Schemes of Satan-11

The gospel of John differs dramatically from the other three gospels. John spent most of this gospel on Jesus words and deeds or miracles. It is because of this that we find so many references to Satan’s opposition to Jesus. First we will start where we left off last Saturday.

John 10:19  A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 10:20  Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?" 10:21  Others were saying, "These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?" 

The lies of the ‘Jews’ didn’t make sense to many who tried to follow Him.

10:22  At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 0:23  it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. 

This feast is also known as Hannakah. It was originally celebrated due to the Maccabbees victory over Rome and restoration of Temple worship. It is better known today as the ‘Jewish Christmas’. There are no shepherds in the hills during the winter, which creates a problem. That will be handled later.

10:24  The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." 

Jesus had told them plainly before. He had also told His disciples but no one believed that fully. The ‘Jews’ were trying to trick Him into saying it in a manner that would give them reason to arrest Him. Remember, they had been trying to kill Him since John 5!

10:25  Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. 10:26  "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 10:27  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 10:28  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 

10:29  "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 10:30  "I and the Father are one." 

Many false teachers proclaim that Jesus never declared Himself to be GOD. Clearly, this is not true. My Father, My sheep, My hand, and My Father’s hand. This is made abundantly clear when Jesus declared His oneness with His Father.

10:31  The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 10:32  Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 

Again they try to silence Him by killing Him. Today, that is still the ultimate means of stopping any critical opposition. Remember, the ‘Jews’ never invalidated any of His miracles.

10:33  The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." 

They fully understood what He had said.

10:34  Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? 10:35  "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 10:36  do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?  10:37  "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 10:38  but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." 

The ‘works’ or miracles could only be done by GOD or thru GOD. These signs were to confirm that the Messiah had finally come to Jerusalem, not to reign like King David, but as the Passover Lamb. He came to offer His perfect life as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

10:39  Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. 0:40  And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 10:41  Many came to Him and were saying, "While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true." 

It was not His time. Jesus was in total control and remained in control through His death on the cross. The ‘Jews’ arguments were not totally believed. There is always a remnant who truly does believe. But what does it mean to believe in Him?

10:42  Many believed in Him there. 

The problem with the word believe is that it represents a process. This process does not always end in saving faith. Singing Hosannahs one day and crucify Him the next is not evidence of saving faith. What does it mean to truly believe is a subject for another time.

The schemes we found here include deadly persistence, constant attempts to entrap of ensnare Him, creating confusion among the sheep, and always looking for the right moment to kill Him.

More next Saturday.

Schemes of Satan-10

Why study the schemes of Satan? As mentioned many times before, we truly need to know them to not be deceived by them. Being deceived is never a ‘good’ thing. It often leads to harm, loss, or failure of some kind.

John 10:1  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 10:2  "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 10:3  "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 10:4  "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 10:5  "A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." 

Clearly in this passage, Jesus is warning the people and condemning the ‘Jews’. True believers will soon discern that they have been listening to a false shepherd. False shepherds are thieves and liars. They have no real interest in the welfare of the flock, only to fleece them for their own selfish desires.

10:6  This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. 10:7  So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 10:8  "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 

As with most if not all of His parables, they were not understood by all. He is the door to the sheep fold, we must enter into His kingdom through Him. There is no other way! The wide road is full of thieves and robbers; killing and stealing any of the sheep that so foolishly respond to their call.

0:9  "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 0:10  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 10:11  "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 

As Jesus made clear, He is the only way, the only door, the only truth, the only good shepherd, and the only way to eternal life.

10:12  "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 10:13  "He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 10:14  "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,  10:15  even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 

Hired hands or pastors who consider this as their job look to how to improve their own sordid gain. Jesus did lay down His perfect life so we could receive eternal life.

10:16  "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 

10:17  "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 0:18  "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." 

Jesus had a choice. Jesus had and has authority. Neither the ‘Jews’ or Pilate took Jesus’ life, He offered Himself for our lives. He died in the flesh so we could live with Him.

10:19  A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 10:20  Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?" 10:21  Others were saying, "These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?" 

So what schemes are in this passage? First, the professional pastors, priests, and popes lie, steal, and will kill. Second, they will try and lie about all truth tellers. They say we are crazy, they project thier demonic desires onto us, and they are not always together in all areas. They look confusing to us, but look reasonable to all who are perishing.

More next Saturday.

Schemes of Satan-9

One of Satan’s most evil ways is to never give up on silencing truth tellers. If one way doesn’t silence them, try another. If after a steady stream of silencing schemes don’t work, he will kill them. This is exactly what the Pharisees and ‘religious’ leaders want to do to Jesus and others who follow Him.

John 9:24  So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner." 9:25  He then answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." 

This ‘man’ is GOD is the flesh. Who else can heal a man who was born blind. But, since He healed on the Sabbath, their oral laws would condemn Him. There is no rejoicing in this man’s ability to see. There is no praises to GOD. There is no wonder at this miracle. Only a lawyer’s type of interrogation to find a loop hole to condemn them both.

9:26  So they said to him, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" 

9:27  He answered them, "I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?" 

You see they are not really interested in the truth, just like our ‘legal’ system today. They can only allow their truth which keeps them in control of their people.

9:28  They reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 9:29  "We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from." 

They could easily determine where Jesus was from if they wanted to know the truth, which they did not want to have anyone know. By withholding this truth, they could keep on attacking Him and deceiving the people.

9:30  The man answered and said to them, "Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 9:31  "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. 9:32  "Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 9:33  "If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." 

This once blind man knew more than all of these spiritually blind and demonically led leaders. He is right on a number of areas. One, He opened his eyes. Two, God does not listen to sinners, which all of them where. Three, no one has ever been healed from this blindness. Fourth, if He were not from GOD, He could not have healed him.

9:34  They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?" So they put him out. 

This once blind beggar was now shunned and cast out of the Temple, i.e. the false Temple run by servants/slaves of Satan. GOD had removed His Spirit from this building 100’s of years earlier.

9:35  Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 9:36  He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 9:37  Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you." 9:38  And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. 

Jesus again came to him. This is how all come to saving faith, by Jesus revealing Himself to us individually. He believed and worshipped Him; which confirmed his true faith.

9:39  And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." 9:40  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, "We are not blind too, are we?" 9:41  Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains. 

Jesus never sugar coated His condemnation of deceivers and false shepherds. By telling them very clearly that their sin remains, He was telling them that they were not in the kingdom of GOD. They would not enter in to His rest. They were still in direct opposition to GOD and serving their father the Devil.

More next Saturday.

Schemes of Satan-8

Why is it important to know the schemes of Satan? The first answer is so we are not among the many who are being deceived by Satan. As there are far more false teachers than true teachers, we all need to keep comparing their ‘truth’ to GOD’s truth. We cannot do that if we don’t try and become familiar with GOD’s Word. We all need to be more like the ‘Bereans’ who compared Paul’s teaching with GOD’s Word.

Acts 17:10  The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 17:11  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 

Truth seekers need to be eager to examine the Scriptures so they are not being deceived by false teachers.

John 9:8  Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" 9:9  Others were saying, "This is he," still others were saying, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the one." 

The people had a difficult time truly believing that this blind beggar could now see. It was just too much to take in and believe. We would have had the same reaction if we would have been there.

9:10  So they were saying to him, "How then were your eyes opened?" 9:11  He answered, "The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went away and washed, and I received sight." 9:12  They said to him, "Where is He?" He *said, "I do not know." 

Again, this challenges all the false claims of ‘faith’ healers. When they can’t heal someone, they blame the victim for lack of faith.

Costi Hinn worked alongside of his uncle Benny Hinn for may years until GOD opened his eyes.

Founder / President Costi Hinn serves as the Teaching Pastor at Shepherd’s House Bible Church in Chandler, AZ. He is currently completing his doctorate at The Master’s Seminary, and the author of several books including, Knowing the Spirit (Zondervan, 2023), More Than a Healer, God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel, and Defining Deception. He has also co-authored a children's book alongside his wife Christyne titled, In Jesus' Name I Pray: TJ the Squirrel Learns the True Heart of Prayer (Harvest House Kids, 2022). Costi and Christyne live in Gilbert, AZ with their five children.

9:13  They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 9:14  Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 

Two things to consider. First, why did they bring him to the Pharisees? Was this required by them to make sure they could exert control? Did they really want to know all that went on in their sheep pen? Secondly, it was the Sabbath. They had added and added to the Law of GOD until it was unrecognizeable and was totally founded on their oral law.

9:15  Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, "He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 9:16  Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. 

9:17  So they *said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" And he said, "He is a prophet." 

So, they accused Jesus of being a sinner! Not all could go along with this, but they continued to try and discredit this man and blaspheme Jesus.

9:18  The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 9:19  and questioned them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?" 9:20  His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 9:21  but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." 

So they called in his parent, but why? They couldn’t live with this miracle so they reverted to intimidation and potential punishment. This silences most witnesses. Just like the mob used to threaten witnesses with death.

9:22  His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 9:23  For this reason his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." 

The parents would not even stand with their son who had been miraculously healed! They feared the Pharisees more than they would praise GOD for this miracle! Of course, being turned out of the synagogue was certain banishment from all life as they knew. They would be shunned, friends would avoid them, business opportunities would be kept from them, and all fellowship would cease. This is a cost that most would not want to bear.

John 15:18  "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 15:19  "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 

15:20  "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

More next Saturday!

Schemes of Satan-7

Miracles are those things that can never truly be explained by naturalistic events. True life changing miracles are only done by GOD Himself, which is why Jesus could open the eyes of the blind, both physically blind and spiritually blind. But, how does the world of Satan respond to true miracles?

John 9:1  As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 9:2  And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" 

A common false teaching of the ‘Jews’ was the inevitable consequences of everyone else’s sin but their own. In Ezekiel we have read that everyone is only responsible for their own sin. Of course, a baby born blind could not have sinned and therefore been condemned by GOD to be blind.

9:3  Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 9:4  "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 9:5  "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." 

So this is also difficult to understand. Why did GOD permit this baby to be born blind? According to Jesus, so that this miracle could be performed and GOD be glorified. We can never fully understand the infinite wisdom and goodness of GOD!

9:6  When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes,  9:7  and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. 

Making clay, which Jesus did, was also considered work.

9:8  Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" 9:9  Others were saying, "This is he," still others were saying, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the one." 9:10  So they were saying to him, "How then were your eyes opened?" 

No one had ever seen or heard of a person born blind being healed. There is not one mention of any such miracle in all of the Old Testament. Also, not one of these prideful ‘Jews’ had ever performed such a miracle.

9:11  He answered, "The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went away and washed, and I received sight." 9:12  They said to him, "Where is He?" He *said, "I do not know." 

Today’s ‘miracle’ workers often explain their inability to perform a real miracle because the person did not have enough faith. This man knew nothing of Jesus other than His name. What was his faith?

9:13  They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 9:14  Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 

Here is their problem. First, he was healed and everyone now knew it. Second, He healed on the Sabbath and according to their law, He worked!

9:15  Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, "He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 9:16  Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?"

Is healing a blind man work for GOD?

Matthew 12:9  Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 12:10  And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"—so that they might accuse Him. 

12:11  And He said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 

12:12  "How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 

12:13  Then He *said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. 

2:14  But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. 

Satan will kill all truth tellers if he cannot silence them or vanquish them for the public square. The ‘Jews’, as Satan’s slaves, will not lose power or respect from the sheep they are deceiving. False teachers do the same today.

And there was a division among them. 

Not all will agree with their hypocrisy, there will always be a remnant to question their authority.

More next Saturday.

Schemes of Satan-6

A scheme could be defined as a devious or deceitful plot or ploy. A device to do evil without being truly noticed. That is exactly how Satan operates in his world. Why do I say it is his world? Because GOD tells us that it is his world, even while it remains totally under GOD’s sovereign control.

1 John 5:19  We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 

Ephesians 2:1  And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2:2  in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 

Matthew 4:8  Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 4:9  and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." 4:10  Then Jesus *said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" 

Revelation 12:9  And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Clearly Satan has been given power over this world which is the main reason that the world is quickly falling into greater and greater depravity. Satan has indeed turned sin into a virtue.

John 8:48  The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 

8:49  Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. 

Slander and character attacks are among Satan’s schemes as he seeks to discredit all truth tellers. They continually lie about Jesus until the people begin to believe their lies. This is the world of propaganda today.

8:50  "But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 8:51  "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death." 

8:52  The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste of death.' 8:53  "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?" 

Exactly, who did Jesus make Himself to be known as? He is the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. He is eternally GOD and therefore has no beginning or end. They all could know this but they don’t want to know it or believe it. Religion solely based on man’s traditions has no time to GOD in person.

8:54  Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; 8:55  and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do know Him and keep His word. 

Once again Jesus challenges them directly. He calls them liars to their faces. He clearly calls GOD His Father and that He knows Him and keeps His word. There can be no confusion about this. Plus His miracles attest to it as well.

8:56  "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 8:57  So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"  8:58  Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." 

He now states He was before Abraham. This they cannot believe because to them He is just someone from poor parents in Nazareth. He may be a reasonable teacher, He may even be a healer, but He cannot be GOD!

8:59  Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. 

Even though they cannot kill anyone, they still try. But, it was not His time and so He left them in their sins. Killing truth tellers is their last resort. They will no tolerate being called out, being exposed for their lies and hypocrisy, or any challenges to their power and positions.

That is exactly the world we now live in. Satan has deceived the whole world, except all true believers and followers of Jesus Christ. Has he deceived you?

More next Saturday.

Schemes of Satan-5

Satan has been very successful in deceiving the masses for thousands of years. GOD has been warning His chosen people about the evils of idolatry, but most of the world has indeed fallen for his lies. This includes the nation of Israel today. They deny that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah and instead simply follow the traditions of men and doctrines of demons. We will now look at another of Satan’s schemes of deception.

John 8:1  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 8:2  Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 

Even as they failed to arrest Jesus yesterday, He came back to the very same place this morning. Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives to pray to His Father, as He will do on the eve of His soon arrest.

8:3  The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 8:4  they *said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 8:5  "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?" 8:6  They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 

Here is there evil plan. They said they caught her in the act of adultery, which is a violation of one of the 10 commandments. It also is punishable by death, as are most of the commandments.

Exodus 20:14  "You shall not commit adultery. 

Numbers 25:6  Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 25:7  When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand, 25:8  and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman, through the body. So the plague on the sons of Israel was checked. 

The second deceitful challenge to Jesus is that they did not also bring forth the man. If she was caught in the act, where is the man? You needed both to ascertian guilt.

Thirdly, under Roman rule, they were not allowed to kill anyone!

John 18:31  So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," 

8:7  But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 

8:8  Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 

8:9  When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 

They kept trying to get Him to answer their false, deceitful charges as they hoped He would say something to condemn Himself. If He agreed that she should be stoned, they would call the Romans out to arrest Him. If He did not, they would call the people out to condemn Him as disobeying the Law of Moses. So did Jesus self-incriminate Himself as they planned?

No, He said nothing! But, whatever He wrote made them all leave one by one, the oldest went first.

8:10  Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" 8:11  She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more."] 

Jesus did not let her leave without reminding her of her sin. But, He did not condemn her either. It would appear that He forgave her, as He knows the hearts of all.

Again the Jews tried to trick, trap, or draw Jesus into a situation that would give them the evidence they needed to condemn Him. Instead, they were the one condemned.

More next Saturda.

Schemes of Satan-4

One of Satan’s greatest deceptions is propagating the disbelief in his existence or presenting himself as an angel of light. The Mormons believe that Satan is Jesus’ brother, therefore, making him equal to Jesus! Some false teachers teach that Satan is just the image of evil not the reality of evil. The Bible clearly states that Satan is indeed real and a created being that has fallen from being in the presence of Jehovah. He is more evil and deadly than can be imagined.

Let us continue our study.

John 7:32  The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about Him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to seize Him. 

What were the charges? Did they need any charges? Could they legally seize Him? Since all of Israel was under Roman rule, this seems to be a grey area.

7:33  Therefore Jesus said, "For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. 7:34  "You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come." 

This has three meanings. The first it talks to His coming arrest and crucifixion. The second was His ascension. The third was both a warning and condemnation of the Jews.

7:35  The Jews then said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find Him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks, is He? 7:36  "What is this statement that He said, 'You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come'?" 

They did not understand but they also had no real desire to gain understanding. Their focus was getting rid of Jesus, not understanding or believing.

7:37  Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 7:38  "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" 

7:39  But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 

Without an understanding of the Holy Spirit, this teaching would be difficult to fully believe. But, when He leaves to return to Heaven, true believers will gain complete understanding. Satan understands this but believes he can circumvent this from happening by having Jesus crucified.

7:40  Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, "This certainly is the Prophet." 7:41  Others were saying, "This is the Christ." Still others were saying, "Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? 7:42  "Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?" 

This shows how false teachers can introduce questions about Jesus’ deity, mission, and true identity. Jesus birth in Bethlehem is clearly recorded in the Temple, as were all the birth and family records for Israel. Why didn’t they do their research? They tell people what they want to hear, while withholding what they need to hear.

7:43  So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. 

7:44  Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 7:45  The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why did you not bring Him?" 7:46  The officers answered, "Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks." 

It was not Jesus’ time, but the guards couldn’t make themselves arrest Him. They were amazed by His teaching. Why did the Pharisees want to seize Him?

7:47  The Pharisees then answered them, "You have not also been led astray, have you? 7:48  "No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? 7:49  "But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed." 

They just falsely claimed the high ground. If we don’t believe, that is all you need to know. What Law where they referring to? Their oral law, which they created above GOD’s Law.

7:50  Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) *said to them, 7:51  "Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?" 

One of their own had to speak up. But, they did not want to argue on his premises, so they instead attacked him. Discrediting a reknowned teacher on his poor understanding of the Scriptures. But, they were the ones in error. Jesus was first from Bethlehem, which they should have known. He lived in Nazareth until adulthood.

7:52  They answered him, "You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee." 

By focusing on Galilee they seemed to be totally discrediting Jesus ministry. Another scheme of Satan, as lies are his best tool of deception, he simply just shifts the argument to his lies. He knows that by simply letting the Jews state this lie as truth, no one would dare challenge them.

We all need to do our own research, as these schemes have been used within the ‘church’ for centuries.

More next Saturday.

The Schemes of Satan-3

As we continue to seek to uncover and understand the schemes of Satan, we must also develop our resistance to this demonic deception. We will continue to see these schemes even as we study Jesus life.

John 7:25  So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? 7:26  "Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? 

How did the people know that the Jewish leaders were trying to kill Jesus? Possible reasons could include; trying to put fear into the hearts of the people, trying to silence Jesus and drive Him out of town, or making their plans known in defiance of Roman law.

7:27  "However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from." 

If both Matthew and Luke could include the genealogy of Jesus in their gospels, why couldn’t the Jews research the family records held in the Temple? Why? They did not want to know or the people to know anything that could lead to them considering Jesus as the promised Messiah.

7:28  Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. 7:29  "I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me." 

Jesus never held His mission, His position, or His oneness with the Father from them. In fact, that is the reason they wanted to kill Him. They did not want GOD interfering with their Temple business.

7:30  So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. 

This points once again that Jesus was in total control of His life and death.

John 10:17  "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 10:18  "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." 

Many falsely claim that Jesus never actually said that He was GOD, but that again is all just lies from Satan. Unfortunately it is the leaders who control the news, both then and now. They claim they give us the truth, but even that is a lie.

7:31  But many of the crowd believed in Him; and they were saying, "When the Christ comes, He will not perform more signs than those which this man has, will He?" 

While the Jews never denied any of the signs or miracles performed by Jesus, neither did these signs change their belief in Jesus. As mentioned before, miracles seldom led to ‘saving’ faith. Yet, it is the signs that Isaiah prophesied that would identify the Messiah.

Isaiah 35:5  Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 35:6  Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah. 

Which is the passage Jesus quoted to John the Baptist.

Luke 7:18  The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 7:19  Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?" 

This is the only proof Jesus gave them.

7:20  When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'" 

7:21  At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 

7:22  And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. 

More next Saturday.

Schemes of Satan-2

Twice Paul was inspired to warn us of the schemes of Satan. Why? Satan is evil and deadly. His desire is to have the whole world worship him. In order to accomplish that, he must deceive everyone from worshiping the one true GOD. How well is Satan doing with his evil plans and schemes?

First, what did Paul write?

2 Corinthians 2:11  …so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Ephesians 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 

6:11  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 

6:12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 

6:13  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 

While Paul makes this very clear, why has the ‘church’ not informed us and warned us of Satan’s schemes? Paul stated that ‘…we are not ignorant of his schemes.’ But, I believe that we are ignorant of his schemes. So let us continue our study so we can be prepared and warn others.

John 7:14  But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach. 7:15  The Jews then were astonished, saying, "How has this man become learned, having never been educated?" 

While the Jews were seeking to kill Him, He not only went into Jerusalem for the feast, but went into the Temple! As He once again began to teach, even the Jews had to acknowledge that His teaching was amazing. Where did He get this knowledge, they wondered?

7:16  So Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 7:17  "If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 7:18  "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. 

What exactly is Jesus saying? First, He was sent and His teaching came from the one who sent Him. Second, He now states that there are only two possible sources of this amazing teaching, either from GOD or Himself. So since He already stated that His teaching is not His own, He is clearly stating that it is from GOD the Father, who sent Him.

7:19  "Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?"  7:20  The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?" 

When truth confronts religion and its myriad of traditions, people have to make a decision. Most will respond like those above; You can’t be the truth so therefore You must have a demon. They deny all they heard and saw to defend their lifetime indoctrination. They can’t give it up as it would invalidate their entire lives.

7:21  Jesus answered them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel. 7:22  "For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. 

Joh 7:23  "If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? 

They are still remembering from John 5 when Jesus healed a man who had not walked in 38 years. They did not deny this miracle, but instead of praising GOD for this wonderful gift to this man, they focused all their attention on His violation of their Sabbath laws. How could they do this?

Jesus was indicting them, so they lashed back at Him. The Jews were not interested in healing or truth, but in retaining their power, positions, and control over the people. So one of Satan’s most powerful and dangerous schemes is how he not only discredits truth tellers, but convinces others to think of them as evil and demonically inspired.

Joh 7:24  "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." 

Clearly Jesus went right to the issue. Righteous judgement can only come through righteous people. The Jews were not righteous. They have wanted to kill Jesus since He had healed that poor man.

John 5:18  For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. 

Jesus had made it abundantly clear that He called GOD His Father and was equal to Him. That is all the Jews needed to hear and they could think of nothing else, but how and when to kill Him. If He wouldn’t stop by Himself, if He would not keep quiet, the only option left to them was to kill Him. They were indeed like their father, as they are still today.

John 8:44  "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

More next Saturday.

Schemes of Satan and Persecution-1

I thought I should really reflect what we will be studying on how Satan plans to destroy Jesus and ultimately His Church. So I decided to focus on his schemes which are many and the ‘church’ is woefully ignorant of all of them. This means the ‘church’ will be deceived and fall away from the living GOD.

John 7:1  After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 7:2  Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was near. 

The Feast of Booths is in late September to early October. It is one of the three required Feasts, that is, all males must come to Jerusalem to participate in them.

7:3  Therefore His brothers said to Him, "Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 

7:4  "For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world." 

7:5  For not even His brothers were believing in Him. 

Jesus did have both sisters and brothers despite what the Church of Rome teaches. Now there comments are interesting. Jesus had been demonstrating His power over sickness with the royal official’s son, the man who had not walked in 38 years, and fed 5000 men plus women and children. Yet, his brothers were encouraging Him to show more and be very public in His signs and wonders. But, these same signs and wonders had not convinced them!

7:6  So Jesus *said to them, "My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. 7:7  "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. 7:8  "Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come." 7:9  Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. 

Jesus was in total control of His life and death. It was not His time, as He must die at Passover as the Passover Lamb of GOD. He is not the Easter Lamb of GOD. Also, some texts interpret this as His saying not yet. He did not lie and say He wasn’t going but eventually did go,

7:10  But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. 

7:11  So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, "Where is He?" 7:12  There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, "He is a good man"; others were saying, "No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray." 

The Jews, the religious elite, were looking for Him, knowing that He would have to come to the feast as required. They were spreading lies about Him but the people couldn’t understand how He could be a false teacher.

7:13  Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews. 

This is one of the ways Satan, through organized religion, keeps the people in fear. They held the positions and had for centuries. They threatened many to ignore Jesus or worse yet, think evil of Him. Jesus was the problem, or so they said. Religion keeps people in bondage to its traditions and its laws, while ignoring GOD’s Laws.

Controlling the message and the media while silencing all who speak truth, keeps the sheep in the pens of the false shepherds. Only GOD’s Word can set us free from all the false teachings of false teachers. If you don’t know what God has said, Satan will tell you!

More signs, more miracles, and more wonders don’t by themselves produce saving faith.

More next Saturday.

Persecution is coming!-24

Since persecution is coming, just as Jesus told us it would. It raises some theological questions. When is it coming? What will it be like? What schemes of Satan should we be aware of in order to not be deceived? Not all can be answered in one passage, but in the book of John, all are made evident.

John 6:16  Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 6:17  and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 6:18  The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 

Interesting that the disciples left without Jesus! Did He tell them to go? Was He going to stay longer without them? We aren’t told, but His walking out to meet them was frightening.

6:19  Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. 6:20  But He *said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 

Imagine walking 3-4 miles on a stormy sea! Yet, the waves did not seem to slow Him or deter Him. He is in total control of His creation and all that is contained within it. But, still the disciples were not yet ready to fully understand who Jesus was truly in the flesh. So they were frightened to see Him on the waves in the night, as would we.

6:21  So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 

They recognized Him and fought off their fears and let Him into the boat. After rowing against the wind and waves, once Jesus was in the boat it was immediately across the sea of Galilee! Which was the greater miracle? It is 7-8 miles wide and 13 miles long. They rowed to get halfway across and Jesus immediately brought them the rest of the way in an instant!

6:24  So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 6:25  When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You get here?" 

6:26  Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 

Certainly the feeding of this large multitude was a miracle to all. In the morning they looked for Him! Why? Jesus tells us that they were interested in the physical more than the spiritual. Jesus taught at Capernaum, but His teaching about His body being the bread of life was too hard to understand.

John 6:52  Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" 6:53  So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 6:54  "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 6:55  "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 6:56  "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 

6:57  "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 6:58  "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever." 

6:59  These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 

These metaphors and symbols of His death and sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins was too hard to understand for many. So many left Him at this time. So what had He done? He taught the 5000 and fed them. He walked out to His disciples on the sea. He taught at the synagogue, but the ears of the people were closed to His truth. Nothing too dangerous or sinister over these two days, but already the Jews wanted to kill Him.

John 7:1  After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee, for He was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill Him. 

This is very early in His ministry and already the Jews were seeking to kill Him. As their Father the Devil hates Jesus and hates the truth, so do his children. Satan failed in tempting Jesus, but he had not given up in destroying Him and His message. Satan hasn’t given up on stopping us from telling the truth either. If he can’t scare us into silence, he will try to ruin our testimony. If that doesn’t stop us, he will also seek to kill us.

More on Satan’s schemes and the coming persecution next Saturday.

Persecuton-It is coming!-23

Jesus was pursued and persecuted from early in His earthly ministry. The Jewish leaders knew that He was capable of leading people away from them into following Him. They had too much to lose, or so they thought. They did not give serious consideration to their eternal life, as they were too involved in their short physical lives. Jesus healed a man that not been able to walk for 38 years! So what was their reasons for trying to kill Jesus?

John 5:18  For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

This clearly indicates that they knew exactly what Jesus was telling them about Himself and their selves. Their Sabbath rules were not from Jehovah, but of their own making.

We now go onto the next sign, wonder, or miracle from Jesus.

John 6:1  After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 6:2  A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 6:3  Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. 

6:5  Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?" 6:6  This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. 

Jesus was already drawing large crowds that would follow Him to hear what He had to say and to have loved ones healed. We cannot blame them for seeking healing. Just like with the lame man who had been lame for 38 years! All of us would travel thousands of miles to have a loved one healed.

6:7  Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little." 

6:8  One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, *said to Him, 6:9  "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?" 

The world view of this problem did not really have any solution. In fact, we do not really know what Andrew was thinking either. He may have been just displaying the size of the problem, knowing that this small boy’s lunch was the only food he could find. Remember, barley was the poor man’s grain. Small fish would probably be the size of sardines.

6:10  Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 6:11  Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. 6:12  When they were filled, He *said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." 6:13  So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 

To the apostles credit, they did have everyone sit down. They obeyed even when their worldly experience created doubts. We don’t know what it looked like to the apostles, but the food never really stopped coming. Not only that, it came fast enough for the apostles to distribute it to all. Since there were 5000 men, it would be reasonable to add 5000 women and some number of children. This was a miracle that all could see.

6:14  Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." 

What did they mean when they said the Prophet that would come into the world? We need go back to Moses to get the answer.

Deuteronomy 18:15  "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. 

What was Moses known for to be able to discern if this Prophet had come?

1. Moses performed more miracles than any other prophet.

2. Moses spoke to Jehovah face to face.

3. Moses delivered the Law.

4. Moses redeemed them from slavery.

5. Through Moses, Jehovah provided manna and water.

   Jesus said that He was the bread of life and the source of living water.

6:15  So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Jesus was in total control of His life and death. He knew the minds of all the people all the time. He also knows our hearts and minds as well.

More next Saturday.

Persecution-It is coming!-22

It may be difficult for many of you to fully believe that Satan has indeed deceived the entire world, but he has. This is exactly what Jehovah has told us, warned us, and hopefully prepared us for in the coming months and years. What schemes of Satan can we begin to understand from the Bible? Let us begin. First, what does Jesus expect any serious Bible student to know?

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 3:4  Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 

3:5  Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 3:6  "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Those of us who are truly born again believers understand this, but to an Old Testament Scholar this was not easy to understand. Jesus expected him to understand.

3:7  "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 3:8  "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." 

3:9  Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?"  3:10  Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?

What can we learn from this very short exchange?

First, teachers and preachers may go all through life without truly understanding what they are teaching. Second, according to Jesus, it should not be that hard to see!

Third, only those who are truly spiritually open to the truth will come to an understanding of the truth.

Matthew 13:11  Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 13:12  "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 

13:13  "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 

13:14  "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, 'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 

13:15  FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.

This is a very chilling exchange between Jesus and His disciples. It tells us that Jehovah doesn’t let some believe or understand. Their time may have passed. They may be too hardened by sin to escape their eternal judgment. They may have given their entire life over to be servants of Satan and therefore, are enemies.

John 5:1  After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 5:2  Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 5:3  In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; 5:4  for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 

We all know this story about this man who Jesus healed. It would be wise to ask ourselves why did Jesus just heal one man? This pool was apparently surrounded by many who were seriously ill.

5:5  A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 5:6  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He *said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" 5:7  The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." 

This pool was understood to have miraculous healing powers whenever the water was stirred. They believed that an angel stirred it. But, apparently only the first person who was able to enter to pool would be healed.

5:8  Jesus *said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." 5:9  Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 

First, the man did not even know who healed him. This reveals the lies that today’s ‘faith’ healers are guilty of when they ‘heal’ anyone. If they can’t heal a person they blame the persons lack of faith.

Second, Jehovah’s miracles are instantaneous. Legs that never had muscles, nerves, tendons that worked would have left these legs shriveled to the bone.

5:10  So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." 5:11  But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, 'Pick up your pallet and walk.'" 5:12  They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Pick up your pallet and walk'?" 

What was the main concern of the leaders? Carrying his bed on their ‘Sabbath’. We don’t read anywhere of their joy in seeing this man walk. Nor any praise to Jehovah for healing him!

5:13  But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 5:14  Afterward Jesus *found him in the temple and said to him, "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you." 

5:15  The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 5:16  For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

Here is what the ‘world’ does to those who put their trust in Jehovah instead of ‘religion’. Anyone who violates their rules, who makes them look bad, or does things they have never done, must be stopped at all costs. Satan will not tolerate loosing his control over the mindless sheep following the false shepherds. That is the profound truth about religion. It teaches sheep to be just obedient followers without any questioning or challenging.

You could say that they ‘cancel’ all opposition. They take away any platform for the truth to get in their way. They remove them from all ‘social’ platforms. They conspire to come together to label them all as liars. So the liars are in charge. We sometimes call this propaganda. Whatever you call it, it is a vast, organized attack against the truth.

If we never challenge these lies, we become co-conspirators in their lies. Silence is not an option when we are to confront lies, especially lies that affect someone’s eternal life.

More next Saturday.

Persecution-It is coming!-21

At some time, I will attempt to demonstrate why we are entering in the last days. Lawlessness is increasing at an alarming rate across the U.S., a nation founded on law and order! Are out cities safer today than say, 10 years ago? Not that I can determine. So let’s see what Jehovah has given us to understand this time we are living in today. I need to go back to John 2 to set the problem in context.

John 2:1  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2:2  and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 

John 2:11  This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 2:12  After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 

This marks the beginning of His ministry and also the beginning of the Jews hatred of Him.

John 2:13  The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2:14  And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 2:15  And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 2:16  and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business." 

The Temple was the the realm of the Jews. They controlled and profited from everything done there. It was the Jews themselves that had turned the House of Jehovah into a bazaar and house of thieves and money changers. Jesus went right into the very depths of their evil empire and forcibly drove them all out. He did not ask them to leave, He did not gather others to help them and convince them to leaves, and He did not call out to the High Priest and force him to evict them. The Jews and the High Priest were the problem not the solution. Religious leaders of all sorts are becoming and soon will be the obvious problem to all true believers.

2:17  His disciples remembered that it was written, "ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME." 

2:18  The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 

2:19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 

2:20  The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 2:21  But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 

Jesus did not tell them by what authority He cleaned house. It was never really about a physical Temple, as Jehovah does not dwell in anything made by human hands.

Acts 17:24  "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 17:25  nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

2:22  So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 

This simple phrase speaks volumes about believing in Jesus. After Jesus was raised, this memory was brought back to them. Only the indwelt Spirit of God can help us remember, understand, and obey what Jehovah has told us.

2:23  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 

Most came for the signs, which were primarily healing. Sick people, injured people, disabled people, and demon possessed people were often desparate for relief and a normal life. We understand that! But, Jesus was far more than a divine doctor and healer. Believing in His name is not the same as ‘saving’ faith.

2:24  But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 2:25  and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. 

Only God can know this, but Jesus often said He knew what they were thinking. He also knows what we are thinking. The vast difference between us and Jesus is that He never forgets, but we often forget.

More next Saturday.

Persecution-It is coming!-20

What is persecution? Words used to define it and give it meaning include; harass, oppress, punish, inflict physical harm-even death. Why do some people persecute others? We will study the rest of John 10 and try to see why the Pharisees were so intent on killing Jesus.

John 10:22  At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; :23  it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. 

Interesting that Jesus was once again in the Temple as the Jews/Pharisees had already tried to kill Him earlier.

John 8:59  Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. 

:24  The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." 

The Jews were trying to make sure that Jesus would condemn Himself by answering their questions. They knew what He had said earlier, they understood better than His disciples in that they were ready to take violent action against Him.

:25  Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. 

:26  "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. :27  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; :28  and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 

:29  "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. :30  "I and the Father are one." 

This is quite a statement by Jesus. The works or signs, which were all undeniable miracles, should have called all to worship Him. The Jews kept on asking for more signs, although these signs only angered them. Jesus clearly aligns Himself as God. He and the Father are one. No one is greater or more powerful. True believers are in actuality a gift from the Father to His Son. Once in His hands, no one can ever take them out and He will never let go. The Father only gives good gifts to His Son.

:31  The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 

:32  Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 

:33  The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." 

They now certainly knew what Jesus was declaring. No more doubts, Jesus made it very clear to them and to His disciples. The Jews, who would later say they could not kill anyone, took up stones to kill Jesus!

John 18:31  So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death," 

10:34  Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? :35  "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), :36  do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 

:37  "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; :38  but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father." 

Jesus always used scripture, scripture they should have been known, to reply to them. Psalms 82:6  I said, "You are gods, And all of you are sons of the Most High.” He again states that He and the Father are one. They share in the oneness of their divine essence, even while being two distinct persons. It once again shows the difficulty of miracles resulting in eternal life or saving faith.

:39  Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp. :40  And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. They could not seize Him as it was not His time. He was in total sovereign control over His life, death, and resurrection.

:41  Many came to Him and were saying, "While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true." :42  Many believed in Him there. 

We have to come to some understanding as to what believing in Him really means. Even the demons believe as does their evil leader Satan, the disciples often declared their belief, but ran and hid when He was arrested. Maybe this can be addressed at another time.

More next Saturday.

Persecution-Are you Ready?-19

How many sermons have you ever heard about the wrath of Jehovah or the coming persecution of true believers? Jesus warned us about both and we need to not only be prepared, but warn others as well. While we studied this some time ago, it is time for a short reminder.

Ezekiel 33:1  The word of the LORD came to me: 33:2  "Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 33:3  and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 33:4  then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 33:5  He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 

33:6  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. 

Those of us who know Jehovah, know His Word, and daily seek to serve Him, we need to warn others. We all need to prepare for what is coming. Now, where will our persecution come from and what should we do? John 10 is a series of comparisons and contrasts.

John 10:1  "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 10:2  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 

10:3  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 10:4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 

The sheepfold is the world. There are basically two types of shepherds, the true, good shepherd and the myriad of false shepherds. Our ‘good’ Shepherd calls His own out by name; it is a personal and individual. And all who are His respond in faith and follow Him, which is to obey Him.

10:5  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." How well can you discern the voice and lies of all the false teachers and preachers?

10:6  This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 

This was often the case with the apostles, they did not understand, not yet at least.

10:7  So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 10:8  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 10:9  I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 

The door is a picture of being ‘in’ Christ or abiding in Him. This visual depiction of Jesus was a familiar one to the apostles, as there were many herds of sheep and sheep pens in Judah. But, this picture goes all the way back to the exodus of Israel from Egypt.

Exodus 12:21  Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 

12:22  Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 

12:23  For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 

12:24  You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 

The Israelites had to kill the ‘Passover’ lamb, pour out its blood, and then basically spread its blood all around the doorway. In order to save their lives, they then had to enter through this blood stained door. Death was all around them outside, but they were all safe inside. This is the eternal picture of salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ.

10:10  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

10:11  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

10:12  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 10:13  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 

The comparison continues and certain elements are repeated. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. The false shepherds are thieves, robbers, hired hands, and wolves. All in it for themselves in some way, but none truly care for their sheep. They will kill and destroy the sheep in their flocks. There are far more false shepherds leading blind sheep to the slaughter than the few good shepherds leading them in truth.

10:14  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 10:15  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

10:16  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 

This is now the second time Jesus tells them that He will lay down His life. But, the apostles still did not understand although they certainly were listening! Listening is not enough.

10:17  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 10:18  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." 

This dispels the lies about who killed Jesus. First, Jesus the Son of God did not die, He cannot be killed. His earthly body died, as will ours, but His deity is eternal, as is our soul. Secondly, He is in total control at all times. No one takes His life, He gives up or gave up His life for us. He voluntarily paid for all our sins by His blood.

Romans 5:9  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 

10:19  There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 

10:20  Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?" 10:21  Others said, "These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" 

These divisions continue on today. They will not believe so they make up stories to ease their guilt. He cannot be who He says He is, so He is either out of His mind, or a demon. Some knew that demons don’t heal blind men, who had been blind from birth! But, still did not believe in Him. Than is the world today. Many, when asked, “Who is Jesus?” Many may say that He is the Son of God. But, all rational thought ends with that statement. They never truly take it to the next level of questioning. They remain lost, deceived, and following the false shepherds.

More next Saturday.

Persecution the Cost of Being a Disciple of Christ-18

Who wants to be persecuted? Of course, the world’s answer is no one! But, people are being persecuted around the world every day. Politics, race, religion, economics, food, class, country of origin, lineage, family associations, and the list goes on and on. Satan tries to create strife, wars, murders, enslavement, death, class struggles, and disunity anyway he can.

False leaders and false teachers are his servants to aid in this deception. The Bible warns us about false prophets, false teachers, false shepherds, and evil priests. What are their schemes and what are their motives? Let us look into one example from the Book of John.

John 9:1  As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth.  9:2  And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?" 9:3  Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 

What was the prevailing belief for someone born with a defect of any kind? It was apparently the sins of the parents or of the child. Interestingly the disciples asked was it the sins of the child. How could a child born blind be guilty of sin? This doesn’t seem very thoughtful on their part, but traditions often blind us to the truth. But, they should have been very aware of this passage in Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 18:20  "The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father's iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son's iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself. 

9:4  "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 9:5  "While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world." 

There is always the right time and the wrong time to do anything. But, we must do His work first and foremost. Our lives are but a vapor, we cannot always postpone His work for our own worldly desires.

9:6  When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 9:7  and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. 

There are a number of truths in these two verses. First, Jesus did ‘work’ according to the oral law, in that, He made clay. This is what a potter does for his work and therefore prohibited by the Pharisees. Secondly, what was the role of the blind man? He had to obey and go. He had to wash in the pool. Only after that would his sight be given to him. He had to particate in faith to the Words of Jesus.

9:8  Therefore the neighbors, and those who previously saw him as a beggar, were saying, "Is not this the one who used to sit and beg?" 9:9  Others were saying, "This is he," still others were saying, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the one." 9:10  So they were saying to him, "How then were your eyes opened?" 

In effect, they could not believe their eyes! This man had been a beggar for years. They all knew he had been born blind, he had never seen. Blind people have a way of walking, standing, conversing that is noticeable as they have never seen anything. He looked and acted so differently that they had a hard time seeing him as they once had. That should be the same for us. After Jesus opens our spiritual eyes, everyone should also wonder about the change in us.

9:11  He answered, "The man who is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went away and washed, and I received sight." 9:12  They said to him, "Where is He?" He *said, "I do not know." 9:13  They *brought to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind. 

Interesting, why did they bring him to the Phariees? The Pharisees had already made it clear that they wanted to know what this ‘Jesus’ was doing. Today, the world wants to know what you are doing as well.

9:14  Now it was a Sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 9:15  Then the Pharisees also were asking him again how he received his sight. And he said to them, "He applied clay to my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 9:16  Therefore some of the Pharisees were saying, "This man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. 

Miracles did not register with these elders. They were never able to perform any miracles and did not like the attention given to Jesus when He performed them.

9:17  So they *said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?" And he said, "He is a prophet." 

9:18  The Jews then did not believe it of him, that he had been blind and had received sight, until they called the parents of the very one who had received his sight, 9:19  and questioned them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?"  9:20  His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 9:21  but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." 9:22  His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed Him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.  9:23  For this reason his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." 

Fear is a very powerful motivator. Here the parents feared being thrown out of the ‘Temple’ system. They had been taught that their very eternal life was dependent on being in the ‘Temple’. Many false systems teach the very same thing. Your salvation is tied to your membership.

9:24  So a second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner." 9:25  He then answered, "Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." 

9:26  So they said to him, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" 9:27  He answered them, "I told you already and you did not listen; why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?" 

9:28  They reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 9:29  "We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from." 

He was not giving them the ‘right’ answer. The problem was their approach to a miracle. They should have been rejoicing and praising GOD. They should have been looking for Jesus themselves. They should have been proclaiming this mirace around the land. But, no they only tried to discredit and pressure the man to change his testimony and deny Jesus. This sounds like the persecution during the Inquisition of the 12th to 18th centuries. All you had to do to live was renounce your faith.

9:30  The man answered and said to them, "Well, here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. 9:31  "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. 9:32  "Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 9:33  "If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." 

The blind man could see better than the blind Pharisees. Disagreeing with them was a sin. They kicked him out, shunned him, ostracized him and wanted nothing more to do with him.

9:34  They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you teaching us?" So they put him out. 9:35  Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 9:36  He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" 9:37  Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you." 9:38  And he said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped Him. 

Jesus heard, but He already knew all of this. He sought him out, just as He pursued each of us. He then revealed in a very real sense that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of God! How did this now seeing man respond? He prostrated himself in front of Jesus and praised Him as GOD.

9:39  And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." 9:40  Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, "We are not blind too, are we?" 9:41  Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains. 

Spiritually blind people don’t believe they are blind. They are convinced that their religion saves them. That they know just enought ‘truth’ to live without surrendering to Jesus.

Jesus reminds them and us, that blind men have to pay for the costs and penalties of their sin. This is a terrible condition to live with and for which to die. The offer and gift of salvation has a time limit; don’t wait too long or it may expire.

More next Saturday.

Persecution for a Miracle?-17

No one wants to be persecuted. Perhaps some of you have beesn or are being persecuted. There are many reasons people are being persecuted, but how many are for doing good? Well, Satan will make sure anyone serving the only true and living GOD are both persecuted and silenced. Let us study one such example.

Acts 3:1  Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 3:2  And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 

3:3  When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 

3:4  But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 3:5  And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 

3:6  But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!" 3:7  And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 

3:8  With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 

3:9  And all the people saw him walking and praising God;  3:10  and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 

This should have been an opportunity for a community celebration! This man had been lame from birth, which means he had never walked. His years of lameness had left his legs thin and without muscle or real physical size. You may have seen pictures from Africa or India of men who had never walked. A very sad condition to live with in those countries. At least in the U.S. there are many ways to continue to live even with this problem.

But, Peter took hold of his hand and the man immediately leaped up. What also happened immediately? He gained muscle and nerves, coordination, and the ability to stand. All of this in a instant. He, who had never walked, leaped to his feet. Feet he had never used, balance he had never learned, and strength he never felt all in an instant. This was an undeniable miracle from GOD!

Acts 4:1  As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 4:2  being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 4:3  And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 

4:4  But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 

What was the charge? What was the problem? A miracle that could not be denied and one none of the rulers, elders, or scribes had ever performed, was this really such a problem that all of the elders gathered together?

4:5  On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 4:6  and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 4:7  When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" 

Do you have to put people in prison because they healed someone miraculously? Couldn’t they just ask them to appear the next day? Did they really want to know?

4:8  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 4:9  if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 4:10  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 4:11  "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 4:12  "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 

Peter, who denied Jesus three times, is no longer afraid. He boldly declared the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He reminded them that they brought Him to Pilate and insisted in having Jesus crucified. Instead of the elders having the secret and power to ‘save’ people, Peter said it was only possible and available in the name of Jesus.

Act 4:13  Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 4:14  And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 

4:15  But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 4:16  saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 

How could they get another message out when everyone already knew of the miracle? Just like the ‘fake’ news today, they want their version to be the only version, their message being the only message, and their ‘truth’ being the only ‘truth’!

4:17  "But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name." 

4:18  And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

Satan will persecute and silence anyone who speaks the truth. First, threaten them into silence. Remember, these same elders crucified Jesus and had put them in prison for a night. They had the power to make Peter and John’s lives miserable.

4:19  But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 4:20  for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." 

Can’t stop speaking what they had personally experienced! We must obey our authorities, unless they insist we obey in direct disobedience to GOD.

4:21  When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 4:22  for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 

More threats! They were somewhat constrained by the people, but were not in any way convicted to acknowledge GOD’s miracle right in front of their faces. This man was 40 years old! Some of you may have been injured or sick which had required weeks in a bed. Physical atrophy starts to seriously affect us within 2 weeks. Imagine 40 years of very limited physical activity!

Do you remember how you felt when you first were saved? Was your joy so overwhelming that you jumped with joy?

What have we learned?

1. Satan will persecute all who are bold enough to proclaim the truth.

2. Satan has many schemes and the first is often threats.

3. Satan will throw us into prison for not breaking the country law, but for fighting against him.

4. Satan doesn’t need witnesses, proof of violations of a known law, or agreements of a council to put us in prison.

Our response is to serve GOD!

More next Saturday.

How should we respond to persecution? -16

As we should flee from sin, we are in a world of sinners. We need to speak truth to the world, as their eternal destiny hangs in the balance. Jehovah has commanded us to live and speak the truth. This comes at a cost. We will be persecuted for being followers of Christ.

John 15:18  "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 15:19  "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 

15:20  "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

15:21  "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. 

This is very strong language but it is true. The world under the power of Satan hates Jesus and therefore hates us. Anyone who preaches that Jehovah will save us from persecution is a false teacher. If we remain silent, keep to ourselves, don’t spread the gospel, we most likely will escape persecution. But, that would be sinful. Jehovah will not protect us from persecution, but will help us endure it.

Let us look at the experience of Paul and Silas.

Acts 16:16  It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 16:17  Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." 16:18  She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment. 

They had compassion on a demon possessed slave girl. What kind of life would she have had? It must have been miserable!

16:19  But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, 16:20  and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, "These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, 16:21  and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans." 

Evil men did not care for this girl, they abused her so she could earn them money. What charge did they bring against Paul and Silas? They made it up and incited a mob!

16:22  The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 16:23  When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 16:24  and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 

Raw bleeding backs, falsely accused, and no justice-just painful beatings in the street. Now they are placed in stock so they can’t move or even go to the bathroom. They were then placed in an inner cell that had held similar prisoners. Imagine what it would smell like. No food, no light, just cramping legs and bleeding backs.

16:25  But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;16:26  and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 

What would have been your response! How could they pray and sing in their condition? Is this how Jehovah treats His servants? But, now an earthquake that opened gates/doors and unfastened chains!

16:27  When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 16:28  But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!" 

Jailers and guards would have to endure the punishment of any prisoners who escaped. The jailer thought he should kill himself to escape such a punishment.

16:29  And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 16:30  and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 16:31  They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 6:32  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 

Interesting that the first thing the jailer asked was what must I do to be saved! That is the most important question anyone could ever ask. Paul and Silas responded with the gospel and all in his household who heard believed!

16:33  And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 16:34  And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. 

16:35  Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, "Release those men." 16:36  And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore come out now and go in peace." 

Beaten and imprisoned falsely was one thing, but to a Roman citizen was a crime in itself.

16:37  But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out." 16:38  The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 16:39  and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. 

Who should have been given mercy? Now the very people who showed them no mercy are pleading with them. Of course they were only thinking of themselves. Paul and Silas were thinking of their brothers in the city. The magistrates would be far more restrained about trying to harass or condemn the brothers with this hanging over their heads.

16:40  They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed. 

Again, the beaten ones encouraged the brethren in the city. Enduring trials may lead to salvation of those watching you. Jehovah’s plans are not our plans nor His ways our ways. We need to obey and place our trust in Him.

More next Saturday.