Hello To All:
In part two of this series of postings, on the time when our Lord Jesus Christ chose to expose me as a deceiver, and chose to bring healing into my life, the reality of God's purpose was recognized and embraced. It was not until, by the all sufficient grace of Jesus Christ, that I submitted to the reality of asking: What is God's purpose for the pain?; instead of asking: Why the pain?; that the revelation of truth and the subsequent healing, was manifested, by Jesus Christ, into the reality of my life. Thank you Jesus!
In this posting, we shall take some time, to see if all of us, together, can recognize and embrace the revelation that the Lord our God laid before me, on that third day of that intense pain that kept me captive; compelling me to look to Jesus to deliver me; and He did just that very thing. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!
We continue, by turning to the text, that our Lord Jesus Christ used to set me free. We find the following written, at Mark 2:1-12:
1. "And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that He was in the house."
2. "And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and He preached the word unto them."
3. "And they came unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four."
4. "And when they could not come nigh unto Him for the press, they uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay."
5. "When Jesus saw their FAITH (emphasis added), He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."
6. "But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,"
7. "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"
8. "And immediately when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?"
9. "Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10. "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (He saith to the sick of the palsy),"
11. "I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house."
12. "And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion."
When I was preaching and teaching, at that mission station (see posting of March 25, 2014, titled: "This Elder Has Been A Deceiver"), I often preached and taught about faith; and I often spoke of faith in quantitative and qualitative terms. Such phrases as: my faith was too small or too weak - if only I had more faith - I just didn't have enough faith - he or she had a strong faith - you have a strong faith; these phrases and many more of a similar nature are quite common in our western Christian thinking. These phrases all speak to the quality and the quantity of faith. They all speak to various amounts of faith or to various types of faith; as if faith differs in quantity and type from one person to another. These were phrases that often appeared in my preaching and in my teaching. They were concepts that I had embraced; and they were concepts that were deceiving me and all those who were hearing me. I was a deceiver and did not know it!
On that afternoon of the third day of my pain, the revelation that set me free was found in the relationship between verse five and verse nine of our text. The first observation, attributed to Jesus, with regards to the man sick of the palsy, is contained in verse five. Jesus recognized that all five of the men (the four carrying the bed of the sick man and the man "sick of the palsy") had faith. The second observation is found, by implication, in verse nine. In this verse, Jesus gives equal standing to a faith that can receive His word regarding the forgiveness of sins; and a faith that can receive His word regarding the healing of the physical body. From the perspective of Jesus Christ - the faith is the same for both.
In verses ten through twelve, of our text, Jesus confirms this equality of faith and sufficiency of faith. Jesus speaks the word of healing and the man "sick of the palsy," hears the word; and by faith, rises up and walks. This is the revelation that set me free: the faith that is sufficient to receive the word of forgiveness for sins, is also the faith that is sufficient to receive the word of healing for the physical body. Faith is faith is faith. It cannot be measured by terms of quantity; nor can it be measured by terms of quality. Faith is faith is faith.
This essay has not been written, in order to prove to you, my beloved, something about faith. It really is a matter of faith. We are to walk by faith and not by sight. On that third day of my pain, shortly after this revelation regarding the nature of faith - our Lord Jesus Christ healed me. May He also heal you. Amen and Amen and Amen.
We close this essay with the text that opened the previous essay. We find written at Ephesians 3:12, the following: "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by THE FAITH OF HIM" (emphasis added). To the best of my knowledge, the phrase "THE FAITH OF HIM," is only found in the King James Text. But truly, if the King James Version has this right (and I am convinced that it does), then we have an opportunity to gain some understanding regarding this mystery of faith. For, with the utmost of certainty, if the faith that is given to us, is, in fact, the faith of Jesus Christ, then that faith is always sufficient and its quality can never be questioned or diminished - for it is the faith of Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen and Amen!
At some point, in this journey of "Victorious Discipleship In Jesus Christ," I am certain that our Lord Jesus Christ will take us deeper into our understanding of this mystery of faith.
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
This Elder Has Been A Deceiver: Part Two!
"In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:12 KJV)
Hello To All:
When we last gathered, we began the account of when our Lord Jesus Christ was compelled to expose me as a deceiver. It is time for that account to continue. Just recently, I found myself in a circumstance where I was compelled to help someone understand the importance of pain in our lives. I found myself explaining that pain needed to be embraced - pain can and should be regarded as our friend - pain, if we will allow it, can be a very efficient teacher. This was how it was for me, for those two and one-half days of intense pain in the spring of 2007.
This account continues with me back with my family, back in our home; with me sitting in a chair and and an open copy of the King's Book in my lap. This particular copy was a hard cover New Testament with a single column format (much like a regular book). It had come to be mine shortly after my conversion. In it, I had high-lighted all of the accounts of healing and demonic deliverance that are recorded in the Gospels and "The Acts of the Apostles." For two and one-half days, the focus of my attention was on these accounts. I was looking to Jesus of Nazareth, who is The Christ, the Son of The Living God, to heal me, to deliver me from this pain.
By this time, in my personal journey, I had, on numerous occasions, been blessed to be both a first hand witness of, and recipient of, the supernatural and miraculous work, that our Lord Jesus Christ is willing to do, in both the natural realms and the spiritual realms. I was convinced that Jesus could heal me; and I was convinced that Jesus would heal me. I was convinced that He would deliver me from this pain that had taken control of my body and pinned me to that chair.
But, for two and one-half days, the pain continued in it's intensity. There was no relief! I read, and then read again and again and again, all of the accounts of healing and deliverance. In the midst of my pain, I cried out to God; but, the pain continued, never relenting, keeping me captive. On the second day, I managed to get face down, on the floor, in a nearby room; and there I cried out to God to be healed; and the pain continued, never relenting, keeping me captive. But, at every moment of this journey through the pain, I was comforted by this one certainty: Jesus was with me. God had not abandoned me nor had He forsaken me. My Creator was with me; and I believed that He would, eventually, deliver me and make me whole and pain free.
For two and one-half days, the ever present question was: why the pain? and why now? I knew that the pain was from God; but, the why, the why was troubling me. Then, on that third day, the question changed from why to what. On that third day, I was being reminded that God always has a purpose. The question then became: What is God's purpose for this pain?
Thus, it was, near the end of my two and one-half days of captivity, in the midst of this clarity, this new found clarity, that caused me to be focused on God's purpose, for my pain, that the revelation of that purpose was given to me. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!
With the transformation, of my heart, that God's revelation had given me, I returned to that nearby floor, still in pain; and by the grace of God, once again, I managed to get face down on that floor; and in the midst of my silence, before our Creator, His still and quiet voice spoke to me, saying: "Rise up and walk, for I have healed you." By His all sufficient grace, I began to rise up; and, as I did so, my body was purged of the pain and I was made whole. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!
The revelation, of the lesson learned, must be saved for another day. But, my beloved, if you will take the time to consider the text, from the King's Book, given at the beginning of this posting, you may, with God's help, begin to understand. As you focus your attention, on the whole text, look also to the closing words: "The faith of Him."
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
Hello To All:
When we last gathered, we began the account of when our Lord Jesus Christ was compelled to expose me as a deceiver. It is time for that account to continue. Just recently, I found myself in a circumstance where I was compelled to help someone understand the importance of pain in our lives. I found myself explaining that pain needed to be embraced - pain can and should be regarded as our friend - pain, if we will allow it, can be a very efficient teacher. This was how it was for me, for those two and one-half days of intense pain in the spring of 2007.
This account continues with me back with my family, back in our home; with me sitting in a chair and and an open copy of the King's Book in my lap. This particular copy was a hard cover New Testament with a single column format (much like a regular book). It had come to be mine shortly after my conversion. In it, I had high-lighted all of the accounts of healing and demonic deliverance that are recorded in the Gospels and "The Acts of the Apostles." For two and one-half days, the focus of my attention was on these accounts. I was looking to Jesus of Nazareth, who is The Christ, the Son of The Living God, to heal me, to deliver me from this pain.
By this time, in my personal journey, I had, on numerous occasions, been blessed to be both a first hand witness of, and recipient of, the supernatural and miraculous work, that our Lord Jesus Christ is willing to do, in both the natural realms and the spiritual realms. I was convinced that Jesus could heal me; and I was convinced that Jesus would heal me. I was convinced that He would deliver me from this pain that had taken control of my body and pinned me to that chair.
But, for two and one-half days, the pain continued in it's intensity. There was no relief! I read, and then read again and again and again, all of the accounts of healing and deliverance. In the midst of my pain, I cried out to God; but, the pain continued, never relenting, keeping me captive. On the second day, I managed to get face down, on the floor, in a nearby room; and there I cried out to God to be healed; and the pain continued, never relenting, keeping me captive. But, at every moment of this journey through the pain, I was comforted by this one certainty: Jesus was with me. God had not abandoned me nor had He forsaken me. My Creator was with me; and I believed that He would, eventually, deliver me and make me whole and pain free.
For two and one-half days, the ever present question was: why the pain? and why now? I knew that the pain was from God; but, the why, the why was troubling me. Then, on that third day, the question changed from why to what. On that third day, I was being reminded that God always has a purpose. The question then became: What is God's purpose for this pain?
Thus, it was, near the end of my two and one-half days of captivity, in the midst of this clarity, this new found clarity, that caused me to be focused on God's purpose, for my pain, that the revelation of that purpose was given to me. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!
With the transformation, of my heart, that God's revelation had given me, I returned to that nearby floor, still in pain; and by the grace of God, once again, I managed to get face down on that floor; and in the midst of my silence, before our Creator, His still and quiet voice spoke to me, saying: "Rise up and walk, for I have healed you." By His all sufficient grace, I began to rise up; and, as I did so, my body was purged of the pain and I was made whole. Can we say thank you Jesus? Amen and Amen and Amen!
The revelation, of the lesson learned, must be saved for another day. But, my beloved, if you will take the time to consider the text, from the King's Book, given at the beginning of this posting, you may, with God's help, begin to understand. As you focus your attention, on the whole text, look also to the closing words: "The faith of Him."
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
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