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Faith That Is Seen
Mark 2:5, 'When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.'
MATTHEW 9: 1-8, MARK 2: 1-12, LUKE 5: 17-26
Faith can be seen. Just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3:8, faith is like the wind. Faith itself is invisible, but saving faith is always accompanied by corresponding actions which can be seen (Jas. 2:17-26).
It was not only the faith of the paralytic that Jesus saw, but also that of his four friends (Mk. 2:3). This demonstrates the effect our intercession in faith can have upon others. Jesus saw their faith. However, although our faith released on behalf of others is powerful, it is not a substitute for their faith. It is simply a help. The person...
Touched By Love
Mark 1:41, 'And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him.... and he was cleansed.'
MATTHEW 8:1-4, MARK 1:40-45, LUKE 5:12-15
Only Mark records this important statement that Jesus was 'moved with compassion' in the healing of this leper. There are three other instances in the gospels when Jesus was moved with compassion which resulted in healing (Mt. 14:14; 20:34; Lk. 7:13; and once in deliverance - Mk.5:19). The difference between seeing a person healed or not healed many times is this all-important ingredient of love.
All three of the Gospel accounts record Jesus touching this leper. This not only illustrates the doctrine of 'laying on of hands', but was probably included because...
WE HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS. IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANY OTHER WAY. IT SAYS THAT IN ROMANS 10:14...
Healing Is God's Will
Matthew 8:2, 'And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.'
MATTHEW 8:1-4
Leprosy was a hated disease and its symptoms are described in detail in Leviticus 13:1-46. This leper believed Jesus could heal him, but doubted His willingness to heal him. Jesus showed him His willingness to heal, and since He is no respecter of persons, He established a precedent for us (Rom. 2:11). This leper did not know God's will concerning healing, but this is not the case with us. The Word of God is the will of God, and it reveals that it is always God's will to heal.
Isaiah 53:5, makes it clear that when Isaiah said 'with his stripes we are healed', he was...
WE SHOULD BE THE WORD
THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS IT IS A "SEED". LUKE 8:11...
A Lifestyle Check
Matthew 7:20, 'Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.'
MATTHEW 7:12-20
The way that you can tell whether a person is genuine or not is by the fruit they produce. This fruit is speaking of lifestyle. Jesus made the point that you don't get bad fruit from a good tree, and you don't get good fruit from a bad tree. Many people say one thing, but their actions speak so loudly that you really can't hear what they are saying. If you are in doubt about whether a person is genuine or not, or whether you should receive from them and follow their teaching, look at the fruit they are producing.
In evaluating ministers and ministries, more attention should be given to the fruit that is being produced. Failure to...
WHAT IS A SHEPHERD?
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU WHAT MY 1828 WEBSTER DICTIONARY SAYS ABOUT A SHEPHERD AND I LOVE THIS DICTIONARY BECAUSE IT USUALLY INCLUDES GOD'S WORD IN ITS DEFINITION.
SHEPHERD
- A man employed in tending, feeding and gaurding sheep in the pasture.
- The pastor of a parish, church or congregation; a minister of the gospel who superintends a church or parish, and gived instruction in spiritual things. God and Christ are in Scripture dinominated Shepherds, as they lead, protect and govern their people, and provide for their wilfare.
NOW LET'S LOOK AT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT A SHEPHERD. JESUS SAYS THAT HE IS A SHEPHERD, BUT NOT JUST ANY SHEPHERD, HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
God Takes Pleasure In Meeting Our Needs
Matthew 7:11, 'If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?'
MATTHEW 7: 9-11
What kind of parent would ever deny their children, the necessities of life? If you have children would you fail to feed them? Or provide for them? Or if they ask you for food would you give them poison instead? Of, course not. This is the point Jesus is making.
God is love (1 Jn. 4:8)! And His love for us is infinitely greater than any loving relationship here on earth. We can apply this truth about God's love for us to any command or example we find in God's Word where His standards for...