Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: Salvation

• Salvation For All!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on April 9, 2021

  

  Romans 1: 16-17- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

  

  In August of 1513, a monk lectured on the Book of Psalms to seminary students, but his inner life was nothing but turmoil. In his studies he came across Psalm 31:1: In Thy righteousness deliver me. The passage confused Luther; how could God’s righteousness do anything but condemn him to hell as a righteous punishment for his sins? Luther kept thinking about Romans 1:17, which says, the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.” The monk went on to say: “Night and day I pondered until… I grasped the truth that the righteousness of God is that righteousness whereby, through grace and sheer mercy, he justifies us by faith. Therefore I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise… This passage of Paul became to me a gateway into heaven.” Martin Luther was born again, and the Reformation began in his heart.

  BLB David Guzik Study Guide to Romans

  History tells the story of the power of change that came over the Church world as a result of Martin Luther’s encounter with the letter to the Romans. Luther had already found no rest for his soul, no light in his darkness, no relief from the overwhelming sense of being lost. Burdened with the guilt of sin and shame, he was known to be found in prayer 8 times a day, or praying all night, or inflicting punishment upon himself because of the weight of bondage that troubled him daily. Then one day, these words of Paul resonated in his soul, like they had never done before:

  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith,”

  Romans 1:17

  and the Protestant Reformation literally changed the world.

  This verse, is the key verse of the book of Romans. As we begin looking at the teachings included in this book, my hope is that we too can have the righteousness of God revealed to us like never before.

  Paul mentions that he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You would think that this would go without saying since he has been evangelizing all over the Greek provinces, but Paul knew the persecution of the Christians in Rome was real and wanted it to be known that his faith was strong in the gospel message. Paul suffered much because of this message. This is what he said about his trials:

  Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—

  2 Corinthians 11:23-27

  Paul went through some serious sufferings for the gospel of Jesus, and yet he was not ashamed of the gospel. Why? Because it was the power of God to salvation for him. He was literally stopped in his tracks as he lived contrary to the gospel of Jesus, hunting Christians down, putting them in jail, even watching them be stoned. He knew the dangers of proclaiming the gospel message, and yet, he was not ashamed of being called to deliver it. He was not ashamed of having believed.

  The gospel is for everyone who believes. Calvinism came out of the same Protestant Reformation as Lutheranism did. John Calvin, a contemporary of Martin Luther, also believed in justification by faith, but felt that your election was sure and therefore you need not worry about your salvation again. As the teachings of Calvinism spread, the doctrines began to change. Now, it is associated with predestination, meaning that you are predestined by God to be either be saved or not be saved. This is contrary to what Paul wrote in this verse that the gospel is to everyone who believes. Salvation, Paul wrote, was first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles. But it was available to all who believe.

  Why did Paul mention that it was first to the Jews, then the Gentiles? Jesus answered this Himself:

  But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

  Matthew 11:24 NKJV

  Why did Jesus make this statement? A Gentile woman approached Jesus for healing for her demon-possessed daughter. Jesus told her that He had come for the Jews, and not the Gentiles, calling the Gentiles “dogs”. She responded by saying even the dogs get to eat the crumbs from under the children’s table. Jesus was so impressed with her statement, that was spoken from a heart of faith, that He healed her daughter.

  While Jesus openly ministered to Gentiles, He brought salvation to the Jews, God’s chosen people. His own special people. But the gospel message was always intended to be a gospel for everyone. He told Nicodemus:

  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

  John 3:16-17 NKJV

  Then in the book of Acts, Luke tells us of a supernatural event in the life of Peter. He is on the rooftop of Simon the Tanner’s home spending some time in prayer. While there he goes into a trance. In the trance God shows him animals that are contrary to his kosher diet and tells him to rise, kill, and to eat. Peter refuses to do so calling them unclean! This is where we would have said, “Satan, I rebuke you! Or, “get thee behind me”)! God responded by telling Peter that what He has cleansed Peter must not call unclean (see Acts 10). Then God sends Peter to share the gospel with Cornelius, a Gentile!

  Well, that’s all I have time for! Thank you for joining me in this study of Romans! It’s such a powerful insight into the theology of the life of the believer. Pray with me that I know by the Spirit, how to navigate this study for those who are really following along with it! And I thank you in advance! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Church History, God, Salvation, Study of Romans | 0 Comments | Tagged Calvinism, Cornelius, God, Jesus, Jews, Martin Luther, Paul, Peter, Salvation, Study of Romans

• DNA of God

  Posted at 2:20 pm by wonderfuljesus8, on April 2, 2021

  

  2 Peter 1:3-4- “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” NKJV

  

  Creator of the Universe

  My husband and I took a cruise to Hawaii for our 25th anniversary. It was fabulous! Every morning I would find him sitting on the balcony, reading his Bible or praying. He found it to be so relaxing. Not being an early riser, I would join him and enjoy the serenity of the morning. For some reason, although I believe God is truly omnipresent, He felt closer to me on the waters of the Pacific.

  Paul understood the majesty of creation because he wrote:

  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse

  Romans 1:20 NKJV

  As I conclude my discussion on these verses in 2 Peter, I want to look at the remainder of the verse: “partakers of the divine nature”. Peter clearly states that we, believers in Christ, can partake of the divine nature and power of God. Religion persuades us to believe that we are mere mortals, subject to whatever whims God may have because we can never know what He will do. Yet, Peter wrote just the opposite in these verses: we can know God, we can partake of His power, His glory, and His nature, and it is what He wants us to do!

  Let us go back to the beginning.

  Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

  Genesis 1:26 NKJV

  God didn’t make Adam a god, although He made Adam in His image. Adam was a genius. He named all the animals of the garden. He was perfect and without sin. He talked openly and freely with God. He had dominion over everything in the garden. His life was a life of peace, joy, fulfillment, godliness, and holiness. He was like God! Until he allowed sin in. As we choose to become Christians, we are spiritually restored to the state that Adam was in, with the intent for us to be more like God and less like man. Not because man is so horrible, but because God is that good to us!

  How can we partake of the divine nature of God? Let’s understand what partaker means. According to the Vine’s, one of my favorite resources, it means “a partner, or sharer”. So we don’t get ownership of His nature, He invites us to share in His nature. Therefore, the first thing we most do is, we must be born again! I know! I keep repeating it, but it is ever so true! We must be born again! Once we are born again, we are able to escape the corruption that is in the world. Peter wrote that when we are born again we are called out of darkness into His marvelous light! Paul penned that we are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son. This is the first step in partaking of His divine nature. If we are going to share in His nature, it starts with salvation!

  Going back to other parts of the verse, as we get to know Him and embrace His exceedingly great and precious promises, we can share in His nature. We can forgive, because He is a forgiver by nature, and empowers us to forgive. We can love, because He is love, and His divine power enables us to love the unlovely. How many times have you found yourself loving when others didn’t understand it? It His nature you were partaking! Who did you forgive, that you didn’t think it was possible for you to forgive? It was the Divine Nature of the Almighty (DNA) inside of you!

  I was in a situation where I overheard a conversation. There was a misunderstanding that caused several people to be at odds with one another. The person I overheard was expressing the hurt that they felt over the situation, but more importantly, the desire to get things out in the open so they could move on. I heard that person’s wisdom in handling the situation. I heard that person speak of making things right so they could move forward unhindered. Forgiveness was extended, and that person even took responsibility for the mix up. When the conversation was over, I told that person, I had just witnessed Jesus! It was the greatest testimony that individual could have shared with me about the genuineness of the faith she had in Him (the Divine Nature of the Almighty God in operation)!

  Sunday I went to visit at my former church. When I got there, one of the members was really excited to see me. She had prayed the night before, telling God that she wished she could see me at church so that I could pray for her. God manifests His healing nature at different times when I pray, especially in the area of pain. Sure enough, I was there. She was so excited! I prayed for her briefly and went my way. Later that night, there was no change. (I generally check up on people I pray for). When she told me that, I just said, “Check yourself in the morning”. Sure enough, the next morning was a different story. Did I heal her? No! But God allowed us to share in His nature as healing was manifested in her body, because He’s the Healer! The Great Physician! (Again, the Divine Nature of the Almighty God working as we laid hold to the exceedingly great and precious promise in regards to healing).

  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

  Mark 16:17-18 NKJV

  The part of His divine nature we struggle most with is His supernatural power. We fail to realize that anything we do with Him is supernatural. Forgiveness, love, giving, kindness, serving. Therefore, we tend to separate that part of His divine nature from the other part of His divine nature: releasing power!

  As we live this life in Christ, and He lives His life in us, I can assure you that He doesn’t want to be stifled. His greatest joy is seeing the kingdom become a reality in our lives. He left us with many precious promises that we might realize the greatness of the love and grace He has for us, the power He has made available to us, that we can partake of Him! It’s really time for us to dare to believe that every promise in His word belongs to us! As we step out in faith and begin to take Him at His word, we will begin to see things happen. When it doesn’t work, trouble shoot and try again; but don’t ever give up! He purposefully shared His divine nature with us that we may know Him more completely!

  It’s the Passover/Easter season! A time to rejoice in all that Calvary, and more precisely, the resurrection affords us! I end with Paul’s prayer for every believer:

  “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come! Amen and Amen! Wonderful Jesus!

  Ephesians 1:17-21 NKJV

  Posted in 2 Peter 1:3-4, Divine Nature, God, Jesus, Knowing God | 0 Comments | Tagged Creation, Deliverance, divine nature of God, Easter, Forgiveness, Healing, new life, Passover, Paul, power of God, Salvation

• New Life! His Life!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 23, 2021

  2 Peter 1:3-4 -As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. NKJV

  

  prayer-for-salvation

  There are times when reading and studying the word, I feel like, this isn’t that complicated, why do people have such a hard time with it. And then there are other times when I feel like, Lord, I need help understanding this. Partaking of God’s divinity is a really tough truth to wrap our brains around. At least it is for some!

  Peter wrote in his epistle that God’s divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. It’s scriptural, so it’s truth. But not a new truth for it was first mentioned by John, when he wrote:

  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12 – NKJV

  The take aways from these powerful verses are these:

  1. That when we are born again we are the sons of God
  2. His divine power brings this relationship into existence
  3. It’s as supernatural as the birth of Jesus to Mary

  Interesting to note that Nicodemus asked Jesus a similar question that Mary asked of Gabriel:

  How can these things be?

  Jesus had just finished explaining to Nicodemus the supernatural experience of the new birth. He told Nicodemus that when a person is born again, he is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus wanted to know if a man was supposed to climb back into the womb and be born again. Jesus patiently explained that He was speaking of a new birth, a birth brought about by the Spirit of God.

  As we enter into the season of the Passover, the Easter season, it is important to remember the significance of our born again experience. For many, they never experience the supernatural because their approach to God is so casual; but something supernatural takes place, just as it did when God’s Spirit planted the Seed in Mary’s womb.

  2 Corinthians 5:17-Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God…NKJV

  If you are in Christ:

  • You are a new creation
  • Old things are passed away
  • All things are made new
  • All things are of God

  There was, and is, nothing natural about our becoming sons of God. This amazing new birth into the family of God is a result of the gospel. The same gospel that Paul writes this about:

  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 -NKJV

  His divine power, the power of God, is activated when the gospel is shared and received. That power is sufficient to give us salvation, or new life. This was hard for Mary to understand, and it is even harder for us to wrap our brains around. The gospel message is God’s power released upon our lives to bring about the new birth! That’s beautiful! A birth that makes us a new creature in Christ called sons of God!

  Another point that Peter makes is that this power that gives us new life, also gives us all things that pertains to life and godliness. Here’s an even bigger mystery. The power of the old man is destroyed, giving way to the new man and all things that pertain to life and godliness.

  Things that pertain to life. When we are new creatures in Christ Jesus, we have eternal life, just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus. This new life is eternal. Paul explained it like this:

  I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 – NKJV

  The life that we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God. His life overtakes our life, giving us the power to live this new life. A life that is pleasing to the Father. A life that’s in Him. A life of sacrifice, peace, love, joy…His life!

  Things that pertain to godliness. A life lived in godliness. One that allows His divine nature to be seen in our being. A godliness that chooses His way, His thoughts, His word, His actions, His attitude over our own. A godliness that turns it back on a life of sin, which is no life, to live a life of righteousness.

  All of this was obtained, by the divine power of God, when we became born again believers. Many still glory in their old nature, their sin nature. But if you are in Christ, your DNA has changed! You are a new creature! The old is gone, and the new has taken front and center. Begin enjoying the truth that you have really been changed. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in 2 Peter 1:3-4, Divine Nature, Jesus, power | 0 Comments | Tagged crucified with Christ, Divine Nature, divine power, Galatians 2:20, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, John, life and godliness, miraculous, Paul, Peter, righteousness, Salvation, supernatural

• Getting It Right!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 3, 2021

  Psalm 51:10-11 – Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. NKJV

  

  getting-it-right_.mp3

  Tonight I want to blog about the prayer of repentance. The Webster’s 1868 edition defines the word repentance, in the following manner:

  Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.

  Since this definition fits my purpose, I will say that the prayer of repentance is used to express a sorrow over any sin we have committed that offends or dishonor God or His Word. This prayer can be, and probably is, prayed multiple times throughout our lives.

  Our key text, taken from Psalm 51, happens to be a part of a prayer of repentance that David prayed. David had an affair with Bathsheba. He tried to cover it up, but was unable to do so. First, Bathsheba got pregnant. Then he called her husband back from the battle and tried to get him to go home to her so that they could play the child off as Uriah’s. When that didn’t work, he had Uriah killed in battle. Not only that, God had to send Nathan, the prophet, to him because he hadn’t yet acknowledged his deed for the sin that it was. When David finally came to the place where he was willing to admit that he had sinned, his next step was to go to God and confess it and repent of it! David’s hesitancy to repent, actually paralyzed him in his relationship with God!

  Here’s another example of someone repenting in prayer:

  Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. Ezra 10:1 -NKJV

  In this verse, we see Ezra is before God, praying, confessing, and weeping. The prayer of repentance doesn’t always involve weeping, but most definitely can. I won’t say it is a criteria for sincerity because some people are really good at gut wrenching tears that produces nothing more than an emotional drain. However, it is a time of prayer where you can find yourself crying before the Lord.

  I know this is an Old Testament example, and we don’t live under the Old Testament, but it is applicable for tonight’s topic.

  What makes this such a relevant prayer is that we must use this type of prayer to become born again. I don’t know your experience, but I am pretty sure that when you accepted Jesus as Savior, prayer was involved. And I am fairly certain that repentance was involved.

  Here’s a New Testament example for us: the prodigal son. You have probably heard or read this account of the son on more than one occasion, but I will briefly retell it. The son asked his father for his inheritance, even though his father was still alive. The father gives it to him. Then the son leaves home and loses all of his money while partying hard. He finds himself in abject poverty, eating the same food as the pigs he was hired to feed. One day he realizes, if he is going to be a slave for someone it may as well be his father for his father treats his servants so much better. His attitude is one of repentance:

  I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ Luke 15:18-19 – NKJV

  It was the son’s acknowledgment that he had blown it big time, that places this son in a position to receive grace and mercy from his father. Yes, his father forgave him and restored him, but there’s no doubt in my mind that things would have ended differently had he not confessed his sins before his father. This is a beautiful picture of how we are to come to the Father when we blow it. No justification, no pointing fingers, no excuses, just simple acknowledging that we did wrong and sincere repentance of the wrong.

  John wrote this:

  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 – NKJV

  This brings us back to our key verse. David asked God to create in him a new heart. When we pray a prayer of repentance, our greatest desire should be that God give us a new heart. If we are sinners in need of salvation, it is what He wants to do! If we are believers who need to “get it right” He wants to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In either case, forgiveness is waiting for us, we need only ask!

  David also asked that God would renew a steadfast spirit in him. What’s that? A spirit of stability, a spirit of being fixed on obedience to God, a yes to His will spirit! David had that type of spirit before, and he wanted it re-established in his life. So much so, it was more important to him than anything, because he didn’t want to lose the right to be in the presence of the Lord. He knew his sin had separated him from God, and he desperately wanted to see his relationship restored with God.

  David also asked God to not to remove His Holy Spirit from him. That’s deep for an Old Testament individual, and that makes it applicable to New Testament believers. When we sin, we need to get it right! Our heart should be as David’s heart was. God, whatever You do, don’t turn me away, and please don’t remove Your Spirit from my life! Why? Because more than anything, we should want to be right before God and to know that His Spirit is still present in our lives. And that’s why the prayer of repentance is so necessary to pray. Sin blocks our ability to connect with God, but confession of that sin and repentance of that sin gives us unlimited access to Him.

  As I stated in the beginning, we may need to pray this prayer on more than one occasion in our lives. But if we find that we are praying it daily, then we are in need of some different type of praying. I don’t believe necessarily in steps when dealing with God. You may need to pray for an hour about your situation, while someone else may need only a few minutes. Let His Spirit lead you during this time. However long you pray, pray until you know you’ve accomplished the task of truly repenting. And according to our definition, it must bring about a change in your behavior and your life! Wonderful Jesus!

  prayer-for-salvation-1.mp3

  Posted in God, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Repentance, Salvation | 2 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Believer, David, favor, God, Grace, Holy Spirit, obedience, parable, Prayer, Salvation, Sin, Sinner

• Life in the Blood!

  Posted at 2:13 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 19, 2021

  Leviticus 17:11 – For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ NKJV

  

  life-in-the-blood_.mp3

  There is no way to have a real discussion on the imagery in the word of God without talking about the blood. There was a time in church history when many people thought that the topic of the blood was too graphic for them and their children. Sadly to say, they made a great effort to remove the blood from the churches. But they did so without realizing that there is life in the Blood! Not only to all flesh, but to the people of God! So as they removed the topic of the Blood, and all references to the Blood from their churches, they caused their churches to die!

  In Leviticus, Moses explains that there is a connection between life, blood, and flesh. When he says the life of flesh is in the blood, he was inferring that without the blood, there is no life! Physically or spiritually! There is no way to touch on all the spiritual aspects of the blood in a simple blog, and I won’t even try, but I do have something I want to say.

  Acts 17:26-27 – And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; NKJV

  Paul made this statement to the Athenians, when he declared that the “unknown god” they were worshipping was the One he wanted to tell them about. As he began to preach to them, he began by making mention of the truth that all the nations on the face of the earth came from one blood. Although we may be of different skin colors, speak different languages, and live in different locales, we are of one blood. Shakespeare wrote in his play, “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” Everyone one of us!

  The same is true spiritually! We all receive spiritual life through the Blood of Jesus. Nothing else!

  Ephesians 1:7 – In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace…

  Every believer on the planet, all those who have gone before us, and all who will come after us, access eternal life through the Blood of Jesus!

  The imagery of the Old Testament, with the blood, was all done to prepare mankind for the truth of the Blood of Jesus! We know this to be true because in the same verse in Leviticus, it is written, “I have given it (the blood) to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls…” God’s whole purpose for establishing the ceremonial practices of blood sacrifice, was to help us to realize that spiritual life, which is a result of being reconciled to God, was connected to blood.

  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12 – NKJV

  Here are my favorite Old Testament examples of the blood:

  • The Passover instituted in Exodus. This is a beautiful picture, and an excellent example, of the power of having faith in the blood.

  ‘For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:12-13 – NKJV

  Every believer should understand the significance of the Passover. God made it absolutely clear that the only reason they would be spared from the plague, was because of the blood!

  One of the last events that Jesus shared with His disciples was the Passover meal, called the Seder.

  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:20 – NKJV

  That first Passover, was our example of the shedding of Jesus’ blood. Death has no power over us, when the Blood has been applied. His Blood gives us eternal life, for there is life in His Blood!

  • The scarlet cord that Rahab used when she let down the spies:

  So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. Joshua 2:17-19 – NKJV

  Rahab thought nothing of the scarlet cord as she used it to let the spies down and required a promise of safety from them. But when they saw the red cord, it reminded them of the Passover, and of the blood. Therefore, they told her that if they saw the scarlet cord in the window, and her family was in the house, they would find protection. If not, then they were free of their oath. Rahab, not knowing the true significance of that scarlet cord, made sure it was there, and she and her family were delivered!

  In both of these examples, life was found in the blood. As the people obeyed God’s word in applying the blood, He supernaturally protected their natural lives. It wasn’t just spiritual life that the blood spoke to, but natural life!

  Today, we as believers have been promised eternal life through the Blood of Jesus! It’s the greatest of all of the promises of God. The many references to blood in scripture was to assure us of the power of the Blood of Jesus to give us life, purify us from sin, and most importantly, reconcile us to God. If you have not applied the Blood to the doorpost of your heart, I encourage you to do so today! Wonderful Jesus!

  prayer-for-salvation-3.mp3

  Posted in Blood of Jesus, God’s Symbols, Jesus, Salvation | 0 Comments | Tagged Believer, blood sacrifice, Christian, Deliverance, God, God’s Symbols, imagery in the Bible, Jesus, life, life in the blood, Passover, Salvation, the Blood of Jesus

• Jesus is the Rock!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 12, 2021

  2 Samuel 22:32 – “For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” NKJV

  jesus-is-the-rock_.mp3

  Imagery can be seen in the way we talk, and even the way we write, which we call figurative language. Imagery can also be used in the form of symbolism, as in the instances that I have been using it. Water symbolizes the Holy Spirit, and the well symbolizes our person. Sometimes when I read the Word of God, and I run into metaphors, or symbolism, it makes me stop and think about what is being said in a particular verse. Or it helps me to see a greater truth, simply because of the imagery. Such is the case with the rock!

  Psalm 18 holds a favorite verse that causes me to stop and think about the Lord:

  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2 – NKJV

  That’s a mouthful! If you are anything like me, when you think of a rock, you don’t think of a mountain. But I chose this picture because of the mountains of rock that were captured in it. When looking at the word for rock in the Greek, we see the word “petra”. Petra denotes “a mass of rock,” according to the Vine’s, which is different from “petros” which is “a detached stone or boulder”. When I think of God as my rock, I can assure you that I am not thinking in terms of “petros”, but in terms of “petra”.

  As I write this blog, I am reminded of many verses on the Rock and I just feel like sharing some that really cause my heart to be stirred:

  “No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2 – NKJV

  This verse was part of the prayer that Hannah spoke after delivering her son Samuel to Eli the priest. God have given her the son of her heart’s cry. And as she released him into service to her Lord, she declared these heartfelt words. There is none besides Him, and no other Rock like our God! There are times in prayer when I have to stop and utter similar words to these, so I can imagine how she felt!

  “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation! 2 Samuel 22:47 – NKJV

  Words of praise David uttered after the Lord had delivered him from Saul and all of his enemies. Blessed be my Rock! Have you ever been delivered from something? Are you thankful for the salvation He has given you? Yes! Your soul cries! And again it cries, yes!!

  From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2 – NKJV

  David knew that there was One who was higher than him, and called Him the Rock! Solid, strong, dependable! And higher than him and each of us! More than strength and beauty comes from the Rock, for when I am overwhelmed, David cried, just lead me to the Rock! That’s still the best course of action when we are overwhelmed, even today. We just need to be led to the Rock!

  In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Psalm 62:7 – NKJV

  What precious promises the Word holds for those whose trust is in God. He is the rock of our strength! Strong, unyielding, is our God. And there is none like Him!

  Jesus shares this truth in a familiar verse filled with imagery:

  “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25 – NKJV

  Jesus is the Rock of our salvation, and He reminds us of this: If we hear and obey His word, it is equal to building our house on a rock. Have you ever seen a house built in the sides of the mountains? Doesn’t it look well protected?

  The Anasazi people were called cliff dwellers. Their homes were caves built in cliffs or under a cliff overhang. Many still exist today, although they were built thousands of years ago. Not a house you or I would want to buy, but it makes Jesus’ point! The passage of time, and the harshness of the weather over the years couldn’t cause them to be destroyed.

  What a blessing to know that we can build our homes on the Rock! Many people marvel when I say that I have been happily married to the same man for almost 35 years. I get that! It is so, only because we built on marriage, our home, on the Rock! Not only are we to build our homes on the Rock, but Jesus built His Church on the Rock! There may be times when it doesn’t look like “the gates of hell will not prevail against the church,” but just keep watching. Nothing will prevail against it! It’s built on the Rock!

  These are challenging times for the church and for us as individuals, but if we are in Christ, our foundation is sure! Nothing will cause us to be blown away because we are built on the Rock! Not floods, not pandemics, not harsh winds and rains; not even the current state of our political governments! Nothing!

  We must take comfort and find strength in the truth of the solidness of the Rock of our Salvation! He can not be moved! He can not be overcome! He can not be defeated! Even if we are done with this life on tomorrow, He would still be standing strong. Jesus is the Rock! He is the Rock of my salvation and I’ll never be ashamed! He is the Rock of your salvation, and you have no reason to be ashamed. Steady, strong, and unmovable is our Rock! Wonderful Jesus!

  prayer-for-salvation-2.mp3

  Posted in encouragement, God’s Symbols, Jesus, Strength | 0 Comments | Tagged David, Deliverance, encouragement, God, hard times, house on the rock, Jesus, Jesus is the Rock, Marriage, obedience, pandemic, protection, rock of salvation, Salvation, trust in God

• Draw From the Well!

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

  Isaiah 12:3 – “Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” NKJV

  

  draw-from-the-well_.mp3

  I love when I wake up and the Spirit has whispered in my ear. Such was the case this morning when He whispered this verse to me. I have to draw from the well of salvation regularly and it is very refreshing and most encouraging.

  The Bible is quite poetic in much of its make up. Not only that, it is filled with imagery that is easy for every generation of people to identify with, like a well.

  The Hebrew word, “phrear”, means well. In the Lexham Dictionary, a well is defined as:

  A deep man-made reservoir dug or drilled in the ground, often walled with stone or plaster. Used to access groundwater.

  Wells are mentioned throughout scripture and has multiple roles or meanings in the biblical narrative. In Exodus 15, the children of Israel arrive at Elim where they find 12 wells. The wells in this passage of scripture is often times referred to as a place of rest and relaxation. Why? Because they were traveling through a dry land when they arrived at this oasis that had trees for shade, and water for their thirst.

  When a well was placed outside the city, it served as a meeting place for the women, who collected the water, and for strangers. We see this played out in the encounter Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the well. She wasn’t welcome to visit the well with the women in the town, so she went at a different time. One day, she met Jesus at the well and her life was forever changed. Her natural meeting place became her spiritual meeting place with the Messiah, a divine connection!

  Wells are also used to depict the provision of God. When Moses spoke to the children of Israel before his departure and their entrance to the promised land, he spoke of wells. He told them that God had provided for them wells which they did not have to dig. And when Samson was thirsty after killing the Philistines, he cried out to God who split a hollow place in the land (creating a well of water) that Samson might obtain water to refresh and revive himself.

  Wells were deemed as a vital and economic asset. The Bible makes references to the disputes that were mentioned over the ownership of wells. Abraham rebuked Abimelech because his servants had seized Abraham’s well of water. Enemies could stop up the wells, as the Philistines later did to Abraham’s wells.

  As we can see, wells were pretty important to the people of God for the natural supply of water. God’s word uses the imagery of wells for a spiritual supply of living water. Jesus told the woman at the well that she should have asked Him for a drink and He would have given her living water that she would never thirst again! John 4

  An important point about digging wells. Kings were responsible for digging wells, as we can see in 2 Chronicles where we find that King Uzziah dug many wells, and the enemy (the Philistines) was responsible for stopping them up. Can you see a spiritual correlation here?

  I offer you this point. Salvation through the Blood of Jesus creates within each of us a well. Then Jesus fills that well with Living Water, so that out of our belly can flow that living water. When we are allowing the water, or in this case, His Holy Spirit to flow through us, our well is a place of refreshing, for ourselves and others, and it is a beautiful thing. When we are in disobedience, our wells are dry. Not because the source of our living water has gone dry, but because we have allowed the enemy of our souls to fill the wells up with sin, keeping the water from flowing!

  John 7:37-38 – On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” NKJV

  I read a sermon by George Whitfield, and he had this to say about the living water:

  The festival at which he was now present, was that of the feast of tabernacles, which the Jews observed according to God’s appointment in commemoration of their living in tents. At the last day of this feast, it was customary for many pious people to fetch water from a certain place, and bring it on their heads, singing this anthem out of Isaiah, “And with joy shall they draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Our Lord observing this, and it being his constant practice to spiritualize every thing he met with, cries out, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, (rather than unto that well) and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath spoken, (where it is said, God will make water to spring out of a dry rock, and such-like) out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

  Drawing from the well is simple. When life hits us with challenges, instead of just reacting, cause we all do, we have to draw from the well. All those emotions I have previously written about, can be dealt with as we draw from the well. I was tested this weekend myself. I was lied upon and it made me angry, my initial reaction. But as I drew from the well of my salvation, I received a peace that all would be well.

  This life is not cut and dry, patty cake, and tip toe through the tulips. It’s real, with disappointments, heartaches, and setbacks. But if we will allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us and help us in times of crisis, great joy will be ours. We will also be able to draw peace through tough times, and love when we don’t feel like sharing it. We will draw strength to continue in the journey, and hope for a brighter tomorrow. There is so much available in the well of salvation that is provided through that Living Water. It’s ours for the drawing. And it’s our responsible to do so! So go ahead, and draw from your well of salvation! Wonderful Jesus!

  prayer-for-salvation-1.mp3

  Posted in encouragement, God, God’s Symbols, Holy Spirit, Jesus | 0 Comments | Tagged encouragement, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, living waters, provision, Salvation, wells, woman at the well

• A Sure Promise!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on January 29, 2021

  2 Peter 3:3-4 – Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” NKJV

  

  If I had to choose the greatest promise in the word of God, it would prove to be difficult. I think of the promise of salvation and it makes me grateful to know Jesus as Savior. I relish in the joy of the promise of the Holy Spirit and can’t imagine life without Him. And then I remember the promise of His return, and even though He has tarried, I know it is a sure promise, and look forward to that Day. Jesus is coming again!

  In our text for today, Peter wrote that there would be scoffers in the last days. In context, we have no problem understanding what Peter meant when he used the word “empaiktes”, or scoffers. Most people have a clear, or can gain a clear understanding of this word by continuing to read the verse. A scoffer is a mocker. Someone who laughs at another or something with contempt.

  These particular mockers would be walking around in the last days, doing their own thing, living after their own lusts, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” In case you haven’t noticed it, they can be found on the news, in government, in our school systems, in our neighborhoods, maybe even in our families. People who mockingly reject the promise of His return. But here’s one thing we can all rest assure of: the same God who promised that He would come through a virgin and be born in Bethlehem is the same God who assures us of His return. Jesus is coming again!

  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – NKJV

  I’m not thrilled with being off the ground. I’m not fond of airplanes though I will get in one. But the thought of just being caught up in the air is a little overwhelming. Yet, I look forward to it! Paul said that we are to comfort one another with these sayings. You might ask, how can these words be a comfort? Sometimes, when things look their bleakest, hope is all you need, and there is great comfort and hope in the return of Jesus! More importantly, there is great comfort in knowing the One who promised is more than able of fulfilling that promise. It brings great comfort!

  When I think of scoffers, I think of the people who watched Noah build the ark. Weren’t they the same people who drowned in the waters. I’m not too concerned about the mockers, for the promise will come to pass.

  Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” NKJV

  Angels watched with the disciples as Jesus ascended into heaven. The disciples must have stood gazing for a while because finally the angels asked this question: Why are you gazing into heaven? This same Jesus who ascended, they said, will descend again in the same way! It’s part of the promise!

  Jesus comforted His disciples, before He was crucified, with these words:

  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:3 – NKJV

  As I explained in a previous blog, these were words the disciples understood as a promise. The same promise every Jewish groom made to his betrothed. Jesus gave a promise that He most definitely was going to return. It was a sure promise!

  When I speak of a sure promise, I am talking about a promise that will come to pass without a doubt! Mockers can mock and make fun of this promise, but they can’t stop this promise! It’s a sure thing! They can ignore this promise and live in rejection of this truth, but so did the men and women in the days of Noah!

  In the book of Revelation we find these words:

  Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8 -NKJV

  This is the best part of the promise! Behold! See! He is coming! And when He returns in won’t be shrouded in mystery! When He returns, there will be no case of mistaken identity! When He returns He will return with glory and power! When He returns, not if He returns!

  Then Jesus refers to Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty!” Wonderful, wonderful Jesus!

  So, what’s the hold up? Peter tells us:

  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 – NKJV

  I believe He is just excited about coming back as we are to see Him. He’s not ignoring His promise or intentionally delaying His promise to be difficult. Nor is He pulling our leg, and making fun of us our desire. He is such a long suffering Savior towards us, and He wants to give mankind every opportunity to turn to Him in repentance. He’s such a wonderful lover of people.

  So the next time you become weary about His return, ask Him if there is someone who you are supposed to lead to Him and maybe even disciple. Or the next time someone mock His return in your hearing, tell them that He is waiting on them to repent. That ought to shut them up! Maybe even shake them up, causing them to do just that!

  I am so enjoying looking at the promises of God and His faithfulness to His word. I am encouraged in my heart and my faith is being strengthened. I trust you are also being encouraged as you read. If you are not ready for His return, don’t wait another day to repent of your sins and receive Him as your Savior! Wonderful Jesus!

  prayer-for-salvation-3.mp3

  Posted in encouragement, God, God’s faithfulness, Jesus, Promises of God, Second Coming | 0 Comments | Tagged hope, Jesus, Noah, Peter, Promises of God, return of Christ, Salvation, Second Coming, the flood

• 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

  

  celebration-time_.mp3

  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

• 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

  

  removing-the-blinders_.mp3

  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!

  prayer-for-salvation-2.mp3

  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

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