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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 exactly what they got.
Even though the believer is redeemed and delivered from many afflictions that were a result of sin and its power, we are still called to partake in what...
ARE YOU BEARING FRUIT? THE FRUIT I AM TALKING ABOUT ARE NEW CONVERTS. ARE YOU PLANTING SEEDS? IF WE ARE NOT PLANTING SEEDS, HOW CAN WE EXPECT A HARVEST? JESUS TALKS ABOUT THIS IN JOHN 15:4-5 "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
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 Babylonians everywhere. Not only their religion but their identity as a nation was being threatened. The Pharisees were patriots as well as religious zealots, who in the beginning served a very needed function in the Jewish...
I KNOW I AM WRITING A LOT ON SALVATION RIGHT NOW BUT IT IS THE MOST...
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 people heard him gladly" (Mk. 12:37). "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth" (1 Cor. 8:1).
In spiritual matters, a person can educate himself in theology to the...
YESTERDAY I WAS TALKING ABOUT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE SAVED BUT THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THOSE WHO KNOW THEY ARE NOT SAVED. I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD MANY TIMES THAT YOU NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK? IF YOU HAVE FELT GOD CALLING, OR DRAWING, YOU, IT IS TIME YOU MADE A DECISION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. I KNOW YOU HAVE HEARD THAT BEFORE, TOO, BUT IT IS TRUE AND YOU KNOW IT. I AM SURE A LOT OF CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL OF THIS BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU IT IN A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY.
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 God.
One of the greatest truths of the Bible and one of the hardest to comprehend, is that we are the objects of God's love. God didn't just pity us or feel some sense of moral...
WHEN YOU ARE IN CHURCH AND THE PASTOR GIVES THE INVITATION, DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD GO DOWN TO THE ALTER? MY QUESTION IS, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO DO THAT? NOW IF YOU ARE FEELING DRAWN TO GO DOWN TO THE ALTER, MAYBE YOU ARE NOT SAVED AND IT IS GOD DRAWING YOU TO HIM. LOOK WHAT JESUS SAYS IN JOHN 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." I WOULD SUGGEST REALLY PRAYING ABOUT THIS AND GET IT SETTLED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THIS IS NOTHING TO PLAY AROUND WITH.
I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT SAY THEY FEEL THE NEED TO ASK FORGIVENESS WHEN THEY SIN, AND THEY DO, TO KEEP SATAN FROM HAVING ACCESS INTO THEIR LIVES. HOWEVER, ALL OUR SINS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORGIVEN, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, AND WHEN WE DO SIN, JESUS TELLS US TO ASK FORGIVENESS FOR THAT...
The disciples asked a question that still puzzles many people today. Why is a child born with a physical defect? Is it a judgment of God upon the parents for some sin, or is it possibly God's judgment upon the child for sins that God knows he will commit?
Jesus Himself had previously linked sickness with sin. In this instance, however, Jesus said this blindness was not caused by this man's or his parents' sins.
This has led many people to interpret the rest of this verse as saying that God made this man blind just so that He could heal him and be glorified thereby. From this thinking, many doctrinal teachings have risen about how sickness and other problems in our lives are actually blessings from God, intended to bring glory to God and...
DO YOU KNOW HOW BLESSED YOU ARE? THIS MORNING I WAS THINKING JUST HOW BLESSED I AM AND I AM GOING TO TURN IT INTO A PRAISE REPORT. IT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE IT AT FIRST BUT JUST KEEP READING.