Matthew 15:7-9 – “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”  NKJV

The Pharisees accosted Jesus over the issue of ceremonial washing of the hands before eating.  The Pharisees religiously adhered to the Mosaic Law and the addendums added to that law by the religious leaders.  They kept not only the Law but erected fences to keep people from getting close enough to the law to break it.  

They Followed the Commandments of Men not directives of God.  Jesus, as was his manner, did not let that slip but turned the tables on them pointing out the hypocrisy of following the Commandment of Men in contrast to the Law of God.  He addressed numerous things and then quoted Isaiah, as is seen in our text which addressed the critical issue, the heart, and the mouth.

We have all seen situations where people proclaim something, but their lives negate their words.  It is one thing to proclaim or claim something and quite another to verify that proclamation through actions.  Remember Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who called Him Lord would enter heaven.  He identified the problem was their lives did not back up their proclamations. 

In 1 John 2:9 we are warned that one can say they are a Christian but if their heart is filled with hate their lives and condition of heart negate their declaration.  In James 1:26 we are told that if any person considers themselves to be religious but are unable to control their tongue they are living in deception.  Titus 1:16 informs us that it is possible to claim to know God but live in such a manner as to deny Him.  That is what Jesus was speaking of where people make a claim, but their words are negated by their lives.  Following the Commandments of Men produces a false sense of righteousness because it allows one to “keep a list” and compare ourselves with others and have a false sense of security and righteousness.

Later in Jesus’ dealing with the Pharisees and teaching those following Him, said in verse 10, “…Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”  Couple that with His declaration in Matthew 12:34, “Brood of vipers!  How can you being evil, speak good things?  For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  Then in the next verse, He said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.”  Words are important, but they must be HEART WORDS and LIFE WORDS not just lip service words.

We can go through the motions and make all the proclamations we desire but if it is not from the heart and directed by the Spirit of God it will be nothing more than tinkling symbols and sounding brass or as we would say in East Texas, “rain on a tin barn.”  Noise and nothing more!  I have no desire to pretend anything in life and especially not in matters of faith.  I want to be genuine, having a genuine relationship with the LORD, and manifest Him to the world in my words, my walk, and my warfare.  Jesus said in John 4 that God’s desire and demand is for men and women to worship Him “in spirit and truth.” 

The Pharisees were challenged by the LORD on more than one occasion for their “teaching the commandments of men and their placing demands on people that they themselves were not willing to do.”  Jesus called the doctrine and philosophy of the Pharisees as “leaven” and identified that it would permeate good doctrine and pollute or pervert it making it other than the directive of God.

We need to guard against following the commandments of men and strive to find the Heart and Precepts of God in all things and at all times.  Purity of heart will reject corruption and the very appearance of evil. Purity of heart will place no burdens on men that God has not place.  Purity of heart will exhibit love and longsuffering demonstrating patience and forgiveness.  We should all be careful as to what we say and seeking to ensure that our words match our lives.

God bless you as you go through this day in Jesus!

Proverbs 26:11 – “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his foolishness.”

How many times have you said or heard someone say, “I’m trying to quit…”  That may be applied to a myriad of things in life and we have all said, thought, or heard that declaration.  I understand the difficulty a person has stopping a habit or practice long formed and how painful the withdrawals can be. 

I know a man that has said for at least 40 years, “I’m trying to quit smoking.”  He has never succeeded but he is still trying and one day another friend said, “Quit trying to quit and quit!”  I have heard people say regarding gossip, “I’m trying to quit.”  Some are trying to quit eating too many sweets, being couch potatoes, being critical, being negative, or a host of other things they are trying to quit. 

Clovis G. Chappell said, “It is better to make a thousand failures than to be too cowardly to ever undertake anything.”  That is true and I have learned that failure is not the opposite of success, it is, in a very real way, part of it.  A failure can be turned into a triumph and gain if we learn from our mistakes and realize that in many things in life, WE CANNOT but HE CAN! 

The Psalmist made an incredible statement in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”  That is foreign to the mentality and philosophy of some in the world and the church that affliction or difficulty can be good.  It is not good being in an affliction but good in what it produces or the result in our lives as we LEARN!  In a sense that is embodied in Romans 8:28.  As we learn that ALL THINGS are working together for good and rather than looking at each event in life look to the finished product, the goal, the plan, and purpose of God and rejoice in ALL THINGS and at ALL TIMES!

Back to our topic of Quitting trying to quit and quitting.  James 4:7 did not say, “Ask me to resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  It says, “…submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  The next verse says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  That is you acting not just praying for something to happen. 

When I hear, “I’m trying to quit” I have two thoughts and/or emotions that occur almost simultaneously in my head.  First, I have a sense of empathy and compassion for the plight they are enduring from that bondage whatever it might be.  Second, I think, “You are conditioning yourself for failure by trying to…”  If I make my objective to TRY TO I am not focusing on the objective of DOING or ACHIEVING that objective and failure is likely if not assured.  There comes a time when we need to RESIST and once we do I believe God will come to our aid and strengthen us. 

James 3 speaks of the tongue and putting a bridle on it so we can control it.  Proverbs 18:21 speaks of “life and death” are in the power of the tongue.  We read in the Bible about blessings and cursing not being able to come from the same stream and I contend that setting our goal to “try to” is becoming that of which James 1:8 speaks, “double-minded.”  

If the Bible is true, and it is, then the declaration and promise of Philippians 4:13 is an awaiting reality for each of us.  It says, “I can (not maybe I can) do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  [Emphasis and inclusion mine].  Therefore, my declaration is “I have quit trying to quit and am quitting.” 

I am setting aside, as Hebrews 12:1 declares, “…every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares me…”  I am casting off every unnecessary encumbrance and weight that has entangled itself around my life and by an act of will and faith I am looking to the author and finisher of my faith to help me be that fully matured, complete person He desires me to be.  I make a faith choice to “Quit trying to quit and quit!”  Then, by quitting I am committing to in a new and deeper way to Him whom I live and move and have my being. 

My encouragement is to tell you that QUITTING whatever you deem necessary to quit is possible and can be a realized reality if we will “Quit trying to quit and quit.”  My prayer for each one is that the LORD will grant us the grace to develop the courage, make the commitment, and persevere until victory becomes a reality in whatever we are trying to quit that is hindering us.

God bless you as you go through this day!

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  NKJV

Picking up where we left off we need to anchor in our hearts and minds the truth of God concerning the enemy of our souls, the devil.

• We Need to Become Those Who Believe and Understand The Devil Has Been Defeated.

He Was Defeated at the Cross.

This is an accomplished fact and it is to be said PAST TENSE! He has been defeated!  HAS BEEN and STILL IS! If we could somehow grasp that reality and apply it in our lives it would be powerful. There can be no permanent victory UNTIL we see and appropriate the truth that the devil was defeated at Calvary.  Remember Hebrews 2:14, “That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, even the devil.”  The word “destroy” in the Greek is [katargeo] which means to “make of none effect.”

He Is Defeated Today.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is a present reality and truth that Jesus has present dominion over the devil and has delegated His authority to us, therefore, we have dominion over the devil today.  That is our heritage!

He Is Defeated Forever.

What more do we need to know? We have Jesus, His full victory, and His commission! WHY NOT NOW? Why not be who He says we are and do what He says we can do. We are not fighting the devil to win a war, that war is already won!

• We, Believers, Can Overcome Satan in our Daily Lives Through Jesus.

I have been told by coaches through the years that the best offense is a good defense, and while that is true and not true, it is applicable here.  We need to establish a good defense and learn to “give no place” to the devil in anything.  We need to fill our lives so full of God there is no room for anything the devil offers. 

We need to become “sober and watchful” as 1 Peter 5:8 charges and instructs.  We have to actively RESIST the devil and when we do, in Jesus’ name, he flees.  Also, we must become those who can and do enforce the Victory of Calvary walking in the knowledge of the Finished Work of Jesus.  We also need to learn to exert our Spiritual Authority and take Luke 4:18 to heart and incorporate it into our daily walk.

We can and should have Victory Now in our Present Daily Lives.  We have the Name of Jesus and the Blood of Jesus as our weapons and authority.  The Name of Jesus empowers us and the Blood of Jesus cleanses and protects us.  Jesus said He came that we could have LIFE and that life would be ABUNDANT!

Refuse to allow the devil to rob you of your Present Victory and become one who Enforces the Victory of Calvary through the Name and Blood of Jesus.

God bless you as you go through this day in His Strength and Grace!

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  NKJV

What are some things vital for us to realize and implement in our lives and spiritual walk if we are to enjoy Present Victory and God’s Abundant Life in our Daily Lives?

• We Must Discern Satan’s Tactics…

Paul advised, “We are not ignorant of the devil’s devices…”  As we study the Bible we find that possibly the most fitting example of dealing with the devil is the man Job.  There is a pattern that is worthy of note.

1. The devil first accuses Job to God.

That is one of his primary tactics and he is called the “accuser of the brethren” for a reason.  He implied that Job was simply a “Saint for Profit” and serving God for what was in it for Job.  Notice Job 1:9, 11, the devil asked God, “Do you think he (Job) serves you for nothing?  Touch him and what he has and he will curse you to your face.”

• Then the devil attacks Job with God’s permission.

It is always accusation then attack and God allowed the devil to touch Job’s possessions, family, and his health, and finally, it got so bad Job’s wife turned on him saying, “Give up Job, curse God and die…”  I have learned that the devil does not always launch a frontal assault but will nip at the heels of his target.  If he cannot defeat you with an all-out frontal assault he will endeavor to take from you something you love and treasure.

• Then the devil harassed Job.

There are no non-aggression pacts to be made with the devil. He is merciless and has no intention of letting up until he is forced to stop.  He even used Job’s friends which Job called “Physicians of no value.”

Fortunately, God allowed this only for a time and restored Job giving him a double portion in the end.  But, Job would never have reached that point had he followed the counsel of his wife or his friends.  He had to resist the devil and stand in his faith and walk in righteousness.  The devil is a deceiver, perverter, imitator, and totally lawless.  He will use any form of subversion, diversion, or perversion to divide distract, depress, and ultimately destroy.

We find that expressed in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.”  1 Peter 5:8 directs us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour.”  Then 1 John 5:4 brings us a powerful promise, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”  Let me give you something that hopefully will be of great encouragement.  If the devil is attacking you now it is sure evidence that he does not have control over you and you pose a threat to him, so REJOICE!  It is as we learn the devices and tactics of the devil we can ENFORCE the Victory Jesus Won on the Cross and relegate the defeated devil to a state of defeat.

I truly want to present a few more thoughts on this matter so I will again pause and pick up in the next devotional addressing the Defeated Foe and our response to the devil.

So, until next time, God bless you and keep you is my prayer!

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  NKJV

If there is ever a time a believer lives in any condition less than Full Spiritual Victory, that is one time too many.  That is not the plan of God even in times of struggle and difficulty there is Victory to be achieved, experienced, and manifested.  It is God’s desire for us to be Victorious and enjoy the inheritance we have as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  I am totally convinced we can see the path to that victory in the New Testament Church and as we near the time of the Second Coming we will see two trends manifested in an unmistakable fashion.

• There Will Be Revival in the Church – [Acts 2:17].

The Bible speaks of the former rain of Pentecost being followed by the latter rain of Harvest.  James 5:7, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”  In today’s troubled world more and more believers are engaged in prayer for revival and I am convinced God never lays a burden on people to pray for something He does not desire to bring to pass.  I sense something moving in the air, spiritually, and know that with the shaking that is coming and now is there is going to be the going in the mulberry bush and God is going to move mightily in our present world.

• There Will Be Religious Apostasy in the Church – [1 Timothy 4:1].

The devil is crafty and he disguises himself as an angel of light and messenger of truth.  When people depart from the faith they have no alternative but to give heed to “seducing spirits and receive doctrines of devils.”  That is the natural result and sadly, it is happening today. 

I have read that there are over 40 million verified witches in America and possibly another 40 million who dabble in the black arts.  The devil has made inroads in desensitizing the church to his tactic and many no longer recognize or discern the spirits at work even in our churches.  The devil is a “defeated foe” we are told in the Bible but not one who has given up.  The unfortunate reality is although he is defeated, many do not seem to know that or understand how to enforce the victory of Jesus at the Cross.

We are reminded in 1 John 3:8, “For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  In James 4:7, we read, “Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  I am encouraged that even amid apparent and revealed apostasy there are those in churches across the land who have:

1. Discovered there is a real spiritual war transpiring.
2. Decided they are on the Lord’s side.
3. Declared that Jesus has won the victory.
4. Determined they will walk daily from victory to victory.

It is the time that we, believers, renew our commitment and confidence in the Blood of Jesus and the Name of our Lord and begin to enforce the Victory Jesus won in our present world against our present spiritual foe, the devil.

Let me remind you that “Victory implies Struggle.”  Where there is no battle there can be no victory.  We have an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus has come so that we could have ABUNDANT LIFE!  We have a biblical, legal mandate and authority over the power of the devil and as we have seen on many fronts, ignoring or denying the existence of something does not make it disappear. 

The devil loves to be ignored and I am sure he is delighted when churches and believers deny his existence or influence.  If there is a lion in the street the only way to defeat that lion is to FACE HIM!  Victory is available to us but to obtain that victory we must believe it is possible and learn how to enforce Christ’s Victory on the Cross.

I will pause here and pick up next time to discuss HOW we can have Victory Now in Jesus manifested in our Daily Lives!   

God bless you as you go through this day in Him!

Ephesians 2:19-22 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  NKJV

Let me begin by suggesting some things that are critical in our achieving both a knowledge of the Will of God for our lives and Satisfaction in where God has placed us.

• We Must Discover the Will of God For Our Lives.

Of course!  How did Jesus glorify the Father?  Consider John 17:4, “I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.”  Jesus glorified the Father by completing His assignment.  His assignment was to be the Chief Cornerstone of the Church and in accomplishing that He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World and Savior of the world.

But, what is our assigned work?  Among other things that God may have for each of us is we are afforded the wonderful privilege of participating in God’s redemptive plan for the world.  Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  We are, all believers, to be a part of God’s worldwide plan of evangelism. 

However, I am convinced that we cannot be aware of God’s will for our lives until we are aware of who God is.  Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, had a plaque on his wall with the inscription:  “The sun stood still, the iron did float this God is our God!”  Think about it, God answered the prayer of an ordinary man and the sun stood still.  God suspended the laws of gravity and the iron ax head floated on the water.  This is the God to whom we pray!  This is the God on whose promises we rest our hope.  He is El-Shaddai, the one who is enough!  When I survey the names of God, I am amazed at how each name conveys a dimension of His person, purpose, power, and character.

In the industrial world, the past is extremely important concerning employee performance.  The past is the best indicator of how a person will perform in the future in the natural.  I suggest that the same is true of God.  His truth makes it impossible for Him to lie.  His Omniscience makes it impossible for Him to be deceived. His Omnipotence means He has the power to do whatever within His purpose.  And His Omnipresence means He is always there and aware.

• We Must Commit Ourselves to Do the Will of God.

The ultimate cure for Spiritual Frustration and Dissatisfaction is to know the will of God and realize that He considers us special and has a unique and specific task for us.  He has uniquely fitted us for the job He has called us to do.  That is incredible!  When we know the will of God for our lives and commit our hearts to do the will of God several things transpire.

Our Walk Becomes a Worthy Walk.  Have you ever noticed professional athletes, especially the stars?  Basketball players seem to bounce along whereas football players will often devour the sidewalk.  Every group has specific mannerisms easily identifiable.  Athletes have a walk, policemen have a walk, postmen have a walk, and every vocation has a unique walk that is identifiable.  Have you ever noticed that some dogs strut, they can’t do anything about it, because it is in their DNA? 

Our Lives become Fruitful.  We know that apple trees produce apples and orange trees produce oranges and that is how it will always be.  Matthew 12:33, “The tree is known by its fruit…”  Once you have really caught and embraced the passion for the calling of God for your life you will seize every opportunity to glorify God by being what He has made you.  You will bloom where you are planted.

• There will be an Increase in Your Knowledge of God, His Precepts, and Principles.
  • There will be a Noticeable Increase in Spiritual Strength and Stability in Your Life.
  • There will be Recognizable evidence of Steadfastness and Patience in Your Heart.
  • You will exhibit an Attitude of Gratitude and Thanksgiving.

In this new place where we have been “fitted together,” we will have a heart for others and will find the burden light and the yoke of service easy.  We will find ourselves being strengthened by the Holy Spirit and when the enemy comes in like a flood God will raise up a standard against him and bring us forth to victory.

It is my genuine prayer that the Lord will help each one discover their place in the building and with great contentment commit themselves to that purpose.  I know that in so doing, I believe that each person will will find a solution or cure for Spiritual Frustration and Dissatisfaction.

God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Jesus!

Ephesians 2:19-22 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  NKJV

I am by no means a Master Carpenter especially in finish carpentry and sometimes that bothers me greatly.  I will see things that could be or need to be done but lack the necessary skills to satisfactorily complete the task.  I am always impressed by and have a deep appreciation for fine craftsmanship and am intrigued by the transformation of buildings at various stages of development.  It is exciting to see things like that come together.  The Pyramids of Egypt are, to me, an architectural wonder.  Every rock fits perfectly into place and each of them hewn to do a specific job and fit a specific location.  No rock, once chiseled, could fit any other location.  That is Fascinating!

That is exactly what God wants to do in our lives and His church.  God is desirous to fit us into His church as LIVING STONES.  Notice in verse 21 of the text, “In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord…”  What kind of stones are used to be a temple or even a huge pyramid?  There are big stones, little stones, odd-shaped stones, and they are “fitted” together to fit perfectly.  What a picture!  Our Lord, the Master Builder, orders the stonemasons to chip away at each rock UNTIL it becomes a perfect fit in the perfect place it is to be placed.   That is another subject we overlook, the placement of us as living stones and our refusal to stay where we have been placed.

In this picture, the little stones must be content to fill the gaps.  The big stones must be willing to endure the stress and responsibility of supporting the structure and the other stones.  The odd-shaped stones will need to be patient, waiting for the right spot and service to be determined.  But ALL as living stones are ‘FITTED TOGETHER’ to form the building. 

The LORD has or is choosing the exact spot for each of us.  Some of us may be placed beneath the surface and not be visible and never noticed providing our strength so the foundation is strong and the building stable and functional.  A prime example of that would be the intercessors.  Some strive for recognition and I warn that we must never crave to be the cornerstone.  Without the proper corner, the building would be unstable and eventually crumble and that spot is reserved for Jesus Himself.

I read a report some time back taken from statistics some companies conducted to determine the reason for the high turnover rate being witnessed in many fields.  That report indicated that 80% of people working full-time were dissatisfied with their jobs. 

That is reflective of what I’ve observed about people in general.  Many are dissatisfied with life. Some are unhappy because they want more.  Some want to do more to feel productive and some want to do less so there will be less stress and others are continually searching for new opportunities to satisfy a longing inside.  If that only represented the world it would be bad enough but it is found in the Church as well.  Sadly, many believers never see a clear picture of what their purpose in the Kingdom of God is and therefore become frustrated and that dissatisfaction and frustration affect others and the local fellowship. 

There is a Cure or a Solution in the Bible.  The only lasting cure for this kind of frustration and dissatisfaction is spiritual growth.  I know that is too simplistic and generalized but it gives us a place to launch into the deep from.  In Colossians 1:7-12, the apostle Paul emphasized the critical need to understand God’s will for our lives and then to walk worthy, be faithful, increasing in knowledge and draw from God’s strength in steadfastness and patience.  That is not always easy but is necessary.

There are several things I want to suggest or introduce regarding God’s Solution to Dissatisfaction and Spiritual Frustration in life and the church but will pause here because of time and space and pick up in the next devotional and hopefully offer some thoughts that will be liberating and inspiring. 

God bless you as you enjoy God’s wonderful world today!

Isaiah 53:4-6 – “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  NKJV

Our first reason for believing that the Christian can believe in and expect bodily healing today is found in the Sameness of God, yesterday, today, and forever.  Yet, there are more reasons to believe that God heals today.

• The Work of Christ on the Cross.

I believe that a careful examination of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2:24 brings us to the conclusion that bodily healing is part of Christ’s covenant with man as well as healing or deliverance from sin. 

Isaiah 53:4, “Surely He [Christ] hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…”  The word rendered griefs are [kholee] which means sicknesses and sorrows [makob] which means pains.  As we examine those words we discover that “kholee” is derived from “chalah” which means to be weak, sick, afflicted.

Deuteronomy 7:15, “The Lord will take away from you all sickness [kholee]” we see the picture. The word is translated sickness in [Deuteronomy 28:61; 1 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 1:2; 8:8].  The word “makob” is translated as pain in Job 33:19 and Jeremiah 51:8.  So we can easily believe that the words of Isaiah 53:4 mean that Jesus has borne our sickness and pain in His own body and as He died for sin He also died for healing.

But we must not stop there for there are at least two more words which must be considered in this passage to help our understanding.  The word BORNE [nasa] and CARRIED [sabal] are vital.  The word “nasa” means to bear a sense of suffering punishment for something as is seen in Leviticus 15:1, “And if a soul sin… then he shall bear (nasa) his iniquity.”  Isaiah 53:12 gives the clear meaning of “nasa”, “And He [Christ] was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare [nasa] the sin of many.”  How did He bear our sins?  Vicariously, as our substitute.  But, this same verb is used in Isaiah 53:4 regarding sickness.

Almost no one has a problem with the assertion that the verb “nasa” in Isaiah 53:12 refers to Jesus bearing our sin vicariously so why should we have a problem with it also meaning He bore our sickness the same way?  The word “sabal” which means carried identifies the act of bearing something as a penalty or chastisement.  Lamentations 5:7, “Our fathers have sinned… and we have borne [sabal] their iniquities.”  Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied… for He shall bear [sabal] their iniquities.”

Again, how did Christ bear our Iniquities?  Vicariously or as our substitute.  He did is as us and for us and he bore our pain and sickness in the same way.  That should give us incredible hope in the struggles of life.  HE WAS!  HE IS!  HE WILL ALWAYS BE the Same!

But lest you still question my interpretation let me suggest the interpretation of Jesus of Isaiah’s words in Matthew 8:16-17, “When evening had come, they brought many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled with was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.'” 

I truly hope that opens a new door for you because Jesus is the same today as He was then. The same Holy Spirit is ministering in the world today as then.  Therefore, we should expect God to be the same God no matter what we face or need in this present world.

One of the most powerful statements on this subject is found in 1 Peter 2:24 where the apostle Peter declared, “Who His own self, bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.”  That agrees exactly with Isaiah 53:5 and notice Peter puts it in the past tense not that it used to be available but that it is a settled reality. 

The word healed in the New Testament is [iaomai] which always speaks of physical healing and is used 28 times in such connection.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  That is incredibly powerful! 

We are bought [egorasthete], which means I buy or redeem, with a price.  Our bodies and spirits have been redeemed with a price and when Jesus was scourged and crucified He purchased our Spiritual and Physical healing in His Atoning Work.  I shout Hallelujah at that thought!

Galatians 3:13, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.”  I would suggest that you examine any physical maladies included in that curse.  If you will read Deuteronomy 28:15-47; 28:1 and 28:15, 21,22,27,28 I believe you will be moved deeply and encouraged greatly.  I thank God for Salvation and I am elated with the reality that I can trust Him for physical healing as well.  He came that we might have ABUNDANT LIFE and that covers everything!

God bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day the Lord has made with rejoicing.

Philippians 4:4-13 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” NKJV

HALLELUJAH, IT’S MORNING!!!! Beautiful November morning in Texas at a crisp 45 degrees. Coffee, calmness, conversation what better way to begin the day than watching the sunrise, seeing the creation of God yawn, and wake up and hearing the voice of the Lord in your spirit!

This passage is burning in my heart this morning.  I love the way he begins this passage with DOUBLE REJOICING!  Don’t just rejoice but rejoice again, that will get your heart pumping and get your focus pointed in the right direction. Then he adds something that is not always easy “Let your gentleness be known to all men.” Be steel wrapped in velvet! Quit worrying! That’s much easier to do once you have rejoiced and rejoiced again, prayed, and made supplication while giving thanks and the PEACE of God floods your heart & mind through Jesus!

He goes on to tell us how to walk. Too bad those in D.C. don’t read and practice this but for we believers, this is our marching orders!  The truth, the noble, the just, the pure, the lovely, the good report, the things of virtue, and that which is praiseworthy is to occupy our thought processes throughout the day. Do them, do the word, follow His instructions and you will find the PEACE of God flowing out from you because it is in you.

Paul advised that he had learned contentment because he had practiced the things listed above. He knew how to abound and how to be abased. How to have plenty and to have little. How to be rich and be poor. How to be celebrated and how to be hated. How to be full and how to be hungry. His secret was IN CHRIST. No matter what he faced it was IN CHRIST out of the PEACE OF GOD! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That’s his secret and ours.

Out of the Peace of God that passes all understanding, from our position IN CHRIST, we can face whatever we face with rejoicing, prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving demonstrating gentleness, noble character, being just, pure, virtue and the reports will be good and lovely. It’s IN CHRIST out of GOD’S PEACE that we live and move and have our being.

Today I urge you to begin the day rejoicing even if you don’t feel like rejoicing and once you’ve done that rejoice again! Refuse to allow worry to fill your heart and mind. Meditate on the true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report and virtuous and walk in what you have learned in the Peace of God. YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST… HE IS YOUR STRENGTH! Get out of the way devil, we are coming through!

Blessings on this beautiful day!

Genesis 1:1-3 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said….” NKJV

It is a beautiful cool morning, wonderful cup of coffee, the day springing to life, the word of God is a living book and the Spirit of God is whispering to my heart and mind. As I muse, I once again consider Genesis One.

What more, really needs to be said that IN THE BEGINNING GOD?  Unless we follow that with CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH.  Recently I spoke to an evolutionist and he could not grasp the concept of creation. He insisted that it was not “scientifically or intellectually plausible.”  I pointed out the human body and its intricate unfathomable makeup, the design of the universe, Earth, and the Solar System, and that design implied a designer, but he said he would stick with science, not religious fanaticism.

Then God said, Vv. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29 and each time HE SAID, something of creation came into being and it was good, right, established and in verse 31 we see “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was VERY GOOD…” As the little boy in Sunday school said, “God don’t make no junk.”

Our magnificent creator God spoke the worlds into existence and with His great power caused it to become reality. His Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence was at work and is still working not only in the creation itself but in our individual lives. He created man as the central figure of creation. What God did He did for us out of His Great Love!  

If our God, who can speak worlds into existence, speaks to our situation can we not believe that He is capable of bringing resolution to it?  He has invited us to come boldly before the Throne and ask what we will and yet too frequently we run and hide, as Adam & Eve, rather than running into His presence and resting under the shelter of His arms.

His love for us brought everything that we see in creation into being for us. His love for us caused Jesus to go to the Cross for us. His love for us has prepared a place for us to spend Eternity with Him. He invites us to “cast our care upon Him because He cares for us…”  Yet, we too frequently try to become creators in our own right and repair our own situation without His assistance. That my friends is the most foolish thing we could do.  

No matter what you face today, in Him is the solution!  No matter your trial, in Him is the answer! No matter your disappointment, in Him is the Victory! Turn your eyes upon Jesus today and know that the God of all Creation cares for you no matter what you are facing and is not only able but willing to come into your situation and bring His Creative Solution!

Blessings as you go through the day. Go with the view that God is the beginning, the middle, and the end. HE WAS! HE IS! HE WILL ALWAYS BE GOD!