The Coming Zombie Apocalypse - Part 3

The Coming Zombie Apocalypse - Part 2

The Coming Zombie Apocalypse - Part 1

SIH’s Think On These Things: Feeding The 4000

The next miracle in our series is  Feeding The 4000 …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 15:32-39, Mark 8:1-10

In this event, we find the Lord’s concern for the multitude that was following Him… “I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.”  It was this concern that motivated Christ to use 7 loaves and a “few little fishes” to feed over 4000 men with their families.  

Our Lord then proceeds to perform the miracle… “And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.  And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.  And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.”

In this miracle we see the Lord’s concern for the PHYSICAL needs of His followers.  

The Lord has made it clear that the spiritual needs of an individual will far outweigh their physical needs. The spiritual food that we give someone will benefit them eternally, whereas physical food only benefits an individual for a short time. (John 6:26-27, Matt 6:31-33)  In spite of this, we are told that we should be concerned about supplying the physical needs of others. (Matt 25:34-46, 1 John 3:17, Luke 3:11, 1 Tim 6:17-18) 

Why should we supply that which is only temporal to those who are spiritually needy?   There are several reasons for this seeming contradiction:

1. Through supplying physical needs, we can show the recipient our love, concern and willingness to sacrifice for them.
2. Many times, through the meeting of physical needs, the recipient’s heart is softened and made more receptive to the Word.
3. As we meet physical needs it reveals the self-sacrificial love of Christ to others who are watching us.  It enhances our testimony and standing in the eyes of our acquaintances.

Do we ever consider the physical needs of those around us?  If so, what have we done to try to meet their physical needs? 

In every case, because we understand the far greater importance of meeting spiritual needs, we should be seeking to share spiritual truth, along with the physical food, that the individual most important needs are met as well.

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

SIH’s Think On These Things: Healing The Multitude

The next miracle in our series is healing the multitude …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 15:29-31

As Christ continues in His ministry, we find a multitude now following Him due to His reputation that had been building throughout the area of Israel. In this account, we find Christ going up into a mountain and the multitudes followed Him, bringing many who were in need of healing… “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:”. In this case the multitude is described as having a two-fold reaction… “Insomuch that the multitude wondered,… and they glorified the God of Israel. “

In today’s time, as Christians, we should react in the same way to the many miracles He performs on our behalf. We should be a living a life of amazement at how gracious and powerful are His acts on our behalf. But sad to say, we have a tendency to minimize the wondrous workings of the Lord in our lives.

Think of all the miracles He does for us each and every day…. He gives us our physical life and health, He gives us our physical needs, He gives us an understanding of His Word, He keeps us physically and spiritually safe, He opens to us of service opportunities, He allows us to enjoy the presence of our physical and spiritual family members (and other friends and loved ones). And many, many more… the list goes on without end. For many of us He blesses us in all these ways, for others He sees fit to bless us in some of these ways.

But for ALL of us, as Christians, He blesses us with the greatest blessing of all, our salvation and all that comes with it, forgiveness of our sins, the HS indwelling, adoption into His family, eternal assurance of His presence… need I say more?

How heartbreaking it is that NONE of us appreciate, nor wonder over, His great and wondrous works as we should. We take them for granted and focus on this physical world instead of the spiritual blessings that surround us. We are silent in our praise for these blessings as we forget all that He does on a continual basis. We should all be ashamed.

What should our reaction to these be? The exact same as the reaction of the multitudes who, for the first time, witnessed His miracle working power. We should wonder at His power, His grace, His love and His kindness to us and then we should glorify God for working on our behalf.

As we begin our day, let us remember that we deserve nothing short of eternity in the Lake of Fire, and yet motivated by His love and grace alone, He has chosen to bless each of us beyond measure. Let us take a moment to think of all His blessings, and in awe and amazement dwell on His goodness towards each of us. And then, as did the Psalmist, acknowledge to Him, and to the world around us, what a gracious God we serve… Ps 40:5 “Many, O LORD my God, [are] thy wondrous works [which] thou hast done, and thy thoughts [which are] to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: [if] I would declare and speak [of them], they are more than can be numbered.”

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

SIH’s Think On These Things: Healing A Deaf Man With A Speech Impediment

The next miracle in our series is Jesus heals a Deaf Man With A Speech Impediment …This miracle is recorded for us in Mark 7:31-37

As Christ moved through the coasts of Decapolis, the inhabitants approached Him with a man who was both deaf and suffering from a speech impediment. He desired to be healed.  The Lord graciously, fulfilled His desire as follows, “And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.”      

The word of this event spread among the region, resulting in “And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.”

Christ truly does “all things well”.  The word for “well” carries with three basic ideas: to be morally virtuous, to be valuable and to be beautiful in appearance.  This is how the miracles of Christ were perceived by most of the common people of the day.  They properly recognized His miracles as being desirable and pleasing both to God and man.  However, those in religious and political authority saw Christ as a threat to their positions and perverted His miracles into harmful and morally corrupt acts. (Lk 6:5-11, Mat 12:22-35 etc etc) 

The misinterpretation of Christ, His message, and His works, continues on even to this day.  There are those who distort the purpose and actions of Christ as being something that is of significant, harmful or fictitious.  God’s Word warns Christians of this mockery in the last days.  (Jude 1:18, 2 Pet 3:3 etc) This is emphasized by Christ, Himself, as He gives us a long discourse on how to be prepared for the inevitable persecution and rejection His disciples will face from this fallen world (Matt 10:16-39). 

Are you currently facing rejection or persecution because you have taken a stand for Christ?  Are you facing a choice between facing judgment from this world or choosing to compromise your stand for truth? 

Let’s make the choice to remain faithful to Him knowing that.. 2 Cor 4:16-18  “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.   

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

The Israel Of God (Part #2)

The Prophecy Of Daniel's 70 Weeks

SIH’s Think On These Things: Healing A Gentile Demoniac Child

The next miracle in our series is Jesus heals a Gentile demoniac child …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30

In this account of the miracle at hand, we find a Gentile (Syrophenician) woman approaching Christ seeking healing for her demon possessed daughter.  The Lord delays the healing by answering her with silence.  When she approaches his disciples they desire to send her away.  But the Lord speaks to His disciples explaining His delay by telling them “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.  The woman comes to Christ a second time asking for His help. 

This is what followed…

Jesus tells her “Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.”  She answers him by saying “Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.”  The Lord then responds “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt” He also tells her, “For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.”  We are then told that the woman returns to her home and finds out that the demon has been removed from her daughter.

There are several points we must take notice of… 

1. Please note first, the Lord NEVER refuses to help this woman.
1. He simply keeps silent at her first request.  Later, He explains to her that, as a Gentile, apart from His grace, she should not expect nor feel deserving of this great miracle that was about to take place.   
2. Also, when given a request to send her away by His disciples, He does not give His approval. He begins to speak of His motives behind the delay.
3. Based on the above points, I believe He knew that He would fulfill her request all along. 
2. If He was going to heal this young woman why did He delay? He was simply teaching His disciples a very important truth, Gentiles would also be the recipients of God’s grace.
1. Please notice when He spoke to His disciples He made the statement, “Let the children FIRST be filled” in other words, the gospel and His ministry would go out to the Jews first, but eventually it would go out to the Gentiles as well.  They should not misinterpret His ministering to the Jews to mean that Gentiles would NEVER benefit from His works. 
2. Also, His eventual healing of the woman’s daughter would be another proof that Gentiles were not totally excluded from receiving blessings and healing through His work.
3. Finally, the events of this miracle teach us that, when the Lord delays answering our requests, He has a reason to do so.  One of His reasons for delay can be to teach a lesson to those who are watching.  What better opportunity do we have to show true faith in Christ even in the midst of a time of “silence” He is showing towards us and our request?

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

SIH’s Think On These Things: Healing Many In Gennesaret

The next miracle in our series is Jesus healing many in Gennesaret …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 14:34-36, Mark 6:53-56.

The news of Christ, and the miracles He had performed, had reached the area of Gennesaret prior to Christ’s arrival there.  When He arrived and began to travel in the region the citizens “ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.  And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him”.  Their faith in Christ was so great that we are told  “that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.”

In this series of miracles we can see that the ones who were instrumental in bringing the diseased to Christ were those that “had knowledge of him” (Matt 14:35).  The word for knowledge here is a Greek word that means to have a complete or a full knowledge.  In other words, the ones who brought others to Christ were those who probably had witnessed His miracles personally, or had relatives or friends that had witnessed Christ and then had given them a thorough understanding of Christ and His works. 

This principle should be applied to our lives today.  The closer our relationship to Christ becomes the more our desire to bring others to Him.  As we come to a greater understanding of Christ through our life experiences and His Word, the more determined and encouraged we should be to bring others to Him through our living witness of the gospel…. 

As we experience His blessings, we should want others to be blessed by Him as well…

As we rest in His security, we should want others to be secure in Him like us….

As we joy in the forgiveness that we have been given, we should desire for others to rest in His peace knowing their sins have been forgiven also.

This is what being a witness for Christ is all about… wanting to share Christ with others, out of love of Christ as well as out of love for others.  Let’s follow the example of the inhabitants of Gennesaret and begin today resolving that, as the Lord opens the opportunity, we will share Christ and His salvation with someone today. 

 

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

“SIH’s Think On These Things: Walking On The Water”

The next miracle in our series is Jesus walking on the water …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21

Immediately after our Lord fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, He sends the twelve into a ship to Bethsaida.  His disciples cast off, leaving Him behind to send away the multitudes and to be alone to pray on the mount.   After His time of prayer, the Lord sees His disciples fighting against the winds and and waves of the storm tossed sea.  He departs from the shore, walking upon the water to meet them on the boat.  When His disciples see Him, we are told that … “they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.”  Jesus responds “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”.   Peter desires to walk on the water also.  Jesus beckons him to come to Him on the water, but Peter due to the fear of the storm and waves, begins to sink.  Jesus rescues him and then explains that Peter’s failure was a lack of faith in Christ. 

Probably the portion of this miracle account that is the most condemning to us all is, at the conclusion, it is said that, “ and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”

Keep in mind, this miracle of Christ walking on the water had taken place a very short time after Christ had performed the miracle of feeding the 5000.  The disciples’ amazement and fear exhibited that they had forgotten His miraculous power on display as He fed the 5000.  Why did they forget all He had done previously?  “their heart was hardened”.

Normally, the Bible reserved the hardening of one’s heart to the lost that have rejected the truths of God’s Word.  But in this case, we find it is possible for Christians to have a heart hardened as well.  For the Christian, a hardened heart is developed when we no longer recognize and appreciate all that He has done for us.  All of the details involved in having a hardened heart I will leave for another posting; for this posting, I would simply like to remind of us of the need to recognize and appreciate the miraculous works He performs on our behalf. 

Let’s be sure we look back and remember all the many times He has worked on our behalf and use these events to build up our faith that He will work on our behalf again. This is exactly what David had done before He faced the mighty Goliath. Let us do the same as we face the Goliaths of our lives…

1 Sam 17:32.. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

An Open Letter To Any Christian Who Does Not Believe God Controls All Things

http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/an-open-letter-to-any-christian-who-does-not-believe-god-controls-of-all-things/

Both you and I share in a desire to proclaim His Word in truth.  I am very concerned about your understanding that God is not in control of all things, because this very important doctrine affects every area of Christian life.

For example, what we believe in this area greatly affects our practice of prayer.  I pray with knowledge that my Lord, because He is in control of all things, is able to intervene in any situation and work according to His good pleasure.  No matter how great the difficulty, I know that, if He wills, He can overcome whatever I may be facing.  If you are consistent in your beliefs that your God is not in control,  you cannot pray with this comfort.  I honestly don’t know why you would even pray at all.  You can have no guarantee He is able work on your behalf.  He would be an impotent God who must submit Himself to the workings of Satan, fate and any other possible causes of your life’s problems.  You cannot be assured He can stop, hinder or in any way limit what may take place in your life.

What about during times of temptation?  If your Lord is not in control, His promise to us that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it]”  becomes a worthless promise that your God cannot guarantee to keep. Satan may tempt us with a temptation greater than we can bear and your Lord will be helpless to intervene, after all, according to your beliefs, Satan cannot be controlled nor limited by your God. 

Or what about facing the trials in life…. If your Lord is not in control of the difficulties you face He CANNOT give you the promise that “All things work together for good”.  And, yet, because I know my Lord does control these things, I know that what He promises to me is true and can be relied upon. He is able, and will, stop any circumstance that may affect my life if it is not for my good.  I can know this with certainty.  He has promised it, and He can keep the promises He makes.  Your God is unable to keep this promise because, if you are consistent with your beliefs, your Lord is unable to limit what takes place in our lives.  You are facing the circumstances alone, my dear friend.  There is no reason for you to believe He can come to your aid because there is much that is totally out of His control.   

How about when we have a lost loved one that we so desperately desire to be saved?  It is my responsibility to take them His Word and then pray for them.  I can trust in my God knowing that even if they reject and despise the gospel that I have given to them, my Lord can always intervene, soften their sin hardened heart and bring them to Himself.   This is why I pray for the lost, I know the Lord can intervene and save them, in spite of their hatred of Him and His Word.  In your beliefs, you cannot have this hope.  You must rely on your own ability to persuade, convict and convince the lost, because your God is powerless to save.   Your prayers for the salvation are wasted breath since your God is not in control of salvation itself.

I am trying to be gracious, but I must stand for the truths of my Lord’s Word and try to lovingly explain to you the implications of the error that you are so desperately trying to spread.

I know that my Lord is a Sovereign, Loving , Caring Lord that controls every aspect of my life... the Bible plainly declares this to be so.  He truly works ALL things after the counsel of His own will. He does control even Satan himself.  He is King of King and Lord of Lords. He truly controls the harmful things that take place in the world.   It is because of this control that He gives us hope of limiting and by grace removing these things from our lives.

If He is not in control then He is not God.

I am praying for you  that the Lord might touch your heart and show you this wonderful truth that will revolutionize your walk with Him. 

 Ps 115:3 But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Below you will find a few of MANY verses that clearly declare His control over all things…

Eph 1:9-11 (KJV)

9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10) That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him:

11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Job 1:6-12 (KJV)

6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

7) And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8) And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10) Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

12) And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath [is] in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Rev 19:11-16 (KJV)

11) And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12)  His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13) And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14) And the armies [which were] in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15) And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16) And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

SIH’s Think On These Things: Feeding The 5000

The next miracle in our series is feeding 5000 men and their families …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-14

Before the Lord performed this miracle, He had been approached by the twelve who had said, “, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.”    By saying this, the twelve showed they possessed recognition of the needs of the multitude; but, they also displayed a lack of faith in the ability of the Lord to meet these physical needs.

After this, the multitude was divided into groups of fifty men and their families each.  His disciples collected 5 loaves and 2 fishes from a young lad that was in the midst of the multitude. The Lord miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes and fed the 5000+ in attendance.  At the completion of this miracle we are told that “Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.”

In today’s economy many of us are facing financial shortfalls causing material needs.  Perhaps we do not know how we will be paying this month’s bills.  Maybe, we are facing bankruptcy including the loss of your house.  Let’s not be like His disciples who totally discounted the Lord’s ability to supply the material needs of those who are seeking His face.  Remember the Lord, personally, addressed this issue for us while He was on the earth.  He encouraged us to not allow these material shortfalls to be a worrisome burden upon us.  We are to give these burdens to Him realizing He is our loving Father who cares for us and will do what is for our good in EVERY case… Mat 6:25-32  “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”

He then closes this set of instructions by encouraging us to seek His control of our lives and take things one day at a time …”But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Let us all strive to follow His teachings during these difficult times in which we live and trust Him.  As the song says…. “Through it all I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve  learned to trust in God”…

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

SIH’s Think On These Things: Healing A Sick Man

The next miracle in our series is healing a sick man …This miracle is recorded for us in John 5:5-17

In this miracle, we find the Lord approaching the one who was in need of healing.  This is the conversation that takes place between the Lord and the young man (38 yrs old)… “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.  Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.“  Then, we are told that “immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath”

What follows is a condemnation of this young man by the Jews for carrying his bed on the Sabbath.  The young man justifies himself by explaining that his healer told him to carry his bed.  When asked, the young man could not identify the One that had healed him.  Later, Christ approaches this young man in the temple and instructs him to “sin no more”.  The young man, who now knows the identity of his healer, witnesses to the Jews concerning the great work of Christ in his life.  The Jews then persecute Christ and seek to slay Him because He “did work on the Sabbath day”.  Jesus response to them was very simple, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work”.

I would like us to notice two basic truths about our salvation being put on display in this miracle…

1. First of all, the inability of this young man to approach Christ is a representation of a lost person’s inability to come to Christ in repentance and belief of his own ability, as those who are spiritually blind and spiritually dead, no one apart from the Lord’s gracious intervention in our lives can come to Him. (John 14:6, John 5:39-40, John 6:44-47)
2. Christ saw this young man’s condition and choose to go to Him and offer to Him salvation from his condition.  This pictures for us the truth that Christ “seeks and saves that which was lost”.  We love Him only because He loved us first. (Luke 19:9-10, 1 John 4:10, 19, John 15:16, John 1:13)
3. Immediately following his healing this young man now lives a new life seeking to follow the commands of the Lord.  This pictures for us the fact that as new creatures in Christ we now live in submission to His will and ways.  (2 Cor 5:17, Eph 4:22-24)
4. Finally, this healing of the young man was not accredited to anything the young man had done.  It was totally accredited to the Father and Christ, when Jesus said “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work”. (Phil 2:12-13, Eph 2:4-9)

As we go about our business today, let us always be thankful for our Lord’s gracious intervention in our lives… loving us, coming to us, giving us an understanding of His truths, granting us repentance and faith, and adopting us into His family.  All of this is done by His grace in submission to His Father’s will. (2 Tim 2:25,   John 6:65, Phils 1:29)

When we come to an understanding of our inability and God’s grace in our salvation, we will find a much greater appreciation of all He has done for us and a greater motivation to become “living sacrifices” for His glory!  After all He has done for us… how can we give any less but our all to Him?

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

SIH’s Think On These Things: Healing A Mute Demoniac

The next miracle in our series is healing a mute demoniac …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 9:32-33

The crowd brings to Christ a mute that was possessed with a demon.  We are told that “when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel”.

This miraculous healing caused the multitudes to “marvel” at this great event that displayed both the authority and strength of Christ over powers of darkness which resulted in the physical healing of this mute man. 

Whenever we read about Christ casting out demons, we have a clear declaration that He has already secured the victory over Satan and his demons and their power in our lives…

Heb 2:14-15 (KJV)

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

1John 3:7-8 (KJV)

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Rev 20:10 (KJV)

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Because of this, we can rest assured that Satan is on a “short leash” controlled by Almighty God.  Satan WILL NEVER intervene in our lives without the Lord’s knowledge or His allowance! (Job 1: & Job 2:)

1Cor 10:13 (KJV)

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

SIH’s Think On These Things: Healing Two Blind Men

The next miracle in our series is healing twp blind men …This miracle is recorded for us in Matt 9:27-31

Here, we find the Lord being followed by two blind men who desired to be healed of their blindness… It is interesting to note the request that they make to Christ… “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.”  They understood that, for Christ to act on their behalf, and heal them of their blindness, would require an act of mercy on His behalf.  Christ then responds to their request asking them “Believe ye that I am able to do this?”  They reply, “Yea, Lord. “  Then, as He heals their blindness, He says “According to your faith be it unto you” and “Jesus straitly charged them , saying  See [that] no man  know [it].”

But they, in their excitement and gratitude, told others about His greatness and all He had done for them.

Why did the Lord, on this and many other occasions (Matt 8:4, Matt 12:16, Matt 17:9, Mark 5:43, Luke 5:14, Luke 8:56) tell the recipients of His gracious intervention and miraculous act on their behalf?  It is important to understand that in this occasion, and all the other occasions where He said this, He was very serious and sincere.  The word for “straitly charged” means to sternly warn, to seriously command, some have even said it implies “an angry tone of warning”.  Of one thing we can be certain. He was very serious about this command.  Why would He not want others to speak of these miraculous works on their behalf?  

There could be many reasons, many of which I do not understand. But one thing of which I am certain…these repeated requests clearly help us to understand that when Christ performed these miracles He was not being motivated by selfish gain of any kind.  Whether it would be to desire a great following of people; the praise, worship and adoration of those who would be impressed by His “paranormal” powers; or simply to become famous among the people of His nation; in any case, we can plainly see these were not His motivations.  On the contrary, He healed those in need, only motivated by love and concern for the needy as well as a constant desire to do the will of His Father in heaven.

Do we self sacrificially work to meet the needs of others around us?  And if so, can we honestly say that we are doing it out of pure selfless motives?  It is so easy to perform benevolent acts motivated by self-serving desires.  By God’s grace, let us seek to serve Him out of true hearts of love and compassion for the needy around us?

May the Lord bless each one of us as we “Think On These Things”.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/all-about-salvation/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com