Faith vs. Sight

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” — Psalm 119:105

Category: Bible Studies

  • Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

    Authority of Jesus!

    Mark 1:21-28
    21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

    25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

    27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

    image

    Jesus taught as one with authority, not like those that taught the law. Not like the teachers of the law. What does this tell us? True power is in the hands of God, not law. Also, many times law will go directly against what God teaches. This happens because man will always pervert the law and make it conform to our wants.

    There is a response to this. Jesus came to save us from the law. Save us from burying ourselves in the law. Thank you Jesus. Thank you for our salvation through you.

    Amen.
    DK

  • Jesus Calls His First Disciples

    Faith! It only needs to be the size of a mustard seed…

    Mark 1:16-20
    16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

    19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

    image

    As Jesus walked past them, they dropped what they were doing and followed Him. It’s exactly what we will do as soon as we see Him.

    But why wait? He is coming. No need to sit around and wait. Jesus has called and given us the authority to take care of things until He returns. He left us with the Holy Spirit.

    Let it all go. All the distractions, all the wants, even all the needs. Get rid of them and watch Him take your hand and guide you to perfect harmony. Not easy. Perfect. The way that these men followed Jesus.

    Amen.
    DK

  • Jesus Announces the Good News

    Jesus is announcing His ministry.

    Mark 1:14-15
    14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

    image

    Jesus brings good news. Jesus did not come to judge. He did come to make us remember all of our sins. Jesus came to save us and forgive us. Don’t be fooled.

    Repent means “change.” Change your beliefs. Focus on the fact that Jesus loves you, not that our sins hung Him on the cross. They didn’t. Jesus picked up our sins and carried them off, never to be seen or heard from again. Leave them gone. Don’t go get those. It is FINISHED!

    Amen.
    DK

  • The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

    Jesus had arrived. A while back I had asked a pastor friend of mine if I could see Jesus as a man in His thirties who felt the need to be baptized as a man…

    Mark 1:9-13
    9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

    12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted[g] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

    image

    Many times I have felt the inability to share the Gospel, as if I was unqualified. As I have read over this past year, I have come to know that I am qualified. Not by man, but by Jesus. He qualified me. He qualified all of us.

    As Jesus approached John the Baptist to be baptized, I wondered why God Himself would need to be baptized at all. After all, He is God. The answer, I learned, is that Jesus had to fulfill prophecy. As He did, confirmation came directly from the Father in Heaven. The confirmation came in a very obvious form for all of us to see.

    There are times in our Christian lives that we will be required to seemingly “submit” to what this world would have us do. Whether through worldly educational institutions or by everyday interactions with others. It is important that all plans we make, however wonderful they may seem to us, are laid at the foot of God for approval. This is done through prayer and surrender to God. It is what Jesus did.

    As we learn to do this, His plan will take hold of all we do and our plans will succeed in the perfect way. Beyond any human understanding.

    Thank you, Jesus!
    Amen.
    DK

  • John the Baptist Prepares the Way

    John the Baptist was very aware of what his role was for the coming of the Messiah…

    Mark 1:1-8
    1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b] 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

    “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
        who will prepare your way”[c]—
    3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
    ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
        make straight paths for him.’”[d]
    4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”

    image

    John was to prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus Christ. His humility and understanding were obvious in his every action. People adored him, but he did not take the praise for himself. Instead, John the Baptist chose to glorify God and announce the coming of the one that would free all of us.

    He knew, and he proclaimed it loudly as he did God’s will. As should we. We should walk with the understanding that we have been given a duty for the coming of Jesus Christ. We must ask for understanding not from what our own eyes and ears and hearts say, but from what God Himself has placed in us: the Holy Spirit.

    What a great feeling to know that our way is prepared and set according to the perfect plan that God has for us. It may seem perfect, but what God is able to do with even the most desperate and wretched and lost people on this Earth is nothing short of a miracle. Trust Him. Believe in Him. Worship Him.

    Amen.
    DK

  • The Ascension!!!

    As I arrive at the end of Luke, the gospel of Jesus Christ,  what beautiful memories it possesses for me. Luke is such a wonderful friend of Jesus…

    Luke 24:50-53
    The Ascension of Jesus
    50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

    image

    Praise God!
    He will return…

    To be able read through the book of Luke has been a blessing. I have shared everything that I have read and everything the Holy Spirit has shared with me as I pray. I hope that this has been a blessing to you as much as it has for me. I have learned so much. Jesus saves lives. Not saved us, but saves us. Thus happens every day.

    To all of you I pray that you are motivated to get to know Him more. It has never been about religion, but rather it has always been about a relationship with Jesus. Once you get to know Him, you will find that the truth will enter your heart and the worries of this world will diminish.

    Tomorrow I begin the book of Mark and his writing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I look forward to sharing more with you. I love you all.

    Amen.
    DK

  • Jesus Appears to His Disciples.

    Jesus was acting in the authority of God the Father. He did things exactly as they were prophesied. He would do nothing unless the Father directed it. He explains to us how to do just that…

    Luke 24:36-49
    36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

    37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

    40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.

    44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

    45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

    image

    Jesus was here on Earth to bring to us what God had promised us…salvation. This order comes to Him through God and is fulfilled in the act of Jesus sacrificing Himself for us through the agreement of God. We were given access to truth.

    Jesus tells the disciples that they must wait in the city in order to receive what God has to give them which is truth and revelation that will free all of mankind. This truth was to be spoken by man and spread throughout the world. The exact words that Jeuss uses in the passage are, “…but stay in the city, until you are clothed with lower from on high.”

    Brothers and sisters, we have been clothed with power from on high. We have been given His power. The battle can be difficult if looked at through the eyes of this world, but we are not of this world. That is why it hurts so much. We must ask to become more and more like Jesus every day. This will happen. It is a promise from God Himself.

    Heavenly Father, you are amazing and so deserving of all praise and glory. We ask that you for continued forgiveness which you have granted through the sacrifice and gift of your son on the cross. Lord we thank you for that precious gift, ad well as all the many blessings that you have given us, that you are giving us m, and that you have promised to give us tomorrow. We look forward to the day that you will return for us. U til then, we will continue to honor, worship, glorify, and praise you until the day we day. Then we will worship you forever.

    Amen.
    DK

  • Great Article…

    I happened to open up an article early this morning that was very informative. The article was 90% about the Ebola virus, and the other 10% was on how we should respond as Christians. I invite you to read as well. This is my favorite part of it…

    “For those of us who believe in a sovereign God, we know we’re called to remain calm in the midst of the storm. We find confidence not only or primarily in the belief that science will control this outbreak or that we will not be affected. Rather, we hope in the Lord. As the psalmist said, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

    “Let believers be the voice of peace amid the confusion. While much of this disease is still unknown, it is equally true that panic will not help us. The unbelieving world needs to see our trust in God amid this difficulty.”

    http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/en/article/what-christians-should-know-about-the-ebola-crisis

    The author is Miguel Nuňez, a medical doctor of 30 years, and most imprtantly a man of God. What he says in this article is so true. Have faith in God. There is no doubt that His plan is perfect.

    Now go and share His love for us with the world.

    image

    Amen.
    DK

  • Jesus Teaches! Cont’d

    What do you feel in your heart when He speaks to you?

    Luke 24:25-35
    25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

    28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

    30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

    33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

    image

    Have your hearts ever burned for Jesus? The fulfillment of the scriptures of the Bible occurs everyday in us. It is His promise. He is always with us, always walking with us, always teaching us. He uses all resources available to Him. Yes, especially the “sinners.”

    These men had felt the burning inside of them as He walk and spoke with them, but they failed to listen. Perhaps their skills of discernment had not quite come together yet. Either way, they failed to listen to their hearts. Instead they chose what they saw with their eyes. Know anyone?

    Father, help us to learn how to be just like you. We live you so much. Help us to see you more in everything that we do for your kingdom. Lord we love you.

    Amen
    DK

  • Jesus Teaches! Part 1

    I love the scene of this verse. As men walk along discussing what had happened this day, they doubt as well. I am so glad Jesus did not come to Earth to judge us. He came to save us…

    On the Road to Emmaus
    13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

    17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

    They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

    19 “What things?” he asked.

    “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

    image

    I love His technique. There is no doubt that to able to listen in on His students, to listen in on us, was one of his greatest joys. He loved us, in so he followed us. He walked with us and talked with us. He taught us. He taught us to live and to love.

    Remeber, He did not come to judge or harm us, He came to deliver us. To redeem us. He did. As these men walk, they carry doubt with them. I would have to say that biggest revelation that God has placed into my heart while reading Luke would have to be the idea that we are not required to be perfect. We can fail, falter and slide. He will still love us.

    There is nothing that we can say or do to prevent Him from loving this of us that believe in Him. We cant. Even if you wanted to. He is with us FOREVER!

    Amen.
    DK