Sunday, October 26, 2014

WHY


"Woman, Why Are You Weeping?"

Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away."  John 20:10-15

Both the angel and Jesus asked Mary what appeared to be a foolish question in her time of great distress and grief, "Woman, why are you weeping?"  The Messiah, the Savior of the world, the most kindness and loving gentleman, who went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed of the devil, was beaten, tortured and murdered by evil and wicked men and now somebody had taken his body, is what preoccupied  Mary Magdalene’s mind. Mary loved Jesus and she had much to be grateful for she had seven demons which Jesus had cast out of her miraculously. And this was the reason she was crying?

But Jesus told her and all His disciples and others, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19)? He told them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day" (Mark 9:31)? So the angel’s and Jesus’ question "Woman, why are you weeping?" was a valid one?  And God’s word is unchanging:

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).  Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' "  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. John 26:10-18

Jesus cared so much that Mary was troubled that He was murdered and His body taken away that He delayed His ascent to His Father and to His God and personally came to comfort her and said  to her, "Mary!"  And she turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).  Her beloved Teacher was alive and well and everything was alright!

Now the good news is that Jesus Christ is asking us, His believers who are going through our own turmoil about our negative circumstance the same question, "Why are you weeping?"  God’s has given us His word that everything in our lives will work out for our good because He will in no wise leave, fail or forsake us but will use His great and wonderful miracle working power on our behalf. The same miracle working Jesus to whom has been restored all power and authority in heaven and earth is on our side and is fighting all our battles to give us the victory.

 God has not and doesn’t change one single bit. He is the same yesterday, today and forever!   He is the living God, steadfast forever and a great miracle working God as well as the Judge of all the earth and a Man of War.  His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He still delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. Signs and wonders which bless some and destroy others.  There are no sickness, famine, pestilence, poverty, suffering and lack in heaven and should not be on earth.  He has promised and so it will be He will bring His trusting ones into abundance of prosperity and give them every victory. His word is unchanging:

"Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. 'The LORD your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 'and in the wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Deuteronomy 1:29-31

"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.  "So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. "And he shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them;  'for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you' (to give you victory, KJV). Deuteronomy 20:1-4

A mature and complete Christian faith is undaunted by the storms of life,  the powers of darkness and any mountain in its way. Faith in God is not just an acknowledgement of truth and a personal relationship with the God of Truth hearing  His voice speaking, and feeling  His guiding Presence, but something that has works including loving one another and seeing mountains removed and cast into the sea. God’s word is unchanging:

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.  Matthew 21:21

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.  And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Hebrews 11:30-34

Faith is not just believing in a pie in the sky but is in making that pie real here on earth where we can eat and enjoy it. There is no sickness, poverty, lack, or defeat in heaven and there should none on earth for those who are the sons and daughters of God, those who are of the household of faith. Faith in God brings real miraculous change to a negative situation just like Elisha did to the prophet’s widow who was left destitute. God’s word is unchanging:

A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves."

 So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil."

Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors-empty vessels; do not gather just a few. "And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."

So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." So the oil ceased.

Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest." 2 Kings 4:1-7

And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.  Luke 13:11-13

Yes, God wants His people to be free, unfettered, from any confinement or imprisonment be it physical, spiritual or financial. But He doesn’t want them lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility or conventional moral restraint in sexual behavior. He wants them to be holy just like He is Holy and to be filled with the fullness of God. Yes, He wants them to be healthy, wealthy and prosperous and in Christ Jesus He has made provision for it to be so. His word is unchanging:

"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him "and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Acts 7:9-10

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:5-11 

EXTRACT FROM Be Filled With All The Fullness Of God 
 http://walthope.tripod.com/hear.htm
 

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