A sign of our times- 7/18/17 theunfetteredpreacher
Walking with God
The Ministry Years: Miracle 28: I see men as trees – theunfetteredpreacher
Mark 8:22-26
This is another miracle we only find in the book of Mark. Much of it follows what we have seen before. Parts of it, are quite odd.
A new town:
Although people, the multitudes, found Him, wherever He went. He still needed to travel, from town to town.
Why? Not everyone who had needs, could make it to where He was.
I hear people complain of todays evangelists, and faith healers, needing private jets.
If Jesus needed to be alone, and had to borrow boats, from followers, (for His travels), do not todays preachers, who travel much further, and reach many more, need the same.
They brought and besought Him:
Wherever Jesus is present, and allowed to work, (within us, or our Churches), believers will seek Him out and bring the hurting, whether the hurt is physical, spiritual or mental. Jesus, will heal all.
That is why it is the gifts of healing. We need the gifts of Faith and Words of Knowledge and Wisdom, to know how to pray, what to do, to help those in need.
He took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of town:
He needed to be apart from the unbelieving, even if they were believers. We need to do that today. Many believers, do not believe Jesus heals today. They accept being Powerless, while Jesus told us to go forth in Power.
He said, we would minister in Power and the Holy Spirit. It is up to us, to learn to ask for and use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Some think, we automatically know what and how to walk in the Spirit. Not true. We must practice, pray, then obey, if we expect to take up His Yoke, and find His Rest.
Now, something happens:
This was a blind man.
“He had spit on his eyes, and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw ought.”
We see Him spit in Chapter 7 also, again a man deaf and dumb. He spit, and touched his tongue. He, immediately, spoke and heard.
This blind man wasn’t immediately healed. Jesus laid hands on him twice. The first time, he saw, but not well. (Saw men as trees).
The second time, Jesus had him look up, and he was totaly healed. Again, I have no idea why He spit.
We must look up to the source of our faith, and walk in it.
It is interesting though, earlier, when His Disciples had forgotten to bring bread. He asked them three questions.
Do you not see? Do you not hear? Do you not remember?
He had just feed Four Thousand, with a few loaves of bread and fish.
Did they not see, hear or remember, God is able to supply all our needs, according to his riches in glory?
Mark: 8:22-26
“And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.”
Lord, help us to see, hear and remember, that You alone are our source. Amen
A sign of our times- 7/16/17
I can’t believe the Hill was a candidate… thank God for The Donald…
I heard the news today- Oh Nuts: theunfetteredpreacher
I heard the news today – Oh Nuts!
President Carter..
Glad he is no longer our worst President, is still a great guy. 92 years old, admitted to hospital in Canada. Heat stroke or dehydration while working on a Hospice House.
More strength and energy than I.
Corpus Christy, Texas…
A repair man, found himself locked inside an ATM. Passed notes to customers…. “help,” until someone finally called the Police.
They broke down the door…. he is out and safe.
Gender curious child..
Patents proud of son, who dons makeup and dress.
James Woods had the best response… not a quote… He grows up-and dismembers and puts them in a wood chipper.
I could not agree more. This is child abuse…
Those are my thoughts… and I am sticking with them.
The Miracle Years: 3rd Miracle – He saw their faith: theunfetteredpreacher
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zefhkg0uusza85z/2017-07-13%2022.48.52.mp4?dl=0
He saw their faith
13 minute short sermon…. for those in a hurry.
The Ministry Years: 27th Miracle- Nothing to eat: theunfetteredpreacher
Matthew 15:29-39 (KJV) Mark 8:1-9 (KJV)
There are multiple miracles in this account in Matthew.
Jesus had come to a mountain, and great multitudes brought to Him, the lame, blind, dumb, maimed and many others.
He healed them.
Do you recognize a pattern? When the presence of Jesus is there, people in need will find Him.
Those who are whole, will bring, those in need.
I have had people bring friends, and ask me to lead them to the Lord. (A sad state, we can’t lead them to Him, ourselves).
We need be able to explain, repentance and forgiveness. Even if we do not know the address of said scriptures.
We need to know the Master, so He can work through us to save, heal and set free those in bondage to sin and death.
We need to be vessels of His love and grace.
Matthew 15:29-39 (KJV)
“And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.”
Do the multitudes wonder, (during our services), when they see the dumb speak, the maimed made whole, the lame to walk? Do they glorify God?
Of course not, it isn’t happening today. Why? Jesus isn’t allowed to mess up our order of service.
We do things man’s way… not the way of the Lord. We do not know how to “wait upon the Lord.” What is more, we do not want to.
Next is the feeding of the four thousand. We all know the story.
“Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.
And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.”
Points to ponder:
He has compassion on them. Often we see this phrase. Jesus has compassion on those who seek and follow Him.
Compassion: a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.
The first mention of compassion in the Bible, was when Pharaoh’s daughter discovered Moses.
That compassion, changed the Hebrews path, from slaves, to saved.
Why, did Jesus, have compassion?
They had been with Him for three days, with nothing to eat.
When we are in the presence of God, all our needs physical, mental and spiritual are met.
Psalm 65:4
“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, and all these things, will be added unto thee.
Simple, we need to seek God. We need to learn to wait on Him. We need to trust, He will bless those who fear Him, who have a reverence for Him.
We know the rest of the story, He broke the bread and fed all.
When we leave that presence, we are responsible for ourselves.
We need to let Him break us, so that we can give of ourselves to meet the needs of others. He said, He would empower us, by giving us the Holy Spirit, to lead, guide, comfort and teach us.
Will we let Him? Will we accept all He has for us? Will we ask, to receive all He has for us?
I pray we will. Amen
Mark 8:1-9 (KJV)
“In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.”
The Ministry Years: 26th Miracle- beyond measure astonished: theunfetteredpreacher
This miracle is mentioned in the book of Mark. The message in it is clear. They were beyond measure astonished.
When Jesus is present, people, are astonished, they marvel at His speech, His boldness, by the mighty miracles that occur.
Jesus again, is moving, from place to place, the news of His power and grace, going before of Him.
They brought Him a deaf and dumb man, (one who could not speak).
They beseeched, begged, and pleaded that Jesus would heal this man.
Do we care enough, or believe enough to bring people to Jesus. By prayer, the laying on of hands, or by anointing with oil.
We don’t need to bring them to church, Christ in you, is the hope of glory. Our presence, should be bringing Christ to them.
We need to act on our faith.
Jesus took him aside. Sometimes we need to get away from the unbelieving, believers. We see this often, the need to find a quiet place, a place we can beseech Jesus to act.
It isn’t pretty, but the effectual fervent prayers of righteous men, availeth much.
I have no idea why He spit, but I do know the laying on of hands, the personal touch, works.
The sigh, the Aramaic word Ephphatha, which means be opened. Dramatics? I don’t think so.
He was dismayed, why?
Did He sense this was a test, that they did not really believe, how would they react, would they rejoice or try to kill Him?
Immediately the man, could hear and speak, there was no long recovery period. When Jesus, saves, heals, or comforts, it happens now, straightway, immediately.
We talk of the Church being a hospital, a place where we recover from sickness, or sin… This should not be.
Jesus, was a Fix-it Shop-Filling Station God. Immediately He heals, when we ask, straightway we are filled with His Holy Spirit.
If Jesus is present in our lives, people should be astonished. The Power, the Love, Peace, and Joy of the Lord, is our strength.
People should see, consider, understand and believe, that the Lord is our God. Amen
Mark: 7:31-37
“And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”
The Ministry Years; The 25th Miracle: For this saying: theunfetteredpreacher
Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28
This is the 25th recorded miracle of Jesus. A Gentile woman, a Greek, had a daughter possessed with a devil, an unclean spirit.
Jesus had entered into another town, in hopes of finding a private place, away from the multitudes that sought Him.
Yet this woman, determined, persistent, and tenacious found Him and fell at His feet.
Persistent, tenacious, determined:
< She had a need, she refused to allow this evil spirit to torment her daughter any longer. She had heard of this man, and would not rest, until she found Him, and received an answer to her prayers.
< She fell on her face and worshiped.
Why is Worship so important?
It is acknowledging there is only One place to find and receive relief for our troubles.
Her hope was not in physicians, medicines, or positive thinking. No, she knew she must touch the Master. (Mark 6:56: “As many as touched Him were made whole.”)
< People will seek the Power of God. It is what grows the Kingdom. It is not our programs, our music, or our children’s ministry.
We must have God’s amazing presence in our Services.
People are looking for answers, comfort, and healing. It is only found in the presence God.
She cried out, to His Disciples. The Disciples asked Him to send her away. She cried out to Him.
< Jesus did not immediately grant her request. She was again persistent, and told Him exactly what she needed.
< She let Him know, it was a little thing, a nothing for the Creator of the Universe, to cast out a devil. She understood His authority, His Power, and even His will.
She was asking for His leftovers. A minor, little thing.
For this saying:
< The words of our mouth, our thoughts. Are they acceptable to the Lord?
Because of her faith, shown by her Finding Him, Crying out to Him, her Acknowledgement of His Authority, her Worship, Humbleness, and Persistence.
He granted her request.
Mark 7:24-30 (KJV)
24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
Matthew 15:21-28 (KJV)
21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
theunfetteredpreacher 