Truth

Matthew 9:26-34

Jesus is so amazing in His healing. There are a few things in this scripture that stands out to me. First is the concept of touch. Jesus touched people physically in his healing. How many times I have received a hug from my children and just their touch has a way of healing my soul. When in dire straights and a friend lays his or her hand on my shoulder, I feel the pressures of this world a little less. I think touch is an important aspect of healing that we sometimes forget about.

Next thing that struck me was what Jesus said to the blind men. He said, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” According to your faith is how Jesus is able to heal. If you do not believe you can be healed, well there is no faith in that. Not only do you need to know that you can be healed, you need to know that there is only one who can do this healing.

Jesus warned the blind men who received their sight not to tell anyone, but they went out and told everyone. We are such sinners. Even in the midst of our healing we can not follow the directions of a God who heals us. I am thankful He does not hold back His healing, knowing we will still run into sin issues in the future.

Finally, I think it is amazing that we can look at miracles and think they come from somewhere other than God. I know as a father it is hard to have to continually repeat myself about the same things over and over to my children. But you know what? I will continue to do it until my children get it right. Why? Because I love them and I know that God has to do the same thing with me on a daily basis.

Where is God trying to correct you? Are you trusting that only He can heal you and help you out of the situation you are in?

Matthew 9:18-26

We are called to live our lives as closely to Jesus example as we can, but in this scripture selection I think we need to look at the lives of those who had faith.  The faith of the man with the dead daughter and the faith of the blooding woman are far beyond the faith that we sometimes show in our lives.
Look closely at how the scripture describes the man.  What was it he did first?  He worshiped Jesus on bended knee. Afterwards, asking Jesus to bring his daughter back to life.  He did not ask Jesus if he could heal her, but instead asked if Jesus would just come and lay His hands on her she would live again. He knew Jesus could bring back the dead. Now that is faith.
Then look at the faith of the woman.  She knew Jesus had the power to heal her.  She didn’t even ask she just reached out and touched His garment. In Luke 8 we see that Jesus even felt power leave Him when this woman touched His garment. Again, amazing faith to knew Jesus could heal.
So where is my faith today?  Do I believe Jesus can do what He said He would do?  why am I troubled when things do not go as planned?  I guess I need to look at the planner.  Was it me who planned it or Jesus?  I know His plan is always carried out, now I need the faith to live in that statement.

Matthew 10:1-4

Jesus gave His disciples the authority to cast out demons and heal all types of sickness.  To be able to give that authority you must first have that authority.  In previous chapters we saw that Jesus did have this authority over sickness and demons.  He gave this authority to His closest followers.  In the scripture after we find out He has given this authority to the 12 disciples, They are listed by name.

I am being shown things about relationships at this point in my life. So how does this scripture relate to my current situation and learning?  When I was born I  was given authority over my actions. I have free choice to do with them as I pleased . Since I have this authority I can give it to others.  First I give the authority of my actions over to God.

I know that I am not strong enough to always obey God or listen to his authority in my life. I need to have relationships in my life where I can also give them this authority.  This concept is called accountability.  I know I need to give this authority.  I can even name the people who I believe are the best fit for this, but here is the hard part… actually giving them the authority.  Letting them into all areas of my life, holding back nothing. Giving them full authority to ask the tough questions and not be defensive when they question my actions.  Know what I mean?

That is where I am in my learning experience with the scripture and in my life.  I know this piece of scripture is about Jesus giving authority to the disciples to go and heal the Israel nation, but this is where I am in my life.  Scripture has the great ability to speak to people where they are at the time.  Jesus always wants to meet us where we are and speak into our lives.  I am just glad today that I get to hear Him.  Do you hear Him speaking?  Have you given Him and others authority in your life?

1 John 3:16
Ephesians 5:21-25
Ephesians 5:31-33
1 Corinthians 13:4-10
Matthew 26:39

Sex and how we should view it: It is not about fulfilling our desires it is about honoring Him.

Love – misused and over used

Without the right picture of love we are useless as lovers.

We submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

Jesus is your example fir this submission

True submission is not 50/50 relationship. It is a 100/100 relationship. Both submitting everything.

100/ 0 is a better representation of how Jesus lived. Giving all without expecting return

Men should be modeling the way in this. Going all the way when it is not returned, appreciated or desired.

In Matthew 9:1-8 we see that Jesus heals a man.  We sometimes forget that through us God can do the same thing.  God has given us, His followers, the authority to heal. It is by His power that we can do it, but we can heal.  Healing does not only come in the form of miraculous physical healing.  Healing is also helping to mend broken hearts and broken lives.

There is one type of healing listed in these verses that we cannot do.  Forgiveness of sin.  Jesus is the only one who can forgive sin and offer complete healing. What we can do is forgive others for any act they have done against us.  This shows others that we are His children. Even though we cannot ultimately forgive their sins, we can show them a little piece of forgiveness in hopes that they will take their sins to God and ask forgiveness and repent of the sin.

I am so glad Jesus can forgive sin. Do you have any sins you need to repent of?

Ephesians 5:3-5
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We need God in our sexual relationship.

When you ask a person how they are doing spiritually often they answer based on how they are sexually.

You can’t seek sexual immortality and Gods righteousness at the same time.

Sex has become the most widely worshipped “religion”

Need to be talking to kids about sex.

14000 reference to sex on tv every year.

Nothing more pleasurable than sexual release

God has designed us to experience this with one other person. When are bonded to what ever brings us this sexual pleasure.

Outside of the marriage relationship sex will rewire our brains to view sex as God never intended

The real beauty of sexual relationship can not be experienced outside the marriage relationship

Why do we need to save for marriage? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Jesus knew there was something better than sex to do with his body. Give it on the cross for the father and for us.

To honor and glorify God. This is the reason to have sex or not have sex. Honor and glorify God with our bodies.

Sexual sin to death. You have to stop now. With all sin this is true. Just stop the sin. Confess your sin to God and to someone else.

Matthew 8:28-34

Matthew 8:23-27

Matthew 8:18-22

Jesus had some great things to say in this scripture.  He knew sometime He needed to get away with his closest followers and leave the crowd behind. Does it mean He had any less compassion for the multitude? I think not. He just knew the right times to get away and spend time with His core team of followers.

He knew the hearts of His disciples and let them know exactly what they were asking for. When the scribe said he would follow Jesus anywhere, Jesus told him that the Son of man, God in human form had no place to lay His head to rest. What I gather from this is Jesus is saying “to follow me you will have the same as I, no place to rest or call your own.” In light of the previous verse where He commands them to get away from the crowd  He understands needing rest, but He knows His job is never done and He must keep doing what God placed him on the earth to do.

Jesus taught His disciples about priorities. To bury your father is an important task, but Jesus knew following Him and learning to truly live was more important that burying the dead. On a side note, I wonder if when He says “let the dead bury the dead” if He is talking about the spiritually dead bury the physically dead?

Jesus was a great teacher. We stand to learn a lot from Him, but we have to be in the scriptures to learn from Him.  Jesus is the savior of our souls. He paid the price we could not pay, so I think a few minutes a day to read His word is not too much to ask.

Have you read today?

Song of songs 5:10-16
Song of songs 7:1-8
1 Corinthians 7:5
Genesis 2:18
1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Sex is a gift from God given to married couples
Anything outside of these boundaries is considered adultery.

Adultery is a subtle attack it is not an instant thing.

4 steps toward an affair
1- stop having sex, suppress sexual intimacy in our marriages. Only refrain from sexual intimacy when pursuing God. It is not just about the act … it is about pursuing as well.
2-establishing our standard of beauty outside the marriage. Comparing our spouses is not acceptable. Not only offer the words to your spouse setting the standard, but accepting our spouses standard.
-avoid tempting situations … tell our spouse about potential areas. Comments from others.
3- you need to be best/closest friends. There should never be a closer friendship than your spouse.
-no flirting
- no joking about sexual things
- Facebook is a potential issue … be guarded
- start discussing marriage issues with some one of the opposite sex
- must set boundaries
4- keeping God out it our lives and marriages will put our relationship in danger.
- 60 percent of marriages end in divorce.
Must honor our marriage bed and keep it holy
We can be forgiven our sexual sin … we just need to ask. Flee … run from sinful temptations.