Fishing Sometimes Means Casting

Although John the Baptist did not perform any miracles, his message of the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God), moved in the hearts of the people. Jesus tells us,  "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12) There was a pressing to see the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. We also see, that after the forty days of temptation of our Lord in the desert, Matthew records, "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) Both John and Jesus were the only ones of that time revealing the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:20) Although miracles, signs and wonders are the main manifestation of the kingdom of God, our focus will be on using the power or authority to deal with demons. 

The scriptures reveal Jesus and the early church believers releasing God's power and authority as they preached and presented the Kingdom. An example of this is found in the ministry of Jesus, "Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned." (Luke 8:26-33) 

Take notice, "When he (the man who had demons) saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me! (verse 28) and Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them." (Verse 32) Because the demons in the man recognized Jesus, and started the confrontation, Jesus was able to simply used His authority to defuse the situation which freed the man. We find a similar situation in the ministry of the Apostle Paul, "Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour." (Acts 16:16-18)

Notice, that Paul and Silas went to prayer and the demon possessed girl approached them and followed them around for many days. At first glance, you would think that this possessed girl was promoting Paul and Silas's ministry. However, this was not the case. We see that Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour." As we see, the demon in the girl started the confrontation against Paul, the believer. Like we saw with Jesus, Paul simply used his authority, spoke to the spirit and cast it out. In both instances, Jesus with the Gadarene demoniac and Paul with the girl who had a spirit of divination, the demons manifested and began the confrontation. Jesus and Paul had the authority to put an end to it. Think about it this way. If the demonized man had seen Jesus and the demonized girl had seen Paul and did not manifest or confront them, there may not have been a confrontation and the possibility exists that neither of them would had been delivered from demons.

Next, we will look at a situation where a demon was silent, non-confrontational. "Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him." (Luke 13:10-17)

Of course we see a typical response of religious leaders with their doctrines of man. Here they ridicule Jesus for healing on the Sabbath. Jesus responds, "So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, think of it, for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" We see that this woman had been bound by Satan, the source of all sickness and disease. However, the woman never asked Jesus to heal her, nor did the spirit of infirmity that held her say anything to Jesus or cause a commotion, yet Jesus saw her and released her from Satan’s grip. So, did Jesus over step His realm of authority? Absolutely not! She was in a house of God, a synagogue. Jesus had the authority and simply used it to free the woman. You better believe that if the gift of discerning of spirits is operating or a demon manifests in a church service of any kind, whether the church building, small group meeting in a house, or any place where two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, the believe or believers have the authority and need to exercise it.

I am not trying to be critical or condescending in any way, but when was the last time, if ever, you received training in what to do if a demon manifests in a church gathering? What I am getting at, is, today, most believers, including church leaders would not know what to do if a demon manifested. Unfortunately, many church leaders and most believers have bought into modern psychiatry and all the intellectual reasoning, thereby labeling a person having a demon manifestation with some kind of phobia or mental breakdown. When reading the gospels, people would come to Jesus and say things like, "My son or daughter has a demon." I find this interesting because these people were not born again. They did not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. They were not given the various gifts of the Holy Spirit and yet they recognized what the problem really was. I say this not for believers to be demon conscience but to be God inside minded, knowing their identity, position, and authority in Christ and as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.

So, sometimes when we are fishing for the souls of people, that is, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, we may need to cast out demons, but always remember, "For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:20) and also remember, if you are born again then "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4) Grace and peace be with you...

Laboring More Than All

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, was created by the labor movement in the United States and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed by the Central Labor Union. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers throughout the United States. In 1887 Oregon became the first state of the United States to make Labor Day an official public holiday. By the time it became an official federal holiday in 1894, thirty U.S. states officially celebrated Labor Day. Today, all the States, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories have made Labor Day a legal holiday.

Man was created to labor in some form. Prior to man's fall we see, "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." (Genesis 2:15) The word "tend" or "dress" (KJV) comes from several Hebrew words meaning, to labor; do work; to work for another; serve another by labor; to make oneself a servant; to be led or enticed to serve. The word "keep" means, to have charge of; to guard; keep watch; protect; observe. We also see in creation, another aspect of mans labors, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28) Man was to show his fruitfulness, become numerous, make subservient and rule over creation.  

With these things in mind, believers must understand that God's plan for man has not changed. The only thing that changed, on man's part, was selling out his God given purpose, to God's enemy, Satan. The laboring that Adam would now do would be, "In toil you shall eat...In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread." (Genesis 3:17-19) Adam's labors would be by his own strength, in toil, sorrow, pain and hardship. This would be his lot in life. This did not fall on Adam alone, but as the federal representative of all mankind, this would also fall upon all the peoples of the earth. Although man's labors would be by his own strength and abilities, the call upon him had not changed in the mind of God. Believers are called to labor, not just in the market place to acquire finances, but moreover, for Jesus the King and the expansion of His Kingdom. In other words, believers are to labor; do work; to make oneself a servant; to have charge of; to guard; keep watch; protect; observe and to rule over. We see this in the life of Jesus throughout the gospels. Jesus set the example and then gave a command to the disciples and for all who would believe in Him. This is expressed through what we call "The Great Commission." 

Jesus tells us, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20) The authority of Christ is the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises as well as, the power of rule. Now of course we know that Jesus has the power and authority; He has the ability or strength to exercise and rule, but what about the believer? The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul tells us,"And He (God the Father) has put all things under His (Jesus Christ) feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]." (Ephesians 1:22-23 AMPC)

As we can see, God's power and authority is working in Christ and therefore through the church, which is His body. However, this is not upon our strength or ability, but through two most wonderful things, by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) The Apostle Paul in his labors for Christ tell us, "But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10 AMPC) This is how the church, every believe is to labor; do work; to make oneself a servant; to have charge of; to guard; keep watch; protect; observe and to rule over. It is through the grace of God. One of the best biblical definitions of grace is, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMPC)  

The grace of God is available to every believer who desires to receive it and act upon the call, the labors, in which we are called. Every believe has been freely given the wonderful ability and strength of God, from God, "Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift." (Ephesians 4:7 AMPC) Even though Adam brought to mankind all of our labors through our own strength and abilities, we see, "For if because of one man’s (Adam) trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God’s] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." (Romans 5:17 AMPC) WOW!!! 

Even though we may celebrate Labor Day in the natural as the social and economic achievements of American workers, we believers celebrate the tremendous, stupendous, achievements that the Father worked in Christ. Through Christ and the grace of God, man is completely restored to his legal and rightful place. Man is restored to the place that the Father had originally intended for him, which Adam had forfeited. So, let us keep in mind the very thing that the Apostle Paul said about himself, as it also applies to every believer, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Therefore, "I (we, every believer) have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]." (Philippians 4:13 AMPC) Thank you for your still amazing grace, LORD...

Bad Things Do Not Come From God - Part 20

The Gospels reveal some wonderful things concerning God's will, nature and character. As mention before, Jesus did not come to earth to do His will but the will of the Father (John 6:38) We also saw that to see the actions of Jesus and to know Him, we see and know the Father. (John 14:7-9) So for the final this week of this series, "Bad Things Do Not Come From God" we will look at some of the ministry of Jesus as He reveals the Father's will and true nature.

Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:14-17)

Let's review some key points in this passage. "Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them." If this sickness was caused by God, then what would be the point of Jesus healing her? If the sickness was caused by God, then Jesus should not have stopped what God was doing in her life. Unfortunately, I have had church leaders say that God made her sick so that Jesus could prove that He was the Son of God by healing her. It wasn't the preaching or the supernatural healings that proved Jesus to be the Son of God, but His resurrection from the dead.  The way of salvation is not to confess the LORD Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that He is the Son of God because of all the miracles that He performed, but to believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, that one is saved. (Romans 10:9-10 No, Peter's mother-in-law was made sick with fever by the devil, not God.

Next we see, "When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick," How many sick were healed? ALL who came to Him. There is no indication at all that there was even one person who was not healed. There is no mention that He turned some away because it was not God's will for them to be healed. There is no mention that God caused anyone to be sick or demonized. Now, we can certainly read something into this passage of scripture that is not mentioned, but this is where we find many of the problems in the church today, adding to or subtracting from God's Word. Unfortunately, many passages of scripture have been rendered powerless and or twisted from their true  meaning by the opinions and wisdom of men. This has robbed multitudes of Christians who truly love the LORD from receiving the promises of the Father through Jesus Christ, such as healing.

Finally, we see that Matthew draws us back to an Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." The Hebrew of Isaiah and the Greek of Matthew bears the same meaning; Messiah (Jesus Christ) removes the diseases of one's body. It is a part of the doctrine of Atonement as spoken by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 52:13-15, 53:1-6)

I would like to conclude this with two more thoughts. First, let's never forget "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38) and I might note, without a time limit. God was, is and will always be, until Jesus returns, Jehovah Rapha, The God Who Heals. Secondly, "Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23) Not only was Jesus stating this truth to the the father of a demonized son, but also "to him (anyone) who believers." PTL

I Am Different!

What a wonderful priviledge to be a Christian. We have been redeemed from every nation by the LORD God Almighty through faith in His Son our LORD Jesus Christ and to Him we are special...
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (I Peter 2:9-10)

Think about this passage; Jesus tells us in John 15:16 that we did not chose Him but that He chose us (We are a chosen generation), Revelation 1:5-6 says, "...To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father..." (We are a royal priesthood) and in I Corinthians 6:11…But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (We are set apart – a Holy nation) then in
I Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. (We are a special people – Gods private property) and finally Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (A people of praise)

Make no mistake, Christians are different and we need to act upon God's Word and live a Biblically correct life because there is a fallen world filled with the very people the Christ died for. It's sad to think of all the people who attend the various congregations throughout the USA that do not see themselves the way that Gods Word tells us as to who and what we are. Why do so many believers act upon their feelings instead of faith? Why do they say they believe God's Word but their actions and words prove other? Why is it that when some believers say that they are what the Word says they are, that they are considered prideful or boasting about themselves? Could the problem be what Paul tells us in his second letter to Timothy?
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.
(II Timothy 3:1-5)

Although Paul mentions many things I believe that the last of these is the worst and greatest in the lives of most who attend congregational meetings on Sunday, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Unfortunately many people who consider themselves believers are destitute of the life of God in their souls and deny that a life filled with the power of Christ can  be experienced today. But again it takes Bible faith to really understand and live the true Christian life, "The just shall live by faith". This brings us to a very important question that we must ask ourselves, "Do you really believe that what you believe is really true?" Selah...

I Won't Grow Up

The character of Peter Pan is most remembered by his constant attitude of wanting his own way. He verbalized this by saying "I won't grow up". The writer of Hebrews sternly challenges the church to "grow up" in Christ. He tells them that enough time has passed and they should be mature believers and yet they seem to be having difficultly moving beyond elementary Christianity. The Apostle Paul tells the church at Corinth that a time came in his life when he "Became a man and put away childish things".

When raising children, parents are to bring correction and direction to their children for the purpose conforming to a standard of right and wrong as well as to bring them into maturity, that is, to "Grow Up". But why does it seem to be the opposite in the lives of many believers in the church in the USA? Why do we read scripture that challenges us to maturity, yet act childish by rejecting correction and direction? Could it be that maturity is based on ones own standard and not the Word of God?

This appears to be one of the problems with some of the churches that the writers of the New Testament seemed to be dealing with as time progressed. Today we have God's Word to draw from to show us what we should do, how we should live and who we are to become. The book of Acts paints a wonderful picture of how the church should and can be in Christ when believers give up their ways and by grace through faith live in Christ.

The early church was a unified body of individuals; individuals sharing common interests, characteristics, policies, activities and joint ownership.To the early church, their Christian faith was a day to day reality not a once or twice a week routine. This was because the risen Christ was a living reality to them and it was evidenced in the resurrection power at work in their lives through the Holy Spirit.

“With one accord” speaks of the same mind or with one mind. The early church seemed to have an entirely different perspective of God's Kingdom than the church seems to have today. To them Christ is King, they were under grace not the Law, they lived through faith not feelings, were directed by the Word of God and continuously witnessed a demonstration of spirit and power. The very things that gave the early church unparalleled success are the very things that liberal theology and the wisdom of men have rejected as not for today. The same grace that was available almost 2000 years ago to save, heal and deliver, comes from the same God who DOES NOT CHANGE, and is available today for everyone who believes.

Today the USA has a president who has said that the USA is NOT a Christian country. Millions of dollars are spent each year to support missions abroad and yet the USA is deemed "NOT CHRISTIAN". (Selah) It is time for the church in the USA to put away childish things, grow up and be of one mind. The church is to turn the world upside down but is failing to do so in a country who believes (or maybe one time believed) that the USA is "One Nation under GOD"!!! Just think how powerful the church would be if we were more concerned about Jesus and His Kingdom than us and our kingdoms...