Category: sin

Palsy #4

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What exactly is “palsy?” Why does the Bible feature it?

“Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2). “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:5). “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Luke 5:20). This healing of the paralytic is performed in conjunction with the forgiveness of sins of a certain “son” or a “man.” Who does this cured person represent?

If we are Bible students, this title “son” should remind us of verses such as Exodus 4:22,23: “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.” Also, Hosea 11:1: “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” Israel is God’s son-nation in the Earth. As a son works with his father in the family business, so Israel was to accomplish God’s will in the Earth.

Alas, like all descendants of Adam, the Israelites had a sin problem—a sin problem that spiritually incapacitated them. Sin is a spiritual disease: it disables the spiritual body just like physical disease immobilizes the physical body. How can they possibly serve Him in the Earth? This is the lesson to be learned with the healing of the paralytics in the Bible. If Israel is to function as God’s kingdom of priests in the Earth, He must address their spiritual infirmity. Like the man afflicted with physical palsy, they are spiritually bedridden, for spiritual palsy has stricken them! They can do nothing for Him, and they are just as powerless to do anything for themselves.

Like Pharaoh kept Israel in bondage, so sin enslaves them. In both cases, the LORD must intervene to liberate them. Christ healing the man sick of the palsy (paralytic) represents God’s restoring Israel to service (spiritual mobility)….

Palsy #3

Monday, October 16, 2023

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What exactly is “palsy?” Why does the Bible feature it?

Let us recall how the name “palsy” is actually an altered form of the word “paralysis.” Whereas modern English speakers rarely use “palsy” alone, it is still found in the titles of medical conditions such as “Bell’s palsy” (facial paralysis) and “cerebral palsy” (paralysis due to an abnormal or damaged brain). These are examples of muscle weakness disrupting or preventing mobility and/or movement.

Going back to Matthew 9:1-8: “[1] And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. [2] And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. [3] And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. [4] And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? [5] For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? [6] But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. [7] And he arose, and departed to his house. [8] But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.”

Also recorded in Mark 2:1-12 (additional details) and Luke 5:17-26 (even more details), Christ Jesus’ healing of this bedridden paralytic is connected to a “son” or a “man” whose sins are forgiven. “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2). “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:5). “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Luke 5:20). Herein is the key to unlocking the riddle of palsy in Scripture….

The Last State is Worse Than the First #10

Thursday, October 12, 2023

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26 KJV).

Who is this man? Why is his last state worse than his first?

Recall Isaiah 49:24-26, how the LORD will serve as Israel’s Saviour and Redeemer. Also, remember Jeremiah 31:11, the LORD redeeming and ransoming Israel from “the hand of him that was stronger than he.” This looks to Jesus’ Second Coming. With Israel freed from Satan, sin, and even oppressive Gentile armies and governments, the nation can be filled with God’s life.

For example, consider how Israel’s sin debt will be cleared when the New Covenant, based on Christ’s shed blood, is ratified (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:1-22). One blessing of the New Covenant is Father God filling the redeemed Jewish people—His kingdom of priests (see 1 Peter 2:9,10; Revelation 1:5,6; Revelation 5:9,10)—with the indwelling Holy Spirit. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:26-28). “And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:14).

Israel’s believing remnant (trusting Jesus as Messiah) serves in the Promised Land, becoming God’s channel of salvation and blessing to the world (see Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20). In that day, God Himself will have solved Israel’s devil problem!

The Last State is Worse Than the First #9

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26 KJV).

Who is this man? Why is his last state worse than his first?

In the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1-3), the focus is on God’s work to make a “great nation” of childless Abraham. When Abraham was old and well beyond the age of fathering a child—not to mention his wife, Sarah, too advanced in years to be a biological mother—the LORD performed a miracle and enabled them to have a son, Isaac (Genesis 17:1-7,15-21; Genesis 21:1-5). This was despite the fact Abraham and Sarah had schemed to use a surrogate, Sarah’s slave girl Hagar, to carry another child of Abraham (Ishmael) more than a decade earlier (Genesis 16:1-16). Abraham had to learn the nation Israel would be the product of grace (God’s gift/miracle), not law (Abraham’s performance/work). Note it well: the LORD does not accept substitutes!!

When the LORD God offered Israel the Mosaic Covenant—the Law—the Israelites recently freed from Egyptian bondage agreed to enter works-religion (more slavery!). Deceived, they believed they could perform to produce the nation God wanted (Exodus 19:3-6). They boasted, “All that the LORD hath spoken we will do” (verse 8). Nevertheless, they did not do everything God commanded, which led to Satan and his angels possessing and corrupting them (see today’s Scripture). The Law proved, once and for all, they could not make themselves God’s nation in the Earth. As it was true with Isaac (God’s work, not man’s), so it was true with the nation descending from Isaac (God’s work, not man’s).

After Jesus Christ comes back to reign in the Earth, Israel will be purged of Satan’s pollutions and then filled with God’s life, finally becoming that channel of salvation and blessing to the Gentiles as the LORD intended with Abraham so long ago….

The Last State is Worse Than the First #8

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26 KJV).

Who is this man? Why is his last state worse than his first?

According to the heresy known as Postmillennialism, our preaching the Gospel will bring God’s earthly kingdom to pass. World conditions will improve to the point where Jesus will leave Heaven to come reign on Earth. On the contrary, the Bible indicates society will worsen as our planet moves closer to Christ’s return. Moreover, Israel’s own spiritual circumstances will deteriorate, to such an unfathomable extent that the only hope is the Lord’s literal, physical coming to make all things right (this correct view is Premillennialism).

In Revelation 19:11-21, we read of the Lord Jesus’ Second Coming and the Battle of Armageddon. Satan and his troops—including the Antichrist—have gathered against Israel, but they are defeated and a great slaughter results as Christ and His angelic hosts fight! The Antichrist (political leader) and the False Prophet (religious leader) are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire (verse 20). Chapter 20 opens: “[1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.”

With the Antichrist in the Lake of Fire, and Satan removed from Earth and bound for 1,000 years in the Bottomless Pit, Israel can be cleansed to become God’s kingdom of priests….

The Last State is Worse Than the First #7

Monday, October 9, 2023

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26 KJV).

Who is this man? Why is his last state worse than his first?

During His earthly ministry, Christ started fulfilling Zechariah 13:2 by forcing the unclean spirits out of the land of Palestine. However, this process was interrupted because the Jewish nation vehemently challenged Him. In their minds, He was not the Son of God come to deliver them—just some mentally-imbalanced individual who suffered from His own devil possession! “And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself [crazy!]. And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub [Satan!], and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils” (Mark 3:21,22).

Israel strongly disagreed with Jesus that their nation had aligned with Satan. Instead, they had grown so comfortable with their lies they were deceived into supposing they had actually believed the truth and He was the one in error. The only way to keep their corrupt religious system operating was to eliminate the threat, to silence the opposing voice. Consequently, they plotted to kill Jesus Christ, ultimately crucifying Him on Calvary’s cross! He resurrected, true, but they still refused to accept Him even into Acts. Looking into the future, we see the rise of the Antichrist—plus his fall and removal. “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,…” (2 Thessalonians 2:8,9).

When Messiah comes back in power and great glory, Israel’s “worse” state will be improved….

The Last State is Worse Than the First #6

Sunday, October 8, 2023

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26 KJV).

Who is this man? Why is his last state worse than his first?

After the Lord Jesus Christ was rejected and crucified, He resurrected and ascended back to Heaven as a royal exile. In the meantime, King David’s throne is vacant, meaning someone can pretend to be David’s heir and thus deceive Israel into believing he is worthy of the throne. This man is the Antichrist, of whom the Lord Jesus warned Israel: “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (John 5:43).

In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the Antichrist is “that man of sin, the son of perdition [damnation].” All that sin entails—every thought and action that Satan’s evil world system promotes—will be personified in one single human. Romans 1:25 describes Satan’s original plan as “worship and serve the creature more than the Creator.” The Antichrist, a mere man, will be worshipped as if he were God Himself (see Daniel 11:36-38; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5-8)! He is also called “the beast,” as in a bestial or animalistic and brutal person, and “the dragon” (Satan) empowers him (see Revelation 13:1-10). Israel has had some truly evil rulers throughout history, but this diabolical man will outdo them all!

Furthermore, roughly midway through his seven-year reign, the Antichrist will be assassinated (see Zechariah 11:15-17; Revelation 13:3,14). An evil spirit from the bottomless pit will reanimate his corpse (Revelation 17:8,11), a sham “resurrection” authenticating the Antichrist as “Messiah” (counterfeiting Jesus being raised from the dead)! This is the individual who will govern, betray, and torment Israel. His idolatrous religion will enable Satan to possess Israel to the fullest degree (recall the “seven” spirits of today’s Scripture).

In other words, when the Lord Jesus returns, Satan’s man is occupying David’s throne….

Know the Grace Life

Monday, October 2, 2023

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:11-14 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know the grace life?

The God of the Bible is currently performing a mighty work, but we cannot participate unless we identify and apply His blueprints or instructions. Our goal in Christian living and ministry should be according to God’s will, not man’s will. The Holy Spirit is not interested in promoting man’s unending theological speculations, starting denominational systems, or creating slaves for religious leaders.

Christ should be formed in us (Galatians 4:19). We should be strengthened with might by God’s Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). The Pauline design for the edification of the believer is how we exit spiritual kindergarten and enter grace university and beyond. Godly edifying (see 1 Timothy 1:3,4)—being built up by the Word of God’s Grace—is our emphasis. Doctrine matters! “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). Here are the Books of Romans through Philemon.

“In whom [Christ] all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21,22). “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15). “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6,7).

Having presented advanced studies of the “Original 7” devotionals, we can progress toward #5000!

Know Your Apostle

Sunday, October 1, 2023

“For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:…” (Romans 11:13 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know your Apostle?

Read Hebrews 5:11-14. Though they possessed the Hebrew Scriptures for over 1,500 years (Romans 3:1,2), ancient Israel did not reach spiritual maturity because they did not follow God’s pattern for development. They should have progressed from a diet of spiritual “milk” to “strong meat,” growing from spiritual “babes” to “them that are of full age” (adults). The writer of Hebrews laments how although Israel should be able to teach the Word of God to the world, stunted growth requires Israel must first be taught again the very basics. They had not listened to God’s spokesman to them (especially Moses’ ministry)!

As concerning us, Paul is our apostle (today’s Scripture), the Lord Jesus Christ’s “sent one” or spokesman to us (Acts 26:16-18). If we reject Christ’s messenger to us, we refuse Christ Himself, and we thus refuse Father God who sent Christ as His messenger (see Matthew 10:40; Luke 10:16; John 13:20). Also consider the Holy Spirit’s instructions through Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and 1 Corinthians 14:37,38.

Paul is the “wise masterbuilder” (1 Corinthians 3:9-11) for this “the Dispensation of the Grace of God” (Ephesians 3:1,2). His inspired writings of Romans through Philemon are the blueprints for God’s current building project. The foundation is Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (1 Corinthians 3:10,11; cf. Romans 16:25), which is Christ as presented in the Pauline epistles, Romans through Philemon. Unless we build on Christ according to mystery, it is not what God is doing today—and it is “wood, hay, stubble” (worthless). Returning to the Jesus Christ of prophecy (outside of Paul’s ministry) is to preach and use “another Jesus,” “another spirit,” and “another gospel” (see 2 Corinthians 11:3,4).

Read Romans 16:25,26. Father God will “stablish” (stabilize) us spiritually according to: (1) Paul’s Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3,4), (2) the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon), and (3) the Scriptures of the prophets (all of the Bible in light of Pauline revelation). Knowing God’s messenger to us, we know His will for us. Knowing God’s will for us, we can now have faith in it, and accomplish it with Him!

Know Right Division

Saturday, September 30, 2023

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

Dear friend, would you like to know right division?

It truly is a sad state of affairs when most people who possess a Bible have no idea how to use it. They appeal to “scholars” and manmade systems for light, but often receive nothing but further darkness because the blind lead the blind (see Matthew 15:12-14). If we have even the slightest hope of extracting the spiritual profit God the Holy Spirit placed in His inspired and preserved words, we must pay attention to His words instead of the words of man’s “wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).

The key to understanding and enjoying the Bible is 2 Timothy 2:15. We are not told to merely study Scripture, but rightly divide it. The Apostle Paul explains how he rightly divided the Word of Truth in Ephesians chapter 2. “Time past” (verses 11,12) is the period on the Bible timeline when God dealt with mankind on the basis of circumcision (Israel, Jews) and uncircumcision (nations, Gentiles). This is Genesis all the way into early Acts. “But now (verses 13-18) is Paul’s ministry (Acts chapter 9 onward, including Romans through Philemon), when God does not distinguish between Jew and Gentile because He has broken down this “middle wall of partition.” In “the ages to come” (verses 6,7), we the Church the Body of Christ will rule and reign in the heavenly places.

It is not enough to divide truth from error, or Old Testament from New Testament, or Israel from “the church,” or Judaism from Christianity. We must rightly divide Israel from the Church the Body of Christ, Peter from Paul, law from grace, Earth from Heaven, prophecy from mystery. Prophecy, what God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21) cannot be the same as mystery, what God kept secret since the world began but has now revealed through Paul’s ministry (Romans 16:25,26). If we do not recognize these dispensational distinctions, then we will stumble over Bible “contradictions” and have no idea where we are on the Bible timeline or what God’s will for us even is. Right division will grow us up!