In no certain Order
Professor Dave Macy. My Pastoral and bible professor in bible college. He was the first to turn me on to bible exposition and he practiced what he preached. When he taught, the bible seem to come alive. I loved his outlines, but could not seem to come up with the catchy phrases and word orders that he seem to get. He had a great sense of humor and I owe my humor to him, therefore, blame him.
Dr. S. Lewis Johnson, Jr. A stellar bible scholar and professor of systematic theology. I have spent countless of hours listening to his teachings and taking careful notes. God has used him to keep me well grounded in the faith. Although he has passed on, I refer to his teachings time and time again.
John MacArthur, Jr. The most in-depth bible teacher and pastor that I know. His messages and books have feed me more than I can handle. He is committed to the truth and his commitment is so infectious.
Wayne Cordeiro. A master communicator and a man who knows how to pull wisdom from the scriptures and teach it in a way that sticks with you. I have never listened to a message or read any of his books where I did not come away thinking, “Wow that was spiritually stimulating.”
Warren Wierbse. I use his commentaries more than any other. He is fresh with insights on bible passages and deep in bible exposition. He knows how to put things together succinctly which saves me tons of time especially when I need answers fast.
Dr. Norman Geisler. A bible scholar, apologist and theology professor that I tremble when I get enough nerve to read his books. He is extremely profound and deep, but writes and teaches in concise and clear understandable ways. I am always amazed as to how this man’s brain works.
Neil Cole. Has brought me back to the basics of effective discipleship in the church. With all the various stuff out there for churches to get lost in, Pastor Cole has shown me what are the essentials to never lose sight of. He has helped to make my pastoral experience refreshing and focused.
William McRae. Extremely insightful in his handling of Scriptures. He is easy to follow and pleasant to listen to. I love this man's teachings because he knows how to grab your attention early on and hold it throughout his message. Afterwards I come away with a deeper appreciation of the text of Scripture he expounded on.
Chuck Swindoll. I can always count on Pastor Chuck to provide that one illustration that opens the window of understanding. He is funny, passionate in his teachings, and cleverly knows how to apply the Word in the most basic and pertinent ways. I always love at the end of his messages how he says in essence: "Here are four applications to take with you." He has shown me how humor can be positive in preaching.
Rush Limbaugh. Now this may be a surprise to you, but not to me. I have listened to Rush Limbaugh since the early nineties. He is very bright, committed to truth, and big on content. He is the liberals worse nightmare and I love that. Those who have not listened to him long enough think of him as arrogant. But he is just the opposite. I have learned more about politics, the way government works, how liberals and conservatives think, how the liberal media operates and the spin that it tends to put on stories, about American history and the constitution -- in other words, I got more out of listening to Rush than I ever did while in public education. Take a look at what goes on in Washington and in your local area of politics and like me, you see how dismal some politicians can be. Sometimes it is down right depressing. For me, Rush puts it all in perspective with a twist of humor. Consider me a ditto head, a mind numb robot and proud of it.
How about you?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Dangers of Walking By Sight
On February 1, I read the following passage:
Exod. 32:25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
Here is a clear cut case on how necessary it is for people to be brought under control of moral laws and for such laws to be enforced when necessary.
Moses had held Aaron fully responsible for the sinful behavior of the people. Aaron of course, tried to invent some excuse such as, “Hello, you know these people are prone to do evil” (v. 21). And then there is the most classic one of all: “I threw the gold the people handed me into the fire and poof – out came this cafe” (v. 24).
From Aaron’s excuses come reasons why he should have been a better leader. First, indeed the people are prone to do evil, that’s why you need to watch over them and enforce the things that are right! You see, we are all prone to do evil, that’s why it is not right merely for us to get our own way. We need boundaries. We need accountability. We need leaders to enforce the rules and wake us up to the consequences. As a result of letting the people do what they wanted (which Aaron thought was a nice and understanding thing to do), three thousand people died that day (v. 28).
Second, leaders make the mistake of letting the people do the leading. Just think with me: How long would it take for a golden cafe to be made in the Wilderness? We are not talking about an overnight phenomenon. The bible says that Moses was delayed (Exod. 32:1). Delayed how long? Forty days he was on top of Mt. Sinai (24:18). So, apparently it took the people a little over a month to make this golden cow.
Well, Aaron had plenty of time to get himself and the people out of this predicament. But instead of leading the people, he allowed the people to lead him, thus: “the people handed me their gold and I threw it in the fire.”
Check out this story: New Zealand teen auctions her virginity for tuition
By Ray Lilley
Associated Press
POSTED: Feb 03, 2010
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND: A New Zealand teenager who says she auctioned her virginity online for $32,000 to raise tuition money did not break any laws but it might be risky for her to follow through on the deal, police warned today.
The anonymous 19-year-old student offered her virginity to the highest bidder on the Web site www.ineed.co.nz under the name ''Unigirl,'' saying she would use the money to pay for her tuition. She said in a post that more than 30,000 people had viewed her ad and more than 1,200 had made bids before she accepted an offer of more than $32,000.
Isn’t this just mind-boggling? You know what struck me was how low people will go to get what they want. And what also struck me was what one would choose to give up in order to get what they want.
For the Israelites, they were willing to give up their worship of God who had led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and was providing for their needs in the Wilderness while on their way to the Land of Promise. They would be willing to give up all that and much more – their own lives – for a golden cow.
What was the golden cow? Well, of course, we know it was an idol. Yes, but what was it really? All it was for these people was something for them to SEE (vv. 32:1, 8). They missed Moses and so in order to replace him with something they could see, they built for themselves a golden cafe. No wonder the bible exhorts us not to walk by “sight” but by “faith” (2 Cor. 5:7). No wonder the bible says that “faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things NOT SEEN (Heb. 11:1).
You see, the evil we are prone to do is to choose to walk by sight and not by faith. Why? Because we feel so much better by the things we can see over that which we cannot see. Think about it: How many times has your son or daughter come home late and you stayed up worrying about them? You would feel much better if you could see them, but if you cannot, then at least hear from them. But when you get neither, then trust and faith in God must kick in and that can be very unsettling especially for those who are so use to walking by sight.
Church leaders are a lot like this. They implement a program and in order to see if it is successful, what do they look for? Visible results. Nothing wrong with that, right? Except, now watch this – visible results in the area of church ministry usually entails “numbers.” You see, numbers are easier and quicker to come by. What is not quicker to see is HEALTH. Growth and health takes time and it is not easily seen until much later down the road.
So we church leaders try all kinds of gimmicks that produce numbers because we want to SEE results and the quicker the better. But what about walking by faith and waiting for the result of spiritual growth and maturity to kick in? I know this takes time, but are not such things worth it? I know preaching and teaching the Word and doing discipleship may not always produce quick results in numbers, but we are not to walk by sight, but by faith.
Sure, desperate women can sell their virginity and get $32,000 quickly. But when we choose to do things quickly, what are we willing to compromise in? Why not go the slow route and work and save money for college? Imagine the education that can be gained using that method?
Now listen: Popping babies out and getting numbers is quick. But maturing and growing in character takes time – a long time. Which is better for our society? Which is better for our churches?
For me, I choose to go the faith route that is often long and not so much filled with measurable and visible results. I may not see the kind of results I often hope and pray for, but the process that I am taking is having a tremendous positive affect on my own character.
I am not alone in thinking like this: “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promise” (Heb. 11:39). Many of the Old Testament saints did not see the results they had hoped for; but their faith in the Lord made their lives successful.
Walking by faith is often tough to do, but so necessary especially if you want to please the Lord (cf. Heb. 11:6).
Exod. 32:25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me." And all the Levites rallied to him.
Here is a clear cut case on how necessary it is for people to be brought under control of moral laws and for such laws to be enforced when necessary.
Moses had held Aaron fully responsible for the sinful behavior of the people. Aaron of course, tried to invent some excuse such as, “Hello, you know these people are prone to do evil” (v. 21). And then there is the most classic one of all: “I threw the gold the people handed me into the fire and poof – out came this cafe” (v. 24).
From Aaron’s excuses come reasons why he should have been a better leader. First, indeed the people are prone to do evil, that’s why you need to watch over them and enforce the things that are right! You see, we are all prone to do evil, that’s why it is not right merely for us to get our own way. We need boundaries. We need accountability. We need leaders to enforce the rules and wake us up to the consequences. As a result of letting the people do what they wanted (which Aaron thought was a nice and understanding thing to do), three thousand people died that day (v. 28).
Second, leaders make the mistake of letting the people do the leading. Just think with me: How long would it take for a golden cafe to be made in the Wilderness? We are not talking about an overnight phenomenon. The bible says that Moses was delayed (Exod. 32:1). Delayed how long? Forty days he was on top of Mt. Sinai (24:18). So, apparently it took the people a little over a month to make this golden cow.
Well, Aaron had plenty of time to get himself and the people out of this predicament. But instead of leading the people, he allowed the people to lead him, thus: “the people handed me their gold and I threw it in the fire.”
Check out this story: New Zealand teen auctions her virginity for tuition
By Ray Lilley
Associated Press
POSTED: Feb 03, 2010
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND: A New Zealand teenager who says she auctioned her virginity online for $32,000 to raise tuition money did not break any laws but it might be risky for her to follow through on the deal, police warned today.
The anonymous 19-year-old student offered her virginity to the highest bidder on the Web site www.ineed.co.nz under the name ''Unigirl,'' saying she would use the money to pay for her tuition. She said in a post that more than 30,000 people had viewed her ad and more than 1,200 had made bids before she accepted an offer of more than $32,000.
Isn’t this just mind-boggling? You know what struck me was how low people will go to get what they want. And what also struck me was what one would choose to give up in order to get what they want.
For the Israelites, they were willing to give up their worship of God who had led them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea and was providing for their needs in the Wilderness while on their way to the Land of Promise. They would be willing to give up all that and much more – their own lives – for a golden cow.
What was the golden cow? Well, of course, we know it was an idol. Yes, but what was it really? All it was for these people was something for them to SEE (vv. 32:1, 8). They missed Moses and so in order to replace him with something they could see, they built for themselves a golden cafe. No wonder the bible exhorts us not to walk by “sight” but by “faith” (2 Cor. 5:7). No wonder the bible says that “faith is the substance of things hope for and the evidence of things NOT SEEN (Heb. 11:1).
You see, the evil we are prone to do is to choose to walk by sight and not by faith. Why? Because we feel so much better by the things we can see over that which we cannot see. Think about it: How many times has your son or daughter come home late and you stayed up worrying about them? You would feel much better if you could see them, but if you cannot, then at least hear from them. But when you get neither, then trust and faith in God must kick in and that can be very unsettling especially for those who are so use to walking by sight.
Church leaders are a lot like this. They implement a program and in order to see if it is successful, what do they look for? Visible results. Nothing wrong with that, right? Except, now watch this – visible results in the area of church ministry usually entails “numbers.” You see, numbers are easier and quicker to come by. What is not quicker to see is HEALTH. Growth and health takes time and it is not easily seen until much later down the road.
So we church leaders try all kinds of gimmicks that produce numbers because we want to SEE results and the quicker the better. But what about walking by faith and waiting for the result of spiritual growth and maturity to kick in? I know this takes time, but are not such things worth it? I know preaching and teaching the Word and doing discipleship may not always produce quick results in numbers, but we are not to walk by sight, but by faith.
Sure, desperate women can sell their virginity and get $32,000 quickly. But when we choose to do things quickly, what are we willing to compromise in? Why not go the slow route and work and save money for college? Imagine the education that can be gained using that method?
Now listen: Popping babies out and getting numbers is quick. But maturing and growing in character takes time – a long time. Which is better for our society? Which is better for our churches?
For me, I choose to go the faith route that is often long and not so much filled with measurable and visible results. I may not see the kind of results I often hope and pray for, but the process that I am taking is having a tremendous positive affect on my own character.
I am not alone in thinking like this: “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promise” (Heb. 11:39). Many of the Old Testament saints did not see the results they had hoped for; but their faith in the Lord made their lives successful.
Walking by faith is often tough to do, but so necessary especially if you want to please the Lord (cf. Heb. 11:6).
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Importance of a Righteous Character
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit – Matt. 1:18-20 NIV
In Jewish custom, being engaged to a woman was like being married to her. The Jewish betrothal was that binding. At this time in the life of Joseph, he was only engaged to Mary. It was during their period of engagement that he had discovered, much to his horror that his wife to be was pregnant and he was not the father.
You could only imagine how the conversation went.
Joseph: What’s his name?
Mary: “Who?”
Joseph: “Don’t give me that ‘who’ stuff? Who else?”
Mary: “Sorry, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Joseph: “You’re pregnant, right! Who is the father?”
Mary: “God.”
Joseph: “Oh, that’s original! Did you stay up all night thinking of that one?”
Mary: “No Joseph, seriously, the father of this child is God.”
Joseph: “Not only have you been unfaithful to me, but you are also showing me that you’re nuts!” You know what? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Mary: “Please Joseph,” (Mary crying), “I don’t understand what has happened to me. I just believe it. I would never be unfaithful to you. God is using me for something big that He wants to do for mankind. I am still trying to process it all out myself. Joseph, please talk to me, don’t go! Joseph! Joseph!”
And then the bible says, “Joseph, being a righteous man. . .” Let’s stop and ponder that statement for a moment. First, righteous people are not immune from getting hurt and disappointed. Tough times, complex situations, come upon everyone. Second, righteous men are not born that way, they “become.” This is why the text says, “Joseph, being a righteous man. . .” He was righteous and becoming even better at it. Righteousness is simply doing the right things. Joseph was a man who did the right things and because he did so, he was known to be a righteous man. Third, a righteous man will make tough decisions in complex situations.
Joseph was faced with two issues. First, knowing what he did (and his knowledge about Mary’s pregnancy was still incomplete), he could not marry her. His righteousness would not allow that to happen. Second, he loved Mary deeply and did not want to shame her publicly, much less to demand her death, as stated in the law (Deut. 22:23-24). Joseph was more concern for Mary’s shame and dishonor than for his own.
The phrase in verse 19, “put her away” was commonly used for divorce. In other words, Joseph wanted to break off the engagement secretly and spare Mary public humiliation at least to try to buy her some time.
This is what Joseph was planning on doing because “he was a righteous man.” Now here is something to grab onto and hold tightly. Everyone of us will face tough and complex situations in life. Such situations will demand from us tough decisions. When such times come our way, it will be too late to start to work on our righteousness or integrity. We must work on our integrity now.
When the time comes and you are forced to make a difficult decision because the issues are complex, your integrity will help to give you insight on what to do.
You will be faced with two issues before you: “Not knowing what to do,” and “not wanting to do it.” These are issues we all wrestle with from time to time. And it can be awfully tough especially when we must make a decision quickly. This then would be the moment to rely on your integrity, that is, your own personal spiritual convictions based on a heart that loves doing what is right because it follows the Word.
An angel came along and saved Joseph the trouble. The angel told Joseph that the baby in Mary was indeed from the Holy Spirit and that she was still a virgin.
And then the angel said this to Joseph and revealed God’s plan for him in all of this. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David.” In other words, “Joseph, you must marry Mary. It is important for Jesus to have a father that is from the line of David. You are from the line of David. You will therefore be Jesus’ legal father, but not His biological father. This would fulfill the scriptures that teach that Jesus would come through the line of David (cf. Matt. 1:1-16). And also it would fulfill the prophecy that Jesus would be the “Son of God” brought into the world apart from the means of an earthly father.”
Jesus’ conception was divine – i.e. from the Holy Spirit, and yet, because He would be conceived in a woman, Jesus would have two natures – human and divine. Mary had a part to play in providing Jesus with His human nature. And Joseph had a part to play, providing Jesus with the legal right to the throne of David.
The Washington Times ran this article back in 2002.
"Men won't commit to marriage because they enjoy a sexually active single life in a social climate that doesn't push them to marry," according to a Washington Times story on a new report from the National Marriage Project..
"Young men are indeed 'commitment phobic,' which is bad news for young women who want build a family before they get too old," said researchers Barbara Dafoe Whitehead and David Popenoe, who run the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University.
"The median age of first marriage for men has reached 27, the oldest age in our nation's history," Mr. Popenoe said. "If this trend of men waiting to marry continues, it is likely to clash with the timing of marriage and childbearing for the many young women who hope to marry and bear children before they begin to face problems associated with declining fertility," he said.
There are several specific reasons for why young men are avoiding marriage, the researchers indicate. "Primarily, young men are enjoying a sexually active single life — often with a live-in girlfriend — and "are in no hurry" to marry, the researchers said.
"The researchers also found that young men are often wary of marriage because of worries that they will marry the wrong person, be forced to make too many compromises or take on too many burdens as a husband, or suffer huge losses if the marriage ends in divorce.
"What young men aren't worried about is a personal, biological deadline to have children," Mrs. Whitehead said: "Men see marriage as the final step in a prolonged process of growing up," with children coming along in due time, she said. This isn't true for young women, she said, but young men "don't have much sympathy" for women's fertility problems. "As one man put it, 'That's their issue.'"
"Traditional social forces, such as the family, religion and the workplace, used to pressure men toward marriage, but that is no longer the case, she said. With the relaxation of social pressures, coupled with general silence about unmarried couples living together, 'men can relax their timetable indefinitely,'" she said. ("Wedded Bliss Not a Priority for Bachelors" by Cheryl Wetzstein, The Washington Times, June 26, 2002.)
What separates Joseph from the single men of today? Righteousness. Having that innate desire to want to do the right thing. Joseph had it and he did the right thing.
“Being a righteous person” starts by first being right with God and allowing Him to use the Scriptures in your life as a way to mentor you. This takes time. But when the complex problems come (and they will), you will have a righteous character and foundation by which to decide your future.
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit – Matt. 1:18-20 NIV
In Jewish custom, being engaged to a woman was like being married to her. The Jewish betrothal was that binding. At this time in the life of Joseph, he was only engaged to Mary. It was during their period of engagement that he had discovered, much to his horror that his wife to be was pregnant and he was not the father.
You could only imagine how the conversation went.
Joseph: What’s his name?
Mary: “Who?”
Joseph: “Don’t give me that ‘who’ stuff? Who else?”
Mary: “Sorry, I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Joseph: “You’re pregnant, right! Who is the father?”
Mary: “God.”
Joseph: “Oh, that’s original! Did you stay up all night thinking of that one?”
Mary: “No Joseph, seriously, the father of this child is God.”
Joseph: “Not only have you been unfaithful to me, but you are also showing me that you’re nuts!” You know what? I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Mary: “Please Joseph,” (Mary crying), “I don’t understand what has happened to me. I just believe it. I would never be unfaithful to you. God is using me for something big that He wants to do for mankind. I am still trying to process it all out myself. Joseph, please talk to me, don’t go! Joseph! Joseph!”
And then the bible says, “Joseph, being a righteous man. . .” Let’s stop and ponder that statement for a moment. First, righteous people are not immune from getting hurt and disappointed. Tough times, complex situations, come upon everyone. Second, righteous men are not born that way, they “become.” This is why the text says, “Joseph, being a righteous man. . .” He was righteous and becoming even better at it. Righteousness is simply doing the right things. Joseph was a man who did the right things and because he did so, he was known to be a righteous man. Third, a righteous man will make tough decisions in complex situations.
Joseph was faced with two issues. First, knowing what he did (and his knowledge about Mary’s pregnancy was still incomplete), he could not marry her. His righteousness would not allow that to happen. Second, he loved Mary deeply and did not want to shame her publicly, much less to demand her death, as stated in the law (Deut. 22:23-24). Joseph was more concern for Mary’s shame and dishonor than for his own.
The phrase in verse 19, “put her away” was commonly used for divorce. In other words, Joseph wanted to break off the engagement secretly and spare Mary public humiliation at least to try to buy her some time.
This is what Joseph was planning on doing because “he was a righteous man.” Now here is something to grab onto and hold tightly. Everyone of us will face tough and complex situations in life. Such situations will demand from us tough decisions. When such times come our way, it will be too late to start to work on our righteousness or integrity. We must work on our integrity now.
When the time comes and you are forced to make a difficult decision because the issues are complex, your integrity will help to give you insight on what to do.
You will be faced with two issues before you: “Not knowing what to do,” and “not wanting to do it.” These are issues we all wrestle with from time to time. And it can be awfully tough especially when we must make a decision quickly. This then would be the moment to rely on your integrity, that is, your own personal spiritual convictions based on a heart that loves doing what is right because it follows the Word.
An angel came along and saved Joseph the trouble. The angel told Joseph that the baby in Mary was indeed from the Holy Spirit and that she was still a virgin.
And then the angel said this to Joseph and revealed God’s plan for him in all of this. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David.” In other words, “Joseph, you must marry Mary. It is important for Jesus to have a father that is from the line of David. You are from the line of David. You will therefore be Jesus’ legal father, but not His biological father. This would fulfill the scriptures that teach that Jesus would come through the line of David (cf. Matt. 1:1-16). And also it would fulfill the prophecy that Jesus would be the “Son of God” brought into the world apart from the means of an earthly father.”
Jesus’ conception was divine – i.e. from the Holy Spirit, and yet, because He would be conceived in a woman, Jesus would have two natures – human and divine. Mary had a part to play in providing Jesus with His human nature. And Joseph had a part to play, providing Jesus with the legal right to the throne of David.
The Washington Times ran this article back in 2002.
"Men won't commit to marriage because they enjoy a sexually active single life in a social climate that doesn't push them to marry," according to a Washington Times story on a new report from the National Marriage Project..
"Young men are indeed 'commitment phobic,' which is bad news for young women who want build a family before they get too old," said researchers Barbara Dafoe Whitehead and David Popenoe, who run the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University.
"The median age of first marriage for men has reached 27, the oldest age in our nation's history," Mr. Popenoe said. "If this trend of men waiting to marry continues, it is likely to clash with the timing of marriage and childbearing for the many young women who hope to marry and bear children before they begin to face problems associated with declining fertility," he said.
There are several specific reasons for why young men are avoiding marriage, the researchers indicate. "Primarily, young men are enjoying a sexually active single life — often with a live-in girlfriend — and "are in no hurry" to marry, the researchers said.
"The researchers also found that young men are often wary of marriage because of worries that they will marry the wrong person, be forced to make too many compromises or take on too many burdens as a husband, or suffer huge losses if the marriage ends in divorce.
"What young men aren't worried about is a personal, biological deadline to have children," Mrs. Whitehead said: "Men see marriage as the final step in a prolonged process of growing up," with children coming along in due time, she said. This isn't true for young women, she said, but young men "don't have much sympathy" for women's fertility problems. "As one man put it, 'That's their issue.'"
"Traditional social forces, such as the family, religion and the workplace, used to pressure men toward marriage, but that is no longer the case, she said. With the relaxation of social pressures, coupled with general silence about unmarried couples living together, 'men can relax their timetable indefinitely,'" she said. ("Wedded Bliss Not a Priority for Bachelors" by Cheryl Wetzstein, The Washington Times, June 26, 2002.)
What separates Joseph from the single men of today? Righteousness. Having that innate desire to want to do the right thing. Joseph had it and he did the right thing.
“Being a righteous person” starts by first being right with God and allowing Him to use the Scriptures in your life as a way to mentor you. This takes time. But when the complex problems come (and they will), you will have a righteous character and foundation by which to decide your future.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Faith That Captures Jesus' Attention
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." 3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" 4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men – Matt. 9:1-8 NIV
You know what strikes me with awe whenever I read the above passage? Jesus forgave this man of his sins and the man didn’t even ask to be forgiven. Go ahead read it again. Can you see anywhere in which the man came to Jesus and said, “I am a sinner, please pardon me of my sins?”
I mean, even some of the teachers of the law said, “How is it possible for this man (Jesus) to say such a thing? How can we even be sure that the man’s sins are actually forgiven? Can anyone see sins being forgiven?”
Jesus, of course, knowing their thoughts, said, “I am going to prove to you that I have the authority to forgive the sins of this man. I am going to do something that you all can see. I am doing to heal him. Therefore, if you can see for yourself this man’s healing, then you know that when I say to him, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ I actually have the power and authority to do so.”
So what did Jesus do? He forgave the man’s sins and then He healed him. Again, this is mind boggling when you think about it. This man did not come to Jesus on his own. His friends had brought him. Second, Jesus was not impressed with the faith of the paralytic who He forgave; instead Jesus was impressed with the faith of his friends – “Jesus seeing their faith. . .”
This man literally did nothing and got everything! What’s up with that?
Well, perhaps the connection was this. Sometimes a person’s physical weakness or sickness is the result of some sin. For example, gluttony would fall into that category, so also drunkenness, drug abuse and immorality – getting venereal diseases, etc. The Jews believed this (cf. John 9:2). The Apostles taught it (cf. James 5:14-15; 1 Cor. 11:30). Therefore, when Jesus healed this man, He also in connection with the man’s healing forgave the sin that contributed possibly to this man’s disease.
It is noteworthy that Jesus first dealt with this man’s greater need – his need of forgiveness, only after doing so does Jesus heal this man physically – the lesser need. Therefore, once the man’s sin was forgiven that contributed to his illness, then the only thing left for Jesus to do was to heal the man of his disease.
All this was done by the Lord to show His disciples and those around that the Son of God has the right and the power to forgive sins.
But the question still remains – Jesus only recognized the faith of this man’s friends. Yes, this is true. The faith to carry this man was greater than the faith of the man who was carried.
However, and here is the key: The faith of the man who was being carried, even though small in comparison to the faith of his friends who carried him, was enough for the Son of God to forgive his sins and heal him. You see, God saves not according to our perceive greatness in faith and ability, but according to His mercy (Titus 3:5). Some people do not have the faith of come on their own, they have to be carried to the Lord. By allowing yourself to be carried to Jesus is enough faith for the Lord to respond in an act of kindness. And whatever is missing in the person’s faith who is being carried to Jesus, is more than made up for by the one or ones doing the carrying.
Now I am not suggesting that some people are saved through the faith of others. But what I am suggesting is that by exercising enough faith in allowing oneself to be carried by others to the Savior, God will honor the faith of the one carried and the ones who are doing the carrying. Both are blessed.
Think of the ones carrying this man as those who pray are praying for him. And think of the man being carried as one who is being prayed for. If God chooses to answer your prayer for someone you are praying for, does He answer and bless according to your faith or the faith of the one you are praying for? Well it is according to your faith. The one you are praying for may not even know you are praying for him or her. So it was with this man being carried to Jesus. God saw “their” faith in that they were the ones carrying this man, and that was enough for Jesus to bless their faith.
By praying for or bringing someone to Jesus, you are already exercising a measure of faith. Take steps then to allow your faith to grow and increase. Because the greater your faith in Jesus’ ability is, the better the opportunity for Him to respond to the need. The Lord will then provide the person you are praying for with the faith needed to save and heal him or her. How did this occur? Through the faith of his friends.
For the sake of others who have little faith, believe God! Someone out there is counting on you and the faith you possess in the Lord.
You know what strikes me with awe whenever I read the above passage? Jesus forgave this man of his sins and the man didn’t even ask to be forgiven. Go ahead read it again. Can you see anywhere in which the man came to Jesus and said, “I am a sinner, please pardon me of my sins?”
I mean, even some of the teachers of the law said, “How is it possible for this man (Jesus) to say such a thing? How can we even be sure that the man’s sins are actually forgiven? Can anyone see sins being forgiven?”
Jesus, of course, knowing their thoughts, said, “I am going to prove to you that I have the authority to forgive the sins of this man. I am going to do something that you all can see. I am doing to heal him. Therefore, if you can see for yourself this man’s healing, then you know that when I say to him, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ I actually have the power and authority to do so.”
So what did Jesus do? He forgave the man’s sins and then He healed him. Again, this is mind boggling when you think about it. This man did not come to Jesus on his own. His friends had brought him. Second, Jesus was not impressed with the faith of the paralytic who He forgave; instead Jesus was impressed with the faith of his friends – “Jesus seeing their faith. . .”
This man literally did nothing and got everything! What’s up with that?
Well, perhaps the connection was this. Sometimes a person’s physical weakness or sickness is the result of some sin. For example, gluttony would fall into that category, so also drunkenness, drug abuse and immorality – getting venereal diseases, etc. The Jews believed this (cf. John 9:2). The Apostles taught it (cf. James 5:14-15; 1 Cor. 11:30). Therefore, when Jesus healed this man, He also in connection with the man’s healing forgave the sin that contributed possibly to this man’s disease.
It is noteworthy that Jesus first dealt with this man’s greater need – his need of forgiveness, only after doing so does Jesus heal this man physically – the lesser need. Therefore, once the man’s sin was forgiven that contributed to his illness, then the only thing left for Jesus to do was to heal the man of his disease.
All this was done by the Lord to show His disciples and those around that the Son of God has the right and the power to forgive sins.
But the question still remains – Jesus only recognized the faith of this man’s friends. Yes, this is true. The faith to carry this man was greater than the faith of the man who was carried.
However, and here is the key: The faith of the man who was being carried, even though small in comparison to the faith of his friends who carried him, was enough for the Son of God to forgive his sins and heal him. You see, God saves not according to our perceive greatness in faith and ability, but according to His mercy (Titus 3:5). Some people do not have the faith of come on their own, they have to be carried to the Lord. By allowing yourself to be carried to Jesus is enough faith for the Lord to respond in an act of kindness. And whatever is missing in the person’s faith who is being carried to Jesus, is more than made up for by the one or ones doing the carrying.
Now I am not suggesting that some people are saved through the faith of others. But what I am suggesting is that by exercising enough faith in allowing oneself to be carried by others to the Savior, God will honor the faith of the one carried and the ones who are doing the carrying. Both are blessed.
Think of the ones carrying this man as those who pray are praying for him. And think of the man being carried as one who is being prayed for. If God chooses to answer your prayer for someone you are praying for, does He answer and bless according to your faith or the faith of the one you are praying for? Well it is according to your faith. The one you are praying for may not even know you are praying for him or her. So it was with this man being carried to Jesus. God saw “their” faith in that they were the ones carrying this man, and that was enough for Jesus to bless their faith.
By praying for or bringing someone to Jesus, you are already exercising a measure of faith. Take steps then to allow your faith to grow and increase. Because the greater your faith in Jesus’ ability is, the better the opportunity for Him to respond to the need. The Lord will then provide the person you are praying for with the faith needed to save and heal him or her. How did this occur? Through the faith of his friends.
For the sake of others who have little faith, believe God! Someone out there is counting on you and the faith you possess in the Lord.
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