Just Take His Hand

 

Mark 1:21-31 NKJV 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone!” What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are----the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with aloud voice, he came out of  him. 27 Then they were amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “what is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

 

Here in verses 21-28 you have an unclean spirit that knows who Jesus is and the religious group see Jesus as trying to give a new “doctrine”. Amazing, right? Yet here you have the two healing types are going on in Mark 1.

In the beginning of Gospel of Mark you have the calling of the disciples: Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea ( fisherman, you know) and then you then have James and John the sons of Zebedee and they were in their boat mending their nets when Jesus called them.

These people as fishermen worked hard and made money to pay their bills and their taxes! As the Sabbath came, Jesus and the disciples are in the synagogue. It is then that Jesus casts out the unclean spirit on the Sabbath as He taught. Yes, Jesus is teaching and the unclean spirit within a man walks into a service in the synagogue.

Jesus called those who would be active for the kingdom of God. No these would not be waiting on a check from any government, these men would work indeed!

Fishermen would have a first-hand look at casting, not nets into the water, but casting God’s word and reeling in an unclean spirit! Jesus was giving the reality of demons and the kingdom of God. In reality the lusts of men cause them to touch things and play with something dangerous to cause sickness and even death. And Jesus revealed the kingdom had come, that kingdom of God where Jesus carried authority. Furthermore, He gave this power to His followers.

 In Mark 1:25 Jesus tells the demon to be quiet! He wants no testimony of the adversary. “Be quiet!”

And yet today, we have many speaking and declaring testimonies that are not true and only that which really is disguised but harms many not by any ounce of healing but fruits of evil to kill.

But Jesus points to healing, a physical healing to liberate men from the dread results of sin. A follower of Jesus should not be hearing testimony of the devil. A follower is to follow Jesus and declare the truth of God’s word over situations or trials and even viruses. Faith people call the unseen to be seen! Walking by faith is that faith or trust is in God who is our shelter from the storm, He is our shelter in the shade, a shelter from the heat of other people’s wrath or hate! ( Isaiah 4:6)

Either we speak God’s word with authority or we speak weakly. And speaking weakly is that you do not believe or have faith in God. Our witness is to be of the Lord! If you accept the witness of demons, you will not make them be quiet. But Jesus commanded the demon to be quiet. "Come out of him".  Can you imagine this man when the demon cried out and left him right there in that public place? Can you imagine what people would do today if that happened before them in a church or even in another public area? Yeah, panic city would occur! Here these amazed people are seeing authority in Jesus of what they have never seen before. Yet they had the same doctrine of God, but never relayed that to others. Wherever God works, the enemy opposes. And it can anyone again who opposes God and His truth!

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

Fame went out about Jesus! But Jesus was touching the man’s heart not for fame but for the kingdom of God. Something was occurring in Israel, the Messiah had come. A fire was starting and it was a good one!

 Jesus spoke no words to Simon’s mother-in-law. He simply took her by hand and lifted or raised her up. One touch from God and she rose! He helped her to her feet and she was cured immediately. This fever left no weakened condition to this woman. She was cured, restored to serve others.

Are we healed and serving others or are we still hobbling about trying to get healed and still have people serving us? And she served them, not in a weakened condition, no she was alive and well by the hand of Jesus Christ. Amazing, the healing miracles of Christ Jesus. He dealt with each one in an individual case or as a group. He heard their cries, and this mother-in-law of Peter’s shows that the priest of the Lord ( Peter) had a family to care about. So Peter tells Jesus of his wife's mother and of the fever. Following Jesus, that follower would see with his eyes and hear what the Lord would do in those situations. Those who pay attention to the actions of the Christ will do those things as well. For the Lord lives in our hearts and He is active in His pursuit of the lost person requiring healing today.

In this passage from Mark 1, we see Mark underscoring the need for faith in the person Jesus Christ, in the  message, the Gospel had come, and the very power of Jesus to help those in need. Because Jesus in you and me enables us to engage and help those in extreme need. You and I must know the identity of Christ Jesus. Demons may know and confess His divine son-ship, but we must see through to the Cross, see His crucifixion, and resurrection, to take up our cross and follow Him. Because there are demons one day and healing the next that one may encounter, and if you think otherwise, then you know not that the kingdom of God has come.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature . 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe; in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents and if the drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.”

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 and they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

The signs confirms the ministry of Jesus Christ. His followers continue to carry out that the kingdom of God has come. The casting out of demons, speaking in tongues, and healing all is the ministry He revealed and all this comes by believing in Him.

Christ is lifted up and seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus is in us and with the Father we are all one In Him! We are changed from glory to glory, we are encouraged to live for Him and become the image of Him. He kept His walk for a little over three years. He never quaked at anything. He kept hearing and receiving what the Father gave Him to do. 

Now it is your turn. So how about that person next to you, have you prayed for him today or just took his hand and lifted him from his sickbed……for in Jesus we live and move and have our being! Amen!

                                             New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Something like Scales, Thorns, and Clouds without Waters

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Green Trees, Serpents, and Scorpions

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Stranger

John 10:1-18
10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
NIV

What do we recognize?
Are we aware what we lay out in our speaking of tomorrow, we have either life or death? Are we aware of the importance of truth?
What should be the "stranger" to us would be someone who does not speak as we speak! They have their own agenda and it is far from God.

Thieves can come in many sizes, colors and plans. But in the normal day, life even some T.V. might turn into the thief that steals time from you when prayer might have been a better choice.

I always think about the People's Choice Awards.........and such programs that dole out awards. In that thinking, awards are good for choosing something that is helping to progress in growth.  In any endeavors as in swimming, playing tennis, a golf match, or hiking, one must consider the price paid for patience. If you are the one swimming, awesome, but if you are the one watching the other swim and exercise, then the "waiting" time is ahead for you.
Seriously though, in the verse above in 13-14..........the wolf has come. The hireling has abandoned the sheep. He simply runs away. The wolf scatters the flock. Sheep are left. But Jesus laid down His life for the sheep.


I also think of the passage in Matthew 15 in the verse where the disciples have come up to Jesus and asked HIM to have the Canaanite woman to leave them alone. Verse 23 of Matthew 15 is this: But he did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, Send her away, for she is crying out after us.
Actually the woman was crying out to Jesus, "Son of David". She never mentions the "disciples".
She was certainly crying out for Jesus.
The one who really knows the 'comforter" will regard Him as so. Those who see Him as their "Healer" will call it true!


The unfolding of the passage revealed that the Canaanite woman was a woman of faith.
She recognized His portion. She knew Him to be the "Messiah". Being called a "title" nailed her faith to what she believed in her heart to be in regards to Jesus being "what she needed".

It is true and evident when the thief appears. He will steal, kill and destroy.
He will steal your time, your family, and try to steal your life. He will kill your tomorrow, kill your ideas and destroy any thing you might have regarded as a real goal for your life. The thief will not care, but take you on a ride usually in pride or such a path that ends in tragedy.
But Jesus came to bring us life. He came to remind us what was spoken over us as babes. He reveals what He told us in dreams and He gives us glimpses as the rain washes the dust of yesterday and asks of past sorrows to be completely cleared away.


Seeing through the lens of God's Word reveals the "stranger" in our lives. Through that lens, we come face to face with righteous, holiness and redemption.(1 Corinthians 1:30)
That which brings real life, will bring a refreshing to you, a breath of fresh air, if you will. The real is seeing the beauty of Jesus and how He served others. Everyone wants to make a difference in their lives. Everyone wants a name and to be known. And to succeed in peace and love of God is the greatest thing I think anyone could participate in and with for God. Jesus was Jesus! But those who knew Him as the "MESSIAH" saw Him for Who He really was.

Being a "watchman" is watching out for the stranger. It is watching and staying close much like Habakkuk.
Hab 2:1-4
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.

2 Then the LORD answered me and said:

"Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

4 "Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
NKJV

This prophet sets himself to hear. It was for the correction, counsel and comfort.
One who brings a "message" will be one who has the vision and the word for the appointed time. So in humbling himself, the prophet here in this is looking for that which the Lord would speak. Either to correct or just encourage should still incite "faith".

Our Shepherd will not walk out. He remains.
Cultivate a relationship with the MESSIAH. Cultivate a prayer life for hearing. Hirelings will continue to climb over walls, come into board meetings, disrupt town hall meetings, but going with God in your heart will set you to recognize His truth and help you speak against that which speaks as a lie.

People of faith recognize others of faith. The proud come and go. But the just will live by his faith. They will hear the good Shepherd speak. They the sheep will recognize and follow His direction. Taking the oracles of God, we view life through His lens. Viewing life through the lens of God's Word reveals to us and encourages growth in us to become all that He meant us to be for the future. May the richness of this Word of God hold you in comfort. For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Coming to Him, we are directed always to His place on the Cross and the promise of His life in and through us. Amen.

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Looking Through The Len's of God' Word: AVENUE OF FAITH

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High Risk!

It is late afternoon, and a white-tailed deer moves from the wooded area into the thicket. It is overflowing with high green grass and foliage to feast on. Yet, the deer peers around the surrounding open field, and steadily makes one step forward at a time into the inviting environment of beauty and food. As the deer raises it's head again to look around all the while sniffing for danger as he goes, he finds it safe to make another step into the center of the overgrown field to find his meal waiting. High risk!

A mother duck moves her young little ducklings in behind her and she walks to shore line of the river, but stopping abruptly, she raises her head and does a 180 degree check of the water and shoreline. Sensing danger, she quickly backs up her ducklings and heads them across the dry land as quickly as she can. High risk!

In another region of the world, a husky white polar bear comes over the dry land to look for fresh eggs and hatched young birds to feast on. He is very hungry and has not eaten in some time. The little birds, and owls are so small, so vulnerable,  and are in plain sight for the bear to see. The bear moves closer and closer to the round mounds of medium sized rocks that hold the nests for the little bird's babies, all the while the mama birds fly above and make a dive at the polar bear's nose to bring blood. After a two minute warning, and the bear's nose bleeding, he moves from the area filled with baby birds and fledglings. Yes, the babies are safe for now. High risk!

What in our lives do we consider high risk? Is there in any part of day of our lives that we would see as "high risk" and have a desire to try to avoid?
Of recent, I had to have blood drawn and I knew there was a possibility of some things going on with my blood. The blood I had, was known as having warm antibodies. But getting to the answer for the problem seemed clear. Blood is drawn, and the diagnosis is made clear. It was a diagnosis of severe anemia and no matching blood anywhere. High risk!
High risk became apparent because of the warm antibodies my blood carried!

But living in the kingdom of God is one that causes us to live by faith and not on the world's standards. My faith is in a God who is Alive and is for me!
With some tests out of the way, the one admitting Dr. comes into the hospital room at 3 a. m. to tell me the dangerous high risk of submitting to a blood transfusion. "There is no match" , he said. He used words like dangerous, detrimental, and HIGH RISK!

 I told him that he offered no other solutions and I needed the blood and I replied, " the paper was signed hours ago." He left the room and I praised God for His goodness to me in the darkness of the night, and I knew the sun was going to shine and bring a miracle to me!
Overnight and as hours and hours went by while men at the blood bank worked on building a blood from two different donors to get a blood to work for me, a nurse came in to say they were ready with a slow transfusion about 9 a.m.  Yes, it was truly a slow transfusion, as they had to run it for about 30 minutes at first, then take another blood draw to make sure I could take the new blood. They then started the transfusion again. And later that day I had been given both sets of blood without any side affects and problems to my body or my life!

Just one week ago, I experienced a miracle and continue to give God glory for His goodness to me in the land of the living. People would keep coming in to check on me and "see how I was doing'! They asked if I had any pain or side affects. I would respond "NO", "I feel wonderful" and "refreshed". I got up and walked and walked. I praised God everywhere I went and ministered to those in the hospital. The nurses, the blood technicians and even the CNA'S would come in and just watch me. It was an exciting time to show God in all His glory!
Just two days later and all tests out of the way, I am a healthy woman and looking forward to a long life. Just a walk through now with some meds, but it will end shortly and I know I will just become stronger and healthier each day because of God's guidance in His Word and His love for me!


Acts 4:7-12...................7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'  12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." NKJV

When Jesus saved us, He saved our bodies............He sent His healing to us!
The Cross is the power of God for those who are being saved......1 Corinthians 1:18.

In receiving Jesus, we are regenerated into life and out of death. As we put on the "New Man" and being renewed in our minds to God's Word and His ways and thoughts, we come out of the grave of death, and defeat and move into the realm of Victory and are people who live by faith with trust in our God!
It is taking God's Word on healing, and raise the standard of our health. When we have sought out His word on healing as for salvation, our condition changes. WE reach forward by faith to receive what we are expecting!
It is a daily walk and receiving that Word that will build us up to receive that which we are expecting.

David said of the Lord; “My times are in Your hand;” (Psalm 31: 15). “Times” here means in the Hebrew; event, experiences, fortunes, occurrences, occasions, permanency, continuing future, ancient (used of past time), forever (used of future time; used of continuous existence)..forever (used of God's existence)

We are a mist, a moment in time, and all of our times are in His hand. All of my future and all of your future conditions, any occurrences are known to Him. It is so vital to stay close to the Creator, the one true God!

Psalm 62:5 ............    Find rest, O my soul, in God alone ;

my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

11 One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, 12 and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. 

Psalms 66........................Shout with joy to God, all the earth!

2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!

So great is your power

that your enemies cringe before you.

4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you,

they sing praise to your name." Selah 

5 Come and see what God has done

how awesome his works in man's behalf!

6 He turned the sea into dry land,

they passed through the waters on foot--

come, let us rejoice in him.

Whatever the situation, the circumstance is under our feet! We can cross on dry land and continue to rejoice in Him!

Nothing escapes His watchful eye. (Hebrews 4:13) God is familiar with all of our ways. Before a word is on our tongue He knows it. (Psalm 139:4) Our past, our current and our future, God holds it all in His capable, eternal  hands. He holds it all in His healing capable hands. 

Being reminded of the coming time of Passover and Good Friday, I think on His nail scared hands, and body shredded by blows to wound and to kill, that clearly displayed to us His inexpressible love, grace and forgiveness when we have gone our own way!  Truly our times are in His hand.
We cannot glorify God in a sick body, but we certainly can glorify Him walking through to victory and keep an expectant heart for "THE MIRACLE". 

I am thankful and give Him my praise for truly He has saved me, delivered me and healed my body!

Be encouraged today and know God is on your side. Just stay close and He will show you the way in which you are to walk! "A MIRACLE IS ON ITS WAY TO YOU TODAY!" I BELIEVE THAT HONESTLY AND TRULY.

Father, I love You and thank You that You are my Father God. It is Your Word that gives me life! It gives me strength, and builds me up to guide me every day of my life! Your Word is settled in heaven forever. YOUR Word is lamp unto me feet and a light unto my path. It is in Jesus' name that I pray for all who read this and may need a helping hand into victory today. Lead all into Your perfect love and peace as You are our shield and glory, the Lifter of our heads. It is You Who sustains us and Your blessing is upon us. Father, to me the higher risk is not following YOU!

 So right now, we praise with joyful lips and rejoice in YOU! Today in prayer we magnify You with thanksgiving and rejoice at the healing Word of God. For we have truly found a great treasure in Your Word. Thank You for Your unfailing love. A love that is unconditional. Thank You that we might know how vast Your love truly is to us. We are thankful for the shed Blood of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ! We are thankful for the Son You sent to us so we could be a part of Your family. For whatever sins we hold, we repent right now and ask Your forgiveness. We come to give You glory and give thanks for all that You are doing in our lives. We pray that we would be men and women who would hold onto You and by faith receive the promise we are believing for right now!

Father, You deserve our praise, and we say Amen to HIM who has given us life in abundance. We say Amen to HIM who created us with a plan and purpose for life and not for death and sickness. Amen to Jehovah Adonai, Who is same yesterday, today and forever. Amen.



You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV