TOUCHING JESUS
"For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." We have no record of anyone being turned away by Jesus when they came to Him for help except the man who wanted Him to make his brother divide the inheritance with him.
Everywhere Jesus went, people were brought to him for a touch, and as many as touched him were made whole.
He touched little children, and we are not told how their lives were affected by His touch. Can't help but wonder.
"And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
"Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
"And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
"And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare [him] stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
"And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
Blinded eyes, broken lives, torments, fears, disappointments. What do you have that Jesus can touch? Call on Him now. You will not be turned away, but He will help you.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
THE PLANTING OF THE LORD
THE PLANTING OF THE LORD
Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The Prophet was moved (Swedish version says DRIVEN) by the Holy Ghost to write concerning the Ministry of Jesus, who was to come on the scene nearly a millenium later. God had ordained several aspects of the Ministry of Jesus-- more than giving His life on Calvary for our salvation, important as that was.
There is much remaining yet to be done by the Lord Jesus, and He WILL do it. We can depend on that, for He is FAITHFUL, and will not fail.
The WHOLE WORLD is destined to hear the Gospel, and MOST OF THEM will RESPOND and obey the Gospel of Jesus when it is preached with the ANOINTING which is destined to be given to those who qualify as REAPERS in the HARVEST of the Lord.
THE WORLD will be harvested. Not just a section here and a section there, but the WORLD.
I can not tell you exactly HOW it will take place, but my faith in the integrity of God and His Word is such that I am sure it will happen. The imagination almost staggers to think of Righteousness being the prevalent factor in the affairs of mankind, but it WILL take place as a result of what God is planning to do on this earth.
TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS-- THE PLANTING OF THE LORD. Church programs and machinery will have little to do with what will take place. It will be the HAND OF GOD, so that only He will receive the Glory for what is done. Man has tried for 2000 years, and has produced nothing better than more religious chaos.
God is fully capable of producing the desired results. And He will-- in His time and in His way.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Psalms 138:8 The LORD will perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 32:39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The Prophet was moved (Swedish version says DRIVEN) by the Holy Ghost to write concerning the Ministry of Jesus, who was to come on the scene nearly a millenium later. God had ordained several aspects of the Ministry of Jesus-- more than giving His life on Calvary for our salvation, important as that was.
There is much remaining yet to be done by the Lord Jesus, and He WILL do it. We can depend on that, for He is FAITHFUL, and will not fail.
The WHOLE WORLD is destined to hear the Gospel, and MOST OF THEM will RESPOND and obey the Gospel of Jesus when it is preached with the ANOINTING which is destined to be given to those who qualify as REAPERS in the HARVEST of the Lord.
THE WORLD will be harvested. Not just a section here and a section there, but the WORLD.
I can not tell you exactly HOW it will take place, but my faith in the integrity of God and His Word is such that I am sure it will happen. The imagination almost staggers to think of Righteousness being the prevalent factor in the affairs of mankind, but it WILL take place as a result of what God is planning to do on this earth.
TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS-- THE PLANTING OF THE LORD. Church programs and machinery will have little to do with what will take place. It will be the HAND OF GOD, so that only He will receive the Glory for what is done. Man has tried for 2000 years, and has produced nothing better than more religious chaos.
God is fully capable of producing the desired results. And He will-- in His time and in His way.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Psalms 138:8 The LORD will perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 32:39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
FOULED
FOULED OUT
Many years ago, when Marvin was in high
school, the family went with him to watch a foot
ball game at the ball park. The Grizzlies were
playing the Pirates, as I recall.
I am not given to outburst of enthusiasm,
but one team made a spectacular play, and one of
the boys was running about 70 yards for a
touchdown. I half stood and quietly said, "pour
it on, boy!". He was doing a magnificent job--
except for one thing which was being overlooked
by most everyone in the park.
One of the officials had thrown down his
white flag at the line of scrimmage, and was
waving his hands frantically. Some one of the
boys had done something wrong, (I don't remember
what--it doesn't matter) and the play was can-
celled at the spot of the white flag on the
ground. I was disappointed, and a little ashamed
for having urged the boy on.
As we sat back down, a scripture verse
came to me. II Timothy 2:5 And if a man also
strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned,
except he strive lawfully.
God has strange ways of getting at us. It
was impressed upon me that many times we "strive
for the masteries", and we go without a reward
for it. The rest of the game was ruined, for me,
wondering how many "White flags" there were
behind me, having been ignored as I rushed on in
my quest for excellence.
I Corinthians 9:24-- I therefore so
run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one
that beateth the air: But I keep under my body,
and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any
means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood,--
Many years ago, when Marvin was in high
school, the family went with him to watch a foot
ball game at the ball park. The Grizzlies were
playing the Pirates, as I recall.
I am not given to outburst of enthusiasm,
but one team made a spectacular play, and one of
the boys was running about 70 yards for a
touchdown. I half stood and quietly said, "pour
it on, boy!". He was doing a magnificent job--
except for one thing which was being overlooked
by most everyone in the park.
One of the officials had thrown down his
white flag at the line of scrimmage, and was
waving his hands frantically. Some one of the
boys had done something wrong, (I don't remember
what--it doesn't matter) and the play was can-
celled at the spot of the white flag on the
ground. I was disappointed, and a little ashamed
for having urged the boy on.
As we sat back down, a scripture verse
came to me. II Timothy 2:5 And if a man also
strive for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned,
except he strive lawfully.
God has strange ways of getting at us. It
was impressed upon me that many times we "strive
for the masteries", and we go without a reward
for it. The rest of the game was ruined, for me,
wondering how many "White flags" there were
behind me, having been ignored as I rushed on in
my quest for excellence.
I Corinthians 9:24-- I therefore so
run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one
that beateth the air: But I keep under my body,
and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any
means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood,--
Monday, February 04, 2008
HIS MASTER'S CRIB
HIS MASTER'S CRIB
Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
What a sad way to start a prophetic book to God's people. It is a story which has been told over and over, many times, during the history of God's people.
Humans almost never learn from the mistakes of others. We all seem to insist on making them for ourselves, in our own way.
In some ways, animals learn far more readily than humans do.
Continued disobedience has its consequences, as we see in a few scriptures further into the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because [they have] no knowledge:
Isaiah 6:8-10 tells of an event in the life of the Prophet. "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
WHAT A MESSAGE! Nothing but deafness and blindness for the Chosen Ones. The reward of disobedience!
If we don't want to hear, nothing will be spoken.
If we don't want to see, nothing will be shown to us. God seems to be very obliging. He does not cast His Pearls before swine, nor does He give anything good to dogs.
Psalms 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Jeremiah 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, [and] strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD [is] his treasure.
I Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.
Isaiah 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
What a sad way to start a prophetic book to God's people. It is a story which has been told over and over, many times, during the history of God's people.
Humans almost never learn from the mistakes of others. We all seem to insist on making them for ourselves, in our own way.
In some ways, animals learn far more readily than humans do.
Continued disobedience has its consequences, as we see in a few scriptures further into the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because [they have] no knowledge:
Isaiah 6:8-10 tells of an event in the life of the Prophet. "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
WHAT A MESSAGE! Nothing but deafness and blindness for the Chosen Ones. The reward of disobedience!
If we don't want to hear, nothing will be spoken.
If we don't want to see, nothing will be shown to us. God seems to be very obliging. He does not cast His Pearls before swine, nor does He give anything good to dogs.
Psalms 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Jeremiah 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, [and] strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD [is] his treasure.
I Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, [which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them [were] two hundred; and all their brethren [were] at their commandment.
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