LUKE 1:46-56
Mary and Elizabeth were cousins. Elizabeth knew that Mary was engaged but not yet married. Mary was just a teenager, as Elizabeth prophesied about her giving birth with the Messiah. That didn't come out of her mind, she would never have said it because it was illogical.
Elizabeth referred to Jesus as her Lord and Savior, having just been conceived. Many others proclaimed Him Lord at His birth and after His birth.
John the Baptist, who was just six months older at the time, leapt for joy in his mother's womb. It was when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. God considered him a person and filled him with His Spirit.
Elizabeth placed a blessing on Mary for believing what the Lord had told her and assured her it would come to pass. It was encouragement and confirmation to Mary.
Mary and Elizabeth were cousins. Elizabeth knew that Mary was engaged but not yet married. Mary was just a teenager, as Elizabeth prophesied about her giving birth with the Messiah. That didn't come out of her mind, she would never have said it because it was illogical.
Elizabeth referred to Jesus as her Lord and Savior, having just been conceived. Many others proclaimed Him Lord at His birth and after His birth.
John the Baptist, who was just six months older at the time, leapt for joy in his mother's womb. It was when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. God considered him a person and filled him with His Spirit.
Elizabeth placed a blessing on Mary for believing what the Lord had told her and assured her it would come to pass. It was encouragement and confirmation to Mary.
LUKE 1:46-56
Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was in the sixth month of a miraculous pregnancy also. She, no doubt, hoped Elizabeth might understand her condition without the natural help of Joseph. How could she expect anyone to believe her. But Mary felt absolute joy when her cousin confirmed all that had happened before she told her anything.
Mary had already rejoiced in her spirit. She believed Gabriel and experienced the Holy Spirit overshadowing her, now she rejoiced with her soul also.
Sometimes others criticize believers for an outward display of emotion to the Lord. The truth is that rejoicing in the spirit and rejoicing in the soul are two different things. The born-again believer's spirit always have the fruit of joy, but the soul only rejoices when the believer chooses. It is actually insincere not to magnify the Lord with our soul when our spirit is already rejoicing.
Our spirits are always rejoicing and praising God, and we can praise Him with our soul and body whenever we choose to. We can rejoice and magnify Him with our whole being.
Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was in the sixth month of a miraculous pregnancy also. She, no doubt, hoped Elizabeth might understand her condition without the natural help of Joseph. How could she expect anyone to believe her. But Mary felt absolute joy when her cousin confirmed all that had happened before she told her anything.
Mary had already rejoiced in her spirit. She believed Gabriel and experienced the Holy Spirit overshadowing her, now she rejoiced with her soul also.
Sometimes others criticize believers for an outward display of emotion to the Lord. The truth is that rejoicing in the spirit and rejoicing in the soul are two different things. The born-again believer's spirit always have the fruit of joy, but the soul only rejoices when the believer chooses. It is actually insincere not to magnify the Lord with our soul when our spirit is already rejoicing.
Our spirits are always rejoicing and praising God, and we can praise Him with our soul and body whenever we choose to. We can rejoice and magnify Him with our whole being.
LUKE 1:26-38
Everything about Jesus' birth was natural and normal except that a man didn't provide the seed; it came from the Holy Spirit. God's Word is called the incorruptible seed,1 Peter 1:23.
Gabriel took the Word of God that had been spoken through prophecy about the Messiah, bringing it to Mary. Then the Holy Spirit moved over her like He did over the waters of the earth in Genesis 1:2. And the Word was made flesh, John 1:14.
Ever miracle we experience is similar because we must receive God's Words into our hearts and take care of it for a while by meditating on it, before it can come to pass.
Mary is the only person that has ever had a baby that was produced by the Word of God and it took God's supernatural seed to do so.
We must receive and believe God's Word in our heart in order to give birth to our dreams in reality!
Everything about Jesus' birth was natural and normal except that a man didn't provide the seed; it came from the Holy Spirit. God's Word is called the incorruptible seed,1 Peter 1:23.
Gabriel took the Word of God that had been spoken through prophecy about the Messiah, bringing it to Mary. Then the Holy Spirit moved over her like He did over the waters of the earth in Genesis 1:2. And the Word was made flesh, John 1:14.
Ever miracle we experience is similar because we must receive God's Words into our hearts and take care of it for a while by meditating on it, before it can come to pass.
Mary is the only person that has ever had a baby that was produced by the Word of God and it took God's supernatural seed to do so.
We must receive and believe God's Word in our heart in order to give birth to our dreams in reality!
LUKE 1:26-38
The virgin birth is unexplainable except as a miracle. There is no way possible for a virgin to have a baby, but with God all things are possible.
The Bible reveals that there are some things that are impossible: Hebrews 6:18 says that it is impossible for God to lie; it was impossible for satan to keep Jesus in the grave, Acts 2:24; and it is impossible to please God without faith, Hebrews 11:6.
Anything that God has promised in His Word is possible. His Word not only proclaims what He's willing and able to do, but it also carries His power to accomplish it.
The word of the Lord Gabriel brought to Mary had the power to produce the virgin birth. When she believed it, her faith set God's Word into motion.
It doesn't matter how impossible it may look, if we pray according to His Word, then the power it takes to accomplish the answer is contained in it. Mixed with faith, nothing that God has promised is impossible
The virgin birth is unexplainable except as a miracle. There is no way possible for a virgin to have a baby, but with God all things are possible.
The Bible reveals that there are some things that are impossible: Hebrews 6:18 says that it is impossible for God to lie; it was impossible for satan to keep Jesus in the grave, Acts 2:24; and it is impossible to please God without faith, Hebrews 11:6.
Anything that God has promised in His Word is possible. His Word not only proclaims what He's willing and able to do, but it also carries His power to accomplish it.
The word of the Lord Gabriel brought to Mary had the power to produce the virgin birth. When she believed it, her faith set God's Word into motion.
It doesn't matter how impossible it may look, if we pray according to His Word, then the power it takes to accomplish the answer is contained in it. Mixed with faith, nothing that God has promised is impossible
LUKE 1:26-38
Compare Mary's visit by the angel to Zacharias' just six months before.
Gabriel told Zacharias he would have a son by a miraculous birth and he asked how a thing like that could be, since both he and his wife were beyond childbearing age. Zacharias' unbelief angered Gabriel and he struck him dumb until the boy was born, Luke 1:18-20.
Mary asked a similar question, but Gabriel's response was much kinder. Since God is no respecter of persons, Romans 2:11, we assume the heart motivations behind their questions were different.
Zacharias asked in unbelief, a statement of scorn rather than an inquiry. Mary asked to gain information not because she didn't believe what she was being told.
When God tells us something in His Word, by His Spirit or even by a messenger, there is nothing wrong with asking questions if it is with a right heart attitude. If she hadn't asked, she may have assumed He would come through the natural way between Joseph and herself.
We need wisdom that only God can give us, but it must be asked with a right heart.
Compare Mary's visit by the angel to Zacharias' just six months before.
Gabriel told Zacharias he would have a son by a miraculous birth and he asked how a thing like that could be, since both he and his wife were beyond childbearing age. Zacharias' unbelief angered Gabriel and he struck him dumb until the boy was born, Luke 1:18-20.
Mary asked a similar question, but Gabriel's response was much kinder. Since God is no respecter of persons, Romans 2:11, we assume the heart motivations behind their questions were different.
Zacharias asked in unbelief, a statement of scorn rather than an inquiry. Mary asked to gain information not because she didn't believe what she was being told.
When God tells us something in His Word, by His Spirit or even by a messenger, there is nothing wrong with asking questions if it is with a right heart attitude. If she hadn't asked, she may have assumed He would come through the natural way between Joseph and herself.
We need wisdom that only God can give us, but it must be asked with a right heart.
LUKE 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel didn't say anything Mary other than she was to rejoice because she was highly favored of God, the Lord was with her and she was blessed. His praise made her uncomfortable and it was frightening.
We know that God is love (1 John 4:8). That doesn't mean He overlooks sin, but as His children, He forgives us and inspires us not to sin. We don't see ourselves as God see us.
Gabriel praised Mary and in the end she received all God had for her. All believers are blessed and highly favored of the Lord!
The angel Gabriel didn't say anything Mary other than she was to rejoice because she was highly favored of God, the Lord was with her and she was blessed. His praise made her uncomfortable and it was frightening.
We know that God is love (1 John 4:8). That doesn't mean He overlooks sin, but as His children, He forgives us and inspires us not to sin. We don't see ourselves as God see us.
Gabriel praised Mary and in the end she received all God had for her. All believers are blessed and highly favored of the Lord!
LUKE 1:26-38
The virgin birth of Jesus is so difficult to imagine that it has always been one of Christianity's main targets. Skeptics cite the impossibility of such a thing as proof that the Bible can't be true.
The virgin birth of Jesus is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. If He had been the natural product of a man and woman, He would have had a sinful nature. (Romans 5:12) He wouldn't have qualified to take our sin upon Himself on the Cross because He would have had to be the debt of His own sin.
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, (Isaiah 7:14), which means that God would be His Father. This was necessary to give Him sinless blood.
The Messiah also had to be born without sin for God to legally raise Him from the dead. Our faith trusts on the resurrection (Romans 10:9) because the only legal way God could raise Him from the dead was if He Himself was without sin. Once He died for our sins, God was legally bound to resurrect Him (Romans 1:4) because He was sinless.
There can be no compromise on this issue! If Jesus wasn't born of a virgin and the sinless sacrifice for our sins, we are lost and going to hell.
The virgin birth of Jesus is so difficult to imagine that it has always been one of Christianity's main targets. Skeptics cite the impossibility of such a thing as proof that the Bible can't be true.
The virgin birth of Jesus is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith. If He had been the natural product of a man and woman, He would have had a sinful nature. (Romans 5:12) He wouldn't have qualified to take our sin upon Himself on the Cross because He would have had to be the debt of His own sin.
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, (Isaiah 7:14), which means that God would be His Father. This was necessary to give Him sinless blood.
The Messiah also had to be born without sin for God to legally raise Him from the dead. Our faith trusts on the resurrection (Romans 10:9) because the only legal way God could raise Him from the dead was if He Himself was without sin. Once He died for our sins, God was legally bound to resurrect Him (Romans 1:4) because He was sinless.
There can be no compromise on this issue! If Jesus wasn't born of a virgin and the sinless sacrifice for our sins, we are lost and going to hell.
LUKE 1:5-25
Zacharias and Elisabeth were righteous people who prayed for a child for many years. The Lord answered their prayers and sent and angel to announce the good news.
Zacharias couldn't believe it. He was getting the very thing they had been praying for, but he doubted that it was true. He received his miracle anyway. Maybe his wife's faith pulled them through.
We may be praying for the right things and we may be sincere, but would we be shocked if our prayers were to suddenly be answered?
Before the children of Israel were actually delivered from Egypt, they ate the Passover meal by faith. Their bags were packed and ready to go.
We need to anticipate our prayers being answered also. If we can imagine how we would feel or what we would do if the answer to our prayer manifested this very moment, we must begin to think and act that way. It would change our whole perspective on how our day will go.
Zacharias and Elisabeth were righteous people who prayed for a child for many years. The Lord answered their prayers and sent and angel to announce the good news.
Zacharias couldn't believe it. He was getting the very thing they had been praying for, but he doubted that it was true. He received his miracle anyway. Maybe his wife's faith pulled them through.
We may be praying for the right things and we may be sincere, but would we be shocked if our prayers were to suddenly be answered?
Before the children of Israel were actually delivered from Egypt, they ate the Passover meal by faith. Their bags were packed and ready to go.
We need to anticipate our prayers being answered also. If we can imagine how we would feel or what we would do if the answer to our prayer manifested this very moment, we must begin to think and act that way. It would change our whole perspective on how our day will go.
MATTHEW 9:18-20; MARK 5:21-34; LUKE 8:40-48
The multitudes were thronging Jesus. That is, they were pressing, and crowding in on all sides, so it seems strange that He would ask, "Who touched me?" Many people were physically touching Jesus, but this woman touched His power by faith. Many people in the crowd probably needed healing, but this person is the only one mentioned who received. The difference was the touch of faith.
If it was simply Jesus' willingness to heal that determined whether or not the healing took place, then all of the sick in this multitude would have been healed. This instance illustrates that it's not prayer that saves the sick, but rather the prayer of faith that saves the sick (James 5:15).
Healing is governed by law and not by a case by case decision from God based on His feelings toward us.
This woman received her healing by the law of faith before Jesus knew anything about her. Passionate pleas to God will not obtain the miracle we seek. Jesus is touched by our feelings, but it requires faith. It's not because Jesus doesn't know our needs or hear our cries that miracles don't happen, but rather it's because very few know how the law of faith works.
One of the main differences between a God-kind of faith and a natural, human faith, which everyone has, is that human faith believes only what it can see, taste, hear, smell, or feel. God's kind of faith believes in things that cannot be seen. We must believe that we receive our answer "when we pray" - not when we see the thing we've desired. Simply put, faith is our response to God's ability, made complete by our actions.
Trust Him completely, because when we believe, our actions will follow.
MATTHEW 9:18-19
Jesus could have healed this girl by His spoken word, but He did as He was requested to do. This illustrates how the Lord ministers to us according to our faith. Jesus ministered to him at the level where his faith was and didn't rebuke his little faith (James 1:5).
There is a human faith which is limited to believing only what we can perceive through our five senses. But the supernatural, God kind of faith goes beyond what we can see, taste, hear, smell, and feel. God's kind of faith calls those things which be not as though they already were.
We exercise faith almost daily in such things as sitting on a chair and driving a car. But our faith is no better than the object in which it is placed. Hebrews 12:2, tells us that we are to be "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." We must transfer our faith from human self reliance and independence, to reliance upon, adherence to, and trust upon Jesus Christ in all areas of our lives. Faith, in its simplest definition, is to trust, to rely, and to depend upon the resource of another. God's Word declares that the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, can never fail or disappoint us.
Love produces faith, or is what makes faith work. We naturally trust those who we know truly love us. A revelation of God's unconditional love for us will make faith just naturally abound in us. If we are struggling with faith, we have a deficiency in understanding how much God loves us.
Lord, reveal Your love to us today.
MARK 5:18-20
One of the ways God's goodness is revealed is through His mercy. We may describe mercy as "the readiness of God to relieve the misery of fallen creatures." Many times, mercy is called compassion or lovingkindness. It is expressed toward the sinner because of the misery that sin has brought upon him.
God's mercy to the believer is revealed by His taking away the misery of sin's consequences through the New Covenant of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mercy is not something merited or earned, but as the Apostle Paul states, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY He saved us."
Our Heavenly Father is the author, originator, and source of all mercy.
"Mercy is love, reaching out to meet a need without considering the merit of the person who receives the aid" [EDBW].
Even when we were spiritually dead because of our sins, God's forbearance was working on our behalf. He was tolerant, patient and kind towards us. God abounded in excessive good will, compassion, and desire to help us. His disposition was kind, compassionate, and forgiving in His treatment of us. He wanted to alleviate our distress and bring relief from our sins. He did this by giving us life in place of death. It was with Christ that this salvation was secured. By grace, kindness, and favor we are saved. All of this was the result of God's love wherewith He loved us, always seeking the welfare and betterment of us. God likes us.
MATTHEW 8:28-34; MARK 5:1-17; LUKE 8:27-39
The word "worshipped" is taken from the Greek word which means "to prostrate oneself in homage to; do reverence to; adore." The fact that this tormented man ran to Jesus, and not away from Him, indicates that even "demon-possessed" people have a free will and Satan cannot control an individual without his consent.
Many battles have been fought over whether or not a Christian can be demon possessed. The Greek word for "possessed" literally means "to be demonized." The Bible makes no clear distinction between degrees of demon activity (such as oppressed, depressed, possessed, etc.), but simply refers to people as being "demonized." All Christians are fighting against spiritual powers. If we don't put on the whole armor of God, Satan can certainly affect us or even control us.
The best way to administer deliverance is through God's Word. As a person receives the Word, it will set him free and also help guard against this situation when the demon tries to come back in with seven other spirits. In severe cases of being demonized, the individual clearly needs the help of a believer, and that's the reason why Jesus equipped all believers with authority over evil spirits.
Anointed praise and worship will also drive off evil spirits. One thing reserved for God alone is worship, and the devil has always desired that. If he can't be the one to receive worship, then he tries to turn others away from giving true worship to the most High God. Praise and worship to the Lord is such a powerful tool against Satan. He can't stand to see God worshipped. Worship God in spirit and in truth. The Father seeks those who will worship Him this way. He's waiting for us.
MARK 4:35-41
When God created this physical world and all of its inhabitants, He gave mankind authority to rule and subdue His creation. Although God still owned the universe and all that was in it, He gave control of the earth to man.
When man sinned, he began to use this power against God's wishes. God did not ordain all the terrible things that have happened throughout history, and yet He did not take back man's right to dominate the earth. Instead, He became a man and took back that authority to Himself by conquest. After Jesus' resurrection, He said in Matthew 28:18, "...All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth," and then He gave the great commission to His disciples, thereby conferring that authority upon them, also. Jesus becoming flesh was absolutely essential for gaining all power (or authority) in heaven and in earth. Jesus was a "God-man." As said in 1 Timothy 3:16, He was God manifested in the flesh, which is a great mystery.
Jesus came in the power and authority of His Father to point men to the Father God. Jesus existed before He came on this earth in the form of God and was equal with God; yet, He humbled Himself and became a servant while here on earth. He did not come to promote Himself but to give Himself as the way unto the Father.
This is quite different from the way some called "great men" present themselves. The Roman Caesar of Jesus' day proclaimed that he was God and demanded worship. Lesser leaders ruled by exalting themselves over the people they governed. But, Jesus showed us that "whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:26-28).
MATTHEW 12:46-50; 8:23-27;
MARK 3:31-35; 4:35-41; LUKE 8:19-26
Considering the fact that the boat was filled with water, it is amazing that the disciples had to awaken Jesus. This was not a large ship with cabins below deck but rather a small, open boat and Jesus was, no doubt, "soaked to the bone." This shows Jesus' humanity and how tired He must have been. It also shows that Jesus must have been in a very deep sleep. Medical science has discovered that the deeper we sleep, the more rest our bodies get. This is a clue as to how Jesus could maintain the grueling pace He kept, along with an occasional all-night prayer time. He was receiving the maximum benefit from His sleep.
Jesus did not say "Let us go out into the midst of the sea and drown in a storm." He was going to the other side. This shows that the disciples still didn't understand Jesus' authority. They were committed to Him as their Messiah, but they hadn't yet realized that Jesus was Lord even over the physical elements.
Many Christians still do this. They receive the spiritual benefits of salvation but have not reaped the physical benefits of health and prosperity, which are also part of our salvation.
Whichever we focus upon - the storm, or the Lord in the midst of our storm - will determine how we manage the storms we face in life. He is not asleep concerning the things we face in this life, He's right there in us "ship," resting, because He knows we will both get to the "other side." His peace is ours. Believe His Word. Rest in His love.
MATTHEW 12:46-50
We are not just heirs, we are joint-heirs with Jesus. It would be wonderful to inherit any amount of God's glory and power. But, the idea that we share equally share with the one who has inherited everything God is and has is beyond understanding. This is an awesome blessing, but it also places a tremendous responsibility on us.
In the same way in which a check made out to two people cannot be cashed without the signatures of both people, our joint-heirship with Jesus cannot be taken advantage of without His cooperation. Not knowing this, many Christians are just trusting that the Lord will produce the benefits of salvation for them. They are slightly aware that they can do nothing without Him, but don't realize that He will do nothing without us (Ephesians 3:20).
The idea that God will do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, PERIOD, is not true. He has power, but it is the use of His ability combined with the power that works in us. "No power working in us" means no power of God will come through us. The exceeding greatness of His power that is to us-ward who believe is power that is not external, but is internal, within the believer. It is working according to the faith that we exercise in the Him that is living in us. It was this principle that Paul was stating when he declared, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
The way we place our signature on the check is to believe what God promised in His Word and act on it as if it were true. IT IS! Jesus has already signed His name to every promise in the Word. We aren't waiting for Him. He is waiting for us.
MATTHEW 13:44-50
The interpretation of this parable is this: the field is the world, the man buying the treasure is God, the treasure is the true believers in Christ. The price that was paid was the very life of Jesus on the cross. Jesus saw, through His foreknowledge, a number of people who would receive Him as Lord, and "for the joy that was set before him," He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2) and purchased us unto Himself with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He purchased the whole world, but not everyone will receive what He did. Therefore, the Church is hidden (scattered among the world) today.
Father God had the plan of salvation worked out before He even created the world. Most of us would not have created the world and mankind if we had known the heartache and terrible sacrifice this act would cost. But God is not man. In His judgment (which is correct and just) the prize was worth the cost.
God knows in advance those who will accept His offer of salvation. The Scriptures teach that we (believers) were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). That's how infinite God's ability is. We were chosen in Christ before the world began. We are holy and without blame because God sees us through Jesus. It was predetermined that we would be God's children. We have been accepted by God. The Father would no more reject us than He would reject Jesus, because we are accepted by the Father through Him. We are redeemed and forgiven. We are truly blessed!
MARK 4:30-34
The word "kingdom" means "the realm over which a king rules." When applied to God, it could refer to all creation, since "his kingdom ruleth over all" (Psalm 103:19), but the kingdom more often applies to His rule in and through those who are submitted to Him. "The Kingdom of God" more specifically refers to Christ living and ruling in our hearts.
Praying "thy kingdom come" is praying for the expansion and influence of God's rule in the hearts of men everywhere and, eventually, the establishment of His physical Kingdom here on earth at His second coming (Revelation 11:15; 20:4).
Throughout Jesus' earthly ministry, the Jews kept looking for Jesus to establish a physical kingdom here on the earth and deliver them from the oppression of the Romans. Although, during the Millenium, the Kingdom of God will physically rule over the nations of the earth, Jesus' Kingdom is spiritually established by His Word and not by carnal weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation . . .behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21) Paul says we are already in the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13). The Kingdom of God is therefore Christ's "invisible Church," His body. The Kingdom began during His earthly ministry and is still ruling the hearts of men today.
The new birth ushers us into the Kingdom of God which is even greater in wonder and benefits than our finite minds can comprehend. To the degree that we begin to understand how God's Kingdom works and apply it to our lives , we can experience heaven here on earth.
Pray for a release into the physical of what is already present in the spiritual.
MATTHEW 13:24-30
Satan has secretly infiltrated the Church with some of his followers for the purpose of hindering the its influence. This has been a more effective strategy than direct opposition.
These tares that are spoken of are poisonous. Virtually all grains are indistinguishable from tares when they send up the first blade from the ground. By the time the tares become distinguishable, they are so well rooted that, if growing in close to productive grain, uprooting the tares would also mean uprooting the productive grain.
Therefore, verse 30 admonishes us to let both grow together until the harvest. The grains of the tares are long and black in contrast to the wheat, and are easily recognizable at harvest time. Many will profess Christianity, but "by their fruits ye shall know them."
There will be those who are deceived and unaware that they are not born again, who will remain among the Church. Jesus warns us against trying to root them out especially since it is not always possible to discern other people's hearts.
In an effort to destroy these tares, we might offend one of Christ's "little ones" and cause his or her profession of faith to waver.
It is important, though, for our own personal benefit that we be aware that the children of the Wicked One are placed among the true believers. Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without watering it down. False brethren will not endure sound doctrine. They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Stick to the Word!
MARK 4:21-25
Just as a candle or lamp is not to be hid, but rather displayed so that everyone can benefit from its light, so a Christian must let his light so shine before men that they might see his good works and glorify his Father which is in heaven. God has ordained us to go and bring forth fruit (John 15:16). The great commission of the Church is to reach the world.
The early Christians experienced the love of Christ in an intimate and life-transforming way. This motivated them to reach their known world with the Gospel of Christ more than any other generation of Christians has since. They didn't have the benefits of our modern technology, but they did have the benefit of being full of the love of Christ.
Experiencing the love of Christ causes us to be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19) and makes us a witness that the world cannot resist (John 13:35).
Today, much of the emphasis of the Church is placed on techniques of evangelism or spiritual warfare. We motivate people to witness through feelings of guilt or punishment if they don't. Much of our evangelism has become as dead and non-productive as the efforts of the cults whose people knock on doors and argue others into their way of thinking.
The Church today needs a revival of our personal relationship with the Lord. When we can truly say with Paul that the love of Christ constrains us, then we will impact our world for the Lord. We can't give away what we don't possess. We need to personally know the love of Christ in an experiential way before we try to share it with others.
The world is hungry for love, real love.
LUKE 8:5-14
This third type of ground is like a large part of the Body of Christ today. These are people who have received God's Word, committed themselves to it to the degree that they are able to remain faithful in persecution, but because of being occupied with the affairs of this life, the Word sown in their heart is choked and no fruit is produced.
Just as weeds in a garden will steal all of the nutrients and starve the plant, so the pleasures of this life, if we allow them to dominate our thinking, will stop the fruit that the Word would have produced.
Throughout history, the Church has always grown in size and strength during persecution. This is because during persecution we get our priorities straight. We realize our life is in Jesus (John 14:6) and not in things (Luke 12:15), and we focus all of our attention on the Lord.
Prosperity has been far more damaging to the Body of Christ for the exact reason stated here in this verse. God wants to bless His children with things (Psalm 35:27; Matthew 6:33), but a preoccupation with these things will choke God's Word and make it unfruitful. If we would follow God's formula for prosperity found in Matthew 6:19-34, we would have the Word bringing forth fruit and we'd enjoy the physical blessings of this life besides.
Jesus said that no fruit was brought to perfection. This type of person will exhibit some fruit, but it will always be small and far short of what it should be.
We should examine our lifestyle and see if the cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, or pleasures of this life could be choking God's Word.
MARK 4:13-20
The second type of person Jesus describes is one who does receive the Word, even with great joy, but his commitment to the Word is shallow.
We must become rooted and grounded in God's Word. Too much attention on visible growth will cause us to become impatient and not take the time to become firmly established in the truths of God's Word, will always result in fruitlessness.
A seed planted in shallow earth will germinate and grow faster than a seed planted in deep soil. The seed in deep soil will put all of its energy towards the roots first while the seed in shallow soil has no choice but to put its effort into the growth of the plant above the ground. The plant in shallow soil will look like it is far ahead of the other seed for a while, but that will not last. It soon withers and dies, while the seed with roots grows and brings forth fruit.
Afflictions, persecutions, and tribulations are of the devil and are used to stop God's Word from bearing fruit in our lives. They are not good things that God brings our way to improve us. They are of satan. These things are designed to take our attention off of God's Word, stopping the Word from taking root in us. It's like the runner who spends all of his time in the grandstands arguing with the hecklers over the way he's running the race. He may win an argument, but he will lose the race. We must not let anything distract us from meditating on God's Word day and night, for only then will we make our way prosperous and have good success (Joshua 1:8).
By consistently putting God's Word in first place in every area of your life, we will let that Word become so rooted that nothing can get it out.
LUKE 8:4-13
The first type of person Jesus describes is someone who doesn't understand God's Word (Matthew 13:19). Before God's Word can penetrate our heart, we have to understand what it's saying. If the Word isn't understood, then it will be like seed scattered on top of hard-packed ground (the wayside). The birds will eat the seed and there will be no fruit.
Mark 4:15 and Luke 8:12, make it clear that these birds represent satan, and Mark says the devil comes immediately to steal away the Word. Satan did not have direct access to the Word in any of the other heart-types which Jesus described. Satan cannot steal the Word from us if we will hide it in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). This first type of person simply heard the Word but didn't receive it. They never applied it to their life, so lost it.
Luke links belief and salvation with the Word being sown in our hearts in the same way as Romans 10:14-17. If there is no Word, there cannot be any belief or salvation (I Peter 1:23). We must preach the Word - not just morality or social issues.
Luke's use of the word "saved" could include, but is not necessarily limited to, forgiveness of sins. Salvation includes much more than forgiveness of sins. This could describe a person who didn't receive the Word and, therefore, was eternally damned. It could also be describing a Christian who simply doesn't receive the Word in a certain area of their life and therefore doesn't experience the victory that Jesus provided for them.
Are we experiencing His victory in our life?
LUKE 8:4-11
This parable shows the importance of the Word of God. God's Word contains total power, but it has to be planted in our hearts and allowed to germinate before it releases that power.
The seed is God's Word, and the types of ground are the four major categories of men's hearts. The Word was the same in each situation, but there were different results in each case because of the condition of men's hearts - not because of the Word.
The Word doesn't work for everyone because not everyone will allow the Word to work. The variable in this parable is the condition of these hearts. God's Word is always the same. It has the same potential in every heart.
Good ground doesn't just happen; it must be cultivated. This is the reason why only one out of four persons in Jesus' parable brought forth fruit. It takes a lot of time, effort, and diligence to be a fruitful Christian. The Christian life is not like a hundred-yard dash but rather a 26.2 mile marathon. It's quicker and easier to raise weeds than it is to raise tomatoes or corn.
In this parable, it was the Word that produced the fruit. The ground simply gave it a place to grow. If we will simply put God's Word in our hearts, protect it, and give it priority in our lives, the Word will produce fruit of itself.
Satan has deceived many people into thinking that they don't have the talents or abilities to be fruitful Christians, but they are not the ones who bring forth fruit; it's God's Word. When we protect the Word sown in our hearts, it will do the rest.
LUKE 8:11-15
It is through the reading of the Word and the help of the Holy Spirit that we can know Jesus. What a privilege it is to have God's Word in our own language. Six hundred years ago there was no English translation of the whole Bible. Thanks to the efforts of John Wycliffe (1384) and William Tyndale (1523), we are able to read and understand the writings of the apostles ourselves. Men gave their lives to bring us God's Word. What a wonderful privilege!
The piece of armor known as the "sword of the Spirit" is the only piece of armor that we have to cut, wound, and hurt our enemy, the devil. It's not the Bible lying on our coffee table that makes the enemy flee, but it is the Word of God hidden in our heart, activated by the power of the Holy Spirit, and spoken in a particular situation. It's similar to what is spoken when Jesus said in John 6:63, that "...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." The Word by itself doesn't make us free. It is the Word we know and speak that will free us (John 8:32).
Why is the Word so effective? It's because it is the WORD of God. It has authority, because it is the WORDS of God. God's Word supersedes all authority of the church, of reason, of intellect, and even of satan himself.
It is the Holy Spirit that wields the Word as we speak it in faith. Speaking God's Word in faith brings the Holy Spirit into action. In Luke 4, when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days, it was the Word of God, that Jesus used to defeat the enemy in the time He was tempted. Jesus constantly met temptation by quoting God's Word as He repeatedly stated the phrase, "It is written." We as Christian soldiers must avail our self of God's Word by placing it in our heart, so that the Holy Spirit can bring it forth at the appropriate time to give us total victory. It's can be ours!
MATTHEW 13:14-23
The word "waxed" means "to become gradually more intense or to increase" and shows that this condition of the heart is not something we are born with or that strikes us suddenly. It has to be nurtured over a prolonged period of time. This is why we should not violate our conscience, even in small things. Guarding our conscience will keep us sensitive to God and will stop our hearts from becoming hardened. If we will stay faithful to God, even in the small things, then we will be faithful in the more important things also.
Keeping the commandments doesn't affect God's willingness to love us, but it affects our awareness of how much He loves us. If we live in sin, our conscience becomes defiled and it condemns us. It's not God condemning us, but our conscience. God still loves us. John was speaking of this same thing in 1 John 3:20, when he said, "For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." As far as this earthly life goes, our awareness of God's love is everything. We must keep Satan from blinding us to the love of God.
The most effective way of doing this is to give no place to the devil through sin. John went on to say in 1 John 3:21, "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." Holiness is essential in keeping our hearts assured of the love of God (1 John 3:19). It's the nature of a Christian to walk in the light and not in darkness. When we are rightly informed of who we are and what we have in Christ, holiness just naturally flows out of us. That's our nature.
MATTHEW 13:1-13
The Greek word translated "mystery", means "something that could not be known by men except by divine revelation, but that, though once hidden, has now been revealed in Christ and is to be proclaimed so that all who have ears may hear it."
God's truths are hidden FOR His children, not from them. God has given an open invitation to everyone to receive the spiritual rebirth which entitles them to the revelation of these mysteries of the Kingdom. But as in 1 Corinthians 2:14, a natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned. Whoever rejects Jesus rejects the source of all wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3), reserving the deep things of God for those who receive Jesus and draw on His wisdom through the Holy Spirit. This also safeguards the laws of God, upon which all the universe is founded, from being appropriated and misused by Satan's kingdom.
In context, Jesus is speaking about those who have revelation knowledge of the mysteries of God. They will receive even more revelation and will walk in the abundant life that Jesus provided (John 10:10; 2 Peter 1:3). Those who do not receive God's revelation will lose whatever truth they do have and will go farther and farther into deception. God reveals His truths to us in stages and not all at once (Isaiah 28:9-10). As we walk in the revelation of what the Lord has already shown us, He will reveal more of His truths to us.
The truths of God are mysterious only to those who do not soften their heart by seeking God with their whole heart. As Jeremiah 29:13 says, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
MARK 4:1-12
The Greek word used here for "doctrine" means "teaching" and used a total of 30 times in the New Testament. The four gospels refer to Jesus teaching 43 times and preaching 19 times, and six verses refer to Him preaching and teaching in the same verse. This would indicate that Jesus spent twice as much time teaching as He did preaching. Jesus' teaching is the basic to making disciples and a stumbling block to the religious.
Why is it that a person who is seeking so hard to please God can be rejected, while a person who has not sought God at all can come into a righteous relationship with Him? This is an important question and its answer is one of the most profound doctrines in scripture. The answer is faith and its object.
The Jews were zealous for the things of God, but their faith was in themselves. They were trusting that they could earn God's favor by their acts of righteousness. On the other hand, the Gentiles had no holiness to trust in. So, when they heard the Gospel message that Jesus paid our debt for us, they eagerly accepted His "gift" of salvation, while the religious Jews couldn't abandon their trust in themselves for salvation.
The same problem exists today. Millions of church people are trying to live holy lives, but they do not have a true faith in Jesus as their Savior. If they were to stand before God and He was to ask them what they had done to deserve salvation, they would immediately start recounting all their acts of holiness such as church attendance, giving receipts, etc. Regardless of how good our actions are compared to others, they always come short of the perfect standard of God. The only response to this kind of question that would grant us entrance to heaven is to say, "my only claim to salvation is faith in Jesus as my Savior."
He is all we need!
MATTHEW 12:43-45
Most often, verses 43-45 are used to teach about demon possession and deliverance from evil spirits. Jesus made it clear that getting rid of an unclean spirit is only a part of deliverance. You must also fill the place that was previously occupied by the demon spirit with the presence and power of God as protection. If a person is cleansed from an evil spirit but left "empty," the spirit will return with even more spirits and the individual will be much worse off. Simply being empty of the devil, but not full of God, is a very dangerous and short-lived condition. True deliverance is not only getting freed, but also staying free.
In context, these verses refer to Jesus' rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees and His statement about the men of Nineveh and the queen of the south condemning them at the judgment. One of the laws of God concerning accountability is being dealt with here. As stated in Luke 12:48, "...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." The people of Jesus' day who rejected His message will be held more accountable at the judgment than the men of Nineveh or the Queen of Sheba, because Jesus' witness and person was so much greater than either Jonah or Solomon.
Just as a man who receives miraculous deliverance from an evil spirit becomes more accountable and will end up in even worse condition if he doesn't walk in that accountability, the people of Jesus' generation were accountable far more than any other generation had ever been.
A person would be better off to keep just one evil spirit than to be set free, not fill himself with God, and wind up with eight demonic spirits, seven of which were more wicked than the first. The scribes and Pharisees would have been better off to have never had Jesus bring the kingdom of God unto them than to reject such an offer. He has given us much, what will we do with it?
MATTHEW 12:34-37
God created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in the earth by His words (Hebrews 11:3). The whole creation was made by, and responds to, words. Our words, when spoken in faith, release either life or death (Proverbs 18:21) and will affect people, things, and circumstances. We can release the power that is in faith by our words.
Every word counts. There is no such things as an "idle" word which will not work for us or against us. Our words can be our most powerful weapon against the devil, or they can become a snare of the devil (Proverbs 6:2). Words filled with faith can move mountains.
The faith that made Jesus marvel was faith in spoken words (Matthew 8:8, 10). We are to believe in the power of our words. If we begin to speak words in faith that line up with God's Word, then we will have the positive results that follow. But if we continue to speak words of doubt, we will eventually believe them and have the negative things that these words produce. Death or life are in the power of every word we speak.
Faith is released by speaking words. Jesus encouraged us to speak to mountains or to whatever our problem might be. Most people speak to God about their problem, but few follow Jesus' instructions and speak directly to the "mountain." God has put certain things under our authority and we must exercise it. When a problem stands in our way, we must speak to the problem and command it to get out of our way in the name of Jesus. Speak God's Words. His Words will produce life.
MATTHEW 12:32-45
Our spirit is definitely a part of our heart, but as seen in 1 Peter 3:4, it is only a part. Sin, iniquity, unbelief, etc., come from the heart but not the born-again spirit. Hebrews 4:12 suggests that spirit and soul are both part of the heart; the Bible admonishes us to believe with all our heart (Acts 8:37), have singleness of heart (Colossians 3:22), and tell us our hearts can have two minds or ways of thinking (James 4:8).
Even Christians struggle with things like pride and foolishness which Jesus said came out of our heart. It's certain that our born again spirit is not the source of these sins. The heart covers more than our spirit.
The English word "soul" comes from the Greek word translated "heart, life, mind, and soul." The mind is the principle and leading part of the soul, followed by the will and emotions. We could also describe the soul as being the hidden part of all existing beings or what most people would call the personality. The soul is the center of the feelings and emotions, appetites and desires, as well as sense perception and consciousness. The soul may also speak of the complete person - his total being or self, a person, and the hidden man or inward man. The soul and the body do not get born again. It is the spirit of man that becomes renewed at salvation. So, although every believer receives the same miraculous spiritual rebirth, the visible results of that inward change will vary from person to person according to how much he renews his mind. The term "heart" can include all of the inner man - spirit, soul, or any portion of it.
The peace of God will keep our heart at rest in Christ Jesus if we let Him.
LUKE 12:10; MATTHEW 12:24-31; MARK 3:22-30
The word "blaspheme" means "to speak evil of; defame; or revile." Jesus is saying that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is attributing the working of the Holy Spirit to the devil.
Many people in the Bible did this, including Saul, who became the Apostle Paul. In 1 Timothy 1:13, Paul said he received mercy concerning his blaspnemy because he had done it "ignorantly in unbelief." The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that Jesus warns about must be the willful reviling of the Holy Spirit with knowledge of what is being done.
Hebrews 6:4-6, is where qualifications are placed on those who can fall away from grace. This passage indicates that only a mature Christian can commit such a thing. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; rash statements spoken against the Holy Spirit in ignorance or unbelief by those who don't really know what they are doing can be forgiven.
From our human perspective, no clear line can be drawn as to when someone becomes accountable for blasphemies and has committed this unpardonable sin. We can be sure that God knows the hearts of all men and that He will judge righteously concerning this. God's Word does show us that when anyone becomes a "reprobate," they lose all conviction from God and can care less what they think or say (Romans 1:28).
Anyone who is convicted and repentant over having possibly blasphemed the Holy Spirit has not yet reached the place where it is unpardonable or they wouldn't care.
Keep a tender heart and be sensitive to Him. Listen to His voice speak through His Word.
MATTHEW 11:20-30
Yokes were made of wood with two hollowed out sections on the bottom portion that rested on the necks of oxen, which used to plow or to draw a cart. Figuratively, a yoke symbolized servitude or submission. Jesus is admonishing us to submit ourselves to Him, for true rest comes from serving Him - not ourselves.
A new ox was often trained for plowing or drawing a cart by yoking him with an experienced ox. The yoke kept the young ox from "doing his own thing" and he soon learned obedience. So are we to commit ourselves to being yoked to Jesus. "It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). We have to "bear the yoke in our youth" (Lamentations 3:27) if we want to become mature Christians.
The comparison ends at this point. Unlike the, sometimes, harsh treatment oxen are given to bring them into subjection, Jesus is "meek and lowly in heart," and wins us by love. Jesus pulls more than His "share" of the load; so that our burden is light.
The most loving father in the world cannot compare with the love our Heavenly Father has for us. But, many times we find it easier to believe in the willingness of a father or mother or mate to help us than in the willingness of God to use His power on our behalf.
Relatively few people really doubt God's ability, but rather, doubt of His willingness to use His ability on our behalf, that causes most of us to do without. Jesus assures us that God's love, and His willingness to demonstrate that love, is far greater than we can ever experience in any human relationship.
Not only does He want our love, but wants us to let Him love us.
MATTHEW 11:2-19, LUKE 7:18-35
Much of the Old Testament deals with future events and the coming Messiah and His Kingdom. Not only was John the Baptist the voice of God to his generation, he was also the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. He didn't just prophesy about the coming Messiah and the New Covenant, as the Old Testament prophets did, but he actually prepared the way for the hearts of the people to receive Jesus by bearing witness of Him.
Even though John the Baptist was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, he was not a born again in Christ. When Jesus was raised from the dead, He enabled us to be "born of the Spirit" and become children of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus.
We were abled to become "partakers of the divine nature" and full-fledged sons of God. John operated under the Old Covenant when none of these promises were yet in effect. Jesus established a new order, "the Kingdom of God," in which these promises became effective. God saw John and all of the Old Testament prophets through the law.
The new birth is necessary for entering the Kingdom of God. Our spiritual man became dead or separated from God through sin. Just as we didn't accomplish our physical birth, we cannot produce spiritual rebirth. We are totally unable to save ourselves; therefore, we need a Savior. We simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and we are saved.
Salvation is not a reformation, but rather a regeneration, a new birth, a new creation, that can only be accomplished by a creative miracle of the Holy Spirit. Because of the new birth, He sees us through Jesus. Celebrate Life!
LUKE 7:11-17
This example of the widow's son being raised from the dead is often used to demonstrate that Jesus produced many miracles without any faith from those receiving the miracle, but only by His faith. The prayer in Mark 6:5-6 shows that Jesus could not do many mighty works in His home town because of the people's unbelief. Many healings and miracles reveal that faith must be present to receive from God (Mark 11:23-24; James 1:5-7).
The mother of the boy responded to Jesus in faith because she allowed Jesus to interrupt the funeral procession and telling her to stop weeping has to be viewed as a positive response. These people were no different from mourners at any other funeral. If she had rebelled at Jesus' intrusion, the crowd would have sided with her because of pity, but none of these reactions are recorded. Jesus was in command.
It cannot be proven that a dead person has no choice in what happens. We may take it for granted, but the bible does't say that. A person doesn't cease to exist at death; he simply leaves his body. The person is still very much alive. Many people who have been raised from the dead have mentioned that they had a choice in whether or not to enter their bodies again. Although this principle cannot be verified by scripture, it cannot be ruled out by scripture either.
In any case, to be consistent with the rest of the word of God, some degree of faith had to be present in either the person receiving the miracle, or an intercessor, in this case, the mother.
Lets reach out in faith and receive our miracle now!
Lets reach out in faith and receive our miracle now!
MATTHEW 8:5-13, LUKE 7:1-10
There were only two things that caused Jesus to marvel. They were (1) the Centurion's faith and (2) the Jews' unbelief (Mark 6:6). A faith that made Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, marvel is worth checking out.
This centurion believed that the spoken word of Jesus was enough to create his miracle. He didn't need Jesus to come to his house. He had faith in Jesus' word. We can see that the person who simply believes the written Word of God is operating in a much higher form of faith than those who need proof. We can compare this centurion's faith with the "little" faith of Thomas in John 20:24-29!
Thomas refused to believe what He couldn't see or feel. Our five senses were given to us by God and are necessary to help us function in this life. But if we do not renew our minds to acknowledge the limits of the five senses, they will keep us from believing. Faith can perceive things that the senses cannot (Hebrews 11:1).
The type of faith that Thomas operated in was a human or natural faith that was based on what he could see. Jesus said there was a greater blessing; that greater blessing comes from using a supernatural, God-kind of faith that is based only on God's Word.
Jesus and God's Word are one (John 1:1, 14). Believing God's Word is not just putting your trust in some printed words on the pages of a book we call the Bible. It is a relationship with a person, the person behind the words. Get to know Him through His Word.
LUKE 6:17-49
Verse 38 reveals one of God's laws that will work in the spiritual realm, as well as the physical world. Just as we "give" seed into the ground to receive back multiple seeds, so it is with everything we give. Whether it's money, possessions, an emotion such as love or hate, prayers, or our time, we will reap a harvest of whatever we give. We reap exactly what we sow and proportional to the same measure that we give (Galatians 6:7-8).
"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully" (2 Corinthians 9:6). This law works on positive or negative things that we sow.
This is an unchangeable law of God, it can be overcome by a greater law in much the same way that we can escape the law of gravity by using the greater laws of thrust and lift. The negative things we have given don't have to come back to us if we apply the greater law of forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Likewise, the good things we have sown can be voided if we don't continue in doing good (Galatians 6:9).
God is our source, but God uses people. If we pray for finances, God is not going to make counterfeit currency and put it into your wallet. He will use people to get the money to you. So, it is not always as simple as praying for money and receiving it the next minute. We need to believe the Lord hears and answers our prayers, and then pray for the people He's going to use to deliver the answer. This could mean any number of people such as our employer and the people who buy our goods. Ultimately God is the source, trust Him.
MATTHEW 12:15-21, MARK 3:7-19,
LUKE 6:12-16
LUKE 6:12-16
One of the ways in which God's goodness is revealed is in mercy. Many times, mercy is called compassion or lovingkindness. It is expressed toward the sinner because of the misery that sin has brought upon him.
The "reed" referred to in this passage is probably speaking of the reeds that grew in the marshy areas in the land of Palestine. These were very fragile and could be easily bruised or broken. The term "smoking flax" refers to a linen wick which was made from flax and burned brightly when floating on oil in an open lamp. When the oil was depleted, the flax would just smoke until the oil was replenished.
The meaning of these illustrations is that Jesus is ministering in mercy to those who have been bruised or broken (Luke 4:18), and to those who have lost their oil (spirit). He has come to renew their previous experience (Matthew 5:3; Acts 1:5; 2:4). The Jews were used to the judgment of the law but Jesus came to minister grace and truth (John 1:17), even to the Gentiles (Matthew 12:18, 21).
God's mercy to the believer is seen by His act of taking away the misery of sin through the New Covenant. Salvation is given to us because of God's mercy. It's not something we've earned. As the Apostle Paul states, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY He saved us".
God is for us, not against us. We can cast all care upon Him, because His mercy endureth forever!
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