Blogs
Hearing God's Voice
John 10:2-3 'But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.'
JOHN 10:1-21
This verse promises all who are God's sheep that they not only can, but that they do, hear His voice. Many born-again people doubt the truth of this statement based on their experience. They don't think they can hear God's voice. However, the Word of God is true - not our experience.
The harmony between what this verse says and what our experiences say is that it is our new born-again spirit that hears God's voice. Although God has spoken and still does speak in an audible voice at times, very few...
Jesus Found Him
John 9:35 'Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?'
It is one thing to seek God; it is quite another thing to have God seek you. Jesus sought this man out when others had forsaken him. The acceptance of Jesus is worth more than everything this world has to offer This is what enables the believer to endure and even leap for joy amidst persecution.
When our sufferings in Christ abound, then the consolation of Christ abounds much more. Notice that this man's parents, who knew the truth, but refused to share it for fear of persecution, did not have Jesus seeking them out (Jn. 9:22). They chose the company of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, which is...
OUR COMMITMENT TO SERVING JESUS
About Those Pharisees
John 9:34 'They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.'
JOHN 9:34
Much of the Pharisees' problem was spiritual pride, as is very evident by this statement. They were so blinded by their arrogance that they couldn't believe anyone who hadn't been through their 'seminary' could teach them anything.
The name 'Pharisees' comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'separate.' This term was applied to this sect because of its extreme devotion to the Mosaic law and commitment to leading a separated life. This was a reaction of the devout Jews who came back to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity, and saw the pagan customs and influences of the...
It's Who You Know
John 9:30 'The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.'
JOHN 9:28-30
The 'acid test' of whether or not someone is of God is by his actions. Jesus' actions were so miraculous and overwhelmingly consistent with God's Word that any reservations about whether or not He was of God should have been set aside. But, as in Mark 7:13, they had exalted their own traditions above God's Word, thereby making the Word of God of no effect in their own lives. Just as in this instance nearly two thousand years ago, theologians today are sometimes the last to accept a move of God if it violates their traditional beliefs. 'The common...
FOR INSTANCE, DID YOU KNOW THAT WHEN JESUS WAS TEACHING WITH HIS DISCIPLES, THEY WERE TEACHING STRICTLY TO THE JEWS? IT WAS PAUL THAT WAS SENT TO PREACH TO THE GENTILES. HE WAS ALSO THE ONE THAT WAS GIVEN THE "GOSPEL" OF JESUS CHRIST, THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION. IT IS INTERESTING TO KNOW THAT WHEN JESUS WAS TALKING ONLY TO HIS DISCIPLES AND TELLING THEM ABOUT HIS DEATH, THEY DIDN'T...
Love Conquers Fear
John 9:27 'He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?'
JOHN 9:6-27
This man showed great courage in confronting these religious leaders. Even Peter later backed down for fear of this same group of men (Lk. 22:54-62). Certainly one thing that gave him this boldness was that he knew what Jesus had done for him. And even beyond the physical healing, he knew that Jesus had healed him because He loved him. It's our security in the Lord's love for us that gives us the strength to face rejection from others. As Proverbs 28:1 puts it, 'the righteous are bold as a lion.' The antidote for fear of men is a large dose of the love of...