Month: March 2021

Sneaky and Condemned

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I was reading in Jude this morning and was reminded of the study I did in this epistle about 13 years ago. I found the study and I share these thoughts from verse 4 again in 2021 because it is still true today.

“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4 (NKJV).

Hopefully most Christians have noticed that there is a whole lot of religious rhetoric in the world and most of what you will see on what poses as “Christian Television”. The aim of many in these supposed ministries is not the promotion of the glory of Jesus Christ, but to fill their pocket books, and tell you things like, “If you are sick you have sinned”. They may not be so brash as to say that as clearly as that, but that is what they mean.

These are apostates. They actually hate the truth of Jesus Christ. They deny Jesus Christ by changing the meaning of His death on the cross, and will tell you things, such as, “On the cross Jesus was just a little wimp who couldn’t do anything.” The truth of that is that the victory of Jesus was the cross. It was on the cross where Satan, and Hell and sin were defeated. During that three hours of darkness there was the greatest war which has ever taken place; that ever took place in eternity. Jesus was and is the Victor because after He was laid in a borrowed grave He came out alive showing the victory of the cross.

The men and women who proclaim that your life should be without sickness, you should always be victorious, and always have a full bank account; and if you don’t you have sinned; are liars and are following their father the devil. They are deceivers and antichrist.

Beware of those teachers who call on you to give money to them, “And you will be blessed a hundred fold”. Jesus warned,

“Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ’; and shall deceive many.’ ”  Matthew 24:4-5

Now, these apostates may not be actually saying they are Christ, but they are denying the very power of Christ, and His cross. When you deny the power of His cross you deny Him.

These teachers are condemned people. They will have a place in eternity, but not with Jesus Christ. Be aware of false teachers. Believe the Word of God, and trust Him.

Who is born of God?

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Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him. 1 John 5:1
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  Verse 5
He that hath the Son hath life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  Verses 12 – 13
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.  Verse 20

As I was reading the first epistle of the apostle John I noticed once again the important emphasis he puts on Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The title of this post is “Who is born of God?” That is a question we all must answer, and know ourselves. Are you, have you been born of God?

In chapter 5 verse 1 John writes “Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God” and he goes on stating that to love the Father (the One who begat), is to love the Son (the One who is begotten). If we love the Father we will love the Son; and on the other side too; if we love the Son we love the Father. These are the one’s who are born of God.

We learn in the five verses above too, that Jesus Christ the Son of God is the One who overcomes the world, and through Him we do too. In Him we have life, and without Him is no life. Without life in Him there is only death. Through Jesus Christ and Him alone can we have the true assurance of eternal life, and we can know quite well that we will live with Him eternally.

In knowing Jesus we receive understanding from Him knowledge of who He truly is. In Christ Jesus we are in the True God, and have eternal life. The moment, by grace through faith, you turn from your sin to Christ calling on His name for salvation you receive eternal life.

Who is born of God? If you have not been born of God will you call on Him today?

You Follow Me

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“Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, ‘Lord, which is he that betrayeth Thee?’ Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, ‘Lord, and what shall this man do?’  Jesus saith unto him, ‘If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me.’ ”  John 21:20-22

The Lord Jesus, recently resurrected from the grave, has told Peter how he is going to live, and how he is going to die. Then Peter begins to think about “that other guy”. We know “that other guy” is John; he is the one who leaned on Jesus’s breast at the meal and the last supper.

Now, Peter’s question is not without the likeness of many people of all ages, including yours truly. “What about Joe?” or we may ask, “What about Jan?”, “What are You going to expect of them?” “Lord, You sent Joe to Hawaii. Why don’t You send me to some place like Hawaii?”

The Lord’s answer to Peter was, “You follow Me”. That is His answer for you and me as well.

Our personal relationship with the Lord involves me going where the Lord leads me. I am to follow Jesus, and not be distracted where He might send you, Joe or Jan.

They Have Believed

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“I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world: Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.” John 17:6-8

These are from the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden of the press – Gethsemane. It has been called His High Priestly prayer, and in reality is the real “Lord’s Prayer”, because this is what He is praying for all those who will follow Him believing.

In these three verses we can learn part of what He is asking for us…

One, that He has revealed the Father’s name to those who believe and redeemed them out of the world;

Two, those who believe are kept by the word of God;

Three, we can know that all things given to Christ Jesus came from the Father;

Four, the words Jesus spoke and lived have been received by those who believe;

Five, those believing receive Jesus Christ, His words, and His works.

How about you? Have you believed that Jesus loved you so much that He died on the cross for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again? If not, call out to Him turning from sin to believing in Him. He will hear. He will save you. He makes you clean.

Hated

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“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.””  John 15:18-21

If there is anyone who knows about “Hate” and what it is, it would be Jesus Christ the Son of God, God the Son. He would know because He bore the hatred of man on the cross, and paid the debt for sin which is evil; and which He hated.

Jesus hated evil, because the Father hates evil. It is a violation of all the characteristics of Holy God. It is not evil to speak the truth. It is not evil to hate what God defines as evil or an abomination. All that God has told us in Scripture that is evil is still evil and an abomination to Him.

I for one, who names the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, do not like being hated for what I believe, for what I write, for the way I live, and hated for what I preach and believe. However, I will not back away, I will not stop speaking, writing, or living for my Lord and Savior. I choose rather to be hated by the world and loved by God; than to be loved by the world and hated by God.

Jesus Christ the God-Man gave His life for me on the cross bearing all my sin and the sins of the whole world, then He was buried and with Him was buried all our shame, guilt and condemnation of sin, and He arose and came out of that grave alive justifying all who will believe on Him calling on His name. That, my friend, is the greatest love you will ever know.

Light

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“Then Jesus said unto them,
‘Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.’
These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.” John 12:35-36

Light is wonderful to have. Without light we would be stumbling around in the dark. Light shows us danger in our path, the way ahead, and even is a source of life.

Few people clean under their beds, and if you take a light and shine it under the bed you will see all kinds of dirt and dust. Light exposes the things that are hid in darkness. Jesus is the Light of the world. He has told us so in John 8:12 and John 9:5.

Because Jesus is the Light of the world many hate them because they do not want their evil hearts to be exposed, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). I pray that your sin has been exposed and your condemnation, and that you have turned your heart away from sin to Christ Jesus.

Jesus also said to those who believe on Him, “You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:14. When we have put our faith in Him, we are His light in this dark world.

Hear God’s Words

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“He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” John 8:47

Jesus was spending time telling the religious leaders of their unbelief. They claimed to love Moses and the Law; also claiming to be children of Abraham. Though they were biological descendants of Abraham Jesus was confronting them concerning their spiritual connection with Abraham. They had none.

The message from Jesus for us today is this. Just because you were born in a Christian household does not make you a Christian. A friend of mine once told me this, “God does not have any grandchildren.” Those who believe in Him through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus are sons and daughters of God – born again by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The evidence you are a child of God is clearly explained in Jesus’s words above. We hear His word and do them. We believe His word and put them to work in our lives.

How about you? Have you been born again? Do you believe the word of God concerning what He has said about Jesus His only begotten Son? If you do not, then you are not a child of God, but a child of wrath, and doomed eternally.

You can call on the name of Jesus right now, turning from sin and unbelief, to the Lord Jesus Christ believing Him.

The Father’s Will

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“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:39-40

Many have asked, “What is God’s will?” or “What is God’s will for my life?” Jesus gives us the answer for that in the words He speaks above.

One, it was the Father’s will to send His Son Jesus and to give Him those who would follow Him… I pray that includes you.

Two, it is the Father’s will that of all that the Father has given Him, including His own life, nothing would be lost.

Three, that those who see the Son of God believing on Him would have everlasting life.

Four, that all those who believe on Him would be resurrected and live with Him through eternity.

These four things are seen in the two verses above. It is the Father’s will that you would call on the name of the One who died for your sins, our sins; was buried, and He rose again the third day. Because He lives we live.

God Does Not Condemn You

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“For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:17-19

The truth of the matter is we were all condemned through the sin of Adam and Eve while they were living in paradise. They had it made and chose to believe the lie of the serpent rather than the One who walked with them in that beautiful paradise.

Because they chose to sin against God they condemned the whole race of Adam – that is you and me. Since that sad day every child ever born into this world is in a condemned state, spiritually dead, separated from God, and headed to an eternity separated from good and from God, to a burning eternal fire.

For Adam and Eve God sent the means of redemption through the shed blood of innocent animals (possibly lambs) a covering for their sin. For us today, He has given us His Son Jesus Christ.

For all who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, believing that He died on the cross for our sins, that He was buried, and that He rose from the grave bodily we can have eternal life with Him. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). God does not condemn; He delivers us unto eternal life.

Will you call on His name today, believing Him? He will hear and He will deliver you from condemnation.

All Things Must Be Fulfilled

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“And He said unto them, ‘These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.’ ” Luke 24:44

Jesus spoke the above words after walking with a couple of His followers to Emmaeus. He has at this point been seen by others who are His followers, and reminds them of the importance of His life, His ministry and His death, burial and resurrection.

When Jesus speaks of the “law of Moses”, “the Prophets”, and “the Psalms” He is speaking of the whole Old Testament, and every prophecy which was written.

There are many prophecies of Jesus that have not been fulfilled. We can rest assured that since the prophecies of the first coming of Messiah are fulfilled, and He died just as the prophets said (consider Isaiah 53), then we can know and be assured that those concerning His coming again will be fulfilled in every detail.

All things must be fulfilled just as it has been spoken.

Son of David, Son of God

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“Then certain of the scribes answering said, ‘Master, thou hast well said.’ And after that they durst not ask Him any question at all. And He said unto them,
‘How say they that Christ is David’s Son? And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, ‘The LORD said unto my Lord, ‘Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.’ David therefore calleth Him ‘Lord,’ how is He then his Son?’ ”  Luke 20:39-44

In the Hebrew teaching of doctrine the Christ or Messiah would come as the Son of David. Psalm 110 is the reference to which Jesus is quoting, and He asked the question, “How is He then his (David’s) Son?”

In the Psalm Jesus refers to David calling Him, “…my Lord”, and the Psalm clearly quotes the Father (the LORD), saying “…My Lord” to His Son. Jesus was and is the fulfillment of this prophecy from the sweet Psalmist of Israel, and His being the Son of David, and the Son of God.

Have you heard the voice of Jesus calling unto you, “Come to Me” and have you called on His name?  He is the One who died for our sins, He was buried and He rose from the grave. He lives forever and forever, and by faith in Him  we do as well.

The Son of Man

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“Then He took the twelve, and said unto them,
‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished. For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge, and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again.’
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”  Luke 18:31-34

The mission, the purpose of Jesus’s birth, life and ministry was about to come to fruition. He had told the disciples many times that He was going to die, and the third day He would rise again. They did not comprehend.

There are several things about Jesus that have surprised people, even to the point of denial, doubt and confusion and unbelief. There are some who believe in the good words and works of Jesus and they believe He was a good man, a good teacher, and a prophet; but deny who He really is. There are some who believe Him to be a spirit being who never really died, and thus never dying, He never rose again. These believe this because they cannot accept the truth of His becoming flesh at birth (the only begotten Son of God), that if He were really Deity, Deity could not bleed.

His physical birth, and His death signify clearly that Jesus was indeed flesh, bone, and blood – The Son of Man. His burial shows us clearly that a body, not a spirit being, was laid in the tomb. His resurrection, on the third day is evidence, proof and fruit of the truth of who He is – The Son of God. Thus, He is the Son of Man, the Son of God. The God-Man.

He died a physical death for our sins. His physical body was laid in the tomb dead. He was raised in a physical flesh and bone body for our justification. This same Jesus will come again in that same body.

Have you trusted Him as your personal Lord and Savior? Today is the day to do so.

Look Who Comes to Jesus

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“Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, ‘This Man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.’ ”  Luke 15:1-2

The lesson Jesus teaches  following the above words was to all who would and will hear. There are so many that will not hear the words of life which Jesus speaks, that they continue on the path that leads to eternal destruction and Hell.

Those who came to Jesus that day were ones whom the religious leaders, and most of the Jewish population despised and hated. The were Jews who were working for the Roman government collecting taxes from their fellows Jews. Many considered them as traitors. That is the “Publicans” in verse 1.  They came to Jesus and to hear Him. Levi other wise known as Matthew was one who followed Him.

“Sinners” would most likely include the murderers, thieves, adulterers, child molesters, rapist, and all the outcasts of this society, and society of 2021. These came to Jesus. Many heard Him, followed Him and have eternal life.

Jesus still calls all who are lost, no matter what your sin might be, to come, hear Him, and choose to follow Him doing His word, walking His way and doing His will.

Call out to Him for salvation. He will hear you.

Those Who Hear the Word of God

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“And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked.’ But He said,
‘Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.’ ”  Luke 11:27-28

More than once in all of Scripture are the words of the Lord giving great blessing on those who read and hear the word of the Lord. One of those places is in the above verses; another is Revelation 1:3. The Psalms are full of the blessing on those who love the word of God – especially Psalm 119.

No person is more blessed than the one’s who will hear the word of the Lord and keep it. It must begin in what the word says about God’s only begotten Son Jesus, the sin of Adam kind, and the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, His burial and resurrection.

You have not began to hear the word of the Lord if you reject that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, God the Son.

Will you hear Him today?

Hand to the Plow

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“And Jesus said unto him, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’ ”  Luke 9:62

When Jesus extends His call to follow Him it is a matter of urgency. It is not a wait and see if it checks out. Neither is there time to say “Good bye” or to take care of family burials that are yet to happen some unknown day in the future.

When one plows a field they must keep their eyes focused straight ahead, so that they can have a straight row or furrow.

The one having taken the plow, and looking back is quickly off course.

Let us who are in Christ Jesus and are following Him be ever faithful to the task He has given us and keep our focus straight ahead, keeping His word, and hiding it in our hearts making it the main words we think, live and share. Keep your hand to the plow; look straight ahead. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

If you have taken your eyes off Jesus, or have never had your eyes on Him, and are focusing on family issues, debt, loss of a job, loss of a family member; just remember Jesus makes you fit for kingdom service.

Call on the name of Jesus. He is the One who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again for our justification.

The Power of Jesus and the People

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“And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed. And it came to pass on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”  Luke 5:16-17

I heard a quote which was attributed to Charles H. Spurgeon where he had been asked the question: “Which is more important, the reading and study of Scripture or prayer?” and his answer was another question; “Which is more important, breathing out or breathing in?”

One is important for the other. Jesus loved the word of God, and He loved fulfilling the word of God. So should all who love Him.

We should also love to spend time with Him in prayer. If the Son of God, the Son of Man, the God-Man, who is God the Son saw the necessity and need of prayer then every one of us who are redeemed through His shed blood need to pray.

I wonder sometimes why I do not seem to have power with God, and I know the answer is that I am not as committed to the Lord in prayer as I am in breathing in – the reading and study of Scripture.

Lord, by Your grace and power help me to be a man of prayer as well as a man of Your word. May many come to You for the healing of their lives and souls through Your death, burial, and resurrection.

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

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“Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
‘Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.’
And Joseph and His mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother,
‘Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’ ”  Luke 2:28-35

The man speaking is Simeon. A man who had waited for the Redeemer of Israel for many years. I have never heard much on the words which he speaks but they are definitely from the Lord, and dealing with the life of the new born Son of God.

My thoughts on this man are these. If Simeon was believing the word of the Lord, that he would not die until he had seen the coming of Messiah, then how can we lose heart concerning the second coming of our Lord, the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus came the first time as a baby, born of a virgin, and His bed was on straw in a feed trough for cattle. He grew into manhood, lived a holy, undefiled life, then laid His own life down on that wooden cross, was nailed to it through His hands and feet, they dropped that cross into a hole with a resounding thud, and He died there. He was taken down from that cross, and was buried showing clearly that He was dead taking away our sin; then He arose bodily from that grave. He forever lives and is calling all who will hear to come to Him.

Believe Him and live with Him forever, free from sin, shame, guilt and condemnation.

The Door Is Open…

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“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”  Mark 15:37-38

Jesus’s last words were spoken, “It is finished” and then something awesome and heavenly happened. The veil of the temple which was supposed to conceal the ark of the covenant, was torn in two.

It was torn from the top signifying that it was definitely the hand of God that tore it. What did this mean?

The old was being torn away, and the new was beginning. God was saying to one and to all who would hear Him, and receive the gift of He and His Son Jesus could come to Him. He is basically saying, “The door is open. Come on in.”

The door is opened by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will you hear His voice and enter into His peace and rest? It is your call.

Have You Not Read The Scripture?

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After the parable of Mark 12:1-9 Jesus said,
“And have ye not read this Scripture; ‘The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?’ “  Mark 12:10-11

.Jesus always has a good, even a great question or questions for His accusers. Jesus knows the Scriptures. He is the One who inspired, and gave the Scriptures. Since He gave them to us it is fitting and very proper and a means of the Christian’s growth in the faith of Christ to read them, hear them and do them for His glory.

The parable in verses 1 through 9 is a parable of those who rejected a land owners son, killing him, so that they might be the ones who would inherit the land, since the land owner only had one son.

The scribes and Pharisees, the hypocrites did have the sense to realize the parable was about them, and their rejection of God’s Son who was speaking to them – though they were too blind to see Him as the Son of God.

Do you read the Scriptures? If you are a Christian they are for you and your growing; being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). When you know and love Jesus you will read, know, and love His word. You will also see that His word reads you.

Jesus is the “Cornerstone” which the builders rejected. He is rejected by them so that others might be saved and come to the truth of who Jesus is. He is the Son of Man, the Son of God and God the Son who willingly laid His own life down on the cross and was crucified, dying for our sins, was buried, and three days later He rose again and is calling you to Himself. Call out to Him turning from your sins to the Lord Jesus Christ, and He will hear, and He will save you giving you eternal life.

Death and Resurrection

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“And He began to teach them, that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”  Mark 8:31
“And as they came down from the mountain, He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of Man were risen from the dead.”  Mark 9:9
“For He taught His disciples, and said unto them, ‘The Son of Man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and after that He is killed, He shall rise the third day.’ ”   Mark 9:31

Three times in two chapters Jesus tells them. How could they have missed it? There is one way and maybe two or three, but Jesus taught the disciples clearly that He was going to die at the hands of evil, and that on the third day He would rise again.

The first way they could have missed is because of their preconceived ideas of what the Messiah was supposed to do. The second way it was missed; not by the disciples but by the religious leaders was their unbelief. The third way it was missed by many, and this would include Judas Iscariot, just plain ole selfishness and greed.

Do not miss the fact, the truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was and is the Messiah of Israel and of the whole earth. If you miss this truth, you will miss out on eternity with Him.

Demons and Swine

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“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, ‘What have I to do with thee, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that Thou torment me not.’ For He said unto him,
‘Come out of the man, unclean spirit.’
And He asked him,
‘What is thy name?’
And he answered, saying, ‘My name is Legion: for we are many.’ And he besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country.
Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought Him, saying, ‘Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.’ And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray Him to depart out of their coasts. And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him,
‘Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.’
And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”  Mark 5:1-20

I believe that Jesus Christ had the power to cast demons into swine; and that He has the power to do so today. As He has said many times,

“He that has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus, Anger, and the Sabbath

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“And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse Him. And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand,
‘Stand forth.’
And He saith unto them,
‘Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?’
But they held their peace. And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man,
‘Stretch forth thine hand.’
And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”   Mark 3:1-5

The skill and wisdom of Jesus always amazes me. The way He challenges His challengers; the hostile challengers; of His words and life is truly awesome. Just because someone does not like what He says or does, does not deter Him from going ahead and doing what He was going to do in the first place; and He does it with authority and power.

I always take note of verses, also that tell of Jesus having anger, and of those where the word is not used, but also where He displays anger; for instance the two times He drives the money changers out of the Temple with a whip He made Himself. They had defiled His house.

Anger is not always a bad emotion. What makes you angry? That guy or gal that cut you off in traffic? That one in the check-out at Walmart that was rude and nasty to the associated checking them out? Is that really a good anger? Not at all. If it makes us angry to see someone rudely treated, then let’s compliment the one that was just treated that way.

Jesus had earlier in chapter 2 of Mark said the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. I suppose that is for all the laws of God. They are given to aid and to help us realize our evil plight in life, not to provide hindrances for good deeds.

When we come to Jesus, trusting Him as our Lord and Savior all the law is fulfilled in Him. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). It was provided for us by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Call on the name of the Lord Jesus, believing that God has raised Him from the dead, and you shall be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

We Don’t Know When, So Be Ready

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“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.”  Matthew 25:13

None of us know the time of our death. Neither does anyone know the time of the Lord’s second coming.

Just as one must be prepared for dying we need to be prepared for the coming of the Lord. One is closely associated with the other.

Please understand. It has been said that there are only two things which are certain in the life; and that is death and taxes. We all will die in this physical body. The heart will beat its final beat; and we will breathe our final breath. Are you ready?

The greatest preparation we can make for death is to call on the name of Jesus when we realize that we are lost, condemned, dying law breakers, headed to eternal judgment. Calling on Jesus who bled and died on the cross as the ultimate payment for our sin, and was buried carrying away all our sin, our shame, our guilt and condemnation, and then He rose from the grave justifying forever those who will come to Him.  See Matthew 26 through 28.

When you call on His name you are then prepared for death and for the coming of the Lord.

Remember This

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“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”  Matthew 24:35

There is peace of heart and mind in knowing and always remembering that every word of God which He has spoken; whether it be through the prophets, the Law, the Wisdom literature of the Old Testament; all will be fulfilled.

Also, every word spoken by the Son of God, His 13 apostles, and the other New Testament Scriptures will also be fulfilled. Not a single word which He has spoken shall fail.

There is only peace with God and rest in Him through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Call on His name in repentant faith, and receive Him.

A Set Mind On His Destination

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“And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify, and the third day He shall rise again.’ ”   Matthew 20:17-19

Many of us when we are going on a trip in our cars or trucks have a destination; a certain place we are going. There are times on vacation traveling especially when we set out for that destination and do not want to stop until we get there. It is, however, a good thing for us to take in some of the sights, and visit other things as we go.

Jesus came into the world; He came unto us with one set destination in His heart and mind. What was that destination? It was to glorify the Father by fulfilling all the things concerning Himself in Scripture. To begin with that was to go to Jerusalem and die for the sins of the world, upon  a cruel, old rugged cross; taking the sins of the world upon Himself, becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), and taking the judgment from Holy God that should have been our own.

Before the cross He shares at least three times with His disciples that He must die, and that He will rise again. He did. He is alive forever more.

Call on the One and the only One who can redeem you from your sins. Call on the name of the Lord, confessing Him believing that God has raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). Make this your destination – eternal life.