Word is Truth. Natural evidence may put your mind at ease, but faith rests in your spirit. You KNOW the Word is true in your heart first, and you renew your mind with the Word of God until it falls in line with your spirit. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. But you must have spiritual “ears that hear.” (Matthew 11:15, Mark 4:9, John 16:12-15, Romans 10:17, 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:4-16, Galatians 3:1-6, Ephesians 4:15-23, 5:6-10)

This is where so many Christians miss it. Its the little foxes that ruin the vines (Ecclesiastes 10:1, Song of Solomon 2:15, 1 Corinthians 5:6-7). With just a couple of comments, sermon fodder if you will, seeds of doubt and unbelief were planted. Because this is an educated man, he must know the Bible so much more than you, right? Maybe the Bible is embellished elsewhere? You see how easily it is to undermine the Truth of God’s Word? This should not be the case. And imagine the compounding effect of 2,000 years of errors, doubt, and unbelief. Its not surprising that Christianity has been weak, disorganized, and ineffective at times in the past. But those days are over. There are more Believers, more Spirit-filled teachers, and more opportunities to study the Word than ever before. The Body of Christ is alive and well, growing and getting stronger every day!

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 <NLT>)

Take the bold confession that Jesus makes in John 14:6-7. How often have even good Christian folks suggested that Jesus was not the only way. Religion has presented a plethora of alternatives, and argued against God’s free gift of Salvation by faith in Jesus. There have been great theological divisions caused by those that disagreed on whether Jesus was the way or not. How can that be? Here it is in black and white, or even printed in red in some Bibles.

In verse 7 Jesus adds, “If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Now, what are you as a Believer going to do with that? This is where the rubber meets the road. Jesus is telling you that if you have seen him, and also if you know him, you know the Father. You must set aside any religious or secular ideas that Jesus was just a prophet, or just a good man. Either he is the Son of God, as he claims, or he is crazy. And if you have read this far, I assume you fall into the former category, not the latter. If you know that Jesus is the Son of God, the Word made flesh, you can trust ALL that he says. (John 1:1-14, 4:21-26, 8:42-47, 10:7-16, 10:25-30, Revelation 1:8, 1:17-18)

The Word of God is Spirit and Truth. It is Alive and very capable of being understood and trusted. The Holy Spirit has been given to you to lead you into all Truth, to confirm God’s Word and guide you. But the whole house comes crumbling down once you start doubting God’s Word. (John 6:63, 14:16-17, 17:17, Hebrews 4:12-13)

Note the parable of the two men who built houses. One built his house on sand, and the wind and the flood swept it away. But the man that built his house on a rock, the same wind and flood came, but the house did not fall. What was the difference? The parable was about two men who heard the Word of God. One forgot the Word. This was the man that lost his house. The other heard the Word, and was a doer of the Word. He was the one that built his house on The Rock. His house was not built on a man, an opinion, a church, a denomination, or even a religion. Instead, he built his house on an Eternal Truth that will never fail. Jesus is that Rock. He is that Word. The Word, Jesus, is that solid Spiritual Foundation that will never crumble, and never fail. (Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:46-48, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, Ephesians 2:19-22, 1 Peter 2:2-9)

Did God really say…

Doubting, or questioning the Word, is not something new. You see it from the very beginning, with Satan challenging God’s Word in the Garden (Genesis 3:1). Every evil report, all doubt, fear, and unbelief is either directly, or indirectly from the devil, or his spiritual kids. You see it again in the wilderness, when Satan challenged Jesus saying, “If you are the Son of God…” Jesus did not even argue or debate this fact. He knew the Truth. He simply countered with “It is written…” By quoting God’s Word, he was speaking Truth (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13). The devil could not counter the Truth. He was so thoroughly whipped that he left Jesus “for a season.”

The reality of Satan’s attacks against the Word are vividly revealed in the Parable of the Sower. Jesus said that the seeds that fell along the path were scooped up by the birds. When pressed for the meaning of this, Jesus explained that when someone hears the Word of God, and does not understand it, Satan comes immediately to steal it away. (Matthew 13:16-23, Mark 4:13-20, Luke 8:9-15)

Let’s put this in simple Texas terms. You see in your Bible, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:17) You confess that verse, meditate on it, and praise God for His wonderful promise. And then you visit the doctor. He tells you there is nothing else medical science can do for you. Your friends pat you on the head and say that they will, “remember you in their prayers.” Your family starts making arrangements for your estate, and planning your funeral. Your preacher stops by and says, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.”

Whose report are you going to believe? You can stick to God’s Word, find all His promises of long life, health, joy, and feed on just that Truth. Or you can allow Satan to steal the Word from you. Well, the doctor is an expert, with years of training. Yes, but he is also just “practicing” in the arena of the body and the mind. Friends and family mean well, but they may be trapped in the emotional and mental domains. And if their spiritual foundation is not solid, they are easily swayed by the enemy. The preacher, well, its just time to find a new church, one that Believes (and understands) the Word. Even if everyone else is liar, God is true (Romans 3:3-4). No matter what happens in the physical, or temporal world, it is subject to change. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18)

I came that they may enjoy life in abundance.

Dig into the Word, and never stop fighting (and winning). Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give you Abundant Life! You couldn’t keep people in the casket when Jesus visited. Nor could sickness or demons continue to oppress folks who approached Jesus in faith. He never changes! Nothing will EVER separate you from God’s Love. (John 10:10, Romans 5:17, 8:35-39)

Hezekiah was facing an early death. Isaiah visited him to tell him to get his house in order. Before the prophet could even get out of the building, Hezekiah got his SPIRITUAL HOUSE in order. Isaiah had to turn around and tell him the good news that he would live 15 more years. Did God change? No. Hezekiah did though, and it saved his life. (2 Kings 20:1-11, Isaiah 38:1-8)

“We wish we had died in Egypt,” they wailed, “or even here in the wilderness,” (Numbers 14:2 <TLB>)

Twelve spies entered the Promised Land. They all saw the massive walled cities, the giants, the fruit, and the goodness of the land. It truly was a “land flowing with milk and honey.” When they returned to the Children of Israel, they showed them the fruit, and told them how good the land was. Two spies suggested they go up and take it at once, since God had promised it to them – they had His Word on it. The other 10 said that they could not take the land. The walls were too thick, giants too big, and they were just too small. The entire congregation believed what God called an “evil report.” This same congregation had witnessed all the miracles in Egypt, the parting of the sea, the food and water in the wilderness, but they could not trust that God would be with them when they entered the Promised Land. A whole generation rebelled against God. For 40 years, they wandered in the wilderness until all that did not trust God had died. When it was finally time for the next generation to enter, only the two spies (Joshua and Caleb) that trusted God were still alive (and healthy) to enter the land with the people. (Numbers 13:25-33, 14:1-11, 14:23-37)

The story shows the importance of placing your trust on something solid, like God’s Word, and not experience. All the adults that were in Egypt had been eyewitnesses of tremendous miracles. God had led them out, judging Egypt, and obtaining extraordinary favor for His children. They left with all the wealth of the land, a complete recompense for their 400 years of slavery. There was not one feeble person among them, and every need was met throughout the journey to the edge of the Promised Land. Even after such an impressive display of divine power, provision, and love, they still doubted God’s ability. That unbelief prevented them from entering the Promised Land, and cut their life short. That was not God’s plan for their lives. (Genesis 15:13-14, Exodus 12:35-36, Numbers 14:26-35, Psalm 95:6-11, 105:23-45, Hebrews 3:12-19)

Unfortunately, you can’t build faith on experiences. You build faith by hearing the Word. Through fellowship, trust is established and confidence grows. With an established relationship in place, anchored by faith in God’s Word, what some might call the miraculous, or the supernatural, becomes the way things are. God doesn’t fill you with the Holy Spirit, declare you Blessed, dispatch an angel to encamp around you, request that you command His Hands, place a hedge about you, give you The Word, as well as the Name and Blood of Jesus, among so many other wonderful gifts and precious promises, just so you can be a miserable failure, and die way before you complete His plan for your life. If you are a Believer, you have overcome the world, even if you don’t know it yet. Jesus died so that you would reign in life through him. (Genesis 1:26-31, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Joshua 1:7-9, Job 1:6-10, Psalm 23:1-6, 34:4-7, 91:1-16, Isaiah 45:11, John 14:9-21, 14:23-27, Romans 5:15-17, Hebrews 10:17-23, 1 John 1:7-10, 5:1-5, Revelation 12:11)

 I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said. (Psalm 89:34 <NLT>)

Do you know any honest Presidents? What about politicians, reporters, or salespeople, do you know any honest ones? In this modern world, truth is a rare commodity. Its so very difficult to find people of integrity. That might explain the hesitancy for folks to trust their Creator. Heck, you may not even trust yourself. With God however, this should not be a problem. His Word is His Power. If He says, “Light Be!” LIGHT IS! That’s not the best English, but it makes the point. As I have said before, you can take God’s Word to Heaven’s bank, and it will never  bounce, and the bank will never fail! You need to approach God’s Word with reverence, and respect. And when you see a promise of God for you, know for sure that all of Heaven stands behind that Word.

read more

In the Garden of Eden

And God Blessed Them

“Why Did This Happen To me?”

Its a question that gets asked far too often. And unfortunately, it is often coupled with a belief that tragedy, sickness, or death was sent by God. It is like a no-fault religion. A belief system that takes absolutely no responsibility for what happens in life. But as in the natural world, you have cause and effect. In the spiritual world, its called sowing and reaping.

This topic sometimes makes people uncomfortable. The opposite should be the case, especially for Believers. If you are prone to ask these types of questions, or question God, remind yourself of God’s ultimate will for mankind. This can be found throughout the Bible. But let’s look at Genesis 1 to get started – underlining added for emphasis.

God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26 <AMP>)

Mankind was made in the image of God. He was made to fellowship with God. He was made to exercise creative ability like God. He was made to release faith with the spoken Word like God. As God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit exist as one, man is a three-part creation – spirit (heart), soul (mind, will & emotions), and body. God created the Earth and gave mankind dominion. Think about that for a second. This authority was not given to angels, but to mankind! Man is to reign as king over the Earth in partnership with God. (Romans 5:17, Revelation 5:9-10)

Instead of looking at your life, or your own personal limitations, look at God. Look at what He can do. He is your Heavenly Father. Jesus is your example, and you are called to imitate him. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! (Matthew 19:26, Luke 1:37)

Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It means Anointed One, or the Anointing. You are a Christian, a follower of Christ. The Anointing, and the Anointed One, is on and in you! And don’t forget, its the Anointing that removes burdens and destroys yokes. (Isaiah 10:27, Luke 4:18-19, 1 John 2:27)

The day God created Adam, all of creation wondered about this copy of God that was to rule the Earth. Copy of God you ask? What does “in our image” or “after our likeness” truly mean to you? Meditate on that for a time. You are a copy of God! Do children look or act much different from their parents? Why would God’s children be any different from Him? But that wasn’t the end of Creation. (Psalm 8:3-9, John 20:17, Romans 8:14-16, Galatians 4:5-7)

So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. (Genesis 1:27-28 <AMP>)

read more

Day 4 – Lazarus, Come Forth!

In John 11, there is a remarkable story of Jesus raising Lazarus back to life after his death 4 days earlier. Jesus had already demonstrated God’s Power and Glory numerous times, and in numerous ways, including raising the dead widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17), and the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:41-56). This miracle stands out not only for what was actually done, but for the revelation in these verses.

Let’s take a quick look back at the facts. Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus lived in Bethany. They were good friends of Jesus and had hosted Jesus and his disciples in their home. When Lazarus falls gravely ill, the sisters send a messenger to Jesus, who was about 18 miles away. By the time the messenger arrives, approximately a day, Lazarus had already died. Jesus was well aware of the situation. I really like how Holman translates his response to the messenger.

This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4 <HCSB>)

The way some Bibles translate this verse, it almost sounds like God gets glory from sickness. That is ABSOLUTELY wrong. One only needs to review the ministry of Jesus to see God’s view of sickness. He eradicated it wherever, and whenever he found faith. God gets NO glory from sickness. If you need clarification on this issue, see John 10:10. Its the enemy that comes to steal and kill. The Good Shepherd came to give you abundant life. God sent His Word to HEAL you. (Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:1-5, 107:19-21, 1 Peter 2:24)

The text does not say this specifically, but I have always assumed the messenger carried this message back to Mary and Martha. Surely, Jesus’ Words provided a foundation of faith to cling to while waiting for him to arrive, and receiving mourners from Jerusalem and the surrounding area. The most difficult time in any Believer’s life is standing on the Word when Satan attempts to steal it away. Its that moment after “Amen” and before manifestation, where your faith is put to the test. Mary and Martha were being inundated with words of unbelief, overwhelming grief, and a plethora of physical evidence completely contrary to God’s Word. It is during trials like this, patience comes in to carry you through to victory. (Matthew 21:21-22, Mark 11:23-25, Luke 6:47-49, 8:11-15, John 14:12-21, James 1:2-4)

Remember, there were many times that Jesus healed people remotely – the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman (Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30), the nobleman’s son (John 4:43-54), and the Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10). There was no need to physically travel back to Bethany, unless there was something greater to be gained by his presence.

Jesus waits two more days before announcing that Lazarus was asleep, and he was going to wake him. The disciples protest, if he is asleep, wouldn’t he get better? Jesus then told them plainly that he had died, and Jesus was going to raise him up. Note that Jesus did not want to confess death. Similarly, he told the mourners that the daughter of Jairus, who had died, was “sleeping,” and they mocked him. (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:41-56)

His disciples were also concerned for Jesus’ safety.  They had just left Judea because a mob wanted to stone him. Jesus assures them that when you walk in the light, you do not stumble. Jesus is the Light of the world, and he walked in complete obedience to the Father. There was never an occasion for stumbling in his ministry. (Psalm 40:7-8, John 1:1-14, 4:34, 8:12, 14:31)

They traveled to just outside of Bethany. There, they met Martha, who initially expressed disappointment at the late arrival, but then quickly confessed faith in the ability of Jesus to get prayers answered. Jesus said that Lazarus will rise again. Martha, somewhat confused, confessed a confidence in Lazarus’ resurrection on the last day. But this was not what Jesus was talking about. His response was profound.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26 <HCSB>)

There is so much revelation in that statement, but it will have to wait until another post, or else I will get way off track. Jesus was preaching both Eternal Life and the Resurrection to Martha, and it was a little too much to swallow at that time. Rather than argue her faith away, Martha made a clear and concise confession of her belief that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. With this, she left to bring her sister Mary to Jesus.

read more

God Is Not The Unjust Judge And You Are Not The Widow

In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus gives a short parable about a widow who keeps coming before an unjust judge, badgering him until he finally gives her justice. Then Jesus explains that God is nothing like the unjust judge, and will grant justice speedily to all who call on him. He ends the parable with an interesting question,

“But when I, the Son of Man, return, will I find people who have faith?”

Luke prefaces the story with an introductory line telling folks the parable is about praying, and not giving up. A common explanation for the parable is that Believers should keep praying until they get the answer. But what sometimes gets communicated, or understood, is the notion that you need to act like the widow, and pester God until He gives you what you want. It seems people are more focused on the actions of the widow and the godless judge, rather than God’s promise to grant justice speedily.

Why Do So Many Christians Identify With The Widow In This Parable?

The question is worth considering. Here is a woman without a husband or power, and desperate for someone to avenge her loss. She’s begging a godless judge for help, badgering him until he relents to the pressure. Does that in any way resemble the life of Jesus, who we are to imitate? Does the godless judge sound anything like your Heavenly Father? Does the Christian life, as defined by the New Testament writers, in any way present an image of a defeated, or helpless Believer begging for help? With so much evidence to the contrary, why would anyone want to identify with a poor widow who is groveling for justice? Admire her boldness. Appreciate her patience and persistence. But by the Glorious Grace of God, don’t see yourself in her position!

read more

Do You Believe In Love?

There is nothing wrong with romance and attraction. But that type of love, and those types of feelings, will not be the firm foundation you need to build a committed relationship. You need a love that is spiritual, eternal, and cannot fail. This is not a feeling, but a supernatural force that can change you into a reflection of Love Himself, who is Truth.

read more

Mette’s Christmas Miracle

The Story Behind Mette’s Christmas Miracle

“God will provide everything we need.” — Mette

BackgroundMette’s Christmas Miracle is the story of a small flock of sparrows that faced starvation during a Christmas blizzard. One of the birds, Mette, proves that God will always honor the faith of those that trust Him.

Summary – A small flock of sparrows lives near a small farming village in Norway. It was right before Christmas when a brutal storm covered the countryside and made it impossible for the birds to leave the safety of their tree to search for food. One of the younger sparrows named Mette challenges the other birds on their faith in God. He had always provided for them, why would this time be any different?

Most of the flock admires her childlike faith, but they do not believe God will do anything for them. Mette ignores their unbelief and prays a simple prayer, knowing that God always answers.

Christmas Eve arrives and conditions are worse than ever. The flock is hopeless, even going so far as to claim that God has more important things to do than care for sparrows. Only Mette holds tightly to her faith, trusting God completely and thanking her Creator for providing for the flock.

On Christmas morning, the birds wake up to clear skies and a bounty of food miraculously provided by the villagers. But this was no accident. This was God honoring the faith of one little sparrow.

Did You Know? – Mette (MEHT teh), the main character, was named for a Norwegian client of mine. In researching the etymology and meaning, the name is related to Margaret and means pearl. Pearls are formed as a reaction to irritants that enter an oyster’s shell. The oyster protects itself by covering this irritant with a substance called nacre. As more and more irritants are successfully covered, a beautiful and precious pearl is formed.

In a similar fashion, faith comes by hearing God’s Word, and your confidence grows by using it successfully. In time, you will truly see that just as God’s Word proclaims, nothing is impossible if you believe! Faith is precious and if it is valued and practiced, you can move mountains if you believe in your heart, and speak it boldly with your mouth. (Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:22-25, Luke 1:37, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:1, 2 Peter 1)

Christmas In Sweden
Winter In Lapland

My Mother made every Christmas an adventure at the Woodard home. Her innovative decorating and love of God led her to study how Christmas was celebrated throughout the world. As an adult, I came across a book on Christmas customs in her collection. It was there I read about a Norwegian practice of placing food out for the birds at Christmas by decorating barns and fences with sheaves of oats. This had spread throughout the Scandinavian nations and continued into the present day. This started me thinking. How did the tradition start? And there you have the seed of this story.

As I was working on this story, I was reminded of the teaching of Jesus who said, “…not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.” (Matthew 10:29) We have a loving Creator that you ignore at your own peril. He is more concerned with your needs than even you are. And He wants to be involved in even your most basic needs. Start building that relationship today and enjoy all of His GOOD promises!

Biblical Theme – I usually go to God’s Word for inspiration for each story. Here is the verse selected for Mette’s Christmas Miracle.

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:19 <NLT>

There are no shortage of excellent verses on faith, or the value of strong faith. I found this verse to be more relevant to the theme of the story which is more about trusting God to supply everything you need.

Hope You Enjoy the story. Merry Christmas!

 

Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net read more