Month: September 2011

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Sin No More II

Yesterday we read about the woman caught in adultery and how Jesus spoke words of grace to her that empowered her to do just what He said, “Go and sin no more.” Today I want to look at another person that Jesus spoke these same words to, the man healed at the pool called Bethesda.

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches… And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years... Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed and walk. And immediately the man was made whole… Now the invalid who had been healed did not know who it was… Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. (John 5:2,5, 8-9, 14 KJV; John 5:13 Amplified)

Just as the woman caught in adultery encountered not judgement, but mercy and grace, so too do this man. As I have often mentioned it is important to note where this all took place, at a pool called Bethesda in the Hebrew tongue. This word is made up of two Hebrew words bet which means ‘house’ and hesda which means ‘mercy’. It was at the house of mercy where Jesus healed this man who had been an invalid for 38 years. Once again, what is mercy for? It’s for when you didn’t do everything right. Jesus wasn’t asking this man to jump through all the right hoops to earn his healing. He wanted to show this man mercy. The Hebrew word hesda (mercy) comes from the Hebrew word hesed which means God’s unfailing love. He wanted to show him mercy simply because He loved him.

Jesus once again spoke words of grace in this man’s situation as He did with the woman caught in adultery. His words were filled with grace when He said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk”. His words were filled with grace when He said, “sin no more”. He imparted the power of the Holy Spirit through His very words.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29, KJV)

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully)… (James 4:6, Amplified)

Throughout your life He has spoken and will continue to speak words of grace. Words that help you to walk free and words that help you to be all that He has called you to be.

Grace be with you all. Amen. (Hebrews 13:25, KJV)

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Sin No More

After reading the story of the woman caught in adultery, I kept replaying in my mind the scene that had been described. A woman is caught committing adultery. There must have been a man involved, but she is the one dragged through the streets and not only publicly humiliated, but threatened with death. She is brought to Jesus of Nazareth for judgement. Instead she receives mercy, love and grace.

 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:3-11, KJV)

Jesus of Nazareth told her to “sin no more”.

I believe that through the giving of mercy, love, and grace not only in His actions toward her situation, but also in His words to her, He gave to her the power that she needed to go and sin no more.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29, KJV)

When Jesus spoke, His words ministered grace to those whose hearts and ears were open to hear it and receive it. The Pharisees wouldn’t hear it or receive it. But those who were humble enough heard it and received it.

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). This is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). (James 4:6, Amplified)

With His actions, with His words, with the look of love in His eyes He ministered to her the power to walk free from sin. He’s still doing that today for anyone humble enough to receive His love, His mercy and His grace. Humble enough simply says, “I need You. I can’t do it without You. Thank You for loving and helping me.”

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A Life of Love

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14, KJV)

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples…  They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I cam not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mark 2:15,17; KJV)

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. (John 13:4-5, KJV)

…He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her… Woman, where are those thine accursers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord, And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:7,10-11; KJV)

…he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to they friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 5:18-19, KJV)

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44, KJV)

…and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:26-31, KJV)

And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him… Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34, KJV)

As we look at His life of love, that love within our own hearts begins to stir, begins to bubble up, begins to flow. Do you want to live a life of love? Know how much He loves you. Know how much He loves others. See His love and fall in love with Him, fall in love with those He loves. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

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Awakening

And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12, KJV)

The Greek word translated as love in this passage is the Greek word agape. Agape is the God kind of love – true unconditional, unfailing love. It is a love that only those who are born again possess. Yet this scripture speaks of agape growing cold.

But I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. (Revelation 2:4, CJB)

…you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4, NKJV)

Once again, the word translated as love in this passage is the Greek word agape. It is not the world that is letting their love grow cold and slip away. It is many in the church.

Awakening – rousing; quickening: an awakening interest in…; a revival of interest or attention; a recognition, realization, or coming into awareness of something…; a renewal of interest in religion, especially in a community; a revival. (dictionary.reference.com)

It is time for an awakening. It is time to awaken to love for the Bridegroom again. This great love will draw those who have never known it. As the church awakens, she will awaken others to His love.

How? Remember His love towards you. Remember His love and you will remember to love.

We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19, ASV)

They will know us by our love. (John 13:35)

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Excited to Love

Excite – to rouse, to stir up, to put in motion, to inflame… (Websters, 1828)

Excited – Roused, awakened, animated, put in motion, stimulated, inflamed. (Websters, 1828)

We love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19, NASB)

We love each other as a result of His loving us first. (1 John 4:19, NLT)

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19, KJV)

We love God; we love others; we love ourselves because He first loved us. His love for us roused, awakened, put in motion, stimulated and inflamed us to love. Do you want to love God fully? Do you want to love others fully? Do you want to love yourself fully? Meditate on His love and you will be excited to love.