When I think of a person, fellow human sufferer; I well-up with love and compassion. So also did Jesus Matthew 9:36 tells us, “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” And again in Matthew 14:14 “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” Also in Matthew 15:32 “Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.” New testament “compassion” was taken from a Greek word relating to our English word “spleen.” Spleen works in a man as a blood filter and also regulates the immune system…
Healing at the Cross Posts
Three notable “darkness” events happened in Bible history. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.” Exodus 10:21-22 Next one occurred at the Crucifixion of Christ. “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.” Matthew 27:45 A third was predicted by Joel: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” Joel 2:31 But, God sends encouragement: Isaiah 45:7a teaches “I form the light, and create darkness.” and Psalm 139:12 adds “Yea, the darkness hides not from thee; but the night shines as the day: the…
In the ancient garden, God planted trees good for fruit. The tree of life was there, so also grew the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This second tree became a forbidden one, since God warned Adam to not eat of it. “…for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17b Then God formed Eve of Adam’s rib and the Hallmark Channel had it’s first story to tell. Problem came, as the ‘intuitive’ first lady ate some “knowledge tree” and so joined her Adam; death happened to both in the form of a brand new Consciousness. In one fatal swoop, a Serpent enabled an awareness of an evil kingdom — it’s evil side, but also it’s good side. On the evil side of darkness, our first parents opened a Pandora’s Box of things like hatred, killing, rape, theft and overall abuse of fellow…
On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring. News of great joy, news of great mirth, news of our merciful King’s birth. Then why should Men on earth be sad, since our Redeemer made us glad; When from our sin He set us free, all for to gain our LIBERTY. When sin departs before His face, then life and health comes in it’s place. Angels and Men with joy may sing, for all to see the newborn King. And out of darkness we have Light, which made the angels sing this night. “Glory to God in highest Heav’n, now and forever more.” Amen! Now and forever more.” Amen! Now and forever more.” Amen! Sussex Carol Leviticus 14:14-17 teaches: “And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of…
The love of many will wax cold — iniquity will abound. Men’s hearts will fail them for fear. Chilling love, hearts expire. Interesting it is, how heart and love go together. A heart holds the issue of life for a person and possibly that “go” is goodness and kindness. A man believes and embraces these noble attributes and holds them firm in his value system. But can that value system sustain him in the time of testing? Is that value system changeable? In a book by Carl H. Stevens, “cosmic loneliness,” our Pastor quotes Rollo May: he defines Anxiety as “the reaction to the threat to values one identifies with his existence as a self, ” “a person can meet anxiety to the extent that his Values are stronger than the threat.” Again from May, “man defines maturity as the holding of values, with no importance placed on the truth…
The continually present sense of one’s sins having been once for all forgiven, is the strongest stimulus to every grace. J.F.B. Psalm 130:3-4 teaches, ” If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” In John 13:10 Jesus teaches this once-for-all accomplished cleansing of unbelievers at their new birth. “He that has been bathed (once for all) needs not save to wash his feet (of the soils contracted in the daily walk), but is clean every whit (in Christ our righteousness).” “Once purged (with Christ’s blood), we should have no more consciousness of sin (as condemning us, Hebrews 10:2, because of God’s promise).” All quotes, J.F.B. commentary. But Peter tells us in 2Peter 1:9 “some have forgotten that they were purged from their old sins.” Why? He continues, they “lack certain things, have become blind, cannot see…
He was a mere twig in an dry place. “We saw Him, and there was nothing in His appearance to make us desire Him, or feel attracted by Him.” He is disesteemed and vacant from men, a man of anguish and knowing grief. He was scorned and valued not.” Isaiah prophesized the coming Messiah in this way. but, “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” Corinthians teaches of His imposing death and consequent “sowing” in the ground — and then: “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” Jesus, would Himself teach us, “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but…
The snow fell stilly on the frosted ground . The warm 33 degree air welcomed us to wonder at it, to frolic in it, to savor the beauty of it — we rejoiced at its purity and cleansing effect. It was the last Christmas celebration — an occasion for those ‘loving His appearing’ to remember Him, His birth, incarnation; God born a man! Soon we would transfer to where He is, and then new celebration would outweigh any previous, a thousand to one. Regardless, this last Christmas carries infamy. Haters of Christ have notified the world — Christmas will no longer be celebrated — it is against the law. Yes, Christmas offends too many world-citizens and must cease. Just as the Christ Child was brutally extinguished a short season after His birth, so, now His memory must be erased also. We eat our ham and applesauce with sobriety; we refrain…
I have good news and bad–First the bad. Angrily driven, my hatred propels me to unprecedented heights of mischief and pain-inflicting. Then, righting my wounded soul by raucous revenge, I hurt that which has so damaged my cause. My deeds are done. My world of entitlement returns for my enjoying. Who cares if my methods were not exactly legal? “The end justifies the means;” because power has been regained. Yes, power. To manipulate, to steal, to wield the axe of “freedom at everyone else’s expense.” Question? When the rambunctious radical gets what he or she so desires, what now drives him? When revenge finds its sweet release, do revengers turn into happy caring individuals again? I think not. Their ugly self-validated, psychologically justified souls, have spilled over for all to see. These have played the “hate card,” the same card that we all could play, but have dared not, as…
An age, a great block of time of almost 2000 years, will soon end! The dispensation of the grace of God runs from the time of Christ’s 33 year earthly visit, till His return. This specific age features a specific management, oversight, or administration — of God toward mankind. Paul the Apostle referred to this era as: ( the mystery of Christ) in other ages it was not made known unto the sons of men, is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Gentiles can become fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel: Paul’s purpose in the time-block: to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery: that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold…