Signs For The Blind

Mar 8:11  The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
Mar 8:12  And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."

In truth, there were an abundance of signs. Jesus had just finished feeding the 7000 by a miracle of multiplying the loafs and fishes. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind...but the blindness of the Pharisees was unbelief. They could be shown miracle after miracle and still not believe, by explaining them all away in their own craftiness. If you remember the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man could see Lazarus in the arms of Abraham across a gulf in paradise, but he himself was in torment in hades. He asked that Lazarus be sent to his brothers to warn them.

 

Luk 16:27  And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—
Luk 16:28  for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'
Luk 16:29  But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'
Luk 16:30  And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
Luk 16:31  He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

 

Moses and the prophets spoke of the coming of Messiah Jesus, but the Pharisees did not believe in him when he did come. Jesus would give his life on the cross and be risen from the dead, and still most of the Pharisees would not believe even though he was risen from the dead. Will you believe? So many sources seek to discredit the Bible on the TV, the Internet and in magazines, because they are spiritually blinded, some willfully so. I believe the Bible is God's word of truth. Jesus is Lord of all and yet not all will believe and receive eternal life. I believe in the Jesus of the Bible, in him is life everlasting.

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Loose Lips

Jdg 14:16  And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
Jdg 14:17  And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
Jdg 14:18  And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

Jdg 14:20  But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

 

The Philistines had overrun Israel and the LORD brought forth a child named Samson, a Nazarene. He wanted to marry a Philistine woman, his parents were opposed to marrying outside of God's covenant people. The LORD allowed this for his purpose. He was to help to deliver his people. 

 

One reason we are not to marry a person outside of God's covenant people is that they identify more with their own people. Samson's wife manipulated him with false tears so that she could tell the answer to his riddle to her people. There are people who cannot keep a secret, yes, even among God's covenant people. I suppose all of us have said things that should not have been said. There are some who will repeat anything they hear. If you want everyone to know a secret, just tell it to this person. A friend should not be saying to others things that were said in private.

 

Pro 27:6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

 

Pro 12:4  A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Joy or Shame?

Psa 35:26  Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

There will always be detractors in this life. When we are doing good there will always be the proud accusers against us. The last anniversary of our online ministry, several emails came with positive words but there was one that was from an accuser. He had nothing good to say about me and my part in the ministry. I think he was a confused person, I did not know his email name, but it probably was a hidden name. Throughout the years in our chats we have had those hell bent in bringing strife, confusion and destruction. They were warned and then removed from the room. They are filled with contempt.

 

But, there are many others who gather for the purpose that David speaks of in verses 27 and 28.

 

Psa 35:27  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psa 35:28  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

 

May the LORD be magnified, for he prospers our souls. Let us praise him all the day long. Come and worship our LORD, magnify Jesus, lift him up and be joyful in his presence; we gather together for this purpose.

 

Joh 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Speaking and Hearing

Mar 4:1  And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
Mar 4:2  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

 

Mar 4:33  And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
Mar 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

 

In public Jesus spoke in parables and those who could hear and understand were few. His disciples were taught the meanings of the parables when alone with Jesus. Knowing this, we as disciples should use parables in our teaching. We like to quote scriptures with the verse reference, but how many are able to hear and understand? In a group setting parables are used, but alone with hungry believers we should speak the powerful word of God.  Sometimes when witnessing in a group, one of satans mouth pieces will speak to distract and lead people away. We are to speak the word directly to these wolves among the sheep. The Word of God is spiritually understood. The unclean spirits will hear the powerful word and flee. We must learn to seek the spiritual meanings in our hearing and seeing. The power of God is in His powerful word.

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Family Matters

Mar 3:20  And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
Mar 3:21  And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

Mar 3:31  There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
Mar 3:32  And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

Yes, Jesus had half brothers and sisters. His family thought they knew him, but they did not believe in this Jesus who drew large crowds,  who healed the sick and cast out demons. He even missed meals. When Jesus and his disciples had entered a house, his family called for him outside. They were trying to fit Jesus into there perception of him. I remember when I was saved and began to grow in the Lord, my friends only knew me as I was, not who I was in Christ. I believe that a born again person is not going to hell, they are forgiven of sins and seen as righteous in the LORD's eyes. However, the world sees the familiar flesh person, so we are to work outwardly our new life so that others may see Jesus in us.

 

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Jesus' family tried to control him using their natural minds. Peter was chastised more than once for speaking out his thoughts, without the revelation of God. He was praised for his speaking by the revelation of God that Jesus was the Christ, the son of the living God. (Mat 16:16-19) Then he speaks from his natural mind concerning keeping Jesus from the cross and Jesus chastised him.

 

Mat 16:23  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

 

Jesus did not respond directly to his natural family, but he spoke to those near him.

 

Mar 3:33  And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
Mar 3:34  And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
Mar 3:35  For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

 

So if your family thinks that you are peculiar, that is okay because our true family is the family of God. After Jesus had died and had risen from the grave, then his brothers believed in him. It may take time, but we should through the grace of God bring our families to Jesus, so that they will be saved and see clearly the spiritual things, with the mind of Christ.

Eaglewings Ministries Home

In His Presence

Psa 31:19  Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
Psa 31:20  Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

What a comforting Psalm. How great is thy goodness towards those who fear you, who trust in you. A worshipping fear of the LORD, a respect and reverence for the MOST HIGH GOD and Jesus his Son. Holy is your name O LORD. Greatly to be praised. Lift up the name of Jesus! He hideth my soul, in the cleft of the Rock. He is my hiding place, my safe place from all alarm. He hides me in his secret place, a place separated from the pride of man and the strife of words and warfare. He is my safe dwelling place for all time, in His presence my soul is at rest. 

Eaglewings Ministries Home

Gideons Ephod

Jdg 8:22  Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.
Jdg 8:23  And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.
Jdg 8:24  And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Jdg 8:25  And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.
Jdg 8:26  And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.
Jdg 8:27  And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

Gideon declined to be made a ruler over the people saying that the LORD shall rule you. It was the LORD that guided Gideon to victory over the Midianites and their allies. He asked for the golden earrings of the Midianites amounting to about fifty pounds of gold. He then made an ephod, a priestly garment and put it in his city. This ephod became a snare to the people as they were worshipping it instead of the LORD. He could have built a memorial monument, but instead made this religious garment. After Gideon died the people went back to baal worship. Will our service to the LORD leave behind faith in the true God? 

Man gets in the way with his ideas instead of just doing what the LORD says. This reminds me of Peter at the Mt. of Transfiguration seeing Moses and Elijah with the Lord, he offered to make tabernacles for them. The LORD does not need our man made religious things. 

 

Mar 9:5  And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mar 9:6  For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Mar 9:7  And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

 

Man made religious efforts will fail, if the LORD is God, hear him, hear Jesus and obey him. Put nothing in the way of hearing God; fancy church buildings, decorations, the latest technology may just distract from the worship of the LORD. We must hear from God and not be distracted by worldly methods and things. 

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

Mat 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Eaglewings Ministries Home