tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31946934136162458812024-03-13T22:18:03.119-07:00The Spirit Gives Life!Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-21687937472366252072014-09-13T08:43:00.003-07:002014-09-13T08:43:55.017-07:00New Website!I have built a new website that gives me a little bit more flexibility for some things I have planned in the future. <br />
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The new website is: <a href="http://www.bornofspirit.net/">http://www.bornofspirit.net</a><br />
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The site you are currently viewing will stick around indefinitely, but the new site is where I am posting my new content.<br />
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I invite you to <a href="http://www.bornofspirit.net/" target="_blank">visit the new site</a>, check out the articles, and leave any comments you have.<br />
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Thank you, and be blessed!<br />
NealNeal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-80970357357827754672013-07-30T21:42:00.001-07:002014-08-22T19:44:32.101-07:00The Importance of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit<pre style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">=============================================================</span></span></pre>
<pre style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">NOTE: An updated version of this article is available on my new website at this URL: </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://bornofspirit.net/the-importance-of-the-baptism-with-the-holy-spirit/">http://bornofspirit.net/the-importance-of-the-baptism-with-the-holy-spirit/</a></span></span></span></pre>
<pre style="word-wrap: break-word;"><pre style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">=============================================================</span></span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am writing this post to provide a perspective on the value and importance that we should </span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">place on the experience known as "the Baptism with the Holy Spirit."</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is my belief that after someone receives Jesus as his/her savior and is born again to eternal life, the baptism with the Holy Spirit should be the very next thing on the list of priorities. </span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I believe that it should be a part of any "new believer's class" and it should be taught regularly in every Christian assembly.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are some reasons why I believe this way...</span></pre>
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<h2>
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It was a high priority to God the Father</span></h2>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:16, and John 1:33, we read this statement from John the Baptist:</span></pre>
<pre style="word-wrap: break-word;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. <b><span style="color: red;">He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit</span></b> and fire."</i></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God sent John the Baptist to announce the beginning of the ministry of His Son.
Of all the things that He could have had John announce, the one that He picked was the fact that Jesus would "baptize with the Holy Spirit."</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And God made sure that this announcement was included in all four gospel accounts in the New Testament.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is amazing to think about. John could have been sent to say any number of things, but a main part of his function was to announce that Jesus will baptize people in the Holy Spirit.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This tells us that this part of the ministry of Jesus is not something that should be set to the side. It should be near the center of our thinking. We need to understand what this means, and share this understanding with others. To say that "the baptism with the Holy Spirit is a big deal" is an understatement.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a high priority to Jesus</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus personally trained His disciples for 3 years (many of them at least). These individuals received hands on personal training and daily interaction with the perfect Son of God.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They got to hear all of His teachings in person. They got to watch Him do healings and miracles and cast out demons. They got to ask Him questions about it later, and get more insight and instruction. They got to operate as apprentices and receive direction and correction from Jesus Himself, in the flesh.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, among the last instructions from Jesus to His disciples was to wait for the Holy Spirit baptism before they get started on their mission. (Acts 1:4-8)
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These were the last words of Jesus before He ascended and was glorified at the right hand of the Father.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As crazy as it sounds...</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">being trained in person by Jesus was not enough</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. They needed something else if they were going to have maximum effectiveness. And this is from the mouth of the risen Lord. </span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We should not be so arrogant to assume that we do not need this same equipment. We can go to school and study doctrine for 50 years, and memorize the entire bible, and who knows what else. Learning and studying and receiving training are all good and helpful and necessary...but learning and training are only part of what is needed. </span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We will never come close to our potential if we neglect the supernatural empowerment that was spoken of by Jesus and is freely available to us even now.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a high priority to the early church at Jerusalem</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Acts 8:14-17</b>
<i>Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.</i>
In this story, a disciple name Philip has gone to Samaria and "preached Christ to them" (Acts 8:5). His preaching was accompanied by demonstrations of of the power of God in healings, signs, and casting out demons.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many people believed the gospel and received Jesus as their savior and were baptized in water (Acts 8:12).</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Word got back to Jerusalem about what was going on. When the believers in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans were getting saved, </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the first action they took was to send Peter and John on a ~40 mile trip to minister the baptism with the Holy Spirit to the new believers.</b></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This shows the priority that was placed on this by the early church at Jerusalem. It was at the top of their list for new believers to receive this. They wasted no time in bringing this Holy Spirit baptism to the new Samaritan believers.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This attitude is one that we should emulate. We should think about this the same way they did. Whenever someone believes in Jesus and receives salvation, the very next thing that we should tell them about is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is crucial, and the early church knew it.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a high priority to Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Read Acts 19:1-6.
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here is a summary.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Paul goes to a place named Ephesus. He meets some people there that call themselves "disciples." Paul assumes they are Christians and his first question to these new "discples" was "did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?"</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They answered "no, we didn't even know there was a Holy Spirit."</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Paul is perplexed and asks more questions. He learns that they are disciples of John the Baptist, but they haven't heard the gospel yet.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So Paul does the following:</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 - Explain (preach) the gospel of Jesus to them</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 - When they believe and receive, he baptizes them in water</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3 - When they come up out of the water, he places his hands on them to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit...and they speak in tongues as they receive it.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Take a look at Paul's attitude here. This is around 25-30 years after the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, and the very first thing he asks new believers about is the baptism with the Holy Spirit.</span></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"></pre>
<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When he finds out they aren't actually Christians yet, he leads them into salvation in Jesus, and then water baptism. And then the next step is baptism with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is our pattern. This is our blueprint. This is what it should look like.</span></pre>
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<pre style="white-space: pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I believe we as the body of Christ need to get our priorities in order.</span></pre>
Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-33555101888980160932013-05-13T21:29:00.000-07:002013-05-22T13:29:09.606-07:00Jesus vs demons - part 2<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Mark 1:21-28</b></i><br />
<i>21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. </i><br />
<i>22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.</i><br />
<i>23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,</i><br />
<i>24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”</i><br />
<i>25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”</i><br />
<i>26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.</i><br />
<i>27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For <b>with authority He commands even the unclean spirits</b>, and they obey Him.”</i><br />
<i>28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.</i><br />
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Here is one of the first times we see Jesus in a showdown with a demon. It isn't very much of a battle, but there are some interesting points we can get from this.<br />
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First of all, notice the setting...inside a synagogue on the Sabbath day. The setting is not a mental hospital, or a prison for the insane. It is a normal religious gathering, with Jesus doing the teaching. This confrontation took place in the middle of something similar to a "church service" full of very religious people.<br />
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Demons are not relegated to primitive cultures, or to the seedy underworld under a full moon.. They operate in all kinds of settings, including church services, and sometimes even in church leadership (more on this in another post). In this particular instance, it was a religious meeting where Jesus Himself is doing the teaching. (That is a very interesting fact to consider when thinking about this subject.)<br />
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This was not an isolated case either. Demonic manifestations were a regular occurrence whenever and wherever Jesus was ministering. We see things like this taking place all through the gospels. Jesus was stirring up a lot of trouble in the spirit realm. and it appears that the kingdom of darkness was not really prepared to deal with Him.<br />
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If we are following the example of Jesus, we should expect to witness things like this on a regular basis (or at least every now and then). Casting out demons is one third of our commission. Remember...every time Jesus sent out anyone to represent Him, He gave equipment and authority for three activities: announcing the gospel, healing the sick, and casting out demons.<br />
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<i>Mark 16:17 - These signs will follow those that believe: in my name <b><u>they</u></b> will cast out demons...." </i><br />
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Notice that he said "in my name <i><b>they</b> </i>will cast out demons." <b><i>They </i></b>= those that believe = believers = us! Notice that He didn't say "they will pray to me and I will cast out demons." He said that believers will cast out demons in His name...on His behalf. Jesus has shared His authority with all believers, and it is up to the believers to use it. Now, let us take a look at the way Jesus used authority.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Authority</h3>
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Jesus ended the battle in this story with one sentence spoken in authority. "Be quiet, and come out of him." It was a forceful command. In the original language, the phrase "be quiet" literally means "be muzzled." Jesus told the demon to put a muzzle on it. He was telling the unclean spirit to "shut up and get out."<br />
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Jesus did not pray a long religious prayer. In fact, He didn't even pray at all. Instead, He gave an order. He knew His authority, and He used it. He spoke, not to the man, but to the spirit that was exerting control over the man. Jesus evicted the demon, and set the man free. This is the example we should follow. Instead of kicking the person out of the meeting, we should kick the demon out of the person.<br />
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Now you may be saying to yourself "yeah, but this was Jesus." You need to remember that this is the exact same authority that belongs to every child of God. If you have been born again into the family of God, if you have believed and received Jesus as your savior, then you have this same authority right now as you sit there reading this. Let Jesus be your example, and start learning to use your authority!Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-66440759657122956422012-10-15T21:06:00.000-07:002014-07-25T22:22:15.404-07:00The First Healing in the Bible============================================================== <br />
NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website. It is located here: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/the-first-healing-in-the-bible/">http://bornofspirit.net/the-first-healing-in-the-bible/</a> <br />
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When studying the bible, you can find some great truths if you examine the passages where a subject is first mentioned. That concept is the basis for this article. We are going to look at the first time divine healing is mentioned in the bible It is found in Genesis chapter 20. <a href="https://www.youversion.com/bible/114/gen.20.nkjv" target="_blank">Here's a link to it on YouVersion.</a><br />
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Here is a brief summary of the story, along with a little background.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Abraham is married to Sarah.</li>
<li>Sarah is a very attractive woman.</li>
<li>Abraham is afraid of someone harming him in order to take his wife.</li>
<li>On several occasions, he asks Sarah to lie and say she is his sister. </li>
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In Genesis 20, Abraham and Sarah journey to a city named Gerar. The king of this city is named Abimilech. Abimilech finds out about Sarah somehow, and he takes her to be in his harem. <br />
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Before Abimilech is able to have relations with Sarah, God warns him in a dream that she is Abraham's wife. God makes it clear that it is in Abimilech's best interest to return her to her husband Abraham, because some bad stuff is going to happen if he doesn't. In fact, he's going to die, and the women in his land are no longer able to have children<br />
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So, Abimilech returns Sarah to Abraham. Then Abraham prays for healing for Abimilech and everybody else, and God heals them all. <br />
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That's it for the summary. At first glance, it is a strange story that does not go the way most of think it should go. I want to identify some principles based on this story that carry on throughout the bible and on into the present day.<br />
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<b>1 - God works through flawed people.</b><br />
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Abraham is the one at fault here...he lied and caused this whole problem. Yet, Abraham is the first person that God works through to demonstrate healing power. This shows us that our ability to avoid sin is not a factor is whether or not we get to operate in divine healing. Sin does not stop God's power. God is bigger than our sin. <br />
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Sin is bad, don't get me wrong. But, don't fall for the temptation to think that God won't use you because you aren't good enough. <i><u>Divine healing is based on God's divine goodness, not your human goodness.</u></i> This is huge, and it is the main point I want to get across in this article. Don't just read past this fact. Let it take root. <u style="font-style: italic;">God works through flawed people because that's all He has to choose from.</u><br />
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<b>2 - The person that is ministering healing may be in need of a miracle as well.</b><br />
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At this time, Abraham and Sarah were childless. They were not able to have children. But, part of the healing that God ministered in this story was restoring the ability of the women in Gerar to conceive. <br />
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If you are fighting some kind of physical condition, don't let that be a roadblock that keeps you from stepping out in faith and ministering to others. 100% perfect health is not a prerequisite to be used in divine healing. Don't disqualify yourself, and don't disqualify others, just because you (or they) are currently in a struggle with a sickness.<br />
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<b>3 - Although the healing may be instant, the physical evidence may show up later.</b><br />
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Part of the healing that took place in this story was the restoration of the ability of the women to conceive. Because of the nature of the healing, it would be a while before they could tell for sure what happened. They were totally healed immediately, but they would have no physical evidence until they became pregnant. <br />
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Sometimes an action is required on the part of the "patient" in order to fully demonstrate the complete healing. In this case, each woman would have to have relations with her husband, and then some time would have to pass before they would have some kind of physical proof that the healing was real.<br />
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<b>4 - God does things differently than we do. </b><br />
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I think most of us would expect some kind of punishment for Abraham. It seems like the wrong guy is getting in trouble (Abimilech). Now, he is not innocent either, according to our modern moral standards, but it seems like Abraham's dishonesty is the the real cause of all the trouble. If he would have been truthful, then maybe this whole situation could have been avoided.<br />
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But, if you go back a few years in Abraham's history, back to Genesis 12, you will find that God made a promise to him. God said "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you." God is simply keeping His promise here. This promise wasn't conditional on Abraham's moral behavior. It was based on the fact that Abraham believed what God said.<br />
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This is much like the promise we have from God. If we will believe the gospel of Jesus, then He will not count any of our sins against us (past, present, or future), He will adopt us into His own family, give us eternal life, and make us a co-heir with Jesus. And just like the promise to Abraham, this is not dependent on our ability or inability to keep a code of ethics. It is dependent on whether or not we believe what God said about His Son.Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-19756995395364475442012-10-10T21:39:00.000-07:002012-10-12T06:31:25.145-07:00Foolish Galatians<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><b>Galatians 3:1-5</b></i><br />
<i>1 - O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?</i><br />
<i>2 - This only I want to learn from you: <span style="color: red;"><b>Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?</b></span>—</i><br />
<i>3 - Are you so foolish? <b><span style="color: red;">Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?</span></b></i><br />
<i>4 - Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?</i><br />
<i>5 - Therefore<span style="color: red;"><b> He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?</b></span></i><br />
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Galatians is a letter that was written to some people that had become Christians as a result of Paul's preaching in their town. When Paul first came to these people, he told them the good news about Jesus. Jesus had paid the price for their sins, and now God was offering eternal life to them. They believed the message, accepted the offer, and were born into God's family and kingdom.<br />
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From the context of the entire letter, it is apparent that they also had seen some demonstrations of the supernatural power of God. And not only had they seen God's power in operation, they were beginning to operate in this power themselves.<br />
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At some point, Paul moved on to the next town and some religious leaders came in here behind him and started trying to put additional requirements on these people. These new believers were being told that they had to keep the rules and regulations of Judaism (a.k.a "works of the law") in order to be in right standing with God.<br />
<br />
When Paul found out about this, he wrote this letter that we call "Galatians." In this letter, he is very upset, and uses some very strong language. He is urging these new believers to reject this false teaching.<br />
<br />
We get great benefit from being able to read this letter, because there are some very powerful truths contained in the arguments that Paul set forth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.<br />
<br />
<b>1 - A person's entry into God's kingdom has nothing to do with any religious activities.</b><br />
<br />
These people simply believed the message Paul brought to them. That's it. They weren't keeping the Sabbath, going to church, praying, paying tithes, reading the bible, or anything like that. They didn't even have a bible because there weren't any bibles yet. There weren't even any churches there yet. They probably didn't even know about most of that stuff. They just believed what Paul said about Jesus. God was extending peace to these people through an offer that is almost too good to be true. If they would believe this message about Jesus, God would adopt them as sons and welcome them into His eternal kingdom.<br />
<br />
<b>2 - Operating in the power of God is not enhanced by keeping religious rules or traditions. In fact, it can be hindered by that stuff.</b><br />
<br />
God works through people that exercise faith...people that take Him at His word. He doesn't require us to be perfect in our behavior and obedience as a prerequisite Jesus already took care of all prerequisites on our behalf. We just need to believe it. Check it out...<br />
<br />
<i><b>2 Corinthians 5:21</b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: red;">For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him</span>. </b> </i><br />
<br />
You see, Jesus has already made amends for all of our failures and shortcomings. Our failure to meet the standards has already been dealt with once for all time. So, we are no longer viewed by God as sinners who are trying to get better. We are viewed by Him in the same way He views Jesus....totally righteous.<br />
<br />
With that in mind, take a fresh look at this phrase again from Galatians chapter 3, verse 5. It is a very amazing statement:<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b>He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?</b></span></i><br />
<div>
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span></i></div>
<br />
God supplies the Spirit to us and works miracles among us as we act in faith. This is not limited by a person's maturity level, nor is it limited by a person's ability to avoid sin. It is limited by unbelief. As far as I have been able to understand, the only thing that can limit God operating in power through us is unbelief.<br />
<br />
Unbelief comes in many forms. Here are a few of the most powerful ways that we can be drawn into unbelief.<br />
<br />
1 - Trying to work to earn the right or privilege to operate in the power of God is actually a form of unbelief. <u>The very act of trying to earn it shows that you don't believe it is freely given.</u> Ouch.<br />
<br />
2 - Trusting in human religious tradition rather than in God is also a form of unbelief. Here are some examples of what I'm talking about:<br />
<ul>
<li>If you are part of an organization that believes that miracles were only for the days of the original apostles, then you will will be tempted to agree with that, and you can find yourself in unbelief towards the power of God working in you or in others today. </li>
<li>If you believe that miracles are done through the pastor or the priest or any other title, but not through those without a religious title, then you will also be in unbelief towards the power of God working through you. </li>
<li>If you believe God doesn't heal people that have sin in their life, then you will be in unbelief towards the "gifts" of healings. You will disqualify people based on their addictions, habits, behaviors, sexual preferences, and etc. You will be trusting in man's ability to perform rather than God's grace to give freely to those in need, and draw them to Himself through His love and kindness. That is unbelief.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Our main enemy, most of the time, is not the devil, and it is not sin. It is unbelief. As Jesus said, all things are possible to him to believes. We need to believe, and let this foolishness loosen its grip on us.</div>
Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-8316167478218725232012-08-07T18:13:00.001-07:002012-10-12T06:31:43.121-07:00Radically Good News<i></i><br />
<i><b>John 3:16-18</b></i><br />
<i>16 For God so <b><span style="color: red;">loved the world</span></b> that He gave His only begotten Son, that <b><span style="color: red;">whoever believes in Him</span></b> should not perish but have everlasting life.</i><br />
<i>17 For <b><span style="color: red;">God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world</span></b>, but that the world through Him might be saved.</i><br />
<i>18 <b><span style="color: red;">He who believes in Him is not condemned</span></b>; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.</i><br />
<br />
This is a very radical set of statements. I would like to examine them individually.<br />
<br />
<i>v16 For God so <b><span style="color: red;">loved the world</span></b> that He gave His only begotten Son, that <b><span style="color: red;">whoever believes in Him</span></b> should not perish but have everlasting life.</i><br />
<br />
God loved the world <b><u><i>before</i></u></b> Jesus came and paid for our sins. He loved the world while our sins were in full view. He<span style="background-color: white;"> wanted to have fellowship with us. He wanted us to be with Him through eternity. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Because of this love, Jesus came on a mission. </span><span style="background-color: white;">God</span><span style="background-color: white;"> initiated the action, sending His Son to rescue the very people that were sinning against Him.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> He paid for our salvation by taking our death sentence on Himself, dying in our place. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The price has been paid once for all time (<a href="http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?search=heb%2010:10&book=heb&chapter=10&verse=10" target="_blank">Hebrews 10:10</a>) for the whole world (<a href="http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?search=1%20john%202:2&book=1%20john&chapter=2&verse=2" target="_blank">1 John 2:2</a>).</span><br />
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And now, everlasting life is given to anyone that believes in Jesus..."whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white;">v17 For <b><span style="color: red;">God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world</span></b>, but that the world through Him might be saved.</i><br />
<br />
Many people have a picture of God that is something like this: God is up in heaven somewhere with His arms crossed, looking down on humanity with anger because of our sin. And, if we beg and plead, and promise to act better, then He may consider letting us go to heaven, but He's still mad at us.<br />
<br />
This verse paints a very different picture. God loved us before we were saved, before our sins were paid for, before we were even looking His way. He sent His Son on a rescue mission, to save us. He wants all of us to be with him (<a href="http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?search=1%20tim%202:4&book=1%20tim&chapter=2&verse=4" target="_blank">1 Tim 2:4</a>, <a href="http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?search=2%20peter%203:9&book=2%20peter&chapter=3&verse=9" target="_blank">2 Peter 3:9</a>). This was His idea, not ours. He is coming for us, rather than us begging and crawling to come to Him. He took care of everything, and now all we have to do is exercise our free will and choose to believe.<br />
<br />
<i>v18 <b><span style="color: red;">He who believes in Him is not condemned</span></b>; but<span style="color: red;"><b> he who does not believe is condemned already</b></span>, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.</i><br />
<br />
If the other two passages were not enough to amaze you, this one should make everyone examine his thinking.<br />
<br />
If you believe in Jesus, you are not condemned. <br />
<br />
If you don't believe in Jesus, then you are condemned.<br />
<br />
Notice that your ability to avoid sin is not a part of the equation. You do not escape condemnation though good morals and ethics. You only avoid condemnation by believing in Jesus. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works.<br />
<br />
If you don't believe in Jesus, then you are condemned, period. It makes no difference what else you do.<br />
<br />
But, on the other hand, of you do believe in Jesus, then you are not condemned, no matter what else you do. Sin and bad choices can totally ruin your life, and put you in situations that you will not enjoy. There are reasons that sin is called sin. We should avoid sin. But sin is not what condemns you. Unbelief...rejection of Jesus...that is how a person is condemned.<br />
<br />
We often think that condemnation comes from God as a result of our behavior. This is not true. Romans 8:1 says that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (see also <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/romans/passage.aspx?q=romans+8:31-34" target="_blank">Romans 8:31-34</a>). Condemnation only comes if you don't believe in Jesus. <span style="background-color: white;">It is not what you do that saves you or condemns you. It is faith in Jesus. You must believe that He paid it all for you. Then you can stop approaching God based on how you feel about your performance, and come to Him based Jesus' performance (<a href="http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php?search=romans%205:19&book=romans&chapter=5&verse=19" target="_blank">Romans 5:19</a>).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">God wants fellowship with you. He has made peace from His side. We have nothing to offer in return except to believe it. We should take Him at His word, believe in Jesus, and receive eternal life.</span>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-35605265803456765972012-06-01T21:48:00.000-07:002012-11-20T12:12:48.975-08:00Healings TestimoniesHere is a list of conditions that God has healed, and I was a personal witness to it.<br />
<br />
These are first hand.testimonies, people healed in the name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. I got to see it happen, or I am a personal friend of the person that experienced it. I am putting these on here in hopes that this may build your faith, and give you hope if you are fighting some kind of health issue.<br />
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These are listed in no particular order.<br />
<br />
Fibromyalgia<br />
Irritable Bowel Syndrome<br />
Headaches<br />
Tendinitis<br />
Hearing loss<br />
Vision loss<br />
Degenerative Brain Disease<br />
Asthma<br />
Plantar fasciitis<br />
Neck Pain<br />
Back Pain<br />
Leg pain<br />
Arthritis<br />
Spinal cord injury<br />
Trigeminal Neuralgia<br />
Ménière's disease<br />
Multiple Sclerosis<br />
Poison Ivy<br />
Shingles<br />
Cancer<br />
Swelling and loss of movement in a thumb<br />
Loss of feeling and loss of movement in a toe<br />
Exposed nerve in a finger<br />
Torn muscle in a shoulder<br />
Uneven legs growing out to be even<br />
<br />
<br />
If you are suffering with one of these, then just know that God's power heals your condition. <br />
<br />
There are many ways to be healed. All of them are accomplished by the Holy Spirit working on your body.<br />
<br />
You can be healed through your own faith (Mark 5:34)<br />
You can be healed through the faith of a friend (Matthew 8:13)<br />
You can be healed by having others pray for you (James 5:14-15)<br />
You can be healed by commanding the condition to leave your body in the name of Jesus (Luke 4:39)<br />
<br />
There are many other ways too. This is just to get your started. A good way to start is to believe that God is good, and that He is willing (Matthew 8:3). You can even ask Him to help you believe (Mark 9:24)Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-90498839419637281412012-05-26T22:05:00.000-07:002014-08-31T20:07:40.234-07:00Jesus vs demons - part 1<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">===============================================================</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website located here: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/demons-a-proper-balanced-biblical-perspective/">http://bornofspirit.net/demons-a-proper-balanced-biblical-perspective/</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">===============================================================</span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.5223697207402438"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus spent a considerable amount of His time on earth dealing with demons (aka evil spirits, unclean spirits, etc). This was one of His main activities. It was also one of the things that really drew people to him. Take a look at these passages.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 8:16</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cast out the spirits with a word</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and healed all who were sick,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark 1:34</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cast out many demons</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark 1:39</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">casting out demons</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark 3:11</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> unclean spirits</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 4:36</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 6:17-18</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,as well as </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 7:21</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">evil spirits</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; and to many blind He gave sight.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Preaching, teaching, healing the sick, and casting out demons. That's what you would see if you went to see Jesus in action. He would preach the Kingdom of God, and then demonstrate it with displays of supernatural power. Or, He would do it in reverse order. He would exercise supernatural power over sickness and demons, and then He would preach and teach. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is what the ministry of Jesus looked like. Casting out demons was a big part of it. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we are going to follow His example, then we should be doing the same thing. It is not like all of the demons in the world suddenly stopped bothering people after Jesus ascended into heaven.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You can see His followers dealing with demons throughout the book of Acts, so demons were still causing problems for people. But the disciples of Jesus were driving them out and rescuing the oppressed. That is part of our mission as Christians. We are to heal the sick, cast out demons, and preach the gospel.</span></b>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-18772509218496865612012-05-09T21:36:00.000-07:002014-08-24T12:27:58.477-07:00Jesus Healings part 3 - Speak to the Problem=========================================================<br />
<b>NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/jesus-healings-speak-to-the-problem/">http://bornofspirit.net/jesus-healings-speak-to-the-problem/</a></b><br />
=========================================================<br />
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<br />
<i><b>Luke 4:39-39 (AMP)</b></i><br />
<i>38 Then He arose and left the synagogue and went into Simon’s (Peter’s) house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering in the grip of a burning fever, and they pleaded with Him for her. </i><br />
<i>39 And standing over her, <b><span style="color: red;">He rebuked the fever, and it left her;</span></b> and immediately she got up and began waiting on them. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. Jesus didn't pray for her, though. Instead, Jesus rebuked the fever and it left her.<br />
<br />
The word "rebuke" can also be translated "scold" or "sternly warn." <br />
<br />
Jesus gave orders to a physical condition. He spoke to a sickness. Instead of praying to the Father about the fever, He spoke to the fever. He was talking to the problem.<br />
<br />
Think about that. Jesus spoke to a fever, and the fever left. That is amazing.<br />
<br />
Although He didn't operate in this way every time, this is not an isolated case. There are many other examples of the same kind of working.<br />
<br />
Take a look at these:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Mark 7:32-35</b></i><br />
<i>32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. </i><br />
<i>33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. </i><br />
<i>34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "<b><span style="color: red;">Be opened</span></b>." </i><br />
<i>35<span style="color: red;"> <b>Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
<i><b>Matthew 8:3</b></i><br />
<i>Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; <b><span style="color: red;">be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></i>
In these examples, Jesus is speaking to physical conditions, and giving orders. The physical bodies of the sick people respond to His orders.<br />
<br />
This is a completely different dynamic than praying to the Father for healing. It is speaking to the problem on behalf of God, rather than speaking to God about the problem.<br />
<br />
Now at this point, you might be tempted to say "yeah, but that was Jesus." <br />
<br />
But don't forget that all of the miracles of Jesus were performed in the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38). <u><b>This is the same Holy Spirit that lives inside of every single born-again Christian. </b></u><br />
<br />
And, don't forget that Jesus said this in John 14:12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."<br />
<br />
If you read the healing accounts in Acts, you can see the followers of Jesus behaving in the same way many times. In some cases where healing is concerned, they were not praying for God to do something, they were speaking to the problem, acting as a representative of the One they were serving.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Acts 3:1-8</b></i><br />
<i>1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. </i><br />
<i>2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; </i><br />
<i>3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. </i><br />
<i>4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." </i><br />
<i>5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. </i><br />
<i>6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:<b><span style="color: red;"> In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." </span></b></i><br />
<i>7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and<b><span style="color: red;"> immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. </span></b></i><br />
<i>8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
This makes complete sense when you think about the fact that Peter and John watched Jesus do things like this probably hundreds of times. They were just imitating their mentor. They were doing what Jesus would do, and they got the same results <b><u>because it was the same Holy Spirit at work in them that was at work in Jesus.</u></b><br />
<br />
Here's another one. This time it is Paul. Paul didn't become a believer until a long time after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. So, he wasn't there to watch Jesus during His earthly ministry, but he was acting the same way as the rest of the Christians. <br />
<br />
<i><b>Acts 14:8-10</b></i><br />
<i>8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. </i><br />
<i>9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,</i><br />
<i>10 said with a loud voice, "<b><span style="color: red;">Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.</span></b></i><br />
<br />
As children of God, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. He is the same Holy Spirit that lived and worked in Jesus when He came to earth. He (the Holy Spirit) knows how to heal people. He was present and active in every divine healing that has ever happened, so He has plenty of experience in fixing up broken bodies.<br />
<br />
Everywhere you go, He goes. You will never run into a physical condition that He is not prepared to handle. He has chosen to work through us to demonstrate His love and His power on the earth. We can participate by believing this, and acting on it.<br />
<br />
So, this is a new way to pray. As an ambassador of Christ the King, you can speak to the problem the same way that your King would if He were physically present.Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-49489043653168207082012-05-01T21:54:00.000-07:002014-08-22T21:51:55.989-07:00The Source of Sickness=====================================================================<br />
<b>NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/the-source-of-sickness/">http://bornofspirit.net/the-source-of-sickness/</a></b><br />
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<br />
In Genesis chapters 1 and 2, we are told that God made earth, and He made the first man (Adam) and the first woman (Eve). Here are a few passages that tell us what life was like at that time in human history:<br />
<br />
<b><i>Genesis 1:27-31</i></b><br />
<br />
<i>1:27 God created humankind in his own image, </i><i>in the image of God he created them, </i><i>male and female he created them.</i><br />
<i>1:28 God blessed them and said to them, “<b>Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.</b>” </i><br />
<i>1:29 Then God said, “<b>I now give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. </b></i><br />
<i>1:30 And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food.” It was so.</i><br />
<i>1:31 <b>God saw all that he had made – and it was very good!</b> There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Chapter two gives us more details of the creation of man from chapter one.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Genesis 2:8-17</i></b><br />
<br />
<i>2:8 The Lord God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed. </i><br />
<i>2:9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was <b>pleasing to look at and good for food.</b> (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)</i><br />
<i>2:10 Now a river flows from Eden to water the orchard, and from there it divides into four headstreams. </i><br />
<i>2:11 The name of the first is Pishon; it runs through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. </i><br />
<i>2:12 (The gold of that land is pure; pearls and lapis lazuli are also there). </i><br />
<i>2:13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it runs through the entire land of Cush. </i><br />
<i>2:14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.</i><br />
<i>2:15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it. </i><br />
<i>2:16 Then the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard, </i><br />
<i>2:17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.”</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Up this point, sin had not entered the world, and there is no mention of Satan having any influence. Everything seems to be pretty awesome. There was no sickness or disease or death, and there was no lack (there was an entire planet's worth of resources, and only two people to use it). With everything in this state, God said that it was "good."<br />
<br />
In chapter 3, we have the story of the serpent deceiving Eve, and then Adam making his decision to join Eve and disobey God.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Genesis 3:1-7</b></i><br />
<br />
<i>3:1 Now the serpent was more shrewd than any of the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “<b>Is it really true that God said</b>, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?” </i><br />
<i>3:2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard; </i><br />
<i>3:3 but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, ‘You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.’” </i><br />
<i>3:4 <b>The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die</b>, </i><br />
<i>3:5 <b>for</b> <b>God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil</b>.”</i><br />
<i>3:6 When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. </i><br />
<i>3:7 Then the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
At this point in our history, life on earth changed. Originally, man was free from sickness, sin and death. He had unhindered fellowship with God, and God had put him in charge of the earth <b>But from here on, death enters the world, along with increasing amounts of sickness, sin, famine, and poverty</b>. Satan has also usurped man's role as ruler of the earth (John 12:31, 1 John 5:19, Ephesians 2:2) and we get to see the results of his activities in the world around us from then until now.<br />
<br />
We also know from the last few chapters of the book of Revelation that in the future, Satan will be removed from his current role, and cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). After this everything goes back to being awesome again. There's no more sickness, no more death, no more poverty, no more sin, etc.<br />
<br />
So...<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Before Satan gained influence in the earth, there was no sickness or sin. </li>
<li>After Satan's influence is removed in the future, there will be no sickness or sin.</li>
</ul>
Sickness entered our world when man gave in to Satan's influence and committed the first sin. I have heard it said this way: "Sickness is the foul offspring of its father, Satan, and its mother, sin." This is the source of sickness. This is where it came from.<br />
<br />
<b>I am not saying that every sickness is directly caused by Satan, or that every sickness is the direct result of a personal sin. What I am saying is that without Satan and sin, we would not be dealing with sickness.</b><br />
<br />
So, what do we do about it? Let's begin with a look at Jesus.<br />
<div>
<br />
Jesus came to earth to usher in the New Covenant, and to display God's will. He showed us how God wanted things to be going. He said that he only did what the Father showed him (John 5:19). He was always doing the Father's will. When you read about His activities, you find stories filled with healing the sick, casting out demons, and forgiving sins.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i><b>Acts 10:38</b> - God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and <b>healing all who were oppressed by the devil</b>, for God was with Him.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i><b>1 John 3:8b</b> - For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to <b>destroy the works of the devil.</b></i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<b>John 10:10</b> - The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.<b> I [Jesus] have come that they may have life</b>, and that they may have it more abundantly.<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
When someone is sick or dying from a terrible disease, I believe we are on safe ground if we start with the notion that God wants to set them free. That's what Jesus was doing all the time, and that's what He told His representatives to be doing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think people should be very careful about jumping to any other conclusions. Without direct revelation, you should never blame the person, or the family members and friends, or God, for disease or sickness or tragedy. If you want to make assumptions and attach blame, then the one you should start with...blaming and getting angry with...is the devil. The devil wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus wants to bring life. </div>
Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-66604440569304507712012-03-27T22:26:00.000-07:002012-10-12T06:32:04.445-07:00The Purpose of the Law<i>(NOTE: Whatever you do, don't just read the first half of this. Either stop reading now, or make sure you read all the way to the end.)</i><br />
<br />
In the bible, the phrase "the law" is used to describe a very long list of rules (613 of them) that include the 10 commandments, the religious ceremonial laws, and all of the civil laws of the Israelites. It is basically God's standard for righteous behavior. <br />
<br />
It is a flawless and glorious standard, and it demands lifelong perfection with no mistakes. It divides humanity into two groups.<br />
<br />
Group 1 - Those who keep the law perfectly without mistakes for their entire life.<br />
Group 2 - Those who have broken one or more of the laws at some point in their life.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, it is impossible for humans beings to reach this standard, and so Group 1 is empty (except for Jesus). <br />
<br />
If you have ever told a lie, or even thought about telling a lie, then you are completely guilty of breaking the whole law. Just make one small mistake in your entire life, a single wrong thought, and you have fallen short, putting yourself in the same category with murderers and thieves.<br />
<br />
If you study the what the law says, you will never find that people are encouraged to <b><i>try</i></b> to keep it. There is no "trying." You either keep the whole law, or you break the whole law. To keep it, you have to keep it 100% forever without a single mistake. Trying is not an option. <br />
<br />
The apostle Paul summarizes the purpose and the effects of the law in the following passages.<br />
<br />
<b><i>Romans 3:19-20 - Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, <span style="color: red;">that every mouth may be stopped</span>, and <span style="color: red;">all the world may become guilty before God.</span> Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for <span style="color: red;">by the law is the knowledge of sin</span>.</i></b><br />
<br />
The purpose of the law is to show you that you are guilty. It shows you where you have missed the mark. It shows you the hopeless impossibility of attaining righteousness through behavior modification. It makes you aware that you are guilty before God.<br />
<br />
To quote Watchman Nee...<span style="text-align: center;">"</span><span style="text-align: center;">God knows...</span><span style="text-align: center;">that I </span><span style="text-align: center;">am weakness incarnate; that I can do nothing. </span><span style="text-align: center;">The trouble is that I do not know it." The law solves that problem for us.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>Galatians 3:19 (NLT) Well then, why was the law given? <span style="color: red;">It was given to show people how guilty they are.</span> But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made....</i></b></div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The law is perfect. People, however, are not perfect. The law shows imperfect people their shortcomings. It shows them in big bold letters that they are in desperate need of help. They are drowning and they need to be rescued. They are in a hopeless situation with no way out, unless someone steps in to save them.<br />
<br />
That brings us to the good news. <b>Someone did step in to save.</b></div>
</div>
<br />
Jesus kept the law perfectly, and deserved to receive all of the blessings that come from it. However, instead of receiving these rewards, He took on Himself the punishment that was coming to the rest of us:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Isaiah 53:4-5</b></i><br />
<i>4 - Surely <b><span style="color: red;">he</span></b> took up <b><span style="color: red;">our infirmities</span></b> and carried <b><span style="color: red;">our sorrows</span></b>, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.</i><br />
<i>5 - But <b><span style="color: red;">he</span></b> was pierced for<b><span style="color: red;"> our transgressions</span></b>, <b><span style="color: red;">he</span></b> was crushed for <b><span style="color: red;">our iniquities</span></b>; the punishment that brought us peace was upon <b><span style="color: red;">him</span></b>, and by <b><span style="color: red;">his</span></b> wounds we are healed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Jesus got what we deserved for our sin. And in exchange, He gave us what He deserved for His righteousness. He took our curse, and gave us His blessing. He took our sin, and gave us His righteousness. He took our sickness and gave us His healing.<br />
<br />
Now, look at this:<br />
<br />
<i><b>Galatians 3:22-26</b></i><br />
<br />
<i>22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.</i><br />
<i>23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.</i><br />
<i>24 Therefore the<b> <span style="color: red;">law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.</span></b></i><br />
<i>25 But <span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.</b></span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
If you have believed the gospel and received salvation, then the law has done its job, and you are no longer subject to it....it no longer applies to you.<br />
<br />
Think about this, and let it sink in. Christians are not subject to the law. We no longer have to do the animal sacrifices. We are not judged by whether or not we keep the 10 Commandments. We are not cursed if we don't bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. We are not asked to keep all of the feasts of Israel. <br />
<br />
All that the law demands has already been accomplished fully and perfectly by Jesus. To all of those that believe the Gospel of Jesus, He gives righteousness as a free gift (Romans 5:17). He did what we were unable to do, and gave us what we were unable to attain.Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-5418955744952018412012-03-26T20:53:00.000-07:002014-08-24T12:14:34.300-07:00Jesus Healings part 2 - Willing=============================================================<br />
<b>NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/jesus-healings-willing/">http://bornofspirit.net/jesus-healings-willing/</a></b><br />
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<br />
<b><i>Matthew 8:2-4</i></b><br />
<i>2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>Lord</b></span><b><span style="color: #bf9000;">,</span></b><span style="color: #bf9000;"><b> if You are willing, You can make me clean.</b></span>”</i><br />
<i>3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “<span style="color: red;"><b>I am willing; be cleansed.</b></span>” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.</i><br />
<i>4 And Jesus said to him, “<b><span style="color: red;">See that you tell no one</span></b>; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b><i>Mark 1:40-45</i></b><br />
<i>40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>If You are willing, You can make me clean</b>.</span>” </i><br />
<i>41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “<span style="color: red;"><b>I am willing; be cleansed.</b></span>” </i><br />
<i>42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed</i><br />
<i>43 And He <b><span style="color: red;">strictly warned him</span></b> and sent him away at once,</i><br />
<i>44 and said to him, “<b><span style="color: red;">See that you say nothing to anyone</span></b>; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” </i><br />
<i>45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b><i>Luke 5:12-15</i></b><br />
<i>12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “<span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.</b></span>” </i><br />
<i>13 Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “<b><span style="color: red;">I am willing; be cleansed.</span></b>” Immediately the leprosy left him.</i><br />
<i>14 And <span style="color: red;"><b>He charged him to tell no one</b>,</span> “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.” </i><br />
<i>15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
The leper came in faith the Jesus <b><u>could</u></b> heal him, but he did not seem to be in faith that Jesus <b><u>would</u></b> heal him.<br />
<br />
This reminds me of many prayers I have prayed before (and I am sure that I am not alone in this). I could get to the point to believe that God <i>could</i> heal people, but I didn't want to presume that He <i>wanted to</i>.<br />
<br />
The prayer would go something like this: "Please heal John Doe, if it is your will. Amen."<br />
<br />
That is the way that this leper came to Jesus. He said "if you are willing, You can make me clean." He believed in the ability of Jesus to heal, but he questioned His willingness to use it. <br />
<br />
Jesus wasn't mad about this. Instead, look at the simple reply. Jesus said "I am <b><u>willing</u></b>."<br />
<br />
The Greek word that is translated "willing" gives some additional light to this:<br />
<br />
WILLING<br />
Greek = thelo = Strong's 2309<br />
<br />
1) to will, have in mind, intend<br />
1a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose<br />
1b) to desire, to wish<br />
1c) to love<br />
1c1) to like to do a thing, be fond of doing<br />
1d) to take delight in, have pleasure<br />
<br />
Jesus made it clear that healing this man is something he would very much like to do. It's not like Jesus said "well...ok, but just this once." It was more like "I would love to!" This attitude toward healing that Jesus displays here is consistent in all other examples we have listed in the four gospels. He is willing to minister healing. That is something to keep in mind when you have the opportunity to minister healing to others. <br />
<br />
Let your faith toward Jesus and your opinion of His nature be in harmony with what the bible says about Him. You are not being presumptuous if you believe God wants to heal. Read about Jesus in the four Gospels to see if God wants to heal. Jesus always healed the people that came to Him, and He was always doing the will of the Father (John 5:19).<br />
<br />
<br />
(PS. Jesus "strictly warned" this man not to tell anyone what happened, but to go do what the Law required. If we assume that Jesus meant what He said, then we cannot say that the primary purpose of healing this man was to spread the gospel. God can heal you just because He is compassionate. Our God is good.)Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-84383031953328500682012-03-19T22:02:00.000-07:002014-08-23T21:44:43.655-07:00Jesus Healings part 1 - Ministering Twice========================================================<br />
<b>NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/jesus-healings-ministering-twice/">http://bornofspirit.net/jesus-healings-ministering-twice/</a></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm going to be going through the various passages in scripture where we are given some details of how Jesus ministered healing to people with various ailments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I chose this one first because it is so fascinating.</span><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark 8:22-25</span></i></b><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">22 Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and<b> put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">24 And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking."</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">25 Then <b>He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></i>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Bethsaida, a blind man came to Jesus, seeking to be healed. Before ministering to Him, Jesus took him out of the town. From reading Matthew 11:21, it appears that the people of Bethsaida never really received Jesus. It doesn't say why He took him out of town before praying for him, but there were other times where Jesus made people leave before He ministered because of their mocking or unbelief (Matthew 9:24-25). This could be another case of that, but we don't know for sure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyway...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After going out of town, Jesus begins to minister to him in a very unusual way. He spit on his eyes (more on that later), and then laid hands on him (and no mention of any praying). Then he asked him how his sight was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />From the man's answer, there was only a partial healing. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, Jesus <u>laid hands on him again</u>, and then the healing was complete.</span><br />
<br />
Here we have biblical evidence that Jesus had to minister to someone twice before their healing was completely accomplished. Even Jesus, had to minister twice! That is so amazing to me, and so encouraging. Jesus is always operating in the perfect will of the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and yet this one took two times to work completely.<br />
<br />
This tells me a number of things.<br />
<br />
1 - Ministering healing doesn't have to include any praying, or even any talking...Jesus just "put His hands on him" and then asked if he saw anything.<br />
<br />
2 - You can be absolutely in God's will, ministering to someone in the power and leading of the Spirit, but not see the person get completely healed the first time. But, you can keep going until everything is 100% healed.<br />
<br />
You can minister to someone and get results progressively. What I mean is, someone can feel a little bit better immediately, but you may need to keep going. If Jesus had stopped after the first time, the man would have been a little bit better off, but he would not have been totally healed. This may sound strange to some of you reading this, but this story is in the bible. I didn't make it up.<br />
<br />
I don't advise building a complete doctrine or formula off of one example, and I'm not aware of another one like this (ministering twice) in the life of Jesus. However, there are some principles here to remember. This story does prove without a doubt that healing can be progressive, and that there may be times where healing only comes fully after ministering to someone more than once. It also proves that although praying is good, it is not a requirement for ministering healing to others.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(Now a note on the spitting. Apparently, at this time there was a belief that the saliva of the firstborn in a family had some kind of healing properties. It could be that the Holy Spirit was instructing Jesus to do this in order to demonstrate that He was indeed the "firstborn" Son of God. That is just my opinion, though.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-49087477176646200172012-03-17T00:20:00.002-07:002012-10-12T06:32:32.595-07:00The Righteousness of God<i><b>Romans 3:19-24</b></i><br />
<i>3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. </i><br />
<i>3:20 <b>For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law</b>, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. </i><br />
<i>3:21 <b>But now apart from the law the righteousness of God </b>(which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – </i><br />
<i>3:22 namely, <b>the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe</b>. For there is no distinction, </i><br />
<i>3:23 <b>for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. </b></i><br />
<i>3:24 But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. </i><br />
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There are two kinds of righteousness contrasted in this passage.<br />
<br />
<u>1 - Our own human attempts at righteousness:</u> This is based on our behavior as judged by the 10 commandments and all the other instructions in God's law in the Old Testament. The law judges not only outward actions, but also your thoughts and the things on the inside (Matthew 5:21-26). Our righteousness is non-existent, because we have all sinned repeatedly and continually.<br />
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<u>2 - God's righteousness:</u> God's righteousness is flawless and beautiful. It has no lack, and no imperfection in it.<br />
<br />
So, what is the point?<br />
<br />
Part of the good news about Jesus Christ is that when we believe in Him, God gives us His own righteousness as a gift. See verses 22 again: <i><b>the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe</b>. </i><br />
<br />
This means that we no longer have to depend on our own ability to keep a code of conduct in order to have right-standing with God. This righteousness from God is given to us freely as a gift that is unrelated to our behavior. Your behavior and your moral conduct are not part of the equation for receiving this righteousness. It is only received through faith. <i>(Note: I am not negating the value of making good moral choices, I am saying that our morality comes up short every time.)</i><br />
<br />
<b><i>Romans 4:4-5</i></b><br />
<i>4:4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. </i><br />
<i>4:5 But to <b>the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
Your faith in Jesus, not your work, is credited as righteousness. It is all about who you believe in, not about how well you are able to do everything right.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Romans 5:1-2</b></i><br />
<i>5:1 Therefore, since <b>we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, </b></i><br />
<i>5:2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
If your faith is in Jesus and what He did for you, then you are righteous in God's sight, and you have peace with Him. He is not against you, He is at peace with you. This was His idea, and He is the one who initiated the action. He came to rescue us because we could not rescue ourselves.<br />
<br />
<br />Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-50522702204044957002012-03-13T22:36:00.000-07:002013-01-30T11:36:56.921-08:00Gifts of the Spirit part 2 - Charismata (grace gifts)<br />
(Note: It may be good to<b> <a href="http://romans814.blogspot.com/2012/03/gifts-of-spirit-part-1.html" target="_blank">read part 1</a></b> before reading this)<br />
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<br />
"CHARIS" is a word in the original Greek language of the New Testament. It is often translated as grace, kindness, favour, blessing, etc.<br />
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It means "unmerited favour." It means "goodwill that is not deserved."<br />
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If it is deserved in any way, it is not CHARIS. <br />
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If there is anything that you can do earn it, it is not CHARIS. <br />
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CHARIS is a very general term. When it is used in a specific instance, the Greek word is "CHARISMA." This is often translated "gift." <br />
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This is unmerited favor, or grace, made specific. It is an undeserved gift. If there is any part of it that is deserved, then it is not a CHARISMA.<br />
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Now if you want to make this word plural, you add "TA" to the end and you end up with "CHARISMATA."<br />
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CHARISMATA means "free, undeserved gifts."<br />
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That brings us to our passage in 1 Corinthians where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed<br />
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<i><b>1 Corinthians 12:4-11</b></i><br />
<i>4 There are diversities of <b><span style="color: red;">gifts (CHARISMATA)</span></b>, but the same Spirit.</i><br />
<i>5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.</i><br />
<i>6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.</i><br />
<i>7 But the <u>manifestation of the Spirit</u> is given to each one for the profit of all:</i><br />
<i>8 for to one is given the <u>word of wisdom</u> through the Spirit, to another the <u>word of knowledge</u> through the same Spirit,</i><br />
<i>9 to another <u>faith</u> by the same Spirit, to another <u>gifts of healings</u> by the same Spirit,</i><br />
<i>10 to another the<u> working of miracles</u>, to another <u>prophecy</u>, to another <u>discerning of spirits</u>, to another <u>different kinds of tongues</u>, to another the<u> interpretation of tongues</u>.</i><br />
<i>11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
These nine<a href="http://romans814.blogspot.com/2012/03/gifts-of-spirit-part-1.html"> manifestations of the Holy Spirit</a> are gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to people that don't deserve them. There is no requirement on anyone to receive them. If there are requirements, then they aren't CHARISMATA. If you have to attain a certain level of maturity or holiness in order to receive them, then they would be called rewards instead of gifts.<br />
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But the word that is used here is CHARISMATA...free gifts that are not deserved in any way.<br />
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To bring this point out more clearly, consider the context of the passage that was quoted above. It comes from a letter (1 Corinthians) that was written to a group of Christians in the city of Corinth. In this letter they are being corrected for things that would make many of today's believers blush. Here are a few examples:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>They were getting drunk during communion (ch 11 v 21)</li>
<li>They were suing each other (ch 6 v 7)</li>
<li>One of them was sleeping with his father's wife (stepmother), and the rest of the group thought this was something to be proud of (ch 5 v 1-2)</li>
<li>Some of them evidently didn't know any better than to call Jesus "cursed" (ch 12 v 3)</li>
</ul>
<div>
To sum it all up, read the following passage from chapter 3:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b><i>1 Corinthians 3:1-3</i></b></div>
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<i>1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as <b><span style="color: red;">worldly</span></b>--mere <b><span style="color: red;">infants</span></b> in Christ.</i></div>
<div>
<i>2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, <b><span style="color: red;">you are still not ready</span></b>.</i></div>
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<i>3 <b><span style="color: red;">You are still worldly</span>.</b> For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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These people are not mature. Rather, they are immature. Paul calls them spiritual babies. They are not ready for meat, they still need milk. The are carnal and worldly, they are not demonstrating holy living.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
However, when you read chapters 12-14, you can see that this doesn't stop the Holy Spirit from operating His supernatural gifts through them in miracles, healings, prophesies, and so on.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't get me wrong, sin is bad, and immaturity is nothing to be proud of. However, sin and immaturity do not stop the Holy Spirit from using us in His supernatural gifts. CHARISMATA gifts are only given to people that don't deserve them. What human could work hard enough to deserve any of this?</div>
<div>
<br />
Never let anyone tell you that you need to reach a certain level of behavior or maturity in your walk before you can move in the wonderful, powerful, and supernatural gifts (CHARISMATA) of the Holy Spirit. Don't get tricked into disqualifying yourself. The gifts are free to all that will receive them and use them. They are given as the Holy Spirit wills, and they are given freely.</div>
<br />Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-81121370466526330142012-03-07T21:09:00.002-08:002014-08-22T19:49:05.020-07:00Gifts of the Spirit part 1 - Manifestations of the Spirit<div>
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NOTE: Please visit my <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/gifts-of-the-spirit-manifestations/" target="_blank">new website</a> for an updated version of this article. Here is the URL: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/gifts-of-the-spirit-manifestations/" target="_blank"> http://bornofspirit.net/gifts-of-the-spirit-manifestations/</a><br />
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The nine supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in the following passage from 1 Corinthians:<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>1 Corinthians 12:4-11</i></span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.<br />5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.<br />6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.<br />7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:<br />8 for to one is given the<b> word of wisdom</b> through the Spirit, to another the <b>word of knowledge</b> through the same Spirit,<br />9 to another <b>faith</b> by the same Spirit, to another <b>gifts of healings</b> by the same Spirit,<br />10 to another the <b>working of miracles</b>, to another <b>prophecy</b>, to another <b>discerning of spirits</b>, to another <b>different kinds of tongues</b>, to another the <b>interpretation of tongues</b>.<br />11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.</i></span><br />
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
Here are all nine gifts in list form:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Word of Wisdom</li>
<li>Word of Knowledge</li>
<li>Faith</li>
<li>Gifts of Healings</li>
<li>Working of Miracles</li>
<li>Prophecy</li>
<li>Discerning of Spirits</li>
<li>Different kinds of Tongues</li>
<li>Interpretation of Tongues.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
In future posts, I plan to give some definitions of these gifts, and also give some examples of them in operation. In my first few posts on this subject, though, I want to point out a few principles that I believe are crucial for proper understanding of them.</div>
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<div>
The first key point, and the focus of my entire article, is in verse seven: "<i>But the <b>manifestation of the Spirit</b> is given to each one for the profit of all:"</i><br />
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To "manifest" means to become perceivable, or to become detectable to our senses. These nine gifts are actually instances of the Holy Spirit operating<b> in you</b> or<b> through you</b> in a way that you and/or others can perceive. The Holy Spirit wants to say something, reveal something, or do something, so He makes Himself known to the believer in one of these nine ways to accomplish His purpose.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He can give you information by speaking to you audibly, or by giving you an impression in your mind or in your spirit. He can show you a vision containing instructions for action. He can energize you to speak His own words. He can even give you the proper emotions to exercise the gift with. <br />
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There are many different methods He uses, but one important thing to remember is that each manifestation is a one-time event that is for a specific purpose. It is not an ability that you keep and use as you wish. It is a temporary burst of divine power, ability, or information to meet a need or to accomplish a purpose. Understanding this point is very helpful in preventing confusion, and in keeping the focus on the Giver of the gift, not on the the human that is exercising the gift. When you see one of the gifts in operation, you know that the Spirit of God is taking an tangible role in the situation.</div>
<div>
<br />
There are many things that our God gives to us freely, and all of those are all gifts. However, not all gifts come the same way, function the same way, or produce the same result. This is the way God designed it.<br />
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<b>There are some gifts that He gives you that stay with you. </b><br />
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An example of that is righteousness. God gives you His own righteousness at the moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you (Romans 3:21-24). This righteousness is yours forever, and it never goes away.<br />
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Another example is the ability to speak in tongues when you receive the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. When you receive this ability, it stays with you for the rest of your time on this earth, and we are urged in several places in scripture to use this ability often.<br />
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<b>There are other gifts that you receive that are for a one-time use.</b> The effects produced by these kinds of gifts may last a very long time, even if the gift itself is only used once.<br />
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The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are included in this group. He gives these gifts when they are needed. We use them as we receive them, and the result is that an effect is produced.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
To illustrate this point, let's look at the second gift in the list...the word of knowledge. This can also be translated "message of knowledge" or "message containing knowledge." This gift describes the action of the Holy Spirit giving you a small nugget of information that you would not know otherwise.</div>
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<div>
Here is an example of it happening:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><b>Acts 10:17-19</b></i></div>
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<div>
<i>17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate.</i></div>
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<i>18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.</i></div>
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<i>19 While Peter thought about the vision, <b><span style="color: red;">the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are seeking you</span></b>.</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Holy Spirit gave Peter some information. Peter was told that there were men looking for him. This was the Holy Spirit giving Peter a "word of knowledge," The Spirit made Himself known to Peter in a way that allowed Peter to receive the information. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This doesn't mean that Peter can walk around day after day with the gift of the word of knowledge as part of his personality. He doesn't always know everything.<b> He can't take a test to see if "word of knowledge" is one of his spiritual gifts that he needs to be using, because </b><b>he has no control over when the Holy Spirit will do this with Him again.</b><br />
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Simply put, the Holy Spirit wanted to give Peter some information for a specific time and purpose. The gift was given, and Peter received it and used it. It accomplished its purpose, and then it was over.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That is a manifestation of the Spirit, and that's how all nine of these gifts function.</div>
<div>
</div>
Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-63236160923111988942012-02-29T21:44:00.000-08:002014-08-23T20:39:08.201-07:00Healing is in God's Character and Nature<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">===========================================================</span></span><br />
<b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NOTE: An updated version of this article is available on my new website: </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://bornofspirit.net/healing-is-in-gods-character-and-nature/">http://bornofspirit.net/healing-is-in-gods-character-and-nature/</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus said "if you have seen me, you have seen the Father." (John 14:9)</span></span><br />
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.2814496618229896" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus also said "I always do things that please the Father." (John 8:29)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the exact representation of the Father (Hebrews 1:3)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus came to reveal the Father to us...to make Him known to us...to show us what He is like. Based on the three passages above (along with many others), I believe that we can look at the life of Jesus to learn some things about the character and nature of God, and get to <span style="font-family: inherit;">know Him better. We can learn how God the Father feels about different subjects. We can see what it looks like for the Father's will to be demonstrated and obeyed perfectly on the earth.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />Those are some general statements, and now I would like to be more specific. L<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">et us view the actions and attitudes of Jesus during His time on earth in a physical body to get a view of how God our Father feels about sickness, disease, and other physical ailments. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 10:38</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and </span><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">healing all who were oppressed by the devil</span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, for God was with Him.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 8:2-3</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, say</span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ing, "</span><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am willing; be cleansed</span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 8:5-6</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him,</span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "</span><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will come and heal him</span><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">."</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 9:10-11</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">healed those who had need of healing.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 14:14</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and </span><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.</span><br /><b><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 4:40</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and </span><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.</span><br /><b><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 4:24</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and </span><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> among the people.</span><br /><b><span style="color: red; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For many more examples just like these, you can read through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, looking for instances where people approached Jesus that needed to be healed. You won't find any cases of a person coming to Him in need of healing, and going away without being healed. But, don’t just take my word for it, study it out yourself. See what you find.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I find is Jesus having compassion on sick people, and ministering healing to them. Healing was a large part of what He did, and it was always included in the instructions whenever He sent out people to represent Him.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In John 5:19, He says this: "<i>Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.</i>”</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus was doing what His Father showed Him to do. All of these times that Jesus was healing people, it was the will of God the Father being acted out by God the Son...Jesus. It was God’s will to heal people. If we go by the accounts provided to us in the four Gospels, it looks like it is ALWAYS God’s will to heal people, because that’s what we see Jesus doing.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are there exceptions to this? Are there times where God’s will is for the person to remain in their sickness? Read the Gospels and find out for yourself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(</span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">NOTE: If you are thinking about Paul’s thorn right now as an exception, </span><a href="http://romans814.blogspot.com/2011/10/i-imagine-that-most-people-who-spend.html" style="white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">click here</a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is only one place that I'm aware of the Gospels where people didn't get healed:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>Mark 6:5-6</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Now He <span style="color: red;">could </span>do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Notice that is says he "could" do no mighty works there. It doesn't say that he "would" do no mighty works. The implication is that He was willing, but the people were not interested because of their unbelief. If you read the preceding verses, you will see that they were offended at Him, and basically wanted nothing to do with Him. In spite of all this, He still healed a "few sick people." </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">He can still heal people even when there is unbelief around. Just come to Him.</span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>(A note on the word "unbelief" here: This is not the Greek word for doubt, or for little faith. It means "faith in reverse" or "believe against." These were not Christians who were struggling with doubt. These were people who "believed against" Jesus and wanted Him to go away. In spite of this, He still healed some of them.)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is very good news, if you ask me. My God wants to heal sick people. Healing is a part of His character and nature. It is something He wants to do.</span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">So, from now on, let us never begin with an assumption that it is not God's will for someone to be healed. </span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you pray for someone and you don't see any immediate results, don't get discouraged, but don't automatically assume it was God's will for them to be sick. </span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe you need to wait. Remember that the 10 lepers were healed "as they went," not while they were standing there with Jesus. (Luke 17:14)</span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe you need to pray again. Jesus had to pray twice for the blind man in Mark 8:22-26.</span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Maybe you need to stop and ask for wisdom or revelation on what to do. There may be something going on that you don't know about.</span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Any of these choices are better than making assumptions that disagree with the life of Jesus. </span>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-7991492272885965212012-02-27T21:56:00.000-08:002012-06-13T12:57:39.637-07:00Authority Over Demons<b id="internal-source-marker_0.4850077354349196"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 9:1</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then He called His twelve disciples together and</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gave them power and authority over all demons</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and to cure diseases.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this passage of scripture, Jesus sends out His first group people to act as His representatives...to act as His witnesses. This is a group of 12 men that were his followers. He gave them some instructions, and He also gave them some equipment. Part of this equipment was power and authority over all demons.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They went out and did what Jesus had been doing...healed the sick, cast out demons, and preached the good news.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the next chapter of Luke's gospel, we see the next part of the story. Jesus sends out new group.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 10:17-20</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the demons are subject to us in Your name.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Behold,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the spirits are subject to you</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here Jesus sent out His second team. This was a group of 70 of His followers. He gave them a similar set of instructions, and He also gave them the exact same equipment...including power and authority over all demons.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Notice two things in this passage (emphasis mine)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 - The people say this: "...the demons are subject to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">US</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in Your name."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 - Jesus says this: "...the spirits are subject to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YOU...</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The spirits are not only subject to Jesus, but they are also subject to this group of of His followers. These people are never called apostles or prophets or anything "special." Actually, their names are not even mentioned. These are simply people that are believing what Jesus is saying, and then acting on it according to His instructions. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Authority over demons is not reserved for those holding a religious title or position.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark 16:15-17</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And these signs will follow those who believe: In </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My name they will cast out demons</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; they will speak with new tongues;</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this third passage, Jesus speaks to all of His followers. This is part of what is called "the great commission." It is given to all Christians. Notice that Jesus gives us the same equipment that He gave the 12 and the 70. We are given power and authority over all demons. Demons are to be subject to all believers in His name. This is for "those who believe." This is not just for priests, pastors, bishops, etc. This is for each one of us that is born again.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We have been given the permission, the right, and the power to drive out demons in the name of Jesus. We should never be afraid of any demons. They should be afraid of us. We have been given authority over them by the King of the Universe...the LORD Jesus Christ.</span></b>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-27780901115134164572012-02-19T22:00:00.000-08:002014-08-22T19:52:41.038-07:00Acts 10:38 - Holy Spirit Power<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website. Please visit it here: <a href="http://bornofspirit.net/how-jesus-did-miracles/">http://bornofspirit.net/how-jesus-did-miracles/</a></b></span><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.058695299783721566"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 10:38 - God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to break this down into two parts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PART 1: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power..."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus is God. He was God throughout eternity past, and He is God throughout eternity in the future. Omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent (everywhere at once), and omniscient (all wise and all knowing).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However, 2000 years ago He took on the limits of being a human, and He came to rescue fallen humanity. Part of this rescue mission involves Him subjecting Himself to the limitations of the human existence (Philippians 2:5-8).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example, while He was on the earth in a human body...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.058695299783721566"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He had to walk from place to place. He was not exercising His omnipresence.</span></b></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.058695299783721566"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He had to grow in wisdom (Luke 2:52). He was not exercising His omniscience.</span></b></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.058695299783721566"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He got tired and hungry (John 4:6). He was not exercising His omnipotence.</span></b></li>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.058695299783721566"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though He is God, He put himself in our shoes and made Himself subject to our limitations. We actually don't know much of the first 30 years of His life, other than the fact that He worked as a carpenter, and He had a remarkable grasp of the scriptures.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, on the day He was baptized in the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit fell on Him (Luke 3:21-22), and He began to do things that ordinary people can't do.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before this day, there are zero miracles done by Jesus in the bible. After this day, there are multitudes of miracles done by Jesus in the bible.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look at the way the people in His hometown reacted:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark 6:1-3 - </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their reaction shows that something was VERY different now. They were not used to Him teaching and doing miracles.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are told in Luke 4:14 and Luke 4:18 that Jesus is now walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that is the reason for the sudden change. When the Holy Spirit came on Him, Jesus went from living within the limits of a "regular person" (and I say that reverently) to living as a regular person who has the Spirit of God working through Him to demonstrate miraculous power.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is exciting news for the rest of us, because it is the same Holy Spirit that lives in every believer. The Holy Spirit is God, and He wants to do the same things with us that He did with Jesus. He wants to use us to demonstrate the power of God.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PART 2: "...who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, and that's what He wants us to do too. What would Jesus do? He would do good and heal all who are oppressed of the devil.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus didn't go about telling the sick people that God made them sick to teach them patience or to deepen their piety.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He demonstrated the power of God with authority. He commanded sickness to leave. He commanded people's bodies to be healed. He commanded demons to go.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus healed sick people, and he cast demons out of people that were under demonic influence. This is called "healing all who were oppressed by the devil."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Notice that sickness is not from God. Sickness is oppression from the devil. God made earth an mankind without sickness. There was no disease in the garden of Eden. Sickness became a part of our life on earth when Adam sinned and gave his dominion away to the devil. Sickness is not part of God's plan for your life. It is a part of the devil's plan for your life. God's plan is that we drive out sickness by the power of the same Holy Spirit that worked in Jesus....the same Holy Spirit that lives in each of us who believe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and he gave us the authority to do the same. He said that we would do the same works that he did, and even greater works because He was returning to His Father (John 14:12). When Jesus returned to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He poured out the Holy Spirit on the church (Acts 2:33), and then they starting doing the same things Jesus had been doing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Somewhere through history, it seems like a lot of the church has forgotten about this. May we all wake up and realize our inheritance. And not only realize it, but actually start taking advantage of it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 1:17-18 ...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">..</span></b>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-13047843700172152412012-02-18T21:21:00.000-08:002014-08-22T19:54:20.101-07:00Tongues...what are we saying?<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">============================================================</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NOTE: A newer version of this post is available at my new website. Please visit it here: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://bornofspirit.net/tongues-what-are-we-saying/">http://bornofspirit.net/tongues-what-are-we-saying/</a></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">============================================================</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.058695299783721566"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What are we saying when we are speaking in tongues? Here are a few examples:</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PRAISE</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 10:44-46</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">44 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">45 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">46 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For they heard them </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">speak with tongues and magnify God</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Then Peter answered...</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 14:15-17</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sing with the spirit,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and I will also sing with the understanding.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Otherwise, if you </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bless with the spirit,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">17 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> you indeed give thanks well</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but the other is not edified.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 5:18-19</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">filled with the Spirit,</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19 </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spiritual songs</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking in tongues is a wonderful way to praise and glorify the Lord. It allows your spirit (the part of you that was</span><a href="http://romans814.blogspot.com/2012/01/breadcrumbs.html"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">born again</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...John 3:3-5) to give glory and honor to God in ways that you are not capable of when you are limited by your fallen human intellect. This is likely a part of what Jesus was talking about in John 4, when He told the woman at the well "the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in spirit</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personally, this is one of my favorite ways to worship Jesus. It gives me a way to express things to Him with my spirit that go beyond mental abilities. Sometimes, I just run out of words in my natural mind, so I go into the spirit and give Him glory </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">supernaturally</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It is awesome.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PRAYER</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 14:15</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is the conclusion then? I will</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> pray with the spirit</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sing with the spirit,</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and I will also sing with the understanding.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ephesians 6:18</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">...</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">praying always with all </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">prayer and supplication in the Spirit</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Romans 8:26-27</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">26</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">27</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking in tongues gives you a way to pray when you need to go beyond your rational thoughts. When you don't know how to pray, or even what to pray for, then pray in the spirit. That is one of the reasons God gives us this ability. He knows that we need it, and He wants us to use it.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I use this very often, and often I get to see tangible results. Through praying in tongues, I can receive insight and wisdom for different situations. It is tool that God has given me to use when these situations arise. Sometimes I see things in a new light, sometimes I get revelation on things I didn't even know I was asking about, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which is extremely exciting and awe-inspiring</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.. This is because I am praying with my spirit, and not with my brain. There are things that are revealed to us in our spirit that our natural minds do not comprehend without some supernatural assistance (see 1 Corinthians 2:14).</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We should take Paul's advice. We should pray in tongues, and we should pray in English (or whatever your natural language is). It is good to do both. It is biblical to do both. It is effective to do both.</span><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PROCLAMATION/DECLARATION</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts 2:,11b</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance....</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">11b</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">..."we hear them speaking in our own tongues </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wonderful works of God</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">."</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Corinthians 14:2</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however,</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the spirit he speaks mysteries (Greek musterion: the hidden wisdom of God)</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br /><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There will be times when you are speaking in tongues that you are announcing how awesome our God is. You may also be declaring His wisdom into a situation. You are making declarations that our God is mighty, and you are speaking His will out into the earth.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, even though you can't understand it, you can tell when you are doing this because of what is going on inside of you, and because of the way your speech changes tone. You will notice that you are not speaking in a way that sounds like you are asking for help. Instead, you are speaking with authority and you sense that something powerful is happening. It can sometimes be accompanied by strong emotion and forcefulness, almost like the way a police office would deal with a criminal who is resisting arrest. This can difficult to describe to someone who has never experienced it, but if you have done this before you will know exactly what I am talking about. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SUMMARY</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, these were three general descriptions of things you might be doing when you are speaking in tongues. Praying in the spirit is not limited to these three, but these cover a large part of what is going on while you do it. The more you pray in the spirit, the more you will experience each of these. All of them are great, and all of them are for us to use in our life. Our Father has given us a wonderful gift that is also an effective tool and a powerful weapon. I hope that you will make use of it to the glory of God.</span></b>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-55354755342691138292012-02-17T22:42:00.000-08:002014-08-22T19:56:36.771-07:00The Baptism with the Holy Spirit - For All Believers==================================================================<br />
<b>NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website. Click here to read it: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%C2%A0http://bornofspirit.net/the-baptism-with-the-holy-spirit-is-for-all-believers/" target="_blank"> http://bornofspirit.net/the-baptism-with-the-holy-spirit-is-for-all-believers/</a></b><br />
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Have you ever wondered if the Baptism with the Holy Spirit (and the ability to speak in tongues that comes with it) is available to all believers?<br />
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Are you wondering if it is available to you?<br />
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Consider the following two stories from the bible, and hopefully they will help you find the answer. (By the way, the answer is yes!)<br />
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In Acts 1, we see Jesus spending time with His followers after the resurrection. He spends 40 days with them before He ascends from into heaven. Some of His last words before leaving are recorded for us in verses 5-8. Jesus tells His followers that they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days. <br />
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<i><u>Acts 1:5</u> - "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."</i><br />
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After saying this, the bible says that He ascended up into a cloud and was seen no more. Then, later on in that same chapter, after His ascension, we are told that there were about 120 people present in the group of believers. The members of this group included:<br />
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<li>the 11 apostles (Peter, John, etc)</li>
<li>Mary the mother of Jesus</li>
<li>The brothers of Jesus (James, Jude, etc)</li>
<li>lots of other people</li>
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Moving on into the story, in the next chapter, we see the whole group receiving the Holy Spirit baptism ten days later on the day of Pentecost.<br />
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<i><u>Acts 2:1-4</u> - When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were <span style="color: red;"><b>all</b></span> filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.</i><br />
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Notice in verse four is says that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. All of them. Not just the apostles...not just the leaders or other "special" people. It came to each one of them. They all received it. <br />
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There were no exceptions.<br />
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Nobody was left out.<br />
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It was available to everyone present.<br />
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This is the start of the Christian church, and we can plainly see that 100 percent of the members received the baptism with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. This means that Mary spoke in tongues. It also means that all of the writers of the New Testament spoke in tongues, with the possible (though very unlikely) exceptions of Mark and Luke.<br />
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This story we just discussed from Acts 1 and 2 is the first time the Holy Spirit baptism occurred in the history of the world, and so obviously this is the first time it is mentioned in the bible.. <br />
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If we skip ahead to Acts 19, we can read about the last time it is mentioned in the bible, and see if we get the same results.<br />
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In Acts 19:1-7, Paul comes across some men that had been disciples of John the Baptist. John the Baptist preached about repentance, and he talked about the coming messiah.. Since these men were disciples of his, we can assume that this is probably the state of mind of these men. They have repented, and they are looking forward to the messiah who is coming soon.<br />
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Paul has a short conversation with them, and tells them about Jesus..the Messiah has come! They believe and get baptized in water. After that, Paul laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit baptism and they all speak in tongues.<br />
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In this story, it says there are about 12 men present. So, 12 out of 12 receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. 12 out of 12 speak in tongues. 100 percent of the believers receive the Holy Spirit baptism and speak in tongues. <br />
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There were no exceptions. <br />
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Nobody was left out. <br />
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It was available to everyone present.<br />
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And if you are a <a href="http://romans814.blogspot.com/2012/01/breadcrumbs.html" target="_blank">born-again</a> Christian, then it is available to you too.<br />
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<br />Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-45911033132045900532012-02-13T21:57:00.001-08:002014-08-22T19:58:40.384-07:00Why Speak in Tongues?<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">============================================================</span></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NOTE: An updated version of this post is available on my new website. Click on this link to read it: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_646814594"> </a></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.399999618530273px;"><a href="http://bornofspirit.net/why-speak-in-tongues-2/">http://bornofspirit.net/why-speak-in-tongues-2/</a></span></span></b><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some reasons the bible gives for speaking in tongues</span></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u style="color: #222222;">1 Corinthians 14:14</u><span style="color: #222222;"> - For if I pray in a tongue, </span><span style="color: red;">my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.</span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">Speaking in tongues allows your spirit to speak using your vocal chords. Your spirit is the part of you that was </span><a href="http://romans814.blogspot.com/2012/01/breadcrumbs.html" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"><i>born again as a new creation</i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">, </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians%204:24&version=NKJV" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;" target="_blank"><i>righteous and holy</i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">. This means that you are actually praying and declaring things that are free from the influence of sin. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">Additionally, this is a spiritual exercise that gives your spirit greater influence in your life. It gives you a chance to practice spiritual actions in a tangible way. This alone is good enough reason to speak in tongues as much as possible, and I believe it is one of the reasons that Paul the apostle said "</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."</span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><u>1 Corinthians 14:2</u> - </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">For one who speaks in a tongue </span><span style="color: red;">does not speak to men but to God</span><span style="color: #222222;">; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.</span></span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">Speaking in tongues give you a way to speak to God that goes beyond your mental abilities. You can pray with your spirit, without being limited by your intellect.. </span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>1 Corinthians 14:2</u> - <span style="background-color: white;">For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but <span style="color: red;">in his spirit he speaks mysteries</span>.</span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">The word that is translated "</span><a href="http://concordances.org/greek/3466.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #7c93a1; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none;">mysteries</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">" is a Greek word that means the hidden wisdom of God that has not been revealed yet. Praying in tongues</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"> allows you to speak God's wisdom over the situation you are praying about, without being limited by your ability to comprehend it.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 1.4;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>1 Corinthians 14:4</u><span style="color: #222222;"> - </span><span style="color: red;">One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself</span><span style="color: #222222;">; but one who prophesies edifies the church.</span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;">When you speak in tongues, you are </span><a href="http://concordances.org/greek/3618.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #7c93a1; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4; text-decoration: none;">"edifying"</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"> yourself. It is a way to strengthen or build yourself up that works supernaturally. When you need strength, you can receive it by speaking in tongues.</span><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #222222;"><u>Jude 20-21(NET)</u> But you, dear friends, by </span><span style="color: red;">building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, maintain yourselves in the love of God</span><span style="color: #222222;">, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.</span></b></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4;">Speaking in tongues is a faith building exercise, since it can only be done by faith. Every time you do it, you are operating in faith, and your faith is strengthened as a result. It is also a way to "maintain yourself in the love of God." This is also translated "keep yourselves in the love of God." </span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.4;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"><u>Ephesians 6:18</u> - ...</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit</span><span style="color: #222222;">, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints</span></span></b></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22px;">This passage comes at the end of a section in Ephesians where Paul is giving instructions on how to "be strong in the Lord" and to "stand against the wiles of the devil." The instructions include putting on the whole armor of God. Praying in tongues is a powerful tool for us to use in spiritual warfare.</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.4;"><u>Romans 8:26-27</u> - </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="color: #222222;"> Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For </span><span style="color: red;">we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered</span><span style="color: #222222;">. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because </span><span style="color: red;">He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.</span></span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Praying in the spirit provides a new way for the Holy Spirit to aid you when you don't know how or what to pray. He works in you helping you pray the things that are needed, even if you don't know what those things are. This passage is also another example of a reason to pray in tongues when you are weak.</span></div>
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Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-38350678494210459412012-02-07T08:32:00.000-08:002013-02-22T13:46:07.968-08:00Tithing or Giving<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many different types of offerings described in the bible. In the Old Testament, instructions are given for tithes, wave offerings, heave offerings, burnt offerings, first fruits, and sin offerings, just to mention a few. In the New Testament, instructions are given for free will offerings, and for being generous and sharing with others. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Problems and confusion come in when you mix and match the different offerings and their associated instructions, selecting which parts to keep and which parts to ignore. The purpose of this study is to examine the offering known as tithing, giving an overview of the practice as it is defined in the bible.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before I begin, I want to be clear about my intention in writing this. It is aimed at people who are struggling with difference between tithing under the Old Covenant, and giving under the New Covenant. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">he questions I am hoping to answer are: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is tithing? Is it just another word for giving? Are Christians supposed to tithe? If so, how does it work? </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do any (or all) of the rules for tithing in the Old Testament apply to Christians today? </span><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is what I <u>used </u>to think:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We are to give God our first fruit...a tenth of our gross income. It should be the starting point, but we can and should go beyond that with freewill offerings. The tithe should be the first line item in our budget. It is a way to thank God for what he has provided for us. We are to give our tithe to our local church/assembly, or to the Christian organization or individual(s) who are “feeding” us. There are blessings that come to us when we tithe, and many times those are financial blessings that come in a variety of ways, both natural and supernatural. Tithing is a principle that precedes the Law (Abraham with Melchizidek in Genesis 14), and even Jesus told people to tithe (Mat 23). Even if someone doesn’t have enough money to pay their bills, they should still tithe on their income, and trust God or the church to help fill in the gap.</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During my study of this subject, I have found that the tithe is something very different than what I just described. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> Giving generously is good</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but it is not the same thing as tithing. I will take a few passages and point out some areas where corrections were in order for me.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the first things I learned was that the biblical description for tithing is quite complex, and there is not consensus even among Jewish scholars on some of the details. In this study, I am not attempting to explain every jot and tittle. Instead, I hope to give an overview that briefly explains the main points, and how those points agree or differ with what is generally taught today.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Depending on how you count them, there are three different tithes that were used for three different purposes. I will cover those three, and then add some additional information afterwards. I will divide this document into the following categories:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 - Levitical Tithe</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 - Priest Tithe</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 - Festival Tithe</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 - Abram and Melchizedek</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 - Jacob’s Vow</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 - Tithing in Christian History</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 - New Testament Christian Giving</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 - Summary</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sections 1-3 are the three different tithes, and the remaining sections contain other information relevant to the topic that I found interesting.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 - The Levitical Tithe</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(a tithe for support of the Levites)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Numbers 18:21-24</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21 “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22 Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near the tabernacle of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23 But the Levites shall perform the work of the tabernacle of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute forever, throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">24 For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’”</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leviticus 27:30-33</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Levite is defined as a descendant of Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel. The Levites were not given an inheritance in the land of Israel, but they were provided for by other means. Many of the different offerings that people brought to the Lord were actually used as food for the Levites. This “Levitical Tithe” is one of these offerings, along with the heave offerings, wave offerings, meat offerings, and so on.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to this passage, one tenth of the tither’s produce and livestock was to be set aside to provide food for the Levites. However, if the tither wanted to keep the food, he was allowed to give the value of the food in money, as long as he added “a fifth” to it (v 31). This means you could keep your goats if you gave 120% of their value in money as a replacement.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Note that the tither can give money in place of food in this case, but he would have to pay an extra 20%. So, this</span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> tithe is not ten percent of all of your income. It is only ten percent of your produce and livestock (or the value in money plus 20%). In fact, you will find that all three categories of the commanded tithes consisted of food, and not money. This is an important point to remember, and it is consistent in every passage where instructions are given, including the “mint, dill, and cumin” that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 23. There were many other sources of income in those days, but there are no instructions for craftsmen, for example, to give a tenth of their paycheck.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is also interesting to look at the way the animals are supposed to be chosen for the tithe. Consider these two verses again from Levicus 27:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the tenth one</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> shall be holy to the LORD. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">33 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The tither is specifically instructed not to choose the best animal, or the first animal. Whatever cow goes under the rod in tenth place is the one that goes to the Levites. So, if the tither were to go out and pick the best cow for the tithe, then technically he would be acting in disobedience.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also consider that if the tither only has nine cows, then he is not supposed to give anything. If he only had a few animals, he was not required to give at all.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you do not raise livestock, or if you do not own a farm or a garden, then you are exempt from this tithe. Remember, there were other professions in the days when these commands were given (weavers, blacksmiths, craftsmen, laborers, etc), and there are other offerings besides the tithe that provided nearly all people the opportunity to participate in giving in some way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How would this tithe be applied today? Farmers and gardeners would give food to the Levites for support while they are busy doing their Levitical duties in and around temple and the land of Israel. However, since there is no temple, and there are no practicing Levites, there is no one that can rightfully receive this tithe. In fact, tithing is no longer observed in Judaism. You can verify this (as I did) by calling your local synagogue and asking them if they practice tithing. The answer will be no. The covenant people that received the command to tithe no longer practice tithing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 - The Priest Tithe</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(the tithe given to the Priests from the Levites)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">26 “Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: ‘When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the LORD, a tenth of the tithe. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">27 And your heave offering shall be reckoned to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor and as the fullness of the winepress. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28 Thus you shall also offer a heave offering to the LORD from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Israel, and you shall give the LORD’s heave offering from it to Aaron the priest. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">29 Of all your gifts you shall offer up every heave offering due to the LORD, from all the best of them, the consecrated part of them.’ </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30 Therefore you shall say to them: ‘When you have lifted up the best of it, then the rest shall be accounted to the Levites as the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">31 You may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your work in the tabernacle of meeting. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">32 And you shall bear no sin because of it, when you have lifted up the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy gifts of the children of Israel, lest you die.’”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Levites were to set apart a tenth of what they had received from the people (the Levitical tithe), and give that tenth to the priests. A priest is defined as a descendant of Aaron. Since Aaron was a Levite, the priests are actually a subset of the Levites. They were the ones who did most of their work in the actual tabernacle.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In contrast to the previous instructions, the Levites were told to choose the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">best</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of everything they had received from the people, and use that as a tithe to the priests. Note the end of this passage, where there is a stern warning to the Levites regarding how this tithe is handled. This should give some perspective to the often misapplied quote from Malachi 3:8-12, where the Levites appear to be the primary focus of the rebuke.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This practice is no longer in place today for reasons similar to the Levitical tithe. There are no practicing Levites, so there is no Levitical tithe. Therefore, there is no tithe from the Levites to the priests. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 - The Festival Tithe</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deuteronomy 14:22-29</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. <br class="kix-line-break" />23 And </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you shall eat</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. <br class="kix-line-break" />24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you, <br class="kix-line-break" />25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. <br class="kix-line-break" />26 And </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. <br class="kix-line-break" />27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. <br class="kix-line-break" />28 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. <br class="kix-line-break" />29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to this passage, this tithe is defined as a tenth of the increase of the tither’s livestock and produce that he is to set aside for specific purposes. The actual use of the tithe is described in this passage as a cycle of three years. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Years 1 and 2 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(v 23-26): The tither is supposed to set aside a tenth of the increase of his produce and livestock, and take it with him as he goes to the place the Lord chooses. Then he and the members his household will </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eat it themselves</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. He is not to give this tithe away to anyone. If the destination is too far away, or if it is too difficult or cumbersome to transport all of the food, then he can sell it and just carry the money instead. When he arrives at the place of the feast, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he can buy whatever his heart desires...even alcohol (wine)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. He and his family are supposed to have a celebration with this tithe, and he should also be willing share it with the Levites who are there. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Year 3</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:(v 27-28) The tither is supposed to give a tithe away to Levites, orphans, widows, and people who need help.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are some points to consider about the festival tithe:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 - If we are supposed to be tithing, then it appears that we have been neglecting a large part of the instructions, especially the part about using our tithe to hold a celebration.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 - This tithe is not money, but it can be exchanged for money to make travel easier. The actual tithe itself is actually just food from your gardens and fields. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since Christians are not instructed to keep the feasts of Israel (Colossians 2:16), then this tithe does not apply to Christians either.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Law was not a set of suggestions that could be modified as needed depending on the circumstances. The instructions for the tithe is a part of the Law, and it is a command for those under the Law. It makes no sense to those that are not participating in the Old Testament system of Levites, priests, and festivals because it has no purpose outside of that context.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That concludes the definitions of the three different tithes that the Lord instructed the Israelites to observe. Next is a collection of other topics that relate to the subject of tithing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 - Abram and Melchizedek</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 14:18-24</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">19 And he blessed him and said: <br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" /> “ Blessed be Abram of God Most High, <br class="kix-line-break" /> Possessor of heaven and earth;<br class="kix-line-break" /> 20 And blessed be God Most High,<br class="kix-line-break" /> Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”<br class="kix-line-break" /><br class="kix-line-break" /> And he gave him a tithe of all.<br class="kix-line-break" />21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” <br class="kix-line-break" />22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— 2</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this story, Abram has gone to battle to rescue his nephew who had been kidnapped. Abram was successful, and as part of his victory he won various spoils and captives.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the passage above, Abram meets a priest who blesses him. Abram responds by giving the priest a tithe (tenth) of all of the spoils of the victory, and then giving the other 90 percent of the spoils to the people who went with him to battle. He kept nothing for himself.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since this story happened long before the Law (and the included ordinances concerning tithing) was given, this passage is sometimes used to imply that tithing is an eternal principle that exists outside of the Law and applies to us today.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are some points to consider before agreeing with that theory::</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 - Abram was not commanded to give this tithe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 - Abram gave away 100 percent of his “increase.” 10% to Melchizedek, and 90% to other people.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 - Abram did not return to Salem and repeat this offering weekly, monthly, annually, or ever again as far as we know.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 - Circumcision also predates the giving of the Law, but circumcision is not required of Christians. So, the fact that a practice predates the Law has no bearing on whether or not it should apply Christians.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 - Jacob’s Vow</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 28:20-22</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In contrast to the commands in the law, and to the example of Abram and Melchizedek, Jacob sets the conditions of a bargain he is attempting to make with God. He is saying that if God will give him the things asks for, he will respond by giving a tenth of what he is provided with.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my opinion, this behavior is not a standard we should emulate. We are not in a position that we make bargains with God. That is not the way our relationship with Him works.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 - Tithing in Christian History</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to the Catholic encyclopedia, tithing was not introduced into Christianity until the sixth century. Here is a quote from the encyclopedia that shows the reason it was introduced.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the Christian Church, as those who serve the altar should live by the altar (1 Corinthians 9:13), provision of some kind had necessarily to be made for the sacred ministers. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the beginning this was supplied by the spontaneous offerings of the faithful.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the course of time, however, as the Church expanded and various institutions arose, it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The payment of tithes was adopted from the Old Law, and early writers speak of it as a divine ordinance and an obligation of conscience. The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the canons of the Council of Maçon in 585. In course of time, we find the payment of tithes made obligatory by ecclesiastical enactments in all the countries of christendom. The Church looked on this payment as "of divine law, since tithes were instituted not by man but by the Lord Himself" (C. 14, X de decim. III, 30). </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-from the Catholic Encyclopedia’s entry for tithes</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tithing as we know it today in Christianity was put in place to help finance the expansion of the “various institutions” and to help support the clergy. Christianity survived 500+ years without putting a system of tithing on the believers. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 - New Testament Christian Giving</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A full study on this topic is beyond the scope of this document. However, Paul gives us some good principles of free will giving in 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. I will attempt to summarize it briefly below, but I encourage you to read those chapters on your own and form your own opinion. As you read, look for answers to these three related questions:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 - What was the purpose of the giving?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 - What is the proper motive for the giving? </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 - Were they told to give ten percent of their income to their local church body?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul was taking up a collection to help believers in Jerusalem that were facing difficult times. He was writing to the believers in Corinth to encourage them to participate in giving. They were instructed to give whatever they had decided in their hearts to give. They were not told to give ten percent of their income, and they were not accused of robbing God. Instead, they were specifically told not to give under compulsion or of necessity, but rather to be generous and to be happy about it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In this example, they were sharing with believers who needed financial assistance because of severe persecution. And, though the specific details are different, the motive and spirit of the giving is very similar to what we see in Acts 2:42-47. People are taking care of one another in love for God and love for one another.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ministers are also included as recipients of generosity at times (Galatians 6:6), though Paul himself seemed to make efforts to avoid relying on this personally (1 Corinthians 9:1-18). Using Paul as an example, there were times when he was supported by others, and there were times when he supported himself. I believe that tells us that both scenarios are appropriate, depending on the circumstances. It is good for person being ministered to to share, and it is also good for the person doing the ministering to be able to support himself if that option is available.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To sum this up, we can say that the New Testament teaches us to be generous and willing to share with each other when needs arise. And, if a man (or woman) is being used by God to pour into your life, then it is good for you to share good things with him too. We are encouraged to be generous, but none of this should be done out of compulsion.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It should be stressed again here that these practices are a completely different from tithing. Giving and sharing and being generous are principles that are a part of the Christian walk. Tithing, however, is not. Tithing is for the age of the Law, where there were Levites, priests, and Jewish feasts and festivals.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.6305784650612622"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8 - Summary</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you consider the purpose for the different tithes as laid out the bible, you can see that these practices would not apply to Christians, especially the Gentile Christians. It was not practiced by the early church for several centuries. This accounts for the fact that instructions for tithing are absent from the Epistles, and the fact that tithing was not even included in the letter from the Jerusalem council in Acts 15.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The modern day version of tithing appears to be a mix of some parts of the tithe, some parts of other Old Testament offerings, and some parts of the New Testament concept of free will giving. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This mix has apparently evolved over time and is now part of an unbiblical tradition that is has found its way into many Christian assemblies.</span></b>Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-28303460111059348172012-02-01T21:44:00.000-08:002012-03-11T22:12:18.889-07:00He does the keepingJude says...<br />
<b>Jude 24</b> - Now to Him who is able to <span style="color: red;">keep you from stumbling</span>, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.....<br />
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Paul says...<br />
<b>2 Timothy 1:12</b> - ...for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is<span style="color: red;"> able to keep</span> what I have committed to Him until that Day.<br />
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Peter says...<br />
<b>1 Peter 1:5</b> - ...who are<span style="color: red;"> kept by the power of God</span> <span style="color: red;"><u>through faith</u></span> for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.<br />
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Three different apostles (couriers) from God with same message.<br />
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God does the keeping, I do the believing. <br />
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My job is to believe. <br />
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His job is to keep me.Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194693413616245881.post-43255940038433039532012-01-30T17:32:00.000-08:002012-02-12T21:09:54.883-08:00Introduction to the Trinity<br />
This is a brief outline of some interesting things that relate to this topic. I put this together for a bible study one night, and I thought I would share it in case it is helpful to others. <br />
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<b>1 - God has revealed Himself to us as One God in Three Persons:</b><br />
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The Father is God: Ephesians 1:2<br />
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The Son is God: John 1:1<br />
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The Holy Spirit is God: Acts 5:3-4<br />
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God is One: Deuteronomy 6:4<br />
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<b>2 - Some Attributes of God (all apply to the Trinity)</b><br />
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<u>Self-Existent/Eternal</u> - Nobody created God. He has no beginning or end. (Psalm 90:2, John 8:58...also, Jehovah means "The existing one" - I am that I am)<br />
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<u>Self-Sufficent</u> - God lacks nothing, needs nothing (Acts 17:23-25, Colossians 1:16-17)<br />
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<u>Immutable</u> - does not change (Hebrews 13:8)<br />
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<u>Omnipresent</u> - You can never go to a place where God is not present (Psalm 145:18, Psalm 139:7-10, Mat 18:20, Mat 28:20, John 14:16-17)<br />
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<u><a href="http://romans814.blogspot.com/2012/02/omniscience.html">Omniscient</a></u> - He is all knowing. There is nothing anywhere that He does not know. (Psalm 147:5, 1 John 3:20, Psalm 139:1-6)<br />
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<u>Omnipotent</u> - He has all power to do anything He desires - Rev 19:6, Job 42:2, Luke 1:37<br />
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(Further reading: "Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer, "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer)<br />
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<b>3 - Some Different Roles of the Persons of the Trinity</b><br />
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The Father sent the Son. (John 6:57, 3:16, 8:42)<br />
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The Son did not send the Father. The Spirit did not send either the Father or the Son.<br />
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The Spirit brought the Son into a human body by placing Him in the womb of Mary. (Luke 1:35)<br />
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The Son was performing the will of the Father when He came as a man (John 6:38)<br />
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Neither the Father nor the Spirit put on humanity like the Son did.<br />
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After the Son ascended and was placed at the right hand of the Father, the Father gave the Spirit to the Son, and the Son pours the Spirit out on us. (Acts 2:32-33)<br />
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The Spirit did not give or send the Father or the Son.<br />
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The Spirit “continues” the ministry of the Son after the Son ascends - The entire book of Acts<br />
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The Son glorifies the Father (John 17:4)<br />
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The Father glorifies the Son (John 17:1)<br />
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The Spirit testifies of the Son. (John 15:26)<br />
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The Son (while in the body) was led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1)<br />
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The Spirit enabled the Son (while in the body) to perform signs and wonders, and cast out demons (Luke 4:14-18, Matthew 12:28)<br />
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The Spirit inspired the writers of the scriptures. (2 Peter 1:20-21)<br />
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The Father reveals things to us by the Spirit. (1 Cor 2:10-12)<br />
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The Son died for our sins. (Romans 5:8)<br />
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The Father and the Spirit resurrected the Son from the dead: (Romans 1:4, Romans 8:11)<br />
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The Father, Son, and Spirit created the universe. (Genesis 1:1-2, Colossians 1:16-17)<br />
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(Further reading: "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance" by Bruce A. Ware)Neal Leazerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00230034567386141765noreply@blogger.com0