Joshua 7 ~ In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near

Joshua 7

But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”


10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. 13 Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” 14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the Lord takes shall come near by households. And the household that the Lord takes shall come near man by man. 15 And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’”

16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. 19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise ^[confession] to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels,[c] then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. 23 And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. 24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.^[Trouble].



This is one of the Scriptures leaping upon me as a new part of Scripture. You can see why this portion is not taught much. Once more we see, with clarity, critics would say "A Hateful God." Vengeful Lord of the Old Testament. Well, if you look at the web examples below, at the end of the blog, we see - He actually knows a few things more than we do on the people,events and the soul of the events.

Instead of Judging the LORD, God, The Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, it's perhaps better to say verse 20 indicates the Lord does see all of our invisible and to Him - transparent flaws. HE had no desire to see the Children of Israel become looters and robbers with treasure. He was doing a greater work here.



We have so many layers to choose from let's work from the top and go forth.

- There is no need to justify Father God. He makes all of us transparent to Him. (Heart. God is all about the Heart within us. )

- We live in gratitude we are in the New Covenant. God has done the work of salvation.

- We learn what the Old Testament meant when flaws are found.

- These flaws made the Children of God's Covenant merely look like power grabbers, opportunists and thieves. Stolen and lied and hoarded.

- The Exodus wasn't the Cecil B. Demille movie, this took time and sometimes faith was ... Tested.

- Leadership - even Leaders of God, inspired leaders, feel discouraged.

- Fear is a dreaded emotion. Used here to examine motivations and a relationship to the LORD. This is successfully using our reason to search for a higher road. Dedication to using reason, prayer, emotion to personal growth.

Excellence. God uses Joshua's motivated Leadership and is helping us today. The Lord tells us what to do when our hearts melt and become water:

2 Timothy 1:7  ~ Discipline
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Psalm 112:1  ~ Dedication
Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God, Who cherish and relish his commandments

1 Peter 5:7 ~ Passion
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.


We have now discovered the points readily apparent in Bible Study.


What of our own ministries as Children of God? Leadership in the World is an interesting thing. Use the skills given to us by our reasoning. Display them with assurance. Encourage. And then use a joke or a put down to make sure lines of power are drawn on  the totem pole placement. Is that what God demonstrates here?

Joshua falls on his face, actually flopping around in public. His followers are in terror. We don't learn if Joshua is crying out actually because of Trouble or leadership ego. And, fortunately, Joshua cries out to the One who is Good.

God tells Joshua to push on valiantly. Drive. The Lord is concerned His Children are representatives of Him.


Trouble comes to punish, the Lord comes to fulfill His Plan with His own Testimony.



Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Peter 2:16
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God's slaves.

<><

John 21:1-14 ~ Simon Peter climbed aboard

Reconstucted 1st Century fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee ( also Lake of Gennesaret, Lake Kinneret or Sea of Tiberias).

John 21:1-14

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.

6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."

11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.


~ Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish.

Maybe you read the Newsweek cover article about the United States now living in a post-Christian era. The two areas of greatest unbelief, according to the article, are the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast. In these two areas in the country, 10% are now more agnostic compared to 10 years ago. The article says agnostics now number twice the number of people in the Episcopal church. It seems to be confined to specific areas, so it seems what one neighbor says to another is important.

It’s interesting to contrast the Christmas polls saying “89.5 of the United States believes in God, believes prayer is helpful and part of that faith belief.”

The Newsweek article caused all the nightly television news programs to call up famous evangelical preachers and grill them on worldly standards during Holy Week.

When Peter swam eagerly to the Lord Jesus Christ that morning bringing many, many fish; it was the dawn of the Christian Church. “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus invites.
Jesus could have said a lot of things to Peter. It could have been an altar and a heavenly chorus of all the angels. Jesus could have been sitting, beautifully and impressively arranged as God. Jesus, as God, had a lot of options for the meeting.

Jesus chose to sit beside Peter, in Peter’s life and at Peter’s side. For us, it could be an office, a den, or a car. He reminded Peter to love, to care for, to feed his neighbor. And Peter was eager to do this because Peter was far from perfect himself.

Why isn’t today’s church like the early church? Probably because Christians expect a different life than Christians of 100-300 AD. It was a harsh life with slavery, starvation, small wars, robbers and cruel government. Suddenly a light in the world shone: people saw miracles, people really changed, people expected God to care. Imagine being a low part of society, hungry and cold. Suddenly someone offers a warm coat, food and tells you of their changed life and because the love of God touched them. Lives touched other lives.

Today, the good news is still Good News. But sometimes sarcasm follows goodness and principles of sharing and love feel naïve. Christianity has been proclaimed as the crutch of the weak. Has the good news become old news? No. Don’t believe it. The world hasn’t become a warmer place when we all learn to only look out for number one – ourselves.

When Peter swam out to meet Jesus, it wasn’t the first pope offering to do all of the work himself. One of the best lay person responses when asked how we can BE the church of Jesus Christ, was this: “understanding that the caring, loving, patient reply we give, might be the only kind words the hearer hears all day.” The man giving this reply (he does live up to this ideal in a great Jesus manner) learned it from someone else he remembers with love.

Jesus reminded Peter to love, to care for, to feed his neighbor. And Peter was eager to do this because Peter was far from perfect himself.

<><

1 Timothy 5 ~ and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality

1 Timothy 5

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.


We can look to the Scriptures for abbreviations and see real meaning even today in our fast paced world.

- Encourage

- Honor

- Command

- Enroll

- Marry, Manage

- No Occasion For Slander

- Care

- Consider Worthy

- Preach, Teach

- Hospitality

- A Little Wine

- Good Works

- In Purity


Now cross check the list and fill in, in our own lives, what needs to be on our To Do List.



Hebrews 13:2
Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!

Perhaps this is a national observance. We are not to become, as some cultures are, buttoned down and keep to themselves. Rarely entertaining and giving hospitality. Rarely sharing our homes and stories with others.

Deuteronomy 28:45-50
“All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you. 46 They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. 47 Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, 50 a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young.

Habakkuk 1:5
“Look among the nations, and see;
wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
that you would not believe if told.

2 Corinthians 9:7
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."

Psalm 64:10
Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

Psalm 21:6
For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence. 

Nehemiah 8:10
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

<><!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Psalm 16 ~ You make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence

Calvary Stone, showing the Earthquake Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Psalm 16

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

4 The sorrows of those who run after [acquire] another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being [glory]rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption [the pit].

11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

James Tissot

I've been thinking about the overwhelming events the disciples and the "great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for Him" where going through. The people of Israel were waking to realize - they are the new lambs of God. Washed and cleaned by Him!

By now the soldiers who were bribed were all ready telling everyone His disciples had stolen His body at night. People were living the reality -

Matthew 27:
45 darkness over all the land until the ninth hour

51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”


Luke 31:

34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

43 And he [Jesus] said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”


John 21:
21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”


John 19:33-34
But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

- - - - - This was not your typical, blood-letting Roman governmental event of correction.

What else was being said in this week of growing Good News to these people who had stayed with Jesus following and lamenting?


Matthew 28:

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”



How would the people react to this Good News:

Matthew 28:
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted

Mark 16:
10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

(28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”)


Luke 24:

11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

When we look at the beginnings of the 500 people Jesus eventually revealed Himself to as alive, we see they doubted. Doubted. They did not drop to their knees each time and believe.

 

The Good News did not fail. It did not stay by fires at night, warm and comfortable. Idle talk to warm the hearts of life everlasting. Told to small children at night to cover over the 'scary -ness' of death. A little faint glow of nectar far, far away. A never, never land for us all to go to when we die and they throw dirt with a thud on the grave. No - these people invaded the Temple. Multitudes filled the 26 acres of the Temple grounds and miracles poured forth in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Families - married couples - gave up their comforts, their homes and traveled to new places, risking and incurring death to bring others the impossible Good News they were so unwilling to believe even when they saw it for themselves. Why would they do it? Why didn't they weep and moan that if they Saw This and Didn't Believe This, How Could they Be Asked to Share This?

This is the Fire of the Holy Spirit - taking joy in the Spirit and proclaiming God can do the impossible. Even giving Good News to people who did not witness it for themselves.

Luke 24:

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

John 20

31 written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


Mark 16:8 leads to this question :What would a risen King have to say to the people who had seen Him die?

8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”


John 20:16
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Jesus is giving His 2nd adoption. John was His first adoption and Mary Magdalene is His 2nd. His new lamb. He gives her His Father and His God - to be her Father. Jesus adopts Peter next and charges Him to take care of His lambs.



Luke 24:

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

(Isn't it interesting Jesus Christ departed to let them process and discover and believe. He acted as salt - flavoring! A Savior and not like the teenagers like to declare these days - not zombie Jesus coming to inflict His will on them. The world is just gravely ... off kilter. The stories the evil one will use to inflict ridicule upon Him. And the young and timid use to proclaim their faith.)

We are not called, most of us, to travel to new lands to serve Him. We just put out our hands in faith and say, Lord, let me do Your work today. Admit to Him, you just don't see a way to do it. Yet when He gives You the way and the right to be heard, help someone Know the Love of God. Tell them of His mercy to the people who weren't there for Him at His death, but lived for Him after they had time to realize the Good News. Believers of Jesus Christ, today, have the fire of the Holy Spirit.

However, I have a prayer request, my youngest son travels to spent several weeks in Israel in an archaeological coin dig - please pray for safety and the positive encouragement of the Holy Spirit in this journey. Your prayers are appreciated.

As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

<><

John 5:1-24 ~ for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed

John 5:1-24

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred the water: whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.


Jesus is going to a Feast. Stopping along the way at the pool outside of the Temple. He tells us He is still working. And His Father is too.

So during Jesus' day of walking our earth, grace upon grace, these things got solved. Well, if we look again at the passage, we see this is not one of the passages where "He healed them all."

This time, Jesus chose a specific individual who had been hoping, praying to be healed and had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. The Children of Israel saw amazing things and spent 40 years in the desert. God sometimes uses our difficulties to give us time to figure out what we can and can't do with them.

I frequently say  life is to grow up, in HIM, and go Home. Solomon said the day of adversity and the day of blessing are from His Hand. A lot of people would be beyond bitter to have been an invalid for 38 years. Instead Jesus took a detour from a party and went to find this one individual to be healed. Jesus did not find him sin free. Jesus healed him purely on the mercy of God.

“See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

The man did not spent time sulking for the 38 years, he lived that day to give thanks and praise to GOD. This is a prime explanation of patient waiting, in honesty, instead of resignation. And the man did not sit thinking how deserving he was. Honestly waiting for help, not fake acceptance, and not anticipating deserving recognition of goodness. This man spoke to the Lord, and was heard. He knew he was waiting and relying upon Him.

Psalm 51:1-2
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

Matthew 15:27-28
But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus said to her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed at that moment."

Matthew 9:22
Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed at that moment.

Isaiah 40:31
Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Luke 24:30-34
When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

What does the Gospel portion of Luke tell us about today - this very day?

Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

<><

Luke 10:17-24 ~ in Your Name

Luke 10:17-24 ~ in Your Name

Luke 10:17-24

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (or for so it pleased you well) 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”


~ Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Jesus isn't too concerned with the scary and the works of evil. He tells us we don't even have to spend much time here, because what is in front of us is much more glorious. He says in effect, 'Oh uh huh, yeah, that's right." The disciples have seen miracles and good triumph over evil. Jesus says the victory of His name is Salvation. He is the One to depend upon.

<><

Psalm 18:1-20 ~ I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies

Psalm 18:1-20

1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.

7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.

8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.

9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.

10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.

11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.

12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.

14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.

15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.

19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.


This Psalm of David is rejoicing with an overflowing heart in the mercy of God. It remembers the deliverance of the children of Israel. Written 1,000 years before Jesus’ death, verses 8 to 14 describe the earthquake & events after Jesus forgave us and dismissed His Spirit. Because Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit, the psalm is about us, individually. In our day of trouble, we call out to Him and He saves us forever.
 
I've heard critics of Jesus Christ say He knew Scripture pretty well, using crowd hysteria to promote healings. This seems to me to dismiss the fact, if you stand in a public place looking just at mere t-shirts and you'll see people wearing messages proclaiming His Love. What an inspiring thing. On lone carpenter's son, learning his father's love and  teaching us His Heavenly Father's love.Jesus, after all came from a blended family. And He is rejoiced in today. His goodness did not go unappreciated and loved. (Yay human race!)

Here is a passage of this love. Jonah quietly spoke in the Assyrian Empire and hearts were changed forever. One man merely speaking. God does powerful things in the lives of those who would just say - I am for HIM. Noah swung a hammer, ignoring 'the comment'. What more will God do for those who say - I am for Him. With a lot of actions, and words, even of Jesus - we miss the ripple even of our own actions and words. Build each day, for Him.

The ripple effect - rarely does God sent a heavenly choir to make an announcement. If fact I can only think of Jesus' birth and He chose men quietly watching over a flock - which was in fact these men caring for their own flock - of people, family - God had given them. Going to work. And just being that guy doing his job - God blessed these mere Shepherds.

Today - we have this passage, and we see with wonder and awe - God - a grieving Parent was arranging for His Child to leave a foot print of Scripture - we can not ignore. No human arranged events for 1,000 year old prophecy to be revealed. That grieving Parent thundered into the Temple - wrecking the place like He allowed Aaron to do. God was both caring for Jesus in His anger, splitting the Floor of His Temple and tearing the curtain - saying I have lived for you, my child, this hurtful existence and know the pain of rejection and of loss of life.

If this passage touches you, I challenge you to see the Israeli Church where Christ is said to have been crucified. The Church contains bedrock split by the earthquake today. A massive stone geology proclaims this to be an earthquake in Israel about 30 A.D.

Seems He likes His Scripture to be backed with evidence; we will always have to see in something He approves of - faith. Faith also involves the need to see our lives, words, and actions and Prayers are something He likes us to live out - our calling to be Children of the Most High God

<><

Exodus 40:16-38 ~ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

Exodus 40:16-38


This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. 17 In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

18 Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

20 He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 22 He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, 23 and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, 25 and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 26 He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 28 He put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 30 He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, 31 with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32 When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses. 33 And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.


So Moses was busy visiting God on His Mountain. A year went by before a place was put together for worship - convenient to the Children of Israel. When you think of God, Himself, granting Moses the gift and the circumstance to behold Him, you would think a convenient place would mean the cloud would disappear. Business begins, repetition with stability. People take on jobs, worship, tasks and HE begins to rest.

Church Planters sometimes worry a building takes from the Spirit of God.

However, the Glory of God did not diminish upon finding a place to worship HIM.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14
and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord,

“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever,”

the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

It is my opinion the cloud filling the Temple of God was probably the stars we see from the Hubble Telescope. God was using components of HIS Creation to explain His Glory.

1 Kings 8:11
And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.


Genesis 28:15
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

In the Old Testament, God used clouds to manifest His Glory. A small tent, in a vast wilderness, could not contain the glory of God.

In the New Testament, God have us HIS Son - who is the Light of the World. His Spoken Word. John the Baptist called for repentance in the wilderness - leaving the Temple.  A small stable, with a small baby, changed the world forever. Moses saw the Glory of God. Jesus gave us the Mercy of our Father and Jesus made us His Children. Saying the Glory of God dwells in us; never leaving us. Making us Love. We want want to glorify Him in our lives - our words, our actions, our thoughts. God, in Jesus, telling us to build His Church so the gates of Hell cannot prevail against us - also tells us His Glory dwells within us. He did not want to spill from a tent, but to dwell in our hearts making us Love.

Matthew 28:20
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

<><