“grieved for the hardness of their hearts.”

Jesus was Grieved, hurt, saddened.  Why?   The hardness of their hearts, their unbelief.  They simply misunderstood the meaning and reasons for the Commandments, the Laws, of God.

Jesus, was in the Synagogue on the Sabbath,  a man was there with a withered hand.   The religious were waiting to see if Jesus would work, (heal), on the Sabbath.   Jesus asked?

“Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good or to do evil?  To save life?  Or to destroy it?”

Throughout history, man has grieved God, with our actions, our unbelief, our disobedience, and or, our misunderstanding of His will and ways.

Genesis 6:6
“And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”   (The Flood)

Psalm 95:10
“Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:”   (In the Desert)

Hebrews 3:10
“Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.”

Hebrews 3:17
“But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?”

We err in our hearts…

We do not know His ways…

We always have to improve the Word of God.  Like Eve, expand on it, not just eat, but “we cannot even touch it or we will die.”

If we don’t add to it, we make it a Ritual,  a Custom, a Doctrine.  I believe that is why we see Jesus using different ways to cure the sick, feed the hungry, share the truth.

We (mankind), love to go a step too far.   God told us this, so let us do that also.  Man added an  Extra 600+ laws, beyond Gods.

This one was simple.

Mark 2:27
“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:”

Man was made on the sixth day,  the first thing man needed to learn was how to rest, trust and Rely on God.

We are still in the learning process.  Doing good or that which is right, is always pleasing to God.

Mark 3:1-5

“And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? 

But they held their peace.
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. 

And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

Matthew 12:9-13

“And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.”
Luke 6:6-10

“And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.“

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vimbfcqkezwpvdb/20161224_124227.mp4?dl=0

Piano:  Silent Night

I send this out, once again.  

Asking the best, the Lord has for my friends.  

The star shown above, to forecast His Love.

My prayer is that you accept Him.

Merry Christmas,  Don’t miss Him.

Remember when you first understood and accomplished, coloring within the lines. How proud, we were, to master this skill.

It was a sure sign of growing up.  We showed our work to any and all.

Adults today, are reminding themselves of this simple pleasure, with adult coloring books.  (We tend to hide them now).  

It is a pleasure to remind ourselves, that we are able to do something well.   Even a small thing, that we have had mastered, for many years.

In many areas of our lives, we live, walk and work between the lines.  We know what is expected, what needs to be accomplished, and how to get the job done.

So that is what we do.    We stay within our, acceptable boundaries of life.  

We all do it, we want life to be clean, orderly, predictable.   

When Jesus is Lord of our life, we can no longer stay between the lines.

Life gets to be unpredictable, our steps are now ordered by the Lord.   We are at times, brought face to face with the dregs of society. (He shows us ourselves, and we must deal with it).

When we begin to stay within the lines as Christians,  we lose our way.  

My writing, the last few months, has been, writing between the lines.  

I have not  received any Biblical Revelation, grown any closer to the Lord, or expressed any original thought.  

There has been no urgency, no overwhelming desire to draw anyone else closer to the Lord.

I haven’t been feeding myself, so all I have had to give, is old manna.   (Manna, needs to be new, gathered fresh, every morning, or it rots).

Am I able to blame it on company, for disrupting my study and prayer time?   Our Pastor leaving? Or the pain in my physical body?   Maybe a combination of all the above?  I can try? 

Sadly,…  All,….   Just Excuses. 

I need to get back in the Word.  Close the gap, that has widened between the Lord and I.  He hasn’t moved…  Guess who did?

I am a firm believer that the Lord speaks to those who will listen and obey, everyday.

I may not hear His voice, but I can know His will by reading and obeying His Word. 

The only difference between, the great men of faith and us, is:  When the Lord spoke, the great men, listened, considered and acted.

Us?  Not so much…  Our first thoughts are, “God, doesn’t do that anymore.”

Mary said:  What, How?”  Then more importantly:   “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

Do you wish to be a great man or woman of God.  It’s OK, to wonder, What or How, as long as the result is. “According to Thy Word.”

Will you quit living between the lines, and say “YES LORD”.

Then you will have Manna, for others to receive.   All we can do is feed ourselves, and pray that others, will be encouraged to learn to feed themselves.

“We are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood, a holy nation,  a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”  (1 Peter 2:9)

Get into the light, Praise The Lord, walk, live, draw, color, write, speak….OUTSIDE THE LINES.

THEN:…. Watch the Lord, break forth in your life.   Amen.

In January of 2016, I studied 1 John and the 12 reasons he gave for writing.   My list is much shorter.

“that your joy may be full”

I truly want people to experience fulness of joy, not happiness, not excitement but true heartfelt joy, that comes from knowing the Savior, in a real and personal way.

“that ye sin not”

That our lives would line up with His Word, and we would Walk in His ways.   We will never not sin, but we can live, forgiven and blameless in the Beloved. 

“that ye may know that ye have eternal life,

The realization that we do have Eternal Life, right now.  Without Jesus the Eternity we look to, is less then desired.   Separation from our Creator, our families, our loved ones and desires.

The Eternal Life we can know, when we have Jesus, is a time of no tears or fears…  When we have the desires of our hearts.   Our trials and troubles are washed away by His blood.

“That ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”

The sum of my writing.   That you might believe on the name of the Son of God.

I am inadequate, my words, my prayers, my desires.  All lacking.   If you will not believe Moses, you will not believe, the one raised from the dead.

I write in the hope that something will touch your  heart, mind, a chord within your Spirit.

That something will draw you close…  The Holy Spirit is in charge.  

It is always your choice. 

Today, is the day.  Tomorrow may be too late. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ne1hiubs0o981k1/piano%20%20What%20Child%20Is%20This.mp4?dl=0

Piano

https://www.dropbox.com/s/odmld6z8iio180k/Piano.%20It%20Came%20Upon%20a%20Midnight%20%20clear.mp4?dl=0

Piano

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4n3vngwxiu4qwao/20161217_110837.mp4?dl=0

Piano, another try….  did it work?

The Blood of Bulls and goats:

Hebrews 10:4
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

Throughout the Old Testament, man had to give up something meaningful, important, something that cost them.  

They had to sacrifice the best of their flock, from the time of the Passover, (to save their firstborn), to the yearly sacrifices to cleanse from sin.

So they, find themselves sanctified, set apart from the rest of the world, in the service of God, for a time.

That their sin, would be forgiven.

They had to keep making this sacrifice, giving of the best of their flock, to stay in right standing with God.

Seems crazy to the modern man, ridiculous, meaningless, even stupid.  To give up the best of what they had, to please an invisible God.

Why?  Sin.    What is SIN?   

There is no such thing as sin, if it feels good, do it, if it tastes good, eat it, if you like it, do it again.

I have my own standards, we don’t need a Fictional God, to tell me, right from wrong. 

Momma taught us, instilled in us morality, the Golden rule, and integrity….

Don’t you dare judge me….  

Really?  Look around you, how’s that working? 

If you believe in a higher power or not, can you not recognize the Decay, Destruction, and Danger that lies ahead?

The Police are now targets, the criminals, victims.  Illegal aliens,  and felons,  encouraged to vote, when our laws forbid it.

People, paid to riot, to change their votes, to disrupt, to overthrow the will of the people.

Every man doing what is right in his own eyes.  

Stop!  

This invisible, fictional character, (this God character), that, those of us, who believe, know as Jesus.  Is real. 

He was sent down by the Father above, to save the World from sin.  

That which is displeaseing to Him.  That, which we know in our hearts is wrong.  

It really is simple,  you see the glory of His creation, and deny the Creator. 

God has given every one of us, a measure of faith, to believe, if we would.  

Whosoever will.  Is the key. It is our choice…

Ephesians 2:13
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

The blood of bulls and goats,  hard to understand why the Lord went there in the first place.

But, a man, willing to die for me, that should make me stop and consider, WHY?

Why does the man fight for his country, his family, his wife?  Only love.

John 3:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

It was the Love of the Father, that sent the Son.

Ephesians 2:13

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.“

It was the blood of the Son, that brought us close to the Father.

Hebrews 10:19
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”

It’s is the blood of the Son, that allows us to boldly, come to the Father, to stand before Him, Forgivin, Blameless, finding Mercy and Grace in our time of need.

Revelation 12:11
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

It is the blood of the Son, our Testimony, and our love for Him, that gives us the victory.

Must we give up something dear to us to purchase this standing? 

Yes.  We must give ourselves, all of ourselves to Him.

.

The bricks of our Faith:  theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-21l

Revelation 

Building Bricks without straw: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station – http://wp.me/p4qqra-1Kw

A Biblical Truth revealed 

• Our story jumps to the book of John chapter 5, the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda.  Jesus, has traveled back to Jerusalem .

The angels would stir or trouble the water at the pool of Bethesda.  There were multitudes of sick, blind and lame, waiting for this stirring .

The first one into the pool was healed.   What kind of joke was this?

The lame or blind needed help to see or maneuver to the waters, it doesn’t seem fair.

It might not have been, but it was how it was.

Jesus, who could have healed them all, choose one man.  (Note, Jesus knew he had been afflicted   a long time. (A word of knowledge)).

A lame man, and asked what he wanted?

“To be healed, but someone always beats me to the water.”

Jesus: “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

Things of note:

~  No mention of faith.  Many times he told folks their faith made them whole.  Not this time.

~  He was healed immediately.  The Lord doesn’t save, heal or comfort over time…  

When the Lord touches you, or better yet, you learn to touch Him, Salvation, Healing, Comfort, Direction come upon us immediately .   

The Lord answers the prayers of those who Seek and Obey His will.

~  The lame man, walked away carrying his bed, and this on the Sabbath.   The religious didn’t like it when a rule is broken.

~  He was confronted by the Jews… “What are you doing?  You are breaking the law.”

~  “The man who healed me, told me to… I don’t know who He was.”

~  “for Jesus had conveyed himself away, “

~  The healed man was found by Jesus, in the Temple.  

How appropriate, to go to the house of God, in thanksgiving.

He was told:  “Go and sin no more.”

Is sin the cause of sickness?   What does the Word tell us?

Psalm: 107:17-18

“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.   Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.”

Mark 2:5

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the paralytic, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.“

John 9:3
“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

We often have no clue of Gods ways, we do have His assurance that His purpose is good.  (Romans 8:28, if we :26).

Psalms 115:3

“But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. ”

We must understand, the Lord did not always heal those He came across, and those He did, not always the same way.

This is because we would make that repeated way a religion, a ritual.

One thing was consistent:

“All who TOUCHED HIM WERE MADE WHOLE.”

Are you in need of Salvation, Healing, Direction, or Correction?

LEARN TO DROP DOWN IN WORSHIP.  Touch the Hem of His Garment.   Receive the Blessings of God.

John 5:1-9
“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.   When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.  And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”

Not knowing, the power of God: theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-26d

Another reblog,  Still the cry of my heart…  Seek His Face…

O ye simple, understand wisdom:  theunfetteredpreacher – http://wp.me/p4qqra-22w

A reblog….  The cry of my heart….  we must Seek His Face

He “saw their faith”,  would He see our faith?

He was teaching in a private home.  (Mark 2:2-12, Matthew 9:1-8, and Luke 5:17-26)

The story of the man let down through the roof to be healed.  Good read.

First point, He did not need to be in a special place of Worship, He taught and healed on the street, in homes, on boats….  we should be ready and able to do so, also.

When a crowd gathered.

Second point, they gathered to hear the Word of God.  To experience the Power of that Word.

We think it’s our programs, children’s church, divorce counseling, feeding, clothing  the poor, our wonderful sermons.  That these things will increase our numbers.

Sorry folks, if you want Church Growth, Seek His face, Seek His Power.

Luke 4:32
“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”

1 Thessalonians 1:5
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

1 Corinthians 2:4
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

If we are preaching the Word of God, there should be Power, exhibited.   It is not always the Power to heal, some have the Power to cause repentance .

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Power, the very thing most of our Churches lack.   We blame it on God,  “He doesn’t do that anymore . ”  Baloney.  “JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW.”

The problem we have is;  He doesn’t see our faith.   Why?

Because, we have fallen away, we have accepted Christ as Savior, and then, we rest, in that promise.

Third point,  He saw their faith, because, they made a way to reach Him, when there was no way.

We come to Church, maybe even a Bible Study, we accept being fed, with no desire to learn to feed ourselves.

We never learn to chew our food, we don’t have the meat of the Word in our Spiritual diet.

We do not, study to shew ourselves approved unto God, workmen, rightly dividing the word of Truth.

It really isn’t hard to get close to God, to study His Word, to enter into the Holy of Holies.

A simple first step:

Read the Proverbs as a devotional,  1-31, as a verse comes alive, and they will, if you have an open heart.

Search (a good concordance or search engine is needed),  to find other verses that may expand upon and explain this verse.

Before you know it, The Word of God, comes alive, you experience it’s Power.  Now, you can share with others, in that Power.  The Word is alive.

Your faith is visible for all to see.

Forth point,  He healed the sick, told him to get up and walk.  This angered the religious.

The same happens today, with the unbelieving believers.  (Those who think the time of miracles is past).

“We pray and no one is healed, therefore God doesn’t heal today.”  Baloney . …  see above.

God has not changed, His Character, His Mind,  His Will, His Word.

John 14:12

“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.“

His answer to the religious.

“Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.”

He shows us, by healing, that He has the Power to forgive as well as heal.  He sent us to continue His Work.

Do you really think, He sees our faith?

Mark 2:2-12King James Version (KJV)

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Matthew 9:1-8King James Version (KJV)

9 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Luke 5:17-26King James Version (KJV)

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Merry Christmas from Bette and

Bill theunfetteredpreacher Cote