Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The book of Matthew

Chapter 8

****Matt.8:1 When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 8:2 Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean." 8:3 Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be made clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

How simple and straight forward was Christ healing of this leper not even mention by name? Can you imagine today such an event the news media interviewing every person this leper knew, the hype, and every gritty little detail and certainly the name of the person so the books and movies could flow.

Matt. 6:1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 6:2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6:3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Here something that we must understand when reading God's word the bible, God does things in secret, he appeals to us in ways that cannot be made into a production, unseen by human eyes so he can build a personal relationship with us and no one else. But there is a bigger fundamental point in Christ healing here we must consider and not overlook, for if we don't we can head down a long road missing the entire foundation truth of building on Christ, do you know what it is?

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

What Christ does in healing and teaching us, both are miracle, both come from above, and no one, let me say this again, no one, can earn those miracles! This man was not half healed by his good efforts in asking Christ. He did not present Christ with a resume' of his good motives or works to be healed, but again do you know why? It is because God is love, love does no operated from debt card in repaying good works we have done. Love, true love of God is given freely, because God's wants to give us his love.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

In other words, its a difficult concept living in our fallen flesh to grasp God love cannot be earned, it is given from love, for love gives freely. Love does not live in fear of losing because someone does not do something back towards us. God's love is not jealous like our love coming from our flesh that gets upset because the person does not appreciated our giving them something; did you know God is not hinder by any of that sickness found in our sinful flesh?

1Cor.13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
13:6 doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 13:8 Love never fails.

The truth in this healing is the foundation of we build upon the Christ which is we are truly under undeserved kindness, by God loves to give good gifts to us freely! Now that being said, it clear up another problem Christian's have been fighting about for thousand's of years, and what is that? When God created Adam and Eve putting them in the Garden of Eden it was from the same love, he did so freely without some motive like we human have in giving our love to others. Now if that is true, which it is! Than we cannot understand God if we don't walk in love. The bible will be locked up to us, because we are imputing our love as God's love, and that is a dead end road, why?

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.

Look at the world around us what has been accomplished in mankind's love? Some good, and much bad, does mankind good make all things new? Does the good, and the want to do good heal a leper with a word? Does the good free us from sin, does it teach us God's love or instead confuse us into giving glory to human efforts instead of the truth found in God's love? God is not in competition with mankind, he loves them freely, their efforts, but to gain life without undeserved kindness it is impossible preaching otherwise does not make God ugly or jealousy, it does us, but not God. God gives us his love freely without strings attached like false religion does. Hopefully, we will come to appreciated why God make all things new freely without mankind's works. If so we will be truly new and free of all false religion and part of the Son of God's healing us because he wants to!

1 John 4:8 He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.

Revelation 21:2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."

****Matt.8:4 Jesus said to him, "See that you tell nobody, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

Matt.8:5 When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him, 8:6 and saying, "Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented." 8:7 Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." 8:8 The centurion answered, "Lord, I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8:9 For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and tell another, 'Come,' and he comes; and tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Most certainly I tell you, I haven't found so great a faith, not even in Israel.

What is faith, really? Here we find two tremendous events the healing a man having leprosy humanly impossible to cure, and now a centurion whose servant is paralyzed in grievous tormented. Both speak of great faith, why?

Matthew 17:20 He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Both men did not doubt Christ authority, the rest of Israel demanded proof of Christ authority, but why such a vast difference where Christ stated that not even in Israel had he found such a faith? Shocking the very people chosen by faith to be God's people challenged if Christ was the Christ, if he had God's authority when he was doing great works among God's people Israel.

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

Here is the point, faith is not a legal argument where like the world thinks an intelligent person does testing each word, thought and actions for the person to prove their worth to us before putting trust in them. Israel was under God's inspection not the other way around they had the written word, the law, the prophets they should have had faith in Christ if they loved God! But only a very few had faith a small remnant out of all Israel. Those thinking God must prove his worth to them for worship, instead put faith in leaders, in men, and in themselves they were emptied headed the creation speaks of God's glory day after day, and night after night!

Matthew 18:32 Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me.

Luke 19:22 "He said to him, 'Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn't lay down, and reaping that which I didn't sow.

Today many Christian's think they have a right to put God and Christ to the test and if he can beat them in a word game, a legal argument they will but faith in him. Christ knocks we open, and if we trust him, that is, a big word, put faith in his authority he will sup with us teaching us the truth based upon what? Our trust in him, nothing less or nothing more. We are the receivers of God's grace, his love, and we are blessed because he saves us, not the other way around. Many teach accurate knowledge to know God, what does that mean? A legal bible studying dismissing your every doubt? Making God prove himself because some man can make excuse for God's actions found in your bible?

Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
17:6 The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 17:7 But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down at the table,' 17:8 and will not rather tell him, 'Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink'? 17:9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. 17:10 Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.'"

Many believed outside of Israel without an accurate knowledge of God, many outside of Israel didn't know the temple and its service who was great and was not? Such as the Roman centurion mention above, and so many others that acted toward God without constant legislating of bible teachings. Knowledge of God is not bad, but it often does just the opposite making a person a legal minded judge of what is truth and what is not using laborious testing by legal measure to make God prove himself to man. Those with such a mind have no faith they walk in fear and demand God prove himself to them. Those acting upon love for God, because he is God and can do no evil towards those walking in love themselves act not upon fear, but truth, imputing only good to God, knowing he is the rewarder of those loving him.

1 John 4:19 We love Him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.

James 1:16 Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow. 1:18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

****Matt.8:11 I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, 8:12 but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Can you just imagine thousand's of years of God's temple service and a religious government that every aspect of life in Israel was governed by God's laws, and yet a person not even of their nation had more faith!

Rom.9:27 Isaiah cries concerning Israel, "If the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant who will be saved.

Have you ever noted the connection between knowledge and a lack of faith? Seriously, what should be correct is upside down, knowledge should increase our faith in God, but for so many throughout the history of God and man it had just the opposite effect! It was Eves quest for additional knowledge causing her lack of trust in God and her husband, so what is the problem?

Rom.9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness. 9:32 Why? Because they didn't seek it by faith, but as it were by works of the law. They stumbled over the stumbling stone;

It actually very simple something a person can find in any field of mankind from government, religion, and commerce. The greater the knowledge the greater the power, the more power the more skeptical the person becomes, the more they test others to prove their knowledge, trusting only in themselves as an authority. They trust only in knowledge, and put less faith in others because they know the ropes so to speak.

Mark 9:34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest. 9:35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."
9:36 He took a little child, and set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 9:37 "Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me."

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

John 13:33 Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you can't come,' so now I tell you.

The profound lack of faith in God is disturbing to say the least, where God's chosen people would be replaced by outsiders showing faith in God. The greater the knowledge from educated ones in their society the less they trusted God . Many today love making a show of their knowledge of God they won't even consider words of faith they want to dissected words in Hebrew and Greek explained by scholars before considering words of faith from Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

Those taken in by the high sounding words in precise correctness of each article placing, enjoy the scholar language more than the love of God, thinking that such an unemotional legal approach makes them wiser then others with simple faith in God as love. Having no love of righteousness, but seeking the righteousness of men, a debate ensues over words to beat their opponent just like the world practices in darkness away from Christ. Yes! Just like the spirit of this world! Sadly, not even understanding the world is set up on the same pattern something each legal scholar knows, the same is true of those using the system of legal science applying it to God's word.

1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.

Unfortunately not even knowing this is the nature of the natural man under sin alienated from God. This is the fleshly mind without faith, the same mind the Pharisees had and taught to Israel causing the very condition Jesus rebuked the entire nation over a lack of love and trust for the very God they boasted in serving legally! Don't be fooled Abraham the Father of Israel faith had no legally correct mind dissecting words into power for protection against acting in faith. No! Abraham defied every legal actions of mankind's mind to offer up his son Isaac on the altar for God.

1 Corinthians 1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

The pursuit of faith by legal mind is a lack of faith in God's love, in his giving good gifts to his children. In him giving his Son Christ Jesus to redeem us from the cruse of the law. Yes! The curse of the law which condemns each of us, without mercy, cursing us with wrath from God righteous judgments. Those reading God's word from the corrupted legal mind will curse themselves and those that listen, although appearing righteous in the flesh they are not the young children of God's Kingdom like Abraham.

Matt.18:1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"
18:2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the midst of them,
18:3 and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
18:4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
18:5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
18:7 "Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!

****Matt.8:13 Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed." His servant was healed in that hour.

Why is faith so powerful? When one acts in faith towards God, in this case through God's Son Christ Jesus, miracles happen! Faith is the medium to God, it is the one thing that pleases God, and without it we cannot come to know the God of miracles, but why?

Matthew 17:20 He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Faith is a profound trust in God, in his love for us, in his goodness, and righteousness, in his fairness, in his power, all the things Adam and Eve failed at. To put faith beyond our flesh, which means its power to save us, to trust in God rather than muster enough power or goodness from our fallen flesh to make something happen called a miracle.

Luke 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

The whole key to understanding the issue in the Garden of Eden is godship. To be a god means to at least have the power to save ourselves, to sustain life, to do miracles. The choice Eve made and Adam went along with was putting faith in a creation rather than the creator. But Adam and Eve were no gods! They where flesh and blood needing God to keep them living by his power; the power of Satan and their own flesh lie, deceiving them into sin and death. Both process painful for those with eternity implanted in their hearts at creation. They grew old and watched their beautiful godly form corrupt into old age waiting the final breathe of life as dependent upon God for life.

Rom.1:21 Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 1:23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
1:24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves,

But if they had faith, that is, trust in God's love they would have never die at all. Many believe in themselves turning to God only when they fail at something they want in this life. Others love God no matter what happen in this life, for what God is, which is worthy of our worship and service. This centurion seen beyond human flesh into a man that represented great authority the Son of God. He unlike many in Israel knew a king when he saw it, knowing that Christ could command, and God's angels would obey.

**** Matt.8:7 Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
8:8 The centurion answered, "Lord, I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8:9 For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and tell another, 'Come,' and he comes; and tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

The Jews had faith in flesh only in those appointed to position within their society by God's law. They worship men as gods doing what cost Adam and Eve their own death. Peter went beyond flesh in walking upon water because Christ commanded him to come! When we think in terms of flesh, if we are worthy or not, we lose faith.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

Rom.7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?

If the centurion would have fallen into that trap, he could not have stood, for he was completed condemned by the Jewish faith being a Roman. Faith is not about our works, our goodness, what we do in obeying God's commandments for merit instead of love. Faith is not trusting ourselves, but God, and what he is, which is good. The Jews thought they had a record of merit to place before God making them worthy of his miracles, but they had forgotten why they were saved out of Egypt, by faith in God's miracles, and faith in the blood of the passover lamb.

Jude 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn't believe.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Psalms 33:16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

**** Matt. 8:14 When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. 8:15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and served him.{TR reads "them" instead of "him"} 8:16 When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick; 8:17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases."{Isaiah 53:4}

When one reads of the beauty of God's Holy Spirit working in peace and harmony, without confusion, so unlike the ruckus of the boisterous flesh it brings the fruit of Holy Spirit to our minds and hearts.

2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

God does not put on a show for human entertainment, he does not set up a stage planning carefully how to bring the most amount people to his circus. God himself acts in modesty and humility telling us not to blow a trumpet before our good works. Here the Son of God Christ Jesus is like the Father in his healing, no grunting, flipping his hands to fling the spirit onto others. No fan far, no music and audio, or ranting and raving about the power of God, but instead comfort and peace through the Holy Spirit in calmness, and quiet.

Matt.6:1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 6:2 Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don't sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
6:3 But when you do merciful deeds, don't let your left hand know what your right hand does.

The power of God is through Christ as King of Heavenly Jerusalem the King of the new heaven and earth his power is God's love in kindness, peace the fruits of the wisdom of God nothing Christ touch cannot be healed, nothing in our lives cannot be healed in Christ. Yes, this was the point, the easy of which Christ could use God's power to renew all things.

Revelation 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."

This is why we love God, because of his kindness, and love towards us, this is why we can have faith that nothing in our lives can't be fixed in God's due time. There will be no injustice our Father will not undo, there will be no pain that he will not completely wiped away, there will be no addiction he cannot fix, there will be no more sin causing death.

Rev.21:1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 21:2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. 21:3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 21:4 He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away." 21:5 He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."

Our Father through Christ, as Christ was showing here, giving us preview of his loving power, so we can taste and see our Father YHWH is very good, so we can endure in this life for the real one to come, where we can do good when evil is done to us. Let us imagine the peace and comfort of God's plans through Christ Jesus to set creation free from its enslavement to corruption. Let us today, remember that reality is our faith in God's love that cannot and will not fail us, and the unreality the is pain, and suffering of this life, which is but momentary and lite.

1 Peter 1:24 For, "All flesh is like grass, and all of man's glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;

Isa. 40:25 "To whom then will you liken me? Who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their army by number. He calls them all by name. by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, Not one is lacking.
40:27 Why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel, "My way is hidden from Yahweh, and the justice due me is disregarded by my God?"
40:28 Haven't you known? Haven't you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, The Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint. He isn't weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 40:29 He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.
40:30 Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; 40:31 But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.

Rom.8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

****Matt.8:18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes around him, he gave the order to depart to the other side. 8:19 A scribe came, and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
8:20 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

Jesus Christ the son of God did not come to this earth to plant roots, Christ was no part of this earth he came from above. Many of us Christian's really don't get this? We understand we are to be no part of this world thinking that we don't use it to the full, but that is not Christ point here which was he had nowhere to lay his head?

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.

John 8:23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Christ stated a truth, that is, a fact between the Spirit of God that indwelt him, where he was born to live, where his roots are, and those not born again, and what was that? First, let have some context which is the rest of the scriptures. Those not having God's Spirit cannot know God, it is a truth that requires God Spirit teaching us who God is? Of course we are not talking about doctrines alone, but the personality behind the truth, God's, which makes doctrine the truth!

1Cor.13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. 13:3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.

James 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

God wants us to come to know him as truth, but what truth is that? He is love, something no written word can teach us alone. Moreover, this is why God must invite us to know him by our faith which is an act of trust God is good.

1 John 5:6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

Jude 1:19 These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit.

1 John 4:6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn't listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:13 By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

Having said that Christ came from above to give us the light of his Father personality for him to do that he could not come from below born from sin, placing roots into this world, but from above without sin explaining the Father to us. What Christ spoke, was to the ears of those born from below 180-degrees the opposite of what they thought the truth should be? However, those with faith could see the works Christ was doing for the Father, although, they themselves equally doubted stay with Christ despite their fleshly fears.

John 14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

John 13:7 Jesus answered him, "You don't know what I am doing now, but you will understand later."

John 10:38 But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

John 8:55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, 'I don't know him,' I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.

Human's are alienated from God because of sin, but what they fail to understand is, all that mankind has built being a sinner is not of God, it cannot be claimed as coming from God. So those born again from above can be no part of this world, nor will it work for them, because the Spirit from above is rejected by this system of things, and its rulers wicked spirit son's of God.

John 17:14 I have given them your word. The world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 17:16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.

John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, even so I have sent them into the world.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them.

Jesus is not saying he didn't sleep in house, or have an earthly family what he is stating is that because he was from above he must go back to where he came to be with the Father; his home was not here on earth. Christ had no castle, a seat of Government on earth, where people could follow him like all kings have. No! Christ was a king of a Spirit and truth Kingdom, and those soon to be born again would find the world does not work for them any longer either. In fact, they would find that the world would not know them, or glorify them, they would be rejected as refuses of world no value to this world. Hated by its goals and lust. But if they had faith and courage in their suffering and remember the love of the Father Christ in them would conquer the world for them.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

Matthew 10:28 Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.{or, Hell.}

Luke 12:32 Don't be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

John 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
1:7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
1:8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. 1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him. 1:11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him.

**** Matt.8:21 Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father." 8:22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

God is a God of living and not the dead, but how does a dead person bury another dead person? Jesus words here are a basic principal that we have seem to have loss in our times. Death to God are those remaining in their sins.

Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead but of the living.

John 4:10 In answer Jesus said, If you had knowledge of what God gives freely and who it is who says to you, Give me water, you would make your prayer to him, and he would give you living water.

When Adam and Eve sinned they were dead to God, not some what alive, or just dying from sin, but dead to association with God by The Spirit of life. This is an important distinction for all Christian's to understand, and what is that distinction? Death is in our flesh, life comes to us from outside ourselves from God's Spirit.

John 6:57 As the living Father has sent me, and I have life because of the Father, even so he who takes me for his food will have life because of me.

John 11:26 And no one who is living and has faith in me will ever see death. Is this your faith?
Romans 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:

Christ came from above, he was indwelt with God's Spirit he was called life, and he gave us life, by bring us the life of the Father that Adam and Eve lost my their sinning and than passing death on to us the human race. But how did Christ bring us life?

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

John 6:63 It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

He gave us his righteous perfect life, one without sin. Hence, one without death indwelling it from sin. Christ gave us the merit of a perfect life that we could never get once being a sinner. It not as if a person can be a sinner and than work their way out of being a sinner by good works done in their life time. No! We must be given someone else good works, and/or merit.

Ephesians 2:9 not of works, that no one would boast.

God sent us life, the Son of God, now humans accepting Christ would be anointed, reborn into his life, accounted sinless, and received life, from the Spirit. When we read the scriptures let us remember when Christ was here on earth in the flesh, he was completing the law, and preparing his disciple for the main event, and what was the main event? The outpouring of the Holy Spirit making them son's of God, accounted sinless.

John 14:17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

Jesus impressed upon their yet fleshly minds statements that were shocking to the flesh, so that later when they received the Holy Spirit it would make perfect since. “In life”, is far different than being in death. When his followers received his life by Holy Spirit experiencing it, than they understood the death they had lived in from child birth.

2 Corinthians 5:4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Titus.3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 3:6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;

Death can only bring death, it takes life to bring life, if one is dead to God (Spirit) than when they bury their own, it is the dead burying the dead. But those alive in Christ don't die at all they don't bury the dead and mourn as the rest do God is a God of the living, not the dead! Let us also remember facts, that is, truth is not based upon emotions one cannot change the truth by strong feelings, Christ is not judging us by stating the truth about the condition of death, or the dead. He is stating a fact that life must come from him and through him as God's channel, we can chose life or death.
Gen.2:16 Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it; for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die."

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed;

John 6:53 Jesus therefore said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't have life in yourselves.

****Matt.8:23 When he got into a boat, his disciples followed him.
8:24 Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep.
8:25 They came to him, and woke him up, saying, "Save us, Lord! We are dying!" 8:26 He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm. 8:27 The men marveled, saying, "What kind of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

The flesh fears death, Christ on the other hand did not fear in the storm. Moreover, Christ showed his disciples the truth of the power of God that even wind obeyed him! Later in the lives of the apostles of Christ they would be faced with many fearful things, violent death, storms at sea, and troubles with government and false brothers, but what of the wind?

2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.

John 3:8 The wind{The same Greek word (pneuma) means wind, breath, and spirit.} blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

The wind is powerful, it is pleasant, and refreshing at times, but its not under the control of our flesh what is Christ point so often where his apostles are found in a situation not in their control?

Matthew 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear.

Matthew 10:28 Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.{or, Hell.}

There are two worlds, the world above where Christ came from and was going back too, and the one we live in by flesh. The one of flesh cannot enter into the one above, but the life from above can enter into our world, so it knows all things, but not the flesh, it cannot know the world above. What is in flesh, fear of death, lust to stay alive, and its fears anything out of its control, so how does the flesh change its world which is often fearful?

By conquering it through invention, laws, powerful government this is how the world works. But here we have the Son of Man Christ Jesus with a simple word he stops the storm, he conquers his apostles fears! What is the message here, is the message we must muster faith from our fearful flesh? No! That not the message, the message is the same message throughout entire bible, God is the power behind our faith, not us, stop trusting in our flesh.

Jer.17:5 Thus says Yahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh.
17:6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited.
17:7 Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose trust Yahweh is. 17:8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Adam and Eve trusted in what? Their flesh, what was the results? Fear, and death. When God's anointed trust in their flesh what is the results, fear and death to the life of Christ. The message is clear we must walk on water by God's power, the world is wicked, it is a sea that cannot stop churning with badness because it is flesh, and flesh lives in fear and uses every inch of its power protecting itself from fear and death.

Isa.40:26 Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their army by number. He calls them all by name. by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, Not one is lacking. 40:27 Why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel, "My way is hidden from Yahweh, and the justice due me is disregarded by my God?" 40:28 Haven't you known? Haven't you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, The Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn't faint. He isn't weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
40:29 He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. 40:30 Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; 40:31 But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.

We cannot prevent death it will eventually get us, but in Christ was the power of God, life! How does anything in this world overpower God? The apostles lacked faith in what? Themselves, the boat, Christ? They lacked faith in God's power to save them out of death. We need not struggle in our flesh mustering enough faith that some how if we can stop fearing God will act. No, we must trust in his power despite our worst fears that God always acts for those whom love him.

Rom.8:37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us remember Christ point is that he is life, and the apostles had life, let not focus on this life as all important and all he elements of this world that is set on taking physical life away, let us focus on the real life, the one that should indwell us the, Christ!

1 John 5:11 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

2 Peter 1:3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;

****Matt.8:28 When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes,{NU reads "Gadarenes"} two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way. 8:29 Behold, they cried out, saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?" 8:30 Now there was a herd of many pigs feeding far away from them. 8:31 The demons begged him, saying, "If you cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of pigs." 8:32 He said to them, "Go!" They came out, and went into the herd of pigs: and behold, the whole herd of pigs rushed down the cliff into the sea, and died in the water. 8:33 Those who fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons. 8:34 Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.

Many find this account troubling, difficult to say the least? Human's believe they have control of their lives, but perhaps not as much as this world teaches them. The bible speaks truth, not from a human point a view necessarily, but God's point of view seeing human affairs for thousands of years. We are told the whole world is under the power of wicked spirit force and we have a wrestling not with flesh and blood, but these unseen spirit force in heavenly places.

Genesis 6:13 God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

But why are wicked spirit force interested in being in contact with flesh? This is not an exaggeration the entire bible is about flesh and spirit the contest between the two. The rebellion causing the great flood at Noah time was over the exceedingly wicked spirit son's whom came to earth to have intercourse with flesh, that is, woman. That corruption became great in the earth, evil and violence increased to the point God was moved to save what was left of mankind in the flesh Noah and his family.

Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

God than put rebellious angels into prison and did not allow this contact any longer. However, there was still another group not in prison those born from this unnatural union of angels spirit son's of God with human flesh, the Nephilim. They unlike spirit son's of God had both spirit and flesh bodies, they could not flee to heaven, which was not there home, instead earth was their home barred from heaven.

Gen.6:4The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God's sons came in to men's daughters. They bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 6:5 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

They wanted contact with human flesh to feel alive this than is where demon possession comes from. The depravity in demons to be in contact with flesh prompted them to beg Christ not to put them completely out of flesh, but allow them contact with pig flesh.

These creature are still about us causing much evil and wickedness in our earth, they were a very violent unnatural creation one God did not authorizes we should not be surprised at the depth of corruption they are in? On the other hand, Christ demonstrated his power over such evilness with a word!

Matthew 17:18 Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.

We as Christian's can never fight fire with fire, flesh with flesh or we will be consumed by evil in depraved demons bent on taking control of flesh through violence; those walking in their flesh and its corrupt thinking have little or not protection. Let us walk in love, having the Spirit mind of Christ guarding our hearts for eternal life. Moreover, those in religion bent on judgments of the flesh in works of law are easy prey for demons because a person cannot put away the filth of the flesh by works of laws. To kill the flesh power, a person must be purchased by the blood of Christ requesting a clean conscious something the demons cannot posses by guilty of the flesh trying to redeem itself by works. The greater we give power to the flesh and its works, by judgment of sin the greater allowance of demonic control.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Galatians 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

The power of sin is the law, the more law the greater the guilty of sins which the unseen demons can uses against us.

Galatians 5:4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"
Completed: May 07, 2015

by: Daniel a Slave of Christ Jesus