ttob8

The Testimony of Believers

Lesson Eight: by turtle

One of the hardest things to handle in life is to handle opposition to what you are doing. One of the things I wanted to do was
sit up a place to chat and to play games. This idea does not go well with some people especially Christians, because the next
things people think of is games and gambling. However I enjoy puzzles. The best puzzle is the Bible. Though scripture is
always straight forward, the meaning of scripture is not always so clear, because of language barrier and time period. Unless
you study the time period of the Bible some things are missed in translation. Yet when you build one thought or one teaching
on past history of scripture and what occurs is a train of acceptable thought. Basic principles through out scripture never
change but situations do. With each precept and law the situation that develops is judged. Pharisees not knowing the law of
God judged Jesus by what they perceived about the law. Enjoying games is not against the law and sharing time with others is
away fellowship with other believers and talking to non believers. Yet unfortunately I do not have the technical skills to set up
what I like to do. Yet I have enough skills to set up a place to share God’s word with others, but not to communicate back with
them on this site. Idea coming from how I see others interacting online through message boarding, and instant messaging. Now
did Christ in his ministry play games, no of course not. Yet I am not God and I have other talents and skills besides knowing
my Bible. Most people on disability need some type of stimulation and internet is a good source of stimulation but it never
takes away from human contact, but it can fill many empty lonely hours one can not get out and travel to see others or interact
with others. Fortunately our Lord Jesus can go anywhere. In fact Jesus put many miles on the road while He preached. He
walked from town to town which was custom for that day and time. He talked to the teachers of the law and the teachers of
law often became angry with Christ teachings. Christ for three years taught probably almost everyday. Pharisees taught only
when they had a meeting or in their own private groups. Yet Jesus was in fields and in the market place even on the Sabbath
day. Jesus spoke to all that would listen and even answering questions. If the crowd had not loved Him, the Pharisees would
have perhaps destroy Jesus sooner. Yet people flocked to Jesus, trying to touch him for healing.

One of the main oppositions the religious leaders had was the breaking of the Sabbath. They cared not for the will being of the
hungry for the disabled. They only cared that their popularity with the people was dying and that Jesus had the power to heal
even on the Sabbath. Read this next passage of scripture with all the things Jesus struggled with the leaders about and the
corrections Jesus made to the Pharisees.

Luke 6:1-19 KJV
(1) And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the
ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
(2) And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
(3) And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and
they which were with him;
(4) How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which
it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
(5) And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
(6) And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose
right hand was withered.
(7) And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation
against him.
(8) But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And
he arose and stood forth.
(9) Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life,
or to destroy it?
(10) And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was
restored whole as the other.
(11) And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
(12) And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
(13) And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
(14) Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
(15) Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
(16) And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
(17) And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people
out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their
diseases;
(18) And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
(19) And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Christ began to preach after the people were healed. People need more then physical healing they need healing by the word of
God in their hearts and Christ began to bless them. His words were to encourage as well as to warn. To warn to seek the Word
of God and to build on a solid foundation and not on sinking sand. If we build our faith on healings and miracles of God when
we seem to not have a miracle happening we will fall, we need to built on the firm foundation that is laid on the solid rock with
His Christ Jesus who is the Word of God. It not enough to receive the knowledge of God through miracles and experiences,
but foundation of the Word must be laid or people will fall away from God.

Luke 6:20-49 KJV
(20) And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
(21) Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you,
and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
(23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their
fathers unto the prophets.
(24) But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
(25) Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
(26) Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
(27) But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
(28) Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
(29) And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to
take thy coat also.
(30) Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
(31) And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
(32) For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
(33) And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
(34) And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as
much again.
(35) But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall
be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
(36) Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
(37) Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
(38) Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give
into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
(39) And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
(40) The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
(41) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
(42) Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself
beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt
thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
(43) For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(44) For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
(45) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
(46) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
(47) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
(48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the
stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
(49) But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which
the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.