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The Prophecy Revealed In Matthew
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Lesson Twenty-two: by Christina Farris
Everyone wants proof of something or other. If I buy a blender I want to know ti works. Not just take the box and say it suppose to be able to do all that. One has to try it out. Does it really have the power the power to puree, or chop up nuts. Can it turn ice cream and milk into a shake. If it does it is keeper. Jesus authority was in question even in His own home town. What authority did he have to speak by. What power did He have to heal? We know that all power comes from God. Elisha sent Naaman to dunk in Jordan’s water and refused any gift for the healing, because the healing was not done by him. God’s word healed Naaman and obedience to God’s word. However in Matthew 9 we see Jesus having the authority to heal the lame as well as forgive sin. Healing of the lame had not been seen in Old Testament, but was spoken about by the prophets concerning the Messiah. Now let us look at the Old Testament then to Matthew.
Isaiah 35:5-6 KJV (5) Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. (6) Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
Matthew 9:1-6 KJV (1) And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. (2) 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. (3) And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. (4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (5) For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? (6) 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.
What authority? The authority to forgive sins, was believable because of the power to heal the lame. However anyone can forgive another person, but no one but God can heal from sin done to God. Jesus demonstrating who He was. The Son Man, The Son of God and High Priest. It was comely accept that one had to go to God through a priest through a minister of some sort to be forgiven. We know Christ is called High priest. Pharaoh asked Moses to forgive as well as to communicate to God for him for forgiveness. One has to ask if God had not harden Pharaoh heart would Pharaoh had believed in God. Perhaps so, but it was after all for God’s will to be done that Pharaoh’s heart would be harden.
Exodus 10:16-17 KJV (16) Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you. (17) Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
We see in Acts this is still common practice or school of thought that one had to go to the minister to receive forgiveness.
Acts 8:18-24 KJV (18) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, (19) Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. (20) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. (21) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. (22) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. (23) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. (24) Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
If we understand Christ is our high Priest then do we really need to go to anyone else.
James 5:14-20 KJV (14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (17) Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (19) Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (20) Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Some not all churches believe in anointing with oil and calling on the elders to pray for those that are sick. What this demonstrates whether they think of it this way or not is that they themselves are the healer, God almighty is. The oil representing the power of the Holy Spirit. Only way a person can have a healing ministry is through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is not for sale. This is something we should do for one another, praying for others to be forgiven of sin. Praying for others to be healed. Whether oil is used or not God power is present when we ask God to heal. We see John and Peter healing in Acts in the power of Christ name.
Jesus is able to heal by His own authority, because He is the Word of God in the flesh.
John 1:14 KJV (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
We know that the spirit of God was and is His Spirit. Yet His flesh is human like yours and mine. No one else’s spirit as their own Spirit. We have a spirit created by God and God knocks on the door of heart and comes and lives with us in our heart.
Revelation 3:20 KJV (20) Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Christ can forgive sin based on who He is. We however can only forgive sin through praying to God. In someone else behalf.
Matthew 9:4-8 KJV (4) And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (5) For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? (6) 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. (7) And he arose, and departed to his house. (8) But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Authority God gives is the authority to forgive others and pray for others that are in sin. Confusion can come to people who do not understand that man power to heal comes from God alone and truly is not their own power to do as they please. God’s name is to be glorified through healing drawing people to God. Not to the minister but to God. Minister can teach, instruct and so forth. He has no power but what God gives Him. I enjoy talking to ministers because of their experience in the word. Many people who desire truth of the word do, but truth in all comes down to is your own relationship to God. That why you need to talk to God one on one. Asking God to forgive you of your sins, and accepting of His forgiveness by the word of God. However there are times when you need a minister someone you can see to help you through processes. That part of fellowship. Part of praying for one another. Christ is the only one that can forgive you of sin done to God and it takes place upon confession. God’s word heals through repentance.
1 John 1:7-2:2 KJV (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Even if you are already saved there is time when one needs to repent. Yes your sins are preforgiven, but repentance is still needed to seek God to get rid of the filth you allowed in out. It is like chimney you burn wood in it and it burns fairly clean, but you still need a chimney sweep to come by and clean the chimney to keep it functional. Without repentance and asking God to continue the sanctification process in our hearts we become rather mucked up. We are not fit for use with all that dirt.
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