Month: December 2021

Some people’s default setting in their thinking is ‘yes’ He does because they believe that ultimate He controls everything that happens in His creation.

Recently, a man I have known for several decades who is a committed disciple of Jesus said about the covid 19 virus that it was the judgment of God because of mankind’s disobedience. And if one’s view of God only considers what is said about God from the Mosaic covenant, it is easy to see why he thought that.

Perhaps a little background might help.

THE FALL

God’s ultimate plan was for mankind to rule and reign with Him. We see this from the five-fold mandate He gave to Adam (Genesis 1:26-28). We see that Adam & Eve disobeyed God and plunged humanity into sin. Notice the depths of it from the following passages:

Romans 5: 12 – sin entered and death

Romans 5:14,17 – death reigned

Romans 5:18 – from one offense many died

Romans 5:16,18 – judgment because of that one offense

THE CROSS

All the effects of sin have been removed through the work of Jesus through the Cross experience. Notice:

Romans 5:8 – while we were sinners Christ died for and as us.

Romans 5:9, 16, 18 – we have been justified

Romans 5:10-12 – we have been reconciled to God

Romans 5:17 – by His grace we reign with Him

Romans 5:19 – we were made righteous

For those who believe in and make Jesus their Savior and Lord, all these things are theirs today!

We should not interpret the New Testament through the lens of the Mosaic law. If we do, we find it is works-based, and God is seen as a rough taskmaster instead of a loving Father.

Then why do bad things happen? Because even though Satan has been defeated through the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, He still lives on planet earth. He is out to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Someway, somehow he is behind anything that kills, steals, and destroys.

One reason we see so many bad things happening is because of sin on the earth, and believers not exercising their God-given authority to rule and reign with Him which is available today. Because we have been redeemed, every believer has the Spirit of Jesus living in us (Romans 8:9). This gives us many benefits not available to the person living under the Old Covenant.

The world system is opposed to the Word, and will of God, as well as, the work of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:40, James 4:4, Romans 12:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17). And it hinders the work of God.

THE RESURRECTION

After the resurrection ( 1 Corinthians 15:35-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) all the promises of God related to His Kingdom will be fulfilled (Revelation 11:15). Death, sorry, tears, separation, etc. will be removed (1 Corinthians 15:26, Revelation 21:1-5). Then, His ultimate plan will be manifest for all eternity!

So, we could say that Paradise was lost through Sin. Paradise was restored through the Cross. And Paradise will be totally manifest for eternity!

I remember being at Lakewood Church in the late ’70s and hearing John Osteen tell about one of his experiences. He said that one day he was in his office praying for more healings, and miracles in the church. He said the Lord spoke to him and said, ‘anybody needing healing in this room?’ His response was, ‘no, Lord.’ To which the Lord said, ‘you get out where there is a need and I will do healing and miracles.’ If we have the same prayer as John had, perhaps the Lord is saying the same thing to us.

This remembers me of a passage in Acts 4:29-31. The context is the early church was being persecuted by the crowd. They gathered together to pray and said this, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your word. By stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of your son, Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” Notice:

• They were threatened.
• They prayed.
• They were filled with the Spirit.
• They spoke the Word with boldness.
• And the miraculous happened.
• Now, look at verses 32-33, which says, “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all thing in common. And with great power the Apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”

Jesus’ ministry was four-fold, teaching, preaching, healing, and delivering the demonized (Matt.4:23-24, Matt.9:35). The ministry of the Church is the same today (Matt.10:1,7-8, Matt.28:19-20).

Perhaps we are not seeing the number of healings and miracles today as they did in the First Century because we do not believe it is possible! Or, we are not preaching the same message they were! Or, we are not stepping out in boldness as we should!

The Jesus of the 21st century is the same as He was in the 1st century! He was there in person in a physical body. He is present today in the person of the Holy Spirit – same God, the same power and He will do the same works today! Another thing may be that we are too comfortable and do not want to deal with the persecution that might come if we take a more bold stand on the Word of God! Still another thing might be that we are not in unity as a Body as they were in the first century!

Something to think about!