Saturday, October 28, 2017

Healer


Healer


JESUS IS THE HEALER

Jesus Healed Individuals
He values every single person.
  • Luke 4:38-39 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.
  • Luke 6:10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
Jesus Healed Multitudes
He treasures all humanity.
  • Luke 4:40-41 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
  • Luke 6:17-19 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

WHY JESUS HEALS

Jesus Is Compassionate
His mercy is unending.
  • Matthew 14:14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
  • James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Jesus Fulfills Messianic Prophecy
He is the Savior King foretold in the Old Testament.
  • Luke 4:17-21 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus Wants People to Believe God Sent Him
He desires that all come to know Him as Lord and Savior.
  • John 5:36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.
  • John 17:20-21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Jesus Is God
He forgives and heals – only God can do this.
  • Luke 5:24-25 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
  • Psalm 103:1-3 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

JESUS CAN HEAL PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY
He heals according to the sovereign will of Father God.

Not every faithful prayer for physical healing will be answered in this life. As part of His eternal perspective and perfect plan, there are good things in store for those who love Him that we sometimes just can’t understand.
  • James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
  • 1 John 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
  • Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Every faithful prayer for salvation in Christ Jesus will be accepted and results in spiritual rebirth. He longs for all to come to Him. In heaven, all His children will have eternal bodies that will never again know sickness or suffering.
  • Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
  • 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
  • Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

JESUS WANTS TO HEAL YOU
He died to give you eternal life.
  • Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
  • Galatians 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
  • 1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
  • 1 John 4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
His priority is your soul.
  • Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
  • Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  • Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
  • Matthew 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Surrender your life to Jesus Christ.


Prayer

Father, please bring healing through Your truth and Your love. For those whose hearts, souls and minds are yearning for You, send Your Holy Spirit to draw them to salvation in Jesus Christ. May Your will be done. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Legacy

Legacy

You could think of your life’s legacy in terms of the following question, ‘Long after you are dead and buried, what will people remember about you?’ That is fine; but I think the more important question is, ‘In what ways did your life impact those around you and those who came after you?’ With those two questions in mind, let’s look at two kings from the Davidic Dynasty.

King Solomon ruled over the united kingdoms of Judah and Israel in 971-931 BC. In 641-609 BC, King Josiah ruled over the southern kingdom of Judah (the northern kingdom of Israel had already been defeated and exiled in 722 BC by Assyria). Although the reign of these kings was separated by 290 years, their legacies are linked together in surprising ways.


Personal Experience
Both kings knew God.

Solomon had a personal encounter with God in a dream.
  • 1 Kings 3:4-5 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?”
    • God spoke to Solomon in a dream and granted his request for wisdom.

Josiah had a personal encounter with God in a book.
  • 2 Kings 22:10-11 Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. 11 Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes.
    • When Josiah heard the Word of God and what the Law of the LORD required and expected of God’s chosen people, he humbled himself and mourned over the sin of his kingdom.

Memorable Assets
Both kings were advantaged.

Solomon’s Wisdom and Wealth
  • 1 Kings 3:12-13 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days.
    • God made Solomon the wisest man of all time. He also blessed him with tremendous wealth.

Josiah’s Love and Obedience
  • 2 Kings 23:25 Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.
    • Josiah loved and obeyed the Lord like no other king before or since.

Dramatic Impact
Both kings had significant influence on their kingdoms.

Solomon’s Great Sin
  • 1 Kings 11:5-7 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon.
    • For three centuries, the abominable pagan temples built by Solomon encouraged and enabled the people of Judah to worship false gods.

Josiah’s Great Reforms
  • 2 Kings 23:13 Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon.
    • Along with many other God honoring decisions and acts, Josiah destroyed the temples built by Solomon and led Judah back to worshipping the LORD.

Historical Legacy
Both kings inherited empires affected by previous rulers and circumstances.

Solomon
  • 1 Kings 11:11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.
    • Despite his wisdom, wealth and inheritance of the united kingdoms of Judah and Israel (which were peaceful, prosperous and full of promise), because of his great sin, Solomon led his kingdom into division and depravity.

Josiah
  • 2 Kings 22:19-20 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. 20 “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.”’” So they brought back word to the king.
    • Despite inheriting a kingdom marked by upheaval and ungodliness, because of his great reforms, Josiah reigned over Judah during a period of peace.

Messianic Legacy
Both kings were part of the royal lineage of Jesus Christ.

Davidic Covenant
  • 2 Samuel 7:16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.
    • Jesus was prophesied to be a direct descendant of King David. Solomon and Josiah were both direct descendants of David.

Notes on the lineage of Jesus:
  • Christ is a regal/legal descendent of David through Joseph (see Matthew 1:5-10 for the genealogy of Joseph through David’s son Solomon and descendent Josiah).
    • Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus. But as Jesus’ earthly (legal) father, Joseph’s royal heritage was required to fulfill the Davidic lineage prophesies.
  • Christ is a biological/bloodline descendent of David through Mary (see Luke 3:31-32 for the genealogy of Mary through David’s son Nathan (Solomon’s older brother)).
    • As Jesus’ biological mother, Mary’s direct link through the bloodline of David was also required to fulfill the prophesies about his heritage.

Your Legacy
How will your life impact others, now and in the future?

Regardless of your background, circumstances, lineage, surroundings, etc., through salvation in Jesus Christ, you can live a life that glorifies the LORD. You can show the love of Jesus, share the truth about Jesus, and with the Word of God, help bring others to God for peace in this life and eternal life in heaven.
  • Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
  • John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
  • Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
  • John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”


Prayer

Merciful Father in Heaven, may those who know Christ as Lord and Savior live the life you have called and empowered us to live; thus leaving a legacy of truth, love and good works that brings the gospel message of Jesus to many and in every way glorifies Your holy name. Please draw the lost to Jesus. I ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ, by whose stripes I am healed. Amen.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

The Wall

The Wall


Imagine the wrath of God approaching; a consuming fire that destroys everyone and everything not shielded from it. Sin, which is rejecting, rebelling against and/or falling short of God’s standards and requirements, kindles and calls the flames of God’s righteous judgment. In Ezekiel Chapter 22, using the coming destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian army as a canvas, God paints a picture of His coming judgment against His chosen people.

Throughout its heinous history and repeated rebellions against God, His Law and His Covenant, He had warned the Nation of Israel about the severe judgment that would come if they continued in their wicked ways. But now the eternal Judge of every living soul presents the overwhelming evidence of Israel’s guilt and pronounces the sentence.

The Inventory of Jerusalem’s Sin
In Ezekiel 22:6-12, God details the violations of His Law
  • Murder; parents not respected; foreigners, widows and orphans being oppressed; holy things are despised; Sabbaths are profaned; people are put to death based on false testimony; offerings made to idols are consumed at mountain shrines; open lewdness/wickedness; sexual perversion; murder for hire, collecting interest and fees from loans; plundering neighbors; and forgetting about the LORD.

The Image of God’s Judgment
In Ezekiel 22:17-22, God describes the method of His Judgment
  • God tells Ezekiel that the people of Israel have become useless to Him; like the impurities in precious metals that are removed in a furnace. Therefore, as precious metals are melted in a furnace, God will gather the people of Judah together in Jerusalem and execute His judgment by fire. Both the precious metals and worthless contaminants will be melted by the fire of His wrath. The city will be burned and destroyed; the people will be killed and exiled.

The Indictment of the Guilty
In Ezekiel 22:25-29, God denunciates the breakers of His Law
  • The Potentates – Conspiring like roaring lions: tearing apart their prey; devouring souls; taking riches and other valuable things; making many widows. Acting like wolves: tearing apart their prey; shedding blood; destroying souls; getting dishonest gain.
  • The Priests – Violating God’s Law and profaning His holy things; not distinguishing between the holy and unholy; not teaching the difference between clean and unclean; ignoring Sabbath violations; profaning God.
  • The Prophets – Whitewashing blatant sin; giving false prophecy; lying; falsely claiming ‘Thus says the LORD.’ when the LORD has not said.
  • The People – Deceiving for unjust gain; plundering; mistreating the poor and needy; unjustly violating foreigners.

But before the wrath, we see the love and mercy of God layered in with His perfect justice – He takes no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked (see Ezekiel 18:32, 33:11). Despite centuries of sin, God was still looking for a way to pardon His people.
  • Ezekiel 22:30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

God had made a way for the temporary covering of sin through the Levitical Law. If done in humility, with repentance and in reverence for God, animal sacrifices (which foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to pay the debt for sin) could have reconciled sinful Israel to God.

However, without an atoning sacrifice for their sin, without confession and repentance, without a wall of righteousness around them and someone to stand in the gap between Israel and God’s wrath, God makes clear that His perfect justice would be served. Israel would indeed reap what they had sown.
  • Ezekiel 22:31 Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

So, what is standing between you and God’s wrath?

By what means will the penalty for your sin be paid?

How will you be reconciled to God?


Jesus Christ, the human incarnation of Jehovah God, is the only means by which sinful people can be reconciled to a Holy God.
  • Isaiah 53:5-6 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
  • 1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

Jesus shed His sinless blood
to build an impenetrable wall
of righteousness around you!

When you surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior,
He stands in the gap between you and God,
and your sin debt is paid in full!

Through faith in Christ,
in His righteousness,
you are eternally reconciled to God!


Prayer

Savior, LORD and King, thank You for making a way for sinful man to be reconciled to You. Thank You for Your love, grace and mercy. Thank You for the unchanging truth of Your Holy Word and the indwelling presence of Your Holy Spirit. Please Father, through Your Word and the Work of Your Spirit, draw those who are not followers of Jesus Christ to repentance and salvation. Save them from the judgment Jerusalem experienced. I ask these things in the powerful name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Dealing with Imperfection

Dealing with Imperfection


If you are looking for perfection, there is only one place to find it.
  • Deuteronomy 32:3-4 For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
  • 1 Samuel 2:2 “No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
  • Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
  • Mark 10:18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

The LORD God Almighty, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God revealed as three distinct entities, He is the only one without fault or flaw. He doesn’t strive for perfection, it is His very nature and the essence of His being. He is inherently good, just and right. And it is in His perfection that we see our imperfection. God is the standard.

Unfortunately, we all fall short of the standards God has set in His perfection. Falling short of His standards and expectations is called sin.

King Solomon, the wisest man of all time, proclaimed that all people sin.
  • 1 Kings 8:46 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near;
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul declares this same truth.
  • Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
God, speaking through John, says that we deceive ourselves if we say we haven’t sinned.
  • 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Therefore, we must accept that no person (spouse, child, parent, sibling, friend, mentor, student…), group (family, workplace, club, civic organization, church…), or anything else that involves or depends on people is perfect. Other than God, everyone and everything (including creation - see Romans 8:21-22) is flawed.

But praise be to God for the glorious truth of the gospel message of Jesus Christ! That message is, when we are born again by surrendering all that we are to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are made perfect in position before God (see Matthew 5:48, 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Hebrews 10:14). That is to say, for the Christian, even though we still sin, all of our sins have been forgiven (covered by the blood of Jesus). Therefore, God sees us as righteous – that is how and why we spend eternity in Heaven with Him after we die.

However, with all that said, the primary focus of this devotion is not the righteous position before God of those who have been born again. The point of this devotion is to identify the Biblical means of dealing with the imperfection within us and all around us. How do people respond to what they judge to be imperfections in themselves, others, their surrounding and their situations? Typical responses include frustration, anger, pride, fear, guilt, shame, impatience, disgust, hate, despair, apathy, giving up…

However, in the simplicity of God’s perfection, He has given us one specific means by which we are to deal with imperfection. It is discussed throughout the Bible, and is defined as follows:
  • 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

As so often is the case, love is the answer. But not the selfish, self-centered, needy, sexual love that the world is obsessed with. Study the verse above. Ask God to reveal to you His truth about Godly love. And then plead with Him to help you live it out.

In the infinite wisdom of God’s perfection, God has shown us what true love is. In dealing with our imperfections, He sent His only Son, who lived a perfect life, to die a sacrificial death to pay off the sin debt of the world.
  • Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
  • John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

During His life on Earth, Jesus, God in the flesh, the embodiment of perfection, was surrounded by imperfection. And He responded to this imperfection in obedience to God the Father and in love towards us.
  • Galatians 1:3-4 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus modeled perfect love.
And God has instructed us to love that way.


Here is a very small sampling of the verses in the Bible dealing with how we are to love.
  • Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
  • 1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
  • 1 Peter 4:8-9 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
  • Matthew 5:44-45 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
  • 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Love is the only Godly way of
Dealing with Imperfection!


Prayer

Perfect Father, I thank You for giving us a means to deal with the imperfections within ourselves, others and the fallen world we live in. Please Lord, by the power and truth of Your Word and Your Holy Spirit, guide us in living a life of Godly love. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.