Shrewd as snakes
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
“Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.
On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 10:16-22
Here is something directed to the disciples at the time that can be directly used by followers of Christ today.
When we go out to present the word of God to unbelievers we are to be careful know our surroundings be wise to what is happening. At the same time we are to be as innocent as doves.
The Message of the Gospel of Christ is one of peace. If we present it in the right way no one will be able to truthfully accuse us of doing wrong.
All we should be doing when we present the word of God is saying this is what we believe. This is how you get to heaven. That simple.
Paul speaking in Athens used this technique very effectively. He was invited by the stoics and others philosophers to speak to them. He simply presented Christ in a polite way to them and left it up to them as to whether they believed or not.
As a result some did believe others did not but still others wanted to hear more.
This is the way it should be with us.
Jesus also notes that no matter what we say some will object to what we are saying and bring us before the courts. Some of us will be put to death. It sadly is the way of the world.
But we are told to stand our ground that God will tell us what to say as we stand before the magistrate.
We are told to keep the faith until the very end.
Question to Christians reading this. Is your life modelled after what Jesus is telling his disciples to be like here in Matthew ten?
Think about it.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
Wednesday, 19 March 2014
The Apostles Sent Out
The Apostles sent out
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts;
take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Matthew 10:1-15.
Someone asked me once can Christians today do all that was in the Bible. Drive out evil spirits, heal the sick.
My answer is yes. If God is the same yesterday today and forever then he must allow his followers to do the same in every generation.
Some point to this scripture Matthew 10:1-8 to say its proof we can do these things. They are in my opinion wrong.
Matthew 10:1-8 is Jesus talking specifically to his disciples. He is sending them out for the first time and giving them the “authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Jesus makes clear the parameters of the disciples ministry for this first time out. They can’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans. Only to the “lost sheep of Israel”
The Gospel was first to be preached to the Jews then the rest of the world. At this point the disciples were to go to the Jewish world first.
At a later time they would go to the gentiles.
He makes it clear they are to go out in faith trusting God for their needs and if people are deserving they are to let their peace rest on that place if not they are to sake the dust off their feet when they leave the town.
Noting that it will be “more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” if they reject the message of the disciples.
Today we I believe can do everything the disciples did and I believe we need to act as they did.
They had one job and that was to spread the gospel message to anyone who would listen. They were to open a dialogue between themselves and the people of Israel and point them to heaven.
As a Christian do you have an open dialogue between yourself and the none Christians around you?
Think about it.
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts;
take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.
“Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.”
Matthew 10:1-15.
Someone asked me once can Christians today do all that was in the Bible. Drive out evil spirits, heal the sick.
My answer is yes. If God is the same yesterday today and forever then he must allow his followers to do the same in every generation.
Some point to this scripture Matthew 10:1-8 to say its proof we can do these things. They are in my opinion wrong.
Matthew 10:1-8 is Jesus talking specifically to his disciples. He is sending them out for the first time and giving them the “authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
Jesus makes clear the parameters of the disciples ministry for this first time out. They can’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans. Only to the “lost sheep of Israel”
The Gospel was first to be preached to the Jews then the rest of the world. At this point the disciples were to go to the Jewish world first.
At a later time they would go to the gentiles.
He makes it clear they are to go out in faith trusting God for their needs and if people are deserving they are to let their peace rest on that place if not they are to sake the dust off their feet when they leave the town.
Noting that it will be “more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” if they reject the message of the disciples.
Today we I believe can do everything the disciples did and I believe we need to act as they did.
They had one job and that was to spread the gospel message to anyone who would listen. They were to open a dialogue between themselves and the people of Israel and point them to heaven.
As a Christian do you have an open dialogue between yourself and the none Christians around you?
Think about it.
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
the Labourers are few
The Labourers are few.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-38.
Where are you when it comes to working for Christ? Here Jesus points out a simple fact. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
The facts even today are that approximately only 10% of all those who go to church actually do work around the church. The rest just fill the pews.
In the city were I live we seem to have a church on every corner. As a result people tend to “church hop”.
People move from church to church looking to have a “feel good moment”. When they enter church.
People want to have that up lifting experiences in church. Many don’t like it when a sermon hits home.
When a sermon convicts the individual of their sin or something their lacking in.
Many when they fail to get that Sunday high move to another church congregation in the hopes of getting the fix there.
Many people in church have a lot of things going on outside of Church. They’re involved in everything from sports, to ballet, to working. Their commitment to the work of God comes last on their list.
You only have to look at statistics within the church to see that things in the church are not that much different to the society outside.
We as Christians need to put Christ and His work first in our lives. We need to be working as much as we can for the kingdom of God. And we need to “ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Think about it.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Matthew 9:35-38.
Where are you when it comes to working for Christ? Here Jesus points out a simple fact. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
The facts even today are that approximately only 10% of all those who go to church actually do work around the church. The rest just fill the pews.
In the city were I live we seem to have a church on every corner. As a result people tend to “church hop”.
People move from church to church looking to have a “feel good moment”. When they enter church.
People want to have that up lifting experiences in church. Many don’t like it when a sermon hits home.
When a sermon convicts the individual of their sin or something their lacking in.
Many when they fail to get that Sunday high move to another church congregation in the hopes of getting the fix there.
Many people in church have a lot of things going on outside of Church. They’re involved in everything from sports, to ballet, to working. Their commitment to the work of God comes last on their list.
You only have to look at statistics within the church to see that things in the church are not that much different to the society outside.
We as Christians need to put Christ and His work first in our lives. We need to be working as much as we can for the kingdom of God. And we need to “ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Think about it.
Monday, 17 March 2014
Who do you think Jesus is?
Who is Jesus?
“While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.
And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Matthew 9:32-34
Throughout the ages Jesus has been seen as many things. Here the Pharisees say he is the prince of demons.
They had an axe to grind with Jesus . They seen him as a threat to their authority. They used anything they could against him.
Here their calling him the prince of demons doesn’t make sense. Why would the prince of demons drive out demons from a man? Isn’t it counter productive to his cause?
Jesus drove out the demons to prove that he was the Son of God that he had the power over the demons. That, that power came from God.
Over the years people have seen Jesus as everything from as the Pharisees did, a demon, to a prophet, to Messiah, to a good man, to a great moral teacher.
I like to quote C.S. Lewis when he wrote,
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The choice is yours.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Think about it.
“While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus.
And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”
But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Matthew 9:32-34
Throughout the ages Jesus has been seen as many things. Here the Pharisees say he is the prince of demons.
They had an axe to grind with Jesus . They seen him as a threat to their authority. They used anything they could against him.
Here their calling him the prince of demons doesn’t make sense. Why would the prince of demons drive out demons from a man? Isn’t it counter productive to his cause?
Jesus drove out the demons to prove that he was the Son of God that he had the power over the demons. That, that power came from God.
Over the years people have seen Jesus as everything from as the Pharisees did, a demon, to a prophet, to Messiah, to a good man, to a great moral teacher.
I like to quote C.S. Lewis when he wrote,
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The choice is yours.
Who do you think Jesus is?
Think about it.
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Who is Jesus
“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied.
Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”;
and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.”
Matthew 9:27-31.
Here Jesus heals two blind men who had the faith to believe he could heal them. It was their faith that healed them. They went to Jesus in faith expecting to be healed and he rewarded their faith.
He then told them not to tell anyone.
However a momentous thing had happened to them and they told it seems anyone who would listen to them.
Jesus here more than likely didn’t want to be strictly known as a faith healer. His purpose in life was to bring people out of their sin. The reconcile them to God. The miracles as great as they were, were only a small part of his ministry.
They showed that he was from God. But he I believe didn’t want to be known strictly for those miracles.
When we look at Jesus today we need to see him not as a miracle worker, not as a good moral teacher or simply a good man.
We need to see him as the one and Only Son of God. Our Lord and Savior.
How do you see Jesus.
Think about it.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Of Faith
Of Faith
“While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
News of this spread through all that region.”
Matthew 9:18-26.
Throughout the gospels we have stories of faith in Jesus. Here are two good examples.
A ruler comes to Jesus and has faith enough to believe that Jesus can raise his dead daughter.
Proof that Jesus had people who believed in him not just in the lower and middle class but in the ruling more educated classes.
This man asked Jesus to come to his home where there were people hired to play instruments as part of the mourning process for the dead.
They laughed at Jesus when he said she was only asleep. They obviously knew she was dead. Her death had probably been pronounced by someone.
Yet here Jesus touches here and she comes to life.
Prior to this while he was on his way a woman who had an issue of blood an incident noted in Mark five and Luke eight had the faith to believe that if she simply touched the hem of his cloak she would be healed.
She touched it and Jesus turned to her and said, “your faith has healed you.”
It must be noted that it was the faith of the people involved here that healed them.
Faith is the key to being a Christian. The writer of Hebrews noting,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Question, Where is your faith?
Think about it.
“While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.
When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,
he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
News of this spread through all that region.”
Matthew 9:18-26.
Throughout the gospels we have stories of faith in Jesus. Here are two good examples.
A ruler comes to Jesus and has faith enough to believe that Jesus can raise his dead daughter.
Proof that Jesus had people who believed in him not just in the lower and middle class but in the ruling more educated classes.
This man asked Jesus to come to his home where there were people hired to play instruments as part of the mourning process for the dead.
They laughed at Jesus when he said she was only asleep. They obviously knew she was dead. Her death had probably been pronounced by someone.
Yet here Jesus touches here and she comes to life.
Prior to this while he was on his way a woman who had an issue of blood an incident noted in Mark five and Luke eight had the faith to believe that if she simply touched the hem of his cloak she would be healed.
She touched it and Jesus turned to her and said, “your faith has healed you.”
It must be noted that it was the faith of the people involved here that healed them.
Faith is the key to being a Christian. The writer of Hebrews noting,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Question, Where is your faith?
Think about it.
Friday, 14 March 2014
New Wine
New wine
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14-17.
Here’s a quick explanation of this passage based on several commentaries I’ve read.
Basically here Jesus is comparing himself to the bride groom and he makes it clear that the guests of the bride groom, his disciples, do not fast while the bride groom is with them. They rejoice.
He goes on to note that “Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined.”
He’s comparing his ministry to new wine.
In the time of Jesus wine was kept in goat skins. Old skins were already stretched to the maximum putting grape juice, new wine into them would expand as the grape juice expanded and would cause the old skin to rupture spilling the wine.
Jesus is saying his ministry is a new ministry that can no longer be contained in the structure of Judaism.
His ministry is for the whole world. Not just Israel.
Up until this point in time while there were converts to Judaism, Judaism itself was not a religion that evangelized.
Now Jesus was changing all of that by taking the belief in the one true God to the whole world.
This is why Jesus came to take the salvation message. The Love of God to all the nations of the world.
Think about it.
“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.
Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wine skins, and both are preserved.”
Matthew 9:14-17.
Here’s a quick explanation of this passage based on several commentaries I’ve read.
Basically here Jesus is comparing himself to the bride groom and he makes it clear that the guests of the bride groom, his disciples, do not fast while the bride groom is with them. They rejoice.
He goes on to note that “Neither do men pour new wine into old wine skins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wine skins will be ruined.”
He’s comparing his ministry to new wine.
In the time of Jesus wine was kept in goat skins. Old skins were already stretched to the maximum putting grape juice, new wine into them would expand as the grape juice expanded and would cause the old skin to rupture spilling the wine.
Jesus is saying his ministry is a new ministry that can no longer be contained in the structure of Judaism.
His ministry is for the whole world. Not just Israel.
Up until this point in time while there were converts to Judaism, Judaism itself was not a religion that evangelized.
Now Jesus was changing all of that by taking the belief in the one true God to the whole world.
This is why Jesus came to take the salvation message. The Love of God to all the nations of the world.
Think about it.
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Why Jesus Came
Why Jesus came
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13.
Here is a point I think is lost on some preachers and evangelist especially in the media.
These preachers rant and rave about sin. They scream at the top of their lungs what sin is and point fingers. Lost in the cacophony of noise is the mercy of God.
The Pharisees saw Jesus sitting down with sinners and questioned why. To which Jesus replied,
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I find at times in the church and among some preachers on television mercy is not shown.
They are too concentrated on listing the sins of others. Jesus was not like this.
Here he was sitting with tax collectors. People considered crooks in his day. Yet we are not told that he is brow beating them about their sins. If he did the probably not have sat down with him.
He seems to be entering into dialogue with them. Presenting to them the way of salvation.
That’s the way it should be with us. We need to enter into dialogue with those around us. No matter who they are.
It’s easy to find fault with others it’s hard to sit down with them and discuss what God has for them.
Unless we as Christians sit down with people we disagree with and discuss with them what we believe we will not reach the lost.
God sent his son to a world of sinners because he loved us.
Paul says of Love,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Unless we can show this kind of love to those around us we cannot hope to save the lost.
Think about it.
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:9-13.
Here is a point I think is lost on some preachers and evangelist especially in the media.
These preachers rant and rave about sin. They scream at the top of their lungs what sin is and point fingers. Lost in the cacophony of noise is the mercy of God.
The Pharisees saw Jesus sitting down with sinners and questioned why. To which Jesus replied,
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
I find at times in the church and among some preachers on television mercy is not shown.
They are too concentrated on listing the sins of others. Jesus was not like this.
Here he was sitting with tax collectors. People considered crooks in his day. Yet we are not told that he is brow beating them about their sins. If he did the probably not have sat down with him.
He seems to be entering into dialogue with them. Presenting to them the way of salvation.
That’s the way it should be with us. We need to enter into dialogue with those around us. No matter who they are.
It’s easy to find fault with others it’s hard to sit down with them and discuss what God has for them.
Unless we as Christians sit down with people we disagree with and discuss with them what we believe we will not reach the lost.
God sent his son to a world of sinners because he loved us.
Paul says of Love,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Unless we can show this kind of love to those around us we cannot hope to save the lost.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Jesus can forgive sins
Jesus has the right to forgive
“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.
Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
And the man got up and went home.
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.”
Matthew 9:1-8.
Here Jesus heals the Paralytic. We are not sure whether this man’s paralyses was due to his sin Jesus doesn’t elaborate.
I think from what is said it may have been a case of the man’s sin caused him to be paralysed.
Either way Jesus forgives his sin. And the teachers of the law see it as blaspheming.
This is another example of Jesus being open on honest as to who he is. Such a thing in the society in which Jesus lived could have got him killed.
Blasphemy was a capital offence. Jesus was making himself equal to God.
For a man to say such a thing unless it was true would be if you think about it ludicrous.
Jesus was indeed everything he claimed to be he leaves no doubt about it.
All that is left to the reader is to accept what he said as truth or dismiss it.
Think about it.
“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.
Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”
And the man got up and went home.
When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.”
Matthew 9:1-8.
Here Jesus heals the Paralytic. We are not sure whether this man’s paralyses was due to his sin Jesus doesn’t elaborate.
I think from what is said it may have been a case of the man’s sin caused him to be paralysed.
Either way Jesus forgives his sin. And the teachers of the law see it as blaspheming.
This is another example of Jesus being open on honest as to who he is. Such a thing in the society in which Jesus lived could have got him killed.
Blasphemy was a capital offence. Jesus was making himself equal to God.
For a man to say such a thing unless it was true would be if you think about it ludicrous.
Jesus was indeed everything he claimed to be he leaves no doubt about it.
All that is left to the reader is to accept what he said as truth or dismiss it.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Demon Possession
Demon Possession
“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.
The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.
Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.”
Matthew 8:28-34
The topic of demon possession is near and dear to this writers heart.
I do not deny it happens but sadly too many Christians think it happens far too often.
They see what is really mental illness as demon possession and that is a dangerous thing.
I live with Bipolar Affective Disorder (Manic Depression). It after twenty odd years and it seems like dozens of trial and error drug cocktails, talk therapy and group therapy sessions is under control for the most part.
I still have my bad days, days when I can’t function but for the most part most people don’t know I have it.
I’m very open about my illness I even speak as a volunteer with the Canadian Mental Health Association in the Niagara Region to raise awareness and dispel the stigma that accompanies mental illness.
Over the years however I’ve found that it is in Church where I have had the most negative experiences. One man even telling me that mental illness was demon possession and that I needed the pastor to pray for me.
Sadly in some church circles they find a demon under every bush.
I found the following article on the web site of Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF.ORG.UK ). It’s by a writer called Nick Land and titled Psychiatry and Christianity - Poles apart? It reads,
“Demonic possession. ‘There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased with both errors’.[1] Our current culture well reflects this quote with a scientific denial of the supernatural, contrasting with an increasing preoccupation with the occult. Our churches too often fall into one or other of these extremes, either denying the role of the demonic or becoming preoccupied with it and ascribing to Satan phenomena that have much more ‘natural’ medical or theological explanations.
When we look at Jesus’ healing ministry, we see that sometimes he heals, sometimes he forgives and sometimes he exorcises. This leaves us asking how much mental illness is caused by direct demonic influence? It is clearly very distressing if your church reacts to your biological mental illness with attempts at exorcism. As Christian doctors we have a role in advising our churches when an individual with frightening symptoms is actually showing a typical psychiatric illness. For example, the severely depressed Christian may believe God is dead or fight against recurrent blasphemous thoughts - but their sadness and distress at these phenomena is clue enough that they have an illness, not a demon.
I firmly believe that typical psychotic illness is not caused by demonic possession. Evidence for this includes firstly the increased correlation between psychotic illness and physical brain changes demonstrated on structural and functional scanning. Secondly the response of psychotic illness to treatment - unless you believe that chlorpromazine stuns demons! Thirdly is the experience of many involved in healing and deliverance ministry who recognise that schizophrenia responds extremely badly to attempts at deliverance and who increasingly ensure that they have mental health professionals as part of their team to ensure that individuals brought to them do not have typical psychiatric illness.
Discussing this with a Christian consultant colleague, we had each seen only one case in fifteen years of psychiatric practice that we felt might be directly caused by demonic possession. Interestingly the British Journal of Psychiatry did carry a case report of possible demonic possession in September 1994.”
So a word of caution to those Christians that think all mental illness is demon possession.
Consult a qualified councilor or doctor.
Prayer helps but it is essential that we do not dismiss mental illness as demon possession.
Mental illness can be treated and can be and treated successfully.
Think about it.
“When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way.
“What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding.
The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.
Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.”
Matthew 8:28-34
The topic of demon possession is near and dear to this writers heart.
I do not deny it happens but sadly too many Christians think it happens far too often.
They see what is really mental illness as demon possession and that is a dangerous thing.
I live with Bipolar Affective Disorder (Manic Depression). It after twenty odd years and it seems like dozens of trial and error drug cocktails, talk therapy and group therapy sessions is under control for the most part.
I still have my bad days, days when I can’t function but for the most part most people don’t know I have it.
I’m very open about my illness I even speak as a volunteer with the Canadian Mental Health Association in the Niagara Region to raise awareness and dispel the stigma that accompanies mental illness.
Over the years however I’ve found that it is in Church where I have had the most negative experiences. One man even telling me that mental illness was demon possession and that I needed the pastor to pray for me.
Sadly in some church circles they find a demon under every bush.
I found the following article on the web site of Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF.ORG.UK ). It’s by a writer called Nick Land and titled Psychiatry and Christianity - Poles apart? It reads,
“Demonic possession. ‘There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased with both errors’.[1] Our current culture well reflects this quote with a scientific denial of the supernatural, contrasting with an increasing preoccupation with the occult. Our churches too often fall into one or other of these extremes, either denying the role of the demonic or becoming preoccupied with it and ascribing to Satan phenomena that have much more ‘natural’ medical or theological explanations.
When we look at Jesus’ healing ministry, we see that sometimes he heals, sometimes he forgives and sometimes he exorcises. This leaves us asking how much mental illness is caused by direct demonic influence? It is clearly very distressing if your church reacts to your biological mental illness with attempts at exorcism. As Christian doctors we have a role in advising our churches when an individual with frightening symptoms is actually showing a typical psychiatric illness. For example, the severely depressed Christian may believe God is dead or fight against recurrent blasphemous thoughts - but their sadness and distress at these phenomena is clue enough that they have an illness, not a demon.
I firmly believe that typical psychotic illness is not caused by demonic possession. Evidence for this includes firstly the increased correlation between psychotic illness and physical brain changes demonstrated on structural and functional scanning. Secondly the response of psychotic illness to treatment - unless you believe that chlorpromazine stuns demons! Thirdly is the experience of many involved in healing and deliverance ministry who recognise that schizophrenia responds extremely badly to attempts at deliverance and who increasingly ensure that they have mental health professionals as part of their team to ensure that individuals brought to them do not have typical psychiatric illness.
Discussing this with a Christian consultant colleague, we had each seen only one case in fifteen years of psychiatric practice that we felt might be directly caused by demonic possession. Interestingly the British Journal of Psychiatry did carry a case report of possible demonic possession in September 1994.”
So a word of caution to those Christians that think all mental illness is demon possession.
Consult a qualified councilor or doctor.
Prayer helps but it is essential that we do not dismiss mental illness as demon possession.
Mental illness can be treated and can be and treated successfully.
Think about it.
Monday, 10 March 2014
Jesus is Lord and God
Jesus is Lord and God
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:23-27
Here Jesus calms the storm. This storm was so violent that even the seasoned fishermen that were in the boat with Jesus were afraid.
But notice they turn to Jesus to save them. They recognized he could save them and he did.
This passage shows that Jesus was Lord over all creation. To quote the disciples “even the winds and the waves obey him!”
John reminds us,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:1-3.
Sadly as in the days when Christ walked the earth many do not recognize him as Lord, God incarnate. John Stating,
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:10-12.
C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The choice on who Jesus is ultimately comes down to you the individual.
Is he Lord and God the Saviour of mankind or is he not?
Think about it.
“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.
Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:23-27
Here Jesus calms the storm. This storm was so violent that even the seasoned fishermen that were in the boat with Jesus were afraid.
But notice they turn to Jesus to save them. They recognized he could save them and he did.
This passage shows that Jesus was Lord over all creation. To quote the disciples “even the winds and the waves obey him!”
John reminds us,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
John 1:1-3.
Sadly as in the days when Christ walked the earth many do not recognize him as Lord, God incarnate. John Stating,
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:10-12.
C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic on the level of a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
The choice on who Jesus is ultimately comes down to you the individual.
Is he Lord and God the Saviour of mankind or is he not?
Think about it.
Sunday, 9 March 2014
The cost of following Jesus
The cost of following Jesus
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:18-22.
Here we see how much the disciples had to give up to follow Jesus.
Jewish culture placed a big responsibility on the children not only looking after their parents but also burying their parents.
To ask someone to leave that and follow Jesus was a big demand.
The ministry of Jesus had little time to waste. Jesus was not on this earth very long. Jesus understood this.
For this reason he called his disciples to decide what was more important in their lives.
In the same way we need to decide how important a place has Jesus in our lives.
We also have to be careful here.
I know too many pastors that have thrown themselves into their ministry only to see their family fall apart.
To see their children turn from the faith and to have their marriages break up.
Evangelism begins at home someone once told me.
There is no evidence that the marriages of the disciples ever broke up. I believe and it’s only speculation, but I believe their families understood and backed them up.
That’s the way it should be for us.
We need to have our families on our side when we are working for the Lord. We need to help build our families up in the ways of the Lord.
Then and only then can we truly minister for the Lord.
Think about it.
“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
Matthew 8:18-22.
Here we see how much the disciples had to give up to follow Jesus.
Jewish culture placed a big responsibility on the children not only looking after their parents but also burying their parents.
To ask someone to leave that and follow Jesus was a big demand.
The ministry of Jesus had little time to waste. Jesus was not on this earth very long. Jesus understood this.
For this reason he called his disciples to decide what was more important in their lives.
In the same way we need to decide how important a place has Jesus in our lives.
We also have to be careful here.
I know too many pastors that have thrown themselves into their ministry only to see their family fall apart.
To see their children turn from the faith and to have their marriages break up.
Evangelism begins at home someone once told me.
There is no evidence that the marriages of the disciples ever broke up. I believe and it’s only speculation, but I believe their families understood and backed them up.
That’s the way it should be for us.
We need to have our families on our side when we are working for the Lord. We need to help build our families up in the ways of the Lord.
Then and only then can we truly minister for the Lord.
Think about it.
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