Presents
Matthew #2518
You "see", the sin of America in these last days is IDOLATRY
Presents
Matthew #2518
You "see", the sin of America in these last days is IDOLATRY
Jesus Christ told us in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 that there would be famine in the last days prior to His second advent. He also said in Mark 13:23 "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things" and so it is that through the prophet Amos He tells us exactly what the famine of these last days is and you know what?
Not a famine of bread nor water! We are in the midst of it now:
Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Many people from all over the country, from sea to shining sea, are looking for a church in their area that teaches the Bible straight on, chapter by chapter and verse by verse. They keep searching around but cannot find one. Indeed, there are some good Bible teaching churches but unfortunately they are few and far between.[12] And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Because of the great spiritual dearth, our land has become as a spiritual desert, a parched valley full of dead dry bones as so graphically depicted and explained in Ezekiel 37... you know, the Valley of Dry Bones! (For additional study go to pamphlet #1274) where God placed Ezekiel in the midst of a valley which was full of dry bones. & #1275)[13] In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
This next verse explains the problem!
If you do some homework as instructed in 2 Tim 2:15, you will learn that Dan and Beer-sheba were where the idolatrous golden calves were set up for people to go and worship instead of having to go to Jerusalem according to the Word of God. So the people quickly began to suffer from the Mad Cow disease of idolatry, which is what the "Sin of Samaria" is![14] They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beer-sheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.
You "see", the sin of America in these last days is IDOLATRY which is the following after the traditions of men instead of seeking after Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and getting to know Him! Though they do it in ignorance because they lack the knowledge of His Word, our people actually worship a false god, the instead of Jesus, the "other Jesus" who is preached through the traditions of men, the one Paul talks about and was concerned about in Cor. 11:4, "For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." Again, the other Jesus is the one perpetuated by the traditions of men, not Jesus Christ the Word of God.
Remember in our last study Jesus explained by analogy that our people are so steeped in and accustomed to wearing the traditions of men that they cannot let go and put off that old garment. Even when they do hear new truth from the Word of God (New to them that is!) they take it and try to fit it into their traditions, which is like trying to patch up an old worn out robe with new pieces of unfulled cloth. It not only doesn't work but the holes in the old garment are made worse as the new cloth tears away from the old fabric and they end up with a bigger mess than they started with.
Christ then explained in another simple analogy that so many have become stiffened and hardened through their traditions, perpetuated by the "many" (Mat. 24:5) preachers and ministers who keep them in ignorance by not teaching His Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse, that they are like old leather bottles which have lost their ability to stretch and expand.Thus when new wine which is symbolic of new truth is poured in, they cannot handle it and they burst asunder as the fermentation of the new wine tries to expand their minds.
Now Jesus Christ is about to "send forth" (apostolos) His 12 disciples to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mat. 10:6) who like sheep that have no shepherd have been scattered abroad both literally, as history documents, and spiritually into a state of confusion. He has been teaching and instructing and admonishing His disciples (students) in preparation for the commission He will give them and now just before He sends them forth, He is going to let them (and us) "see" and learn about the spiritual condition of the true House of Israel, which today basically comprises the Christian nations of the world such as America, Great Britain, Canada, etc.
Finally, as the last item of our introductory, take note of the Biblical numerics given to us in today's study for they play a major part in helping us understand on an "expanded level" that which is written. For example, the number "two" in Biblical numerics denotes witness and so it is that we are going to see "two" women and "two" men in today's study give witness to the spiritual condition of the house of Israel. We will also find the number "12" used in these passages giving further emphasis that the witness refers to the 12 tribes of the House of Israel.
The phrase "While He spake these things unto them, behold..." connects this event, the dying of this 12 year old girl (Luke 8:42), to what Christ has been explaining to the scribes and Pharisees, and His disciples too, about the traditions of men causing people to become hardened (spiritually dead) and unable to expand their minds to accept "new wine" from the Word of God. In other words, the analogy we are going to see concerns the woman's spiritual death which will occur unless she is "raised up" from her "slumbering" by Jesus Christ, the Word God. (see Romans 11:7-8)Matthew 9:18
While He spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
This father and certain ruler of the synagogue had the faith to know that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, could bring his dying daughter back to life.
All twelve disciples (Mat. 10:1) went with Christ to observe and be taught the spiritual lessons He prepared for them before He sent them forth to the lost sheep of the House of Israel to teach. If you are one of His disciples then follow Him also and pay close attention...He is teaching you, also.[19] And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did His disciples.
So Christ and His disciples are on there way and... behold... what have we here?
We have the first woman, the "12" year old girl who is dead, and now a second woman who has been diseased with an issue of blood, i.e. hemorrhaging (haimorrheo), for "12" years. By the way, according to Lev. 15:25 if a woman has an issue of blood outside her normal period, then she is considered "unclean". That's right! The majority of the House of Israel are spiritually "unclean"! Leviticus 15:25 "And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean." Also, according to Luke's account the woman spent all her money upon doctors who did nothing for her... except take all of her money.[20] And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment:
(Did you ever notice how that people will only pay their auto mechanics when they fix their cars but they pay their body mechanics (doctors) whether they fix their chassis or not.)
Well, this woman finally saw the light and came to Christ knowing and believing in her heart (within herself) that if she could but touch the vesture of Messiah, she would be made whole.Luke 8:43
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
The word "garment" is "himation" in Greek (#2440) as is the same word translated "raiment" in Matthew 17:12 and "vesture" in Rev. 19:16.Matthew 9:21
For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.
Raiment is symbolic of righteousness and so this woman believed (had faith) that if she could get to and grab hold of His righteousness, the Word of God, that she would be made whole.Rev. 19:16
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The Comforter Himself was present to give comfort and He told the woman (He called her "Daughter") that her faith, i.e. her belief in seeking after the righteousness (garment) of Christ, has made her whole. And so it is with the House of Israel that she is diseased and unclean because she follows after the traditions of men, those "spiritual physicians" who cannot help her... but still take her money, instead of seeking to grab hold of the Word of God that she might be made whole. In other words, most of our people do not hunger and thirst after righteousness and so they are spiritually diseased and unclean. Go to the Great Physician and be made whole!Matthew 9:22
But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
Ok, Jesus and His disciples have finally arrived at the ruler's house.
Back in those days, before Benjamin Franklin flew his kite, they didn't have electricity and thus there were no CD players and stereos on which to play sad mournful funeral music, so they hired professional rock and mourn groups... probably with names like the "Ungrateful Dead". Anyway, Christ saw all the commotion and entered into the ruler's house and took charge.[23] And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
Jesus Christ told them to pack up the band and send the wailers home! The party's over because "the maid is not dead, just sleeping"! Understand that this was a direct statement from Jesus Christ, from the Living Word of God, and for that they laughed Him to scorn! So if you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, take heed and take notice how people receive the truth from His lips; Yes, when they read it in their Bible, that is, if they even bother to read "The Little Black Book". Many Christians today will laugh and scorn when they hear one of God's servants tell them something which conflicts with their precious traditions, even if that servant documents it after the manner of "Thus saith the Lord" or "It is written"! Many of you have experienced this very thing when you tried to tell someone what really happened in the Garden of Eden, right? Pop! Crack! There goes another bottle![24] He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn.
In Luke's account we read that Christ cleared out everyone except for the mother and father of the maiden and His disciples (Peter, James, and John are specifically mentioned). He also "commanded" to give her "meat" after she arose.[25] But when the people were put forth, He went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
"Meat" is symbolic of the more mature, meatier teachings of God's Word as opposed to just baby's food, i.e. milk, which represents the first steps or the basics of salvation and baptism which all too often is all that is ever fed to people in traditional churches.Luke 8:55
And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat.
Read what Paul has to say about "meat" in Hebrews chapter 5:
Are you a "babe" or a mature Christian, one who is knowledgeable in our Father's Word? It is ok to be a babe if you are a new Christian, but if you have been one for a long time and you are still ignorant of His Word, quite frankly you are in trouble!Hebrews 5:12-14
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Still today, the fame that Christ raised the dead and healed the sick are all that most Christians see in what transpired in these miracles. They simply do not have "eyes to see" beyond the flesh which does appear, and into the spiritual dimension concerning those things which do not appear. To that end, in the teaching of this next miracle we will see two witnesses to the fact that the house of Israel (No, not the little country in the middle east) has been blinded and then what can be done about it. By the way, Paul documents that all but God's elect are spiritually blinded in this generation.Matthew 9:26
And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
However, salvation is open to all and "whosoever" chooses to follow in His path (akoloutheo), and seeks Him out, and believes in Him, shall have their eyes touched, anointed by the Word of God, and they shall be "spiritually" opened giving them "eyes to see".Romans 11:7
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
Here is what happened when Jesus departed the house of the ruler.
Though they were blind they chose to follow Him in His path, crying unto Him, talking to Him, calling Him by the Messianic title, the Son of David, and asking for His mercy on them.The Son of David is used here noting that they knew the true lineage of Christ, which is what the key of David concerns in the church of Philadelphia in Rev. 3. You see, the true lineage of the House of Israel is essential knowledge to the opening of the eyes as it turns the hearts of the children back to their father(s). The fact is, "The orphaned children of the House of Israel are lost". The question is, "Do you know where they are today?" God certainly does. To wit, a watchman cannot be sent to them if he or she does know who and where they are, can he?Matthew 9:27
And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
They were determined and persistent in following Christ all the way into His house (i.e. where He dwells... hello?) which means they really hungered and thirsted for the Word of God, believing that He could give them eyes to see... and He can![28] And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
It was according to His mercy that they were healed and the healing was done to their faith, i.e. that their faith could be strengthened with eyes to see.[29] Then touched He their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Christ did not open their eyes to demonstrate to the world that He is able to perform physical miracles and that is documented by the very fact He emphatically charged these two NOT to make it known. Well, it seems they blew the very first command they were given after receiving their new eyes![30] And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
Of course these two once blind men were excited and zealous about what happened! Who wouldn't be?However, when Christ opens one's spiritual eyes, that in itself does not give one instant knowledge of God's Word but is rather the beginning of being able to "see", to study and rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15), i.e. as a true disciple (student) of His. Perhaps in all their exuberance they wanted to be apostles... but you see... first one must be a disciple who has absorbed the meat of His Word. (See also Ezk. 3:1-9.)[31] But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
Next up... a dumb man possessed with a demonic spirit.
Let's just get right down to the meat of this. A person who is possessed with an evil spirit cannot speak the "truth" and only Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has the "power" to cast out those evil spirits. To that end, Christ is just about to give that power to His disciples and make them apostles: Matthew 10:1 "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."[32] As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
Their shall also be a work performed in Israel in these last days that shall be marvellous and wonderful!It is the work of the "seed that shall come" (Ps. 22:30-31) who are the sons and the daughters, the brothers and sisters, of the churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna who shall declare His righteousness, i.e. teach the truth of His Word. The works they do are spoken of in the quote from Joel in Acts chapter 2 and in the Song of Moses (Deut. 32) which the overcomers shall be singing at the victory celebration over the beast. Rev. 15:3 "And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints."[33] And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
Though His works are truly to be marvelled (vs. 33), notice how the religious leaders view them!
The very works of Jesus Christ were called the works of Satan by the religionists back then and so are the wonderful works of God in these last days called the work of the devil by many in the religious community.[34] But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
The teaching of the visions, the truth and the meat of the God's Word, to the House of Israel (Acts 2:17-18) and the proclaiming of the gospel of the kingdom in all the world (Matthew 24:14) are the works He shall do in these last days. And you know what? He shall accomplish them through both His servants and handmaidens![35] And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
And now Christ's final thoughts and words before He calls together His twelve disciples.
The word "fainted" is translated "harassed" in all the older manuscripts. You see, without a true shepherd like the Son of David, the true Shepherd, the sheep are unprotected from the wolves and the lions and the bears. And because they have had no one to lead them and protect them they have been relentlessly bombarded (harassed) with the traditions of men by the scribes and Pharisees and have thus been scattered abroad, which spiritually speaking means they are "scatter-brained", in a state of spiritual confusion, carried away by the king of Babylon (Satan, the false shepherd and his hirelings) into the land of Baby-lon (Baby-land or Babel-land) which means "land of confusion" (babel means "confusion" in Hebrew).[36] But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
So as Jesus looked over this multitude of people who were without a shepherd, He had compassion on them, took pity on them, for they were spiritually scattered in all directions indeed. What a pitiful condition the children of Israel are in at this late hour. Worse yet, there are very few labourers, few true disciples who are knowledgeable of His Word and qualified to gather in the harvest. You "see", the false shepherds, the hirelings, are nothing more than robbers of our people, but it is not the money they sheer from sheep that is the biggest problem. It is that by teaching people to follow the traditions of men instead of teaching them His Word, they rob them of the opportunity to enter into the kingdom of heaven! They rob them of life!
Go to the true Shepherd and listen to His voice for He will protect you and lead you to the lush green pastures of His Word.Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Even David was willing to risk his life to go after the predators such as the lion and the bear to protect his sheep.John 10:11-12
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Yes, there are many false prophets, false shepherds, in the world of Christianity today, but there are few labourers who teach His Word chapter by chapter and verse by verse.[12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
Can you also look out upon the multitudes and "see" the spiritual condition of our people caused by the famine, the lack of "hearing the Word of God", and the constant bombardment of the traditions of men?Matthew 9:37
Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
If so, and you are moved with compassion on them, then let us pray that our brothers and sisters will wake up from their sleep and become true labourers in the field!
Notice whose harvest it is! It is the Lord's harvest and so He shall send forth labourers even at the time of the great harvest which is the final generation, the generation marked by the planting of both the good and the bad figs on May 15, 1948. Please log unto see Fig Tree.[38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
Yes, it is the generation called the "Baby Boomers" which "shall not pass away until all these things be fulfilled (Mat. 24:34)"! What a fitting description of this final generation!
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