Matthew 12 - Blaspheming the Holy Spirit

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against theHoly Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Matthew 12:31-32. 

When the Pharisees saw how Jesus delivered all the multitudes from demonic diseases and afflictions, they attributed this power and authority to Beelzebub, a demonic entity. Of course, this defied logic, because even Satan understands that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus declared that these signs and wonders were evidence that the Kingdom of God has come to Israel AND that Satan, who was the god of that world system, had been bound. Jesus and his disciples were spoiling the strong man's house, right and left!

One would think that the leaders of Israel would be rejoicing at this wonderful work of God, but instead, they hardened their hearts all the more. Jesus warned them of the coming judgment; those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven. How does one blaspheme the Spirit of God? By rejecting what the Spirit offers: the salvation of Jesus Christ!

We who are born again in Him know that we have been forgiven of all sins, past, present, and future. We can never blaspheme the Holy Spirit, since we are new creations in Christ Jesus. Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and we are completely forgiven! That is very good news!

Matthew 12 - Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. Matthew 12: 6-8.

After rebuking the cities in Israel for not believing in Him, Jesus gives a spiritual explanation of faith, relaying that no one can truly know the Father unless He is revealed by Jesus. And in order for Jesus to reveal the Father to anyone, that person must first come to Jesus and desire the yoke that He offers, one that is easy and burden-free.

Unfortunately, as in the first century, many people in our day do not desire what Jesus has to offer. Simply put, knowing the heavenly Father requires coming to Jesus as a little child and believing what He has to say! This is easier said than done for many people.

In Chapter 12, Jesus seemingly violates the Sabbath by picking grain from the corn fields to feed His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they accused Him of violating the law, as this was considered work. Jesus replied that good works should always be done on the Sabbath; just as one would rescue his or her sheep that had fallen into a pit or well on the Sabbath, God rescues His sheep (mankind) from the pit of sin and despair on the Sabbath. In fact, believing in Jesus is honoring the Sabbath, because when one is born again IN HIM, that person has entered into the Lord's Sabbath--the place of rest where one ceases trying to please God through works but instead rests on what Jesus has done on the cross.

Doing good on the Sabbath is not a violation of God's law--God has always desired mercy more than sacrifice. This was demonstrated in the Old Covenant when David took the shewbread from the Holy Place, which he was not allowed to do under the law, and fed it to his men. Likewise, the Levitical priests were constantly working on the Sabbath, having to fulfill their temple duties, and yet they were not considered to be in violation of the law. Do you see how religion is blind to the true meaning behind God's Word?

To demonstrate that He was superior to the temple system, Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees responded by seeking to kill Him, not giving praise to God for His goodness in sending Messiah as He had promised through the prophets. They loved their law more than they did the mercy and loving kindness of God.

That is the calling card of religion: mean, condemning, merciless, cold, harsh, and hard. God never has had anything to do with man's religion.

Matthew 11 - No Shades of Gray!

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. Matthew 11: 25-26. 

Chapter 11 reveals a very tough Jesus who upbraids and rebukes the villages in Israel who saw His miracles, yet refused to believe. He pointed the finger in judgment and claimed that some of the surrounding, evil cities like Sodom would've repented long ago had they seen the signs and wonders that Israel had seen. He even insinuated that those wicked cities would fare much better on the day of judgment.

Can you imagine the Savior speaking such words? But He did. He was very serious about belief, and He still is today. Israel was harshly judged in 70AD and the temple system and the city came literally and figuratively crashing down. Jesus wants all men to come to Him and believe. We are to follow where the evidence leads and believe what truth reveals. The Gospels clearly show that Jesus is Messiah!

Fortunately, since the cross and resurrection, we who have been born again IN Him are not subject to judgment, since He took our sin away when He died on Calvary's hill. That is very good news. We have to come to Him like a little child, trusting in His word, and then a fuller revelation of what all that entails comes as we walk out our faith.

That is exactly what happened to the disciples. When Jesus sent them out to minister, they marveled that they, too, had authority over demons in His name. He rejoiced to the Father that this wonderful revelation of the power of Messiah had been revealed to little children.

Wise, learned theologians try to understand the things of the heavenly father and the Holy Spirit, but they will always come away looking like fools. The truly wise will receive in faith, trusting as a child.

Matthew 10 - Be Wise as Serpents!

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

As Jesus amazes the multitudes with signs and wonders, including the opening of blind eyes and the loosing of the stilled tongue, the scribes and Pharisees mock and scoff, claiming He is performing miracles in the name of Beelzebub (the devil). Nevertheless, Jesus' heart melted with compassion over the multitudes, who He saw as sheep without a shepherd. He instructed His disciples to pray that more laborers be sent out to the bring in the harvest of human souls for the kingdom.

In Chapter 10, we see a tough, straight-talking Jesus who makes it very clear that His disciples will suffer much in sharing the Gospel with Israel. However, He also told them they would be fully provided for and protected in doing what was required. He exhorted them to be as wise as serpents but to be as gentle as doves, and that as He was demonized, mocked and scoffed, they, too, would be treated in a similar manner. He warned them that a servant is not above His master. Many of us today who step out and share God's word with the world have suffered this type of persecution.

Jesus also gave a warning touching the End Times (the period leading up to 70 AD and the destruction of the temple system and the city of Jerusalem). He warned them that they would be beaten, perhaps killed, betrayed by family, that they would basically lose their worldly life in finding their true life, which is the life of the spirit of God. Jesus makes no bones about the fact that those who refuse to leave worldly desires and pressures, perhaps even from family, are not worthy of being His disciples; those who refuse to acknowledge Him will not be acknowledged by Him before the heavenly Father. Essentially, Christianity is a commitment to be 100% sold out to Jesus. This is a black and white issue - there are no shades of gray!

Make the decision today and move forward IN Christ Jesus!

Carolyn Hamlett - Rescued from the Illuminati

Please read this posting from Carolyn Hamlett who was rescued out of the Illuminati after becoming born again into Jesus Christ, the Messiah. She writes one of the best descriptions of what it means to be truly born again. Her blog is fascinating and her testimony is powerful. There are quite a few Youtube videos of her as well.

http://beyondthephysical.blogspot.com/2009/09/comment-to-my-post-jesus-problem.html?m=1

Matthew 9 - Blind Eyes are Opened!

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. Matthew 9:28-29.

After Jesus raised Jarius' daughter from her deathbed, He was followed home by two blind men who recognized Him as the Son of David. Jesus seemingly ignored them until He went inside the house where He was staying and then asked them if they truly believed He was able to heal them. I don't think Jesus was questioning their belief regarding His power, but rather His desire to use that power to heal them. Could His power actually open the eyes of the blind?

This is a very important question that many of us Christians need to ask ourselves regarding our perspective of the Savior. Do we really and truly believe that He is able and willing to heal us, deliver us, set us free, open our spiritual eyes to the wonders of God, or whatever our request may be? Even raise a loved one from the dead?

These men answered "yes" and then Jesus opened their eyes - a picture of the post 30 AD believer whose spiritual eyes would be opened based solely on the preaching of the Word. He told them that they were healed in accordance with their faith - a very important spiritual truth for us to remember. 

When these men were sent away, a mute man was delivered of a demon and his tongue was loosed. The multitudes were astonished at these events and marveled at all Jesus was doing in Israel.

The beauty of recognizing Jesus as Messiah (the Son of David) is that we become born again, and our spiritual eyes are opened just as these blind men's eyes were opened in the natural. While natural sight is wonderful, spiritual sight is far and above more important than anything we can see in the natural realm. 

As new creations IN Christ, God gives us eyes to see and a tongue to confess the wonderful things He is doing on this earth. Praise Him for such a glorious gift!

Matthew 9 - The Curse is Removed and the Dead are Raised!

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22.

After Jesus forgave the paralytic man of his sins, He taught the disciples a bit on righteousness and fasting and then had a break-through with the ruler of the local synagogue, Jarius. While his daughter lay on her deathbed,  this Jewish ruler came to Jesus, asking Him to come and lay His hands on her for healing. As Jesus made His way to Jarius' house a woman who had a bleeding problem for 12 years touched the hem of His garment and was miraculously healed. Jesus announced that she was a daughter of Abraham and that her faith had made her whole.

Unfortunately, by the time Jesus came to Jarius' house, his daughter had died. But to Jesus, this was a non-event, for He announced that she was merely sleeping. Those in the house laughed Him to scorn to the point where He had to put them outside in order to raise her up. Even the Lord knew how debilitating it is to one's faith when surrounded by doubters and mockers. Of course, she was raised up from the deathbed, which only increased Jesus' fame throughout all of Israel.

We should be seeing these miracles in our day, since Jesus is the same, yesterday, and forevermore. Sadly, so many of us are told that God doesn't heal like that anymore, and that He certainly never raises people from the dead. How untrue! My research has revealed that there are believers in other parts of the world uncontaminated by denominationalism who have experienced miraculous, supernatural victories over death! Let's be bold and believe the wonderful things laid out in God's holy Word!