The Whirlwind of the LORD

Jeremiah‬ ‭30:3‬ ‭- “For behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah," says the LORD. "And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

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I say this often: I'm so thankful I know the God of this universe who has a plan for the lives of those who know Him. His plans are not for evil but for peace, hope and a future. Praise God!

We His people may go through trials, but if we continue to look up, He will be beside us. He will walk through the storm and be our comfort. No man or woman can do this, i.e., government leader. Our future is secure if we know Him no matter what.

I like what the LORD God later tells Jeremiah the prophet. This is for believers. By the way, believers can be considered as Israel in the Old Testament days...His children, His people. But because of their repeated rebellion against God, He allowed them to be captured, as a means to draw them back to Him. Perhaps with the election we are facing, God may be wanting yet more to stop their rebelliousness against Him. And why couldn't He use our government to do the same? We could be heading into a captivity of our own. It's just so not about a man or woman, especially ones who do not look to God for guidance.

“For it shall come to pass in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "That I will break his yoke from your neck, and will burst your bonds; foreigners shall no more enslave them.

Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob," says the LORD, "Nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, and no one shall make him afraid.
"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds," says the LORD, "Because they called you an outcast saying: 'This is Zion; no one seeks her.'

"You shall be My people, and I will be your God. Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; it will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider it.” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭30:8,10,17,22-24‬)

In the end God will judge. He will prove what was wrong and right in the world. His people will endure to the end. How do we know we really are not in the last days? Evil is rampant at all levels. The enemy is appearing to drag down as many as he can. This is why it is important to know Jesus, know the truth outlined in His Word. In the beginning God created...in the end He will return to judge those who have taken Him and His Word lightly. 

The election that lies ahead will be what it will be. God knows. Either candidate could be the impetus for many to receive Christ. I am standing on the truth of God's Word that He can heal anyone not just of disease or illness but of the rebelliousness of sin and not believing in Him. Man's sometimes empty promises are not the promises from a God who desires all men come to Him and believe in Him. His promises are true...and just.

Lord, have mercy on this nation, on those who do not know You, that they might choose You. You can heal anyone, even enemies. If it be Your will... Thank You for Your grace and mercy to us who have chosen to follow You and who put their trust in You. Let us be lights and endure with the Gospel when darkness closes in. 

The Bible tells us that in the last days what we are seeing in the world TODAY will be rampant. Lovers of self, evil, all doing their own thing, immorality and things opposing what God says is good, right, true. We need to know the God who knows the beginning from the end. 

It's never too late to receive the God who has created all things, who loves more than we can wrap our heads around, even those who do evil. Yet in the end, only those who seek Him will receive the best end to this life. It will be a struggle but...God...

Psalm ‭107:19-21‬ ‭- ...they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Grace-Filled

Deuteronomy 4:29 - But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

I am thankful for a God who is so grace-filled. I'm thankful He is never finished with us. I'm thankful if we continue to seek Him He shows Himself to us repeatedly. 

If you have no idea what this means you may not truly know Him. But God...is always waiting and ready to reveal Himself to you if you seek Him...with all your heart.

I've had three things happen this past week that have been revealing, cleansing, healing and freeing. It's not necessary to go into detail. One is a wound that goes back 55 years, one which I pushed so deep I thought I'd overcome it. I was wrong. It resurfaced but this time because the right words and the perfect timing of God, I believe it won't be the ache it had been for so long. God has shown me through another what Needs to be done.

Another was based upon the 55-year-old wound. I have finally realized, which is almost embarrassing, how much God loves me, how He will not leave me nor forsake me, even when I fail. 

And then Sunday morning God allowed me to hear three times, in a sermon on the radio on my way to church, in Sunday school and then in church...three words which convicted me of a besetting sin...for which I was able, three times, to ask for forgiveness and thank God for showing me. He showed me in the loving way only He can. Conviction with love. Unless you have had this happen it's hard to imagine. 

Step by step this week He has taken the time to heal, convict and cleanse. What an awesome God He is. What grace.

And then as we learned in church, grace is divine influence in man. He puts a desire in us to know Him before we really do. This desire causes our salvation...in sometimes no more than a moment. It is up to us, however, to respond to that desire. If we do not we reject God. 

He puts a desire in me to become righteous. His grace brings conviction in love, all God's influence in my life. He longs for us to change. I can add yet another thing I read this week. God will take us as we are, but He doesn't want us to stay as we are. There must be a change. 

Here's the best thing: there is nothing we can do to initially receive His grace. He first loved us. He always does, even if we reject Him to our grave. But He also respects our offense to Him...but not without consequences. Those who choose not to bow their knee to Him will not receive a rightful place in heaven. We cannot earn His grace. He willingly gives it. Something we will never be able to explain happens when we respond to Him and His grace. Our salvation. 

We are not saved by infant baptism or growing up and attending any church or being any denomination or how good we think we are. It comes freely from God. It's all about Him. We cannot take any credit for it. It's a mystery how God's grace appears, says our pastor.

'twas grace that taught

my heart to fear, and grace, my fears relieved. 

How precious did that grace appear,

the hour I first believed.

The hour, the minute, the second we first believe. I know this happened to me. Do you? It is available every day for all people. His grace is sufficient for any circumstance or trial. It's sufficient for me today and tomorrow, for a lifetime of tomorrows and is available today for 
all who seek Him now. God's grace is the author and finisher of our faith. His is the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end. He holds your future in His hands. Which future do you wish to have: life or death. His desire for you in life. Do you share that desire? Have you humbly gone to Him and received His precious gift of grace? He waits for those who want it. He desires to heal us, bind up the broken hearted, bring conviction of sin so we can ask for forgiveness and allow healing, with new life, to take place. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

But Now I See

John‬ ‭9:25‬ ‭- He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

I began reading a book called Jewish Culture and Customs by Steve Herzig. He a Messianic Jew meaning He has become a believer in Jesus Christ! While the book is about customs and culture the first chapter explains how Herzig became a believer after a life of Judaism and "kosherness." 

He questioned his believing sister one day after giving his life to the Lord, How do you know that you are born again? He questioned because he didn't feel any different. Her answer was that God would make HIM the best person HE could be and not to compare himself with others. And he stated that he now understood what the scripture above meant.

The blind man from John 9 is a wonderful story of healing, not just physical but spiritual. Only one who is born again will fully understand it.

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” ‭‭(John‬ ‭9:1-3‬)

Like this man, we are all born spiritually blind. We did not ask for this. We are blind until God reveals Himself to us. It's a personal thing. It can happen at any time, anywhere. But it comes only through an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. Somehow He starts poking at your spirit. He might send a person or persons into your life who agitate! They press spiritual things on you, like attending church, or talking about their church and Bible studies they attend. This happened to me and I was agitated.

Then one day you completely fall apart. You can no longer resist His urgings. And He walks into your life and you don't know at first what hit you. With that the scripture above becomes reality.

I can't say I was fully aware immediately that my sight had come to me but I saw things differently. I had a desire to know things. I understood when I studied the Bible. I understood, in time, what being born again meant. The eyes of my heart were open to the things of God. And it was addicting.

Like I said, until we have this type of encounter with Christ we will continue to be blind. We will read what God's Word has to say and for the most part get it from one level. In Christ, with His Spirit in us we will begin to understand more, but we will never understand everything. The more we want to learn, however, the more He will reveal. A pastor can help but we are not to rely on just a man for our spiritual understanding. We go directly, humbly, to our God and His Word and He will show us.

I am so thankful for God's relentless bugging me! It took years and I remember the day before how I so strongly resisted only to receive Him the next morning. I feel ashamed at times for the resistance but I know I had to go through it to realize where I had been and where I am now.

It's not good to resist. We are to resist the devil and flee from him...but not resist and flee from God. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Then our sermon in church yesterday was about the parable of the sower. The Word of God is preached and it can fall on four types of ground: the wayside, hard and impenetrable; stony places with little earth; thorny places where the growth of the seed is choked out; good ground where the seed will be nourished. Which soil has the Word fallen on in your life? Listen to what Jesus said: In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them" But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. (Matthew‬ ‭13:14-16‬)

This is the miracle of new birth. Once blind, we see. We are all born blind sinners until we have an encounter with Jesus and become healed. Then others will see and know what God has done. He gets the glory. I'd love to hear testimonies!!!

April 18, 1999   (my testimony)

John‬ ‭9:26-27‬ ‭- Then they [religious leaders] said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”
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Healed

Matthew 11:4-6 - Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." 

I was all of those things once. I can pretty much guess most are like this before encountering Christ.

I was once blind to the truth of God's Word. I couldn't see or understand it spiritually. I was lame because I could not walk in this same truth; I couldn't follow Jesus. Couldn't really should be wouldn't.

I was as diseased at the poor leper but have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. I was deaf, totally, to any words having to do with Christ. 

I walked like Lazarus in grave cloths because I was dead in my sin but today 

am alive in Christ. I had all I needed, so I thought then...yet I was poor in spirit till the Word became real to me.

 It is a blessing that Jesus is no longer an offense to me, as He once had been.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O God. (Psalm 19:14)

Psalm 51:15 - O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

Swords, Division, Following

Matthew 10:34-39 - Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to "set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law"; and "a man’s enemies will be those of his own household." He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

As I was walking this morning, these scriptures, which I had just read, echoed in my mind. How I needed to hear them again. They've been a recurring "voice" in my spirit. These are Jesus' words. They are truth because He is truth. Truth isn't always favorably receive.... Jesus knew that very well!

As I walked I again remembered that no matter what, our devotion to following Jesus will come with a great reward...in the end. The struggles come here in this world in our lives. Another scripture came to mind regarding something else and I found that it also was in the same book and chapter: 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 10:28)  We cannot worry what others think about our beliefs. We must go on with our walk with the Lord.

Even more came to mind. I will try to shorten the mile long thought!! I was an only child. My parents had marital troubles. Of course, I was affected by them. In high school there was a guy in my algebra class that I had a crush on, my very first. I would go home at night all excited to tell my mom about what he did or said that day. When I would come home the newspaper was in front of her face and was never put down. After a time of this I perceived she wasn't interested and I stopped sharing. I would just go to my room. I learned not to talk! My room was quite the sanctuary for years.

This is hard for me to share. During this time we would watch television programs like Bonanza, 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Hawaiian Eye. There was always a damsel in distress and a hero would come to save her. I fell asleep at night pretending any one of those heroes was mine that night...and the next...and the next. Didn't matter I was 16, 17, 18... I needed a hero. I needed to be loved. I needed to be heard. I needed to be rescued.

I say all this to point out that that's what Jesus came to do. He has come to save us from the death we live in without Him. To love us and save us from hurts, disappointments, anxieties, fears, abandonment and more. He has come to heal us...spiritually...to give us the life He so longs we have that we do not deserve for all our sins. If we deny we have sin, that's another issue! He has come for each of us.

Just prior to leaving one church for my current one, when I was so impressed in my spirit it was time to leave my church and go to this specified new church, I questioned God how I could leave my friends and all I knew in that church. The scripture so clearly came to me: But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” (Matthew 12:48-49) It was all about following Him, whatever the cost.

Maybe not everyone will see the point in all I've written but what I see, and this thought is not new to me by any stretch of the imagination, while I longed for someone to be my hero and give me all my parents never could, or anyone for that matter, that is not possible. What I longed for, and what anyone might long for, can only be met in knowing Jesus. 

So...if I speak more of Jesus than other things there is a reason. I eventually met this Jesus and He brought about a change. I am prepared to realize that not everyone will accept this truth of who He is and what He can be. It's that sword spoken of above. It divides people. It divides friends and family. It even divides churches. We have to find Jesus ourselves and there is nothing God can't do to open hearts, minds and spirits to who He is. Nothing is impossible with God. But...it's a choice we have to make to acknowledge Him.

Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ...

Benefits of Salvation

Psalm 30:2 - O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.

I've heard several people desire for God's physical healing in their lives. They may be troubled by chronic pain or illness. God can heal these things but everything is in His time. We are still to pray for it. However, He may choose not to. All for His good reason...

The Apostle Paul suffered some unknown affliction. He'd had visions of heaven but was not allowed to share them because they were not to be known. Yet God had allowed only him this privilege. Imagine the wonderful feeling of being given this special right. In this case God allowed an affliction to keep him humble through it all. 

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (‭2Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7-10‬)

There's the reason behind whatever it was that troubled him,  that God's grace and strength is sufficient in our weakness. Praise God. While I am weak I may be strong...through Him. And that I may not boast in myself but in the Lord.

I look at this verse and think of the very first time we call out to God. We are in a place where we recognize only He can do something for us. We end up calling to Him for salvation. Only He could do this. No one else can save us; we cannot do it ourselves.

And what do we receive first and foremost? Healing of our heart and soul...ultimate healing that only comes when we call out to Jesus, recognize our sinful nature, repent of our sins. We may need help in some physical healing immediately that we may continue in our pursuit of God. It helps us recognize what only He could do. But healing the heart and soul are the most important. They are the greatest benefits of our salvation.

If we are constantly "plagued" with some affliction we are to maintain an attitude of praise to God, even boasting of this affliction. He may be doing an even greater work in us, if only keeping our eyes focused on Him. ...yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. (‭2Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭5‬)

Remember, Jesus bore all our diseases and iniquities on the cross. We are to be thankful He has the power over those people or diseases that can take our physical bodies but not our spiritual if we are in Christ. Look at what He will do if you ask Him to become your Savior:

Psalm 103:2-4 - Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies...

Immediately

Mark 1:18 - They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

I was struck by how many times in the first two chapters of Mark the word immediately was written. We often hear how we must wait upon the Lord. But here there is an immediacy. God moved in the hearts of men and He moved in the life of Christ.

Mark 1:20 - And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat...and went after Him. 

Mark 1:21 - Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.

Mark 1:28 - And immediately His fame spread...

Mark 1:31 - So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever was gone.

Mark 1:42 - As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Mark 2: 2 - Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them...

Mark 2:12 - Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God.

Our salvation is the most important thing we can have. We can have prominence, a great job, fortune, family, all good things, but if we do not have a relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord, nothing else means a darn thing. As we study the Book of Ecclesiastes on Sunday mornings we see how Job struggled with the concept of "nothing new under the sun," that nothing we do is new, is vanity and a "grasping for the wind," or "vexation of the spirit" as another Bible translation states. So what's the point of life, is ultimately Job's question. 

I've said this in previous blogs...the answer is at the end of Ecclesiastes! If we all live to strive for things in life, things that satisfy self, just like everyone else has, and we still die (and cannot take anything with us), what's the whole point of life? We get hurt, we are rejected, we do stupid things, we lose at this or that, we are successful here or there. So as someone we all know recently said, "What's the point!?" The point is we need Jesus. 

With Jesus there was an immediacy in and to His life. When He was baptized, He was immediately filled with the Spirit that He might be able to do many other things...with an immediacy. His disciples immediately followed Him; there had to have been something so amazing about Jesus that they couldn't help but drop what they did and immediately follow Him. He was quickly (immediately) making a name for Himself. What He did brought immediate results. The crowds grew, His reputation grew.

So where am I going with all this? There can be an immediate response to the call of Christ in our lives. If we make the decision to drop all and follow Him, we have heard His call. We are immediately filled with the same Spirit that Jesus was filled with. We experience the healing He provided for so many people in His day. But the healing is not always physical, although it can be...it's strictly up to God. The healing is spiritual. Our eternal lives are at stake when that call of His comes and we immediately follow. 

I didn't follow immediately when I first heard the message. I didn't get it. But the Lord was persistent in His own way until one day I heard and immediately responded...and healed and set free from the bondage of sin. It was immediate. Did I know this? No. Did I think I was a sinner? No. But now there was something so powerful and commanding about being called by God to follow that I had to respond immediately. 

Jesus came to heal our spiritual blindness, the idea that we can be self-made or self-sufficient. He came to heal broken or hard-hearted hearts. He came to heal the worst of the worst and I would venture to say in His eyes we all fall into that category. He came to save all people. There is as much an immediacy today as then. If we see what the Bible tells us about Jesu we get a better understanding of what He can do...even today.

The moment we give up and give ourselves to the Lord we are healed. We have taken that immediate step. If we think we do not need Him, that we are good on our own we believe one of the oldest lies known, going back to the Garden of Eden. He has come to save us all from this lie of self-righteousness, apart from God. We cannot live our lives without Him...which is what Job moaned about for about 41 chapters!! Our lives are meaningless without Him and we are sinners to death. Even with Him we will die a physical death but if we are in Christ there is eternal life. And in the end all new lives in Christ glorify God. We are all sinners with an opportunity to be saved by grace. 

..."Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." ...for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (‭Mark 2:17, Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭10‬)

Whom Are You Seeking?

John 18:7-14

Then He asked them again, "Whom are you seeking?" and they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, ''Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none."

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 

So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?" Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 

For whatever reason even these officers of the chief priests had a hard time  believing Jesus was who He said He was! Who can understand this? Who did they think He was?  Did they see something different in Jesus? We're they astonished that as He spoke they were unable to stand in the previous verses? Why didn't Jesus have this same affect on everyone? Why doesn't He have an affect on people today, too?

The next sudden event was Peter cutting off the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant. And why is this so important?  Malchus' name is never mentioned again! Just a flurry of activity. 

And Jesus continues to rebuke Peter for striking out and trying to prevent prophetic events to occur. And His command that the officers take Him and leave the others...that the order of historic, prophetic events would take place. All that He had come to do had to happen...and there was such a confusion among the people.

I'm afraid I have not much to say this time! Just a lot of questions. This is John 's account of all this and he does not refer to the fact that Jesus healed Malchus' ear! That alone would be yet another cause for even these men to wonder who this Man was...and maybe believe. Who knows, maybe when all was said and done, they did. I do know that this would have been Jesus' last healing...maybe it's why Malchus was named. And yet...Jesus still heals today! 

Whom are you seeking? That's a good question for us all. What miracle or healing would cause you to believe without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is Who He says He is? You have no clue what may already have transpired in your life that just may have been His hand upon you so that some day you might believe...and seek Him.  You have no idea what might transpire in the future that will cause you to give your life over to Him, the One who gave His life over for you.

He knows...He has plans for those who seek Him. He knows what holds you captive, even of you don't think you are being held captive. Do you hold unforgiveness, pride, willfulness, conceit, surety in self, self-centeredness; are you experiencing physical ailments and no possible healing; do you struggle with drugs, alcohol, depression, anxiety, hopelessness? He desires to set you free. 

Before I knew for a fact who Jesus was, not just the head knowledge, but the heart,  little by little things occurred that we're clearly leading up to the day I would meet Him and then seek more of Him. I was searching for spirituality in the wrong places and He prevented me from falling prey to the occult! It IS possible for Him to captivate you to Him and not the things in this life that do hold you captive.  He can free the hardest of criminal, or the hardest of hearts, the worst of the worst. And if you don't fit into that worst category, He can heal you too!

Jeremiah 29:11-14a - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity...

He So Offended

John 5:10-18

And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed." He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"

Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." 

The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and fought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus said to them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."

Therefore, the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

So the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda was healed by Jesus. He was told to take up his bed and walk. Oh, the offense! How could the Jews be so offended that a man could now walk? Where is the rejoicing?

And oh, the laws those Jews had. Laws no one could ever perfectly keep. And these people were in the midst of One who was speaking of Himself...the One who would one day die that these impossible laws would no longer be a stumbling block for them. One Who would free them from the captivity of not only all these laws but their sins. Their access to God would be free, no longer subject to the Jewish priests. No sacrifices necessary. Just open communication with the Father.

Jesus so wanted to show these people that His way was a new way. Only God's laws were necessary, not man's added laws. These rituals practiced were useless. And in the process, as we will see, the religious leaders would be offended by one Man who would turn the world upside down with His teachings.

Jesus so offended. He told a man to take up his bed and walk. According to Jewish customs healing on the Sabbath was forbidden. So was the act of carrying anything. Two strikes against Jesus. And more to come.

Jesus also made the comment that "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." He was equating Himself with God...blaspheming in their eyes. How did they know this? The Greek word for Father had no special meaning; I looked it up! So it had to have been the miracle which they took offense to. It was the other healings and miracles they knew He had done. Who but God could heal? Yet they still did not want to believe Jesus was Who He said He was...the Son of God...come to take away the sins of the world. Imagine what this would do to their religious views. He was a threat.

In the end we find out that He was right and they were wrong. And knowing this, believing He has the power to do all things even today, should be our great comfort, should drive us to seek Him for our salvation. Should...

We find that we need not make the same sacrifices, nor do the works that once were necessary to enter into relationship with God. We just believe in our hearts that He alone has the power to heal and save our sorry souls! He heals all spiritually who desire Him. That is the greatest healing of all. Armed with that we can live our lives without fear of our future. It is secure because He has healed our broken hearts and bodies. We are no longer offended by His name. He has taken the old man and made it new...in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah and Amen!

Ephesians 3:9-12 - and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

A Kid in a Candy Store!

Ezekiel 37:5-6 - Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."

I think I was asleep and have been going through a time of awakening. I was becoming comfortable in my life in Christ, despite the deep seated desire to grow deeper in Him. As the days grow more ominous we know our strength must come from some place other than our selves and our resourcefulness. The only way to gain that strength is to go to the Source, which is Jesus.

Our church (The Church in Wisconsin) is being bombarded by several nights' worth of powerful, eye-opening words of a young evangelist, Jeremy Prochazka. Old truths have been brought forth as reminders of what being in Christ means. As one sermon leads into the next they are all connected by a fresh view and a common thread...the Lord. I feel like a kid in a candy store. So much to "look" into and take in, not that I haven't heard it before, but that I need to be reminded. That's what revival is. Dry bones coming back to life.

Jeremy started with the Church and how if Christ is in it that's what it's all about. And those churches which are doing it right by not watering down the Word or preaching man's version of the Gospel and are allowing the Holy Spirit full access, the Latter Will be Greater than the Past, as his first message was entitled. There will be a remnant in the end who will rebuild the Church to what it should be, who will be standing only on the truth of His Word...what it's all about.

These messages have touched me. Each one so far has struck a conviction, one that started probably a year ago when I was beginning to become dissatisfied with something I couldn't put my finger on...which culminated in one day just knowing God was leading me to make a change, a very big one, in order to go deeper with Him. That change moved me to a new church, a difficult decision but when God is behind it, a good one, of that I was sure.

The Church: it's not about the building but the people within it...if Christ is in the heart, He is in the home as well. He had no luxurious place to rest at night. It was whoever took Him in, or whatever rock was available to rest His head. This speaks corporately and personally, too.

All things that are not of Christ must be removed. There is a shaking going on. I have felt that there has been a sifting and when that is done the shaking within Church walls will come thereafter. Perhaps some churches have been sifted and are now being shaken, some are still being sifted. Is the Church, or ourselves, Christ-centered or not? Shake it out if it is not.

Again, I have felt complacency, but desiring more. Where I am now I don't think I can remain with all the people around me. That is good. Now three weeks later I'm really sensing I am lacking compared to them. Ah, but we are not to compare ourselves, which Jeremy brought up last night, and as I've heard before. And no one should compare in Church. It's where edification should take place if it is the church (any church) it claims it to be. If there's comparison, it's wrong.

We're at different spiritual levels and that's okay. It's that we want to reach the next level that is important. And it starts in a church that is of one accord, all wanting this same thing, no matter what level we're on. Shaking causes shackles to be broken and that equals freedom. We are all given a measure by Christ. If He has given us that measure, don't try to fix it. Go with it.

Jeremy talked about the dry bones in Ezekiel 37. Shaking of the Church isn't always bad but will produce good. You shake to stir things up, to open eyes, revive, restore, bring back together. Once the bones are shaken the flesh will reappear and growth will occur.

In his sermon on Controlled by the River Jeremy discussed Ezekiel 47:1-11. There was a vision of a man measuring the waters that flowed out of the temple. First they were ankle deep, then knee high, then to the loins until the waters were so deep they could not be crossed. These are like the depth of our spiritual walk with the Lord. And He is the Man measuring. When He moves, we move with Him, but never before Him. It reminds me of Jesus as our living Water. And it is about the Spirit of God which flows in us and directs us. Just keep moving when He moves into that deeper place with Him, beyond where you now are. Follow Him is all He asks and there will be healing and life.

If we get to a place where we can't grow anymore, He will move us. Oh, I saw it when I knew it was time to move from one church to another but this message was such confirmation. I'm sure more revelation will come! Hallelujah.

Monday night in his Conditions of Defeat and Conditions of Victory Jeremy talked about how we might go through seasons of defeat...early on, in the middle of our walk or the end. Sometimes the condition is based on those around us. If they are lax, so will others be. But if they are Spirit-filled and of one accord, it will stand to reason I will be also. And at the same time we must continue to realize that He has given each of us a measure, which I mentioned above. I cannot become frustrated that I can't "measure up" to the person next to me. Jesus has done the measuring; be satisfied with that.

In Acts the early day church all came together in one accord...all 120 people! They prayed and fellowshipped together and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They were then able to go out, with the full measure that Christ had given them and preach to all the world. And the Church grew in number. His Spirit, which stirred the waters in Genesis, stirred their spirits in that upper room. He moved and they followed, each with and in the measure He had given them. He does the same today...let our Church be as the upper room, filled with the glory of God, sending forth the people with praises of God and the healing power to save, increasing the remnant Church.

An interesting point brought up: Ezekiel 47...the first step forward into the river was only ankle deep. That's our first step of faith in our walk with God. In Acts the first healing that took place as the disciples went out to begin their preaching ministry was a lame man. His ankle bones and feet received strength! This was the lame man's first step of faith in trusting the mighty healing power (spiritually as well as physically) of God. He had to start somewhere, like we all do. And sometimes we need to get back into step!

Ezekiel 47:9 - And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.

Healing the Captives

Isaiah 1:1, Luke 4:18 - “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to  those who are bound."  “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..."

In Sunday school yesterday morning it was brought up that when we come to a place of absolute need, absolute helplessness the best thing we can do is go to God. We find the time to sit quietly and wait for Him. We may not be able to speak, but He already knows what we need. All we need to do is sit in His presence and allow Him the opportunity to speak to us, letting Him bathe us in His love, comfort, even wisdom or discipline (for our own good) in whatever we are going through.

Unless one has done this it is nearly impossible to express what happens. If we give whatever troubles us to Him, lay it at His feet and tell Him we just don't know what to do or how to get through the situation, THEN He is able to get to work. He might even be thinking, At last...you're finally going to let Me handle it. It's what I've been waiting for for so long. But we sometimes cling to something all the while fretting about the fact we aren't able to do anything about it. Sometimes we give it to God just to take it back because we don't see changes. We AREN'T always able to do something ourselves and God's timing IS always perfect. It's still, and always will be, all about trusting in His perfect ways. Abraham and Sarah learned the hard way and so often we all will in something.

Then the sermon was not really a sermon but a testimony that fit so well with what was discussed in Sunday school. I love how God does that! Bob and Audrey Meisner explained to us about God's love even during a time of infidelity and betrayal in their marriage. They showed us how God didn't take them out of the hurts but guided them through and taught them many things during their trial. It took perseverance, faith and trust in God. It no doubt meant countless hours before Him.

As a preview to Sunday our pastor sent a link to view so we would have a feel for this couple. I watched it and wept. It did not relate to anything in my marriage but it just showed so clearly what the right things were to do and how when we just do what we know to be right God can turn bad into good, mourning can turn into joy, and despair into hope. It's part of humbling ourselves.

It's not always going to be easy but, as Bob said, we might be told we need to grow up. It's not about what we want or our feelings, but what God wants to do in us and then through us. The two work hand in hand. And if we are going to be stubborn about it, He may have to humble us in the process (and tell us to grow up).

This wasn't said but I'm guessing part of what we experience when we are in the middle of something we'd rather not be is to show us a glimpse, just a glimpse, of what Jesus endured for us. Endured... We just won't ever fully understand what He has done for us. He was humble all His life and endured a lot of rejection. Who are we to say we shouldn't ever have to suffer?

Now just because this was a married couple talking about the biggest trial so far in their marriage didn't mean there wasn't a message for all people. We all have feelings at times of insecurity, guilt, shame, whatever, that holds us captive to lies against who Christ says we are. We allow the lies of the enemy to tear us down. Any thought that takes us back to any incident that caused us harm or doubt about who we were before we were in Christ has us captive to satan.

Bob explained the story of blind Bartimaeus. He sat at the gate begging for alms. He wore a coat showing he was allowed to be there for that reason. When he heard that Jesus was in town and could hear the commotion of His nearing and the throngs of people gathering to see Him, perhaps be healed, Bartimaeus rose to his feet and cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy upon me." He was bound and determined to be healed, ignoring the people around him wanting him to silence himself. He threw this very coat that labeled him blind to the ground as he began to grope through the crowd. Jesus saw him and asked him what He wanted Him to do. Bartimaeus said he wanted sight. Jesus told him to go his way, that his faith (to the point of tossing off his coat?) had made him well. And his sight was restored.

No need to explain further how he praised and worshiped God. When He heals, it IS a reason to shout.

Audrey experienced guilt and shame. When we have done something thoughtless and wrong and realize our mistake, the last thing we want to do is admit it; yet that guilt will only fester unless it is revealed. Bob experienced betrayal, anger and probably worst of all, transference of blame. Neither knew how they were going to get through this. They were, in essence, blinded by their feelings (and sin) but with God's grace and mercy and His Holy Spirit to strengthen them, they worked out their differences and today are proof that humbling, perseverance, forgiveness and love CAN heal. They had both been held captive. Only God could bring perfect healing.

What coat(s) are we still wearing that need to be thrown down or laid at Jesus' feet that we might be healed? What lies are we still believing despite the promises and declarations of who we are now that we are in Christ? Let's think about this. Let us go to God and sit quietly listening to His Spirit connect with ours. There is a scripture that just came to mind: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1).

Are we going to persevere in our walk with God or are we going to allow the enemy to throw his fiery darts at us? We can see and read about endless testimonies of God's faithfulness. Are we going to take the time to diligently listen to our God or listen to lies? He can heal all wounds, He can heal all relationships, He can handle all those situations where you have finally given up. We must be willing to cast aside what causes us to remain captive to the enemies lies. We must take the time to sit at His feet and be encouraged remembering who He says we are in Christ.

Colossians 2:6-10 - As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Whose Arms Uphold You?

3John 1:2 - Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Here we go again! Another discussion and more delving into the meaning of physical healing. After spending time in discussion with a few friends on this subject, I wondered why I was back on this subject, almost as if I was being thrown back into pondering this for some reason.

Where most of Christ followers believe that the most important healing is of our souls, which is salvation, there are always those who hold out for "but, God also wants our bodies to be healed." 

Where most of us believe that God can heal anyone physically if He desires to, He doesn't always do it. Why? We just don't know because God is who He is and we are not and we won't know all the mysteries of God in this lifetime. It doesn't mean we don't pray for it and it doesn't mean that if He doesn't heal us we don't have enough faith. It's God's will whether we be healed or not. If God gave us all wisdom, we wouldn't need Him anymore would we? Not knowing everything causes two things to happen: we either put all our trust and faith in Him or we believe that if He's not going to do this or that, then why bother to have faith in Him at all. 

Our faith in He, who cannot be seen, is the most important thing. Maybe some need to see to believe and a physical healing would be evidence. I don't know....

So the discussion(s) were about healing. How do we feel if God does not heal? Do we complain, do we get angry with God, do we lose our faith in Him? Or do we live our lives with the illness or distress, whatever it is, and trust Him through it all? Do we continue to put one foot in front of the other and follow the path He has laid out before us, not wavering in our faith?

I had to check some commentaries on the subject. Believe me, my opinions on this came before all these words!

David Guzik writes: "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers": John uses a common phrase in his sending of best wishes and blessings to Gaius. Some have wrongly taken this as a guarantee of perpetual wealth and perfect health for the Christian.

Then he adds these two points: 

• Of course, we should always remember that God wants our best, and plans only good for us, and often present material prosperity and physical health are part of that good He has for us - and this prosperity and health are absolutely promised as the ultimate destiny of all believers.
• Yet, for the present time, God may, according to His all-wise plan, use a lack of material prosperity and physical health to promote greater prosperity and health in the scale of eternity.

Huh, lack brings more...what a concept. Isn't that what we are told to do? Give up our lives to gain Christ? Lose our lives that we might live? Humble ourselves and sacrifice...let Him fill us. 

If we were allowed to be physically healed, would we continue to rely on God? How secure would our salvation be? What is the motive for our healing? Would we, as Guzik says, look to the blessing of total healing as "a way to indulge a carnal desire for ease, comfort…?" Our afflictions keep us closer to the Lord that He might give us the strength we need. He is all we need.

We all know how good we feel when we are without pain and discomfort. As we age our bodies change. It's all part of the sin of death we are born into. But our spiritual health overrides all that if we have chosen Christ and His wonderful and glorious gift of salvation, the ultimate healing plan.

Jameison-Faussett-Brown Commentary states "above all things" does not imply that John wishes Gaius' bodily health above that of his soul, but as the first object to be desired next after spiritual health. 

Coffman Commentary: The prosperity of the soul is paramount.

Matthew Henry Commentaries  - Soul prosperity is the greatest blessing on this side heaven. Grace and health are rich companions. Grace will employ health. A rich soul may be lodged in a weak body; and grace must then be exercised in submitting to such a dispensation. But we may wish and pray that those who have prosperous souls, may have healthful bodies; that their grace may shine where there is still more room for activity. 

There is no reason not to pray for healing. But we must be willing to tack on "if it be Your will." Jesus prayed this three times and God's will overruled and Jesus was crucified. We can still be used of God, maybe even more, in our illness, our weakness. We learn from these valleys of life. 

Some additional scriptures show us that part of our life on earth is in our suffering, that we are to glory in our infirmities, that God's grace is sufficient for us in our weakness. We know also that one of the major expounders on healing was not healed himself…that was the Apostle Paul. He asked three times, like Jesus, to be healed and he was not. But he continued his ministry under God's strength knowing he would come through. We need to surrender to God's will for our lives. If not being healed is part of this, well, what will we do?

Philippians 1:29 - For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake...

2Corinthians 12:9 - And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

It's all about what the Lord will do when we give ourselves totally over to Him. Through Christ, in our weakness we are made strong (2Corinthians 12:10). When we are weak and give ourselves over to Christ, we have gained Christ (Matthew 16:25) and can do all things through Him. Our weakness may be our suffering but if we have given it over to Christ, we will be blessed (James 1:12).

I will always stand strong on the idea that our spiritual condition is of the utmost priority. If God chooses to heal us physically, great. If not, we continue to walk under God's power in our lives. Total submission to Him. If we think to ourselves that we cannot do His work because we have this ailment, it's an excuse. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We lean on His arm. We allow Him to work through us in our adversity. It's not about us...and all about God.

Deuteronomy 33:27 - The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...