Something I overlooked

This morning reading about the last hours of JESUS before and during HIS crucifixion, I noticed something I had not picked up on yet, although I have read the account in John countless times.  There are several references that I knew well stating this was to fulfill scripture.  But in John 18:32 I saw something that I had totally overlooked.

John 18:³¹ Then said Pilate unto them, Take HIM, and judge HIM according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: ³² That the saying of JESUS might be fulfilled, which HE spoke, signifying what death HE should die.

Now I knew the Jews could not crucify people, they stoned them to death. But I never saw that the crucifixion was JESUS’ (NOT Old Testament) prophesy being fulfilled.  So, I went to check where JESUS prophesied HIS manner of death.

What I found were verses I knew, could quote to you and had even taught from but I had never seen them as JESUS prophesying how HE would die.  I also saw truth in them I hadn’t been able to grasp.

John 12:³² And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto ME.³³ This HE said, signifying what death HE should die.

I thought instantly of John 3 when early in JESUS ministry HE talked with a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews who came to JESUS by night wanting to know more but not wanting others to know he was seeking.  JESUS told Nicodemus a story he knew well.

Numbers 21:⁹ And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man (because he had sinned), when that man beheld (looked up to) the serpent of brass, he lived.

JESUS said to Nicodemus:

John 3:¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the SON of man be lifted up: ¹⁵ That whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM (JESUS) should not perish but have everlasting life.

JESUS explained in those few verses to the noted Jewish teacher who HE (the SON of man) was, how to be born again, the reason one needed to born again and now I know JESUS also spoke of the manner of HIS death and not just HIS death.

Only those Jews in the wilderness who choose to believe the inconceivable word of GOD spoken by Moses that just looking at a brass snake would heal them and they would live and not die chose to look and were healed.  Any who thought it was crazy and didn’t look died because they refused to believe GOD and accept HIS offer to heal them.

It is the same with JESUS.  Those who will look to HIM receive everlasting life but those who refuse the wrath of GOD remains on them (John 3:36).

Remember IF you are a believer in the LORD JESUS CHRIST and have called on HIS name to save you (Romans 10:9-10, 13) you are saved and are a KING for GOD tells us in Revelation 1:5 from JESUS CHRIST, Who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto HIM that loved us and washed us from our sins in HIS own blood, ⁶ And has made us kings and priests unto GOD and HIS FATHER; to HIM be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

As a KING you can choose to search and find the delights of truth hidden in the Word of GOD for Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of GOD to conceal a thing: but the honor of KINGS (you) is to search out a matter.”

Hugs

Sharon

Both speak of a truth

This evening, I stopped by a friend’s to drop off some papers she had requested. I rang the doorbell so when no one answered the door I left the papers in her screen door and sent a text telling her what I had done.  A couple hours later but just minutes ago, she text me and asked why I hadn’t rung the bell.  She was perplexed when I told her I had.

55 years ago, today the good LORD took my little infant son to be with HIM in heaven. As much as losing Little Mac hurt it is what brought me back to GOD and I’ve never been the same.

My LORD took him to benefit me/ to achieve for me (2 Cor 4:15-18 and Hebrews 12:10-11) and if you’ve heard how the LORD showed me a cloud shaped like a lion with a baby on HIS back holding on to HIS mane and laughing and how I heard the words  “don’t weep  for him, he is having the time of his life,” then you will understand why I know GOD took him to bless my 1st little boy as well.

What does NOT hearing the doorbell this evening have to do with our LORD taking my son to heaven? Both scenarios declare a Biblical truth.  “We know GOD works all things together for good to those who love HIM” (Romans 8:28). JESUS explained this divine principle as, “you do not understand now what I am doing but later you will understand” (John 13:7).

The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY is good and loves us (John 3:16).  HE works all things according to HIS own counsel (Ephesians 1:11) and we would spare ourselves much anguish if we would just remember that GOD is in control, but “HIS ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Hugs,

Sharon

How many?

Today many say that the bible is outdated and even some churches no longer accept the Word of GOD as applicable to our lives today, because their personal desires go in a different direction.

JESUS said that man cannot live by bread (food) alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD (Matthew 4:4). That is GOD’s words are to guide us through life.

GOD cannot lie (Titus 1:2), in fact it is impossible for GOD to lie (Hebrews 6:18), therefore whatever HE says is true and GOD’s truth endures forever (Psalm 117:2).

That means it still applies. Take for example forgiveness.

How many? Talking to my LORD this morning concerning another we both love, I asked, “How many 2nd chances (new beginnings) are there, LORD?”

JESUS answered immediately and simply by reminding me of HIS word. Matthew 18:22 “70 times 7” (an idiom meaning= times without number.)

Wow! It is nothing new but what a refreshing reminder!

Back in the day, Peter asked JESUS that same question and said even added up to 7 times? Peter was really being generous for the Rabbinical rule (taken from Amos 1:6) stated that you were to forgive 3 times period.

But JESUS took the question out of the sphere of the law (what must be done) and transferred it into the realm of grace where there is always mercy and grace it help in times of need. A realm where nothing is impossible.

So, until time is no more, (and that day is fast approaching) GOD is true and what HE said in HIS word still applies. But at the same time if you go to GOD when you have gone against HIS word, you will find forgiveness through JESUS CHRIST and another chance.

Hugs

Sharon

How can we know who is right?

How can we know what is true?

A dear and trusted friend sent me a video for now that I have a Cochlear implant I am able to hear and able to understand what is said on videos and even listen to music!  Wanting to see what she shared with me, I listened to it and many things the man said were unquestionably true backed up by many scriptures. But then he said something that {JARRED} me. 

Rather than turn off the video I paused it and prayed.  “FATHER GOD, YOU tell us not to quench the HOLY SPIRIT by despising the telling of YOUR messages (prophecy) but to test what is said and hold on to the good and throw away the bad (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22) so LORD keep me from deception and help me see the truth.  I ask in JESUS name.”

Then I listened to the rest of what he had to say while I got ready for church.  Many things had come to mind as he spoke and I decided to check out the scriptures he used in the Greek when I got home.

The text the preacher used that {JARRED} me was John 6:45 “It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall ALL be taught by GOD.’ Every man therefore that has heard (listened to) and has learned from the FATHER comes to ME.”

He said, rightfully that in that Old Testament verse stating that ALL would be taught by GOD referred only to the Jews still alive after the 7-year Tribulation.  So, he concluded that only a select few would be taught by GOD and everyone of that number would come to JESUS.

When I got home, I went to John 6:45 in the Greek and actually the mood and tenses told me nothing.  I was hoping they would.  I went to bed with the opposing views in mind.

This morning I got up and talking with our FATHER in heaven I said, “LORD, YOU say in YOUR word that the HOLY SPIRIT moved men to write the HOLY scripture and that no scripture is of private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20-21).  So, neither those who wrote it nor those who read can devise their own interpretation of what the scripture means but the HOLY SPIRIT must interpret it to us (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).  Please show me what YOU mean concerning John 6:45!”

Then HE reminded me (John 14:26, Proverbs 21:1) that I was a teacher.

‘And they shall ALL be taught by GOD.’ Every man therefore that has heard (listened to) and has learned from the FATHER comes to ME.” John 6:45.

I teach ALL my students but not all listen and pay attention and learn.  Sometimes, like in Friday’s class, a student was on her cell phone while I explained something, so naturally I was not a bit surprised when she didn’t know where we were in our discussion or what I said.

It is like JESUS said in Mark 4:24 AMP “Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides.”  This same concept is seen over and over in Revelation 2 and 3 with the words “ he who has ears (wants to hear) let him hear (listen and you will understand) what the SPIRIT is saying.

GOD showed me the truth by reminding me and then nudged me to share what HE said.  As I went to write I checked the context of John 6:45.

The setting when the word “ALL will be taught by GOD” was entirely different when JESUS spoke them then the Isaiah passage at the end of the 7-year Tribulation.   For just a few verses earlier (John 6:40) JESUS said. “And this is the will of HIM (GOD the FATHER) that sent ME, that everyone which sees the SON, and believes on HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Do you, do I really come to the Word of GOD and listen to be taught? Are we willing to put aside the arguments of our preconceived ideas long enough to hear what another is saying and then let GOD show us the truth?

Hugs

Sharon Manning

By faith we understand

Why do some seem to understand more of the Bible than others?

“BY FAITH WE UNDERSTAND that the worlds were framed by the Word of GOD, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3).

UNDERSTANDING TRUTH comes through FAITH.  So, how do we get FAITH?

“So, then FAITH COMES BY HEARING, and hearing by the WORD of GOD” (Romans 10:17).

How can reading or hearing the BIBLE/ WORD of GOD produce FAITH?

“For the WORD of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

When something strikes you in the WORD of GOD the HOLY SPIRIT is explaining what GOD means (1 Corinthians 2:10) and if you receive that WORD of GOD as TRUTH, FAITH is produced.  And by FAITH we UNDERSTAND those things of GOD.

But if you suppress the TRUTH that strikes you and refuse to receive the love of that TRUTH, you will lose all insight in that area (see Luke 8:18, Romans 1:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).

“But HE (JESUS) answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of GOD” (Matthew 4:4).

“Receive, please, instruction from HIS (GOD’s) mouth, and lay up HIS WORDS in your heart” Job 22;22.

Hugs

Sharon