He Only Healed One…

He only healed one…

As we read:
John 5:1 ¶ After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

So we skip down to verse:
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Then read verse:
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

So Jesus sought to only do the will of our heavenly Father.

Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

So we read the familiar account of the man crippled, awaiting healing, at the pool of Bethesda, who had been crippled for 38 years, reportedly unable to enter the water when the healing angel troubled, for tradition said, that only the first one into the water after the angel came, would be healed.

In the faith camp, I have heard this story preached many ways with wonderful insights:

1. Who said, only the first person into the pool when the angel troubled the waters would be healed? Since the kingdom of God operates according to faith, could not others have been healed upon entering the water, had they exercised faith in God.

2. Do you want to be healed? Jesus question to the man is eternal, for in the ministry of divine healing, we discover that many people say they want to be healed, but when questioned a little closer, they are not willing to let go of their ‘disability’ checks or pensions, should healing occur. They are sick and suffering, but not yet sick and tired of being sick and tired. Until they honestly want to be healed, and let go of their excuses, God will not violate their free will, and heal them.

3. This is a perfect illustration to teach on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that only operate ‘as he wills’. We are to desire them, but we cannot manufacture them. God loves and deals with each and every person uniquely and separately, and as ministers, we can operate in the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit, but we all know the ‘they are HIS gifts’. He is God, we are His servants, and apart from Him, we can do nothing.1 Cor 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. However, as we learn to move in the power of the Holy Spirit, we discover that He is a lot more willing to demonstrate His power, and distribute His gifts, than many give Him credit for.

4. Jesus only did the will of the Father.
John 5: 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

This is where I want to park today, for there is great victory and freedom in it.

Every day, when I owned my company, I was bombarded by sales people trying to sell me the latest and greatest, missionaries and charitable causes looking for a donation, employees wanting a raise or a bonus, clients wanting a discount, suppliers selling materials, or requesting payment, and then the myriad needs of suffering humanity that seem to be ever before us as leaders.

Where do I spend my time and money ?

This is the eternal question.

Well as one seasoned minister said, almost comically: ‘The answer to this, and countless other questions in life is simply: Be led’

Ro 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Mt 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Jesus said we will hear His voice:

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
There is great freedom in a daily journey with Jesus. We are only responsible to do, what He asks, that day, and His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

‘But last year you supported us!” or ‘You used our company last time!” or ‘I deserve this raise, or I am going to quit!” are simply pleas of people to be brought before God.

Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

If we are walking with God, we are only responsible to do what we believe He is asking us to do. Generally (but not always), when someone demands I make a decision right away, my answer is always, NO!

I will not be intimidated, manipulated, pushed, or coerced into making any decision, outside the will of God for my life.

If someone must have an answer today, the only answer I am willing to give is: “I will pray about it”

I am honest, and pray I do. God speaks, and I listen.

Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day ye will hear his voice,

Heb 3:15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 4:7 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.

Joh 12:26 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 honor.

There would be much tragedy avoided, if all of us, did this one simple thing. Pray, then listen, and do what He says.

Let’s Pray:
‘Father, all Your paths are peace, as we love You. Cause us to hear Your voice, and give us grace and strength to say NO! To every other competing voice. Jesus, I believe you are my Shepherd, my Lord, my personal pastor, that no matter how great You make me, I am your child, and You are my Lord. Speak to me today, strengthen me to not be moved by circumstances, but only by Your Spirit, in Jesus name. Amen!

If you would like to study more on HOW to be led by the Spirit of God, Biblically, here are some teachings I have produced:

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/02/seven-ways-to-hear-the-voice-of-god-part-one/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/seven-that-ways-god-speaks-to-you-part-2/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/seven-that-ways-god-speaks-to-you-part-3/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/seven-that-ways-god-speaks-to-you-part-4/

Vision – Testimony https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/seven-that-ways-god-speaks-to-you-part-5/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/seven-that-ways-god-speaks-to-you-part-6/

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/seven-that-ways-god-speaks-to-you-part-7-prophesy/

Check the facts Jack!

 ‘Gossip is the most deadly microbe. It has neither legs nor wings. It is composed entirely of tales, and most of them have stings.’

Morris Mandel in Bits & Pieces, June, 1990, p. 22

 

Recently, we went through a wonderful trial, that occurred when another person accused us of some financial mismanagement, that was totally untrue. Gossip is like a serpents venom, it poisons people against you, and may take years to rebuild trust in relationships.

Just because ‘Everyone is saying it’, does not make it true!

The Bible says we are kings and priest unto God, and we must conduct ourselves as royalty!

Proverbs 16:10

A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

As leaders we hear a lot of stories, and we need to judge not only actions, but motives. Had a situation last year, where we wanted to donate to a certain ministry, and one of the businesses needed to know exactly where the building materials donated were going. So, I sent him an email with the ministers name and location of the construction project we were planning, because he grew up in that state, and knew the area. Seems another person who ‘wanted to get involved’ asked for the material list I sent my former client, so I sent it to them. They got involved alright, instead of helping, they accused me of ‘taking up offerings in the name of the other ministry’, and then spread the ‘rumor’ of this to many, many other ministries. I could not believe they had done this, so I attempted to meet with them, to discuss it, but they have not returned telephone calls nor emails since then.

As far as I’m concerned, I have forgiven them, and am aggressively using my faith to believe the best of them, and for them, declaring these two verses over their lives:

Philippians 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Faith works by love, and so I am using my faith on purpose for their growth and instruction in the things of God.

Check the facts before you judge leader, it is for your glory and promotion.

Proverbs 25:2

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

In the midst of my particular trial, I had a good friend of mine, who is studying to be a rabbi, who lives in Jerusalem, call me. I told him what I was going through, and he said, “Interesting. Chris, did you know that here, in Israel, we take character assassination of more consequence than even murder? He then reminded me of a story I had heard before, he had heard in synagogue:

If you don’t say it, they can’t repeat it. Yiddish folklore offers a telling tale about gossip-makers. One such man had told so many malicious untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. “And, Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends.” The rabbi sighed, “Take two pillows, go to the public square and there cut the pillows open. Wave them in the air. Then come back.” The rumormonger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi’s chambers. “I did just what you said, Rabbi!” “Good.” The rabbi smiled. “Now, to realize how much harm is done by gossip, go back to the square…” “And?” “And collect all your feathers.”

From Hooray for Yiddish.

Looks like the work of this person has blown feathers all over America. Gotta believe the blood of Jesus can wash away their mess…I need to believe what I preach!

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/how-to-defeat-gossip/

Here are a couple of thoughts, before speaking and decision making:

I once formed a mutual encouragement fellowship at a time of stress in one of my pastorates. The members subscribed to a simple formula applied before speaking of any person or subject that was perhaps controversial.

T–Is it true? H–Is it helpful? I–Is it inspiring? N–Is it necessary? K–Is it kind?

If what I am about to say does not pass those tests, I will keep my mouth shut! And it worked!

Alan Redpath, A Passion for Preaching.

God is love, and He will work it all out, as only He can.

Let’s pray:

‘Father, I come before you, determined to walk free from offense, and in Your love. Give me grace to see correctly into situations, and before I judge, to investigate to see what is being done, and why. May I victoriously obey you, and press forward towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, Amen.’

The Friendly Counsel of God – We have friends in High Places!

 

The Friendly Counsel of God!

You know, in business you meet some really great people sometimes, people of honor, integrity, excellence, and great wisdom from life experience. Along the way, I made decisions to try and include these folks in my life as mentors, respecting their time, yet enjoying the privilege of being able to simply pick up the cell phone and call them for counsel, when I had a decision to make. We are friends, and because they care about me, and want me to succeed, they give me friendly, wise counsel, so I can prosper.

Well, there is One, wiser, richer, more seasoned and powerful than all of them combined, that is God, Creator of Heaven and earth, seated upon the throne, with Jesus at His right hand. Truly, if we know Jesus, we have influential friends in high places, and we are called to walk with them, seated with Christ in heavenly places, as royalty in the courts of our heavenly King!

Today, as I read Job 29:4

‘Just as I was in the days of my youth, when ‘THE FRIENDLY COUNSEL OF GOD WAS OVER MY TENT.’

I am grateful for my wealthy friends, but they are never the source of my wealth. Nope, I endeavour to live a life of holiness and obedience that ever places a smile on the face of Jesus. Living in such a way, that He might see comfort and reward for His great sufferings, doing what I can to encourage Him, as He too sees the horror, tragedy, and mess of this pain wracked earth.

He knows, He loves, He weeps, then He acts, sometimes with brutal intensity in His government, to stop evil, punish predatory people, and to protect and bless His family in the earth.

If I take the time to get to know Him, He gives me wonderful, friendly counsel…

He did it again tonight, at a moment when my emotions threatened to cause me to make some brutal decisions, decisions that would have been wrong for my life. He came, He spoke, He brought comfort, He again revealed His glory, and showed me that I was placing a smile upon His face.

I don’t know what you are going through today, but if you love Jesus, He will go through it with you, and will never leave you in the fight, and if you ask Him, He will always make a way, even where there appears to be no way.

Is it not written?

1 Corinthians 10:13Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹³ No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].

Listen, as He speaks to your heart today

John 10:27(NIV)

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

I am totally committed to fully obeying Him alone, no matter what people do, or don’t do to me or for me.

Let’s pray:

‘Father, I come into Your courts today, with thanksgiving, praise, and worship determined to honor You and who You are to me. Thank you for the privilege of Your counsel, comfort, wealth, provision, and direction today. May I live today, to put a smile on Your face Lord Jesus. Amen’

Kill Fear! Believe God!

FEAR!
Kill it, or it will kill you!
Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real.
Heard a guy say once, that most of the bad things that I thought were going to happen, didn’t.
It is the darkroom of our mind, where negatives are developed.
In this case, it is the key to understanding the book of Job. God did not bring evil to him, it was there already, pacing outside his guarded gate, for satan is a predator, seeking to kill, steal and destroy.
Job’s fear, his dread, unlocked the gate, the hedge of protection that God had set around him, by his faith and words.
Notice the conversation between God and satan:
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, BEHOLD all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Notice the word, BEHOLD. God was not delivering Job into satan’s hand, as many have taught, rather, He simply revealed to that slavering dog, the hole in the hedge, the open door.
Fear believes that bad things are going to happen, and according to our belief, they do.
FAITH – Fantastic Adventures In Trusting HIM
Faith believes that God loves us, and has prepared GOOD Works for us to walk in. That good and perfect gifts are coming down into our lives, each day, because we have a heavenly Father that is a giver, He delights to give, He loves to create, for He is the Creator, and He loves to be trusted, and ALWAYS honors our active trust in Him.
So, each day, we choose what we are going to do that day. Will we choose, love, life, liberty, and to believe, on purpose, the promises of God, receiving this day, the bread of heaven, and provision of his promises, or will we let down our guard, become complacent, or worse yet, become afraid of the future, and actively open the door to hell on earth…
One thing I love about America is this: truly, it is the land of the free, home of the brave, where we fight for freedom, liberty, and justice for all.
Bravery, or courage is not the absence of fear, it is the conquering of it.
I remember when my dad was posted to Victoria, British Columbia, and then promptly began to take 3 week trips to sea, as a naval officer. We bought a house, and moved to new school, and a gang of bullies beat the fire out of me several days in school. This went on for about a month, of them chasing me, and almost killing me on several occasions, until one day, I had had enough. In gym class that day, we were assigned to play floor hockey. I had been a leader on my little league hockey team before we moved from Nova Scotia, and that day, a gang of bullies got seriously hurt. The gracious gym teacher knew of their reign of terror, and looked the other way, as one by one I took them on, and took them out in brutal play.
Next day, they tried again, and there was another trail of bloody noses, and cracked ribs in phys. Ed class, and that was the end of it. Sure, I took a few lumps too, but compared to the beatings I had already been given, nothing serious. Was I scared? Yes! I feared for my life! Yet, I was not going to allow bullies to dictate my life!
From that day on, I was one of the gang, and everyone befriended me. Lesson: Strong people only respect strength.
Spiritual truth: The sword and the gospel go hand in hand. Soldiers, policemen, and strong government, that govern righteously, are no threat to people wanting peace, truth, and the gospel, they only restrain the criminal element in society. However, they too are subject to the Word of God, and must govern in the fear of the Lord, or the very sword they wield, will be turned against them, as one special force military unit declares: Every so often the banner of freedom, must be washed afresh in the blood of tyrants. Fearing God, and walking with Jesus, will prevent needless bloodshed, if we would only love, honor and respect each other, using our strengths to uphold the weak, not to bully them!
Never would have happened if I had kept allowing them to beat on me all year.
Couple of questions:
What are you afraid of?
What are you going to do to face your fears?
What are you believing God for?
What are you doing to strengthen your faith and see, manifest in your life, that you have believed for?
Let’s pray:
‘Father, fear is of the heart. You know what we are afraid of. Please, reveal to us, Your perfect love, that destroys our deepest fears and insecurities. Now, Lord Jesus, You are the high priest of my confession, ever watching over Your Word today, to perform it. I ask you for wisdom, strength, courage, special faith, revelation, the hearing of Your voice, clear direction, favor, healing, health, provision, prosperity, dreams and visions of Your glory granted to us. I choose to look to You, and believe I receive these things, now, for I ask you Father, in Your name Lord Jesus, AMEN!’

Take Away the Wicked from Before the King!

Take away the wicked from before the king!
Pr 25:4 Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.
Psalm 1 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Way of the Righteous
v1 Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Here is a leadership principal I have not heard preached much.

Eliminate, on purpose, those from your inner circle, who are not walking tight with Jesus, in purity of heart and holiness.

Pr 25: 5 Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.

wick•ed
wɪk ɪdShow Spelled [wik-id] Show IPA adjective, wick•ed•er,
1. evil or morally bad in principle or practice; sinful; iniquitous: wicked people; wicked habits.

One definition I heard once of wicked, is ‘to be braided with evil’, as in how a candle wick is braided to absorb more oil.

There are people who live, on purpose, by principals contrary to the word of God. They are morally bad in principal and practice.

If we are called to be the senior decision maker in our organization, these people need to out of our sphere of counsel. Though we may be called to provide leadership to them, they should not be allowed into leadership meetings, nor can we allow ourselves to become too friendly or buddy buddy with them, or they will corrupt our decision making ability, and our decisions…

“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters”

― Albert Einstein

Psalm 141:4 (The Voice)
Don’t allow my deepest desires to steer me toward doing what is wrong or associating with wicked people Or joining in their wicked works or tasting any of their pleasures.
A Leadership prayer!
Or what about the apostle Paul?
2 Thessalonians 3:2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
Man looks on the outward, God looks upon the heart.
Wisdom is not enough!
Solomon received great wisdom, yet not purity of heart!
His wisdom got him 1000 wives, and cost him the kingdom, and brought incredible destruction to Israel.
Psalm 72:1
[ Psalm 72 ] [ A song of Solomon. ] True God, bestow Your honest judgments upon the king and anoint the king’s son with Your righteousness
Let’s Pray!
‘Father, again I cry out for purity of heart, mind, soul, motive! Deliver me from unreasonable and wicked men, and establish me in the fullness Your high calling Lord Jesus, Amen!’