Autumn leaves of red and gold

The Crape Myrtle leaves fall on my car. A
closer look proves that they are quite beautiful.
These are simple blessings of God's design.

Nearer Lord to thee..

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
 and of them that keep thy precepts. 

Asking for directions?
One group is open sided, the other closed.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Beware of false prophets.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

Just out of seminary,
but will they teach the whole word of truth?

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Some come to church seeking healing.

Luke 4:40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 

Nothing like close fellowship.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

The leaves are packed like sardines,
but are we not one body in the Lord?

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

All bow at the feet of Jesus.

Rev 4:10  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 

Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

All Glory to God

All supernatural things are not of God. Even the things that are supernatural, such as signs and wonders, these may be perceived in a wrong way. Paul and Barnabas spoke first the gospel message with signs following. It is by faith in the Living God that He is glorified. Jesus is the Son of God who brings forgiveness of sins and signs and wonders through the obedience of his disciples.

Act 14:8  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
Act 14:9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Act 14:10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
Act 14:11  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
Act 14:12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Act 14:13  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Act 14:14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
Act 14:15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Act 14:16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Act 14:17  Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Act 14:18  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Act 14:19  And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
Act 14:20  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Paul and Barnabas were in a land that worshipped false gods. When they spoke the gospel message, the focus was more on the healing that followed. The Greek gods, Jupiter and Mercury, were given credit for the work of the Holy Spirit. God does not share his glory with false gods. Paul and Barnabas were quick to give the credit to God almighty, even tearing their clothes as an act of  humility to give God the glory and not to man. Then came the Jews from Antioch that were opposing them.This is why we must be determined to serve God and not to give up and to be faint hearted.  Satan always seems to come to try to destroy the work of God. They resulted in stoning Paul and they thought that he was dead as they dragged him out of the city. From a god to a dead man in one day. Our God is greater, for as the disciples stood around him, probably in prayer, He raised up Paul who returned to the city. The next day they departed.

If you are in ministry to be praised of men, then you are seeking glory  that only belongs to God. Quit the competition to look good before men. To have a bigger church or a higher position. It is God who calls and he chooses the least likely before the world to serve him.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

The message and the focus is to be on the God of Israel and His Son Jesus who came to save our souls unto himself. Give God all the Glory, speak His word, humble yourself before him and he will lift you up to serve him. Let us celebrate Him in worship and praise. Our reward and honor will be given to us when we are with him in glory. Come, let us worship the LORD.

A Holy Highway

Do you want to go back to where you were before you began your journey in the Lord? There is no looking back, we are on a holy calling, on a holy way. When God's people came to Israel there was and will be new life, and when Jesus returns all creation will be restored. His people will enter a new world where Jesus is Lord of all and the devil is locked up. This will be a time of great peace and because Jesus reigns there will be no infirmities of the flesh for the people of the nations and we shall return with him in glorified bodies.

Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Isa 35:2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

The wilderness is blooming now, for underground is a supply of water that is being used to water over fifty farms, in what was once arid dry desert. Recent news has it that the reservoirs are low and that other water supplies are needed. When the Lord returns there will be water springing forth into the dead sea. Nothing can live in the salt of the dead sea, but this healing stream will bring with it new life.

A river of life shall flow from the temple in Jerrusalem.

Eze 47:1  Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. 

Eze 47:6  And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
Eze 47:7  Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
Eze 47:8  Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
Eze 47:9  And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

Eze 47:12  And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

Isa 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

Out of the tribulation a people will come to the LORD, He shall bring vengeance on the evil of the world and set up His Millennial Kingdom.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Job's friends

Think of Jesus taking our sins and blame to the cross, being stripped of all that he was and yet having no sin of his own. Most of those who followed him had left him. His friend and disciple Judas, betrayed him with a kiss. Peter, as Jesus had predicted, had denied him three times and had fallen away in sorrow. The greatest friend we have is God. So no matter what your friends do, we have God and we love God and our friends. Our friends are human with human weaknesses as we have. Job's suffering was not helped by his well meaning friends, but we can learn from this ourselves. God's love is so much greater than any feeling or emotion, lust,  or misunderstanding that we may suffer from.

Job 16:20  My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

As Jesus wept for our sorrows and has experienced cruelty, he cares for you who trust in him.

1Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Job 19:14  My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

His closest relatives had failed him because of unbelief. I myself remember those times that I lay in the hospital and my best friends never once visited or made contact with me. We need to be a friend especially when a friend is in need.

James 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Job 32:3  Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

Do not bring condemnation to a friend. God was upset with Job's three friends, but Job had never spoke against God, he remained faithful. We are not to be faithful to other people by following them in sin, this is wrong. We are to be faithful to God, keeping our self from sin. In this way we becoming a true friend to others.

Job 42:10  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

A great truth here, when we pray for others we receive favor from God. One night in our Internet Bible chat room we had a woman who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was a mother of four children, she was soon to die and her concern was for her children. On this night we prayed and the woman did not pray for her own needs, but for the needs of her children and for their care. Something happened as she was praying...she felt a warmth from here head down to her feet. God was touching her and healing her. She went to the doctor the next week and they found no trace of the cancer that was there before. Her unselfish prayers for her children brought the compassion of God upon herself. Praying for others brings healing to ourselves. Unforgiveness is not good. Experience the love and power of God in your life, be faithful to God and receive Jesus, who is the only way to God and forgiveness. He is our eternal life and joy. He is our savior from our sins and separation from God. 

2Cor 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Healing and the bronze serpent

The Old Testament had many types and shadows of the New Covenant We are not to worship shadows but we are to worship the true God of Israel and his Son Jesus Christ. This lesson about King Hezekiah shows how a good follower of God removed the stuff, the junk idols that got in the way of worshipping God. We are to get beyond the useless "stuff" of life and worship our God in Spirit and in truth.

2 Kings 18:1 Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea's reign in Israel.

2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.

3 He did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight, just as his ancestor David had done.

4 He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and knocked down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had begun to worship it by burning incense to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.

5 Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was never another king like him in the land of Judah, either before or after his time.

6 He remained faithful to the LORD in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses.

7 So the LORD was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did. He revolted against the king of Assyria and refused to pay him tribute. (NLT)

I wish to focus on the bronze serpent, a type of healing and a type of Jesus on the cross. The symbol of a physician healer is the serpent on the pole. Jesus was lifted up on the pole or cross to heal our soul and body.

Isa_53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Nehustan, a thing of brass. It was also called a fiery serpent in Numbers 21.

Num 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Num 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Num 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

The problem was that the brazen serpent became an object of worship, instead of God who is our healer. The people would come to the serpent to be healed; it became an idol and people were burning incense to it. So when king Hezekiah was cleansing the land by removing the idols, he cut up the brazen serpent. The serpent was mentioned by Jesus as a symbol of his own death to bring healing of the soul and body.

Joh 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

There is no greater healing than to have our sins forgiven and to be translated into the kingdom of God. His death was also for the healing of our bodies. Sure, we all must die someday, but until the appointed time, God will heal us. God may also use a physician in our healing, but all healing comes from God.

Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Follow God's word, obey him and he will respond and bless you. Last night I heard that a dear missionary teacher and friend, sister Wilma, was taken to the hospital. We were asked to pray for her. The effectual prayer of faith is a prayer to the true God, not an idol and through the name of Jesus. A fervent prayer is a prayer focused and with passion, not with a double mind. We pray knowing that God hears our prayer. The prayer of a righteous person, is a prayer of one who trusts God with all their heart, praying on the authority of his word.

Hezekiah cleared the nation of idols and trusted the promises of God. This was counted to him for righteousness. We who have our hearts cleansed by the blood shed on the cross by Jesus, may come to God by faith, removing the junk from our hearts and he will hear our prayers. Pray with me for those you know who need prayer this very hour and pray for sister Wilma to be healed and filled with God's spirit. In Jesus name, amen.

Healing Edema

Luke 14:1 One Sabbath day Jesus was in the home of a leader of the Pharisees. The people were watching him closely,

2 because there was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen.

3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law, "Well, is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?"

4 When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away. (NLT)

 

This probably was a condition called edema, swelling of the legs or arms. I do not know of any natural cure for this other than exercise  diet and compression bandages. Jesus is master over our illnesses. By his stripes we were healed and by faith we receive complete healing and deliverance. Just speak to it my Lord and it is healed. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. In him is our restoration and rest. He moves by faith and I trust in him.

 

 

Healing power

Mar 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 

Mar 2:6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 

Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
Mar 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

In the presence of Jesus, there is power and there is healing. Most churches believe that Jesus saves. That is the mission of the church, to teach the world that Jesus saves us from our sins. When it comes to whether Jesus heals now, then their is not as much unity in the churches. Jesus saves and he heals. Are all saved? Are all healed? No, the churches have many who say they are Christian, but have never really been converted. Not all have a new heart, a new presence of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus said "Ye must be born again", he was referring to the experience of accepting him with the evidence of the Holy Spirit; A new life in His Spirit.

In the scripture story, the sick man had friends that carried him and opened up the clay roof in the crowded building where Jesus was teaching a big group of people, including certain scribes, and they let him down in the presence of Jesus. When he saw their faith he forgave the sick man's sins. When we are sick have others pray for you, it was the combined faith that moved Jesus to heal the man in this story. The scribes were angry at this, because only God can forgive sins. Jesus is God the Son. Jesus asked them which was the easiest to say, your sins are forgiven or get up and walk? Both of these require evidence. All, yes all who saw the man healed were amazed and glorified God.

In our church several came to the altar seeking healing. They were prayed for, but another came for salvation. All these are given in the presence of Jesus. Have faith, and let others pray for you and with you. Jesus has power to heal and to make whole. Jesus healed all who came to him, but it doesn't say that he forgave the sins of all who came to him. Which is the greater need? Many seek healing of their bodies, but neglect to ask Jesus for salvation. Jesus saw the greater need of forgiveness of sins and then he healed the body.

Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. 

Healing Point of Contact

Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

A certain woman, a real person who suffered with bleeding that would not stop for twelve years. Life is in the blood and she was in desperation.

Lev 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof...

Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Many of us can relate to this woman. The physician practicing medicine were only able to remove her of her wealth. and she grew worse. Where could she go but to the Lord?

Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

Mark 5:28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

Desperately she struggled through the crowd, if only to touch his clothing. She believed that even the garment being touched, as a part of Jesus would make her whole. I see two things at work here. The faith of the woman was devout and desperate and touching even the hem of Jesus' garment was enough to bring healing power.

There is another place in the Bible where faith and a piece of cloth was used as a point of contact to release healing power from God.

Act 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

Act 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Some churches pray over clothes and send them to people in need of healing .

Mark 5:29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Immediately she was healed, the blood stopped flowing.

Once when I was asked to photograph a wedding; two hours before the wedding my nose began to bleed, like a fountain. I applied pressure, every remedy I could remember and it bled for an hour. I was praying and praying to Jesus, finally it stopped. I thought, oh please do not let my nose bleed around the brides beautiful white dress. The Lord was faithful. Blood loss makes you weak and desperate. I can only imagine how this woman must have felt. With God there is healing. Jesus bled for us, that we might be healed. For those who must cut themselves? Jesus was wounded for your sins, his blood cleanses us and stops the misery of the flesh weaknesses and the devil's torments. There is life in the blood of Jesus for all who believe in him.

The Son of God

Mar 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
Mar 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mar 3:12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

Earlier in Mark chapter one, an unclean spirit spoke out with fear that Jesus was the holy one of God. Demons know the spirits and Jesus is the Holy One of God. In Mark 3 verse 11, a number of unclean spirits cry out, saying, Thou art the Son of God. So right they were. Why did Jesus command them to be quiet? Probably because the scribes and Pharisees were looking for something that they could accuse him of. In the end they did accuse him of blasphemy.

Mat 26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mat 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Mat 26:66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Their unbelief and envy led them to crucify Jesus, our Messiah and the Son of God. We are adopted son's of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Still there are people lacking faith who seek to mock and get rid of us. They did it to Jesus and they will seek to remove us.

The devil, Lucifer, that old dragon tempted Jesus at the end of his forty day fas in the wilderness. One thing he tempted him with was concerning his power and title as the Son of God.

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

The devil uses doubt to get us to follow him instead of God. The end result is to try to destroy us and our work for God. Jesus answered the devil with the word of God a second time. The word is our defense. Notice how the devil used Gods word, twisting it to make Jesus be tempted to follow the devils will. The devil may quote the Bible, but check the context. Is it a correct interpretation and application of the word? Also check the spirit. Too often I am caught off guard by someone quoting scripture that has the wrong spirit. He will seek to tear you down. Christ builds up; satan tears down. We are to build up the church body and guard against those who seek to tear down our ministry. Jesus is the Son of God.