Author: evangelist_breland

Deuteronomy 8:2-5

As the Israelites were poised to enter the land of promise for which God had been preparing them, Moses charged them to “remember.” They received the divine call to remember all of God’s past acts of redemption, and especially how He delivered them from Egyptian bondage (4:10; 8:2). Believers today are called to remember how we have been delivered from the bondage of sin. God will have us to go through wilderness experiences so that He might humble us and test us. On this walk of faith God wants to know what’s in our heart and whether or not we will obey Him.

 Moses reminded the Israelites of how gracious God had been in dealing with them in the wilderness as good reasons why they should obey His commands (vv. 3-5).   He humbled them by letting them go hungry, and then fed them manna, a food that was previously unknown to them and their ancestors. This taught them that man can’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (v.3). We might think that because we have all the material possessions we want or need, we are living. However, the Lord let Israel know that bread gave them physical life, but trusting Him and obeying His word gave them spiritual life.

 He reminded them that in forty years their clothes didn’t wear out, and their feet didn’t blister or swell (v.4). Jesus taught his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount not to worry. The Lord feeds the birds of the air, and clothes the lilies and the grass of the field; therefore, He will feed and clothe us. Moses told them to consider that just as a parent disciplined a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good (5). Our heavenly Father’s love for us is steadfast just as it was for Israel. He loved them and took them through a wilderness for forty years to humble them that they might learn to depend on Him. The humble child does taste the grace. Our heavenly Father chose Israel and proved His providence. He never left them nor did He ever forsake them. He performed many miracles to deliver them from Egyptian slavery, brought them through the Red Sea on dry land, fed them manna, and led them on foot through a wilderness in which He tested them for forty years. Let us accept our wilderness training without mumbling and grumbling. God wants to humble us and prove us for His use and glory.

Deuteronomy 8:1-2

God never does anything haphazardly. Everything has a purpose. He allowed the children of Israel to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Now that they are about to enter the promise land, Moses urged them to look back over their wilderness experience and remember how God had brought them all the way. Also they were to remember God’s past acts of redemption – how He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They were warned to “Be careful to obey all the commandments I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord promised to give your ancestors” (v.1). Like the children of Israel, we too must never forget how the Father redeemed us from the bondage of sin.

The journey through the wilderness was to humble God’s chosen people. The humble child tastes the grace. He tested them to “prove their character” (“to know what was in their heart,” KJV), and to find out whether or not they would obey his commands (v.2). Our all-knowing Father knew their heart, but His children must be tested. God cannot use us when we are stubborn and full of pride. However, He can use us when we are broken. Several Sundays ago Pastor Gregory Clayton (my pastor) preached “Broken and Blessed.” One thing he said was that sometime God has something for you, but He has to move something out of your life first.” God had to move pride out of the heart of the children of Israel. He broke their spirit of pride, and they were still blessed. Pride can hinder your remembrance of how God brought you. They would enter the promise land, receiving all God had promised if they were completely obedient to His word and kept all His commandments. Moses commanded them to remember how the Lord had brought them all the way these forty years through the wilderness. Do not forget! The Lord has brought you all the way.

Mark 10:46-52

Jesus, followed by a great crowd, was headed steadfastly to Jerusalem for that final Passover. He and his 12 disciples came to Jericho. As they were leaving, blind Bartimaeus was sitting by the roadside asking for alms, which was not unusual at this time (v.46). When he heard that the passer-by was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, saying “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me” (v.47). Maybe he heard those in the crowd talking about this miracle-working Jesus who had previously healed a man who had been born blind or had heard about the many other miracles he had done. Remember, Bartimaeus was blind not deaf.

Bartimaeus was sharply reprimanded by many, telling him to be quiet.  Isn’t that just like the devil to try to block children of God from crying out to God?  Bartimaeus believed that Jesus had the power to make him see, so he cried out even louder, “Thou son of David, have mercy on me” (v.48). Even though the nation of Israel was blind to the Messiah’s presence, here was a blind Jew, who had true spiritual sight. Like Jesus’ disciples, many of us today can see physically but are spiritually blind.

Bartimaeus got Jesus’ attention. Jesus stopped and commanded his disciples to call him. They did, saying to him, “Be of good comfort, rise; he is calling you” (v.49). He threw aside his outer garment, got up, and came to Jesus. Jesus asked the blind man what he wanted him to do for him. His request was specific: “Lord, that I might receive my sight” (v.51b). And Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way; thy faith has made you whole. Immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way” (v.52). Bartimaeus was desperate to see. One situation in our life might be more desperate than another. So, call out to God in desperation like Bartimaeus; you will get God’s attention and by faith receive what you want and need. Give God glory.

Matthew 6:25-34 (AMP)

Have you ever worried about material things God promised to provide? Perhaps you haven’t, but I have. Scripture says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Thank God we learned to trust Him and not depend on our own wisdom. We recognized more and more the absolute necessity of trusting our Creator, the One who promised to meet all our needs. Here Jesus taught the disciples not to worry (“take no thought,” KJV) about anything (vv. 25-34). We are to pray and petition the Father with thanksgiving, and continue making our specific requests known to Him in every situation (Philippians 4:6, AMP, paraphrased).

We are commanded to not worry about our life, what we will eat or drink, or about our body, what we will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing (v.25, paraphrased)? Our heavenly Father provides for all of His creation. “The birds of the air don’t sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns; yet our heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Aren’t you worth much more than they (v. 26)? Which of you can add one moment to his life by worrying” (v.27). He asked them why they were worried about clothes. “The lilies and wildflowers grow; they don’t labor, nor do they spin (v.28), and not even Solomon in all his glory dressed himself like one of these (v.29). But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith (v.30)! Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear’ (v.31)? For the Gentiles seek all these things; your heavenly Father knows that you need them (v.32). But first and most importantly, seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you also (v.33).

So do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (v.34). If, at any time, we do fall short and worry, stop right away and pray in the name of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will help us. Worry is Satan’s device to distract us from spiritual blessings. Don’t worry or be anxious; God promised to provide.

Apostle John wrote these Gentile believers to reassure them in their faith and to squash false teachings that Jesus did not come in the flesh. The Apostle addressed these believers affectionately as “beloved,” a term of endearment. He warned them “not to believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; many false prophets have gone out into the world” (v.1). Apostle John was a sound voice of wisdom to that new generation of believers.

  Do we believe this warning is relevant still? We must not deceive ourselves, but always be mindful that there are many today who desire to turn us away from the truth – belief in the incarnation of Jesus. Some believers then and now are spiritually immature in their thinking; therefore, they are easily persuaded and misled by those who use false teaching to deceive them. So that same warning that Apostle John gave thousands of years ago is still relevant.

Recall how Satan used half-truths to deceive Eve into disobeying God. That’s exactly what false prophets and teachers do. However, Apostle John said every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is of God (v.2), and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not of God (v.3). Jesus had to come to earth and live in the flesh in order to die for us. Only those who are born of the Holy Spirit can confess with their mouth that Jesus came as a real person, and declare “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3). This is how we know they have the Spirit of God (v.2). On the other hand, false prophets and teachers are already in the world. They have the spirit of the Antichrist – “every spirit that does not confess that Jesus came in the flesh” (v.3). It is imperative that believers grow spiritually to know the truth and not believe every spirit. Remember, every spirit that’s of the Holy Spirit can confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh.