Lesson 776

(Lesson 776)(10-10-13) Our lesson for today is taken from Matthew 9:18-26;

"While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land."

This lesson is a further demonstration of the power of Jesus Christ over all things. The woman merely touched Jesus' clothes and through her faith in His supreme power as the Son of God, her condition was healed.

Likewise, the daughter of the "ruler" was raised from the dead because of the man's demonstrated faith in Jesus as having the power to return his daughter's life to her.

This is a powerful lesson in that it again reassures us of the power of faith. If those of us who believe in Jesus, make our prayer requests, not wondering if, but KNOWING, that Jesus will be faithful to keep His promise, we can have anything for which we ask within the will of God. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."(Matthew 7:7-8)
Jesus made that promise while explaining the things available to the members of His Church, His children.~

Lesson 775

(Lesson 775)(10-09-13) This lesson is taken from Matthew 9:14-17;

"Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."

This lesson clearly establishes that the Church was established long before the day of Pentecost, and was NOT established by the ministry, nor baptisms, of John the Baptist. The Church started when Jesus selected Peter and James as His first Apostles. They were the first members of His Church.

(NOTE: There is NO scriptural evidence that any of the original twelve Apostles were EVER baptized in water.)

We should note that, in today's lesson, reference is made to "the disciples of John". This establishes that the followers of John (Those who awaited the coming of Christ and practiced Judaism, the Jewish religion.) were a separate group from the disciples of Christ.

There are many today who believe that John's disciples and the disciples of Christ were the same group and that one's baptism must be traced to John the Baptist in order to be a legitimate water baptism. As we can see herein, the water baptism that John administered, had NOTHING to do with the Church that Jesus established. John's water baptism pertained to a totally different group of disciples.

John amassed his Jewish disciples by ceremonially baptizing them in water as per the Law of Moses, thereby preparing them for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Just as John himself said, "I indeed baptize you with water UNTO REPENTANCE: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

The following statement also makes a clear distinction between the disciples of John and the disciples of Christ. "Why do WE and the Pharisees fast oft, but THY DISCIPLES fast not?" This shows that, in that statement, there is an US and a THEM.

Jesus said, in essence, that where there is no sin, there is no need of redemption. John's disciples believed they were redeemed by the law. The purpose of Jesus' coming was to be a redeemer to those who believed they needed to be redeemed. He went on to explain, by using metaphors, how salvation by grace, could not be reconciled with the rules of the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses and salvation by grace through faith, are two completely different doctrines. If we, as the early Jews tried to, mix the two doctrines, both become worthless. Therefore Jesus fulfilled the law for those of us who believe in Him, and established His new law of grace.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Lesson 774

(Lesson 774)(10-08-13) Today's lesson concerns the selection of Matthew to the Apostleship and also the hypocrisy of the Jewish hierarchy, Matthew 9:9-13;

"And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

The actions of the Pharisees mentioned in this lesson, are reflected by far too many who represent today's "church".

Over the centuries taking the message to the sinners, (That method of teaching practiced by Jesus.), has sadly morphed into a system within which the "church" membership all come together two or three times a week and sit waiting for the lost to suddenly appear.

It is the duty of a member of Christ's Church to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matt. 28:19-20) There is no direction in this commandment to go and sit anywhere, we are clearly to GO and teach, not SIT and teach.

The Pharisees, spoken of in this lesson, condemned Jesus for mixing with, and preaching to, "sinners". The "church" today also broadly condemns those who step away from their comfortable little "church" circle and dare go where the "sinners" actually are.

Jesus warned us about becoming complacent when He sent a message to the Church at Laodicea, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:14-16)

Its time for Christians to step away from the security of the little self-righteous niches that have falsely come to be called the Churches and take on the duty that was laid on us by Jesus Himself.

Its past time to GO where the lost are and teach the good news of the grace of God to all who will listen.~

Lesson 773

(Lesson 773)(10-07-13) Todays lesson is a follow up on our last lesson and comes from Matthew 9:3-8;

"And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men."

This lesson is not so much about the miracle Jesus performed for the leper, as it is about the hypocrisy of those Scribes.

It again demonstrates the authenticity of Jesus, His power, and how the Jews had come to make God's plan all about themselves while ignoring the true purpose of the Law that God had given them.

Those Scribes (Devout Jews) were so entrenched in the letter of the Law, as they defined it, so as to blind themselves to the intent of that Law. They didn't recognize that the Man standing in front of them was the Son of God, who, in essence, was the author of the very Law they were accusing Him of violating.

The intent of God's law was, and is, to uplift and better the lives of mankind while allowing him/her a path to redemption. What more powerful demonstration of love, and obedience to that law, could there be than to cure someone of a horrible disease? Yet, those Scribes defined what Jesus did as a sin against the Law.

Jesus very precisely defined sin in Matthew 22:35-40, "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Jesus said, in essence, that all sin is encompassed within these two commandments. ("the law and the prophets") The worldly things we do daily, that do not in any way violate either of these commandments, are NOT sins.

Jesus said, "On these two dommandmenst hang all the law and the prophets." Meaning that anything that is done within the limitations of these two commandments cannot be sin. On the other hand, anything that is done in violation of any part of these two commandments IS sin.

If our actions have the intent of exalting God, and are always done for the benefit of our fellow man, they CANNOT be called sinful, no matter what those actions might be.~

Lesson 772

(Lesson 772)(10-03-13) Today's lesson is taken from Matthew 9:1-2;

"And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."

This lesson makes one, very clear, very concise, point, that point being that faith alone brings forgiveness of sin.

There is very little to be added to this statement, "Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee."

All that was required to forgive the palsied man's sin, was his faith!

Those who contend that one must receive water baptism and/or jump through a series of worldly hoops to receive forgiveness, should study this lesson over and over again.~

Lesson 771

(Lesson 771)(10-02-13) Our lesson for today comes from Matthew 8:34;

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts."

The most prominent point made in today's lesson is that those devils recognized Jesus to be the Son of God the moment they saw Him.

They also immediately demonstrated that Jesus had power over them to do with them as He pleased and were afraid of what His choice might be.

This lesson is a very important confirmation of Jesus' power over Satan, in all his various forms. He stands ready to intercede and chase the devils out of our lives whenever we call on Him.~

Lesson 770

(Lesson 770)(10-01-13) Today's lesson is comes from Matthew 8:24-27;

"And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

This lesson gives us another example of the promise that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, those of us who have placed our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, can accomplish anything, even to the point of calming a raging sea.

When the storm raged and the ship was tossed, just like most of us probably would today, Jesus' disciples became afraid and went running to Him for help. Seeing their fear, Jesus asked them, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Jesus knew that if the faith of those disciples had been sufficient, all they would have had to do was, through His name, command the sea to stand still and the water would have obeyed their command. Instead, however, they demonstrated a complete lack of faith and went running for help.

Many of today's "Christians" are guilty of that same lack of faith. We pretend to believe that our prayers will be answered, but don't truly believe we will receive the answer we desire. We are the cause of our own suffering in that we don't rely of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ to fulfill the promise He made to us.
In John 14:12-14 Jesus made this wonderful promise, to both His early disciples, and those of us who place our absolute faith in Him today, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

When our lives become troubled, the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ stands ready to grant us the power, through faith, to overcome all storms. Praise God, there is no greater power than that.~