A SUBJECT THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS
TO BE ADDRESSED
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Maybe we do not take seriously enough the consequence of the words that we speak. Paul wrote to the believers at Colossae: “Let your speech be ALWAYS with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye out to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). In other words, we need to be very cautious, selecting our words carefully, so that what we say is easily understood (margin…plain) and never with the intention of hurting another person. Sadly, or so it seems to me, our words are often either (1) deliberately designed to hurt – or upset – another person (get back at them), or (2) simply not properly weighed before spoken, without any consideration for what the consequences might be. We’ve often heard the cliché, “open mouth…insert foot.” And some people are adept and getting both feet in their mouth at the same time. And, someone has said, “the only time some people don’t have their foot in their mouth is when they are changing feet.”
The Bible also tells us that we should be “…swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Solomon wrote: “a fool’s lips enter into contention” (Proverbs 18:6); “every fool will be meddling” (Proverbs 20:3); “a fool is full of words” (Ecclesiastes 10:14). The solution: “study to be quiet” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). “In patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19).
I have only scratched the surface on this important subject. Our job is to let our petitions be presented to the Lord in prayer. HE will work on our behalf if we don’t take things into our own hands. Remember, more times than not, “the best defense is no defense” – just keep your mouth shut and tell it to Jesus alone. THINK ON THESE THINGS!
INFIRMITIES - Heart Talk
“For we have not a high priest which cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV)
In this HEART TALK I would like to talk about INFIRMITIES – or WEAKNESSES – as the margin and most versions of the Bible define the word. I thank you for taking the time to visit this web site and for spending a few minutes listening to this preacher as he shares his heart with you. I greet my colleagues, family and friends that may be listening.
WEAKNESSES…Who isn’t weak? Who doesn’t struggle? Who hasn’t – or isn’t at this time – under attack in one way or other? And, it is a fact that everyone is not weak in the same area as the next person. It is also a fact that Satan is not asleep on the job. Like boxers in the ring – each looking for the weak spot in the other – Satan knows where we are weak…where we struggle…in our Christian walk. “…your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV). Satan prowls! He is forever looking for the weak spot in our armor.
To be naïve about the human weakness issue is to court disaster. Satan WILL eventually destroy us unless we keep our guard up, our eyes open and our ears sensitive to the warning voice of the Holy Spirit.
I am reminded of what Jesus said to his disciple – Peter – when Peter spoke so adamantly that he would never deny the Lord and would even die with Him. Jesus looked at him as said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31, 32 KJV). Peter simply did not know his own heart. He meant well. His intentions were good, but good intentions are not enough to keep us from the snare of the fowler.
I would like to share the textual reading from two other versions of the Bible, the Contemporary English Version and the New King James Version:
“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!
So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with underserved kindness, and we will find help.” (CEV)
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV)
What a friend we have in Jesus! He is fully aware of each of us and of the struggles that we are involved in on a daily basis. He may seem to be far away – or not at all aware of your needs and struggles – but that is not true. We struggle because the battle between flesh and Spirit has raged since our first parents fell. Satan was cursed! Eve – and all women after her – would have “sorrow in conception…in sorrow bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband”. As far as Adam was concerned the ground would be cursed and he would eat his food in sorrow and deal with thorns and thistles, “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground” (Genesis 3). This has been the curse which the human race has lived with for the thousands of years that have passed.
Thankfully, GOD chose to do something to help us in our struggles with “the world, the flesh and the devil”.
1. Christ chose to get involved. He did not remain in
His privileged position with the Father, but “passing through the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14) came to earth, becoming poor in order to make us spiritually rich (2 Corinthians 8:8, 9). We cannot imagine what that move cost Him.
2. Christ faced reality. He is no stranger to real life. He never walled Himself off from what people go
through every day (Hebrews 4:15).
3. Christ empowers people. He gives us sufficient power to deal with life. He invites us to come to HIM for the help and we are told that we do not need to be bashful…”come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”.
Here is good news for you as you struggle in the flesh to live the Christian life and walk the highway of holiness – “Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are” – we do have a High Priest –JESUS CHRIST – who has been here and been through every possible human test and He is quite capable of sympathizing with us in our weaknesses.
The flip side of this matter is that when we bring our human struggles and failures to HIM we will not be pushed away. There is MERCY to be had and GRACE – His favor to be granted. We need not fear to come to Him – “Just as I am without one plea; but that thy blood was shed for me”. People are very quick to judge and condemn, but not Jesus, our High Priest. He continually makes intercession for us. He knows us and yet He still loves us. Forgiveness is what Jesus offers and He gives it with mercy and grace.
I would like to close with a portion of Isaiah 53, one that Matthew referred to in Matthew 8:17. Isaiah said – of the coming Messiah – “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6 KJV)
There is a dual prophecy contained in these verses. Christ would become the sacrificial Lamb in order to provide healing (forgiveness) for mankind’s sin-sick soul. He would also provide physical healing for man’s infirmities.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” – this is a fact else God’s Word is lying. The evidence – with all of us – is clear that God’s Word is true. We have ALL gone astray! We have ALL turned to his own way! God knows this! Jesus knows this! This is why GOD “hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all”. Our sins are filtered through the blood of Christ. “For there is no man that sinneth not” (I Kings 8:46 KJV).
How sad that we have such difficulty (1) acknowledging our weaknesses and that (2) we don’t do what we’re told to do and as God’s children (sinful as we are) come bravely (boldly) to His throne that we might receive what we need and must have in order to maintain a proper relationship with our Lord – MERCY IN OUR TIME OF NEED AND GRACE…GOD’S FAVOR AND BLESSING. I have often said, “I am saved…I am being saved…and I shall be saved!” How grateful this preacher is for having learned – the hard way –that my heavenly Father watches over me loves me and is always there in my infirmities. I have no trouble singing “I am weak but thou art strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.”
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV)
In this HEART TALK I would like to talk about INFIRMITIES – or WEAKNESSES – as the margin and most versions of the Bible define the word. I thank you for taking the time to visit this web site and for spending a few minutes listening to this preacher as he shares his heart with you. I greet my colleagues, family and friends that may be listening.
WEAKNESSES…Who isn’t weak? Who doesn’t struggle? Who hasn’t – or isn’t at this time – under attack in one way or other? And, it is a fact that everyone is not weak in the same area as the next person. It is also a fact that Satan is not asleep on the job. Like boxers in the ring – each looking for the weak spot in the other – Satan knows where we are weak…where we struggle…in our Christian walk. “…your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV). Satan prowls! He is forever looking for the weak spot in our armor.
To be naïve about the human weakness issue is to court disaster. Satan WILL eventually destroy us unless we keep our guard up, our eyes open and our ears sensitive to the warning voice of the Holy Spirit.
I am reminded of what Jesus said to his disciple – Peter – when Peter spoke so adamantly that he would never deny the Lord and would even die with Him. Jesus looked at him as said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31, 32 KJV). Peter simply did not know his own heart. He meant well. His intentions were good, but good intentions are not enough to keep us from the snare of the fowler.
I would like to share the textual reading from two other versions of the Bible, the Contemporary English Version and the New King James Version:
“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!
So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with underserved kindness, and we will find help.” (CEV)
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 NKJV)
What a friend we have in Jesus! He is fully aware of each of us and of the struggles that we are involved in on a daily basis. He may seem to be far away – or not at all aware of your needs and struggles – but that is not true. We struggle because the battle between flesh and Spirit has raged since our first parents fell. Satan was cursed! Eve – and all women after her – would have “sorrow in conception…in sorrow bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband”. As far as Adam was concerned the ground would be cursed and he would eat his food in sorrow and deal with thorns and thistles, “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground” (Genesis 3). This has been the curse which the human race has lived with for the thousands of years that have passed.
Thankfully, GOD chose to do something to help us in our struggles with “the world, the flesh and the devil”.
1. Christ chose to get involved. He did not remain in
His privileged position with the Father, but “passing through the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14) came to earth, becoming poor in order to make us spiritually rich (2 Corinthians 8:8, 9). We cannot imagine what that move cost Him.
2. Christ faced reality. He is no stranger to real life. He never walled Himself off from what people go
through every day (Hebrews 4:15).
3. Christ empowers people. He gives us sufficient power to deal with life. He invites us to come to HIM for the help and we are told that we do not need to be bashful…”come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”.
Here is good news for you as you struggle in the flesh to live the Christian life and walk the highway of holiness – “Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are” – we do have a High Priest –JESUS CHRIST – who has been here and been through every possible human test and He is quite capable of sympathizing with us in our weaknesses.
The flip side of this matter is that when we bring our human struggles and failures to HIM we will not be pushed away. There is MERCY to be had and GRACE – His favor to be granted. We need not fear to come to Him – “Just as I am without one plea; but that thy blood was shed for me”. People are very quick to judge and condemn, but not Jesus, our High Priest. He continually makes intercession for us. He knows us and yet He still loves us. Forgiveness is what Jesus offers and He gives it with mercy and grace.
I would like to close with a portion of Isaiah 53, one that Matthew referred to in Matthew 8:17. Isaiah said – of the coming Messiah – “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6 KJV)
There is a dual prophecy contained in these verses. Christ would become the sacrificial Lamb in order to provide healing (forgiveness) for mankind’s sin-sick soul. He would also provide physical healing for man’s infirmities.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” – this is a fact else God’s Word is lying. The evidence – with all of us – is clear that God’s Word is true. We have ALL gone astray! We have ALL turned to his own way! God knows this! Jesus knows this! This is why GOD “hath laid on HIM the iniquity of us all”. Our sins are filtered through the blood of Christ. “For there is no man that sinneth not” (I Kings 8:46 KJV).
How sad that we have such difficulty (1) acknowledging our weaknesses and that (2) we don’t do what we’re told to do and as God’s children (sinful as we are) come bravely (boldly) to His throne that we might receive what we need and must have in order to maintain a proper relationship with our Lord – MERCY IN OUR TIME OF NEED AND GRACE…GOD’S FAVOR AND BLESSING. I have often said, “I am saved…I am being saved…and I shall be saved!” How grateful this preacher is for having learned – the hard way –that my heavenly Father watches over me loves me and is always there in my infirmities. I have no trouble singing “I am weak but thou art strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.”
YOU’VE GOT TO BELIEVE -Sermon
YOU’VE GOT TO BELIEVE
A Message on “Real” Faith…
FAITH THAT WORKS…THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS
WHEN THE IMPOSSIBLE IS THE ISSUE
“But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that HE IS, and
that HE IS a rewarder of them that diligently SEEK HIM.”
(Hebrews 11:6)
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is
impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27; Matthew 19:26)
INTRODUCTION
The key word in this message is “BELIEVE”. The definition, according to Merriam-Webster is: “to have a firm conviction about something; accept as true.” This certainly goes well beyond mental assent, mind over matter, science of mind, yoga, or any of man’s concoctions. This is “real faith” – BULL DOG FAITH – conviction that cannot be shaken, that will not back down when Satan comes knocking, that will not flinch when the situation is hopeless, when the doctors have said, “we’ve done all we can do,” conviction that refuses to buckle when people bring their doubts to dump on you. You must BELIEVE that PEOPLE ARE NOT YOUR GOD…THEY ARE NOT YOUR SOURCE FOR THE MIRACLE THAT YOU NEED.
THE STARTING POINT
The starting point for believing as a Christian is (1) to accept as fact – not theory – that GOD IS…He does exist and I accept HIM as “my God”, and (2) to have the unwavering conviction that HE IS “a rewarder of them that diligently (earnestly) seek HIM.” (3) the unshakeable BELIEF in the Word of God as “The Word of God” – infallible and unfailing. Belief that GOD CANNOT LIE…and WILL NOT LIE…for, according to the Holy Scriptures, “it is IMPOSSIBLE for God toile” (Hebrews 6:18) – “God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it! Or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)
These verses (and there are many more) provide a great foundation upon which to build this message.
WHY IS THIS MESSAGE SO IMPORTANT?
The reasons are many:
1. There are so many Christians who do not know
what “real faith” is or how to appropriate the promises of God and therefore live in bondage to many things…bound unnecessarily.
2. It is ONLY BY FAITH that God works with the
human instrument (us). It is “by faith” that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8), and any claim to a viable relationship with God apart from the faith/grace formula is totally bogus. Those making such claims are deceived, by Satan and by their own unwillingness to “do things God’s way.”
3. It is BY FAITH that all things happen in the life
of the child of God. And none of God’s promises will “ever” take place in our life until we ACKNOWLEDGE HIM…THAT HE IS GOD…AND THAT BESIDE HIM THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAT CAN MAKE THE CLAIMS THAT HE MAKES…AND BACK THEM UP. HE IS! He always has been! He IS right now…this moment. He WILL BE for all eternity! Our God isn’t going away! His commandment, with promise, as He was about to depart on His return to the Father is: “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
There is GOOD NEWS: Our God isn’t going to abandon us when we take our unflinching, unwavering, stand on the promises of HIS WORD. Our position should always be, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” I refuse to back away from the promises of God. I WILL tenaciously hold on in faith UNTIL my God comes through. I can wait on God!
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDS
DESPERATE FAITH
The woman with the issue of blood is a good example. This woman had lived with what the Bible calls “an issue of blood” for twelve years (Mark 5:25). The marginal cross-reference in my Bible is Leviticus 15:25: “And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of her issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.” Should this be the actual rendering of “the issue of blood” then there is an apparent very serious condition that ONLY JESUS could handle, for she “had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and wasw nothing bettered, but rather grew worse” (Mark 5:26). One translation defines the woman’s problem as an open sore that would not heal. You be the judge. One thing is certain she was in need of the Savior’s touch.
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDED DESPERATE FAITH, and this unnamed woman – later to be called “daughter” by Jesus – took her situation in hand and made a desperate move of faith – “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). Did her desperate faith work for her? Indeed it did, and Jesus acknowledged it: “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (Mark 5:34).
Daughter in all likelihood would indicate that she was a Jewish woman. It may well mean that by healing her Jesus also forgave her sins (as he did with the paralytic man), proving that He did have the power to both heal and to forgive sins. All sickness and disease, in the Jewish tradition, meant that the person had been punished by God for their sins and thus they deserved their punishment. The punishment was also believed to be permanent. Jesus proved their tradition to be totally in error.
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDED DESPERATE FAITH when the four men (Mark Chapter 2) cared enough about their paralyzed friend to bring him to Jesus, remove the roof tiles so they could lower him down to where Jesus was teaching…faith enough to believe that if they took desperate measures on behalf of their friend THE IMPOSSIBLE WOULD HAPPEN. And, it did! The man received a double miracle – the salvation of his soul and the gift of full deliverance from paralysis. He took up his bed and walked home. Someone carried him there, but he walked home on his own, apparently carrying his bed (mat).
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDED DESPERATE FAITH when the Syro-Phonecian woman – a Gentile (Greek) would not back down on behalf of her daughter that was demon possessed – “For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet…and she besought him that he would send forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, Let the children (Jews) first be filled: for it is not meet (m. fitting) to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs (Gentiles). And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come into the house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed” (Mark 7:25-30).
IN CONCLUSION
The Gospels are filled with MANY examples of DESPERATE PEOPLE WITH DESPERATE NEEDS AND DESPERATE FAITH, people that were not disappointed at the end of their desperate journey to the feet of the Master.
Demoniacs fell at His feet and worshiped. Lepers came and were cleansed. The blind received their sight. The deaf and dumb were made to hear and speak. OUR GOD HASN’T CHANGED! He is still the God of the impossible.
I would like to close with the story of Jairus’ daughter. Jairus was the ruler (president) of the synagogue, probably in Capernaum. This high-ranking Jew, now facing the most desperate challenge of his life – his twelve year old daughter at the point of death – comes to Jesus for help. DESPERATE NEED DEMANDS DESPERATE FAITH. Jesus was delayed a bit on the way by the act of faith demonstrated by the woman with the issue of blood. And, before Jesus could get to the home of Jairus, word came that the girl had died. JESUS IGNORED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND PROCEEDED ON TO THE HOME OF JAIRUS.
What Jesus found was a house full of weeping and wailing people…people reacting as they were – people without faith. The need was certainly desperate, BUT these people knew nothing of the kind of faith it would take to bring this twelve year old girl back to life. “And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth inw here the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Tali-tha-cumi; which is being interpreted, Damsel, (I say unto thee,) arise. And straightway (m. immediately) the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.” (Mark 5:38-42)
There will always be people around you weeping, wailing, doubting, casting a pall over our efforts to make faith work. THE WEEPERS AND WAILERS…DOUBTING PEOPLE…MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP OUR DESPERATE MOVE TOWARD JESUS. Put those people out! Create an atmosphere in which faith can work.
Question: How desperate are you to meet Jesus and have your need met? If you are coming, make it BULL DOG FAITH…make it unwavering faith, “for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall RECEIVE anything of the Lord.” (James 1:6b, 7).
Anther sermon by Dr. Jerry Jones
P. O. Box 6986 – Burbank, California 91510-6986
E-mail: his2u@charter.net
Web: http//www.parsontoperson.blogspot.com
A Message on “Real” Faith…
FAITH THAT WORKS…THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS
WHEN THE IMPOSSIBLE IS THE ISSUE
“But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that HE IS, and
that HE IS a rewarder of them that diligently SEEK HIM.”
(Hebrews 11:6)
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is
impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27; Matthew 19:26)
INTRODUCTION
The key word in this message is “BELIEVE”. The definition, according to Merriam-Webster is: “to have a firm conviction about something; accept as true.” This certainly goes well beyond mental assent, mind over matter, science of mind, yoga, or any of man’s concoctions. This is “real faith” – BULL DOG FAITH – conviction that cannot be shaken, that will not back down when Satan comes knocking, that will not flinch when the situation is hopeless, when the doctors have said, “we’ve done all we can do,” conviction that refuses to buckle when people bring their doubts to dump on you. You must BELIEVE that PEOPLE ARE NOT YOUR GOD…THEY ARE NOT YOUR SOURCE FOR THE MIRACLE THAT YOU NEED.
THE STARTING POINT
The starting point for believing as a Christian is (1) to accept as fact – not theory – that GOD IS…He does exist and I accept HIM as “my God”, and (2) to have the unwavering conviction that HE IS “a rewarder of them that diligently (earnestly) seek HIM.” (3) the unshakeable BELIEF in the Word of God as “The Word of God” – infallible and unfailing. Belief that GOD CANNOT LIE…and WILL NOT LIE…for, according to the Holy Scriptures, “it is IMPOSSIBLE for God toile” (Hebrews 6:18) – “God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it! Or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)
These verses (and there are many more) provide a great foundation upon which to build this message.
WHY IS THIS MESSAGE SO IMPORTANT?
The reasons are many:
1. There are so many Christians who do not know
what “real faith” is or how to appropriate the promises of God and therefore live in bondage to many things…bound unnecessarily.
2. It is ONLY BY FAITH that God works with the
human instrument (us). It is “by faith” that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8), and any claim to a viable relationship with God apart from the faith/grace formula is totally bogus. Those making such claims are deceived, by Satan and by their own unwillingness to “do things God’s way.”
3. It is BY FAITH that all things happen in the life
of the child of God. And none of God’s promises will “ever” take place in our life until we ACKNOWLEDGE HIM…THAT HE IS GOD…AND THAT BESIDE HIM THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAT CAN MAKE THE CLAIMS THAT HE MAKES…AND BACK THEM UP. HE IS! He always has been! He IS right now…this moment. He WILL BE for all eternity! Our God isn’t going away! His commandment, with promise, as He was about to depart on His return to the Father is: “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
There is GOOD NEWS: Our God isn’t going to abandon us when we take our unflinching, unwavering, stand on the promises of HIS WORD. Our position should always be, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” I refuse to back away from the promises of God. I WILL tenaciously hold on in faith UNTIL my God comes through. I can wait on God!
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDS
DESPERATE FAITH
The woman with the issue of blood is a good example. This woman had lived with what the Bible calls “an issue of blood” for twelve years (Mark 5:25). The marginal cross-reference in my Bible is Leviticus 15:25: “And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of her issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.” Should this be the actual rendering of “the issue of blood” then there is an apparent very serious condition that ONLY JESUS could handle, for she “had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and wasw nothing bettered, but rather grew worse” (Mark 5:26). One translation defines the woman’s problem as an open sore that would not heal. You be the judge. One thing is certain she was in need of the Savior’s touch.
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDED DESPERATE FAITH, and this unnamed woman – later to be called “daughter” by Jesus – took her situation in hand and made a desperate move of faith – “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (Mark 5:28). Did her desperate faith work for her? Indeed it did, and Jesus acknowledged it: “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (Mark 5:34).
Daughter in all likelihood would indicate that she was a Jewish woman. It may well mean that by healing her Jesus also forgave her sins (as he did with the paralytic man), proving that He did have the power to both heal and to forgive sins. All sickness and disease, in the Jewish tradition, meant that the person had been punished by God for their sins and thus they deserved their punishment. The punishment was also believed to be permanent. Jesus proved their tradition to be totally in error.
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDED DESPERATE FAITH when the four men (Mark Chapter 2) cared enough about their paralyzed friend to bring him to Jesus, remove the roof tiles so they could lower him down to where Jesus was teaching…faith enough to believe that if they took desperate measures on behalf of their friend THE IMPOSSIBLE WOULD HAPPEN. And, it did! The man received a double miracle – the salvation of his soul and the gift of full deliverance from paralysis. He took up his bed and walked home. Someone carried him there, but he walked home on his own, apparently carrying his bed (mat).
DESPERATE NEED DEMANDED DESPERATE FAITH when the Syro-Phonecian woman – a Gentile (Greek) would not back down on behalf of her daughter that was demon possessed – “For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet…and she besought him that he would send forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, Let the children (Jews) first be filled: for it is not meet (m. fitting) to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs (Gentiles). And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. And when she was come into the house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed” (Mark 7:25-30).
IN CONCLUSION
The Gospels are filled with MANY examples of DESPERATE PEOPLE WITH DESPERATE NEEDS AND DESPERATE FAITH, people that were not disappointed at the end of their desperate journey to the feet of the Master.
Demoniacs fell at His feet and worshiped. Lepers came and were cleansed. The blind received their sight. The deaf and dumb were made to hear and speak. OUR GOD HASN’T CHANGED! He is still the God of the impossible.
I would like to close with the story of Jairus’ daughter. Jairus was the ruler (president) of the synagogue, probably in Capernaum. This high-ranking Jew, now facing the most desperate challenge of his life – his twelve year old daughter at the point of death – comes to Jesus for help. DESPERATE NEED DEMANDS DESPERATE FAITH. Jesus was delayed a bit on the way by the act of faith demonstrated by the woman with the issue of blood. And, before Jesus could get to the home of Jairus, word came that the girl had died. JESUS IGNORED THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND PROCEEDED ON TO THE HOME OF JAIRUS.
What Jesus found was a house full of weeping and wailing people…people reacting as they were – people without faith. The need was certainly desperate, BUT these people knew nothing of the kind of faith it would take to bring this twelve year old girl back to life. “And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth inw here the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Tali-tha-cumi; which is being interpreted, Damsel, (I say unto thee,) arise. And straightway (m. immediately) the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.” (Mark 5:38-42)
There will always be people around you weeping, wailing, doubting, casting a pall over our efforts to make faith work. THE WEEPERS AND WAILERS…DOUBTING PEOPLE…MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP OUR DESPERATE MOVE TOWARD JESUS. Put those people out! Create an atmosphere in which faith can work.
Question: How desperate are you to meet Jesus and have your need met? If you are coming, make it BULL DOG FAITH…make it unwavering faith, “for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall RECEIVE anything of the Lord.” (James 1:6b, 7).
Anther sermon by Dr. Jerry Jones
P. O. Box 6986 – Burbank, California 91510-6986
E-mail: his2u@charter.net
Web: http//www.parsontoperson.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)