Easter Gifts (Message from 4/8)

The Easter gifts – the benefits of salvation (Ps 103) – are the things that we received when we declared our faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord – things like grace, peace, and joy.

For my message, I had scripture verses inside plastic eggs, and had the children of the church assist me during the service (pictures are coming, I’m waiting for them to show up on Facebook).

My notes are available in MSWord and PDF format. The audio is available on my Recent Audio Sermons page.

Doug

Thoughts from Matthew 17 and 21

Some thoughts from reading the New Testament in a year:

Matthew 17:14-21, the disciples that didn’t accompany Jesus to the mount of transfiguration (those other than Peter, James and John) were unable to cast out this demon. Note that epilepsy in this case is caused by a spirit, and possibly also a self-destructive spirit (falling into fire and water). Mark 9′s telling of this story says that it was a deaf and dumb spirit that was doing this. A lesson to be learned here and also Luke 13:10-17 is that some diseases and afflictions, some times, have a demonic spirit connected with them, and don’t need healing as much as they need this demonic spirit to be sent away.

Second, It didn’t take a lot of faith to expel this demon spirit, because Jesus had spent the time praying and fasting, and knowing by his covenant who he was.

The word “faithless” here (apistos – Strongs 571) is the same word used in John 20:27 about Thomas (“be not faithless, but believing”). English Words used in KJV: that believe not 6, unbelieving 5, faithless 4, unbeliever 4, infidel 2, and two other words.

In chapter 21, verse 21-22 goes along with Matthew 17:20. This is the story of the triumphant entry, counterpart to Mark 11. Those from a WOF (Word of Faith) background know Mark 11:22-24 well. Verse 21-22 of Matthew 21 go with these, but emphasize more the “have faith”, “do not doubt”, “believing”, where if you look at Mark 11:23 alone, you see an emphasis on the “saying” (Kenneth Hagin points out that “say” appears three times, and “believe” appears once). We need both!

It is a good thing to read scripture aloud, and to make personal faith confessions from it. But that saying is helping build it in you, so that you can speak with authority when the time comes. But if you start speaking it to affect a situation without having done this faith-building time first, you may find your words hollow or ineffective. This is just like when Jesus said that “these things don’t go out but by prayer and fasting”, he didn’t stop and pray right then – he’d already prayed and fasted.

Leroy Thompson wrote about how some people are “echoes” rather than “voices” … they say the right words when they need a breakthrough, but it’s not down in their heart. You need to build this in you before tough times come, so that “out of the abundance of your heart” you speak (Matt 12:34). Otherwise you’ll find yourself struggling to speak positive Bible words when you’re challenged … you may start to waver … and James tells us that double-minded people shouldn’t expect much.

Doug

Some thoughts from Matthew 4-16

Along with members of my church, members of Covenant Network churches and others, I am reading through the New Testament, one chapter at a time (using this reading list: http://newcovenantatlanta.com/Network/2012%20NT%20Reading%20Schedule.pdf ). Here are some of my thoughts from the book of Matthew so far, as they originated as Facebook posts on the CN board.

• Two things I saw in Matthew 4: when we pass through the temptations, tests and trials, the angels will be there to minister to us (compare Luke 22:43), and Jesus’ ministry was preaching, teaching AND healing (also Matthew 9:35). That is how His ministry STARTED, some churches never get there.
• Matthew 5: two thing stood out, first the number of times persecutors, enemies,etc came up and the consistent response towards them, second was to recognize that we are blessed, salt and light no matter what our circumstances are, and to not hide that light for any reason.
• It is interesting that Matthew 7 says Judge not, that you not be judged… But a little later talks about others being known by their fruit. How does one reconcile these?
• So much good stuff in Matthew 9 – the blind men, Jairus (named in Mark 5) and the woman, eating with “sinners” … But what struck me was verse 5-6. After he asked “Which is more difficult?” did he wait for a reply from the scribes before he continued speaking? What did they say?
  I would assume from what he said in verse 6 that they said “Telling a man to get up and walk, and him doing so, would be more difficult.” So in verse 6, he showed them he could do the more difficult, so he could equally do the easier (in their eyes). But to Jesus, one was as easy as the other. They are two parts of the same covenant.
• Two interesting things in Matthew 11: First, while Jesus calls John the Baptist the greatest of the OT-era prophets, he says that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater (verse 11). Second, in verse 20, he ties mighty works (miracles, healings, demons cast out, etc) and repentance (changed mind and direction). Not preaching only, but demonstration.
• Two thoughts from Matthew 12: Verse 25, a house divided against itself shall not stand – we shouldn’t settle for or accept a false unity based on compromise of core values, but we shouldn’t reject those that are of the household of faith that see some things differently. Work with others as you can without giving up your values.
  Second thought is verse 34 – out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Whatever is overflowing in your heart will come out of your mouth when circumstances or pressure push past your ability to contain it. So best to replace what is in your heart that is unfruitful, and strive that your message doesn’t change when tough times come, but instead increases with consistency.
• Matthew 13:58 Unbelief stops many of God’s great works on man’s behalf from happening with any consistency.
• Matthew 14:31 “why did you doubt?” Doubt was a choice, because Peter walked on the water until he looked at the circumstances. Compare with John 20:27 “Do not be unbelieving, but believing” (NKJV, KJV faithless, NIV “Stop doubting and believe.”). Think about the similarities between Peter in Matthew 14 and Thomas in John 20.
• Matthew 16:24 Deny yourself. Give up the choice of your own way if you know it’s not God’s way. Give up the right to correct others when you disagree and it’s not your place. Give up your ability to live a saved but ungodly life. Give up the desire to have the last word. Give up your right to hold a grudge.

Doug

Is it always God’s will to heal?

Recently, one of my church members asked me “Is it always God’s will to heal?” It is easy to question this, or build doctrine around experience, when you don’t see healing even in the midst of solid faith and fervent prayers. It’s easy to say “It’s not always God’s will to heal” or “God is teaching me something by this sickness” when you don’t see healing happen.

I believe that it’s ALWAYS God’s will to heal, as is revealed in His word (I will talk about some of the why/what if in another post).

First, if we look at Creation before the Fall. There was no sickness in the garden. God said that everything was GOOD. If you look at Deuteronomy 28, the “bad things” in verse 15 through the end are called “the curse”. The curse didn’t come on man and the earth until the fall in Genesis 3.

Second, we have the revelation of the Father’s will through Jesus’ teaching. If you go through the book of John, you’ll find verses like:

John 5:19-20 (NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
John 14:7-9 (NKJV) “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Third, we have the revelation of the Father’s will through Jesus’ ministry. Jesus healed ALL that came to him. In Getting Past the Pie Mentality, I noted these verses, but they bear repeating:

Acts 10:37-38 (NKJV) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 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.
Matthew 8:16-17 (NKJV) 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.”

Next, we have healing as part of redemption. The words for salvation (soteria) and saved (sozo) not only speak to our receiving eternal life, but include deliverance, health, protection and “be whole” as well (Strong’s Concordance, G4991 and G4982).

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).
Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

You’ll find the same thing true of the Hebrew word “shalom”, which means peace, prosperity, wholeness, well-being and success (Strong’s Concordance, H7965). Jesus is the Prince of Shalom!

Finally, we have the revelation of what heaven is like – there is no sickness there, there are no tears there, our bodies will be resurrected, transformed and whole. Jesus said:

Matthew 6:9-10 (NKJV) In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

He invites and instructs us to pray that the way things are in heaven would be so in earth as well.

I will write about some of the reasons why healing is delayed – or doesn’t come – in a future post.

Doug

Getting past the “pie mentality”

Acts 10:37-38 (NKJV) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 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.
Matthew 8:16-17 (NKJV) 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.”

How many believers do you know that have said “Pray for him instead, he’s so much worse off than I am” Or “She deserves healing more than I do”? This comes from “pie mentality”… that the power of God is rationed out, like a big pie. When one person gets a larger portion, then another must get a smaller portion, or do without. Some volunteer to give up their portion of healing.

But that’s not how healing works! In the two passages above – along with other readings – we see that Jesus ministered to ALL that were sick. We see that God was WITH Him – that healing everyone that came to him, regardless of circumstances, didn’t violate God’s plan! We see further that healing for all – just like salvation for all – was in the plan of redemption, for Matthew 8:17 refers to Isaiah 53:4-5:

Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

There is no pie for salvation – it is for all. Neither is there a pie for healing, for they’re wrapped up together. Receive your healing by faith in God, without this hindrance!

Doug

One Body of Christ

Churches (and believers within churches) want to be or feel like they are one-of-a-kind or special, or perhaps more important than others. Our human nature requires it. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that we are One Body of Christ, not fragments, portions, multiple bodies, or body parts strewn all over creation.

Paul wrote about this in his first letter to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 12:12-21 (NKJV) For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

God puts us in our place. He had enough sense to not call me to childrens’ ministry or trustee office in my church, for example. He set me in a church in Cortland, Ohio. He has other people to preach in other cities, and has called or is calling other people to do the ministries that I’m incapable of doing well. He has also raised up people that can do ministries that I AM capable of doing, but should not be if they detract from my primary callings.

We are all special, wonderful and unique – just like the right pinky differs from the left hear, the left pinky or the right index finger. But we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are one body in Christ, and that we need each other in order to fully function.

Doug