Jesus goes back to the scene of one of his biggest "crimes", 'raising Lazarus from the dead, in Bethany. Jesus knew that the Jews were looking for him (Ck. John 11:24) Was it courage, wisdom, or destiny? Many would probably call it stupidity. Call it what you will......but he knew what he was doing. He had a few more lessons to teach. He knew that he was in God's hands and nobody was going to take him out before his time
(CF. John 10:28-30; Heb. 9:27).
"28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 I and my Father are one."
Application: When threats, harrassments get stronger, don't back off because of them, go deeper as the Lord leads.
John 12 cont.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Just as a lamb is cool, calm, collective when the shepherd is around so was this Lamb since this Lamb was also the shepherd who was soon to become the Passover Lamb (Ck. John 1:29 cf. Ex. 12:5,6). Not only was this lamb cool, calm, and collective even without the deodorant that they advertise on t.v., he was full of joy (Ck. John 15:11; Heb. 12:2,3) and he knew what he was about to go through. (Unbelievable to say the least).
Application: Always be ready, trusting in him.
Cf. Prov. 3:5,6; Read Matt. 24:36-44)
John 12 cont.
9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
As we walk in the life of Jesus, the power of God will become more and more evident in our lives, people will hunt us out because they know that we have what they need but then again, there will be others who will be self-satisfied in their religious life and they will try to put us out of action.
Spoken on before in John 11:45,46).
John 12 cont.
12 On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
14 And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
15 Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
Jesus attacts (draws) people but a lot of times they go to him for the wrong reasons (or maybe not enough of the right reasons).
Many times we don't see the hand of God in something till it's all over.
John 12 cont.
17 The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
18 For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
It has just got to be more than physical healing, deliverances, being fed physically (Ck. John 6:2,26 but remember Rom 15:19). We need to partake of his life, know him (Phil. 3:10).
We need all that God offers as a whole and not just the parts that we think that we want but all of it. Then the Pharisees (those of the world) won't accomplish much of anything (v. 19).
John 12 cont.
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
Now the time has gone for Jesus to be glorified through his death, burial, and resurrection. He was buried and rose to bring forth fruit (us) and we should be producing what he produced because we are born of the incorruptible seed of God (Ck. I Peter 2:23-35). Now his life is in us (Cf. Phil. 4:13; 2:13).
John 12
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
You need to hate your life (carnal, sin nature) so much that you bury it or shouyld I say you allow the husbandman to bury the seed within you (and in so doing will bury you) and new life will come forth (CK. I Peter 1:23; John 15:1-6; II Cor. 5:17). He buries the seed and new life comes forth through this. He gives you (the plant) power to stay buried, rooted in the ground so that you can bear fruit (CK. John 15:7; Phil. 4:13, Deut. 30:19; and then I Cor. 15:58).
The husbandman (vinedresser, gardener) does the work, the plant does the submitting (because it has to) but in the supernatural, the human plant doesn't have to do it so he or she will either toil or spin or let the vinedresser put 'life' in it and then the plant will produce fruit. It'll just grow naturally, properly because it is letting the gardener do the feeding, nourishing, caring for, planting or re-planting (establishing) or whatever else is needed. CK. Matt. 6:24-34. Also John 15:1-6 already discussed.
Once again, I see that faith is the key
Cf. John 5:24
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
First the death then the life that will never see death...
(CF. John 8:51).
"51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."
Then this life which is never to see death should be producing a fruit that shows that it has everlasting life (a different kind of life, the highest life) by bringing forth a different kind of fruit, the best fruit.
Reading Gal. 5:16-19-22-25...
This is what the plant produces as it allows the garderner to work with it and in it...
The two types of fruit from the two types of life within the living plant that we are...
This is what the plant produces by depending upon itself...
John 12 cont.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
As a man, Jesus didn't want to go through the things that he knew he was about to experience (the beatings, the mockery, the abuse, the laughter, taking sin upon himself, etc.) but as God in human form, he knew that was the reason why he came...
So the fitting conclusion: "Father, glorify thy name"
The Father says, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
My mind goes to Jesus...
In seeing him, they were seeing God
(John 14:9)
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
In believing in him, they were believing in God
(John 12:44)
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
In receiving him, they were receiving God
(Mark 9:37)
37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
In honoring him, they were honoring God
(John 5:23)
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
In hating him, they were hating God
(John 15:23)
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
He is the I AM of Ex. 3:14
(CK. John 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:6; Mark 14:61,62)
His miracles, his confrontations
CK. John 7:46, "...never a man spake like this man."
John 7:37-47...
"37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
40 Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
41 Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
43 So there was a division among the people because of him.
44 And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
45 Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
47 Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?"
Religious people are usually a big problem when a person wants to go deeper with God, they will lose their followings to the Lord Jesus Christ and they do not want that...
Remember God won't give his glory to another...
(Ck. Isa. 42:8 cf. John 17:1-5-10)
Isa.42:8
"8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."
Also John 17:1-10
"1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them."
John 12 cont.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
As all of this is going on, (the Father and the Son speaking with one another, there was a storm coming up and the angels watching...
Application: It's true with us when we are in fellowship, communion, conversation with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost Satan is working in the background getting a storm going.
First lets see it in the natural and then in the supernatural...
Matt.8:23-27
"23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
John 12 cont.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
You know when you are younger in Jesus, how you feel that you need to audibly hear the voice of God, see some visions, have a lot of spiritual dreams, anything to show others how spiritual that you are BUT as you grow more mature in Jesus Christ, you don't look for it to have to thrill others, it just becomes a natural thing for the supernatural to happen in and around your life.
John 12 cont.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Because Satan has already been judged, defeated through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ...
John 12 cont.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ
abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
He does abide forever in the hearts of his people...
John 12 cont.
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
I discussed this a little when we were in John 11:9, 10, the spiritual application of Jesus being the light. (John 8:12) Remember when we were talking about Jesus saying, "...greater works than I do shall you do..." Let's tie the thought here in John 14:12-14 with Matt. 5:14-16. It is the same line of thought.
God is our light- Ck. Isa. 60:19,20; Psa. 27:1 also cf. Rev. 21:23.
Now as we walk in the light, we become lights shining brighter because we are children of the light...
Sun(Son)- moon(Christians)-- We're a reflection of the Son (sun), we need to be a full moon, we reflect the Son, the more that we know him...
We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus-- Rom. 8:17-19
(((Some tell me that if I am an heir of God then I would be a god. I tell them it doesn't work that way. If I leave all my stuff to my dog, he is my heir but he doesn't become a human.)))
"...as he is so are we in this world.--I John 4:16,17
"And for me, that utterance..." (Eph. 6:19)
Tying in Col. 1:26,27-- "Even the mystery that has been hid.."
If we claim to be believers then let's act like believers...
(Heb. 3:7-4:11)
"7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.
10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.
17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
John 12 cont.
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our "report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,
40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
He has been doing all these miracles and they still didn't believe on him.
Remember John 10:24-30, 36-38; John 14:5-7, 8-10; John 5:16-23; also check John 8:48-59. A lot of these were used when I was teaching John 10..
In V. 38, John is quoting Isa. 53:1-- "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"
Let's go to Isa. 59:15-20 and we shall see that the arm of the LORD is the LORD himself.
Isa. 59:
"15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."
Cf. Isa. 63:5,6 and we see v.6 coming to pass in Rev. 6:16,17.
Isa. 63:
"5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth."
We will see v. 6 coming to pass in Rev. 6:16,17...
Rev. 6:
"16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
Then in John 10:40, John quotes Isa.6:10 but let's go back to V.8, this speaks to me as a type of Christ.
My mind goes to what Jesus told the Jews in John 5:39,40 and all they had was the O.T. so I expect to see Jesus Christ in it and when I read it sure enough, he is all through it.
Isa. 6:8-10
"8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."
Even though Isaiah said that he would go, it's a perfect type of Christ who was also sent of God but he came willingly... Let's go to Matt. 13:10-17 to see that Jehovah God did fulfil this when he came in human flesh and walked this planet, he spoke in parables.
Matt. 13
"10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."
But wait a minute, Danny- God is long suffering, not willing that any should perish...
Verses like Lam. 3:22,23; II Peter 3:9; I Tim. 2:4 and others, Danny...
Yes, BUT there is a stopping place, a point of no-return, so to speak...
ILLUSTRATION: In Ex. 7 and 8, we see that the Pharoah hardens his own heart but in Ch. 9 of Exodus, God hardened the Pharoah's heart even harder then it was already hardened. The time came for the Pharoah to suffer the consequences for not listening to the voice of God.
Rom. 9:
"14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:"
V. 22 IS THE KEY VERSE HERE...
Application: Be sensitive, open and obedient to the LORD...
Dealing with John 10:41 again...
Whose glory did Isaiah see? Jehovah's
Who was it being applied to? Jesus
John 12 cont.
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
This is powerful... These two verses really speak, they fit a lot of Christians... So many tell me that they "believed on him" yet they never confess him openly because they "fear they might be" put out of their family, their job, their church, even their life...
Phil. 1:21--
Let's use a few illustrations...
A JOB ILLUSTRATION:
A FATHER AND SON ILLUSTRATION:
"21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Luke 9:23--
"23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
Witness??? But God, that doesn't make sense... They'll think we are fanatics, like crazy. They won't pat us on the back and tell us what fine people we are... They'll think that we flipped out.
"Honey, why don't you come in here and watch T.V. with me?"
"I can't right now, I'm reading the bible."
"But I wanted you to watch 'Saturday Night Live' with me. We read the bible just last Sunday night... Uh huh, yea, we did because we stayed home last Sun. morning to watch the football game."
Yea, that's what I'm reading now, the words that we read in the bible last Sunday night in the church building because something, someone was speaking to me and I'm trying to understand who or what?"
"Well, just come in here and sit with me and try to understand it later, ok? Pleeasssseee!"
"Yea, the preacher did say, 'God, marriage, ministry.' I try to understand it later BUT right now I need to minister to my spouse. Coming dear!"
Well, son, I remember when I was your age and I had a religious experience and I was pretty excited about it too. But just take my word for it, it'll pass away, you'll get over it. So do as your teacher says and keep your religion to yourself. Don't be talking about it so much to your friends at school, you might lose them and then you will be sorry.
Somewhere in the bible, God says, "Be religious but keep it personal, just between you and me and nobody else." I wish that I could remember where that verse was at. I think that was in the book of Andrew, Ch. 7, I think v. 14. I use to be a scriptorian, I knew those scriptures backwards and forwards but I grew up and now I am involved in more important things in life-- making money and raising a family. I'm still religious on Sundays and sometimes on Wednesdays but I have to take care of my family and make money...
What son? Where did you say? Matt. 10:34-39 and Matt. 19:28-30. Let's read them.
"34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
and Matt. 19:28-30
"28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."
Son, it doesn't mean what it says. You're interpreting it wrong. It means make money and raise a family...
What son? Oh!-- the family of God? Yes, yes...
When someone came to me with a need. I told them that I would pray for them and I did. There's a scripture that goes, "Be honest and don't be dishonest, saith the Lord." I think, KJV.
Clara comes to mind. I remember that hard, cold winter we had back in '28. Just the summer of that year, Clara goes through a divorce. Her husband met another woman so he divorces Clara and marries her. You should have heard the whole story behind it! Anyway, Clara comes over to my house. She didn't have enough money for her food and heating bill, she has seven kids, you know! So I prayed for them and they made it through the winter, she lost quite a bit of weight but they made it through the winter and I like to think it was because of my prayers.
What son? Where now??
James 2-- huh? Let's read it...
"14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
I grew up in the world, son. I grew up!? Fight to stay alive, surival of the fittest, you know! We're in reality, now!
What son? (He quotes I John 2:15, 16).
What son, have I ever read the parable of the sower in Matt. 13?
I can't remember, let's read it...
Matt. 13:18-23
"18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
The END of my short story...
On and on, it could go- one excuse after another because we are growing up in the world like these people and not in God...
(Rem. John 8:32, John 17:17, Prov. 3:5,6 and others...)
John 12 cont.
44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
These verses should fit every Christian...
Matt. 5:16
"16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
John 12 cont.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Jesus didn't come a Judge the first time but he will the second time as we talked about earlier
Ck. Rev. 6
"16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
John 12 cont.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
PRAY!!!