Self-discipline starts with small steps. It is a great journey! From what does one draw the inspiration for self-discipline? Rules and regulations, of course! This is the sole purpose of His Law. A greater personal and community self-discipline would arise, if we follow His Law where the bounds of local, state, and federal secular laws permit. And, what is one of the Fruits of His Spirit? Temperance. How might we gain a full infilling of His Spirit, if we do not first follow His Law where able. A few of the simplest Laws which one might follow are the dietary Laws. The first was given in Genesis before the fall of mankind:
[Gen 1:11-12, 29 KJV] 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, [and] herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed [was] in itself, after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good. ... 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which [is] upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which [is] the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Yet, man fell and lost some of the beauty that the Lord prepared for him in this life's existence. And, although men frown on animal sacrifice for sin and transgressions, Dave Thomas, Ronald McDonald, Ruth Chris, and Marie Callender are responsible for countless sacrifices each day, albeit they are not members of the levitical priesthood. Plus, many of the dishes which they prepare "miss the mark" based upon His Law.
First,
[Exo 23:19 KJV] 19 The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
So, a mixture of beef and milk is considered a "sin". A Hebrew gentleman once taught that this is a humane code of compassion. Cooking an animal, if one must, should not be done in the food that nourished him when he was an infant at his mother's teat. Doing so, is maniacal and cruel. It is deem diabolical for the faithful, who profess that they are beacons of His Love, Mercy, and Compassion.
From a medical stand-point, meats mixed with meats, such as beef, are high in "bad" cholesterol and lipids (fat). Such can cause obesity, plaque in arteries and veins, plus heart disease.
Second,
[Lev 11:7 KJV] 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he [is] unclean to you.
[Deu 14:8 KJV] 8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it [is] unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.
With swine, from the standpoint of His Law and medicine, it is simply a case of cleanliness. Pigs, by the Lord's Design, deal with uncleanliness in our environment, They ingest what we should not in the natural cycle of world's food chain, recycling from the Earth what our bodies cannot. Swine cannot become diabetic. Their pancreases are highly robust and resilient. In physiological terms, their islets of Langerhans are plenteous. These are the insulin producing organelles in the body of a mammal.
The Lord did not gift us with this "strength". So, he does not place the burden of consuming the harsh food matter that they do upon us. From he who has much, much is require.
Furthermore, swine often carry parasites. Most notably the trichina worm often is resident in their flesh.
[Pro 15:17 KJV] 17 Better [is] a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Yet, the topic is temperance. Much like a halt man, recovery starts with performing the simplest of motor skills that stimulate the numerous pathways within the in the central nervous system. The movement of the small finger or toe in a limb with paralysis can be a step toward running, jumping, climbing, and throwing in the future days.
If one can simply control what he places in his gullet, he can have better control of what flows from his heart and mouth. We must be careful when me make decisions upon what we ingest, for it becomes part of us. Choose Life.
The writer is in many ways an unfit vessel for providing this message. After over a decade of chaste celibacy as an adult male, he fell. Escaping the grips of pornography and fornication, addictions which starting during foolish, yet promising teen years. These troubles resurfaced.
And, the second fall, although he learnt much from the first, is worse in certain ways. After promising the Lord, the he would always serve Him, follow His Teachings, and abstain from any type of fornication, he did not adhere.
Job was forgiven for the foolishness of his youth and count as history's most righteous man in the Word. At mid-life, he was wise enough that he would rise daily, enter prayer and devotion, and offer sacrifice for his children, in case they had committed an offense. Yet, at this age his wisdom, faith, and devotion, derivatives of his love for his El-Shaddai, keep his from the behaviors in which he partook during the foolishness of youth. He was grown. He was a responsible adult.
And our adherence and devotion is a question of love for Him. Jesus was faithful until death. He does not ask that much from us. And, the spirit of pornography and fornication is one of steeped hatred. God is Love.
[Rom 8:7 KJV] 7 Because the carnal (fleshly) mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
When one truly has the Love of God in his heart, fornication and pornography will not enter his mind. Yet, many American adults believe that these are simply part of a normal adult's life. Yet, normal and acceptable are not necessarily the same. If a medical specialist says that one is of "normal" weight based upon the American "super-size me" population, is his weight acceptable? He might be somewhat obese, based upon what his most "healthy and ideal" weight should be.
So, temperance starts with small steps. This is how this writer first gained control of his unhealthy behaviors in his late twenties. And while praying for an infilling of the Holy Ghost and evidence of the fruits in his life, he started observing His Law where he could. This started with controlling what he ate. And, it progressed until he attain the level of chaste Christian celibacy. And, it is a great life!
His Mercy is found in His Law which some call harsh. Yet, it is a matter of how one applies such.
[1Sa 15:22 KJV] 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
And, Samuel's life is the beauty of the kept promise that one barren woman, named Hannah, kept for her Lord.
It has been found from life's experience that if, one observes dietary Law, he is deemed a follower of a non-Christian doctrine. And, many Americans insist that one partakes in certain foods. They say, "Oh, you will not die...". If one does not, he is often shunned. This is partially from ignorance and shown from the lessons in His Word. Wolves exist among the sheep, and they all call themselves the "faithful" few. Yet, when one say that he has a medical condition and cannot eat certain foods, because a physician says so. This is allowed, seeing that it is not an issue of faith in El-Olam, but faith and trust in a human physician.
And, on the phrase, "Oh, you will not die." Does it remind you of the classic one from history told eve, "Surely, you will not die." Adam and Eve did not dies; yet, they lost the beautiful life that they had. The writer has seen a beauty of life that few know with over a decade of chaste Christian celibacy. It was not easy, but was less of a challenge than the Cross. Plus, is anything truly worth having all that easy? A beauty world requires work.
And, did a graduate of John Hopkins say "Let there be light and set the world in motion.". Did the chief physician of the Mayo Clinic, suffer the ignominious Crucifixion, strive three days in Hell, snatch the key of condemnation, death, and eternal damnation from the claws of satan, for you and I, so we might enjoy the remission of sin and a life more abundant. Will the Dean of Harvard Medical School come and establish a new Jerusalem, bringing eternal peace. Nay, Yet, the work of Jehovah Rapha is restorative and eternal, if we follow His Word. Yes, all of it.
Might we set ourselves free from human idols, those who ingest an elephant yet can only muster sufficient strength that they can pass a gnat.
[Mat 23:24 KJV] 24 [Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Might The Future Bring You Greater Peace Through the Acceptance of the Temperance Gained Through the Law in His Word.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Convinced, Convicted, and Consoled by His Law
Thesis: The Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and Omniscience of
His Law, of this solitary fact, I am convinced, convicted, and consoled.
Clearly proving the carnal misdeeds of this life, His Law
simultaneously makes provision for its remedy, thereby I am consoled. Convinced
of the Law’s purity and efficaciousness and aware of man’s fallibility, Christ’s
teaching in Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV):
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the
law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I
say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no
wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall
break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be
called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach
[them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say
unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of
the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
and the entire first epistle of Saint John, the disciple
whom Christ loved, simultaneously condemns and gives one comfort, in knowing that
He whom was crucified for our sins says the Law is not mine enemy.
Uncleanliness was considered despicable among the Hebrew.
None left a more isolated and shameful life than the “unclean”, especially the
leper. “Uncleanliness” was seen as contagious and often associated with
personal sin. And, if we are given a “Carte Blanche” on sin as some teach, why
did Christ give the following command upon cleansing a leper?
[Mat 8:4 KJV] 4 And Jesus saith unto him, see thou tell no
man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses
commanded, for a testimony unto them.
What the leper must do upon cleansing was outlined in
Leviticus 14. This is one of the most extensive cleansing acts of the Old
Testament. Yet, what shall and must we do in an era when Paul’s teaching
concerning circumcision is taken out of context and it is taught that “salvation
is by faith alone”. Did not Christ own brother in James teach:
[Jas 2:14-26 KJV] 14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren,
though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say
unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give
them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may
say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works,
and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one
God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou
know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our
father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made
perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God,
and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of
God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? 26 For as the
body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
In this and the writings of Paul in Romans, one must have
faith and works without boasting.
So, should not one ask the Lord what is required for his cleansing,
and then repay sevenfold?
[Pro 6:30-31 KJV] 30 [Men] do not despise a thief, if he
steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But [if] he be found, he shall
restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
Many men’s sins these days are greater than the simple theft
of bread. Infidelity only is one…
[Pro 6:32-35 KJV] 32 [But] whoso committeth adultery with a
woman lacketh understanding: he [that] doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A
wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34
For jealousy [is] the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of
vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content,
though thou givest many gifts.
Yet, the above
teaching would be quite unpopular in modern churched in America and likely many
other parts of the world.
One must be very careful when blindly accepting the mellifluous
message that Salvation is free. Truly, we did not hang on that cross and, in
humility and all grace, give many a sermon and teaching while dealing with the
pain of a scourging. Yet, someone did. Does not He deserve ample respect. If
you fall, the true shame exists in not paying a meet penance that any contrite
heart gladly would.
[Psa 51:17 KJV] 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken
spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
In this we find reconciliation with the Lord.
[Luk 7:37-38 KJV] 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which
was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house,
brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind [him]
weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the
hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.
[For, she had been forgiven much. So, tirelessly working for
him she joyously would.]
If the Law did not reveal one’s flaws, we would erroneously
believe in a “self-ordained” perfection. We are only perfected when measured by
His Word. Read 1 John carefully and thoroughly. Ruminate over for a few days.
It has some interesting scriptures in it.
[1Jo 2:1-6 KJV] 1 My little children, these things write I
unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins:
and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. 3 And hereby
we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I
know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in
him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected:
hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought
himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
[1Jo 2:15-17 KJV] 15 Love not the world, neither the things
[that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is
not in him. 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.
[1Jo 3:3-9 KJV] 3 And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth
also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he
was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth
in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is
righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil;
for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born
of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin,
because he is born of God.
[1Jo 4:1-3 KJV] 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try
the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out
into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit
that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and
this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world.
[1Jo 4:7-14 KJV] 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for
love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He
that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the
love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved
God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our
sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No
man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and
his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in
us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify
that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
[1Jo 3:1 KJV] 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world
knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Do you know Him? Are you His friend? It is said that friends
often are alike. Isaiah’s Messianic prophesy described Him as thus,
[Isa 53:3 KJV] 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man
of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from
him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
If you are looking for the easy button in life, it is concomitantly
found and not found in Christianity.
Yes, His yoke is light and easy as He states in Matthew
11:30 (KJV); yet, this world and those in it, many who profess the faith, are
cruel, aggressive, violent, and unforgiving. As such, if you do what Jesus would
do, you likely will end up like Him. WWJD?
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
When You Are Hit | Hit Back
The battle in the author's life is soley with satan, and those whom he influences. If only fist, napalm, hydrogen bombs, bouncing bettys, and and a quadrillion metric tons of munitions and flak where enough that it could hurt a spiritual entity. Yet, one cannot punch the air, and we often only harm each other, when we retaliate for insults, assaults, and other offenses.
In his life, the author has had his share of struggles. He was nurtured in a predominantly light-blue collar suburban subdivision which was populated primarily by European Americans. This was a challenge, in the wake of the Civil Rights movement which occurred during the 1950-1960 time frame. It was a relatively turbulent time that was won with a mixture of peaceful demonstration and protest plus a few who would pick up arms as a last result.
Yet, if one kills all of his enemies on this day; new one might arise on the morrow, and those might be old friends. It is satan who comes so he might kill, steal, and destroy.
Yet, we have help in a Comforter, known as the Holy Spirit, the Father, and His Son. Those of other faiths might express their faith in the Creator and His many varied different personas. One culture might call Him a God of Prosperity, Spiritual and Material, or a God the Protector, who shield their family domicile. Every culture has had an experience with Him, and many have recorded this in a written Word; He loves all of His children the same without a respect of persons. When one is just and righteous, he simply is and blest. When one is wicked and evil, he shall suffer the consequences of his actions.
The best way of battling satan is with the Lord through prayer; as Paul states:
[Eph 6:11-18 KJV] 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
[2Co 10:4-5 KJV] 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
During this lifetime, the author under the oppression of dishonest medical care providers, who sought a disruption of his life's flow and a form of forced medical-prostitution, the author has respond edwith carnal instincts, while in his twenties. This resulted in a couple of felonious acts. The mandate time was meted out and, and although not meet, the author met the requirements set forth before him.
Yet, through the use of the Word, regular study and devotion, plus enjoying Gospel music for helping him keep his focus, he has gained ample power and temperance.
It was the admonishment of a Hebrew classmate, who challenge the author on Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV):
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
It was also Christ who told a leper that he healed this and this alone in Matthew 8:4 (KJV):
[Mat 8:2-4 KJV] 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
And, although He:
[Mat 12:20 KJV] 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
He could be quite forceful:
[Mat 21:12-13 KJV] 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Finally, as was told the Hebrew children:
[2Ch 20:15 KJV] 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's.
And, as Paul, the former persecutor of Christians stated:
[Phl 4:4-9 KJV] 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
This, a mixture of law-abiding behavior and regular prayer, will grant you the temperance spoken of in:
[Gal 5:22-23 KJV] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And, finally, the author a fight on his hands. It seems that each time he really speaks up for the King; he falls in troubling ways. So, let him prepare for battle. Might ye be blest!
May the Lord of Host Bless Ye and Keep Ye, as in Year's Past, Now, and Forever. Amen
In his life, the author has had his share of struggles. He was nurtured in a predominantly light-blue collar suburban subdivision which was populated primarily by European Americans. This was a challenge, in the wake of the Civil Rights movement which occurred during the 1950-1960 time frame. It was a relatively turbulent time that was won with a mixture of peaceful demonstration and protest plus a few who would pick up arms as a last result.
Yet, if one kills all of his enemies on this day; new one might arise on the morrow, and those might be old friends. It is satan who comes so he might kill, steal, and destroy.
Yet, we have help in a Comforter, known as the Holy Spirit, the Father, and His Son. Those of other faiths might express their faith in the Creator and His many varied different personas. One culture might call Him a God of Prosperity, Spiritual and Material, or a God the Protector, who shield their family domicile. Every culture has had an experience with Him, and many have recorded this in a written Word; He loves all of His children the same without a respect of persons. When one is just and righteous, he simply is and blest. When one is wicked and evil, he shall suffer the consequences of his actions.
The best way of battling satan is with the Lord through prayer; as Paul states:
[Eph 6:11-18 KJV] 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
[2Co 10:4-5 KJV] 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
During this lifetime, the author under the oppression of dishonest medical care providers, who sought a disruption of his life's flow and a form of forced medical-prostitution, the author has respond edwith carnal instincts, while in his twenties. This resulted in a couple of felonious acts. The mandate time was meted out and, and although not meet, the author met the requirements set forth before him.
Yet, through the use of the Word, regular study and devotion, plus enjoying Gospel music for helping him keep his focus, he has gained ample power and temperance.
It was the admonishment of a Hebrew classmate, who challenge the author on Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV):
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
It was also Christ who told a leper that he healed this and this alone in Matthew 8:4 (KJV):
[Mat 8:2-4 KJV] 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
And, although He:
[Mat 12:20 KJV] 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
He could be quite forceful:
[Mat 21:12-13 KJV] 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Finally, as was told the Hebrew children:
[2Ch 20:15 KJV] 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's.
And, as Paul, the former persecutor of Christians stated:
[Phl 4:4-9 KJV] 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
This, a mixture of law-abiding behavior and regular prayer, will grant you the temperance spoken of in:
[Gal 5:22-23 KJV] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And, finally, the author a fight on his hands. It seems that each time he really speaks up for the King; he falls in troubling ways. So, let him prepare for battle. Might ye be blest!
May the Lord of Host Bless Ye and Keep Ye, as in Year's Past, Now, and Forever. Amen
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Labels and Your God-Given "Gifts" and "Abilities"
First, it should be said that if the author of this passage intentionally misrepresents any part his history, his current life's state, or the Creator's Word, may the Lord deal with him justly.
Labels are powerful. We should be careful what we call our fellowman. A label can become a destiny...
[Rom 4:16-17 KJV] 16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
The Lord called Abraham the father of many nations, and that he became.
He said, "Let there be light" and it shone.
Abraham's was a favorable destiny. All are not such.
Ever met a parent who always called their child "stupid" and then wondered why his child was constantly making the "worst" mistakes.
This principle works in both directions. Consider this modern gospel song by Donald Lawrence and another one called Speak Life.
Yet, the author should warn you that using this principle can hit you like a boomerang, if you try tearing someone down with "words". Constructive criticism has a place, yet berating and belittlement does not.
The author is in the process of writing a remarkable autobiography, one that describes unbelievable triumphs and equally implausible lows for a young man accepted as part of Stanford class of 1992.
Yet, as he retraces the facts surrounding three decades of life's experiences, the most detrimental event was a medical misdiagnosis and negative social label given in the Fall of 1988.
This one medical label, driven more by socioeconomic factors than medical necessity, has played a major role in the serious mishaps which occurred in the author's life during October of 1993 and March of 1999. The author has some liability for these events but the bulk of it rest with the physicians which he saw from 1988 through 1995. These men and women basically branded him with this label.
In all honesty, the author is far from perfect, struggling with a pornography addiction much of his adult life. Yet, the bulk of his behaviors are well-above the norm. One Christian author wrote a book on this topic called, Every Man's Battle. The author of this weblog only saw about a decade and a half free of it, during his thirties and early forties. But, sadly, it was his "Christian" brothers who could not tolerate his liberty that drove him in the direction of sin again.
Some feel that liberty in Christ is the knowledge that one can do whatever he chooses and know that he is forgiven. This is a perversion of scripture. And, the author has seen plenty of perversion in his life. He know it when he sees it.
For one, Christ said,
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And, although,
[Mat 12:20 KJV] 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
this is well-known:
[Mat 21:12-13 KJV] 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
In other words, he pulled a Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Steven Segal style move, kicking tail and taking names.
He is Just and does not play games. He is a terrible (terrifying) God uprooting mountains and casting them in the sea. This is what frightens the author most when he considers his treatment by some others and the mistreatment that he has doled out. He cannot bear thinking of what the outcome might be.
If the author can impart anything, do not let a label hindering you from reaching your potential as a God-fearing believer.
May the Lord Bless You and Your Endeavors as You Meet Challenge with His Successes
Labels are powerful. We should be careful what we call our fellowman. A label can become a destiny...
[Rom 4:16-17 KJV] 16 Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
The Lord called Abraham the father of many nations, and that he became.
He said, "Let there be light" and it shone.
Abraham's was a favorable destiny. All are not such.
Ever met a parent who always called their child "stupid" and then wondered why his child was constantly making the "worst" mistakes.
This principle works in both directions. Consider this modern gospel song by Donald Lawrence and another one called Speak Life.
Yet, the author should warn you that using this principle can hit you like a boomerang, if you try tearing someone down with "words". Constructive criticism has a place, yet berating and belittlement does not.
The author is in the process of writing a remarkable autobiography, one that describes unbelievable triumphs and equally implausible lows for a young man accepted as part of Stanford class of 1992.
Yet, as he retraces the facts surrounding three decades of life's experiences, the most detrimental event was a medical misdiagnosis and negative social label given in the Fall of 1988.
This one medical label, driven more by socioeconomic factors than medical necessity, has played a major role in the serious mishaps which occurred in the author's life during October of 1993 and March of 1999. The author has some liability for these events but the bulk of it rest with the physicians which he saw from 1988 through 1995. These men and women basically branded him with this label.
In all honesty, the author is far from perfect, struggling with a pornography addiction much of his adult life. Yet, the bulk of his behaviors are well-above the norm. One Christian author wrote a book on this topic called, Every Man's Battle. The author of this weblog only saw about a decade and a half free of it, during his thirties and early forties. But, sadly, it was his "Christian" brothers who could not tolerate his liberty that drove him in the direction of sin again.
Some feel that liberty in Christ is the knowledge that one can do whatever he chooses and know that he is forgiven. This is a perversion of scripture. And, the author has seen plenty of perversion in his life. He know it when he sees it.
For one, Christ said,
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And, although,
[Mat 12:20 KJV] 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
this is well-known:
[Mat 21:12-13 KJV] 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
In other words, he pulled a Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Steven Segal style move, kicking tail and taking names.
He is Just and does not play games. He is a terrible (terrifying) God uprooting mountains and casting them in the sea. This is what frightens the author most when he considers his treatment by some others and the mistreatment that he has doled out. He cannot bear thinking of what the outcome might be.
If the author can impart anything, do not let a label hindering you from reaching your potential as a God-fearing believer.
May the Lord Bless You and Your Endeavors as You Meet Challenge with His Successes
Thursday, August 15, 2019
The Nature of Some Miraculous Healings
A couple of amazing miracles occur in the first half of Matthew Chapter 8:
[Mat 8:1-13 KJV] 1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this [man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it]. 10 When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Notice in the first miracle that occurred, verse 1-4, Christ healed a leper. Yet, he told him that he should not tell anyone but offer the priest the gift that Moses commanded. This requirement of the Law for the healing of leprosy can be found in Leviticus 14.
[Lev 14:1-57 KJV] 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, [if] the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive [and] clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird [that was] killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest that maketh [him] clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 12 And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD: 13 And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering [is] the priest's, [so is] the trespass offering: it [is] most holy: 14 And the priest shall take [some] of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 15 And the priest shall take [some] of the log of oil, and pour [it] into the palm of his own left hand: 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that [is] in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD: 17 And of the rest of the oil that [is] in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering: 18 And the remnant of the oil that [is] in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD. 19 And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering: 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 And if he [be] poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb [for] a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil; 22 And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23 And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD: 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take [some] of the blood of the trespass offering, and put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand: 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger [some] of the oil that [is] in his left hand seven times before the LORD: 28 And the priest shall put of the oil that [is] in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering: 29 And the rest of the oil that [is] in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get; 31 [Even] such as he is able to get, the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD. 32 This [is] the law [of him] in whom [is] the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get [that which pertaineth] to his cleansing. 33 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me [there is] as it were a plague in the house: 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go [into it] to see the plague, that all that [is] in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house: 37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, [if] the plague [be] in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight [are] lower than the wall; 38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days: 39 And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the walls of the house; 40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague [is], and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city: 41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place: 42 And they shall take other stones, and put [them] in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house. 43 And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered; 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the house, it [is] a fretting leprosy in the house: it [is] unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry [them] forth out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. 47 And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 And if the priest shall come in, and look [upon it], and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: 51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: 53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. 54 This [is] the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall, 55 And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house, 56 And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot: 57 To teach when [it is] unclean, and when [it is] clean: this [is] the law of leprosy.
And, Christ talked of the importance of the Law in Matthew 5:17-20.
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Why was this man's healing different from the man in the Gadarenes?
[Mar 5:1-20 KJV] 1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had [his] dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 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 [man] tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, [thou] unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 And they that saw [it] told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and [also] concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 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. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all [men] did marvel.
Leprosy and mental illness are both very undesirable maladies with a negative stigma that result in social isolation and rejection.
The most likely explanation would be that the leper had a Hebrew heritage and would be well-aware of this requirement for his healing. So, this was required of him. Whereas the demon-possessed man from the Gadarenes was likely a gentile and not raised in this tradition. Although, based upon his response in verse 18 this man would have likely done anything which the Lord required. And, as stated in Samuel, the Lord values obedience over sacrifice.
[1Sa 15:22 KJV] 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
And, his sacrifice of speaking of his healing among a community who knew of his past problems would require more of him than the lengthy list of sacrifices that he must make based upon Leviticus 14. This man was likely still an outcast for man years after his miraculous healing.
Why? In general everyone wants a miracle in his own life, but truly do not believe that it actually will happen. For most, prayers are wishful thinking and not truly "things hoped for". Most of us are fully "double-minded".
[Heb 11:1 KJV] 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[Jas 1:2-8 KJV] 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
So, in short, the Lord was requirement more than a sacrifice of lambs and turtledoves for this man who was mentally ill as we might classify such a malady in the modern era.
Our friend the leper had another similar challenge. His past of carrying a well-known and potentially infectious malady loomed over his head. Both lepers and the demon-possessed were seen as a danger in the community. In fact, in the Old Testament, a leper must announce his condition so no man would dare touch him and possibly become infected.
[Lev 13:45-46 KJV] 45 And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be].
So, when the Lord told the leper that he told no man of his healing yet offer the Lord the sacrifice command by Moses, He was letting him start a new life without carrying the weight of his past malady and the stigma associated with it. This set him free so he could lead a new life.
The man from the Gadarenes would always carry his shackles for the rest of his life as a sign that the Lord set him free. Notice that he would carry them and not wear them.
Both of these men would best glorify the Lord and build His Kingdom as He saw fit, if they were obedient.
Both of these situations required faith.
It is difficult dealing with those who will flaunt our past problems in front of us regularly when we have overcome. It seems that they simply are dreaming of the day in which we enter that same old pattern of behavior and commit that same old sin. When we are set free, it should give them hope, since they know that their liberation is just around the corner. Yet, it seems that it only makes them feel inadequate and imperfect. This was the burden that the man from the Gadarenes likely dealt with for the rest of his days.
The man with leprosy simply could not share his good news. Which is somewhat heart-breaking. He could not tell his loved ones about how a man named Jesus healed him. All, he could say, "I have been healed. I cannot tell you how it happened!" Which is not a lie.
Yet, the one of the greatest examples of faith that Christ said he found while walking this earth in the flesh is in Matthew 4:5-13, in the first passage above.
The centurion simply trusted that if the Lord simply say so, simply decide that something shall be, it will be. This implied that He had supernatural power in the spiritual realm, commanding unclean spirits at a distance.
And, whether your malady is as serious as HIV, cancer, or another serious, life-threatening illness or you simply are struggling with a mild infection or common cold, let the Lord Our Physician handle your situation. He might heal you in ways that you simply do not expect.
May You Be Blest and Set Free From What Ails You!
[Mat 8:1-13 KJV] 1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this [man], Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth [it]. 10 When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Notice in the first miracle that occurred, verse 1-4, Christ healed a leper. Yet, he told him that he should not tell anyone but offer the priest the gift that Moses commanded. This requirement of the Law for the healing of leprosy can be found in Leviticus 14.
[Lev 14:1-57 KJV] 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, [if] the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive [and] clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird [that was] killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest that maketh [him] clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 12 And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD: 13 And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering [is] the priest's, [so is] the trespass offering: it [is] most holy: 14 And the priest shall take [some] of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 15 And the priest shall take [some] of the log of oil, and pour [it] into the palm of his own left hand: 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that [is] in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD: 17 And of the rest of the oil that [is] in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering: 18 And the remnant of the oil that [is] in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD. 19 And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering: 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 And if he [be] poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb [for] a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil; 22 And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering. 23 And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD: 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take [some] of the blood of the trespass offering, and put [it] upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot: 26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand: 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger [some] of the oil that [is] in his left hand seven times before the LORD: 28 And the priest shall put of the oil that [is] in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering: 29 And the rest of the oil that [is] in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get; 31 [Even] such as he is able to get, the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD. 32 This [is] the law [of him] in whom [is] the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get [that which pertaineth] to his cleansing. 33 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me [there is] as it were a plague in the house: 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go [into it] to see the plague, that all that [is] in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house: 37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, [if] the plague [be] in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight [are] lower than the wall; 38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days: 39 And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the walls of the house; 40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague [is], and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city: 41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place: 42 And they shall take other stones, and put [them] in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house. 43 And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered; 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, [if] the plague be spread in the house, it [is] a fretting leprosy in the house: it [is] unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry [them] forth out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even. 47 And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 And if the priest shall come in, and look [upon it], and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: 51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times: 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet: 53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. 54 This [is] the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall, 55 And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house, 56 And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot: 57 To teach when [it is] unclean, and when [it is] clean: this [is] the law of leprosy.
And, Christ talked of the importance of the Law in Matthew 5:17-20.
[Mat 5:17-20 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Why was this man's healing different from the man in the Gadarenes?
[Mar 5:1-20 KJV] 1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had [his] dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 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 [man] tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, [thou] unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What [is] thy name? And he answered, saying, My name [is] Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 And they that saw [it] told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and [also] concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 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. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all [men] did marvel.
Leprosy and mental illness are both very undesirable maladies with a negative stigma that result in social isolation and rejection.
The most likely explanation would be that the leper had a Hebrew heritage and would be well-aware of this requirement for his healing. So, this was required of him. Whereas the demon-possessed man from the Gadarenes was likely a gentile and not raised in this tradition. Although, based upon his response in verse 18 this man would have likely done anything which the Lord required. And, as stated in Samuel, the Lord values obedience over sacrifice.
[1Sa 15:22 KJV] 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.
And, his sacrifice of speaking of his healing among a community who knew of his past problems would require more of him than the lengthy list of sacrifices that he must make based upon Leviticus 14. This man was likely still an outcast for man years after his miraculous healing.
Why? In general everyone wants a miracle in his own life, but truly do not believe that it actually will happen. For most, prayers are wishful thinking and not truly "things hoped for". Most of us are fully "double-minded".
[Heb 11:1 KJV] 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[Jas 1:2-8 KJV] 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
So, in short, the Lord was requirement more than a sacrifice of lambs and turtledoves for this man who was mentally ill as we might classify such a malady in the modern era.
Our friend the leper had another similar challenge. His past of carrying a well-known and potentially infectious malady loomed over his head. Both lepers and the demon-possessed were seen as a danger in the community. In fact, in the Old Testament, a leper must announce his condition so no man would dare touch him and possibly become infected.
[Lev 13:45-46 KJV] 45 And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be].
So, when the Lord told the leper that he told no man of his healing yet offer the Lord the sacrifice command by Moses, He was letting him start a new life without carrying the weight of his past malady and the stigma associated with it. This set him free so he could lead a new life.
The man from the Gadarenes would always carry his shackles for the rest of his life as a sign that the Lord set him free. Notice that he would carry them and not wear them.
Both of these men would best glorify the Lord and build His Kingdom as He saw fit, if they were obedient.
Both of these situations required faith.
It is difficult dealing with those who will flaunt our past problems in front of us regularly when we have overcome. It seems that they simply are dreaming of the day in which we enter that same old pattern of behavior and commit that same old sin. When we are set free, it should give them hope, since they know that their liberation is just around the corner. Yet, it seems that it only makes them feel inadequate and imperfect. This was the burden that the man from the Gadarenes likely dealt with for the rest of his days.
The man with leprosy simply could not share his good news. Which is somewhat heart-breaking. He could not tell his loved ones about how a man named Jesus healed him. All, he could say, "I have been healed. I cannot tell you how it happened!" Which is not a lie.
Yet, the one of the greatest examples of faith that Christ said he found while walking this earth in the flesh is in Matthew 4:5-13, in the first passage above.
The centurion simply trusted that if the Lord simply say so, simply decide that something shall be, it will be. This implied that He had supernatural power in the spiritual realm, commanding unclean spirits at a distance.
And, whether your malady is as serious as HIV, cancer, or another serious, life-threatening illness or you simply are struggling with a mild infection or common cold, let the Lord Our Physician handle your situation. He might heal you in ways that you simply do not expect.
May You Be Blest and Set Free From What Ails You!
Sunday, January 27, 2019
That Who-Do That You Do So Well....
May Your Greatest Blessing Be Ahead of You...Labels are very powerful. Who we label ourselves as, or let others label us as, has a great bearing on what we do, our actions. Although one must be honest with himself and his shortcomings, he must not become comfortable with his dysfunction. If one says that he is an alcoholic and fixes in his mind that this situation will never change, he will behave in "alcoholic ways" more so than he who says "that he currently suffers with the challenges and unhealthy behaviors of alcoholism, yet this must not always be, and he is on a path whose destination is recovery, remission, and freedom."
Never give up! Most, if not all, adults have various challenges with dysfunctional behaviors, some more so than others. Those who are free of any "negative behaviors" are often seen as an oddity, or those who "do not know what life is about." Sobriety from any sinful dysfunction is not easy. Yet, if Christ stated that we should be perfect as the Father in Heaven is perfect, then such must be possible.
When satan whispers in your ear, "Have another drink, you drunkard!", and you yield, the weight of guilt, the feelings of powerlessness, and the shame only places a weight on your shoulders that lowers your self-esteem. The result of accepting the "who" satan says you are, is more "do" consistent with the stereotypes associated with the "who" label. This reinforces the "who" which only brings more "do". The long-term end of this cycle is only self-destruction.
Many believers at sometime or another suffer this spiritual amnesia and forget "who" they are in Christ. When we remember who we are in the Lord, we do as he teaches [ Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV) ] whenever possible. And, praise the Lord that the "jots and tittles" shall for be intact until all is fulfilled. Theses "jots ans tittles" help us "do" the "life-walk" of children of God well. Knowing "who" we are and "Whose" we are, will help us "do" the walk of recovery. It will help us shed negative behaviors and adopt positive ones. It will free us from willful sin as [ Hebrews 10:26 (KJV) ] admonishes us against. Christ's sacrifice was not so we might "sin without consequence"; it was so we might eventually "free" ourselves from unhealthy behaviors often reinforced by "guilt and shame". If one only stops at "accepting forgiveness" without striving for the day when he will no longer engage in an "offensive" sinful acts, he has halted short of receiving the true beauty and gift of the Lord's cross-experience, the remission of sin.
We have all fallen at times. Some of us continue sinning willfully claiming that this is why Christ died, often feeling powerless over our behaviors. We feel so spiritually impotent that we do not strive for better behaviors. Yet, we simply should stop our willful misbehavior because the Lord and His Commandments are worthy of the respect. The Lord shall not be mocked, nor will His Crucifixion and Resurrection be a target of our mockery without "negative" consequences.
Do your "Who-Do" well.
Who are you...a citizen in His Kingdom.
What do you Do...live the Kingdom Life.
May Your Upcoming Life's Seasons Be Blest.
Never give up! Most, if not all, adults have various challenges with dysfunctional behaviors, some more so than others. Those who are free of any "negative behaviors" are often seen as an oddity, or those who "do not know what life is about." Sobriety from any sinful dysfunction is not easy. Yet, if Christ stated that we should be perfect as the Father in Heaven is perfect, then such must be possible.
When satan whispers in your ear, "Have another drink, you drunkard!", and you yield, the weight of guilt, the feelings of powerlessness, and the shame only places a weight on your shoulders that lowers your self-esteem. The result of accepting the "who" satan says you are, is more "do" consistent with the stereotypes associated with the "who" label. This reinforces the "who" which only brings more "do". The long-term end of this cycle is only self-destruction.
Many believers at sometime or another suffer this spiritual amnesia and forget "who" they are in Christ. When we remember who we are in the Lord, we do as he teaches [ Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV) ] whenever possible. And, praise the Lord that the "jots and tittles" shall for be intact until all is fulfilled. Theses "jots ans tittles" help us "do" the "life-walk" of children of God well. Knowing "who" we are and "Whose" we are, will help us "do" the walk of recovery. It will help us shed negative behaviors and adopt positive ones. It will free us from willful sin as [ Hebrews 10:26 (KJV) ] admonishes us against. Christ's sacrifice was not so we might "sin without consequence"; it was so we might eventually "free" ourselves from unhealthy behaviors often reinforced by "guilt and shame". If one only stops at "accepting forgiveness" without striving for the day when he will no longer engage in an "offensive" sinful acts, he has halted short of receiving the true beauty and gift of the Lord's cross-experience, the remission of sin.
We have all fallen at times. Some of us continue sinning willfully claiming that this is why Christ died, often feeling powerless over our behaviors. We feel so spiritually impotent that we do not strive for better behaviors. Yet, we simply should stop our willful misbehavior because the Lord and His Commandments are worthy of the respect. The Lord shall not be mocked, nor will His Crucifixion and Resurrection be a target of our mockery without "negative" consequences.
Do your "Who-Do" well.
Who are you...a citizen in His Kingdom.
What do you Do...live the Kingdom Life.
May Your Upcoming Life's Seasons Be Blest.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
This Morning - Matthew 5:17-20 (KJV)
Those of a kindred heart, may you be blest this morning. Life has been busy and time for writing has been limited. Yet, upon checking this account this morning, it became apparent that someone is reading these notes. Hopefully, they help and not hinder one's faith. My heart has been set on Matthew 5:17-20 for the past few years. It seems that we could all use more self-discipline and many preachers and teachers of Christianity gloss over these verses in Christ's Sermon on the Mount. Yet, they immediately follow the "Light of the world" and "City on a Hill" passage. How can we truly be a Light in this dark world. Following the admonitions in Matthew 5:17-20 is the best route. As Christ said, "Obedience is better than sacrifice." Many your days and weeks be blest.
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