Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

Palsy #2

Sunday, October 15, 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 read today’s Scripture in its context: “[17] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…. [23] And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. [24] 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.”

Another verse helpful in this regard is Luke 8:1: “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,….” The Lord’s earthly ministry involved the preaching of a kingdom, God’s kingdom—the Gospel (“Good News”) of the Kingdom. In addition to a verbal message or a proclamation of words (“the kingdom of heaven is at hand;” Matthew 4:17), there was a physical or visual confirmation of the message. If God’s kingdom were really near—“at hand,” or within Israel’s grasp—there would be not just words but sights to see and sounds to hear.

“For the Jews require a sign” (1 Corinthians 1:22). What could signify, or serve as a sign, to Israel’s people that their long-promised Messiah or Saviour had come to reign and fulfill the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7:12-17 and Isaiah 9:6,7? How could Jesus “shew” (cause to be seen, demonstrate) the Glad Tidings (Good News or Gospel) of the Kingdom? What credentials could He offer to validate His identity and work? Why, His miracle-working would serve this purpose, and His curing of palsy would impart Father God’s revelation to Israel….

Palsy #1

Saturday, October 14, 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?

The Lord Jesus Christ healed palsy in today’s Scripture, plus, according to the Bible, in at least two other instances. Firstly, there was the centurion’s servant in Matthew 8:6: “And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.”

Secondly, there was the unfortunate man of Matthew 9:2,6: “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…. 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.” This is the same man presented in Mark 2:3-5,9,10 and Luke 5:18,24.

On at least one occasion, the Apostle Peter healed someone tormented with palsy: “And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy” (Acts 9:33).

In all these instances, the Greek word is “paralytikos,” derived from “para” (“with”) and “luo” (“loose”). That is to say, paralytics suffer from physical looseness or limpness. There is no strength in the affected part of the body, which powerlessness prevents movement or mobility. Look at all the above references, with the exception of today’s Scripture, and observe how the person is bedridden, confined to the position of lying down. In fact, Peter’s “patient” has been incapacitated for eight long years!

As with the case of all Bible miracles, a lesson is to be learned from the doctrine communicated. If we do some verse comparison, we will comprehend just what the healing of palsy actually signifies in Scripture, and why the Holy Spirit included such narratives in His Book….

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….

The Last State is Worse Than the First #5

Saturday, October 7, 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 today’s Scripture (cf. Matthew 12:43-45), an unclean spirit leaves a man. The man, now purified from his satanic corruption, is likened unto a house “swept and garnished” (free of filth, now put in proper order and decorated). Yet, he is repossessed as more devils enter him. The key to identifying this man is found by looking in Matthew 12:45: “…Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Jesus Christ was describing His own audience, the very people listening to Him, the same nation Israel who was unwilling to allow Him to cleanse them of their devil possession!

“Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children” (Isaiah 49:24,25). “For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he” (Jeremiah 31:11).

Israel is a hostage or prisoner of Satan (the “stronger” man), but the LORD (Jesus Christ) will save him. Notice the link to the “strong man” of Matthew 12:29 and Luke 11:21,22. Here is Satan, with the Lord Jesus entering Satan’s house (Israel and her land) and taking Satan captive. Every time Christ cast out an evil spirit during His earthly ministry, He was lessening Satan’s grip on Israel and bringing Israel closer to national restoration and kingdom glorification. Yet, unbelieving Israel kept opposing Christ, so Israel was opening herself up to a more dreadful fate (additional devils!)….

The Last State is Worse Than the First #4

Friday, October 6, 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?

Read Matthew 8:28-32, Mark 5:1-13, and Luke 8:26-33. Whereas Matthew focuses on two men possessed with devils (symbolizing the divided kingdom—the Kingdom of Israel of the north, and the Kingdom of Judah of the south), Mark and Luke emphasize the leading man (for Israel was originally one kingdom under Saul, David, and Solomon). This is Israel’s wretched spiritual condition, but the Lord Jesus can cast out Satan and thus cleanse the nation of its spiritual pollution. Still, when the Lord Jesus performed an exorcism, the overwhelming response was negative (recall Matthew 12:24 and Luke 11:15,16). For another illustration of Israel’s unbelief during Christ’s earthly ministry, we simply look at their reply when He cast out the devils in Matthew chapter 8, Mark chapter 5, and Luke chapter 8!

“And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts [Please go away, Jesus!]” (Matthew 8:33,34). “And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts” (Mark 5:16,17). “They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again [Christ gave them their wish!!!!]” (Luke 8:36,37).

With Messiah absent, Israel’s spiritual state is worse than ever….

The Last State is Worse Than the First #3

Thursday, October 5, 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?

Satan certainly did not know everything, but he could study the Old Testament and listen to Father God’s messengers (angels, John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus, the 12 Apostles) to gather that Christ’s earthly ministry was connected to the founding of God’s earthly kingdom. For example, Luke 1:31-33: “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”

If God has a holy people working His will in the Earth (Israel), Satan’s plans thus cannot come to pass! What better strategy could Satan employ to prevent God’s earthly kingdom from arising, than render the Jewish people unclean by sending his evil spirits to possess them? Thus, in Matthew through John, there is a sharp increase in devil possession. Satan is opposing the institution of God’s earthly kingdom, Israel’s political revival, the reinstatement of David’s throne.

One major feature of Christ’s earthly ministry is exorcisms. His purpose in working this miracle is revealed in two verses. “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you” (Matthew 12:28). “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you” (Luke 11:20—the context of today’s Scripture). When Messiah came, He would indeed “cause… the unclean spirit to pass out of the land [of Israel]” (Zechariah 13:2). Yet, Israel was not ready for Messiah….

Saints, please remember this work of the ministry requires monthly financial support to operate (Galatians 6:6; Philippians 4:16-17; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). Those who prefer electronic giving can donate securely here: https://www.paypal.me/ShawnBrasseaux. Anyone who wishes to donate by regular mail can visit https://333wordsofgrace.org/contact-us-mailing-address-for-donations/ for details. Thanks to all who give to and pray for us! Unfortunately, since our ministry audience is so large and our ministry staff is so small, I can no longer personally respond to everyone. Thanks so much for understanding in this regard. 🙂