Prof. Bank-Ola Steve PhD
Friday 30 October 2015
Monday 29 June 2015
UNDERSTANDING THE WAY OF UNDERSTANDING
:Seeing
life from God’s perspective.
REV.
PROF. BANK-OLA, STEVE – Ph.D.
Introduction
The
mind is the Centre of reasoning and reasoning has to do with rationalized,
logical & analytical thinking. It is absolutely obvious that God works and
thinks on a totally different level than we homo-sapiens do. After spending a
quality of my life in the exercise of the left logical side of my brain trying
to figure out God; people, events and reason; I am left irritated and
emotionally dehydrated. What makes it most interesting is we look back and the
flow of our lives make perfect sense and in God’s perfect timing. The question
that arises is – is it possible to live in a state of mind where we just go
with God’s flow without trying to grab hold and figure life out in our own
way?. The Bible quite agrees to this in Ps 18:30 – ” As for God, his way is
perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust
in him”.
I often ask myself – why do we even think we
need to understand God’s way?. Do we
think our ways are better? Sure, we do at times. When we finally get to the
point where we fully comprehend and accept the fact that God’s ways are not our
ways and our plans are not better than God’s, we tend to enjoy the river of life
more and look forward to the journey a head without uncertainty. As a man tube
down in a river so a believer needs to have an inner–tubing down the river of
life which is the word of God. You equally must know that if you stay on that
tube which is the word of God in your heart, you will have a fun and
interesting ride down the river and eventually get taken to where you want to
go. As you set on the river you have no
control of what direction you face, the current sets your pace and you are
directed by natures’ Obstacles through the water. Hence while you have
absolutely no say in your destining down the river there is such a comfort
sitting on that tube floating on top of the waves feeling that powerful body of
water beneath you. My reader, there is another chance for you now even as you
are reading this book. God is working on your life above the water or in the
currents below. Do you want to fully understand what God is doing? Get that
inner tube, get on top alongside God I mean study the word, hold on in trust
and let the river of His Holy Spirit give you a ride of a life time.
There
are four of the ways of understanding. For someone who had heard quality
teachings and instructions from the scriptures which represents the mind of
God.
1.
He can disagree with it.
2.
He can agree with it
3.
He can yield to it
4.
He can see it.
The
teaching and instructions from our maker – God are meant for the destruction of
all the satanic depositions as we read in Gal 5:19 for eliminating defilements,
for uprooting impurities, for putting an end to conceit, for guidance and restraint so that there may
be growth is good decline in evil, for
destroying ill. To these things an individual can disapprove or argue against
or offer counter – view or dismiss what he had heard. He may base his action or
“my way is one and the way of these teachings and instructions is another.
There is no agreement between my way and the way of this good teachings and instructions.
The
person or group of people in this category the Bible calls them “the dead” as we read in Prov.21:16.. “The man that wandereth out of the way
of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead’’. They
are moving corpse like the children of Israel in the book of Ezekiel’s 37:11 –14.
God saw that they are already in their graves even while they were alive. Why?
Because they strayed from the way of understanding of quality teachings and
instructions from the Almighty who is perfect in all things. Such a person or
group of people will never experience growth but a decline in good things.
Some
people may agree with and not disapprove of or, argue against, dismiss or offer
a counter – view. They embrace and hold to what they had heard. Yet they say
“my way is one and the way of the good teaching and instructions are one. There
is agreement between my way and the way of this teaching and instruction but in
body, conduct they conduct themselves according to their own way not the way of
good teachings and instructions of their maker and in higher matters of life
they have no understanding. For such category of people there would be
automatically a decline in good things and growth in their race of life the
bible calls them the “dead”.
An
individual who flows in the way of understanding is revealed as one able to see
into a matter and discern its composition by separating the individual factors
or features that compose or act together to form a whole, then to perceive the relationship
between them and comprehend, or grasp the significance or meaning of the matter
as it relates to his life in line with the mind of his maker – God. This may be
illustrated with a language. If a person is to understand what is spoken in a
certain tongue he must be able to distinguish individual words composing the
sentences, know their meaning and see how they relate to one another. However,
even though a person may basically comprehend what is said to him,
understanding can also go beyond such simple comprehension; it means that he
gets the real significance and sense of the message, and then is able to
evaluate its benefits by it and know what action it calls for. In the book of
Neh. 8:2 -8 when Ezra the priest read the book of the law before the people in
Jerusalem all intelligent enough to listen were gathered. Even though these had
mature minds able to understand all the words; the Levites were explaining the
law to the people – instructing the people in the law, or giving understanding
by reading aloud from the book of the law of the true God. It is being
expounded and they continued giving understanding in the reading.
Every
instruction of the scriptures is designed to convey definite profit to enhance
our glorious future. There are no useless instructions in the scripture because
the Bible is not a theological cafeteria where you take some and throw away
some - 2Tim 3:16. This connotes that the principles of the scripture are
profitable. Its corrections are profitable. The reports of the scriptures and
the teachings are profitable. You don’t have to say it because people will see
it. It is designed to add values and colour to believers’ lives. Every
outstanding has its root in understanding because it is the quality of your
understanding that determines the dimension of the outstanding you can ever
command.
According
to the book of Proverb 21:16; it means spiritual understanding is what
guarantees outstanding result you can dream of. There is so much agitation,
screaming, shouting in the body of Christ today because there is little depth
of understand. This is the reason behind all the sweating, yelling
restlessness, struggles and pricking. When we seek the depth of understanding,
we supernaturally scale the height because it is the depth that determines the
height we can scale. The reason is, the height of a building in the natural is
determined by the depth of its foundation.
It
is not just reading books, claiming promises, attending vigils, going to Mountain
tops, sleeping in churches etc. it is being able to tap into what is being
spoken by Christ and understand it. When your understanding blossoms you scale
the height you desire without sweat. My reader I believe you have given your
life to Christ as peradventure you have laid your hand on my book divine
illumination. Therefore let your emotion be set aside but let your
understanding come alive. Just understand God and the reason why you are earth,
you will be outstanding in your race of life because if purpose is not known
abuse is inevitable Ps.119:144–145 “The righteousness of thy testimonies is
everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. I cried with my whole
heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes.
You
need to understand here that the quality of your life is a function of your
spiritual understanding because every testimony is traceable to spiritual
understanding of God and His principles. You only need to get yourself
established in the way of understanding. The Eunuch said to Phillip, how can I
understand except someone guides me. That is the reason, God had ordained
prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors, apostle etc in the body of Christ to
enhance spiritual understanding of God’s people which this book in no measure
is intended to provoke on your inside the spiritual understanding about the
mind of God for the entire humanity and the reality of the life of dominion and
power to subdue and manifest God’s glory in the physical reality.
THE FINITE UNDERSTANDING MAN
When you don’t have the
power
of intuitive
understanding you
become slave to
nature’s necessities.
It
is an indisputable reality that God with his supernatural wisdom, ability and
creativity brought to bear the existing things in the cosmos. He determines the
understanding abilities of the living creatures according to their species and
He is the supreme example of the use of the understanding. The splendid
coordination and functioning of the universe in which each creature serves a
particular and harmonious purpose which no clashes or problems resulting from a
lack of discernment on their creator’s part manifest God’s understanding see
Job 38:36, Ps.126:5 –9, prov.3:19–20, Jer 10:12–13.
God
gave the animals instinctive understanding, each according to its kind. Man may
spend years gaining understanding of aerodynamics, but the eagles & falcons
instinctively know just how to read and
utilize the different types of air currents see Job 39:26. Animals however do
not have certain aspects of understanding that are peculiar to man as we could
see in Ps 32:9 “ Be ye not as the horse,
or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with
bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee”.
Despite man’s intensive research over centuries, many features and cycles operating according to divine laws still elude man’s full comprehension. What man can grasp from their study of the material creation only approaches the fringes of God’s way and is but a whisper as compared to mighty thunder. This is even more true of God’s works of judgment and salvation.
His thoughts being too deep for ungodly person to grasp – Job 26:7–14, Ps.92:5–6 “ He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?.. Ps 92:5-6. O Lord, how great are thy works. and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
Consideration
of divine understanding manifests in the material creation. This enables Job to
discern his proper relationship to the creator and humbly recognized his own
lack of understanding – Job 42:1-6. As the source of things in any realm of life,
God can exercise insight into the thoughts and doings of all mankind and He
chooses, gives thoughtful consideration or attention to individuals and classes
– see prov. 21:21, Ps 5:1-2. He knows his own invincible purpose and what He
will do in the future. His righteous judgment and standards are fixed and
unchangeable. Hence there is no wisdom nor any discernment, nor any counsel in
opposition to our father in heaven – God see Prov. 21:30 Compare Isa. 29:13 –
14, Jer 23:20, 30:24. He needs to consult no one to understand a matter such as
how to help His servants effectively or how to receive them from distress and
oppression. Isa 40:10 -15, 27:31, Daniel 9:32.
The
scripture says that they that know their God shall be strong and shall do
exploit. The knowledge of God and discernment of His will combined with faith
and trust therefore form the foundation of all true understanding on the part
of His intelligent creatures. Knowledge of the most Holy one is what
understanding is which includes understanding righteousness and judgment and
uprightness, the entire course of what is good. Prov. 9:10, 2:6 – 9, 16:20.
No
matter of real importance can be fully understood unless all the factors are
viewed from God’s standpoint and seen in relation to his standard, qualities
and eternal purpose. A man that increases in understanding would earn a double
results, that is an increase in knowledge and ability to deliver to others. He
could constantly increase in understanding if he consistently connects to his
source. He that does not in this sense begins to disconnect from his maker the
source of all things both in the natural and eternal as a factor to be
considered when making decisions and plans.
Such a person allows his heart to blind him to
the wrongness of his ways and loses insight – Job 24:27, Ps.36:1– 4. Even if claiming to worship God, he puts
men’s precepts above God’s and prefers them. He rationalizes and excuses his
loose conduct as mere sport and becomes perverted, brutish, stupid in his
reasoning, to the extreme of assuming that the invisible God does not see or
discern his wrong Ps. 94:4 – 10, Isa.29:3–16, prov.10:23, Ps.139:7–13. Some by
their courses and actions, they say in effect there is no God and leaves Him
out of the picture. Not being guided by divine principles he cannot Judge
matters correctly, see the issues,
evaluate the factors involved and arrive at right decision – Ps 53:1–2, Prov.28:5,
Ps 14:2.
In
view of the above, understanding may relate to knowledge and skill in
mechanical activities, such as construction and designing of buildings or
making articles of woods, metal, stone
or cloth. The Tyrian worker Hiram was a skillful man, experienced in
understanding as a craftsman working a wide range of materials as we read in
2Chr.2:13–14. Such understanding contributes to effective work resulting in
products of enduring qualities. Other may be experts in Matter of
transportation, Music, linguistics, writing or other scholarly subjects due to
their understanding. Such understanding can be gained through natural abilities
and efforts. Of course, God’s spirit can augment, or enhance such understanding
in person and qualify him to teach others the craft or profession as in the
case of Bezaleel in Ex.35:30-35. Some
may have keen discernment of human nature being observant and able to put two
together just like David noting the way his servants were whispering. He
discerned that his child by Bathsheba had died in 2Sam.12:19. Rehoboam also was
guided by his understanding of fallen human nature and its tendency toward envy
and jealousy when assigning his son’s inheritances as we read in 2 Chro.11:21 –
23.
Similarly,
man or communities of men may show considerable discernment in business
operations, a factor in their success enriching themselves as did the leaders
of Tyre in Ezek28:2-9. Rulers may have understanding of military warfare and
strategic or be experts in political diplomacy, yet their understanding may be
narrow and of short – range benefit as in the foregoing cases – Isaiah 10:12
–13, Dan.8:23. It could be seen then that the scriptures refer to understanding
obtainable by natural means. Yet any such comprehension of worldly intellectual
men becomes foolishness, vain when God’s purposes are not considered for the
entire human existence on earth.
The
scripture primarily urge for a superior understanding, one that is spiritual,
having God as its foundation 1Cor.1:19 –20. No matter how much men may exploit
the earth’s resources, exploring its depths and depths of the sea or studying
the skies, they can never by their own efforts find the place and way of
understanding and wisdom that lead to enduring and successful life in
righteousness and happiness – Job28:1-21, 28. This understanding cannot be
found among the living. It is natural for people who do not understand the
importance of God’s word to seek understanding here on earth. People look up to
philosophers and other leaders to give them direction for living. Yet, Job said
that understanding is not found there. No leader or group of leaders can
produce enough understanding or insight to explain the totality of human
experience.
The ultimate interpretation of life of who we
are and where we are going, must come from outside and above or mortal life.
When you are looking for guidance, seek to know God’s words as made clear in
Ps119:105. In other to be lifted above
the boundaries of life, we must know and trust the Lord of Life. Ps.119:130,
Ps.14:2. Smart people can perform all kinds of technological wonders. They can
find stars invisible to the eyes, visit space and store volumes of information
in a microchip, but even the greatest scientists, on their own, are at a loss
to discover and understand the way to peace with God.
There is a vast difference between being smart and being wise. Only God can show them where to look to find understanding. True understanding is having God’s perspective in life. As the creator of life, He knows what is best for his creation and He only can discern enduring factors for our lives. It is fruitless for us to try to become smart without seeking God’s understanding because God alone sees the greater purpose for this world.
The limitation in man’s abilities was established in the Garden of Eden but let us reason together here. In reality of the issue, can a finite understanding homo-sapiens even angels challenge or bye-pass the authority and reliability of the infinite understanding omniscient and omnipotent God the creator and source of things in the natural and supernatural? No one who understands that God is the creator of the universe should be foolish enough to challenge Him the way Lucifer did before creation of the heavens and earth. – Ps 147:5.
There is a vast difference between being smart and being wise. Only God can show them where to look to find understanding. True understanding is having God’s perspective in life. As the creator of life, He knows what is best for his creation and He only can discern enduring factors for our lives. It is fruitless for us to try to become smart without seeking God’s understanding because God alone sees the greater purpose for this world.
The limitation in man’s abilities was established in the Garden of Eden but let us reason together here. In reality of the issue, can a finite understanding homo-sapiens even angels challenge or bye-pass the authority and reliability of the infinite understanding omniscient and omnipotent God the creator and source of things in the natural and supernatural? No one who understands that God is the creator of the universe should be foolish enough to challenge Him the way Lucifer did before creation of the heavens and earth. – Ps 147:5.
Man
needs to have the understanding that he is not safe in this life without helps
from spiritual arms always. This is because we are in the midst of foes that is
seeking prey to devour left and right. If we do not use the shield of faith and
lose focus we may not be long in the physical reality without wounds. More so
if we do not set our heart immovably with determination upon our maker, we may
be fighting this spiritual warfare as one beating the air. This is because man
is a little bit lower than the angels as a result of the fall in the Garden of
Eden. It is in God through Christ Jesus that mortal man’s victory, peace and
tranquility are sure. But you need to understand that trying to escape from
this way of understanding and looking for private ends may make you miss common
good and make you withdraw from the supernatural grace.
The greatest enemy of man is himself when he is sold out to carnality and not thoroughly in accord with his maker. Man is clay and earth in the hand of his maker hence he must learn to humble and should show himself as submissive to break up his carnal desires and yield to the infinite understanding God who could fashion and maximize the best out of him all good works. For this process to be fulfilled the entire humanity must exhibit the attitude of yieldedness in the absolute. This means.
The greatest enemy of man is himself when he is sold out to carnality and not thoroughly in accord with his maker. Man is clay and earth in the hand of his maker hence he must learn to humble and should show himself as submissive to break up his carnal desires and yield to the infinite understanding God who could fashion and maximize the best out of him all good works. For this process to be fulfilled the entire humanity must exhibit the attitude of yieldedness in the absolute. This means.
Y - yearn for
nothing but God’s glory alone so that his image may be restored and likeness established in man –
Isa 43:7
I- Incline
your heart to obey God’s words for spiritual understanding. Ps 119:130
E- Embrace faith in
God’s promises in the scriptures to obtain victory all round – Heb 11:32
L - Learn of the
Lord and lean upon him for help and wisdom – Dan 11:102
D- Discipline
yourself in His word with absolute adherence Ps.119:101–122
N- Navigate by divine direction in every
situation Ps.60:11–121
E- Exercise
yourself in godliness through faith with your God’s given abilities. Spiritual
excise is more important them when building muzzles. 1 Tim.4:7 – 8.
S - Seek things
which are eternal and not earthly transient vain. Col 3:1-2.
S- Stand fast in
faith and endure suffering because they are part of the process to glorious
end. 1 Cor.16:13, Rom 8:17 – 18.
CLASP THE GRACE
Matt 9:20-21- And, behold, a woman,
which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and
touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but
touch his garment, I shall be whole.
UNDERSTANDING THE CLASP OF GRACE
Clasps means
To hold somebody or something
tightly: to hold somebody or something tightly with the hands or arms tight
hold: a firm tight hold with the arms, a hand, or a device for fastening or
holding things together.
If by mere touching the helm of
Jesus’s cloth the woman with issue of blood got that miracle, how about
grabbing Jesus with both hands?
We must not rest without a desperate
struggle to clasp the Saviour in the arms of faith, and say, "I know whom
I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have
committed unto him."
Do not rest, O believer, till thou
hast a full assurance of thine interest in Jesus.
Let nothing satisfy thee till, by
the infallible witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou
art certified that thou art a child of God- Acts 11:23-24
Who, when he came, and had seen the
grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they
would CLEAVE unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy
Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. KJV
He was a good man. He fulfilled the
scripture – Ps 84:11-12 - For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will
give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk
uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Whenever the grace of God is allowed
to work in human hearts, there will be evidences that appear.
This can bring joy to those who are
outwardly observing this inward work of grace.
Still, it is appropriate to exhort
those who have made progress in grace to continue in the grace of God.
Acts 13:43 Now when the
congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed
Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the
grace of God.
When this is your experience, then
you fulfil the scripture Matt3:13-14, You will be salt and light to your
generation. As salt, you carry divine virtues that will enhance your earthly
values and you will add values to whoever comes your way. As light to the
world, you will become a pacesetter. You will become a producer and not a
consumer. People will come to you to draw wisdom, knowledge and understanding –
Matt 5:13-14 -Ye are the salt of the
earth: but if the salt have lost his saviour, wherewith shall it be salted? it
is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill
cannot be hid. Note also the Christ is the embodiment of all the grace.
2 Cor 8:9-12 -For ye know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he
became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my
advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do,
but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it;
that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out
of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted
according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
If
by mere touching the woman with the issue of blood had her 12 years ordeal
terminated. How about if she had the revelation of grabbing the Lord Jesus with
both hands and not let go?
Grasping the external
propulsion of God’s grace is crucial to our understanding of living a Christian
life and manifesting signs and wonders. Isa 8:18
Behold, I and the children whom the
Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of
hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Definition of the word “Grace”
The word “Grace” means “unmerited
favor” – the concept that none of us in the human race deserve to be saved
because we are all wretched sinners.
God through His “graciousness” sent
His Son to die for all sinners, so those who “make the right choice” and accept
Jesus Christ as their Saviour will not have to die eternally.
God brought the Israelites into the
Promised Land by HIS mighty hand.
The Israelites had nothing to do
with it. God did it ALL.
THAT is “GRACE” - - - when GOD does
it ALL.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GRACE
2 Cor 9:8-9 And God is able to make
all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed
abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
1. It gives you Salvation –
2. Healing
3. Breakthrough
4. Promotion
5. Deliverance
5. Supernatural supplies
6. Favour
7. Divine direction
8. Enlightenments – the gospel
9. Restoration
10. Miracles- job, husband, wife,
children etc.
11. Enlarges your coast.
12. Makes you light and Salt to the
world
13. Gives you peace
14. Makes all things possible to
glorify his name
15. Renders natural verdict useless
because of His name.
HOW DO YOU GET THE GRACE
i.
You need to give your life to Jesus. You
must be born again.
THE BIBLE HALL OF GRACE
-
Noah and the flood - building the boat.
- Joshua and the battle of
Jericho: God was the Plan-maker for the Battle of Jericho - - NOT Joshua.
- The original Passover in
Egypt: God told the Israelites to put the blood on the doorpost.
That was NOT the Israelites idea, nor was it Moses’ idea.
ii. You get the grace by faith. -
Eph 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
LEASONS TO LEARN FROM THE
ISTRAELITE’s JOURNEY
A. God brought the
Israelites out of Egypt by HIS OWN power, NOT their power. The ten
plagues on Egypt were all of God’s doing.
B. The Israelites came out from
Egypt with ONLY yard goods, gold and silver. They had NO weapons.
C. When they reached the Red Sea and
were hemmed in by the Sea and surrounding mountains, with the Egyptians fast
approaching, they began to whine and complain that they had been brought out
there to die.
God made sure that they had NO
weapons. Moses said to the Israelites, “You keep still and watch GOD
fight for you.”
D. God made sure that
the Israelites had NO boats. God opened the Red Sea and allowed the
Israelites to go through on dry land. The Egyptians had no faith, and the
water collapsed on them.
E. The desert of
Sinai is so barren NOTHING will grow there. God made sure that the
Israelites could NOT grow any of their own food. God fed the Israelites
with manna – bread from heaven – representing Jesus Christ the REAL “Bread from
heaven.”
F. God made sure that the Israelites
were in a desert where they had NO way of getting water for themselves.
God gave the Israelites water to drink – from the Rock – which represented
Jesus Christ, the Living Water.
G. God made sure that the Israelites
were in an unbearably hot desert, with NO trees for shade and NO air
conditioning. God kept them cool during the day by His cloud cover them.
extremely cold at night. The
Israelites had NO system of heating. God kept them warm at night by His
cover of fire.
I. God gave them civil laws to
settle disputes. God gave them laws for criminal behavior.
J. When they followed God’s
commands, none were sick. When they finally entered into the Promised
Land, “not one was sick among them.” day by His cloud cover.
k. The man of Gerdera
The Godman came. He saw and
conquered
1 Jesus
Turns Water into Wine
2 Jesus
Heals an Official's Son
3 Jesus
Drives Out an Evil Spirit
4 Jesus
Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law
5 Jesus Heals
Many Sick at Evening
6
First Miraculous Catch of Fish
7
Jesus Cleanses a Man With Leprosy
8
Jesus Heals a Centurion's
Servant
9
Jesus Heals a Paralytic
10 Jesus
Heals a Man's Withered Hand
11 Jesus
Raises a Widow's Son in Nain
12 Jesus
Calms a Storm
13 13. Jesus
Casts Demons into a Herd of Pigs
14
14 Jesus Heals a Woman in the Crowd
15 Jesus
Raises Jairus' Daughter to Life
16 Jesus
Heals Two Blind Men
17 Jesus
Heals a Man Unable to Speak
18 Jesus
Heals an Invalid at Bethesda
19 Jesus
Feeds 5,000
20 Jesus
Walks on Water
21 Jesus
Heals Many Sick in
Gennesaret
22 Jesus
Heals a Gentile Woman's Demon-Possessed
Daughter
23 Jesus
Heals a Deaf and Dumb Man
24 Jesus
Feeds 4,000
25 Jesus
Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida
26 Jesus
Heals a Man Born Blind
27 Jesus
Heals a Boy with a
Demon
28
Miraculous Temple Tax in a Fish's Mouth
29 Jesus
Heals a Blind, Mute Demoniac
30 Jesus
Heals a Crippled Woman
31 Jesus
Heals a Man With Dropsy on the Sabbath
WHATEVER COMES IN CAN GO BACK
HOW YOU CAN LOSE THE GRACE
God proclaimed the Israelites a
stiff-necked people. He brought the Israelites into the Promised Land IN SPITE
of themselves, NOT because they made the right choices
Who is a stiff-necked person - One
that refuses to yield to direction of the gospel , the direction of the spirit
of God. He has his own plan.
Gal 5:19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh
are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and
such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
2. When you stray away. - Prov 21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the
congregation of the dead.
THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO ONE WHO STRAYS
1. He loses sight of God’s love
(Rev 2:4)
Jesus told the Ephesian Christians,
“You have left your protos agape,” or your primary love. What is our protos
agape? It is not our love for him; it is a revelation of his love for us: Love
comes from God. (1 John 4:7)
This is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us… (1 John 4:10)
We love because he first loved us.
(1 John 4:19)
2. Things become complicated – our
minds become corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Cor 11:3)
The gospel is simple but lose sight
of God’s love and everything becomes murky. I know God loves me but…
Suddenly the good news is not so
good. It needs qualifying.
We feel an unholy need to balance
his grace needs with our works.
We start thinking there’s more than
one side to every scripture, the Bible is full of paradoxes, and God is a
mystery.
3. We start striving to keep the
rules (Gal 3:3, Col 2:20)
We never call it legalism, for that
would alert us to the danger. Instead, we call it “Christian responsibility” or
duty or “doing our part.” God has done his part, now it’s up to me to finish
what he started. I have to work out my salvation and prove my repentance.
We worry about cheap grace (there’s
no such thing) and invest in a little works-insurance (there’s no such thing).
4. The shipwreck of faith (1 Tim
1:18-19)
Paul repeatedly warns about the need
to hold “onto faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim 3:9, Acts 24:16).
5. We lose our freedom (Gal 5:1, Col
2:8)
The Galatian Christians famously
lost their liberty by enslaving themselves to law.
The Colossian Christians were in
danger of enslaving themselves to worldly philosophy.
We repeat their mistakes whenever we
take on the yokes of performance-based Christianity and manmade expectations.
6. We fall from grace and cut
ourselves off from Christ (Gal 5:2-4)
Christians Must Take Heed. Paul
tells us to take heed, lest we fall (1 Cor. 10:12).
We must beware, lest we have an evil
heart of unbelief in departing from the living God (Heb. 3:12).
"For it is impossible for those
who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become
partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the
powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to
repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him
to an open shame" (Heb. 6:4-8).
"For if we sin willfully after
we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery
indignation which will devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:26-27).
"Therefore do not cast away
your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so
that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise"
(Heb. 10:35-36).
CHRISTIANS CAN STRAY FROM THE TRUTH
AND LOSE THEIR SOULS
James cautions us, saying, "My
brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let
him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his
soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins" (Jas. 5:19-20).
There are some important points to
notice from James 5:19-20:
• Christians
can stray from the truth. The truth is God's word (Jn. 17:17).
• A
Christian who strays from the truth is a sinner. His soul is lost. If he turns
from his sin, he will be saved from death.
Esau is an example of one who came
short of God's grace, when he sold his birthright for a single meal (Heb.
12:16). If we come short of God's grace and we're lost in hell for eternity, we
cannot repent and be restored to God (Heb. 12:17).
Some People Strayed from the Faith
in the First Century
Paul tells us that some people had
"gone astray from the faith" in the first century (1 Tim. 6:21).
The expression "gone astray
from the faith" means that they were no longer obedient to the faith, and
thus lost in their sins (Rom. 1:6; 16:26; cf. Acts 6:7).
Paul also tells us why some people
depart from the faith:
• They give
heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy,
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods (1 Tim. 4:1-3).
• They love
money (1 Tim. 6:9-10).
We are not immune from sin in the
twenty-first century. We must be careful not to depart from the faith, turning
from God to entertain the passing pleasures of sin.
If you keep in God's Word, which you
use to pull down strong holds, Jesus said that you shall know the truth and the
truth shall set you free.
2. LEGAL RIGHTS ARE INVOLVED
Stage two bondages have a root and
that root could be unforgiveness in a person's heart, un-repented sins in that
person's life (things they are hiding that they know is wrong), ties which need
to be broken (cursed objects, soul ties, etc.) and things which may need to be
renounced (vows made with Satan, spirit guides/demons that a person has
welcomed into themselves, etc.).
WHEN YOU LOSE THE GRACE YOU
EXPERIENCE THE FOLLOWING BONDAGE
Three Stages of Bondage
1. One: Ignorance, strong holds and
deception
The first stage of bondage is caused
by ignorance, strong holds, and the enemy's greatest weapon in this stage is
deception.
Understanding a correct picture of
who God is, and who we are in Christ will dissolve a lot of cases involving
stage one bondages.
3. Demons must be driven out
when strong enough
demons encountered are not leaving automatically and must be driven
out.
Even after a demon's legal grounds have
been removed, they often do not leave on their own. Some of the lesser demons
may, but it's not that common for a stronger demon to pack up and leave on it's
own.
This is why Jesus made it clear that
there is a need for the deliverance ministry (Mark 16:17).
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