Wonderful Jesus!

Category: Jesus

• A Forever Promise!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 27, 2021

  Psalm 89:34-37- My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah NKJV

  

  Most people enjoy a great love story. Or at the very least, most women do! One of my favorites is the movie, “Ever After” with Drew Barrymore as Danielle, and Dougray Scott as Prince Henry. It’s another spin on the story of Cinderella, and it’s a joy to watch. In this version, the mean stepmother gets her just rewards, and Danielle gets her Prince Henry in a way that is entertaining and heartwarming. If it’s not a classic, it should be!

  Forever after seems to truly be a storybook fantasy in many of our lives. On my second date with my husband, he asked me if I knew of any marriages that had lasted. Sadly to say, at that time, the pickings were really slim. Today, however, I know many couples who have been together for decades, and seem to truly be on the road to their personal forever after! We’re included in that number having celebrated 34 years this month! Here’s a place for a “Wonderful Jesus” shout!

  God is a forever God! There’s nothing temporary or flaky about Him, or what He says, or what He does. His promises are sure and they are true!

  David was minding his own business when he was called to dinner with Samuel and his family. Unbeknown to him, they were waiting for the next king of Israel. Or so we think! Could it be that while David was watching sheep, fighting off the bear, and ripping the lion apart that God had already spoken to him about being king? Is it possible that he had already received the promise? I don’t know, but I know this, God made Him a forever promise.

  From that day, David was the king of Israel. He was favored of God, a warrior who won many battles for the Lord. He took back territory from the Philistines, established worship in the temple, united the kingdom, and won the respect of those near and far. But one day, he wanted to build a house for the Lord. It was not to be because God said that David had too much blood on his hands. But then God said this to David:

  “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”’ ”. 2 Samuel 7:12-13,16 – NKJV

  David was so delighted. He just wanted to build a place for God. He wasn’t looking for anything in return. God had been so good to him already that he just wanted to do something to show God how much He meant to him. But you can never repay the generosity of the Father. David responded to the Lord by saying:

  “And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” 2 Samuel 7:28-29 – NKJV

  David knew the integrity of God’s promises. When he was anointed king that day, he returned to the sheep, not to the palace. As a matter of fact his journey to the palace was a long and arduous one. He went from the one who was heralded as a hero after killing Goliath, to the one who hid in the cave of Adullam, and was found weeping at Ziklag, and finally to kingship. But through it all, God was faithful to David, and gave him exactly what He had promised him.

  We see David later in years, about to transition to glory, as he turns the kingdom over to Solomon. We see a man who slept with another man’s wife, and had the man killed. We see a man who ran from his son who took the kingdom from him. We see a man who had children killing each other. A hard and often difficult life. But God had blessed David richly and said He would have given him more if he would have just asked. This David! The one who seemed to have lost his way! This David, was promised a forever kingdom!

  Great deliverance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore. Psalm 18:50 – NKJV

  Not only did God promise David a forever kingdom, but He also promised David and his descendants great deliverance and mercy forever! Isn’t that something? Well, that’s just like God. He didn’t change His promise based on David’s actions, but He kept His promise based on His word.

  Let’s return to our text.

  My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky.” Selah NKJV

  God promised that He would not break or alter the word that had gone out of His lips to David. He even said that He would not lie to David! (Do you want to know something else, God isn’t lying to us!). God promised that David’s seed would endure forever and that is so through Jesus, and also through many in the nation of Israel who trace their ancestry to David. God said that his throne would be established forever, and again, this was made a reality through the throne of Jesus! God made a forever promise to David, and He kept His word!

  This week I have an objective, if you haven’t noticed. Two in fact. The first is to remind us of the surety of the promises of God. The second is to remind us of the faithfulness of God to His word. Scripture lets us know that He watches over it to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12)

  As we journey through 2021, let’s do so, learning to trust in His promises like never before. Let’s set our face to know what those promises are and learn how to receive them in our lives. Let us determine that we will say like the song of old:

  Standing, standing
  Standing on the promises of Christ my Savior,
  Standing, standing
  Standing on the promises of God!

  Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in God, God’s Blessings, Jesus, Promises of God | 2 Comments | Tagged blessings, David, Deliverance, descendants, faithfulness, favor, God, hard times, Jesus, kingdom, Marriage, promise, trust in God, word of God

• The Changeless Promise!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 25, 2021

  Galatians 3:18 – For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. NKJV

  

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  Most people have a childhood memory of pinky promises. Promises to be best friends forever. Promises to keep each other secrets no matter what. Promises to never date someone who your friend is interested. Promises and more promises. Yet, I can’t remember any of the promises or people I made pinky promises with. I just remember doing it.

  As humans, we can be a little sloppy with our words, making promises that we have no intentions of keeping. Or making promises we are incapable of keeping. We’ve all experienced the disappointments of broken promises. And we know all too well that the best promise from some people is no promise at all!

  I think that is why living together, without the benefit of marriage, may have come into place. It gives you that sense of, not making a forever promise, so you don’t have to worry about it when the other person leaves. I’m just guessing here, but that’s fear. Fear of being hurt, disappointed, abandoned, and no longer wanted or needed. I get it!

  The thing that has me blogging tonight is this: because our word can be so weak, and our promises even weaker, we have a tendency to think God is the same way. Thinking like this, is what causes us to live beneath our privilege in Christ; and weakens our ability to live to our fullest in Him!

  I can give you example upon example of people not keeping their word. Children go to bed hurt at night because of the parent who didn’t come by to see them or pick them up like it was promised. Spouses cry themselves to sleep because of the other one, who walked away without looking back, although they promised a forever after. Bosses promise promotion that never happens, or raises that never seem to materialize. Companies makes promises with their products that we keep buying, even when we don’t get what they promised. Politicians who run campaigns on promises that they know are unrealistic, unattainable! Don’t you just get tired of it all! And so I get how difficult it may be to trust God at His word! God has this to say about Himself in the word:

  “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?Numbers 23:19 – NKJV

  We learn about Abraham in Genesis. Abraham was brought up in a polytheistic, multiple gods, culture. He didn’t know who the one true God was, but he must have been interested in Him. One day God called out to him and made him a promise:

  Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” -Genesis 12:1-3 – NKJV

  And yet, in Galatians, Paul is still referring to the promise that God made to Abraham. Not weeks later! Not centuries later! But millennials later! Paul reminds us of the promise God made to Abraham, that we are partakers of! Everything God promised to Abraham happened. Abraham not only became a great nation, but two nations. His name is known, even today, worldwide. Today, all the families of the earth is being blessed because of the promise made to Abraham.

  God was so serious about this promise to Abraham, that it was said:

  For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” Hebrews 6:13-14 – NKJV

  That’s a strong promise! A promise made to Abraham in Genesis 22:16, when Abraham did not withhold Isaac from God on the mount. It was then that God swore by Himself saying that He would surely bless Abraham!

  Our text for today, references the inheritance that was promised to Abraham. The Greek word “kleronomia” means the actual enjoyment of the benefits already promised under the will. That’s powerful all by itself!

  Most people understand the concept of a will. Someone dies and leaves us an inheritance. We all wish we were related to people who are really wealthy, so we can get just a slice of the pie! But the King of Glory, God of the Universe has decreed that we are heirs (kleronomos) with Abraham! And that doesn’t excite most people! Well, it should! I’m getting stirred as I write!

  If you follow Abraham’s life, everything wasn’t easy. As a matter of fact, he didn’t get to see all of what God had promised to him and his descendants while on earth. The reason being, the promise is still being fulfilled. Even though Abraham is no longer on the earth, God’s promise set things in motion for him and He hasn’t changed His mind about that promise. Because Abraham isn’t around to partake of it, his descendants get to enjoy the benefits of this changeless promise.

  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 – NKJV

  Let’s stop and think about the word promise. In the Greek it is “epangelia”. In the Vine’s dictionary we learn that:

  It frequently stands for the thing “promised,” and so signifies a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation…”

  Abraham’s only contribution to receiving this promise was to obey God’s command to leave and to go where he was led. As he did this, he demonstrated his willingness to place his trust in God. Then God blessed Abraham as he promised, and never stopped blessing him. God bestowed favor on Abraham. God bestowed riches on Abraham. God provided protection to Abraham. Every where Abraham turned, he was blessed or getting blessed. Even in his mess ups, they were turned around for his good. Because the blessing from God was upon his life!

  God’s promises to Abraham are just as available as they have always been, to the descendants of Abraham. Our part is the same as Abraham’s part was: we simply believe. We don’t have to negotiate with God, or even look for a better promise. Everything that God promised to Abraham is obtained through Christ! And those promises, called great and precious promises, better promises. are waiting for us today!

  Look at how faithful God was to His promise to Abraham. There was just no stopping that blessing from happening once it was set in motion by God’s decree. God has made some pretty amazing promises to us in His word. It’s up to us to decide if we can trust His word or not! I will trust God and His unchanging promise! What about you? Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Blessing of Abraham, God’s Blessings, inheritance, Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged Abraham, blessings, Christ, Faith, faithfulness, favor, God, God’s word, Grace, heirs, inheritance, obedience, promise, trust in God, unchanging

• Celebration Time!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 22, 2021

  Luke 4:18-19 -“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” NKJV

  

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  For me, it’ really been an interesting time looking at the ministry of Jesus through Luke 4, which is really an echo, or fulfillment, of Isaiah 61. Isaiah’s list is longer than the one Jesus read, so since Jesus stopped here, for now, so will I!

  Tonight’s blog is on the acceptable year of the Lord!

  The word acceptable, in the Greek, is “dektos”. According to the Vines, “dektos” “denote that most blessed time when salvation and free favors of God profusely abound”. This expression would have meant nothing to a Gentile in that day, but it held great significance for the Jews.

  Leviticus 25:10-12 -“And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine. For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field.” NKJV

  The year of Jubilee was significant in that it provided three major benefits: personal liberty, restoration of property, and blessings.

  In the year of Jubilee, if you were a slave you would be set free. No matter how many years were left to your bondage, you would be free! If you had to sale your property, for whatever reason, it was restored to you in the year of Jubilee. And the harvesting of the land was halted, that everyone could enjoy the fruit of the land, representing blessings or favor to all.

  The only drawback to the year of Jubilee was that it came every 50 years. So if you were in year 45 or closer to the Jubilee, I am sure that you could look forward to it and the blessings it brought. If you were at year 2 to 5, after the year of Jubilee, you might have pleasant memories. But if you went into slavery, or lost your property 10 years after Jubilee, or the year after Jubilee, the road ahead would not be filled with hope! Jesus came and announced that in Him was the fulfillment of the year of Jubilee. No more waiting for Jubilee, because Jubilee had arrived and was looking at them! It’s celebration time! But in truth, they didn’t see it that way!

  First, and foremost, He came to liberate us from the bondage of sin.

  Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

  His death, burial, and resurrection provided us with liberty from that bondage. He who knew no sin, became sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

  This reconciliation of man to God, restored us to our rightful place in God, giving us an inheritance with Jesus.

  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29 – NKJV

  Once we were made righteous, we had access to all that was Jesus’, thus all that the Father had! Every promise, every blessing, and immeasurable favor, was opened up to us! This was the best news of all! Jubilee personified! For us! Let’s celebrate!

  Two things that stood out to me in this study: Jesus is our Great Physician. Physical healing, emotional healing, mental healing, social healing…if it has a name, Jesus heals us of it! And He is our Redeemer! Salvation, deliverance, protection, reconciliation is all wrapped up in Him. The entirety of the gospel message is really encapsulated in these two truths. It’s a theme repeated over and again throughout scriptures. However we find ourselves in life, we will need Him as our Physician or our Redeemer. And we will always find Him available.

  I’ve written some pretty long posts during this study, so I’ll be brief tonight. Schambach had a saying, while he was ministering on the earth: “You don’t have any trouble! All you need is faith in God!” For some reason this saying just came to me tonight. I will say it like this: When you have trouble, of any kind, reach out with your faith to God! Jesus has paved the way with the cross and has come to give us all of Him and all of the Father!

  Let us not be like the Pharisees! Let’s recognize the truth of Jesus’ words spoken so long ago and recorded for us to have! He has fulfilled the scripture that says He is our all in all! Let’s receive Him for the truth that He is and begin to celebrate Him like never before! And then, let’s just celebrate! Celebration time, come on! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in favor, Jesus, Luke 4:18, ministry of Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged acceptable year, Believer, blessings, encouragement, Faith, freedom, God, Grace, Healing, Jesus, ministry, reconciliation, restoration, righteousness, Salvation, slavery, Year of Jubilee

• Shattered!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 20, 2021

  Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed..NKJV

  

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  Today’s topic will probably not be a feel good topic, but I refuse to ignore it, since it is part of the ministry of Jesus. When Jesus read the list of things that God had anointed Him to do, dealing with oppression was in the list. He said it this way, “to set at liberty those who are oppressed”. Most people don’t even think about oppression, but today, we will take a quick look at what oppression is. First, we will look at natural or physical oppression.

  Oppression is real in our society. No matter how much we wish for it to not be so, it is so. Oppression was at the heart of the women’s suffrage movement during the 1800s. Women were tired of being ornaments on their husbands and fathers arms, doormats in their homes, and being kept “barefoot and pregnant”. They wanted to have a real place in society, with a voice, and opportunities.

  The Civil Rights movement during the 50s and 60s, was a cry for social just because of the systemic oppression Black people faced on a daily basis. Low paying jobs, segregated schools, stores, communities. Giving honor to whites on the bus, on the sidewalk, in the line. They just wanted the same rights, freedoms, and job opportunities of their white counterparts.

  Black Lives Matter, is the millennials cry to unfair treatment of non-whites by police and the justice system. As they watch individuals being murdered on the streets, on video, and it being called justifiable. For them, that is unacceptable!

  Many Christians, Black and white, are confused as to how they should view situations and organizations like Black Lives Matter. We are told, by Blacks and Whites alike a variety of things: “If Black Lives Matter, why is there so much Black on Black crime”? I ask you, ” Don’t we have a lot of white on white crime? Surely killing inside of your own race is not just a problem with Blacks?” We are told that if we really care about Black lives, we should care about the Blacks in the ghetto who are being killed in gang violence. I say to that, “If you are really pro-life, you should care also”. Gang violence is a societal issue that is being ignored because it involves Black and Brown individuals, not because it is unsolvable. We most certainly, as a nation, could do more to stomp out gang violence. And we should! But one really does not have anything to do with the other.

  A definition of oppression is prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control. That is what the Women’s Suffrage movement complained about, the Civil Rights Activist complain about, and what Black Lives Matter complain about. Cruel and unjust treatment or control.

  Whenever God’s people, the Israelites, found themselves under oppression, they would call out to God and He would deliver them! Therefore, it’s no surprise that part of Jesus’ ministry would be to set the oppressed free.

  When Jesus said:

  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 – NKJV

  He was giving us a key to handling natural oppression. Where we have godly, or agape love for one another, we will have genuine concern for them, their needs, and their well-being. Love isn’t a commodity we throw around to control people, it’s how they will know that we are truly His disciples.

  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:35 – NKJV

  Then there is spiritual oppression that we can experience in life. The Bible refers to this oppression as being demonic. It’s just as cruel in nature, and equally as controlling in the individual’s life, and we must be healed of it. Acts 10:38 states:

  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 – NKJV

  Can I just say, that I had to look up the difference between oppression and those who are bound by chains? I thought they were one and the same, but the definition for oppression in the Vine’s dictionary gives us a different meaning altogether:

  The Greek word “thrauo” means bruise:

  “to smite through, shatter,” It is used in Luk 4:18, “them that are bruised,” i.e., broken by calamity.

  This oppression, that is brought on by the devil, is what we experience after great calamity and trouble. The loss of a loved one through violence, sudden death from COVID-19, floods, hurricanes…unexpected, inexplicable things that causes us to feel as if we are being shattered by the event that has taken place. In the Young’s Literal translation, Luke 4:18 reads like this:

  `The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because He did anoint me; to proclaim good news to the poor, sent me to heal the broken of heart, to proclaim to captives deliverance, and to blind receiving of sight, to send away the bruised with deliverance..Luke 4:18 – YLT

  Jesus wants us to come to Him with these bruises, not to run away. He says, He will heal us, send us away delivered and put back together. He is still saying, “Come to Me”.

  Isaiah 53 is where we find a powerful verse on healing:

  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. Isaiah 53:4-5 – NKJV

  But right after that, we have this verse:

  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Isaiah 53:7 – NKJV

  Jesus understands physical and spiritual oppression. He didn’t avoid any of it, because He wanted us to know that He understood what we were experiencing. Today, if you find yourself bruised, shattered, and hurting over the cruel actions of others or events, know that you are not alone. Jesus has been where you find yourself, and He gets it. And the greater words of encouragement for you are: He can heal you. It is what He was anointed to do! What He is still anointed to do!

  Some experiences in life are shattering. I wish it was not so. So does the Father! I promise you He isn’t responsible. He said that the devil is responsible and Jesus is the cure. Trust Him today to put all the pieces back together again in your life. So whether you are experiencing a natural or spiritual oppression at this time, you can experience freedom and healing. The way to that freedom may be different, but if you’ll trust Jesus, you can experience it in the natural and in the spiritual realm. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Deliverance, Healing, Jesus, Luke 4:18, Social Justice | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, calamity, coronavirus, Deliverance, God, hard times, Healing, Jesus, love, oppression, shattered, Social Justice, the devil

• Removing the Blinders!

  Posted at 7:39 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on January 18, 2021

  Luke 4:18 -“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”NKJV

  

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  When we were kids, we would play games where we pretended that we were blind. Today, I realize how terribly insensitive that game was, but at that time, we thought we were having fun. There is nothing entertaining about making fun of the disabilities of others, and I am embarrassed to realize that I didn’t always think this way. While we were pretending to be blind, we were actually walking in blindness to the pain and thoughtlessness that this game could have caused those who were visually impaired. Thank God we grew out of that!

  The ministry of Jesus is an all encompassing ministry. When He read these words in Luke, He proclaimed that He had come to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of mankind. Nothing was irrelevant or umimportant, and nothing was to be ignored. He had come for His people.

  Today, I am blogging about Jesus’ ministry that deals with “recovery of sight to the blind”. The Bible makes us aware of both spiritual and physical blindness. In my earlier example, I was blind and didn’t know it, and there are many today, who are walking around blind and are unaware of it.

  One of my favorite miracles in the Bible happened in the book of John chapter 9. This was the miracle that brought down the wrath of the Pharisees. (As if they had any real power). The healing of the man born blind. Now, the Pharisees were already too outdone with Jesus, but for some reason, this sent them over the top!

  Jesus passed by a man that had come into the world blind. His disciples took this opportunity to ask the Master, who did sin, the man or his parents? Well, since he was born blind, we can definitely rule the man out, he didn’t have a chance to commit any sin to bring a loss of his sight. As for the parents, Jesus said it wasn’t them either. But He did acknowledge that this blindness would allow Him, Jesus, to manifest God to the man.

  Every aspect of Jesus’ ministry was not only people oriented, but it was to fulfill the purposes of God. Ministry isn’t about getting us a name, or building us a reputation, or even a legacy; but for the glory of God. I’ve read many books of the men and women, God used to display His power. Most of them eventually came to a place where they acted as if it was their power flowing. Not so! That’s for another blog, but the point is, it is never about us!

  Jesus directed His disciples to the truth that what they were getting ready to witness, was about glorifying God, fulfilling His work! Every salvation, every deliverance, every healing, every comforted soul, is for His glory!

  Jesus then made clay with His saliva, anointed the man’s eyes, and told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. When he came back from the pool, the man could see. This was such a big deal, and such a notable miracle, that it got people to talking. Now here’s why I love it so much!!

  The man began to testify. He shared it with his neighbors and all who would listen. Even in the synagogue. And when they refused to accept his testimony, he just kept telling them what happened, and defending Jesus, even at the threat of being excommunicated. Nothing else mattered after Jesus gave him sight, but the fact that he could now see. Love it!

  He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25 -NKJV

  Then there was Bartimaeus! We still call him Blind Bartimaeus, but he didn’t remain blind. For when he cried out to Jesus, His sight was restored. Jesus healed physical blindness on several occasions. As He ministered restoring of sight, He dealt with their poverty. Those who were blind, were definitely amongst the poor. They were generally beggars. Even the man in John 9 was a beggar. He had a family. Both parents were alive (we know this because the Pharisees sent for them); and yet, he was begging. When Bartimaeus threw away his beggar clothes to go to Jesus, he threw away his past and embraced his future!

  Spiritual blindness is just as confining as physical blindness, and can cause a spiritual poverty in the lives of those who experience it. But spiritual blindness can be more costly because it can lead to spiritual death.

  2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. NKJV

  Paul wrote that the devil has blinded the minds of people throughout the ages, causing the gospel message to be hidden from them. I thank God, that I can say like the man in John 9, I once was blind but now I see! Those blinders have thankfully been removed! But if they remain, you are in danger of experiencing eternal death.

  Jesus said it like this:

  So that ‘Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.’ ”. Mark 4:12 – NKJV

  Not a case of physical blindness, but a worst case of physical sight and not perceiving that you are blind to the more critical things that you really need to see.

  One type of blindness we may all need to have our sight restored from, on occasion, is deception. James wrote:

  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:16 – NKJV

  Yet, how often do we find ourselves deceived. We think we right, when we are wrong! That’s deception. We think someone has done something to us and they aren’t even aware there is a problem. Deception! We get so caught up in ourselves, that we allow the deceiver, to cause us to become deceived. Worst then being deceived, is when we deceive ourselves.

  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. James 1:22-24 – NKJV

  Jesus, the Living Word, can help us to see more clearly. Reading the logos of the word, can help us to understand better. Obeying God’s word, over all else, is the wisest way to be kept from deception.

  If we are not careful, we can live with blinders over our eyes and around our mind. Blinders to the full gospel. Blinders to our personal weaknesses. Blinders to relationships that suck the life out of us. Blinders, blinders, and more blinders!

  Jesus came to give recovery of sight to the blind. Whether we suffer from physical or spiritual blindness, He is the cure! Notice I didn’t say that He has the cure! He is the cure! Reach out in faith today to have your sight restored! Wonderful Jesus!

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  Posted in Blindness, Healing, Jesus, John 9, miracle | 0 Comments | Tagged Blindness, deceiver, deception, encouragement, Faith, Healing, Jesus, restoration, Salvation, spiritual blindness, word of God

• Spiritual Sharecropping!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 15, 2021

  Luke 4:18- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…” NKJV

  

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  Every aspect of the ministry of Jesus focuses on people. What He did, and what He said, during His earthly ministry, testifies to that truth. But this ministry, the ministry to set the captives free, is the launching pad of all of His ministry. He came to “break every chain” and to make us free.

  We can really get ourselves caught up in stuff. Drugs, alcoholism, sexual immorality, lying, stealing, hating, backbiting, and everything in between. Some of this stuff is of our own choosing, while some of it comes with the territory of our lives. And then there is that, which seems to have traveled through our bloodlines. So much baggage, so many chains, and Jesus came to free us from them all.

  I love the words of the Savior in John 8:

  John 8:36 -Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV

  Yet, many believers are still walking around in the chains of their past, with sins weighing them down, as though they have never heard this declaration of the Savior.

  Paul wrote in Galatians:

  Galatians 5:1 – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. NIV

  When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He died to set us free from the bondage of sin. When He set us free from the bondage of sin, it was that we could live a life of freedom, and still, there are chains in many people lives.

  Let me clarify for you, I am not sitting in judgment and making light of the trials and struggles that we face in this life. However, the truth of the Word is that Jesus came to set the captives free, and if we are captive to anything in this life, He wants us free!

  My daughter wrote a series called, “The Salis Plantation”. One of the things I truly love about the series, besides the fact that she wrote it, is the way she portrayed the slaves who ran for freedom. In her novels, these ex-slaves had to learn to be free. Although, they had escaped slavery, and was no longer bound in the physical sense, they had to become free in their spirits, their minds, and the way they lived.

  It’s the same way in Christ Jesus. He sets us free from the bondage of sin when we are born again. It’s our spiritual liberation day and we become new creatures. Outwardly we look the same, and so does our environments; but inwardly we are not the same people. Therefore, we are not to do the same things we did before, or to live the same way.

  It starts with the understanding of His message to the captives. We can be free. How is that even possible? Listen to what Jesus said:

  John 8:31-32 – Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” NKJV

  As we begin to read and study the word, we begin to abide in Him. As we begin to abide in Him, we learn of the truth of His power over sin and the evil one. As we learn to trust Him and His word, we realize that we can truly be free. Truth opens our eyes to the possibility of being free. When we embrace that truth, and can see ourselves free, it will happen for us! Chains are broken!

  You say, “It’s not that simple!” I agree, for many, it is not! For others, when they are born of the Spirit of God, they are immediately set free from addictions, from hate, from guilt and shame. I don’t know the whys of it all, I just know that He came to make us free, and He is well able to do what He said that He would do!

  The things that hold us in bondage are weighty chains. They affect every area of our lives. The alcoholic desperately wants to be free. The damage that comes into the family of an alcoholic can be pretty traumatic. The family of the drug addict cries for the freedom of their loved one, because the pain of watching a life self-destruct, is heartbreaking! (Remember yesterday’s post, He can heal that broken heart)! The point is, people need to be free, and only Jesus can truly set us free! He is just as anointed today to set the captive free, as He was when He walked this earth.

  Matthew tells us of a couple men who needed to be set free. They were demon-possessed, and they hung out in the tombs. Matthew described them as being extremely fierce, and they were obviously very dangerous men, because he said no one could pass their way. But one day, Jesus did! And at His word, they were set free!

  Every ministry that Jesus walked in, because He was anointed, is a ministry we are to walk in. I’m not saying that I have arrived, but I am saying that I need to know all that He did and expects of us as His body. Getting people free, is as much a part of our responsibilities, as Christians, as helping the poor, and the broken-hearted. But it’s not for the faint of heart or the individual who is not anointed.

  All chains are not broken the same way. There are some great programs, started by believers, that are effectively assisting people in getting free. Here’s a truth I never want to stray away from:

  Matthew 9:29 – “According to your faith let it be to you.” NKJV

  What you believe about your situation and how you can be made free, or not, plays a significant role in getting free. Slaves who were afraid of running away to obtain freedom remained in bondage. Even after their freedom was secured nationally, some stayed in the yokes of slavery, as sharecroppers. Not being owned, but not being able to live a life much different then when they were slaves; still bowing to the plantation owners with next to nothing to call their own. Still afraid of upsetting them and making them mad, or of not showing up and working when they said. Working hard, like a slave, and being given pennies a day, while being charged dollars a minute for everything. Always in debt, (another bondage), and never a way to get out of it! A horrible lifestyle!

  That’s what a believer, who Jesus came to set free, but who still lives in bondage is, a spiritual sharecropper. Living in bondage to the devil, as if there is no realization that freedom has been granted! Living as if the devil’s bondages are more powerful than Christ’s freedom! Living as though there is no hope for a different lifestyle, when the Savior has said we have become children of God and can be free!

  Not criticizing! Just saying what Jesus said! He came that we might be free from the bondages of sin! He came so that, in obtaining freedom, we might actually live in that freedom. As we minister to people, it is our responsibility to tell them this is part of the gospel message: they can be free! Jesus said it, and didn’t change His mind; that whom He sets free, is free indeed.

  If you or someone you know is yoked in spiritual sharecropping; free without the benefits of being free, it’s time to believe God for a change. The word of God says that you can be free and you should be free. As you study His word, even reading the truth in this blog, begin to see yourself free of every yoke. As you begin to see yourself free, ask God for a plan, or to lead you where you can learn more about being free. Go after it, and then dare to believe it can be yours! I’ll be praying for you or your loved one. And if you drop me a comment about a specific situation, I will add my faith and prayers to yours.

  Jesus is anointed to set you free, and if you look, you will find one of His anointed servants, who can help you get free! Wonderful Jesus!

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  Posted in Deliverance, freedom, Jesus, Luke 4:18 | 2 Comments | Tagged Deliverance, demonic activity, encouragement, Faith, free, freedom, Jesus, Luke 4:18, sharecroppers, the devil, Victorious Living, victory

• He’ll Make it Better!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 13, 2021

  Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” NKJV

  

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  I have to admit that my blog was kind of long on yesterday, but you should’ve seen all that I had to cut out! I’ll try and do better today, but this is a topic that people from all walks of life, every tongue, and every nation can identify with: a broken heart! I look at the person in this picture and think, what would cause a grown man to stand in a shower, fully dressed, and cry his heart out?

  You don’t have to live long to experience a broken heart, but if you’ve lived for any number of years, you have probably had your share of experiences that have caused your heart to break! Well, I have great news for you today! Jesus was sent to heal the broken heart!

  I decided to go online tonight, and I found that there is actually a condition called broken heart syndrome! That was a little surprising, but realizing the many instances of how a heart can be broken, I can see that!

  What’s broken your heart? Maybe you had a loved one who got in trouble with the law, and their lives were essentially ruined as they were hauled off to jail? Or maybe you went to work one day, and when you returned your spouse had taken all of his/her personal items and didn’t even leave a note? Or maybe it wasn’t that drastic, it was just that your spouse lied to you about something that you thought was important? Or your best friend turned out to be your worst nightmare? Maybe your dream job was given to the person you like the least in the company, or the promotion you thought you were getting turned out to be a demotion? The list can go on and on and on, because as long as we interact with people, there is the potential for a broken heart!

  This pandemic has claimed almost 380,000 lives here in America, and almost 2,000,000 lives worldwide. I can assure you that there are a lot of broken hearts today. There are those who have lost their businesses, their homes, their livelihoods, their churches, their health, all because COVID-19 showed up unexpectedly and stayed way longer than we could have imagined. Heartbreak!

  Here’s what the psalmist wrote about the situation:

  Psalm 147:3 -He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow]. AMP

  And again,

  Psalm 34:18 – The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart…NKJV

  The disciples come to mind at the moment, of those with a broken heart. Can you imagine the way their hearts must have felt as they saw the Savior being crucified? Can you wonder what it must have felt like to see Him so disfigured on the cross? The One who had healed so many, brought life to others, and gave hope to them all hung there lifeless before them. Don’t you think their hearts had to have been crushed with each pounding of the nails into His hands and feet? Oh my, how I cried when I watched it portrayed in “The Passion of the Cross”. I might have fainted away and died had I witnessed it in person.

  And Peter! What about his heart? As he heard that cock crow for the last time and realized that he had done the very thing he said he wouldn’t do? He wept bitterly! Why? His heart was literally breaking into pieces.

  But Jesus didn’t leave them there with that overwhelming pain. And He doesn’t want to leave you there. Just as He went to them and healed their broken hearts, He will come to you, if you let Him.

  I well remember a time when He came to me. Unfortunately, I wish I could say that it was only once, but it was several times through the decades of my life, that He has healed me. One night, I lay in bed a sobbing mess! As I lay there, hurting over a deeply painful situation, I could hardly breathe. Snot running from nose, tears flowing my eyes, balled up in pain. All I could think was, “O God, help me!” I even whispered that I wish He could just wrap His arms around me and hold me. Not moments later, I felt as if arms were being wrapped around me and I was being held close. I knew it was His Presence. As He held me, He healed me. The pain just began to be absorbed into Him as it was drained from me. The experience was so supernatural, it’s truly unbelievable. But since I experienced it, I know it to be true.

  The disciples asked Jesus one day, “Don’t You care that we are about to perish?” Your heart may be hurting so badly right now that you are wondering if He cares. I can truly assure you that He does. He not only cares, but He came to heal you of that pain!

  Stop carrying around that albatross! It’s too much for you to bear! But it’s just the thing for Him to bear! He truly wants to heal you of all the hurt that you are experiencing, even right now! He wants to remove the guilt, the shame, the paralyzing fear that comes with it. He wants to remove it all! So that you can be free!

  All you need to do is to give it to Him! Cry out to Him, not just in pain, but in faith; believing that He can and He will heal you. For only He can! He will make it better for you! He promised! Wonderful Jesus!

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  Posted in Healing, Jesus, Luke 4:18, supernatural | 3 Comments | Tagged coronavirus, God, Healing, heartbreak, Marriage, miraculous, pain, pandemic, Peter, Prayer, psalm, relationships, supernatural, trust in God

• The Gospel to the Underdog!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 11, 2021

  Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; NKJV

  

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  Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! I want, more than anything, for Jesus to be seen in me. I know that doesn’t happen as often as it should, but it’s my heart’s desire. I also understand that if I want Jesus to be seen in me, then I need to live a life reflective of Him. That’s why I am drawn to the ministry of Jesus, and will spend some time blogging about it!

  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”. Jesus is in the temple in His hometown. According to Luke, this happens after Jesus has been led on a forty day fast by the Spirit of God. During this fast He has an encounter with Satan, in which Satan tries very hard, through temptations, to pull Him off course. Luke let’s us know that when He returned to Galilee, after this fast, He returned in the power of the Spirit. He is now ready to deal with the devil and to fulfill His destiny as Messiah!

  Isaiah’s prophecy, which Jesus read in Luke 4, was familiar to those who were listening in the synagogue. Jesus said that He was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor. Often, as ministers, we have said that the gospel to the poor is that you don’t have to be poor anymore. I agree with this use of the verse because Jesus has a way of making the poor feel mighty rich. I agree with this verse because He also has a way of making the poor rich, spiritually and materially. But today, I want to look at what I believe Jesus was really saying!

  What is the gospel to the poor? And why does it even it matter?

  If you have never been poor, you are clueless as to the effect these words would have on poor people. I have been poor. I was raised in the South with seven sisters and two brothers. I lived with both my parents, and we were poor. I remember wearing hand me downs for a good portion of my life. Not just from my many sisters, but from the goodwill box that would arrive with clothes in it. I grew to hate hand me downs! I remember getting food boxes with stuff nobody really eats because it was cleared out of the cupboards of people who no longer wanted it. The worst was at Christmas when we would get those nasty fruit cakes in a tin! I know what you are thinking? You couldn’t have been too poor if you were being so choosy. Well, I could tell you some stories!

  The poor has always been at the mercy of others, even in Biblical days. Jews with land and money had to provide for them. In Exodus, we find these words:

  Exodus 23:10-11 – “Six years you shall sow your land and gather in its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove. NKJV

  Jewish law, mandated by God, stated that the Jewish people were to work their land for six years, but the in the seventh year, they were to leave the fields alone. This year of rest was also a year that would allow those who were poor to gather food for themselves and their families. Likewise, in their vineyard and their olive groves.

  In Leviticus, we see the same principle:

  Leviticus 23:22 – ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.’ ” NKJV

  Even in the years that they gathered, they were to leave the corners of their fields alone, so that the poor around them could gather something to eat during those first six years. (Remember, Ruth was allowed to glean in Boaz’s fields to gather food for herself and Naomi). It’s tough to always be at the mercy of others for the basic needs of your life! It’s tough being poor! Many of us are so blessed that we don’t get this! We just become so unfeeling at times that we fail to realize, “If it had not been for the Lord!”

  In the Word, there are so many references to dealing with the poor, but I’ll list only a few here today:

  • Don’t deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. (Exodus 23:6)
  • Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. (Leviticus 19:15)
  • All my bones shall say, “ Lord, who is like You, Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?(Psalm 35:10)
  • Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. (Luke 7:22)
  • Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” (Luke 19:8)

  I could go on, but I have made the point! I believe the gospel that was preached to the poor was and is the gospel that says, you will not be ignored anymore! That’s pretty powerful! No more will you have to feel insignificant, afraid of those in power and those with money, because I came specifically to give you the good news. I am here for you! I will never forsake you, I will never leave you. I’m leveling the playing field because the currency of the kingdom of God isn’t money, it’s faith! And if you can believe, all things are possible to those who believe!

  Jesus cared about the well-being of the poor. He understood that it was not enough to just feed the poor and to give them clothes, although He had no problems with feeding them! He saw the poor! He saw that they were people who wanted the best for their families, just like those who were not poor. He saw that they wanted to be treated fairly when they went to court, just like everybody else was treated fairly. He saw that their lives mattered to them and their families. And He still sees them!

  This morning I actually thought about how Jesus is there for the underdog. The underdog is defined as a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest; a victim of injustice or persecution, by Merriam-Webster dictionary. Doesn’t that sound like the poor? His first proclamation as Messiah was that He had come to preach to the underdog.

  Jesus’ gospel, sees people, sees the value of people, and the needs of people. He offered to the poor, a gospel that valued them. He offered them an opportunity to make everlasting changes in their lives and the lives of their family! He offered them hope and a future! He offered them a Savior who was there for them. He offered them Himself!

  As believers, as ambassadors for Christ, it is what we have been anointed to do! The Spirit of the Lord God is upon us to preach the gospel to the poor. But in the preaching, there must be demonstration of the truth of His words! We are defenders of social justice, for Jesus’ gospel to the poor is the gospel to the underdog. We are for equality, for Jesus’ gospel is the great equalizer, all one body we! We are His ambassadors, and as such, we are to continue what He started!

  It’s a gospel of salvation! It’s a gospel of hope! It’s a gospel to the poor! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Jesus, Luke 4:18, Social Justice, the gospel | 6 Comments | Tagged ambassadors, Fasting, God, Isaiah 61, Jesus, Luke 4:18, ministry, the devil, the gospel, the kingdom of God, the poor, the underdog

• America! Divided We Fall!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 8, 2021

  Matthew 12:25 – “But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” NKJV

  

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  I know it’s on your mind! It’s on the minds of people all over the world, so I interrupt my blog to say, “America! Don’t you understand that divided we fall?”

  I’ve blogged before about how all of this tension could lead to civil war. This is scary, because it makes it seem even more real than my imagination.

  I’ve read fiction and non-fiction books about the Civil War. I’ve seen documentaries and movies about the Civil War! And can I just remind us all that it was a terrible time in our history!! We don’t want to repeat it!

  Jesus said that a kingdom divided against itself would not stand but fall to desolation. Not us, fellow citizens! Please, not us!

  We need to find a place of common ground as citizens and begin to make every effort to reunite as a nation. We need to put a stop to this type of behavior swiftly and decisively. And we need our politicians to stop thinking about their parties and their power and to begin to think about the safety of America! It’s why we voted them in!

  But as Christians, we are not without fault. God gave us our marching orders in the Old Testament:

  If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 – NKJV

  Christians, we have some repenting to do! And again in the New Testament:

  I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10

  As a body, we are in error. The division in the United States is really sad, and it’s wrong. The division in the Church is heartbreaking. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike, it’s time to pray for unity! It’s time to walk in unity! It’s time to show the world Jesus!

  I end with this! I saw a legislator praying her heart out during the chaos! That is the picture of the church the world needs to see! I commend her and join her in prayer for our nation, and for each other!

  Lord, how I love America! With all of its faults, it’s still my country of birth and my country of choice. I don’t want to see us fighting amongst one another. I understand that we have a lot of serious issues in our country that need to be addressed, but I pray that You will help us find the solutions. Help us to not take matters in our own hands. Help us to recognize truth and shun deception. Help us to forgive and to heal. God, there’s no accomplishing anything good without You. Help us to remember what we have obviously forgotten: how families fought against one another in the Civil War and was forever torn apart. God, help us! How friends fought against one another, even being responsible for one another’s death, because no one wanted to work things out. Oh God, not again! Not in my America! Please forgive us for leaving You out of the equation, or for thinking that you were a part of what You were never a part of! Jesus, we need divine intervention and protection in our land. Lord, Lord, Lord, we call out to You this day! Do what only You can do in the manner in which only You can accomplish! And Lord, help our leaders to make wise decisions that will bless and benefit our nation more than themselves. And before I forget, thank you for protecting them on yesterday. In Jesus’ Name! Amen! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Christian, Deliverance, Jesus, Social Justice | 1 Comment | Tagged America at odds, chaos in the Capitol, Christian legislators, civil unrest, Democrats, division in the Church, division in the nation, healing for the land, Holy Spirit, Independents, Jesus, leaders, Prayer, Republicans

• Anticipate Your Miracle!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 6, 2021

  Luke 4:25-27 – But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” NKJV

  

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  It’s really interesting to read the Bible and have something shout out to you. That’s what happened when I read this passage of scripture. I think I totally missed that it was Elijah with the widow and Elisha with Naaman. It happens! But what stood out to me the most was that they were Gentiles and that God orchestrated these encounters.

  In my previous post, we learned about the widow of Zarephath, who Elijah the prophet was sent to during the drought. Today, we will learn about Naaman, the leper, who also “caught” God’s attention! We will find this astonishing miracle in 2 Kings 5.

  Naaman, was a Syrian commander, whom God had used to bring victory to the Syrian army, according to the author of Kings. The Bible states that he was an honorable man and a mighty man of valor. However, he had one little problem; he was a leper.

  In the Old Testament, lepers were considered to be unclean, and as such, could not even be amongst the children of Israel. They had a special place outside the city where they lived until they either were healed or died. The disease had a horrendous affect on the bodies of those it ravished.

  Naaman, went on a raid, maybe against Israel, and captured a young Jewish girl who became a servant to his wife. One day the girl said to her mistress that if Naaman was to meet the prophet in Israel, he would be healed. When Naaman’s wife shared this with him, he went to his king and requested time to go and see the prophet.

  For Naaman, this had to be a dream come true. To be free of the diabolical disease that had the potential to eat away at his flesh causing parts of his body to someday begin to fall off? Imagine his hope and excitement at the chance to be whole! Such was his anticipation at being healed, that he took with him much silver and gold, and changes of clothing. He was going to Israel to be healed!

  Naaman arrived in Israel with a letter from his king, to the king of Israel, that stated the purpose of Naaman’s visit: to be healed of his leprosy. The king of Israel’s response was not a happy dance, but a fear that he was being trapped. When the prophet heard what was happening, he instructed the king to send Naaman to him.

  Yes! The excitement of Naaman and his entourage. I’m sure that there was much conversation and wonderment over how this miracle would happen. Naaman even shared that he thought the prophet would come out to him and do his thing!

  2 Kings 5:11 – “But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ NKJV

  But the prophet didn’t even stick his head out of the door. Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman and told him to go and wash seven times in the Jordan and his flesh would be restored and he would be clean. This is why Naaman was furious. After his long journey and all of his dreams, nothing was happening as he thought. Not only that, he was being told to go and wash in the muddy waters of the Jordan. What Naaman did not know or understand was that the prophet could not come out to him without becoming unclean himself. Elisha wasn’t just being rude!

  Jesus tells us in our text that many men were lepers in Israel. Yet, they were not healed by the prophet. But there was a man in Syria who heard about a prophet who could get him healed; and he was willing to do whatever he had to do, to obtain his miracle. Maybe that is what was missing in Israel, people who still believed!

  After Naaman finished his tirade about the ridiculousness of washing in the Jordan, his servants had a conversation with him. They knew of his desire to be healed. They had probably heard countless stories on the journey of how much he wanted to be free of leprosy and all that it would enable him to do. So they got some backbone and talked with him. (Thank God for the people in our lives who will brave our anger and tell us the truth)! They told Naaman that if the prophet had told him to do some mighty act, he would have done it, so why not go and wash?

  The path to a miracle doesn’t always make sense! It’s not always going to make us feel strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Sometimes it might make us feel ridiculous, maybe even humble us. Such was the case with Naaman! But he quickly got over himself and walked into the water!

  He washed as Elisha instructed him and he was made whole! Yes! It happened as the prophet said! He was clean! The young maiden had told him the truth! But he almost missed it. He almost allowed his pride and his offended spirit to cause him to miss out on his life changing miracle. How grateful he must have felt towards his servants for speaking to him! How grateful he must have felt for being able to listen to them!

  God had seen Naaman. Jesus implies this in our text! He saw his heart, and heard his cry to be healed. He saw that even though Naaman was a Syrian warrior, he was honorable. Maybe Naaman even treated his Jewish captives with respect. Whatever the case, God saw Him and God offered him an opportunity to be made whole. But obtaining the miracle was totally up to Naaman.

  Naaman’s response to his miracle when he returned to the prophet’s door:

  2 Kings 5:15 -And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel…” NKJV

  He finally gets his audience with the prophet, because now he is clean!

  Naaman exercised great faith in his preparation for the journey. We see this in the fact that he didn’t sneak over to Israel, he requested to go and was upfront about why he wanted to go. He prepared to give a substantial gift for his healing, it meant that much. He went with the expectation to receive. And although he almost missed the most important part, he even yielded and obeyed the words of the prophet. By his works, he demonstrated his faith in what he heard in Syria and then in Israel.

  There was just something about these two Gentile individuals, who had no known relationship or access to God. Something was happening in their hearts or around them that caused them to be open to the true and living God. That something got His attention and caused Him to get His prophets involved in a miracle.

  What about us? What are doing to show that we are expecting God to move in a miraculous way in our lives? Are we anticipating His divine intervention or are we rationalizing why it could never happen? Are we willing to do whatever it takes, or are we just sitting around hoping one will fall from heaven into our laps? This is a new year. Last year we saw things we could not have imagined happen in the natural world. I think this is a great year to see things we could have never imagine from God.

  1 Corinthians 2:9 – “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” NKJV

  Go ahead! Anticipate your miracle! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in God’s Blessings, Heroes of Faith, Hope in God, Jesus, miracle | 0 Comments | Tagged anticipation, Faith, God, hope, intervention, Jesus, king, miracle, miraculous, Naaman the leper, supernatural, widow of Zarephath

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