Just A Touch

Luke 8:42-48

Have you ever struggled, dealing with a physical or mental condition for about a week or two? I can only imagine, whatever it was you dealt with brought only misery and headaches, while you prayed fervently for God to relieve you of your condition, and bring healing to your body, and peace to your mind. The moment your issue was fully removed, I’m apt to believe you felt a sense of joy, the likes of which you haven’t felt in a long time. Now, take a moment to revisit that temporary condition, and imagine suffering with it for 12 years! Yeah, 12 looooooong years. This was the case with the woman in our text.

For 12 years, the Bible mentions this woman had an issue of blood, that could not be resolved by conventional means. After spending all her money on medical treatments with multiple physicians, the woman’s condition only grew worse! I can’t even begin to fathom how this woman felt, while going through a seemingly endless season of suffering. After placing all her trust in those who were trained to study and understand the human body, the woman’s faith in physicians had no doubt run out.

One day, the woman who had a suffered a physical ailment for over 4,000 days, heard about Jesus. The Scriptures aren’t descriptive on what she heard, or who she heard it from, but whatever she was told, was enough to move her to seek this Jesus.

Jesus had just returned from casting a legion of devils from a man on the other side of the sea, and was greeted by a great crowd of people, who were awaiting His return. As the crowd continued to swell around Jesus, the woman with the issue of blood arrived, then pressed her way through to get to Jesus. She said, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” That’s what you call faith in action. The woman had no other options to turn to, because everyone and everything she tried failed. But, the instant she touched the border of Jesus’ garment, the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Twelve dreadful years of excruciating pain and suffering, was gone in an instant! Not only was the woman astonished, but the Son of God literally felt virtue leave His body, after the woman’s touch. It was the woman’s faith that made her whole, and Jesus was pleased to see another body and soul healed by the power of God.

While we may not have a similar condition as the woman in our lesson, we too struggle with other things that seem to weigh us down. The power of God is still relevant today, as it was during the time when Jesus walked the earth, but the key to overcoming our struggles is, placing all our faith, trust, and confidence in the power of God, knowing that He alone can deliver us, and free us from all that we may experience in our earthly bodies.

Check Your Resume

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Searching for a job can oftentimes be a frustrating experience. This is mostly due to reasons like either the position you desire isn’t in demand, the company isn’t willing to compensate you for your worth, or you don’t meet all the qualifications for the position. Certain job titles require specific qualifications, in order for one to even be considered for a position. For example, to become a doctor, a person must have a five-year degree in medicine, be recognized by the General Medical Council, a two-year foundation course of general training, two to three years of core medical training, and other extensive training and education. Yeah… that’s not a career for the average Joe. Other professions including police, lawyer, or even paramedic, all have strict requirements associated with its coveted position. While intense qualifications such as these, may seem overbearing, all training and education are important, to ensure that a potential candidate will prove successful in their desired field or career.

For the church, God set up positions, by which the works of the ministry can be more effective. Aside from preaching and teaching, the administration of church business was not to be ignored, therefore, the position of deacon was established. According to Acts 6:3, deacons were required to first be men of honest report, full of the holy ghost, and wisdom. Before reading the rest of the deacon application, those three requirements alone, are beyond impressive! Turn back to 1 Timothy, and we see that potential deacons must also be grave (honest), not doubletongued (saying one thing with one person, and something else with another, with the intent to deceive), not given to much wine (drunkard), not greedy for money, and study God’s Word with pure intentions.

To work in the ministry, a man must have good character, morals, and live by God’s standard. This way, his actions and judgments will be set on fulfilling what God expects for the church, and not his selfish motivations. There are many snares and traps set by the devil, to cause the church to fall, so walking in the Spirit, will allow for a man in any position or office in the church, to avoid what’s been set to make them sin.

Be mindful of your heart’s desire for wanting a position in the church. Not only must you be filled with God’s Spirit, but you must prove that you are capable of holding such a position, by the way you live on a daily basis. All God’s people are equipped to do great things for the church, but we must all submit ourselves to what He commanded us to be, and do for the kingdom.

Life Is Bliss

Amos 5:4-5, 14-15

Is life truly worth living? It’s obvious, the state of the world is in steady decline, as we witness Bible prophecy fulfill before our very eyes. The uprising of wars, and rumors of wars, persecution, affliction, and all those things mentioned in the Scriptures, are surely coming to pass. With all the chaos, and turmoil ravaging the lands, can the people of God experience a life of goodness, and prosperity during these prophetic end-times? I’ll first answer that question by listing a few scriptures that support my strong opinion.

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 KJV

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3 KJV

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 KJV

“In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.” Deuteronomy 30:16 KJV

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:1-2 KJV

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV

Is life truly worth living? Of course it is! Despite the fact that this world will soon be over, God allows those who are engrafted into His royal family, to experience the full benefits of His amazing love! When we seek good, and not evil, God promised to be with us. Whether in times of sickness, trial, or testing, God will always defend those who seek to fulfill His will, over their own.

The enemy knows his time meandering around the earth is nearly up, so he’s pressing hard against the children of God, trying to convince them to give up. But, we already have the victory over satan. The problem is, many of us aren’t living as if that’s true. When we allow our problems to be bigger than the Problem Solver, this causes issues with our professed beliefs. Even as we live in obedience to God, we must remain bold and steadfast, regardless of what comes against us.

Believers have the power of God working within them, through His Spirit, that helps them do great things in the earth. We receive power, after the Holy Ghost comes upon us, to get wealth, call those things that be not, as though they were, lay hands on the sick, and help them recover, and many other wonderful things! So, rather than spend your life focusing on all your problems, look to God, and trust Him to help you live a good life on this troubled planet.

Walk in love,

Ell

Suffering leads to endurance, character, hope

Romans 5:1-5

According to sempervirens.org, local coast redwood trees can grow to 300 feet or more, compared to the tallest pine tree at 268 feet, or the tallest tanoak at 162 feet. Redwoods create the strength to withstand powerful winds and floods by extending their roots more than 50 feet from the trunk, and living in groves where their roots can intertwine. Redwoods live so long, and are treasured for building, because they are extremely resistant to insects, fire and rot. A redwood’s bark can be one foot thick, and it contains tannin which protects the tree from fire, insects, fungus and diseases.

While the great redwood trees are strong, massive in height, and can withstand severe weather and other extreme conditions, they first had to overcome being a seed, buried in the dirt, before they could exhibit all their desirable attributes. Many today wonder why God allows them to suffer, but certain situations are scheduled in our lives so that we can develop, and grow stronger from every trial or circumstance we face. Even in moments when it seems as if we’ve been buried in the dirt by our suffering, God works on us, in our suffering, so that we can mature in our spiritual endurance, character, and hope of His glory. Similar to the redwood tree that grew tall and firm out of the dirt, we too can be elevated from our negative circumstances, and allow God’s glory to shine through our lives. The problem most Christians have is, they complain whenever hard times come. Instead of complaining, believers should embrace their unfavorable moments, the same way an athlete embraces vigorous training, because the more they endure, the stronger they become.

The more rooted we become in Christ, the stronger our foundation will be; thus positioning us to be able to withstand all the trials and tribulations life may throw at us. As you go through seasons of suffering, rejoice in them, knowing that if God allowed it to happen, there’s a reason for it, and you’ll benefit greatly, if you endure till the end.

Walk in love,

Ell

Husbands and wives, joint heirs

1 Peter 3:1-9

Christians are commanded by God to submit themselves to every ordinance of man, as well as to every person who has any authority in government, who cooperate in efforts to promote righteousness, over lawlessness. This is important, because there are some who are under the impression that they are not to abide by laws and rules set by men who are ungodly. On the contrary, God supports justice, because human government is of His own doing, and if any man or woman seeks to do that which is right, we are to support them, just as His people did in ancient times. In addition, our cooperation also puts to silence those who shun Christianity, and proves that believers aren’t as haughty as they are falsely accused to be.

Following the previous example, servants are commanded to be subject to their masters; showing respect to those who are good, and to those who are hard to please. It’s difficult, at times, to submit to bosses who are stubborn, pig-headed, arrogant, disgusting, displeasing, high-minded, haughty, disrespectful, discourteous, rude, impolite, uncivil, ill-mannered, ungracious, irreverent, inconsiderate, insolent, impudent, impertinent, cheeky, flippant, insubordinate, churlish, contemptuous, disdainful, derisive, scornful, disparaging, insulting, and abusive (did I miss anything lol). We earn God’s acceptance as heirs to His kingdom, and joint-heirs with Christ, when we uphold His righteous standard in the midst of our suffering and injustice, because persecution and hard times come as a package deal when we submit our lives to God.

Submission is not limited to governments, authorities, and bosses, but it extends even into our homes. According to Scripture (and contrary to societal belief), wives are to submit themselves to their own husbands. I can hear all the wives murmuring, “I ain’t nobody’s slave”, lol. Well, the Bible’s definition of submission does not involve one being used, abused, nor taken advantage of. Instead, submitting as God commands is the greatest sign of true commitment. Women have to first separate the idea of slavery, from the word submit, in order to understand how in-depth their role is, as a wife. Wives are to be “discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:5). Wives are to understand, and reverence their husbands as the head, just as Christ is the head of the church. The problem some women face in marriage is, they get hooked on the “new age” equality teachings, that alter their understanding of what God expects from them. Yes, the husband and wife are one in body, soul, mind, and spirit, but there’s an order in the family that has been ignored for ages, that has caused all kinds of issues between married couples.

Another issue plaguing women submitting is, the need to focus more on their outward appearance, hoping that their looks will keep their husband’s interest high. While looks play a part in any relationship, it shouldn’t be the focal point. Women of old adorned themselves with the Word of God; making sure that their inward man was right in the eyes of God, so that they would be properly positioned to assist their husbands as God saw fit. The Bible mentions that obtaining a meek and quiet spirit holds more value than anything a woman could do to enhance her physical appearance, so rather than spend unnecessary funds on expensive clothes, makeup, and jewelry, the wife should spend more time keeping her heart pure, and right with God.

To the wife who’s joined to an unbelieving husband, her obedience in all things is based upon him loving his wife, as Christ loves the church. In other words, if she’s ordered to do something outside of the will of God, then she’s not obligated to follow that order. Is this grounds for a divorce? According to the text, no, because even though the unsaved husband refuses to hear preaching of the gospel, he will be exposed to the chaste behavior of his born-again wife. For this reason, it’s vital that the believing wife strive to conduct herself in charity and chastity, showing reverence to the husband, in hopes that he would be won over by her godly example.

Submissive wives are beautiful in the eyes of God, and essential to the success and wellbeing of their husbands. Never feel that you are of lesser value based on your role as a wife, because when God made you from the man’s rib, He constructed the perfect creature, capable of doing amazing things!

Walk in love,

Ell

Apostles chosen for ministry

Mark 3:7-19

Raising children, teaching students, or molding the minds of young people in any positive capacity can present the most enjoyable, yet challenging experiences. Parents set good examples for their children to follow, so that when their time comes to be responsible, they’ll be prepared to face adulthood with the necessary tools required to be prosperous in life. In the same sense, good teachers take pride in shaping the minds of their students, in order that they become equipped to face life’s challenges, and use the knowledge they acquire, to become successful. Unfortunately, parenting and teaching are two of the most unappreciated and undervalued virtues in this life. Good parents get labeled as strict and mean for preferring the safety and wellbeing of their children, over trying to be their best friend, and good teachers are criticized for pushing their students to rise above mediocrity, and do their best. The time will come when children will grow up, and students will graduate, and what was instilled in them will be presented with the inevitable challenges of life. A few knicks and bruises from stumbling in the real world, will send a reminder to those who felt they were pushed too hard by teachers, or sheltered by parents, and will humble them to a point where they’d wish they had embraced those teachings more back then.

Our text presents a similar situation where the disciples who were handpicked to study under Jesus’ wing, would soon be ordained to spread their own wings and share the Gospel under the power and authority of their teacher. These twelve men were witnesses of the sinless life Jesus lived, as well as partakers in His miraculous healing, deliverance, and restoration missions. I think it’s safe to assume that the disciple’s ordination came at the most appropriate time, when they were aware of most things involved in following after Christ, and immediately after Jesus felt the immense pressure of multitudes of hurting people pressing hard just to touch Him, so that they could be healed. Placing His power in those He taught and trained, would allow for Jesus to shy away from the spotlight a bit, as it was mentioned in verse twelve, “And he straightly charged them that they should not make him known. Stick a pin in that thought for a moment. Jesus, the only begotten Son of the omnipotent God of all creation, left Heaven, came to earth to die for the sins of men, yet refused to be made known among the earth. How many “preachers” do you know off the top of your head, whose names are known around the globe? I’d bet anyone three dollars and my new box of toothpaste that everyone reading this came up with about five names in less than a minute. Why do Christians want to be so popular on this earth, when we were commissioned to walk in humility? We see the faces of pastors and leaders on book covers, magazines, and always appearing on television shows. We are to walk in the light and knowledge of God’s Word, and not in the spotlight of wicked and selfish men. Now don’t judge my words prematurely, as I commend those who are on platforms, and are using it effectively for the kingdom of God, but to those who want to be relevant by the world’s standard, I shake my head at you, and pray you change before this world consumes you. Notice, that none of the disciples promoted themselves, but were elevated by Jesus, who obviously felt they were ready for such responsibility.

Ok, unpin that pin, and I’ll leave you with these two scriptures: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Walk in love,

Ell

Redeemed and purified

Titus 2:11-15

Throughout life, I’ve often heard people quote the phrase, “experience is the best teacher”. This proverb can be traced back to the times of the great Roman leader, Julius Caesar, and later by the Roman author Pliny the Elder who said, “Experience is the most efficient teacher of all things”. While its true most people learn by doing something rather than reading about it, I’ve grown to realize that there’s another teacher who may have the upper hand on experience. We learn from the Scriptures that grace is God’s unmerited favor, or being bestowed things you don’t deserve, but have you ever considered grace to be a teacher? Grace is responsible for all things godly, including making salvation available to everyone. It’s by the grace of God that we are saved, delivered, and set free from sin and bondage. Verse twelve helps us understand that grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and the lusts of the world, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. That’s such an impactful and vital lesson to all believers, because many are lost and confused as to how they should carry themselves in such a sin-sick world, but grace helps us to live right by influencing us to adhere to godly wisdom and standards.

Since the days of old until now, many have heard that Jesus is coming back, and He surely is, so we must maintain a lifestyle that follows after holiness, despite all the evil influences that plague this world. The Holy Ghost is another teacher who helps believers remember the words of Jesus, as they live each day on this earth, but it’s by the grace of God, that we have something to look forward to; a place beyond the stars, where we’ll forever be in the presence of God. Grace gives men hope, that soon and very soon, God will appear, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will make His presence known as well. Just as some remember their favorite teachers from their school days, never forget grace, and all the good things you’ve learned, and will learn for the rest of your days.

Walk in love,

Ell

Learning Godly ways in humility

Psalm 119:65-72

Of all the ways that can bring a man into the state of humility, affliction has been proven to be the most effective. Pride can easily overtake a man when everything in his life is going well, and he’s free from troubles and worries, but the moment he’s hit with any type of affliction, he’ll no doubt fall to his knees. When a believer falls short of God’s glory, it’s usually because they’ve either strayed away from His will, or they failed to invest ample time in developing healthy spiritual habits. Although it’s possible to learn and grow through humbling experiences, it’s better to grow in godliness through obedience and faith in God’s Word.

Growing up with six siblings, our humbling experiences came by way of strict discipline, and punishment. When we would stray from the teachings and instructions of our parents, we would be introduced to various methods of discipline including belts, switches, or restriction from enjoying the outdoors.

We learn in the book of Colossians, that we are to clothe ourselves in humility, because we are God’s chosen people. Not only are we to be humble, but Christians are to always be compassionate, kind, patient and gentle in all human encounters. It matters not who loves God, or is living according to His will, saints are to show love regardless, to all people. I honestly believe that it’s better to humble yourselves, as Peter mentioned, rather than leaving room for God to do it. His way will definitely produce positive results, but you may be left wallowing in the error of your ways for a moment. There are times when all of us will drift out beyond the borders of God’s instruction, and we’ll need a little chastisement to bring us back into the fold of safety, but we must be careful not to stray too far, for too long. The enemy lies in wait, like a lion prepares to pounce on his prey, to entrap the people of God whenever he can. Our safety in God is guaranteed, so long as we learn His statutes, obey His commands, and delight in His law. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Walk in love,

Ell